Temecula June 2015

Temecula Wine Country

June 2015

A little back story on why we chose Temecula as a destination. Summer concerts have been a big part of wineries for many years. It's something we had heard about but never explored. Some top (formerly) acts can be found at places throughout California-Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, Keeny Loggins-you get the drift.

 I looked up the Thornton Winery and saw that America was performing. They were T's first concert when she was 12 in Denver with her newly renewed BFF Sue. See the Denver posting in 2014. I picked up a pair of tickets and made it a full circle from 12 to today. With one less member the band did not disappoint. Songs from our youth stand up pretty well with the familiarity soundtrack that plays along in your head.

It was a quick one nighter that started at the Vindemia Winery. A pretty outdoor tasting spot with good TripAdvisor reviews and some decent wines.  We are not wine snobs, we taste it and if we like it then its decent. If we dont like it then its not. Pretty simple Sommalier evaluation. If we click with a place when we are tasting then we ask them for their recommendation and they gladly steered us next to Chapin Family Vineyards for our next samples. Chapin was a blast being hosted by a gentlemen who also does a local jazz radio show. He was a hoot and we had a blast.

Short on time we headed to Thorton for America and settled in with a beer bucket and champagne. Lee Rocker opened (Stray Cats fame) and America hit the stage for a nearly 2 hour non stop hits show. Our first winery concert was a success and to think its only been going on for 40+ years!

  

  



Checked in at our local Marriot, the Fairfield Temecula (great rate and completely nice accommodations for a one nighter). Dinner was holy smokes spectacular at Trattoria Toscana around the corner. Now food can be our snob wheel house and we are versed in good food and good cooking. This place was a winner, also highly rated on TripAdvisor. Not what I would have assumed off the 5 freeway an hour north of San Diego. We would go back.


The next day explored old town Temecula and hit the dusty trail back to LA. A stroke of T's inspiration caused us to veer off the road in Pasadena for Pie and Burger, a 50 year old hole in the wall Pasadena tradition. I would recommend the burger followed by the pie. Or the other way around, up to you.

One night away can be a welcome respite when the schedule is full and the music, food and wine are flowing.

Seattle March 2015

Seattle 

March 2015

Back to Seattle for a somewhat unplanned trip. My 90 year old aunt had passed and it was an opportunity to visit with cousins, some of whom I haven't seen in 40 years. Would I recognize them? Would we have anything to say to each other? It truly was a reunion of

family and we broke bread and busted open bottles of wine, eating delicious Carolina ribs and playing the card game Taboo until midnight. Laughing, talking, sharing, debating, it was old family turned new friends. Even the second cousins joined us with their eloquence and intelligence, they fit right in and I wished for my own kids to be there to share this family friendly moment. 

We began Thursday night at the Tacoma home of my second cousin Amy and shared in memories of our departed and met new friends from their decades of acquaintances. With all the commotion they asked us to stay for post memorial pizza and we enjoyed delicious pies with them all. I realize I didn't ask where they were from which is a blog info oversight. But it was Tacoma and it was fantastic.  

Friday we toured the city taking in the over priced and underwhelming Music Experience followed by an amazing fresh pasta "experience" at Il Corvo. Famous for their home 

made pasta, you join the line early out the front door and stand in the geographical center of the small restaurant to order lunch then find a now open table. Amazing and reasonably priced, don't miss this place during its limited 4 day a week schedule.

Later Friday, we met family from Teresa's side, her sister and our beautiful niece met us at Ivar's in Mukilteo north of Seattle about 25 miles north which on a Friday evening was Los Angeles travel time of over an hour. Don't confuse this place with quality local seafood. But it made a nice place to have drinks with a view. Then back to West Seattle to join my cousins at a beach home they rented to have time together. We talked late into the night and had a blast together. 

Saturday was set aside to visit with a retired nun friend who had recently moved to the Providence house there, which is where she started her journey some 70 years earlier. Sister Rose was as spry as ever and gave us the grand tour before breakfast at Salty s on Alki Beach.  We didn't know it was brunch only so sisters Caesar salad only lunch was disproportionately priced. It was worth the company and time together by far and the chamber of commerce views across the bay to Seattle were spectacular.

We dropped sister back at her new home and headed back to the cousin beach house to kill a couple hours pre-flight back to L.A. 

2 trips to Seattle in just a few months was not the plan but it is a wonderful city with lots to do and when the weather is right it is spectacular.

 

Chicago January 2015

Chicago

January 2015

Back to the windy city (not named for wind from the lake, but wind from politicians) for a visit to see our daughter's new condo. Right on the lake it is a large complex with good security. That was important to us as it would be to any parent with a kid far from home in a big city...or anywhere for that matter. 

A quick 3.5 hours from LAX, midway is a 20 minute train ride into the city. 
Always have a movie or something to pass time on the plane it decreases travel stress and fatigue, The return flight at 4.5 hours might as well be 8. We were separated into middle seats and well....makin' memories. 

We started the night at a new (to us) Courtyard and had drinks in the room with our daughter and her new boy pal. This would be our last night here since it wasn't really quiet or comfortable and no hot water in the a.m. Dinner was at the Capitol Grille since all other nearby options had 3-4 hour waits. Apparently when the bitter cold keep people inside they flock for dinner when it his 35 degrees. The steak was delicious and priced for a bankruptcy. Reservations next time at a more reasonable place when it isn't just the 2-of-us-tab.

Sunday to Mass at beautiful St. Ita's. Chicago is a melting pot and this church brought them all together for an hour. After Mass was brunch with dear Sister Christine and pal Katie. 2 hours of grub and gab and laughter. Always a blast. Brunch at Nookie's was terrific and packed. We would go back. Near the new condo in a great neighborhood this would be a go to place if we lived there. 

After brunch the girls went shopping, I moved our hotel to the Renaissance, and I headed to a bar to catch the Seattle Green Bay playoff game. A thriller in a no love for the Packers bar made for a festive time with an incredible beer selection. Sweetwater Tavern is on Michigan avenue and while likely more touristy than others nearby it was reasonably priced with very friendly staff. Shopping was equally festive with deals and more deals for everyone in the family-even Mom!

Sunday night we dropped in to the Purple Pig. One of our favorites in any city, the tapas style menu is interesting and so so delicious. I waited for a table with a cold one and the girls went shopping cell phone in hand. 
Spots opened at the bar 

Meatball slider from the Pig. More please.

within half an hour so I snagged them, moved in a chair, and called them for supper. We sat and watched the chefs prepare everything. Entertaining and enticing. Hard not to order what you just saw go out.  

Monday was a day of shopping and walking on State street. All the favs there like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Target and Nordstrom Rack, along with Macys to couch shop for the new pad. Great selection of stuff we don't see at home and picked up some amazing bargains.

View from our room. The corn cobs!

Monday night we tried a new restaurant, Oak and Char. Decent but no real wow factor. Overwhelming decor but nice service. 

Tuesday was frame shopping for grandmas old floral prints that have never seen the light of day. They will get more love in Chicago on the living room wall. Framed and hung in one day they've sat in a closet at home for a long time. 
We ran short on time quickly and had to cab back to the hotel to catch the Orange line out the back door back to Midway. As I mentioned, we had issues with the SWA app checking in so B24/B25 didnt get us seats together and it was the flight from h e l l. 

Not bad at all for mid January

We shared the iPad and at least killed some time as bologna in the sandwich. Once home we headed for a decompress at a LAX fav, Truxtons. It's decent food with good flavors and close to the airport. We've popped in before and after flights.

A post script about the Renaissnace hotel Chicago. Incredible staff and beautiful views of the river. Great location and comfortable. Its more pricey than Courtyard but the wow factor is worth it...sometimes. Winter rates in Chicago are low (for some below zero reason) and we took advantage of a bargain RT airfare and reasonable room rates.  $25 more a night was a good investment. 

Hotel website with the local weather. Brrrr. Broken.