Archive | TRAVEL RSS feed for this section
Getaway: Burlington Vermont
10 Mar
Want a fun little girls trip itinerary? or this could be a lover’s getaway. Just kidding, I hate that word – LOVERS! (ha) I’m going to admit though, it isn’t the easiest place to get to really but it’s worth it!
If you’re like me and a wiz at geography (insert ROF laughing here) here’s a map for reference:
I would make this a two night trip. Fly in on a Friday afternoon and out on a Sunday. Here are a couple of ideas of where you could go and do. First, just Uber it from the tiny airport to your hotel.
CHECK-IN:
HOTEL VERMONT: Preppy Swank. Loved!
41 Cherry Street
Burlington, Vermont
This is the perfect place to stay. Friendly and lots of attention to detail. Every floor had a shared coffee/water/tea area. The warm fire with woodsy smells greets you the minute you walk into the lobby. Your modern but comfortable room is outfitted with locally made soaps (lemony!) and lotions.
Drop your bags, run a brush through your hair then hit the town – it’s happy hour!
DRINKS:
THE ARCHIVES: Is it an arcade? is it a cocktail lounge? It’s both! Grab a Shinebox or a Shakedown cocktail and belly up to Ms. Pac Man or Tetris. You’re sure to work up an appetite.
photo cred: The Archives website
FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER:
Head over to The Farmhouse Tap & Grill on Bank Street.
I had the Cast Iron Seared Atlantic Salmon with butternut puree, red quinoa, endive, sage and pecan pesto. It was out of this world! They have a great selection of starters too including a raw bar. It’s casual like the whole town – jeans and boots – are fine!
Walk back to the hotel through the quaint downtown that looks almost identical to Boulder, Colorado. They were designed by the same company! Zig and zag down the Church Street Marketplace – so cool. Maybe stop at the hotel lobby bar for a nightcap by the fire or turn in!
THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAY:
- SKI (duh!)
- Tour the Magic Hat Brewery – it’s free!
- Tour Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (30 min away)
- Take a cheese making workshop\
- Sample famous Lake Champlain Chocolates at the store on Church Street
- See how maple syrup is collected (YUM)
Now, you don’t need me to tell you to head back to the hotel. Rest and relax. And get ready for a wonderful dinner out with your lovely or friends. Head here:
This place looks fantastic. Very Vermont.
Check it out if you get a chance. Buy some maple popcorn at the airport on your way home. I didn’t (wink) but it looked good. Let me know if you have other suggestions.
Daytripping from Madison
28 Jan
Come with me on a daytrip to New Glarus, Wisconsin!
We moved to Madison, Wisconsin in May of 2017 from Dallas, Texas and I have to say I love living in Wisconsin. I loved Dallas too and one isn’t better than the other – just very different.
First, we found a great place to live. I think ROF and I say daily to each other “I LOVE OUR PLACE!” It’s a condo inside a subdivision with rolling hills and while close to everything – still feel like we are in the country (a little!) One of the best things about our place was our real estate agents – the Lessing Team! Being a new build, it wasn’t the simplest of things to navigate and while I’m a believer in the “do-it-yourself on-line” mentality – buying this was not something we could have ever done it alone. Better yet, Amy Lessing has become a great friend and certainly made the transition to Madison smooth. In fact, ROF and I both use her hairdresser, have met a ton of new people via her summer party and favorite things party, use her recommended dog boarding and daycare place.
You’re going to see a lot more blog posts on living in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin but today I want you to come with me to New Glarus. Not only is it the home of the famous SPOTTED COW brewery but it is America’s Little Switzerland and is modeled after Glarus, Switzerland (hence, NEW Glarus.) However, New Glarus is SO DECEIVING!
Why do I say deceiving, you ask? Because in and among the historic buildings which are over 150 years old, is some of the best food I’ve ever had. Friends of ours actually just got back from Switzerland and said that actually, the food in New Glarus was BETTER.
So did I tempt you enough to take a scenic drive to New Glarus?
Here’s where you should go:
First, take the scenic route which looks like this:
You must eat at Cow & Quince. This is our favorite restaurant possibly in the entire Madison area.
The food is amazing! Full disclosure – we’ve only been there for breakfast. To give you an example of their locally-sourced menu, check out my favorite breakfast sandwich:
Breakfast Sammie*
Fox Heritage Farm bacon, sweet chili cream cheese, arugula, Edelweiss grass-fed Gouda, aioli, 1 egg, MSCo country sourdough bread, choice of side add pickled jalapeños $0.50
but i’ve heard throught the grapevine that their savory french toast is not-to-be-missed:
Savory French Toast*
Thick cut MSCo brioche, gouda, apple-onion jam, Lacinato kale, Door County cherries, pork belly, sunny side duck egg, maple roasted garlic vinaigrette
They also have fun pizza nights and guest chefs. Cow & Quince also has plenty of options for my vegan friends. Check out their menu here.
Check out their website for a brief video and full menu!
Another outstanding place to eat is at Glarner Stube.
This place is the shizzle. I’m not joking. Sunday nights is a special night with a Swiss flank steak specialty (can’t remember the name!) and there is typically ALWAYS a wait to get into this tiny restaurant with a big bar. The service is so friendly and if you have to wait at the bar and sip on water (read: brandy old-fashioned sweet) and wait a bit, there are worse things you could be doing.
the cheese fondue is to die for! If you and your S.O. get just this – you’ll be good! Typically, cheese fondue, to me, is kind of flat. This has multi-dimensional flavors going on and is not super heavy like it will just re-form in your stomach. The rest of the food here is fantastic. Being from Dallas and a foodie – I found myself scratching my head several times in New Glarus thinking – I don’t think I’ve had better food! PS. The rosti potatoes are epic! One order for a table of eight works!
Plus look at how cute this darn town is:
One more place to eat. So yesterday, we took some friends of ours to Cow & Quince for breakfast and they were closed for a winter retreat! Snap! But lo and behold, we found another incredibly cute and delicious breakfast place: Fat Cat Coffee Works!
this place was so cute! In a little house with casual order at the counter, pick any place to sit was really quaint. We sat at the beautiful oak bar and watched the cook make our breakfast. I had a yummy fig, goat cheese, and bacon quiche. My maple spice latte was delicious! This is a great place for breakfast or lunch.
On this unseasonably warm day, it was fun to walk across the street after breakfast to a 118 year old tavern called Puempel’s Tavern. Complete with a bloody mary bar and big windows letting the sun stream in, it was a perfect place for us to play a friendly game of Euchre. Which, I have to say, if you’re not into cards, you’re missing out! There is nothing more fun to pass the time and indulge in some healthy competition than a good mid-morning game of Euchre. We had so much fun! And we even lost at cards.
In addition to all this food, New Glarus has some adorable shops including a couple of fantastic specialty food stores like butcher and cheese stores. The New Glarus Hotel boasts authentic Swiss food and polka dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. This.is.not.to.be.missed. You’re not in Madison anymore!
May I suggest you and your S.O., handful of girlfriends or even escape on your own on the beautiful drive to New Glarus, Wisconsin for fab food, great shopping and even a tour of the world-famous (or Wisconsin famous…) Spotted Cow brewery. Have fun!
overheard on flight 3523
17 Decbefore takeoff, an older gentleman and his wife walked down the aisle struggling with their two carry-ons each. after taking their seat behind me, a woman in first class got up out of her seat, walked down the aisle and knelt down behind me, addressing the older man:
“pardon me, sir. but i overheard your conversation in the airport with the gentleman serving in the armed forces. i wanted to thank you for your service in world war 2. also, this is my card. we own a fish farm called rushing water fisheries and we have a restaurant too. the owner is also a world war 2 veteran and i would like to offer a complimentary dinner for you and your wife with our owner to thank you for your service. we would be blessed to have you be our guest. “
WHERE TO GO IN NYC
7 Nov
i recently sent my friend an email with my recommendations for places to go and things to do in NYC. this is a city that we try to go to at least 2x a year. i thrive off the energy and creative vibes that seemingly ooze from the sidewalks and radiate from people there. we were just there a couple of weeks ago and ate here – YUM-O!
we’re headed back in december for my birthday and to spend christmas with relatives and we are staying here (the benefits of traveling for work and collecting points all year) and having dinner with 3 other couples here. also, i’m totally into the “secret” restaurant scene and are currently trying to get the password/reservation to this place. CAN’T WAIT!
so here was my advice to my friend who was headed there for the first time recently. please leave your favorite places in the comments below!
********
i’m so excited to hear about NYC through your eyes. promise me you’ll have fun! don’t worry about ANYTHING – just take it all in. There is NO MORE BEAUTIFUL CITY IN THE COUNTRY! here are a couple of places/ideas. Take it or leave it, you won’t be able to see it all! .
for me, i’m all about experiencing what a city has to offer – no chain restaurants/stores – goes without saying, but i said it anyway. these are totally random ideas. my biggest advice about NYC is this… it is an anything goes city! do not be afraid to walk into places, say hello, leave – whatever. this city is more casual and friendly than you think – they have SEEN IT ALL.
FRIDAY DINNER SUGGESTIONS:
MARY’S FISH CAMP: http://marysfishcamp.com/home.php
nestled deep in the Greenwich Village neighborhood, you won’t believe you’re in a big city. every time i’m here, i think, i could totally live here. OMG. The brownstones etc… this place doesn’t take reservations so we have put our name in and walked across the street to Greek place and grabbed a drink at the bar. NOTE: you could even eat here – just as good! When I was there with my niece, nice boys next to us said they had the best sangria and they asked if we wanted to try it so we did. later, we were like, we didn’t even know them!
MERCER KITCHEN: http://www.themercerkitchen.com/
Ok, not sure you can get in here. But I LOVE THIS PLACE! It’s in SOHO (south of Houston pronounced HOW-ston, not like the city) and this hotel is awesome. They have a great restaurant in basement – make reservations now, if you want.
this area is my favorite in the world and you could walk to the bar at the SOHO GRAND http://www.sohogrand.com/dining-nightlife/ upstairs (saw Reese Witherspoon here) and it is so happening and great people watching. ROF and I played gin rummy for hours in the afternoon here. Walk up the funky stairs and order a drink at bar. I’ve been here like 28.5x. (maybe not that much) This would be a fun night.
TAO: Downtown: https://taodowntown.com/
meatpacking district – this place is wild! Very fun and another area to go to.
Saturday – before show
OK, so before your show, you gotta go to Central Park! You may want to have brunch here. I think I ate here https://www.yelp.com/biz/sarabeths-new-york-10
have a great brunch/breakfast and just cruise Central Park! Whoop! Take a horse carriage through there! No doubt – !! You will be like – No way am I in NYC!
Other favorite places:
washington square park – can’t beat it. i have spent hours here with ROF. Just grab a coffee, grab a bench and hang out!
Ok – here is some “only in NYC” experiences:
- we’re taking a cooking class here on my birthday in brooklyn
- made my own lipstick at BYTE – http://www.bitebeauty.com/lip-lab/
- walk the HIGH LINE – so awesome!!
- my mom and i did a great scavenger hunt that was a blast
- this seems cheesy but best way to get acquainted with the city – hands down!
i’ve also blogged about my other NYC trips here and here.
where are some of your favorite places in the city?
travel: up north
30 Julin my teens and 20’s, i wrote in a journal almost daily. i would describe in detail where i was, what i was doing so that when i read it later on in life, i would be able to go right back to that very place. and it worked. so i’m going to do the same here.
last week i posted about beautiful door county, wisconsin. well, i haven’t even left my new home state and can post again about “UP NORTH.” this isn’t my first time up north. in fact, we’ve been going up north since i was a kid living in michigan.
that phrase means something totally different to my dallas and texas friends than it does to my wisconsin friends. so come with me to where i am right now…
go on. close your eyes.
ok, can’t read and close your eyes at the same time. i get it. read on…
it’s 7am on sunday morning. i’m sitting in my favorite reclining leather chair in front of a big picture window.
it’s 60 degrees and the end of july. i am listening to the massive eagle mamas (or dads, geez, i don’t know!) talk to their babies.
i’m watching the eagles fly around – like that is just normal to see. caught one with my camera:
we’re at a place, i would call my very happiest of all places. up north. in this case, we’re in a town my husband and i will never be able to spell without help: minocqua.
that is to give you an overview. we’re about 3 hours north of madison. here is a better view:
we’re talking lake after lake after lake (called a chain, because many of them are connected)
this is such a different kind of place. for example, it’s not a one week vacation that forever lives in your head afterward (nothing wrong with those!)
this is where i truly feel appreciation for our country, God and a place that is just part of who you are. if you have a place up north and are reading this right now, please leave a comment at the bottom if you agree or add to what i’m trying to describe.
this does a good job:
back to me describing what’s going on right now. so i don’t forget…
coffee just finished brewing in the kitchen that is a couple rooms over. that faint, welcoming smell is amplified by the cool summer morning breeze whafting in from the picture window. the sound of birds waking up, eagle babies screaming and just now i can hear a motor boat in the distance getting closer.
ROF and i dream about having a place up here or near hear or…just north someday. where we can play euchre (another freaking word we can’t ever spell!) with our friends placing bets with apple pie shots, heading to one of a million supper clubs like we went to this weekend:
what is strange about my love of up north is that i’m a big city girl. having lived 11 years in downtown chicago, i could (and have) written about the joys of the big city.
but in my ripe old age, i’m leaning towards the north. but i tell you… nothing beats both! going between the action of the big city and the serene up north is something people have done for ages. a girl can dream.
have a great sunday!
travel: door county, wisconsin
24 Jullooking for a peaceful, beautiful summer vacation? head to door county, wisconsin. where? DOOR COUNTY! yes- trust me.
egg harbor, fish creek, sister bay- just to name a few of the quaint cities that seem to just keep coming as you drive along the coast. yes, I’m talking to you, dear texas friends. when it starts to simmer in dallas – head north! the high today was 78 degrees.
but, don’t take my word for it. they say that door county is the “cape cod of the Midwest“- read it from:
i love the midwest. love. the crisp morning air, the twists and turns of the drives, the lush green summers and the distinct evolution of the seasons. it’s part of who i am. my mom, ROF and i spent a weekend here in door county recently. here are our snaps.
stay: orphan annie’s schoolhouse in bailey’s harbor. Beautiful, renovated schoolhouse with attentive owners and comfortable accommodations.
eat: fish boil at white gull inn
coffee: bearded heart coffee
WEEKEND IN: SANTA FE
6 Oct
hi. thanks for reading. i’ve taken some time off to start a new job but anxious to jump back into appreciating life in this blog. i’m starting a new series based on all the travel we’ve done recently. it’s a quick weekend itinerary in cities worth visiting around the country. While these we “tested” with us – a couple – these are perfect trips for singles, girlfriend getaway or families.
we’re going to start with beautiful santa fe, new mexico. want to head there for a getaway with your loved one for a weekend? here is where to go, what to do and where to stay. follow this, like we did, and i promise you’ll have a great weekend!
arrive friday afternoon and stay here:
this place is utterly breathtaking, unique and perfectly located. stay here and you don’t need to rent a car because you can walk everywhere. and it’s different… not a typical resort. instead of one big hotel, these are separate buildings that hold four rooms each with their own outdoor space. every late afternoon, they light up the outdoor fire pits with that distinct fall smell of pinion wood. most importantly, the bar is fun, lively and from popular talk…haunted. we used points to stay here – it’s a starwood resort. located walking distance from the plaza and my favorite place – canyon road. also- this place is dog friendly! in fact, one of my good friends from my chicago years drove down with her adorable pup drove down and met us for dinner
photos courtesy of la posada de santa fe
friday night dinner:
COYOTE CAFE
132 West Water
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 983-1615
after you’ve settled into your beautiful room at la posada, maybe had a delicious jalapeno margarita at the bar, head out by foot to coyota cafe. this is one of ROF and my favorite restaurants in the country! we’ve been here several times and it never disappoints. get there about a half hour before your reservation and have a drink at the rooftop cantina connected to the restaurant and the views of the plaza won’t disappoint.
really weak photos, i know. sorry. ROF won’t let me use the flash because i take too many pictures (haha) but here was a snap from our walk to the restaurant. i’m told that the reason why santa fe is so magical (best word to describe) is that the light dances. and it does – amazing!
now, walk home, go on, it’s safe and believe it or not the sky is still as bright as the picture. hold hands walking through the resort to your room (not required, but recommended!)
saturday morning breakfast:
what? still full from the night before? no way! sleep in a little bit, go to the resort spa or workout then head here. and plan to wait but it is worth it.
cafe pasqual’s – 121 don gaspar road
just walk there. we walked everywhere. here are some pics from pasquals. i bought a long sleeve tee which seems to be my thing to collect now….
saturday afternoon – things to do
take a open air bus tour. it’s a great way to see a city and ROF and i do this everywhere we go. walk over to the loretto chapel – through the end of october only – jump on this tram and tool around and hear some great tidbits about sante fe. my take away? people paint their windows and doors blue to keep the bad spirits away. there… worth the couple of bucks.
saturday later in the afternoon ….
ok, enough of that, now let’s have fun. sign up in advance for a cooking class at the santa fe school of cooking. they couldn’t be nicer here and we are so glad we did this. we met fantastic families from all over the country, learned a lot and got to get our hands dirty. plus, now we are expert salsa makers!
santa fe school of cooking 125 N Guadalupe St
saturday night dinner:
geronimo… a must go.
from the owners book on the restaurant:
Featuring huge overhead beams, creamy stucco details, and a fireplace sporting oversized moose antlers, the 250-year-old hacienda that houses Geronimo restaurant is a welcome addition to Santa Fe’s trendy Canyon Road. Restaurant owners Cliff Skoglund and Chris Harvey along with chef Eric DiStefano have created a refined retreat in this once rough-and-tumble town, serving exquisite contemporary cuisine that rivals the best in the country. …Geronimo restaurant is named for Señor Geronimo Lopez, the former owner of the hacienda in which Geronimo is housed.
sunday – all about art
santa fe is the oldest capital city in the us. did you know that? did you also know that georgia o’keefe is from santa fe? i’m a bevy of information. so, it’s sunday, you’ve slept in and are ready to get some exercise. walk around the corner and hike all the way up canyon road. here there are over a hundred contemporary art galleries in one half mile. there are also restaurants and boutiques. it is so much fun to stroll through these galleries and look at the art and figure out our “art style” together. ROF and i have the same taste, which is awesome to discover.
hope you get a chance to visit santa fe soon! let me know if you have a favorite place there to visit.
girls weekend itinerary in new york city
24 Jul
just got back sunday from a to-die-for girls weekend in new york city. amazing how simple it was to coordinate being that i’m in dallas, susan and sarah are in chatham, nj and sara beth is in atlanta. so if you’re thinking of heading there, check out our itinerary for 2015. short, but certainly sweet!
Friday night:
Dinner @ Schillers Liquor Bar @8pm
great little casual place in the lower east side. great energy, food + drinks. plus the wait staff has great ink! perfect place for us to squeal and laugh and catch up with each other. also, you’re in “real” nyc – not too touristy.
Saturday
walk the high line
if i lived here, i’d do this every weekend. the art was fantastic! the flowers and trees – beautiful. this park located UP on an old elevated train line is not to be missed. it was a beautiful day to walk through here, stop for some coffee and snap some pictures.
Brunch reservation @ 12:30 at Greenwich Project
we then walked a block to this quaint, adorable restaurant sara picked out. the part about walking a block was an inside joke because everything was “just a block away” – according to the native NYers – SBP and SP. this was really a 47 block walk (ask susan) but well worth it.
we caught the service here on an off day. but we still had a couple of brunch bloodies and sangria and awesome food. the best part? they comped our entire meal because of the service. scheeesh! that kind of made our whole day!
Reservation at Bite Lip Lab to make own lipstick @ 2:30
this place was bad ass! i have to say the two lipsticks i made are the best i’ve ever had – better than MAC! seriously! they smell awesome – mint/vanilla – and are super soft! this place is the size of a postage stamp but i want one in dallas. it was a lot of fun to watch them mix the colors, then sample then mix some more!
SoHo Shopping
you can’t go to NYC without shopping in SOHO. i snagged an unbelievable snag – a chloe marcie hobo bag at a consignment shop. it took me exactly 2 minutes to decide. i know that’s a shocker.
Mary’s Fish Camp in the West Village @ 8pm
loved this place! small, crowded, don’t accept reservations, no air conditioning but completely non-touristy and the most delicious lobster roll ever. mary popped around the restaurant bringing wine and delivering food. what a find!
Sunday
central park!
our last day – my flight was at 4:50. woke up late, ate at hotel and grabbed some last minute clothes at the j crew sale then took off through central park. we stayed at the essex house – a jw marriott hotel located right on the south side of the park. it was hot but a beautiful, sunny day. central park is so much fun to people watch!
Sarabeth’s for brunch
this place was awesome but we waited an hour and half for a table which actually wasn’t so bad because it was great people watching and the tuna salad was worth it!
so to recap our short girls trip itinerary in NYC:
stay: essex house jw marriott on the park (or try a cool boutique hotel, i used points so it was free!)
eat: schillers liquor bar, greenwich project, mary’s fish camp, sarabeths for brunch
do: shopping in soho, bite lip lab, central park
happy happy friday!
19 Jun
i’m excited for this weekend.
first, ROF comes home after being gone all week traveling on business. (yea!)
second, we are taking my mom on an overnight trip here to celebrate her 74th birthday and mothers day. i treasure this special alone time with ROF and my mom. we’re going to get facials and massages and maybe float the lazy river. maybe not that last one.
you might remember when the three of us went to chicago a couple of years ago and had a blast:
yep, we’re celebrating mom on father’s day which is totally appropriate for us! you can read more on that here.
have a great weekend! XXOO
where to eat this week: detroit
27 Apr
the dime store, located in one of detroit’s oldest buildings – the dime building, now the chrysler house – is definitely a place to check out while in detroit. i’ve only eaten there for lunch and both times, it has been excellent. deb and i shared a huge grilled cheese and truffle fries and each got some butternut squash soup.
i’ve only done two reviews so far in this “series” – this one and this one and i can already tell you i stink at it. here is my review: just go there. i’m not one of those people that can wax poetic about the right crisp around the edges of the cheese that is grilled and the silky, smooth butternut soup that has a kiss of nutmeg at the finish. wait. maybe i can?
get here early at lunchtime or else you’ll be waiting in a long line. the service is kind of like “we’re cool, so you’ll wait while i handle 10 tables” friendly.
the menu is different and i like that. this is just a snapshot above. and these fries with the truffle mayo were so scrumptious! so not on my diet but we split them. and after it was said and done, we each only paid $10 for one awesome lunch.
check it out:
719 griswold street
detroit
restaurant review: north dallas: mexican
19 Apr
i’m starting a new series called… ROF’s restaurant reviews. we’ll explore some places all over the country and give you the scoop.
up first is…. la comida.
Overall – B+
————————————————————-
5100 belt line road
addison, texas (north dallas)
next to kenny’s italian kitchen and neighborhood services
yelp review here
————————————————————-
in dallas, mexican food is a dime a dozen. everyone has their preference of place with the best margaritas, best chips and best food. there is mias, mi cocina and one of our favorites, meso maya.
but for lunch yesterday, we decided to check out a place neither one of us had been to yet. this isn’t always easy to get ROF to do because he is a creature of habit. but he was game. he threw out mexican and i got on yelp and luckily we stumbled on to this place.
whether you live in dallas or are visiting, patio grazing is where it’s at. it’s just the thing to do on a saturday or sunday afternoon. hang out with friends or family on a patio, munch on chips and salsa and sip margaritas. this would be a perfect place to go.
here is our mini review:
pluses:
- great vibe inside and out
- hip music, kinda like mexican resort beat
- great colors and decorating
- excellent chips + salsa
- service was perfect – no complaints
minor minus’:
- my black bean soup was tepid. would have been great hot
- i wasn’t a fan of my “skinny” margarita but robert liked his. i don’t like little ice cubes in drinks (except at sonic)
all in all – check it out!
capturing a moment: holiday inn
10 Mar
it’s tuesday morning and i’m outside jackson, mississippi at a holiday inn getting ready for a meeting. i’m in my new black dress pants, a nicely starched french blue shirt and pointy heels. i’m sitting down in the breakfast area munching on a stale piece of wheat bread with one half mini tub of peanut butter schmeared on it.
just giving you a visual.
there is a young woman sitting next to me with what looks like a 9 month old, a two year old and a four year old. and they’re not happy. i feel for her as she has her hands full – literally. this holiday inn is brand new so even though it’s loud with screaming kids, it’s pretty clean and nice. but with stale bread.
i decided to capture this moment because as i’m sure you’re very aware, there are things that happen all around you all the time that jolt you out of your routine and comfort zone.
this was one of those moments.
a man about 34 years old and what appeared to be his adorable daughter were at the coffee station with an older woman who was working in the small hospitality area. the daughter looked about five years old, had braided pigtails and a southern accent as thick as pancake syrup. the older worker woman had this conversation with her. i was seated close (so i listened in)
OW: well, hello there! how are you doing this morning?
LG: i’m doing ok, ma’am. how are you doin’?
OW: pretty good. you here on vacation?
LG: naw, i’m here with my dad to visit my nawnaw. she just had twin babies and one died.
(dad clarified that “nawnaw” was her aunt)
OW: oh my, that must have been very sad.
LG: it was, i was there. we was all there and we all cried. one was a girl and one was a boy. the girl lived but the boy died. (she said this very maturely)
OW: i sure am sorry to hear this.
so here i am, in my french blue shirt getting ready for a meeting eating stale wheat bread with peanut butter. i’m surrounded by a young woman with a son smearing jelly on a plate on his table and this darling sad little girl with her dad. visiting her nawnaw.
i have it pretty darn good.
passing through:jackson, ms:saltine
9 Mar
well, who knew?
I was taken to this awesome restaurant in a part of a big, old 1926 elementary school in fondren, mississippi. as mainly an oyster bar, it’s appropriately named, “Saltine” and it shouldn’t be missed. we were there quite early as we were starving and so glad we went.
Saltine
622 dulling ave
Jackson, ms
601-982-2899
i had the flounder chowder that was out of this world. i was so entrenched in it that i forgot to take a picture of it. it came with pan seared gulf flounder, sweet potato, clam chowder and this unbelievable pork belly croquette. of course, we had some oysters too. ah-mazing.
i snagged these pics off of yelp. If you find yourself in these necks of the woods – you won’t go wrong eating here. instant wow factor walking in door and the food is a triple wow. only mistake was getting too full for desert.
good job Jesse + rachel houston! my husband, ROF, wants to learn about oysters and I think you know your stuff. let me know when you come out with a book!
travel: detroit’s corktown
22 Feb
detroit’s had a bad rap for a while. if you didn’t know better, you’d think it was just one giant wasteland. you’d be surprised to know that detroit has loads of little nooks + crannies of streets and neighborhoods with many great restaurants, shops, breweries and coffee houses. one of those areas is called corktown.
here are some key places to go in corktown.
1. eat: gold cash gold
a pawn store turned restaurant has a small but delicious menu. what they did to the 132 year-old space is incredible and i noticed all the details. stop here for lunch, dinner or soon – brunch.
2. coffee: astro coffee
i don’t think hipsters refer to places as a “hipster place” (that was me calling me a hipster…. ha) but this place is pretty damn cool. funky music + vegan food offerings, this place has great coffee made by cute guys with unusual facial hair.
3. eat: mercury grill
i took some girls on my team here for lunch last year and we had a blast. just a good ole grill with awesome food (look at that dog!).
4. see:central michigan train station
i don’t know where to start with this building. built in 1913 after detroit’s original train station burned down, this abandoned train station is one of the most beautiful building i’ve ever seen. even abandoned and destroyed with graffiti it’s unbelievable. in fact, it has been said that it is a premier example of ruins photography or ruin porn. i first fell in love with it when i saw it for the first time during a lunch break at work. here was my first sighting of this building. i think my mouth fell wide open.
now, i don’t recommend that you go in this building, but if you were, this is what you’d see:
5. eat: slow’s bbq
arguably better bbq than anything i’ve had in texas! (them are fighting words down here!) but this place is so good! it’s always crowded but eat at the bar if you can – it’s more fun. and buy a long sleeve tee like we did.
flooding in detroit + my story
14 Augwhen you catch the nightly news and you’re watching a weather disaster, thoughts of horror probably come over you.
they are matched with sadness and many other emotions. but you’re still sipping your coffee and then maybe you flip off the TV and go to work. after all, what can you do but pray and think about the atrocity. been there, done that. i get it.
on monday night i was one of those people you may have seen on the nightly news. on second thought, maybe not. after all i was completely shocked how little this tragedy made headlines. i don’t think the world cares about detroit. this is another atrocity. i don’t get it. simply the scariest night of my entire life.
so i wake up on a typical monday morning, get in my brand new 2014 chevy impala which is totally bad ass and head to work. normal so far. i like my music loud, so it’s pumping, my coffee is steaming in the cup holder next to me. i park in the garage at one detroit center, jump into “work mode” and do my thing. we’re on the 19th floor of an incredible building and have the best view of the river and detroit. normal so far.
flash flood, i mean, forward to heading home. had to leave a little earlier than normal but i had gotten in nice and early so i didn’t feel bad about it. it was raining out but no big deal. normal so far.
got in the car and headed out on interstate 75 pointed north. it was coming down pretty hard but nothing at all unusual. however, two hours later when I’ve only moved about 10 miles out of the city – not so normal. while waiting in the horrible traffic, i go on to Facebook and look to see where my work buds are and one of them posts “do not go on the freeway, massive flooding, cars being routed off”. not normal. what? i was smushed in between three semi’s and to my right, i see cars going THE OPPOSITE WAY on the shoulder. i flip a couple of posts past the first and see another shot of water up to the windows of a car, people getting out of their cars to which the post reads “horrible flooding – this has what has held us up in traffic for 4 hours!” now i realize all this was happening right in front of me.
i’m a stranger to flooding. honestly, it has been the least scariest natural disaster to me. this is out of complete ignorance. tornados – i’m all over them. i know where to hide. earthquakes, been in them. scary, yet. flooding – who can’t deal with a little extra water?! i can swim! so this is my mindset up until this point. this is where i’m coming from.
right now, my pulse is raised but only at the horrendous thought of exiting the freeway at an unknown point. this is detroit after all. second only to flint having the most murders per capita. some of you reading this have absolutely no clue what bad is- and that’s good. but this isn’t a couple of blocks of nasty houses. we’re talking miles and miles of blown out houses turned into drug havens. i’m not going to belabor this because i believe in the good of detroit rather than the bad. but let’s just say i never – ever – wanted to -ever- get off interstate 75 early. not here. i start to see the underpass and the cars under water and i reluctantly motion to the semi next to me to please let me and my little car over… i need to get off the interstate.
it was so amazing how little communication was going on. the news sucks here. sorry. it does. robert was watching it for me and there was very little warning out there on what was going on. he said to me “be careful – i’m real worried about you getting off the highway.” i told him i was going to call on star and will talk to him soon.
i was in a shitty area. it was now about 8:30pm and getting darker. i was exiting 75 and had on star on the car system with me. i love them. one lady stayed on the phone with me two hours past her shift had finished. she tried really hard to get me home. but there was absolutely no way. i was on low gas and every way i turned in this god forbidden area was flooded.
i’m not going to lie. i was absolutely terrified. i thought that i was headed in a good direction on a side road to 75 when suddenly there was a barricade and i had to turn around. i weaved through some awful neighborhoods until i got to a main street… 8 mile.
8 mile at 75 is two lanes exiting and then three lanes merging from the bridge that went over 75. all 5 lanes came together in water that came up to the top of my tires. when it was my turn to follow the car in front of me, i had to weave up on the sidewalk between a burnt out brothel and a dead street light. my heart was pounding through my chest. my hands were sweaty and i started to pray out loud. i don’t pray because it’s the in thing to do – i pray because i believe in God and He can make stuff happen. fyi. research that.
i was on with my on star rep who was seriously ready to get home and get her drink on. as i merged into the flood, I now knew why i should fear floods. if i were to stall out, i would be stuck with no police, no husband, no one to help me. all night. i put my credit cards and license in my bra and hid a credit card in the back pocket of the car. smart, right? as i go through the water, car after car is stalling out but not me. i got through the water and made it to the other side. that is where i breathed a huge sigh of relief. even if i was on 8 mile in the #2 murder capital of the world. just head west to woodward, i said to myself out loud. i live off woodward. Lord, get me there! it’s only a mile down 8 mile. so i excitedly go down 8 mile and right into a road block. woodward is closed. 75 is closed. i’m trapped on 8 mile and it’s now 10:30 at night.
<commercial break. get a glass of wine. take a sip. I am. >
i go to a gas station and get gas (thank you God!) and introduce myself to another scared-to-death girl in her 20’s. we were all over the place! wide-eyed, mascara smudged faces looking around with our eyebrows raised and don’t-mess-with-me pretend faces. i asked her if she was stranded and she said that she was trying to get to lavonia. i didn’t even know where that was. she tells me that the nice man in front of her is showing her the way out of 8 mile and pointed in the right direction. i was afraid to be alone so i asked if i can follow (mistake #1) and she said sure. so we all headed out on 8 mile and turned right on a street called john r (mistake #2). i thought 8 mile was bad. after all eminem sang about 8 mile and produced a movie on how bad it was. but john r was worse! now, i was on a side street that was unlit, a bunch of warehouses and a ton of stranded cars strewn all over the street. there were scary crackheads hanging out on corners too. it was a long wait and by this point, i’ve clued in that typically means there is a flood area up ahead. AM I IN HELL? ROF was on the phone with me and he told me to stop driving around that i was going to get stuck and that would be the worse thing that could happen to me. so I turned around, left my friends, and headed back the same way to 8 mile. my home base.
however…
when i got to 8 mile, i could now only go right which meant – i had to go the wrong way down 8 mile, go over 75, turn around and go through THE HUGE ASS FLOODED AREA AGAIN! excuse my french.
i’ll spare you the commentary. it was now 11:30pm. but i’ll just throw out some words/thoughts:
“ you ain’t gonna make it across, you gotta cross the median. you ain’t gonna do that with your impala. oh now wait, you got 20’s – give it a shot”
ok.
“amy, go park somewhere, you are going to get stuck.”
i made it through the huge flood area now – water up to the middle of my drivers side door. i don’t know how, but i made it. i drove straight to my favorite citgo gas stations sandwiched in between a strip bar and a cool restaurant called SOUL FOOD. thank god, i never got kicked out of the citgo parking lot because i stayed there for 2 more hours. i met a really nice indian woman and her friend she had picked up from the airport. she had come in from india. WELCOME TO DETROIT! she was going to 12 mile and woodward – near me – and she said “we are scared to death, can we follow you?” i said sure. after all, i do have all the answers.
i’ve been in the car for over 7 hours at this point. no bathroom, no water, no food, no wine (mistake #3, always carry emergency wine) ROF urged me to go to the strip club and have a drink but he was just joking. i think. my friend from india- gina – and i just parked close to each other and hung out while thug after thug got gas. we even watched one tinkle between the two cars. real nice. i had my foot on the break, my hand on the shift and my mirrors positioned to see any funny business. it was now 1:45 in the morning. rollin’ with my homies.
this was my breaking point. i had called 911 because we were stranded and they said some words i’m sure they didn’t mean but were stressed out. this whole time i had only seen 2 cops. but i looked on google maps and saw i could take a side street to 9 mile, turn left and hit woodward and then go 110 mph home. so i called on star because they are my very best friends at this point. i did think it was cute that they would say “i will call the authorities if anything happens to you” it was reassuring but this is detroit, honey, ain’t nobody got time for that!
so i rolled down my window and told gina and her friend to follow me, we were going home. she said OK. i told her to KEEP UP. she said OK. we headed down a side street which was obviously flooded out earlier because cars were strewn all over and on top of each other. we made it to 9 mile but it looked like a war zone! semi trucks were pulled over one by one along the side and cars were all over the place -stranded. gina wasn’t keeping up and i thought for a split second to blow her off but couldn’t. it was 2am. i was shaking at the anticipation of getting home.
i pulled into a gas station and let gina catch up. i rolled down the window and asked her to please step on it. she said OK. so we weaved down 9 mile together until we got to a sign that made me cry: WOODWARD AVE!
gina wanted to turn the wrong way, so i waved her down and together we headed down the now open woodward together. as she turned off at 12 mile, she called me. we had exchanged numbers. “ i just want to tell you that i would have never gotten through tonight without you.” sure you would have! “no really, i wouldn’t have. i would be asleep at the citgo on 8 mile!” we both laughed. i told her she was a comfort to me too and we said goodbye. i thanked God for putting an angel with me for the night.
i have this night on my mind a lot. i think i will for a while. i’ve written in previous posts how much i like to be jolted out of my comfort zone. this was a good jolt. after all, the day started off so normal! but what should i learn from this? what is normal?? you never, ever know what can happen in a matter of minutes let alone hours.
appreciate everything you have now. cuz tomorrow may not be the same.
xxoo
going home to texas
3 Augmy whole life, i’ve connected moving from city to city and moving forward in life. that’s how i was raised. because we moved around so much, my mom helped us think of it as an adventure. new house, new friends, new schools – everything new! moving was never a sad thing. sure, maybe there were some tears saying goodbye to friends + family but then the open road is ahead of you.
the other thing my parents did growing up, was teach us that our new city became “the city” to be in. whether it really was (Chicago) or not (Flint), my parents always took pride in where they were. after all, it’s where we were – so it had to be great, right? when guests came to visit us, my parents knew the best route to our house (not past any bad areas, just the nice parts), the best restaurants, the neatest shops and we were always happy to be there. i’m glad that is how i was raised rather than a bah-humbug sort of mover. and it’s how i looked at where we live now, in Birmingham, michigan.
as much as i’ve “moved forward” from Cincinnati to Dayton to Cleveland to Boston to Grand Blanc to Brookfield to Naperville to Chicago to Dallas then to Birmingham... i’ve never moved back. i’ve always moved on.
until now.
and it’s such an awesome feeling.
as i grow older, thoughts start to creep in that maybe we weren’t moving forward but just moving around. nah, i push that thought out of my head. after all, i wouldn’t have this outgoing personality if i wasn’t forced to put myself out there growing up – going to three high schools in three cities- in the land of judgement (you know, junior high angst and high school peer pressure) and that’s the truth. but when you’re over that middle age hump (read: 40) you start to think – wait…i want people that know me around me and i want to have a history with them.
so back to texas we go. obviously for more reasons than these but we’re so thrilled. we missed you texas, with your crazy storms, wide open spaces, friendly people and most of all we miss all the people that missed us and stayed in such good touch over the past two years. we’re hoping to pick up right where we left off.
oh, and i get to decorate another house. yay!
until tomorrow…
travel: the city of lights…finally
1 Janit took me more than 19 years to get to paris. the dream started here, if you remember.
if you also remember, it was my goal to drop some poundage before i went. and that didn’t go quite as planned, but i’m not beating myself up. after all, i went to paris and nothing was going to get me down.
this trip for me, was one of my dreams come true. and it didn’t disappoint.
to start with, i really wanted to go to paris with someone i loved and who loved me. my dad wanted to take me at once point in my life which was nice. it would have been a blast. but for some reason – because this wasn’t an ordinary trip – i wanted the dream to include this aspect. a man. my man. in fact, ROF didn’t want to go to paris at all. not even a smidge. but i think he had fun.
i wanted to do a day by day breakdown of my trip, but i don’t have it in me. it was a lot. we used a fantastic travel agent whom i would vouch for 100%. when you hear people talk about paris – it all sounds kind of fluffy, doesn’t it? oh…. the wine. oh….the food. oh the sites…. i was a bit worried that perhaps i’ve built it up too much over the past 19 years! but the minute we got out of our car in front of our hotel, i knew that paris would not disappoint. it was real. i was here. the twinkly lights, the beautiful people, the buildings and streets and different culture swirled around us.
some of the best advice came from rick steves. he’s hands down the very best travel writer. he said that the goal when visiting paris is to try live like a parisian. not as an american visiting paris. go with that attitude. what that means is just fold yourself into the city. don’t complain because your water doesn’t have ice in it. or that service is slow and things aren’t rush rush rush. paris is a huge city but it is not rush rush rush. unless you are in an uber car like we were a couple times. then you could die. driving there is unlike anything i’ve ever seen. but we walked around most places anyway.
another piece of good advice came from our friend demain. and that was to just get out and explore. we planned activities, but we also just hit the streets and we came upon so many sweet experiences. here are some we had and some pictures.
1. the lovely, older lady in le bon marche who didn’t speak any english who helped me buy two scarves. i spoke limited french but could understand what she was trying to say to me. i could say “noir et blanc” and point at the black and white scarf and she would wrap it around me and suggest another scarf that went better with my “cheveux” or hair. she taught me a couple of different ways to tie one too. this whole experience was one i was actively seeking. looks like i just needed to be brave enough to walk into a very high scale french department store and shop. <read = shopping is the universal language!>
2. exploring the oldest flea markets in the world with a 23 year old tour guide all to ourselves! i got some heavy, silver, vintage soup spoons that i regret not getting 6 or 8 instead of 4!
3. the cheese and wine tasting we did here was OUT OF THIS WORLD. best ever. nothing like 2 tons of cheese and wine for an afternoon lunch. yum-o. oh, and we learned a lot. like how to read a french wine bottle. why it is hard to try a wine and find it later in a store. the five things that a sommelier would use to describe a wine and much much more.
4. that the musee d’orsay is way more fun than the louvre. <hush your mouth! did you just say that?> if you’re one who likes to look slowly at art while being trampled by a million kindergarteners and foreigners, then this is your place. but it would take you 25 days and 25 nights to view each piece for 60 seconds each. we had to go and the building was enough! unbelievable! beautiful. but then we walked across the bridge to the d’orsay and had a blast in this old train station turned art museum. ROF particularly liked <read: hated> the exhibit that was there. we walked <read: ran> through this exhibit that was, how do you say, very forthcoming.
5. ate at a proper french restaurant with a michelin star: pur. i have never in my life seen service like this. it was like a magnificent show! lucky ROF got to stare at the wall and me while dining, but i got to watch 9 or so waiters help us and do so seamlessly and without talking to each other. the bread woman, the wine man, the main waiter, the table cleaner, the first course deliverer, the second course deliverer. omg as the kids say…omg. check out this beautiful, intimate restaurant here!
6. experienced the beautiful and entrancing rue montorgueil. a must see if you’re in paris.
tips to be a savvy traveller.
19 Octas many of you know, i travel a lot. there are people that travel more than me and less than me, but let’s just say, i’m on the road. when i am there are some companies and techniques that will make your travel life much easier.
we’re in chicago right now and on our first full day, have used UBER already 6 times. here is why you don’t want to be one of those tourists waving down a taxi in the middle of the street (so uncouth!) in any big city.
- download the app to your smart phone. fill out all the information including your credit card.
- turn on your gps locator finder.
- when you’re ready for an UBER car, just hit the button. you can see where the cars are
- they are not pizza soaked, weird smelling yellow cabs. they are lincoln mkt, cadillac escalades and better.
- the drivers are in dark suits. the cars smell new
- since you pressed the button, they know where you are and you will get a text message on when they are going to get you.
- UBER it far, UBER it close, doesn’t matter but you must do it!
- there is no cash exchanged. none. no tip either! all via your cc they have on file. you get receipt instantly emailed!
if you must drive, then don’t use any other company other than national rental car. they did not pay me for this post. but there is no better rental car company out there. gone are the days of waiting in line for what seems like HOURS while they endlessly punch buttons. it’s easy to get status with them. then you don’t need to do anything but make an easy on-line reservation, then by-pass the counter, pick a great car and get in it and drive off. easies experience hands down. shame on you for going anywhere else!
3. SECURITY LINE FUN
if you are going anywhere for 2 days or less, don’t bother checking your bag. it’s a waste of time when you go to the airport and when you leave. with hard core business travel, it really is a sign of weakness to check. here are my security line tips from someone that is very picky about how you go through the lane.
- if you are organized, you do NOT need to start unpacking all your stuff right there with the stack of bins. ANNOYING! sorry, did i say that out loud? you know, the type that is just so excited to take off her shoes and belt and drop her computer in a bin that she stands there and does it right there at the go? holds everyone up. don’t do that. in fact, don’t do jack – just grab two bins – then slide them up until you’re almost to the point of throwing everything through the black tunnel. the security person will start barking all the orders, KINDA directed at you, but you have done nothing except kept the line moving behind you. and they’ll thank you. then in one move – lift your computer out and put into one bin and put your shoes and purse in the other bin and shove it through. there. EASY. don’t tell anyone but you don’t need to remove your baggie of stuff. i never do. i don’t know why they say that!
don’t be afraid of the best airlines out there. they are the way they are because they move fast, they are friendly and they don’t take any bs.
this is a little bit of a no-duh one, but YELP when traveling won’t lead you wrong. yes there are stupid people who leave stupid reviews. yes, you have to do some digging. but the bottom line is that crowd sourcing works. if the majority of people dig the restaurant, then go.
there – you’re prepared. now go!
cabin fever
19 JunROF and i are embracing the michigan lifestyle and this includes going “up north”. if you don’t know what that is, check out this video:
we’re slightly crazy about it and are thinking of renting a cabin for the summer next year. if you’re not familiar with michigan
look at a map
it’s surrounded by big, glistening lakes. you have no idea how unbelievably beautiful this state is. if you don’t believe me, believe chef mario batali
anyway, all this thinking and dreaming of a lake house made me dig around on houzz to research my dream place. what i found was my ultimate michigan barn.
this was designed by northworks architects and planners out of chicago, il. this place is my idea of a getaway!
you can see more on my cabin fever page on houzz here
summer drive, michigan style
9 Jun
it’s a nice 80 degrees out with a cool breeze. driving home from chicago, we detoured along lake michigan and scanted along the lakefront and then cut through the state on farm roads that were hilly and lush. loved hearing ROF say: “even though i’ve lived in michigan before i never thought it was this beautiful.”
#puremichigan
paris: the new workout
29 Maywe’re planning on going to paris in december.
i’ve been wanting to go to paris for over 25 years. i just really wanted to go with someone i loved. like romantically (sorry mom.)
so now, ROF is using his one week of vacation to take me there! december may seem like an odd time to go, don’t you think? not the spring when the buds on the trees are budding and the lovers are strolling down the Seine. sidetracked <i hate that word ‘lovers’ by the way. love-er. almost hate that as much as the M word.>
but there is a reason i picked december.
it is the last month in the year and i’d like to lose 40 lbs before going to paris. i better start. that’s a lot of weight in not a lot of time. the problem is, i don’t really want to change anything. it’s no secret that ROF and i like the good life. and that is what it is. indulgence. we like good friends, good wine, good food, good everything! and i love living that kind of life with ROF. but i’m going to have to tap the brakes, as they say, before paris.
because this is my DREAM TRIP and i can’t settle for anything less than feeling great while i’m there.
so if you have some diet pointers (other than stop opening your mouth and eating good things) – send them my way. use the code word “PARIS”. I’ll know what you’re talking about.
toronto//travel
18 Febthis past weekend, ROF and i scurried off to toronto for a weekend getaway.
it was my first time ever in canada and i loved it. only 4 hours away from birmingham, michigan it wasn’t a bad trip at all. i was glad to read my friend and former neighbor’s great travel blog: roam & home before i went and we then knew about some restaurants and areas to hit.
we stayed at the park hyatt toronto which we do because we have upgrade points and really enjoy their hotels. while typically i’d say to stay somewhere local – i’ve since rescinded my pov on that. it’s nice to explore local neighborhoods and restaurants and cities and then sleep somewhere somewhat familiar. what do you think?
anyway, at the top of the hyatt was an awesome bar. you know the type, low lit, manly decor with great big stools and lounging couches and tables. it had a wrap around deck too. it was there that we met joe gomes a bartender that has been at the same bar for 54 years. we loved him and you can see his picture below. he has been the source of several interviews and it was awesome to be able to hang with him for a while.
we went to la societe bistro on bloor street, walkable from our hotel, and had the best escargot in the world. thanks to jeff & sherri for that recommendation. the next day we explored a wonderful area called queen street west which is just a funky fun street with all kinds of shops and restaurants. i kicked ROF’s ass in cards at a coffee shop there. we also went to terroni which was absolutely outstanding. thanks karen v for that suggestion. we had a puzzo pizza and calamari and some italian soda and beer. perfect for a snowy saturday afternoon. of course, i had to snag some olive oil and marinated peppers to bring back.
we then headed back to the hotel and because it was snowing quite ferociously, we stayed in the hotel and had a wonderful dinner at annona where we could look out at the beautiful sparkly snow. the seafood risotto and the salmon were to die for!
so much looking forward to my next canadian adventure!
rendezvous with ROF in raleigh
21 Jan
great weekend in raleigh, north carolina with ROF. he is there on business and i thought i’d swing in and say hello. as you can imagine, we didn’t eat at burger king. more like we ate like kings. oh yeah, it wasn’t any warmer in raleigh except for during the day – it was a nice 50 degrees (12 degrees now in b’ham folks!)
friday night, we went to a place called THE PIT which was anything but the pits. upscale BBQ in a rehabbed sweet space in historic raleigh. fried pimento cheese balls, beef brisket and more. we had a great time. it was just great to be with ROF.
saturday morning we walked all over the town and took in the sites of the ice skaters at the rink outside our hotel, played cards at starbucks, napped and then hit the town again. this time to a street food place called Buku. inspired by all the street food around the world, they served it tapas style. we took in mussels (out of this world), pierogi, dumplings and more. and a bottle of silver oak. then we headed home to the hotel and started “skyfall” before falling into a sated sleep halfway through.
sunday, we chilled out, finished skyfall and started one of our long lost AFI top 100 movies “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” which, by the way is freaking excellent. however, it just solidifies my reasons for not getting politically involved. bunch of rats all of them.
here are some snaps from the weekend.
traveling review: fargo, nd
11 Janfargo is not a place that you get excited about going to – especially in the middle of january. especially if you’re a “big city” girl like myself. but here’s the deal. i like it. i like it a lot. like most cities, the drive from the airport to the hotel is less than flattering.
it’s a drab to say the least. but if you remember the last time i was here (click here) i ate at a fantastic restaurant that was at the bottom of a really cool hotel. so i stayed there this time and i was more than glad.
first of all. welcome to fargo:
second of all, welcome to hotel donaldson or HODO as it is affectionately known as:
the 17 room hotel that has been around since the 1800’s – as a hotel. completely redone in 2000 and opened in 2002, the hotel celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary this year. i would have never guessed it was 10 years old. 3 maybe tops. the lobby is on the second floor. there i was greeted by the host who checked me in and pointed out the “happy hour” in the lobby which was shrimp, pate, hummus and other goodies with soft drinks, wine and beer. i snagged a diet coke. each room is specially designed and decorated by a local artist. i was upgraded to room 17. when i opened the door, i was instantly stung with a tinge of guilt. this was a work trip but i’m having too much fun. look at this huge room! complete with a bathtub in the middle of the room. the water fills the tub from the ceiling. hello. needless to say, i didn’t take a bath but the pottery that filled the room was gorgeous. the ceiling was both open and vaulted.
but the deliciousness of fargo doesn’t end there. i had dinner downstairs at the hodo lounge by myself and had a meal made for foodies. and the place was packed on a wednesday night.
in fargo?
i started with the scallop and leak soup which was creamy and every bite had a scallop.
and then had the chicken. oh..sigh…let me describe it the way they did.
chicken mulligatawny: spring prairie farm chicken breast, steel cut oat risotto, squash, pomegranate, almonds, coconut curry sauce, jalapeño and cilantro.
outstanding. i am spoilt. if it makes you feel any better, i was all by myself!
i went back up to my room and had this waiting for me:
it actually is a nice little town. the local pride that is in the HODO – filled the walls with books written by local artists, art and food from local communities. i just can’t help but fall in love with such a passionate little place!
the lesson here? always look for the diamond in the rough.
taking off!
8 Jani’ll be honest with you – sometimes it’s hard not being a mom in a mom-filled world. there is a bit of that feeling of missing out on something. and i am. i get it.
but that is kind of superficial thinking because all moms know being a good mom takes more than just the desire to “be one”. so on the flip side of that feeling is the confidence of having made smart choices in my life- i’ve made a lot of them including waiting to marry the man of my dreams instead of “mr. maybe” years ago just so i could have kids. as i’ve said before, if the relationship isn’t right between mom and dad – it isn’t a good basis to bring kids into the world – crap rolls downhill as they say. it starts at the top.
i’ve also wanted to blog for a long time on why there isn’t a better way to bond with other childless couples other than using the word childless or DINK. both really kind of negative words, wouldn’t you say? i guess nothing has to be said but i wish there was a term that defined: happy/loving life and each other. why aren’t there resources for us, a way for us to bond? we have several couple friends who are very happy and don’t have kids. as i roll these questions around and come to no solid conclusion, something happened that jolted me out of my serious pondering:
road. trip.
oh wait… two more…
last. minute.
yep, on friday night at about 7pm after i got home from work to a fire in the fireplace, a glass of wine waiting for me, ROF said to me “want to go to chicago tomorrow?” that would be a … yes. so we gave max to carla at the canine inn and hit the road. we roughed it. suite at the park hyatt, a bottle of plumpjack, tour of all my old condos and dinner thanks to chicago’s most wonderful socialite and personality and good friend, candace jordan (thanks candace!) at one of my dad’s favorite places in the world (and no reservations available for months) gibson’s steakhouse.
we got home to b’ham sunday at a decent hour, did a little work and went to bed. i love my man and i appreciate our life as a DINK!
hello detroit
4 Deci’ll admit this.
wherever i live is cool. that is not to say that because i am somewhere that is why that place is cool. it’s just i can’t possibly live somewhere that isn’t alive.
full disclosure, i love chicago. that will always be my city and only my city. i embraced it with everything i was when i was in my teens and 20’s. i grew up there and i drank that city in every morning and celebrated it every night. i never, ever took it for granted.
then the move to dallas. at first, i hated it. i didn’t know her and for that matter, didn’t know anyone else. luckily i had a job i loved and met my husband whom i love more. dallas is to rof just as i am to chicago. his passion for dallas transfered to me and we’ll always have the warm friendships we’ve made and we’ll always be texans.
but now we’re all about a new place.
this is a place that people have no problem feeling free to scrinch up their nose and say “EWWWW good luck to you” based on absolutely nothing. they’ve never been here. a place that does have it’s issues but more than that has a tenacity, passion and extraordinary beauty.
take a look at these pictures. know where we are now?
if you were to say detroit, you’d be right. i snapped these pictures from the top of a parking garage on my way from a client meeting downtown. it gets so much better. i can’t wait to share with you.
road tripping
6 Novwe’re on the road to our new adventure and we’re excited. on this election day, to have just driven through texas, oklahoma, missouri, illinois, ohio, indiana and now just entering the beautiful state of michigan – we feel blessed to be Americans.
at the same time, we pray for susan and mike and new jersey who are STILL in darkness and cold.
here are some pics from our adventure with max’s first long car ride and 2 hotel stays. he loves adventure!
new york botanical gardens escape
16 Octwhile in NY for business, i got a chance to stay until saturday at my sister/brother in-laws house in chatham, nj.
you can’t beat new jersey in the fall. you know, now that i think about it – new jersey and detroit are very similar. yes, one is a state and one is a city but they both have totally skewed perceptions about them. you’d think (from the media) that the minute you step in new jersey a mad housewife is going to come yelling at you or a snookie is going to bump into you at the grocery store. but new jersey is gorgeous.
detroit – same thing. while some of it true – it is still the murder capital of the country and all – no one ever mentions how fantastic the neighboring towns are.
anyway, fodder for a future post. i was thinking it, so i wrote it.
susan and i went to the beautiful new york botanical gardens in the bronx (hello…the bronx y’all!) last week we stole away for a few hours and walked the grounds where there was a monet exhibit and had a wonderful lunch. we also rode a tram (freezing cold!!) around the entire grounds. who knew it was started in the 1800’s? not i.
this picture above was not made in the future. yes, it is only october, 2012 not 2013 but i can’t change it or don’t have time to – so please ignore. thanks mom for letting me know!
slumming it in michigan
23 Sepextremely successful trip to michigan. and it’s fall. can’t beat michigan in the fall. can you? i’d like to see you try!
this week: vegas, paris, chicago & cinci!
14 Septhis has been a crazy week. glad to be unwinding with a little cab franc and this 60 degree weather in dallas.
so this week was interesting in the way of travel and photos. kinda cool to get the photos i got messaged to me. oh, i love technology!
i was in vegas for a chevy meeting, ROF was in columbus, ohio and naperville, il (hello? i grew up here!) and my sister katie was in cincinnati where my grandma lived and my mom grew up. very very near and dear to my heart. lastly, d, a great friend of ours, is in paris (my ultimate dream location which i’ve never been) and he has been sending me snaps all week.
so, these were the photos i got and took this week.
while i was waiting wednesday morning for a friend to go to a meeting with, i saw this. a dude in his robe and baseball cap holding an elevator and hanging out. what happens in vegas … goes on a blog, dude.
this was our house in naperville. i got this from ROF who was there for a couple of days. i lived in this house from the summer before my sophomore year in high school until i moved downtown chicago when i was 23 years old. my family then moved on to dallas when i was 25. so this house brings back so-many-memories. i can tear up thinking of them. thanks, ROF.
this snap was sent by my sister, katie. she was in cincinnati and this was my grandparents condo on erie avenue in hyde park right across from the hyde park country club where they were founding members. this also brings back so many many memories. i can remember what the condo smelled like – leather and just baked mini bran muffins (my grandma was a stickler about maintaining her weight) i remember the bottom drawer of her dresser in her bedroom (2 twin beds – one for her, one for grandpa) that held plastic bangles of all shapes, sizes and colors. i used to put those on up to my elbow. the other thing i used to do – which is really funny – is when i got a little older, like that awkward middle school age, was read the dirty parts of her “romance” novels. note, they weren’t today’s standard of “dirty” they were super tame but…hello…granny!!
lastly, d really came through for me on texting pictures of paris.
i hope i get to experience this city. i may have it all built up in my head but i’m a very passionate person – about life, love, work, family, art etc… and this (TO ME) is the city that personifies that to me. everything about it is passionate – right down to the food, the sidewalk cafes – everything. thanks d for letting me live vicariously through you for the week!
that’s it for now folks. have a great weekend!
SAN FRANCISCO + NAPA
31 Augyou know, i’m a little scared to admit this in public, but… it’s fun to eat.
yes, it is important to be healthy, be skinny and fashionable and all that blah blah blah boring stuff. but it is also fun to enjoy a great meal, good wine, great company and excellent atmosphere. oh, so good!
(my dad was a lot like that)
here are some places we went to in san fran. we got so many suggestions from some great people but time was limited.
tadich grill. we heard about it here.
walking distance from our hotel on the Embarcadaro, this restaurant was about an hour wait, but well worth it.
but wait, i’m getting ahead of myself.... we actually went to the famous “house of prime rib” the night before. i kid you not. now, i am not a prime rib type of gal. but i got major brownie points from ROF for taking him here. and i enjoyed myself big time. have to admit that i got teary thinking about how much my dad would have loved this place. we got there early and sat at the packed bar – actually it was a PACKED restaurant. there were many cool things i liked about this place:
1. we got to know the bartender, pete, who had been there for over 23 years. he wanted to know all about us – where we were from, what we were doing in san fran. he was swamped too – but really took the time to make us feel special.
2. while seated at the bar, a group of about 7 or 8 old men in suit coats walked by us – i mean they were in their late 80’s and 90’s. all decked out. so cool. probably have been going there for many years.
3. a local couple sat by us and energetically struck up a conversation about the place and it was a highlight to chat it up with them and get insider scoop.
4. did i mention i got brownie points from my main man for coming here?
hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend!
schwoosh, sniff, sip: our napa wine experience
29 Aughere it comes... my disection of our dream vacation and honeymoon to san fran and napa. we just got back yesterday!
i’m gonna break it down in several different posts because, as you will surely see, our concentration was placed in two specific places: eating and drinking. (is there anything else?)
ROF and i work well together. he loves to plan and, coincidently, so do i. but neither of us is obnoxious about sticking to the plans we’ve made. he takes care of the airline and hotel and i take care of the restaurants and things to do (shopping). on this trip, ROF did an outstanding job of planning out the wineries we went to see — and that is what I’ve chosen to focus this blog post on today.
the wineries–the drink.
first off, there are a couple of different things you can do at different vineyard’s in the napa valley.
1. there is the pop-in technique
2. the scheduled tasting
3. reserved tour
there are probably other ways to do napa valley but these were the ways we chose.
we had 3 days in napa valley and wanted to make the best of them.
side note: ROF and i really enjoy good wine. so this was a special treat for us to learn more about the things we enjoy.
the first way to make the best use of our time was to get a driver on saturday. typically, you could never see as many places in one day as we did, but because we didn’t have to drive or navigate we saw lots of places and then headed back to san francisco. at least that is the excuse we’re using.
saturday, august 25th
andretti winery: owned by famous race car driver, mario andretti who has a taste for fine wine and food. the building and adjoined house were unbelievable. this was a good starting place for us and ROF wanted to go because he is a huge fan of mario and his whole family and has met mario before. he was actually in town and staying at the house but we didn’t see him. the shop was eclectic with food, cool clothes, books and great photographs of the family.
for the wine tasting, it was ok. it was not very informative – just a pour and sip. underwhelming but not bad. glad we went but don’t need to go back
silver oak vineyard: this is a favorite “special” occasion wine for us. we’ve had it several times and the winery was beautiful and very busy. kind of like you’re checking in at a hotel. they were extremely knowledgable and nice. gorgeous grounds and facility and as mentioned, some of our favorite wine. they only make cabernet. and it’s good. real good.
i’m starting to get used to the drill by now. small pour, swoosh in the glass observe the color and clarity, take a big sniff and note the notes, undertones, overtones, peppery, smooth finish. i appreciate the differences in all .
caymus vineyard: this is my favorite-wine-ever. i was drinking it when ROF proposed (thanks to paul & kelly!) we watched a video on this family – the wagners – before we made this appointment and fell in love with the family story behind this vineyard.
we arrived early and were met by a very welcoming woman who introduced herself and let us know that we were waiting for a bigger party to join us. this was a scheduled “sit down” tasting (vs the andretti and silver oak pop in.) she gave us two glasses and asked us to sit in a reserved table outside on the beautiful patio. she brought us a taste of wine and then a nice guy kept coming outside and filling our glasses. the atmosphere was so friendly – and fun!
when the wedding party group arrived – of about 10 girls – we all went into a private room and sat around a dining room table. believe it or not, as we were chit-chatting (ROF was the only guy at first) we found out that the girl sitting next to us worked for the marketing arm and works in the same building as me. hello small world.
this wine was presented to us by a passionate and smart guy who worked for the vineyard. he gave an hour presentation of five different wines including their special select. to me, this is the best wine in the world. it’s so complex and every sip is delicious. i could go on forever.
miner winery: this was a pop-in tasting and the view was beautiful. busy shop and the tasting was ok. great wine and fantastic being there during harvest. they had a glass wall where you could see the production.
stag’s leap winery: another one of our favorite wines. this place was a full on production and quite cool. it was set up like a restaurant with a hostess stand. we were a little bit tipsy at this point (the happy, having a ball kind of tipsy) and told everyone we were on our honeymoon and we got some attention. not that we like attention. they had barrels set up as tables inside and out. inside was dark and they poured us some of their great wine. we got a pretty hard sell to join their wine club but by this time we said “driver – home!”
sunday, august 26th
we were on our own having just checked out of the san fran hotel and we headed up early to napa.
pride vineyard: got an excellent tip from dave & laura busker, our good friends from NYC about this winery. WOW, were we happy we went. ROF did some homework and booked a tour. this was our first official tour (#2 above, remember). first of all, the drive up to this vineyard and winery was UNBELIEVABLE. it was steep and winding and scattered with houses and winerys and huge trees.
once there, it was breathtaking!
we got paired up with 3 other couples and our tour guide – jake. we toured the cave which is where good grapes go to turn into wine. we had samples from stations stationed throughout the cave. jake was young, knowledgeable and answered all our questions. at one point, we drank wine straight from the barrel. we learned about how much goes into wine – so many variables:
altitude, humidity, what kind of barrel, how old the barrel, when the grapes are picked, where the grapes came from – the mountain, the valley – everything.
the pride family started this vineyard from scratch. we would highly, highly recommend. this was a treat!
sterling vineyards: we pulled into the driveway here and saw the line to get in and kept driving. drove next door to where there was no one but us!
twomey cellars: the two words that got us in here were on the sign out front: in the SILVER OAK family. quaint tasting room with a friendly man who knew a lot about the wine. since silver oak only makes only cab, twomey had merlot and pinot that was fantastic. we schwooshed/smelled/sipped/sampled. very glad we popped in here and by the time we left, several other people had filed in after us.
background: ROF went here 6 years ago and spoke highly of this tour and of this sparkling wine. it has an unbelievable story with it’s beginning in 1862! schramsberg has also played a role in world history. the blanc de blancs was used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with China’s premier Zhou Enlai. schramsberg’s sparkling wines have been served at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration since. ROF was so excited to show me this place and go on our second tour.
the reality: our tour guide stunk. there is no other way to put it. he was a teacher during the week and gave tours at the winery on sunday. he talked so much i thought my legs were going to give out underneath me. he took us into their cave and KEPT US IN THERE FOREVER!! he poured us 6 or 7 different sparkling wines with his opinion of what went best with each one. “this one is great with spicy tacos”. “this one is good with buttery or fatty fish” “this one is good with chips and oreos”. he repeated himself several times by insisting that champagne is good to drink anytime like after rush hour. blahblahblahblah!
he drove ROF and i up a wall – or i should say out of the cave! we finally got out of there by asking if there was a club we could join. in which he said yes and (got the hint) picked up all of “his” leftover champaign pouring bottles (6 or 7!) and led us to the door. we paid $90 for this tour and felt it was very unprofessional for such an iconic vineyard and american success story. we love the product – when you see it – buy it and drink it. but we won’t go back there again.
and as it turns out, ROF and i had a better experience the next day – our own story – so it is ok that schramsberg experience stank.
monday, august 27th
oh no…. we’re not done yet. you may need to go get yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of vino to finish this!
hall vineyard and cellars: by far, this was our favorite tour of all the places we went. this was special to us because we’ve had hall wine in dallas at some of our favorite restaurants. also because the owners of this vineyard live in dallas and he a business owner there. ROF has friends who have worked closely with him. their story – craig and kathryn – is fantastic. i urge you to read their story in the link i provided.
we got to the tasting room a little early and i have to say, i wasn’t too keen on sampling wine at 10:30 in the morning – also after having such a jam packed last two days. i may have been a little grumpy even but i put on my smiley face and went in. this was a private tour – just ROF and me and our tour guide, john. as we found out – john and robert grew up only 5 miles apart from each other in new jersey.
john was the most knowledgable and interesting person we’ve met on this trip. he said “hope you’re ready to really see it!” and he took us clear into the vineyard itself where we picked different grapes and ate them out in the field. we saw the bottling process up close and he took us to the huge vats of wine and told us about the process of creating great wine. this is a boutique vineyard – producing 75,000 cases a year. he spent a good hour with us walking around the facility. but then we sat down in the shade and he brought us a cheese and fruit platter and gave us a tasting of 5 of their wines. we enjoyed talking with him, learning about this unbelievable power couple from our hometown and sipping some great wine. perfect start to the day. and of course, after the first sample of wine, i was just back in the saddle again!
we got an awesome surprise towards the end of our time there when john brought out a bottle of wine for us from a business partner and friend of ROF’s – john wilson. what a treat! we were thrilled to say the least.
our next appointment wasn’t for a few hours, so we had lunch and drove near a place that our friend dave anderson’s family owned off of sage canyon road and next to chappellet vineyard. it was a beautiful drive. ROF told me of great memories he had at this house with dave and some friends.
last, but not least, was opus one.
known to most as simply the best wine there is – this was $80 for two glasses of wine. typically, i won’t be so class-less about putting price in here but i had to for this. FOR TWO GLASSES. that is like the same as a decent scarf or something! this didn’t surprise me, because i’m familiar with the wine, but they basically poured you a glass of excellent ’03 vintage or ’08 vintage and you walk around. it’s just something that you have to do once. there is also no where else in the world you can get “just a glass” of opus! you have to buy the whole $200+ bottle. anyway, it was a stunning, stunning place.
well that is all for part I: the wine. i hope you enjoyed this – but probably not as much as we did going! have you been to napa valley? what did you think?
hometown love. edition one.
12 Augif you’re ever in the big d, meaning dallas, check out some of our favorite places to eat. sure, you can peruse yelp.com in search of strangers reviews and taste bud preferences but why do that when you can see what we like. this by no means is an exhaustive list, just a start.
Get the flounder stuffed with ritz cracker – outstanding! on greenville avenue
start with the ahi tuna tower and then you must have the sundae roll. also on greenville ave.
cane russo. best pizza without a doubt. this is the dessert pizza. go. here. now. hip atmosphere too. if you’re into social media, tweet about @canerusso because the owner jay will retweet you! in deep ellum.
- a must visit place with bar in center of restaurant. get anything – it’s all great. on greenville
live from pagosa COLORADO
21 Juntoo busy vacationing to write. here is some eye candy for you:
lunch in durango
the house where we are staying – thank you Beckmans! love it here.
a bit of the view from the inside
lovely durango!
road to the house
bigger picture of the house where we’re staying
best husband/bartender/chef/card player
greetings from colorado
19 Jun
spending some quality time with some very quality folks in beautiful colorado. what an unbelievable blessing it has been to be able to do this two years in a row. i use the word “blessing” and not “lucky” because it ain’t “luck” that got us here to God’s country! we’re staying at some friend’s of ROF’s parent’s house and it is truly unbelievable.
i’ve needed this break for a while. i’ve needed it because i’m truly burnt out. is that PC to say? not too many people admit it when they are burnt out because maybe that is a sign of weakness but i don’t really care. i’m weak right now. so what, i bounce back.
i hate that i have the same goals and objectives for my vacation as i do for “real life”. i feel like i need to be accomplishing something every day. but my mom just said it best: ” i just want to hang out with you guys and have good conversation, play cards and maybe have a glass of wine or two.” just staring at the scenery has transported us. the picture above is one my sister took off the back porch. pretty amazing. here are some more pictures of our trip so far. ROF has made his amazing flank steak (we haven’t eaten meat in months!) and noodles. katie fixed a scrumptious breakfast of poachies this morning.
oh, forgot to tell you a BRILLIANT idea i had. it is based on something we did for a holiday and currently doing. each person has to bring two $25 gift certificates to anything. we then tape them up to a wall. we then play spades, like non-stop, and the winning team gets to pick a certificate – EACH! mom and i won round one and i picked a DSW shoe warehouse card and mom picked a BRAUM’S ice cream card. she orders a “chunky cappuccino chocolate chip in a waffle cone” from there every week and now she can get 16 of them for free thanks to this game. by the way, that was ROF who was thoughtful enough to get that card with her in mind. you woulda thought she’d won the lottery! so the idea is this… i’m going to bring cards back! i’m going to start a monthly thursday night card party at a local restaurant (louie’s side room?) and everyone has to bring XX and we play cards! will keep you posted.
eating at: wayzata, minnesota
6 Jun
minnesota is one of those states you don’t hear much about (outside of it)
and i know why – it is paradise and no one wants you to know about it! truly. the land of the lakes. it is just a picture perfect state. at least the places I’ve seen. like wayzata, minnesota. quaint, clean – perfect. enjoyed a great dinner last night with beth from the agency before our meeting today. fresh fish – can’t beat it.
around the country//delray beach//eats
30 Mayi’m starting a new regular post called “eats”. the original design of the posts were for me to highlight places i go all over the country like fargo, new york, new mexico and other exciting places like that. but then i thought to myself – why do all the work?!? not when i have friends all over the country who eat out all the time and can send me their favorite places. if you want to participate, please leave me a message below or send me an email
today, i want to highlight (and appreciate) barb sciarrino’s favorite restaurant in florida. and her stellar photography! she just got back from there with her family and although i’m in dallas and she is in the detroit office of our agency, i know (via Facebook) just how tan this girl is. plus, barb – your pictures of the food MADE ME DROOL – and i’m not even hungry. thanks barb. check out this restaurant, if you’re in town…
from the desk of barb:
Tramonti is one of our favorite restaurants in Delray Beach, FL.
We vacation there every year, and this is the one place we never miss. It’s a great Italian restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach. It is owned by the same owners of Angelo’s of Mulberry Street in New York’s Little Italy, a famous NY tourist attraction!
My lunch choice was eggplant parmesan which was fabulous!
My husband Sam’s choice was Calamari in Casseruola, which is squid in a spicy tomato sauce over angel hair pasta.
Dessert was (of course) a cannoli made of ricotta/cream filling, chocolate chips, and a scoop of whip cream on the side. Accompanied by an espresso!
A taste of Little Italy right in south Florida. The waiters even all speak Italian!
last day of travels – santa fe
16 Apr
yesterday we rolled into santa fe, new mexico. ROF had been here several times (like 8) but it was my first time. he kept saying how much he knew i’d like this place and he was right. he gave me a driving tour of the downtown area and then we stopped at a wonderful restaurant called:
santacafe
there were many of reasons to love this upscale eatery: the white walls and small rooms, the awesome bar and the great service. but i loved the two ladies sitting next to us who were in their 80’s dishing up the local gossip. they cracked us up.
we had asparagus soup, chicken salad and tiger prawns. great way to start our trip.
we then headed over to the famed canyon road – a couple of miles of of art galleries. #2 in art sales behind new york. these places were fabulous and we spent the afternoon checking out the art. not only was the art work great, but the old houses that the galleries were in were unbelievable.
i really liked a piece by billy schenck. an american painter who incorporates techniques from photo-realism with a pop art sensibility that both exalts and pokes fun at images of the west. he was andy warhol’s assistant. this is the piece on display that i could see hanging in my home office.
we walked around the plaza and window-shopped. it was freaking freezing out! we went to the coyote cantina and sat outside and it started to hail, i kid you not.
dinner that night was absolutely outstanding. ROF and i have been making superior healthy food choices as of the last month and a half. tonight we slightly splurged but not really as we shared. honestly, one of the best dinners we’ve ever had:
coyote cafe
walking home to our hotel, the sky was an azure color and so beautiful.
speaking of our hotel – since we stayed only one night, we mailed it in and stayed at the hilton on the square. but as it turns out, we did not mail it in – it was….SWEET! 400 years old and rooms completely modernized with fresh art – it was a perfect choice!
this morning found us at pasquel’s at 8am opening time for an award winning breakfast and coffee.
now we are back on the road headed to big d. only an 10 hour drive.
luckily, ROF and i love to drive together so i’m looking forward to the day.
ne’er had i found on earth
15 AprNe’er had I found on earth a spot that had such power to please,
- Such shadows from the summer sun, such odors on the breeze;
- I threw my mantle on the ground, that I might rest at ease,
- And stretched upon the greensward lay in the shadow of the trees.
- There soft reclining in the shade, all cares beside me flung,
- I heard the soft and mellow notes that through the woodland rung;
- Ear never listened to a strain, for instrument or tongue,
- So mellow and harmonious as the songs above me sung.
- from the praise of spring by gonzalo de berceo 1180-1246
- –Translated by H. W. Longfellow
there is something magical about new mexico.
- the smell of pinon wood burning, the cool breeze, the sense that the grounds have been appreciated by many many people and animals. ROF and i took a great walk this morning – a 2.6 mile trail down to the Rio Grande river and around and back. it was windy and chilly but beautiful. there were signs that said to beware of wildlife like wild cats. i do not appreciate that because i’m instantly scared but ROF’s ever-loving laughter at my fraidy cat tendancies calm me somehow and i march on with confidence.
- we were treated to a dance by the indigenous people outside our balcony. we sipped on green tea while ROF joined in the fun:
- and then we had an excellent dinner on site at the corn maiden restaurant. it looked so quiet and peaceful outside, inside it was alive and had a great bar and a bunch of different rooms with a view of that beautiful mountain behind us.
hope you have a great sunday! XXOO
day 3ish travels
14 Aprno cell service on this indian reservation-turned resort.
was in cleveland, ohio yesterday, denver the day before and today finds me in between albuquerque and santa fe, new mexico. ROF picked me up at the airport at 8pm and we drove west to amarillo and arrived at 2am.
the next day, we went to a really cool art display of caddies driven into the ground called ‘cadillac ranch’. but my favorite part was taking old route 66 and seeing the unbelievable deserted hotels. it was all i could do not to tear down one of these motel signs. as you can see i had fun putting these together in my photo apps. ROF’s favorite part was the transition of scenery from west texas into mountainous new mexico
this is the view out our window this morning:
this was our view at 6pm last night, a shared tequilla patron sampler
have a great weekend!
day 2. the suspense continues. where am i??
12 Aprok, so i know i’m keeping you hanging on about where am i now? it’s been all the rage… “where’s the appreciator??” not. anyway…go through these pics slowly and try and guess where i am now. yesterday, i was in denver and today i am….
fargo & good food: oxymoron?
23 Marup until this week, the only thing i ever thought about when i heard the word “fargo” was this:
but i actually went to the real fargo, north dakota this week with the CEO of my agency: harold and beth out of the minneapolis/chicago office and mark from our media partner, usim. we went for a meeting and had some time before our flights to check out the town of fargo. we discovered the most unbelievable restaurant. do you like how i said “we”? if beth, harold and mark are reading this, they are saying to themselves “fulford, you didn’t discover anything…poser” THEY discovered it the night before and we all went back for lunch. this place belongs in austin, chicago or minny – not fargo!
don’t get me wrong i’m not dissing fargo. from the 24 hours i was there it seemed like quite the place.
but still – this place was off the hook good.
SIDENOTE: isn’t life so much more grande when you work with fun people? we had quite the team in fargo and not only did we all feel great about the work we did and the great people we met but the laughs at lunch made it an all around enjoyable experience. it’s so important to not take yourself TOO seriously and have the ability to enjoy the company of people you work so hard with together. ok, now back to the food.
here are some great pics from our lunch yesterday. we got to meet the chef nicknamed “Dirty” who was this young, local fargoian cooking up unbelievable goods. harold even bought us all tee-shirts –
Harold and Mark
so that was our lunch in fargo. lovely being there but for me, not lovely getting home! storms in the big d prevented me from getting home so i flew straight into cleveland and just got home last night. talk to you soon. always appreciate good, healthy food and hard-working, fun people. XXOO
detroit runs deep
8 Mari’ve really missed all of you, big time. i miss writing and all that creative stuff.
today, i want to reflect on the past 2 weeks i’ve spent in the great city of detroit. it actually was just 6 days but who’s counting? i don’t know if it is the new airport (first impressions…) urban raw-ness mixed with international flavor. being the global headquarters for great american automobiles does add a certain important scent to the air. or maybe it’s the coneys. i don’t know what it is but i’m starting to dig it.
ok, so if you’ve never been to the General Motor Renaissance Center – World Headquarters, you’re in for a treat. every time i walk in there i’m amazed. first of all, you need to read about it (it’s interesting, i promise)
Renaissance Center (also known as the GM Renaissance Center and nicknamed the RenCen) is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in Downtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. Located on the International Riverfront, the Renaissance Center complex is owned by General Motors as its world headquarters. The central tower, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, is the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, and features the largest rooftop restaurant, Coach Insignia.[7] It has been the tallest building in Michigan since its erection in 1977.
John Portman was the principal architect for the original design. The first phase constructed a five tower rosette rising from a common base. Four 39-story office towers surround the 73-story hotel rising from a square-shaped podium which includes a shopping center, restaurants, brokerage firms, banks, a four-screen movie theatre and private clubs.[8][9] The first phase officially opened in March 1977. Portman’s design renewed attention to city architecture,[9] constructing the world’s tallest hotel at the time.[7] Two additional 21-story office towers (known as Tower 500 and Tower 600) opened in 1981. This type of complex has been termed a city within a city.
so let me take you on a tour of little bits of the inside… if you’re into M.C Escher, you’d love this huge building. i spend most of my time in tower 100.
so i stayed on the 59th floor of the marriott and took these pretty incredible pics outside my window. that is canada on the other side of the river:
obviously, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding GM but i can honestly say, from an insider’s point of view that the vehicles they are putting out are top-of-the-line awesome. personally, i think it is a lot cooler to drive a quality American car or truck than to drive a status symbol. and we all know how cool i am. lol
las vegas food: dare i say
31 Jangoing to las vegas the third week into my life-changing diet wasn’t the best of ideas,
but it wasn’t about me. it was about my sister’s birthday – her 40th. so indulge we did and boy am i paying the price for it now.
i don’t need to tell you that las vegas is an adult playground. it is over-the-top food, games, shows, people watching (and cigarette smoke which just killed us, by the way). i’m now sicker than a dog with a fever but i will survive. here’s a peek at some of the incredible food we had in vegas. here are some places we went:
this place had some of the best burgers i’ve ever had:
room service had a nice, small breakfast
by far, our favorite night was at mastro’s ocean club in city center by the cosmopolitan and the aria. this restaurant from the atmosphere, service, food was outstanding. look at this structure inside a shopping center:
we started with a lemon drop martini which came in extra large glasses, the martini shaker and dry ice pouring out of the glass. it was a pretty spectacular and dramatic cocktail for the table:
then you know you’re at a great restaurant when the waiter (mike) picks three of their best desserts on the house and delivers them to katie as a present at the end of the night:
so as you can see, the diet must continue with just a small weekend set back. good thing i’m ill because eating hasn’t been my strong suit.
appreciating: las vegas & the cosmopolitan
28 Janloving las vegas.
this is the way to do it too. upgraded to the 59th floor suite at the cosmopolitan facing the ballagio fountains. enjoying this city the right way & with family! more later… here are some pictures of my sister’s 40th. we’ll return to regular blogging after this trip…
the lobby of the Cosmopolitan in Vegas is the coolest i've ever been in - completely digital the entire enviroment changed every 14 minutes
our room:
kitchen
living room
partial bedroom - so beautiful!
bathroom #1 - we have 2 full bathrooms
banquette - for gin playing and crazy breakfast
bedroom again and view
view from terrace that stretches from living room past the master
interesting art in this suite too:
the birthday girl is having a ball! starting from the get-go …right from the airport:
we were joined by my mom’s sister and brother in law – aunt sally and uncle ed to round out the perfect birthday celebration party. going to write a full post on sisters including katie and i, my mom and aunt sal and kirsten and britt. what a special relationship…
great lunch at the eiffel tower restaurant
