Pheonix Trip Wrap Up....

This is as much for me as it is for all y'all, so get your tuches on a comfy chair and read on. I had a great time, ate well, shopped well, slept well and traveled well. If you don't read on, you can know that is the jist of the trip.

So now that you are hunkered in and a little comfy... lets go to Arizona!

Didn't over sleep (like was my fear) but woke up at 5:45 a.m. before my alarm and walked Herschel leisurely, its really nice and quiet around my complex that early. There was this smell of rain in the air. It was a nice chill way to start my day. Drank some coffee while I got ready and out the door I went.

Thought for sure the lines that early in the morning wouldn't be bad...yet...wrongo, the long snakey line for baggage check in at United looked horrendous. But I wasn't checking bags, I just wanted to get my bording pass (which you can do online like Southwest apparantly...who knew....) so I could get to the Security check in and go through that line. Went to the Kiosk to try and use it, I was not working it properly so got in the Premeir Pass line. Played dumb and they let me check in there and helped. It was nice. Got through security, rode the train to Terminal B and walked and walked and walked to the Gate. Ready and waiting, pulled out my book thinking I had about 30 minutes to spare before pre-boarding.I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Thought, there can't be lines for check in Then....kablamo.... lightening... storm and building shaking thunder. It was awesome. I love that shit. Others around me... not so much.
There is art everywhere in Denver International airport... sometimes all you have to do is look down by the way.

Sat in the terminal for 2 1/2 hours waiting for departure - waiting for the storm to move I suppose. No big deal outside of the fact that I could have slept in a little more and they kept pushing back the flight only by 15 minutes (like 7 times) so there was the perception I didn't have enough time to go and get a cup of Seattle's Best Coffee when really totally did. Finally I said, if I miss the flight, whatever, Auntie Pickles needs her some coffee. I swear to gawd it was way too hot. Too hot to drink, too hot to even hold. Too hot. I wanted to go and ask for ice but it had no taste as it was, why water it down.

Then it does cool down, I chug it because I need my caffiene then I need to go to the bathroom. Then that means picking up all my junk and walking halfway down the terminal to go tinkle. Better than on the plane I have to think. Get back and finally they are boarding.

Flight is good, arrive, get off the plane to freezing cold air conditioning blast and then I know I am in Arizona. The palm trees helped alot too.

While waiting for the The Bro and SIL to pick me up. Chat up these two ladies about Trader Joes. I know where it is, tell them the street, tell them what to buy... I am a crazy lady. Get my ride, The Bro tries to freak me out about my luggage... ha ha... I saw him put it in the trunk, but it was funny anyway. I am loving his radio selection on his XM radio (channel 43 should you be of the subscriber faction).

Went to Postino for lunch. DEEEELISHOUS. We ordered a couple bruscetta as a starter. The white bean was light and peppery and the apple with brie and fig was interesting because I don't really remember much brie at all, but it was a nice starter. The presentation was beautiful, served sliced into three peices on a plank. Beautiful. Seriously, and I am not bullshitting here. my sandwhich and salad were so good I want one right now. I had the half sandwhich salad combo, I chose the Autostrada Panini on foccacia - which came out on ciabatta actually - which is: sopresatta, proscuitto, cappicola, mortadella and provolone with a really nice balsamic I think the salad was mixed greens, candied pecans, fig peices, a little crumble of gorgonzola and a light vinegrette of somesort. It was freaking awesome. Honestly I fear for any other salad that I ever eat because it will have to live up to that salad. It was that good. They have a wine special daily or something and the list was impressive, I just knew if I had a glass of wine I was a goner for the afternoon, so not worth the risk. I get sleepy on the vino. But it was a smokin' good deal.

The bathroom tour begins here by the way... I loved the concept of stamping the logo on the rolls of toliet paper. I will do that if I have a coffee shop... which I secretely want to. Ooops gave that secret away. Anyways, its a cool idea.

After lunch we walked across the parking lot to La Grande Orange, lines out the door at the deli counter . It has this great rep. But from what I saw from the grocery offerings and not getting anything at the counters no big whup. I did take a pictures of the cakes that are so famous... but its hard to tell because the fondant covered the cake so could be tasty or not who knows, but the designs were interesting. Walked through the pizzareria, it wasn't as busy but some people were eating pizza that looked very nice. Then walked over to the gelateria. I was interested in maybe a little dish, but once you see a dissaffected teenager playing with her hair and then serving the gelato I had to say no thank you. That is the biggest turn off a really big big one for me... it could have been the most delicious gelato on the planet but that gal futzing with her hair... gross.

Went to Design within Reach and visited my chandalier (I really need to either put up or shut up and buy it or not).


Walked over to a store called Haus in the same little strip center. I have to tell you, I want to live in that store. I want to live in the knoll boxes in the back and come up for air every now and again just to realize that I can't afford a damn thing in there but wish that I could. If I had more room in my luggage I would have bought my Jonathan Adler peices that they had in stock (again I need to put up or shut up about those damn jars) but I knew that I had other shopping that would take up room (even if it was just the Prozac jar). The guys that own the store are really really pretty too. I really wish there was some place like that in Denver. And seriously there very well might be, I just haven't gone out to look. There are some places on Speer that might be, but they seem very furniture heavy not furnishings heavy. Anyways. Loved them and their store.

Then to the Safari Drive design center and sales office. It was ironic because I was looking at the design and finish choices and it really reminded me of the sales center at Clayton Lane. I think that they even have the same cabinetry maker, it sure looked the same. Or very very similar. I wanted to ask but they were busy talking to people possibly actually buying a condo and not some tourista who helped Mini Me work on T.I. work a little bit back in the day. The design center/sales office felt very much the same except much much much bigger and with three seating areas and a two peice bath setup. The one thing that I loved with their design of their sales center was this projection screen they had behind this counter that they had. If I ever was to own a restaurant or a store, that is totally what I would do.

From there we mosied over to "Old Town Scottsdale" (I believe) stopping by the Pheonican (thats the golf course to the left) to check it out. They were slamming busy so we didn't go in, but it looked uber nice. We parked in Old Town and walked to a store called Nest Interiors. I am not quite sure what to say about the place other than, it was full of stuff, lots and lots and lots of stuff, some great and some meh, but lots of it. And they were burning this incense that assaulted my sences and made me think ... damn hippies, what are they thinking, it was awful. But the lady Kate (maybe that was her name, I can't remember, was very nice and seemed to really enjoy her job, which is always awesome. And wasn't pushy at all, which was even more awesome... nothing worse that some insence burning pushing sales lady with funky glasses).

Walked up to the Valley Ho (this is the patio view, it really is much much cooler that what this photo depicts)... for drinks which consisted of shakes honestly...peanut butter chocolate for the bro (very peanut buttery and good), a Ho-J (like an Orange Julius which I didn't taste) for the Sis and for me something with coffee ice cream and coffee and cinnamon sprinkled canned whipped cream (it was delicious). The pool scene was hoppin' and the music was actually really great, a mix of The Killers and some other great stuff. Loud. There was this guy hangin' on the fence talking on his cell phone that reminded me of this jag off that I work with only from a distance, I didn't get close. Just took his picture. The place used to be a motel and they refurbed it into this amazing hip joint. It was interesting and really a fantastic concept. Their marketing materials are dead on (my boss toured the place about a month ago and said it was great but wouldn't work for our type of meeting, our people wouldn't "get" it... and now that I have been there I have to totally agree. This is for the pool and cocktail crowd not the golf crowd). But it is a great concept and I would love to see something like that refurb come here at any of the flea bag motels on Colfax or Broadway. I wish I had 17 million bucks, I would make it happen. And I know just the motel I would do it to by the way.

We from there went back to the homestead to chill and then out to dinner at Taneko, which was only fair. We were assaulted by three drink menus before they even brought us menues for the food. We had two waitpeople at that point and now that I have gone to the website it would have been neat if they explained that they make their own tofu, that they only serve dark meat free range chicken and gone through things. Oh well. In my combo fried rice, I was a little disappointed... the meat was not tender at all, it was a little chewie and some tamari would have been fantastic. Everyone's food was brought out at different times (which is a huge pet peeve), the amuse bouche was pickeled veggies and very vinegary (which is the point I suppose), the edamame was almost hot, but salted and peppered well. Our three waitpeople (at this point) were attentive and not overbearing but I would have liked a refil on my iced tea. They are going for the Japeenese country food, but honestly I am happier just going to Domo here in Denver for authentic country food. They put out a little sweet at the end, a little dollup of chocolate but wouldn't it be more authentic if they did a little red bean paste dollups or candied fruit. The chocolate was a nice touch but wrong. Their bathroom was nice and themey with the sink looking like bamboo, but needed a little freshening up. They had some traditional music playing over the sound system which you could hear in there which I have to add, was a nice touch.

Our cousin MH joined us and seemed to really enjoy the company. We did have a good time with him. From there we went to the Royal Palms for a drink, which was a cappucino for me, I should have gotten an extra shot because they over foamed the thing, but they put a little biscotti on the saucer with the sugar stick which was a very very nice touch, again, I have to remember this should I ever open up a coffee place. (and be sure to read this: seriously this is the oddest thing ever). Their bathroom off the bar was a mess, paper towels everywhere, the art work was hung crooked - which I tried to fix but couldn't, but they did have the girlie fixings in the toliet area, which is a nice touch, so does the Broadmoor by the way. I didn't take a picture, I just needed to get out of it. The case with the kimono in it askew was freaking me out. Plus there were only two stalls and a line.

Called and chatted with my Mom while we were sitting there in the patio area listening to the piano bar. The gal singing sounded like Cynthia a little bit and it was nice to think about her while I was sitting outside on this patio area enjoying the company and my coffee.

After we got our bill we headed back to the homestead. Played on my new to me lap top (thank you BRO!) and read a little. Slept so well. Surprisingly well. Very comfy accomodations. Woke up early because the sun was really bright and I am not used to sleeping in anything but a room with black out shades but read a little more and basically relaxed. It was really great.

Had a bagel for breakfast catered by the Hostess with the Mostest and had some coffee brewed by the Host and relaxed.

Then we started our day.

Went to my most favorite almost of stores. Ye Olde Trader Joes. This time I didn't load up on stupid stuff. I knew what room I had left available in my suitcase and knew I was limited. I knew that I could not bring anything liquid (which meant no blackberry jam, and I learned my lesson with that since if that glass jar breaks the jam spreads everywhere and looks like conjealed blood, which would be hard to explain to the TSA). I got mini peanut butter cups, candied hibiscus flowers , a couple bags of my trail mix that I like, was grateful that earlier the Bro got me the Vanilla Paste since they were out of it, some bread mixes, a couple shopping bags for shopping for groceries here (they are way more decorative and fun) and I am sure some other stuff, but I wanted to make sure I didn't over do it.

Went to the Mondrian Hotel for breakfast/lunch. My meal was a breakfast burrito which was actually pretty good. Very filling. I had the other half later. Very Chipotle' esque in that it was black beans, cilantro rice, but with chorizo, scrambled eggs, a nice pico on the side and their gaucamole was very good and chunky and limie. The accent sauce was a smoked chipotle' almost gravy that I wanted to drink out of the ramekin it was so delicious. Their coffee was good but believe me not as good as the lady from New Yawk at the next table thought it was. The restaurant is exactly what it looks like in the pictures on the website. White as white can be. The whole hotel is, outside of the bathrooms which were completely painted in black with white fixtures. It was very designered out. Fancy and neat but VERY done...up. My boss who toured the hotel said the guest rooms are pretty much like the bathrooms in the lobby. Black with a flat panel tv. The meeting planner also made sure to tell my boss what everything cost as far as finishings go. I think that is weird. Also what is so interesting is that I didn't know this was a China Management Group restaurant. I have followed Chodrow's ups and downs and this was great to unknowingly actually eat in one of his restaraunts and be pleased. And for the bathroom shot of the Mondrian....

Headed out for our next schlep. My bro, such the trouper. took me to IKEA. Now this is hard because the last one I was in was like 20 years ago, it was smallish and I have my things I have wished for that you just can't buy on line because they are too small to ship. You know... jars and stuff. We had about an hour and a half to get through the store and get me to the airport on time, so we raced through there like it was no ones business. I did get some great things. I got some great little espresso cups, some spoons that I will use as demitasse spoons, a knife magnet (which I hung last night and it is so totally awesome, best $5.99 I could have spent the entire trip, seriously, IKEA kicks ass), a pillow for my bedroom (but in this fantastic fushia and green, this isn't on the website) and that is about it. Oh and two blue bags for recycling (and I should have gotten more, now that I think about it... I will remind the Bro to get me two more if he goes anytime soon... they are totally great bags) I knew what kind of space I had in my bag and tempered myself. No IKEA bathroom picture, there wasn't enough time and I didn't think about it when the bro went, but I imagine that they are pretty industrial and not that interesting.

Went to the airport in pleanty of time. Went through security with no problem. I was concerned about the vanilla paste as it was in a 4 ounce jar and the maximum is 3 ounces, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to take my food on because of the chipotle sauce, but the TSA guy was really awesome. There wasn't anyone behind me so they asked me what the vanilla paste was, I explained and the lady working the x-ray machine said to go ahead but before I picked up my stuff to write down what it was so she could look for it. Pretty damn nice TSA folks, Denver's are all attitudie and harsh.

Got to my gate, hunkered in, utilized the wi-fi in the terminal, got on the plane, flirted shamelessly with the guys sitting around me. We talked about our dogs, our families and living in Colorado. I think one of them was still drunk from his trip to Mexico, but ole' and they made the trip back alot of fun. We we deboarded the plane, one of them was such a complete gentleman he got my bag down from the overhead bin and offered to push it down the aisle. Seriously, that was very mensch like. They were a hoot.

I think the only thing we didn't do was, the Gelato Spot, get some tortillas to bring home and pick up burritos and some place that my Bro likes. Next time. Because I need that salad again.

Thanks to my Bro and Sister In Law and Cody for spending their weekend with me. It was such a pleasure, I can't wait to do it again and this next time, I am paying for everything.