thankful thursday - diners, drive-ins and dives (#19 and #20)

As you may recall, my sweet hubby is one of Guy Fieri's biggest fans. He loves watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network and incorporates as many of those places as he can into our travels. We recently visited two, one in Arizona and one in southern California.

A friend told us about a place he saw on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - a BBQ place at a car wash. That's right, you can get your car washed and have lunch or dinner at the same time. Ingenious, right? But how good would the food be? We had to check it out with our friends... and my car was filthy so we drove!

Tom's Thumb Fresh Market is located in north Scottsdale and boasts a gas station, car wash, coffee and pastry bar, wine and artisan gift market as well as a barbecue joint. After handing my car keys over to the car wash guys, we went inside to order lunch. We all ordered something different - mine was the sliced beef brisket sandwich. It was so tender and juicy it practically melted in my mouth! They have a BBQ sauce bar we helped ourselves to - definitely something for every taste bud! After lunch we split a couple of muffins from the pastry bar - also very good.

We strolled through the wine and gift market after lunch - lots of cute gift items, a few of which we couldn't walk away from. After paying for our purchases, we went outside to claim my car. They offer a variety of carwashes ranging in price from $11.99 to $34.99 for a hand wash. I chose a mid-range wash package and my car was clean from top to bottom.

It's too bad Tom's Thumb Fresh Market is so far from us - it could become habit-forming!

The second place we visited is in  southern California. We visited Mamma Cozza's on a recent Disneyland trip - it's about two miles away. It definitely looks a little dive-ish  from the outside but the inside is warm and inviting. It was obvious to us that many of the customers were locals - regulars known by name to the servers.

Our dinner included mouth-watering garlic bread, a relish tray with carrot and celery sticks and cherry peppers, soup or salad, our entree and then a small glass of anisette. The food was delicious and we went back a second night to try a different entree. I had lasagna one night and a special with half ravioli, half spaghetti.

The two DDD restaurants were as different as could be yet both were really yummy. I am thankful for a variety of eating establishments that take pride in the food they serve and in making their customers feel like family. And I am thankful that God gave us taste buds so we can enjoy different flavors and textures.

diners, drive-ins and dives #18 - anthony's seafood market & restaurant

One of the things we try to do when we travel is eat at local places - no national chain restaurants. We also strive for local cuisine. So when we found ourselves in New England recently, we tried another Diners, Drive-ins and Dives place - after all, if it's good enough for Guy Fieri, it's good enough for us!

Anthony's Seafood Market and Restaurant is located in the quiet hamlet of Middletown, Rhode Island and is not much to look at from the outside. In appearance, it's definitely more "dive" than "diner."

Anthony's Seafood Market and Restaurant has been family-owned and operated since beginning as a wholesale lobster company in 1956. They moved into the restaurant business in the 1980's as well as being a fresh seafood market.

But walk past the plastic-enclosed patio, through the double doors and you are standing in a state-of-the-art fresh seafood market. We waited in line for about 20 minutes to order before being seated in the patio area (their roomy inside dining room was filled). While the plastic may look a bit tacky, it helps the stand heaters keep the patio warm - something we were grateful for!

We tried two appetizers that Guy had tried - Kung Pao Calamari and a Stuffed Quahog (hard-shell clam) known affectionately as a "Stuffie." We have had fried calamari as an appetizer in lots of restaurants, always prepared and served the same way - battered and deep-fried served with either marinara or cocktail sauce. Anthony's Kung Pao Calamari is unlike any we've ever had and hands-down, our favorite. The calamari is breaded and deep fried, then tossed with peppers, Kung Pau sauce, peanuts and green onion to create a zingy bite with perfect texture, not rubbery or squishy. Our Stuffie was just as delightful - stuffing with clams, chourico (Portuguese sausage similar to Spanish chorizo), onions, peppers and spices. They come mild or hot - we opted for hot. The stuffing was stuffed onto a clam shell - very pretty presentation! And tasty, too!

A Stuffie, Kung Pao Calamari (paired nicely with a local brew!) and empty plates!

Not realizing how generous the appetizer portions were, we also each ordered an entree - grilled swordfish and Seafood Nantucket - cod, sea scallops, Old Bay-seasoned shrimp layered in Anthony's lobster sauce then topped with bacon and Ritz cracker crumbs. Yeah - comfort food from the sea! It was too good to let any go to waste.

This is one "dive" we will be sure to frequent when we are in the area. Two thumbs up!

diners, drive-ins & dives #17: La Piazza Al Forno

We realized we hadn't tried any new Guy Fieri Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives recently and decided to remedy that this summer. Back in July, while we were in historic downtown Glendale to attend an outdoor concert, we ate dinner at a quaint corner pizzeria - La Piazza Al Forno.

Guy and the DDD crew visited this family owned and run pizzaria back in 2008. We have visited some DDD places years after Guy had been there only to discover fame went to their head and it was a dismal experience. Happily, that was not the case at La Piazza Al Forno. The service was fantastic and the food was even better!

We started with Bruschette - "Toasted bread topped with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs" or "Heavenly Bread" as I called it! We used to think that an Italian place we frequented years ago in Calgary, Alberta, Canada had the best bruschetta we ever had but now that honor goes to La Piazza Al Forno. Unfortunately, we were so hungry and it looked so good that I completely forgot to take a photo.

Their pizzas are more personal size so we each got one. It should be no surprise that Richard got the Italian Stallion Meat Pie with four kinds of meat, San Marzano tomatoes and house made mozzarella cheese. It was quite delish! And I had the Dolce Diavolo ("Sweet Devil") with San Marzano tomatoes, house made mozzarella, sopressata (a kind of pepperoni), Calabrian chilis (a small red chili grown only in Calabria, Italy), basil and honey. It was like drinking a glass of really good wine - the flavors blend together yet each retains their uniqueness. No doubt about it, it is my all-time favorite pizza!

Delizioso!!!!!!

La Piazza Al Forno is just over 30 miles from our house - and well worth the drive! I can't wait to go back. Two thumbs up!!

55,68,45/100... randomness

Often times we venture far and wide to see something new (the lush islands of Hawaii, for example) or do something we've never done before (walking on a glacier comes to mind). One Saturday a few weeks ago we set out with M and L of MR KLUD to be tourists right here in the Valley of the Sun as we checked a few more things off my "100 Things to See in Arizona" list.

After a long drive across town to Phoenix International Raceway (#55), I was ready to get a taste of the car racing world. I never understood what compels people to watch cars go round and round and round a track. I had no appreciation for the beauty of a race car or for the melody of a tightly-wound engine. So why, you ask, would I put PIR on my list? The simple answer was to see what all the fuss is about.

Located in Avondale, Phoenix International Raceway is home to two NASCAR races every year.

It was a nice day to be outside- not too warm and not too chilly. As soon as we got out of the car, I could smell the unique "racing aroma"... a mixture of asphalt, fuel, and steam. There was a tension in the air as if the entire raceway was screaming, "I feel the need for SPEED!!"

Last fall LivingSocial (the "deal" people!) ran a deal for four laps in a race car with a professional race car driver at PIR. Laurie and I each bought one for Mike and Richard for Christmas. And now was the time to redeem their deals.

Richard climbed in his race car...

... and Mike got ready to climb in his.

The track at PIR has been rebuilt, modified and enhanced several times in its 48 year history and is currently 1.51 miles long. The inside lane is where cars come up to speed to merge onto the track with other racers or to slow down before pulling into the pit. The outer track is where the racing is done.

The track flagmen communicate with the drivers via colored flags. This solid green flag means "GO!!"

Richard's car took off and began accelerating!

And in what seemed like no time at all, it was whizzing by in the outer lanes!

Much too quickly, the race was over. Their drivers told them they drove at speeds of 130-160 mph!

They are both anxious to go again... and next time THEY want to drive!

Being at the track, watching a really cool-looking car with someone I knew in it, willing that car to go faster, getting caught up in the excitement gave me a taste of what it's like on a real race day. In fact, coming back to watch a NASCAR race is already on my next list!

There is nothing like a morning of car racing to make you hungry so we headed over to one of Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"- Chino Bandido (#68) - in north Phoenix for lunch. Chino Bandido is, quite simply, a culture explosion in a plate.

Located in a strip mall, it is not a place I would probably give a second glance (definitely a dive!) proving that looks can be deceiving!

Chino Bandido, the brain-child of Frank and Eve Collins, opened in 1990. They blend Asian and Mexican cooking styles and flavors to create delicious food that is as much a cerebral experience as it is a taste treat for your mouth! And to encourage customers to try new things, they give ample samples of most of their menu. 

I had pollo diablo with jerk-fried rice, a carnitas quesadilla and Cuban black beans- muy bueno!!

With full tummies, it was time for our afternoon adventure... the Mystery Castle (#45). I have lived in the Valley of the Sun almost my entire life and had never heard of the Mystery Castle until just a few years ago. It is, apparently, Phoenix's best-kept secret! And who doesn't like secrets?

800 E. Mineral Road in  Phoenix, Az... right at the base of South Mountain

Boyce Luther Gulley lived with his wife and daughter (Mary Lou Gulley) in Seattle in the 1930's. Mary Lou was the apple of his eye and he promised her when she was a toddler that he would build her a castle. After learning he had tuberculosis- which in those days was highly infectious and often fatal, he left his family and moved to Phoenix without telling them. 

Portrait of Boyce Gulley

Boyce was an eccentric guy who never stopped loving his family he left behind in Seattle. He dabbled in gold mining and bought some land at the foot of South Mountain that showed some promise. To protect his claim, he began building Mary Lou's castle on top of the mine. As the land was very near what was then the town dump, he probably wasn't in danger of anyone jumping his claim.

Boyce definitely had a thing for fireplaces. He built 13 in his castle including this one on the patio.

Recycling and repurposing is very popular today - not so much in the 1930's - but Boyce seemed to take great pleasure in using old junk he found (things no one else wanted) to build his castle. 

These unusual bricks were rejects that got overheated in the furnace melting the tops. One man's trash is another man's treasure!

This is the main living area of the castle. Notice all the unusual "finds"- the wagon wheel as part of the fence, the mining buckets, piece of wrought iron fencing in the arched "window" on the roof.

When this room was being built, the saguaro was very much alive and Boyce did not want to cut it down so he built the room around it. Unfortunately, the giant saguaro was struck by lightning a few years later and died- but still remains in the room. The floors of much of the castle are dirt.

This part of the castle housed the guest rooms. This stairway leads up to the roof... aka the mother-in-law room.

Even though Boyce bought land very near the city dump (neither expensive nor desirable) and scoured the desert as far as Mexico for "finds" to use in building his castle, he hobnobbed with the rich and famous of the day. Georgia O'Keefe, Frank Lloyd Wright, John Wayne and Barry Goldwater were often guests at his castle.

Frank Lloyd Wright gave Boyce some of his original furniture for his castle.

Boyce only expected to live about 6 months when he left Seattle. He began building his castle for his daughter so she would have something he built, a piece of him. When he died fifteen years later, the castle was was it appears today. His lawyer sent Mary Lou and her mother a letter that Boyce had written explaining what had happened to him and giving the castle to Mary Lou. The one stipulation was that she had to live in the castle for at least a year.

Boyce named this formation on South Mountain Lion Rock... he was particularly fond of cats.

Mary Lou and her mother moved to Phoenix in the mid 1940's and lived in the castle her father had built for her. They had no running water, no electricity (although both were added in 1992), many rooms have dirt floors and "nature" on the inside. At the end of the year, as specified in the letter she received from her father, they opened the door to the mine.

The door to the mine is guarded by this heavy alligator.

Inside the mine, Mary Lou found the deed to the house, some gold nuggets and another letter from her father. She and her mother decided to continue living in the castle her father built. Her mother passed away in 1970 and Mary Lou in November, 2010; both were still living in the castle at the times of their deaths. Mary Lou formed the Mystery Castle Historical Foundation before her death to ensure the Mystery Castle would be maintained for future generations to see.

Without leaving the metro area, we tried a couple of new things and saw something new. None of them have anything in common other than being part of our adventure that day... and a lot of fun!

Thumb Up or Down: Absolutely UP for all three!!

Miles Round Trip: 114.4 miles

Miles To Date: 4934.8 miles

Percent of List Completed: 54%

Date of This Trip: May 5, 2012

diners, drive-ins and dives #14 & #15... the penguin and cabo fish taco

We recently returned from North Carolina where the grandkids and their parents live. This trip we all went to Charlotte, NC (a wonderful city I'm looking forward to visiting again!) for the weekend- and tried two of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: a little burger place called The Penguin (#14) and a fresh cantina called Cabo Fish Tacos (#15). DDD places are always an adventure- you never know what you're going to get (and I mean that in the best possible way!). Sometimes the places look like real dives on the outside, someplace I probably wouldn't go on my own. Other times they look fairly upscale. What I've learned in our quest to eat at as many DDD places as we can is that looks can be deceiving... but sometimes they're not.

We arrived at The Penguin about 1:00-ish and waited at least 45 minutes for a table. We were told there is often a much longer line. The outside is fairly nondescript with a diner-like appearance. The interior carries on the diner theme with a jukebox (or "juice box" as the little kids called it!) and some neon signs- but the wooden booths and tables stand in stark contrast. We tried the fried pickles (a DDD item) which were pretty good although a tad greasy. Finally our burgers arrived. They were tasty but not spectacular. Perhaps we were expecting more because of the wait... but we all agreed we probably wouldn't wait 45 minutes there again. After returning home, I checked restaurant reviews and learned that the old management (that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) sold The Penguin and opened a new place a few miles away where the food and service is outstanding. Perhaps we'll try it on a future trip!

There is a bench for waiting customers to use; we got to sit on it five minutes before our name was called!

Cabo Fish Taco was a different experience altogether. It is located in a cute revitalized area of downtown that has an urban/college feel to it. Our server was attentive and didn't seem to mind the large group with four kids. The guacamole and salsa were very good; but the tavarua (pronounced tav-a-roo) tuna tacos were to die for! The menu description- "Blackened lemon-rubbed tuna in a kiwi-pineapple fajita sauce, stuffed with lettuce, tomato, mixed cheeses and topped with our honey-wasabi sauce..." - doesn't quite do them justice. Absolutely, hands down, the best fish taco I've ever had!

It had been a cold, rainy day and as night fell, the rain turned to snow. Our table was in the little alcove to the left of the door and we watched the snow fall as we ate and talked and laughed!

80/100... in the pits- barbecue, that is

There is a barbecue style to fit every taste preference. Some like the vinegar-y tang of Carolina barbecue while others favor the spicy bite of Texas barbecue or the dry barbecue of Memphis. We recently went to Thee Pitts Again, (#80) one of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for some award-winning barbecue.

Located in what once was a retro-style 50's diner in Glendale, Arizona, Thee Pitts Again looks like nothing special from the outside but once you open the double doors and step inside, the spicy sweet aroma of slow-cooked barbecue greets you like an old friend.

We tried the fried pickles as an appetizer. We have enjoyed fried pickles in numerous places prepared in a variety of ways... but I think these are in the top three we have eaten.

The dill pickle spears were quartered length-wise and then halved before breading and frying. The coating was light and crispy yielding maximum taste and crunch... in a word, scrumptious!!

I tried the pulled pork dinner with cole slaw, bbq beans and cornbread with honey butter. Everything is made in-house including their signature barbecue sauce. The pork was tender and juicy and served with nothing on it. Adding some of their barbecue sauce spiced it up making every bite a flavor party in my mouth. The slaw was so-so but the cornbread and honey butter were delicious- and the perfect accent to barbecue. Richard had a half slab of pork ribs- also very tender with the meat falling off the bone. They are my favorite restaurant ribs.

Party Time!!

Thee Pitts Again has won over 300 awards across the U.S.  for their barbecue and they display some of them in the restaurant. We definitely thought our meal was award-winning!

Thumb Up or Down: Up!!

Miles Round-Trip: 80.8 miles

Miles To Date: 3175.6 miles

Percentage of List Completed: 32%

Date of This Trip: February 11, 2012

58 & 82/100... dinner and dessert

Friday night is often considered "date night" but this wasn't your typical "dinner and a movie" date. Combining two items on my "100 Things in Arizona" list, we had dinner and then fabulous desseerts. Yes, that was desserts... plural.

Haus Murphy's (#58) is yet another of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and the first German restaurant he has visited. It definitely has old-world charm- even on the patio where we sat.

Dining al fresco was nice... until our food arrived and we were constantly bothered by bees.

Sauerbraten and Paprika Schnitzel were the menu items featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and we opted to share them. We rounded out our meal with a mug of German beer. 

Sauerbraten (served with spatzle and red cabbage) and Paprika Schnitzel (served with German fried potatoes and wirsing (a cabbage dish))

We both thought the food was so-so; not at all the usual culinary taste treats we have come to expect at DDD places. In reading reviews after we got home, it seems that the DDD distinction perhaps "went to their heads" as several long-time customers commented that both food and service deteriorated. Our server was fine but the food fell flat... not bad, but not as good as we were expecting.

After dinner, we walked across the street to Glendale's 17th annual A Chocolate Affaire (#82) for some wickedly delicious, if not unusual, desserts. Their brochure boasts over 30 chocolatiers and while I didn't count them, I would say that was a close estimate although some had the same or similar items. For example, one place had chocolate drizzled cheesecake on a plate while another (my favorite!) had cheesecake on a stick dipped in chocolate with the option of rolling it in nuts... or as I call it, decadence on a stick!

Chocolate lemonade? I saw the sign as we walked by the lemonade stand and did a double-take. Not quite able to decide if it sounded good or not, I paused and watched the vendor make one. After he said I could return it for a regular lemonade if I didn't like it, I got one... and it was fabulous! Made with real lemonade (not a concentrate) and a shot of German chocolate cake syrup, it was tartly refreshing while at the same time had just a hint of sweet chocolatiness. Who knew?!?!

"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart."

~ Erma Bombeck

We sampled Chocolate Cherry Merlot jelly (heavenly!), a chocolate-covered strawberry, a raspberry truffle and even chocolate-covered bacon (don't gag, I thought it was actually a good combination of flavors!). By then, though, we were pretty chocolated out so we brought home a chocolate-covered pretzel stick and chocolate-covered cherry clusters to try another day. 

Vendors that had chocolate items displayed this sign making it easy to find this important food group! We agreed that we would have liked it if they sold "samples" rather than just large servings- we could have sampled everything rather than just a few of the dozens and dozens of chocolate items. We had to leave the chocolate-covered potato chips for next year!

Interspersed with the chocolatiers were other vendors selling everything from doggy bling and handbags to pottery and candles. We even bought a few Christmas gifts while we were there!

It was a beautiful evening to stroll through the festival. As dusk settled into twilight, the lights in the trees came on- what a beautiful sight! It was a great date night!

Thumb Up or Down: Neither for Haus Murphy's; UP for The Chocolate Affaire

Mileage Round-Trip: 67.4 miles

Mileage To Date: 3050.1 miles

Percent of List Completed: 29%

Date of This Trip: February 3, 2012

73, 93, 91/100... a house, a sculpture and an eatery

One day last week we spent the day being tourists... in our own town! If you've never done this, I highly recommend it. I chose a couple of places to visit from my "100 Things"  list and marveled that after living in the Phoenix area for decades, I had never been to any of them. Visiting two different eras made us feel a bit like time-travelers...

The day started at the Rosson House (#73) in the Heritage District in downtown Phoenix. We were transported back in time to the late 1800's when Dr. Roland T. Rosson, a physician and politician, settled in Phoenix and built a home for his family. The brick house was built in 1895 at a cost of $7525 and exhibits Eastlake, Queen Anne and Victorian architecture. Neighboring homes (read: mansions!) on Monroe Street just to the north were much larger and more lavish, but being built of wood, they didn't last. Kind of reminds you of the three pigs and their houses...

The interior of the house is decorated in period furniture from the turn of the century (1900's, that is!) as well as being decked out for Christmas when we visited. Dr. Rosson liked his gadgets so his house had hot and cold running water, inside bathrooms, an icebox, electric lights, a doorbell, a telephone and even an intercom. I thought it was interesting that while there were electric ceiling lights, there were no electrical outlets- because no small appliances had been invented yet and so they weren't needed. I also appreciated Mrs. Rosson's touch- a closet under the stairway (practical storage space).

The Rossons only lived in the house for a couple of years then rented it out. Eventually it was sold several times and became a boarding house and then a flophouse before being bought by the City of Phoenix in 1974. It was restored to its original condition and is now an Historic House Museum. Restoration took several years and cost ten times the original price of the house. After removing layers of wallpaper in the closet under the staircase, conservationists eventually came to the original wall and found "crayon" pictures drawn on the wall and signed by the Rosson children. It made me wonder what traces of our family people will find in our house 100 years from now.

We left the polite society of the Victorian era and headed mid-town to a very small park in the triangle formed at the juncture of Roosevelt St., 1st Ave. and Central Ave. The Release the Fear Sculpture (#93) is a sobering structure.

From a distance, it appears to be a modern art piece. But upon closer inspection, ...

... it becomes apparent that those are, indeed, REAL weapons fused into the base of the sculpture. In fact, it is composed of 8.5 tons of metal, of which almost half is from "weapons used in violent acts collected throughout Arizona," according to the inscription. There were over 26,000 violent crimes committed in Arizona in 2010 alone. WOW! And then I wondered why someone would create such a sculpture.

Robert John Miley, a Phoenix artist, founded a community awareness program called Release the Fear which uses education and art to combat violence. The idea, very simply,  is that changing the way a youth or young adult thinks about himself and others can dramatically reduce violent adult crimes. Local law enforcement and the judicial system think he's on to something. Miley spent almost ten years finding sponsors and sources for the building materials for his sculpture before it was finally erected in this tiny park in 2005. In case you couldn't tell, it's a Phoenix rising from the ashes and well worth a look-see!

Our last stop was another one of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives- the 11th one we've visited. Guiseppe's on 28th (#91) is a tiny place with big heart in a strip center at 28th St. and Indian School Road in Phoenix. 

There was about a 15 minute wait at 5:30 on a weekday with a much longer wait by the time we left. Our server was friendly and attentive as was the owner who introduced himself. They made us feel like family. And the food was delicious- I had the Bolognese sauce over homemade fettuccini, a DDD recommendation. I will definitely be back!

Thumb Up Or Down: UP all the way around!

Miles Round-Trip: 49.9 miles

Miles To Date: 1209.2 miles

Date of This Trip: January 2, 2012

38, 62 ,30, 12, 14/100... food, families and funk

I am a list-maker. And once something is on my list, I feel compelled to complete the task so I can cross it off my list. This trait has helped me be more organized and complete things on time. It has also, at times, created some stress for me. Last weekend, just 2 weeks before Christmas, we headed to Flagstaff to knock off several things on my list of 100 things. I'm not sure which of the two categories this trip falls in... time will tell.

First up was a stop at a local DDD (Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) place called Matt's Big Breakfast (#38 on the list) in downtown Phoenix. The building may be small and nondescript but the food was delicious with large servings and bold combinations. At 9:30 on a weekday, we waited a little over 30 minutes for counter service; there are only eight tables. The wait on the weekends is even longer- but worth it. I'm sure we'll go back... on a weekday!

Friendly service + great food + reasonable prices = Matt's Big Breakfast

After an uneventful drive up to Flagstaff, we stopped at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (#62). The Riordans are credited with developing Flagstaff and we enjoyed learning about this prominent family.

The three bottom pictures are almost a panoramic shot of the mansion while the top one shows the front gate.

In a nutshell, the Riordan brothers came to Flagstaff and built up a lumber business, the main employer of the town. Because of the number of people they employed, other businesses were born- general store, feed store, schools, etc. The oldest brother then left the business and moved east leaving the two younger brothers to run the lumber business. They married sisters and built the Riordan Mansion- really, two complete houses (quite large by the standard of the day) connected with a huge "family room" where the two families came every night to "play" together. There are 40 rooms comprising over 13,000 square feet!

(L)- The inglenook ("corner by the fireplace") in the entryway

(R)- One of many fireplaces- this one is in the library

The inside of the mansion is decorated for Christmas during December including a gigantic 12-15 foot tall (and 10 feet wide!) Christmas tree with homemade decorations (courtesy of local schoolchildren). Unfortunately, photography is allowed in only a few rooms and the gigantic "family room" is not one of them. I enjoyed the attention to details in restoring and furnishing the mansion. Our tour guide regaled us with lots of family stories making the house "come alive."

The long icicles hanging from the roof accentuated the gingerbread house likeness of the Riordan Mansion!

After our tour we headed to Salsa Brava (#30), another DDD place, for dinner. While the restaurant has the look and feel of any other big Mexican food restaurant, the service is personal and the food is fresh and unique. And I love the story behind the restaurant as much as the food itself. John Conley, a young man with an interest in cooking, worked at a Mexican food restaurant (where Salsa Brava is located now) while he pursued a degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management at Northern Arizona University. During his senior year, the owner of the restaurant decided to close up shop and sell the property. John quit school and, with the help of his parents, bought the restaurant, closed it down to remodel it and train his staff. It reopened, bigger and better than before, and was an overnight success. The recipes are uniquely his and come from his travels around Mexico. We will definitely be back when we're in Flagstaff!

I had the "special"- Yucatan Carnitas. Mmmmm Mmmmm Good!!!

The next morning for breakfast we tried a restaurant listed in the original "100 Things" article in the Arizona Republic- Biff's Bagels (#12). This eatery is named after the family dog and originally opened in Prescott. Biff passed away in 1995 but remained an important part of the restaurant even when it relocated to Flagstaff in 2000.

Biff's carries an eclectic bevy of bagels (from spinach to asiagio) and shmears (from tomato basil to green chili and cheddar) and the ones we tried were good- but not "gotta drive to Flagstaff for bagels or else" good. What really impressed me about Biff's was their love for dogs... their dog, their customer's dogs, homeless dogs, ALL dogs. The walls are adorned with framed photos of customer's canine companions who have passed away. It is a living memorial to all the pooches who became part of someone's family and are now missed by them.

Next up was a stop at Arcosanti (#14) near Cordes Junction on the way back to the Valley of the Sun (and warmer weather!). Started in 1970, the experimental town calls itself "an urban laboratory." Its goal is to blend architecture and ecology in creating an urban community with minimal impact on the environment- a concept developed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri.

Arcosanti- a 25-acre urban living project built on a 4,060-acre land preserve in the high desert.

Funding for the project comes from donations, workshop fees and selling bronze and ceramic wind bells designed by Paolo Soleri. The bells sell for about $30 for a very small one to over $4000 for a larger one.

This apse is constructed of sections of concrete cast on top of sand. It provides optimal lighting and shade as the seasons change. This one is used by workshop students to cast bells.

The buildings are constructed of concrete. This one has a music room (with a piano and other instruments), a lounge-type area and living quarters. Most of the living quarters are designed for several people to share although very small single person "studio apartments" are available.

The vaults are a colorful meeting area and like the apses, provide optimal light and shade changing with the seasons.

Some of the buildings are beginning to show their age (40+ years) with visible cracks and rust. I found the "urban laboratory" a bit depressing- perhaps it was just the name or maybe because it lacked individuality. And the futuristic, communal living aspect was reminiscent of sci-fi movies like Logan's Run. But the idea of linear cities where people work, live and play in the same community is intriguing. I was glad I finally explored it- and would like to see another arcology community before dismissing the idea altogether. 

Thumb Up or Down: Up!

Miles Round-Trip: 415.3

Miles To Date: 855.9

Date of This Trip: December 9-10, 2011

8,23,61,99/100... a DDD breakfast, a sculpture, a parade and a schoolhouse

Last weekend we went to Prescott to watch the Holiday Light Parade (#61) in Arizona's Official Christmas City and stopped to smell the coffee/breakfast (#8), see a school (#99) and touch a sculpture (#23) along the way.

Our first stop on the way out of town was Over Easy, a small, eclectic local eatery Guy Fieri featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (the 8th one we've visited as well as #8 on "the list"!) a few years back. Although situated in a strip mall in Phoenix, the place definitely has a chic, small-town feel to it. At 10:00 on  a Friday, there was still a wait (about 15 minutes) for a table but the locals didn't seem to mind.

Guy Fieri recommended the "Caramelized Banana & Pecan Brioche French Toast" so that's what I had... and it was heaven on a plate! We sat at the counter and watched plate after plate exit the kitchen; each one looking more delicious than the previous one!

After breakfast we headed north to Strawberry- Pine where the oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona (#99) is located. My mom taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Iowa. My dad taught classes part-time at a local community college. The importance of education and personal responsibility in obtaining it were values my parents instilled in me from a very young age. It was interesting to visit this old schoolhouse and learn its history.

I couldn't help thinking this building wouldn't be considered old on the East Coast where many of their buildings are well over a century older.

Families living in Strawberry Valley petitioned the County School Superintendent in 1884 to establish a local school for their children. After a building site dispute was settled, the school was finally built using pine logs. It had a more elegant interior than was usual due to the friendship between the superintendent and a local resident- and his subsequent funding. Wainscoting reached from the floor to a height of four feet. Cloth was stretched and nailed above that with wallpaper glued to the cloth. It had new-fangled factory made desks, a world globe and a dictionary. And, as it doubled as a meeting place and church, it also had an organ. 

It looks like perfect Lincoln Log construction!

The schoolhouse is open to the public from May to mid-October; we could only look in the windows. The schoolroom had the basics and several "extravagances" like a globe. 

After a little more than thirty years, the school was permanently closed and subsequently fell into disrepair. By 1961, nothing remained but the log frame. Fred Eldean bought the school and land and gave the deed to the chamber of commerce. In 1967 local residents restored the building making it secure and weatherproof (I think they also added the handicapped ramp on the side!) but the interior was not restored until 1980 when the Pine/Strawberry Archeological and Historical Society got involved. Thanks to old-timers who had either taught in or attended the school, their descendants and hundreds of interested residents, the Strawberry School was dedicated as a Historical Monument on August 15, 1981.

After  leaving the schoolhouse, we continued on to Prescott, also called "Arizona's Official Christmas City." We met up with friends, Mike and Laurie, to watch the 14th annual Holiday Light Parade (#61).

Although folks started staking out their places about 4pm for the 6pm parade, we found good seats a little after 5:30pm. And yes, we "supported the local economy" while we were there!

About 5000 people attended the parade which traversed three sides of the courthouse square. This parade is the official start of the Christmas season and events in the downtown area.

Some of the floats reminded us of the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland. There were 27 entries all adorned with many lights.

Santa ALWAYS comes at the end of the parade. Unfortunately, I left my better camera at home and my little camera couldn't sharply capture the moving floats- but you get the idea!

On the way home the following morning we made a brief stop in Black Canyon City to find some sculptures made out of old 10,000 gallon gasoline storage tanks (#23). When I first heard about these sculptures I was intrigued; why would anyone collect such massive tanks and how could they be artistic?

This 25-foot sculpture, called The Storyteller,  stands next to the Community Library.

Wesley Smith ("Smitty") helped remove used 10,000 gallon gasoline storage tanks... you know, the ones buried underground that hold the gasoline until it's pumped into your car's gas tank... when they became damaged or a gas station went out of business. Sometimes they found their way onto his property. Apparently a lot of folks collect them. Who knew? When local authorities told him to get rid of the tanks, Smitty decided to recycle them as art using the cutting torch his wife and daughter gave him for Father's Day.

Sun and shadows created interesting details on the back side of the sculpture.

These tanks are made of quarter-inch-thick steel but Smitty's torch easily cut through them allowing him to make intricate designs. The steel oxidized giving it a rich coppery color. And something old and unwanted became an object of beauty.

This sculpture, The End of the Trail, is made from the end of a tank and marks Smitty's grave in the community cemetery.

We had to ask for directions to the cemetery but once we found it, thought it was beautiful. Smitty and his wife are buried side-by-side in a corner of the cemetery. 

I still don't know why people would collect such massive tanks but perhaps in Smitty's case, he saw what they could be rather than what they were. 

Thumb Up or Down: UP! For all four!

Miles Round-Trip: 371.2 miles

Miles To Date: 440.6 miles

Date of This Trip: November 25-27, 2011