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Mission Gardens in Tucson
October 19, 2015
— 1 Comment
Half Moon Beer
Mission Garden
gourd crop
adobe ramada
irrigation system
Regina Romero, City Council
historic crops
A Mountain
Missy the party cow
Bob dining in the garden
sunset dining in the garden
sunset dining in the garden
The Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace held a fine dinner party in the garden yesterday. Our historic Mission Garden has been rebuilt in the original site close to the Santa Cruz River. The agricultural heritage of the location is ancient. The garden is being developed as a living museum preserving original species grown by the Spanish colonial conquistadors who built the San Augustin Mission. The orchard of stone fruits, citrus, quince and figs is growing strong and bearing fruit. Gardens of okra, corn, chiles and other native crops thrive within the walls of the preserved site.
Local chefs were invited to create specialties for the Farm to Table event. We were excited to taste the food and also to get to tour the gardens. Musicians were hired to play throughout the space, which added an artistic note to the already splendid surroundings. The city councilwoman from that ward spoke briefly about the importance of agricultural history and her own family’s collection of historic recipes. All the food was over the top creative and fresh. My partner Bob enjoyed the grass fed beef and the buffalo chile, but most of the dishes served were vegetarian. Drinks were served with dinner, but for an extra fee we enjoyed a specialty beer brewed from organic wheat grown from preserved species. The beer tasted fantastic, and sold out quickly.
The event was a success for all involved. The chefs, no doubt, won some new fans with their creative concoctions. The garden certainly is a place we will plan to visit again in the future. In fact we may go to the quince festival next weekend at which we would have chance to win a special antique Spanish heirloom variety quince tree. The quince crop is ripe and abundant in the orchard, looking very pretty. The beauty and history preserved in this spot is a great asset to the city, and will only improve with time.
California Heals
September 18, 2015
— 1 Comment
Mark 6:31
super staff
Miracle Springs Resort
Hot springs around the world have been used for healing purposes for centuries. The word spa is derived from a backronym (created in later times) in Latin, Salus per aquam, health through water. The meaning has been broadened to such an extent that today it is hard to know what it means. To me it still means drinking and soaking in mineral spring water. I have visited many spots around the world to enjoy balneotherapy and the benefits of drinking specialty water. On our road trip I am introducing my friend to the concept. We are staying 3 nights in Desert Hot Springs at the Miracle Springs Resort. This is the best deal I know for a mineral hot spring stay in the United States. There are small hotels and inns all around town with the water, but only this one, and the sister spa next door, to which guests also have access, offer so much space and so many different water temperatures available 24 hours daily. Nights under the stars are particularly wonderful in the pools.
My friend has just retired from work and had never experienced body work. I encouraged him to try it. He enjoyed his first massage tremendously. His therapist was excellent, according to him. Prices for services here are very reasonable, and I have always had good results. The hotel has upgraded some of the amenities since my last visit, and changed managers. The staff is professional, knowledgeable, and very friendly. The initiation of my friend has been very successful. He is quickly turning into a spa bunny.
If you think spa means nail salon, jacuzzi, or an all-inclusive week-long excercise program I urge you to think again. Health is our only real wealth. A few days of mineral water hot spring soaking and drinking can make a world of difference to your wellbeing.
Miracle Springs Resort
California Hip
September 17, 2015
— 1 Comment
Buddha waterfall
I can adopt a prejudice and keep it forever for no particular reason. I decided long ago I have no use for Los Angeles, California, although it has much to offer. I wrote it off my list completely because I just did not like to drive around in it. My friend and I came to Topanga Canyon, which is in, but not of LA, to visit a friend of ours who lives here. I have had a change of heart about this entire region. We easily avoided traffic and experienced an exceptional day in Topanga Canyon with an old friend who lives there. I love the place much more than I had expected.
Topanga is rugged steep, and somewhat primitive in some places. The main road is narrow and curvy, which makes it treacherous to drive. It was all worth the trip for the atmosphere. The people I met all seemed to be in extreme chill mode. The retail and restaurant scene is completely to my liking. The merchandise and menus all seem to be created for my personal taste. I might eventually tire of the selections if I lived there, but that would take a long time.
Since it was a reunion of friends after many years it was the right time to celebrate with a fancy dinner. Inn of the Seventh Ray was the perfect place to go for the occasion. Our server Rudy did a superb job of detailed descriptions of the menu. The creative and colorful combinations the chef used were a delight to the senses. Fresh ingredients transformed into unique and exciting flavor thrills. We shared dishes in order to try more items on the menu. Portions were not large, but the flavor and satisfaction in each and every bite was enormous. All of the salads, entrees and desserts we tried made us very happy. Service was attentive, but the creekside setting is the icing on the cake. Between courses we spotted a family of deer having dinner across the creek in the grass.
deer dining
The setting, the cuisine, and the company made the evening memorable and special. For out of the ordinary fine dining I can’t think of a better place.
charm and style
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- deconstructed desserts
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- delightful dining
reunion of friends
California Hot
September 15, 2015
— 2 Comments
Swami’s
Southern California is a wonderful place to visit. I am lucky enough to be on a road trip with a friend who is doing all the driving. We are exploring some places that are new to both of us, then going to a hot spring to spa down before returning to Tucson. I have some aversion to driving here, but since I have been freed from the task I am really enjoying the trip. There are still hippies here. It is much hotter than I have ever known it to be, so many of the Californians are freaking out. I am used to hot weather, but this is the strongest evidence I have experienced for global warming. The beach sand burns your feet, and the ocean is amazingly warm. The drought is obvious everywhere. If any group of smarties can solve the water problem with science and technology I suspect that group would be in California. I hope science will save the day so we can all continue to eat produce, drink wine and come out here to the beach.
sunset
woody
bird of paradise
Pool Party Pointers
June 9, 2015
— 2 Comments
Pool at Mission Inn
Summer is perfect for outdoor partying. Staying safe to enjoy the entire season injury free is important. Families in Arizona enjoy trips to lakes, some river rafting, and many gatherings around pools. Since the heat is intense and the sun is strong we take precautions. Sunscreen, or better yet, sunscreen garments and hats are needed even when the weather is cloudy. Altitude is a factor in the intensity of solar damage. Well above sea level, at 2388 ft, Tucson delivers sunburn fast. We need to be mindful for cosmetic reasons, and especially because we risk skin cancer from too much exposure.
When adults and kids gather poolside it is frequently assumed that “someone” is watching the kids next to the water. In settings where there is no lifeguard on duty it is imperative to designate one or more full time sentries to watch the pool. Switch frequently in order to share the responsibility and still enjoy the party. The person who is watching does not need to be a strong swimmer, but does need to establish order and discipline. With young people this is best done with humor and a complete up front understanding of what is permitted and what is prohibited. A teen who is mature can help guard the younger kids, but only if adults are on hand to deal with decision making. In the event that a person in the pool is in distress for any reason please remember to assist them in this order:
- THROW- any floatation device to assist the swimmer
- TOW-use a buoy with a cord to toss to the swimmer, then pull them to the side
- ROW-since a rowboat is not for pools this could be a raft used to reach the victim
- GO- swim out to the swimmer only if you are trained to do a rescue
These rules apply for open water, where row boats are discharged before sending a swimmer. In a pool setting lots of things can be used to tow such as towels, floating noodles, or even a chair cushion. If you lie down on the deck and extend your arm you will be able to pull your swimmer to shore without being pulled in yourself. You can also wade into the water where you can stand and extend something to tow the person. Even if you think you are a strong swimmer avoid a swimming rescue if at all possible. Drowning folks find super human strength and are often irrational. The very worst pool parties end in double drownings.
Using good judgement avoids injury and trauma in the water and around the edge of the pool. If you establish a rule, such as no running, you must stick to it. I think when kids of different abilities to swim are together a no dunking rule is a wise one to make. In general, respect for all involved is the aim of regulating water fun. Lightening storms are common here, and come with a great deal of danger. Err on the side of caution getting out of the water when lightening is spotted. It can travel surprisingly quickly. Insist calmly that everyone exit the pool in order to be able to swim again another day. I have seen very intelligent people resist this notion. You may have to be very firm. It is so much better than crispy critters on the bottom of the pool. Good luck striking the right balance between cannon balls and discipline. Enjoy!!!
pool at night
Vacation Budget
May 30, 2015
— 4 Comments
I worked as an outside sales travel agent for many years. I took care of my own clients and split my commissions with the agency where I worked. I served all kinds of different clients, mostly recreational. They knew the destination and how long they would stay. They wanted to find the best airfare. Back in the day only agents or the airlines themselves had access to the digital systems used for booking. Some people wanted nothing more than the best fare for a flight, but others wanted some guidance in planning. Naturally each vacationer wants to think they have a great bargain package, but very few would tell the agent how much they had planned to spend. This question was rarely answered. Today, of course, consumers shop for their own travel and have resources available to do research. Yelp and TripAdvisor help prospective clients judge destinations by reading the reviews of other holiday makers. This helps people fit the vacation to personal taste, and avoid costly bad matches in accommodations.
In summer thoughts turn to vacation. I no longer book travel for other people but I do want to offer some advice for a stress free and happy trip, no matter where you roam.
- Pack your schedule lightly so you can take advantage of surprises
- Compare all kinds of lodging located near your destination
- Choose some splurge activity you have dreamed of doing and do it
- Indulge your own passions and collections when browsing and shopping
- Less is best when choosing how many times to move base camp
- Take less gear than you need with plans to purchase a souvenir you can use
- Pack old items of clothing you no longer want and throw them away as you go
You need to budget both time and money in order to get the most value out of your time on holiday. Think first of the beginning and the end of the trip. Leave plenty of time on both ends for unexpected events and delays. Don’t fly to a wedding on a flight that is scheduled to arrive 3 hours before the ceremony. Don’t drive home for 12 hours straight on the last night of your time off from your job. I always like to have a full day at home before I have an appointment, just so I can recover and/or be delayed in transit. If you give yourself plenty of leisure time you will come back refreshed, even if you use it to be very energetic. Cramming too many destinations or plans into the time allowed can ruin the rhythm of your rest and relaxation. It is bad to return exhausted.
It is worse to return home in deep debt. A satisfying vacation is one you can afford without sweating. After you calculate your airfare and special events be reasonable about how you will want to dine, shop, and entertain yourself. There is a strong association between freewheeling spending and American Dreaming. Remember this especially if you plan to spend time in Nevada. I think the worst buyer’s remorse is that of the vacationer who has not yet paid for the trip that did not really come up to snuff. That charge on the credit card remains to add insult to injury for a long time. Please set a limit, a budget, and a goal for your holiday spending. Be creative to make the most of your free time. Bon voyage, gentle reader.
#WeekendCoffeeShare at Cafe Coronet in Tucson
March 28, 2015
— 9 Comments
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- vintage bar
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- Cafe Coronet
This is a perfect weekend to be in my home town of Tucson, so you are all invited to use your transporter cloaks to join me for coffee downtown Tucson at Cafe Coronet. I have recently been told how delicious the food is, so I decided to try it. The small bistro on Fourth Avenue has more space on the patio than inside the restored space. Today the U of A basketball team is playing in the NCAA finals, so the street fashion was distinctly Wildcat as students and others geared up for the game party. The Coronet patio is the perfect vantage point from which to take in the scene without being crowded. Pull up a chair and order a beverage of your choice. They pride themselves on the coffee as well as the cocktails. Today I sampled the Orange Blossom Special with Luksusowa vodka, Cointreau, Creme de Cacao, and a couple of shots of espresso.
Orange Blossom Special
The menu offers plenty of choices. I ordered the “Bunnies”, a selection of three different salads, chosen from a list of four. They combined to create a brunch just to my liking.
bunnies salad trio
If we were having coffee (and maybe a bite to eat) I would tell you that I have taken a big leap. I have committed to writing 30 poems in 30 days as part of the #NaPoWriMo program in April. I do publish my poetry, but I have not done so here, on my grown up WordPress blog. On one hand I am inspired to do it and feel it will be a super challenge from which I will grow. Another part of me is wondering why I did not just register my tumblr for the event, as I have in past years. It is symbolic in a way I don’t yet understand. Wish me luck, my coffee friends. I will continue to write a weekend coffee post (not necessarily in verse) to stay in touch with you. I enjoy our visits and don’t want to lose track of any members of the group.
#Weekendcoffeeshare
It is starting to heat up fast in Arizona, which is not a personal problem for me because I love the heat. My senior dog with kidney problems will need extra care and more frequent trips in and out of the house. She is holding out well even though we know she has more limits all the time. I am considering a radical change in schedule to leave me more time with her. If I go to the gym when I wake up in the morning instead of the middle of the day, which is my habit, my dog will be outside in the coolest part of the day. It may also be a good way to switch things up to be poetic every day. Perhaps by moving first and writing after vigorous exercise I will come up with a new approach. I listen to poetry while I work out very often, so it could be a source of inspiration. Have you ever turned your schedule upside down for results? How is your daily grind going thee days? Do you have anything new planned? Thanks for visiting my city this week. Fly over town and check out all the flowering trees and wild flowers that are blooming right now. These flashy colors appear and fade very quickly while we return to summer temperatures. There is horse racing at the Rillito Downs today, so take a turn up First Avenue to watch the excitement before you take the trip back to your home. You will see some true cowboy culture at the racetrack. The entire city is fixated on the basketball team, so if you will excuse me, I need to go Bear Down!!!
Cafe Coronet
#Weekendcoffeeshare Maker House Tucson
February 28, 2015
— 6 Comments
This week I invite you all to join me for Saturday brunch at Maker House downtown Tucson. They serve very good coffee and tea all the time. On Saturday there is a special brunch menu and mimosas are on special for $1. A DJ plays in the courtyard, and vendors are set up selling art,clothing, jewelry, and more. This is, by far, the most hipster of hip places to be in town. Please join me outside to enjoy the warm cloudy weather. There are plenty of tables, and some are equipped with paper and tins of colored pencils for our amusement. In the announcement I read for the event art classes were advertised, but I saw no evidence that they were being taught. This may happen later in the day. I had a good time drinking a cappuccino and doodling to the music. Other drinking doodlers soon appeared, some with coffee and others with mimosas. Those on a budget could buy 4 mimosas for the price of a cappuccino, so they are popular with many of the customers. Since your are arriving by transporter cloak they will be digital, so you can have as many as you like and still cloak home. I can highly recommend the breakfast sandwich on the house made croissant. Everything I have ever ordered here has been fresh and delicious. Next time I plan to try the breakfast pizza.
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- Maker House
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- sidewalk seating
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- indoor seating
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- coffee bar
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- Maker House
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- vendors
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- cappucino and drawing
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- breakfast croissant
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- second drawing
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- DJ
I look forward to hearing about your week and seeing your drawings. It feels good to enjoy the music and take time to relax. I am in no rush. The week has been low key. My tax preparation is in order for the accountant, so I feel accomplished if not giddy. I don’t know why I always dread the tax thing..it is really not all that bad. When I am done for the year it is supremely liberating to me. Other than that mundane task I have written poetry and attended a wonderful poetry reading by Simon Ortiz at the U of A Poetry Center. That was the highlight of my week. I bought his book Sand Creek and he signed it for me. He said he can’t tell the difference between poetry and prose. That was liberating for me and I thanked him for it as well as his beautiful reading.
Before you leave Tucson I hope you will look around the historic mansion that is Maker House. It has special murals and wonderful detail, like copper ceilings. There is a classic game arcade, free wifi, and craft beer. We love the events they host and their constantly evolving food service. Now they deliver food, coffee and beer downtown, which should prove to be popular. We are happy the architecture is being preserved while serving a diverse and extremely hip customer base. It is one reason our downtown has become much more desirable. If you have cloaked in from up north you will probably like the weather best of all. It is rodeo week for those of you who want to feel that you have truly been way out west. Head south and buzz the rodeo grounds on your way home for a total Tucson tour. We hope you will like your digital visit enough to come in real life someday.
#Weekendcoffeeshare
#Weekendcoffeeshare in Desert Hot Springs
February 21, 2015
— 11 Comments
#Weekendcoffeeshare
This week people are tired of being cold, so I have thought of a good way to warm up and meet for coffee at the same time. We will use our terry cloth transporter cloaks and magical bathing suits (we all look very good in these) to visit Desert Hot Springs, California. We will sit in warm and hot pools right on top of the San Andreas fault and ask the poolside server to bring our drinks to us in the water. We are going to spa down today, my friends, and feel much better for it. We will soak in the sun and the minerals in the soaking pools at Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel, possibly the most bizarre place in the universe. Since this is a day trip I think this is the very best place to be in town to meet. I look forward to listening to your stories of the week. Mine has been easy. My dog has taken a positive turn in her health, which makes our family happy. She still has some frailty, but is not suffering. We are feel lucky to spend more time with her in good spirit and decent health. She is in her doghouse resting, so she will not even notice I have flown to California for a while.
If we had an overnight I might consider one of the small mineral water hotels with more privacy, but for coffee and a sun tan this is a funky fabulous world I know you will love. There are Russians and eastern Euros here every time I come, and I expect to hear some Canadian snowbirds in the crowd too. There is such a demand from the Russians that the weekend servers speak Russian and take care of the customers in their own language. For some reason the eastern Euro/Russian spa bunnies prefer this older vintage style hotel. The sister spa next door is very popular with Korean mineral water lovers. Both groups are fun to watch for fashion thrills. You will see some bathing suits that you know for sure have not been purchased in the US. Since we are wearing magic (digital) suits, it is okay to copy one that you like and wear it home. Make sure you fill up your drinking water bottles because the town has sweet, untreated drinking water that wins competitions and comes right out of every tap. It is delicious, and you need to stay hydrated while you soak.
When we are relaxed and warmed to the bone, I hope you will visit the museum up the hill that will show the story of the discovery of the special wells that made this historic spa famous. The other wonderful sight to see before you leave is Joshua Tree National Monument, just a few miles up the road. It is popular with rock climbers for the vertical challenge and spectacular views. Desert wild flowers will be in bloom now at different elevations, flashing intense saturated colors. I wish you a safe and happy flight to your destination. Thanks for dropping in on our spa coffee break.
#WeekendCoffeeShare at Conditorei Cafe Schober, Zurich
February 14, 2015
— 8 Comments
#Weekendcoffeeshare
Because we are meeting for a Valentine’s Day coffee today, a special chocolate destination has been chosen for our visit. Transporter cloaks will not only situate us in the supreme location for chocolate shopping, but also provide us each with hundreds of digital Swiss francs to spend. Prepare yourself and your Valentine for an extravagant and elegant new level of confectionary excellence. We are meeting at Conditorei Cafe Schober, in the old town (niederdorf) Zurich. The building, the decor, the coffee and the treats will be out of this world, and completely digital, so feel free to order anything you fancy. I noticed that some of the weekend coffee group is very partial to chocolate, so this should ring your culinary bell.
The niederdorf is worth exploration. I love this part of the city on a steep incline above the river. These buildings are ancient and have housed millions of coffee meetings just like ours. If you stroll in this area you will find other equally interesting cafes, bars, and small individual retailers. There is a specialty button store that I adore. For me this is a very romantic place. It is not the chocolate that attracts my interest. It is the history and the culture that have been passing through here for centuries. The Swiss are not only masters of chocolate. They are the masters of preservation, privacy, and peace. They are pretty good at timekeeping and banking too. I admire them for keeping their environment clean and their people employed. They own the last clean water in Europe, since they own the sources of the Rhone as well as the Rhine.
After our time together here in the old town I urge you to walk to the lake, then shop your way up the Bahnhofstrasse to the main station. There are so many choices for wonderful coffee and chocolate here, as you might imagine. What you cannot imagine until you see and taste it firsthand is how wild these people get about candy, pastries and all things chocolate. They do not slouch in the coffee department, either. In fact one of my favorite museums on earth is the Museum of Coffee right down the hill in Seefeld. You will learn a lot about the history of coffee around the world and see some stunning antique coffee service sets. This museum is housed in a mansion next to the lake, which itself is worth seeing. I hope you will enjoy your tour of my favorite city in the world. It has the most dense public transportation service on earth, so you can hop on a tram and zip all over town with ease…or you could just use your cloak.
I look forward to hearing the stories from your week. Mine has been sad because our hound has end of life issues. We have faced this fact for months, but the end only gets nearer. It is good to have the chance to get out for a treat and a visit with you. It distracts me from the gloomy reality of what comes next. I am over-ordering all kinds of sweet digital treats, and advise you to do the same. I plan to drown a little doggy sorrow in these over the top pastries. A little imaginary whipped cream never hurt anyone. Happy Valentine’s Day, gentle reader. May your overindulgence be purely digital.
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