This impeccable martini, served in a wonderfully retro-chic cocktail glass, was poured at Michael Mina’s (relatively new) Clock Bar, located in the lobby level of the Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell Street, at Union Square, San Francisco, CA.
The new Clock Bar provides much-needed bar/lounge space for the St. Francis Hotel as well as for diners at Restaurant Michael Mina, which is situated opposite the lobby in the former Compass Rose space. Previously, the busy lobby area in the St. Francis was serving double-duty as a pre-dinner cocktail area for patrons of Restaurant Michael Mina, as well as a seating area for hotel guests and visitors.
The spacious interior of the Clock Bar, which formerly served as retail space, includes a stylish bar with stools, seating groups with comfortable, upholstered chairs, and a banquette that lines the perimeter of the bar. The bar derives its name from the the Great Magenta Grandfather Clock in the historic hotel.
Above and Below: Two views of the beautiful bar and cool retro-style fixtures at the Clock Bar, operated by restaurateur Michael Mina, in the St. Francis Hotel.
Above: The Clock Bar features lots of comfortable seating in a warm, inviting space– a perfect place to gather for drinks before or after dinner at Restaurant Michael Mina. Below: The lobby area, which used to serve as a cocktail lounge as well, has been returned to full-time duty as a seating area for hotel guests and visitors.
To view the Featured Cocktail menu at the Clock Bar, click here. To to learn more about the Clock Bar, go to the official Westin St. Francis website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
“I believe we have two lives. The life we learn with and the life we live with after that.”
– Iris Gaines (played by Glenn Close) to Roy Hobbs (played by Robert Redford), from The Natural (1984), written by Roger Towne and Phil Dusenberry, based on the novel by Bernard Malamud
“I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful family, and both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained, nurtured and provided solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to right my path.”
– Excerpt from a letter to Pope Benedict XVI from Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009), delivered by President Barack Obama on 7/10/09
Today’s website is “World’s Best Bars,” a site that ranks the world’s best bars, based on user input. The site includes a list of the top-rated bars in most major cities around the world, together with user comments and links to the official websites. Of the top 100 bars, London has the most bars with 12, and Shanghai follows with eight bars. Eight bars across the USA are included in the Top 100, with Purdy Lounge, in Miami, FL, as the only USA bar in the Top 10 (at #7).
Here’s an excerpt from the Top 100 Bars, showing the 20 top-ranked bars. The honor of #1 Bar in the World goes to A21 Cocktail Lounge in Helsinki.
I’ve only been to two of the Top 20 Bars listed above and just five of the Top 100 Bars. (I’ve got some bar hopping to do, I think!)
To explore World’s Best Bars website, click here. To view a list of the Top 100 Bars, click here.
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.”
On August 29, 2005– four years ago today– the center of Hurricane Katrina passed east of New Orleaans, LA, slamming the St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes and creating a storm surge that caused more than 50 breaches in the drainage and navigational canals that help protect the City of New Orleans. The result was the most destructive and costliest natural and engineering disaster in the history of the USA, with total losses of roughly $100 billion.
Within two days, over 80 percent of New Orleans was flooded, with some parts of the city under 15 feet of water.
Although a mandatory evacuation order was in place by the time Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, over 60,000 people remained in New Orleans. As the flood waters rose across the city, residents fled to the famous New Orleans Superdome, which had been designated as a “refuge of last resort,” capable of handling 800 people. An estimated 30,000 people arrived at the Superdome in search of shelter, water, food and medical services. Another 25,000 people arrived at the New Orleans Convention Center, which had not been designated or equipped to serve as a shelter.
The failed response of FEMA and other government agencies in providing timely rescue services and humanitarian aid to the residents of New Orleans became a national disgrace and unleashed a whirlwind of controversy around race and class in America.
After four years, much of the worst-hit areas in New Orleans, including the Ninth Ward, remain barren, abandoned or undeveloped. I’m left wondering: What will become of New Orleans?
The famous Peggy, also known as Missy Peggy and Peggy-licious, is now on Facebook! Become one of Peggy’s friends on Facebook and stay up-to-date on her activities and latest words of doggy wisdom. You can find her listed under “Missy Peggy.”
To go to Facebook and to connect with Missy Peggy, click here.
Today is August 26 and it is National Dog Day, a day dedicated to honoring the nation’s dogs and to focusing attention on the ongoing need to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse.
According to Colleen Paige, author, pet activist and founder, “National Dog Day serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day - for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, saving their lives and often grieving the dead and dying they cannot save. ”
Above: Peggy (rear) and Lucy (front) salute National Dog Day– August 26.
“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
Wrtier-Director Nora Ephron is back on top with her commercial and critical hit, Julie and Julia, which opened nationwide a few weeks ago. After a several misses, including Bewitched (2005) and Hanging Up (2000), it’s great to see Nora Ephron return to the romantic comedy territory she explored so successfully in You’ve Got Mail (1998), Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and When Harry Met Sally (1989).
In Julie and Julia, Ephron masterfully weaves together two stories, each set in its own timeframe. In the larger and clearly more interesting story, we learn about the early years of chef, author and American culinary icon Julia Child when she studied French cooking at the Cordon Bleu and started writing the landmark book, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” while living in Europe with her husband Paul. In the second story, we follow 30-year old New York office worker Julie Powell, who spends a year cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook, while blogging about her experiences, in the tough days following 9/11.
One of the biggest joys of watching this very lovingly-made movie is the relationship between Julia Child (Meryl Streep, in another amazing performance) and husband Paul (played by Stanley Tucci), who share a love of food and wine, and for each other. I enjoyed seeing Streep and Tucci paired in this movie, particularly after the terrific moments they shared together in The Devil Wears Prada.
Not surprisingly, Julie and Julia focuses a good deal of attention on food– from Julia’s delight in savoring the flavors of French cooking and shopping for produce or fresh fish to Julie’s tireless efforts to recreate each dish from the cookbook. If the movies doesn’t inspire you to cook, it will certainly inspire you to eat. It also serves as a great reminder that food can bring people together and create bonds that last a lifetime.
“A consummate entertainment that echoes the rhythms and attitudes of classic Hollywood, it’s a satisfying throwback to those old-fashioned movie fantasies where impossible dreams do come true.”
— Kenneth Turan, The Los Angeles Times
“Few movies are as delightful as Julie & Julia.”
— Mick LaSalle, The San Francisco Chronicle
“Julie & Julia is one of the gentlest, most charming American movies of the past decade.”
— David Denby, The New Yorker
“Streep and Tucci enjoy a terrific, infectious onscreen chemistry as soul mates for whom food and entertaining were part of one long, sensuous continuum.”
— Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
To read A.O. Scott’s review of Julie and Julia in The New York Times, click here.
To purchase Julia Child’s landmark cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1, from Amazon.com, click here.
“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities - always see them, for they’re always there.”
On August 21, 1959– fifty years ago today– President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii into the Union as the 50th state. The President also issued an order for a new American flag featuring 50 stars arranged in staggered rows: five six-star rows and four five-star rows. The new flag, which still flies today, became official July 4, 1960.
A variety of events during the year are being held across the State of Hawaii to mark the 50th anniversary of statehood.
Regardless of one’s point of view around the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the imprisonment of Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii’s last monarch, and the subsequent annexation to the U.S., the 50th anniversary of the Statehood of Hawaii is a landmark event, and an opportunity to look back at Hawaii’s amazing transformation over the past 50 years.
Above: A now famous photograph showing a young newspaper seller on 8/21/59 with the headline announcing Hawaii statehood.
To learn more about the 50th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood and to review a schedule of special events, go to the State of Hawaii’s official Anniversary website by clicking here.
Here’s a clip from YouTube featuring Hawaii Pono’i, the state (and former national) anthem.
Hawai’i Pono’i was written in 1874 by King David Kalakaua, with music by Camptain Henri Berger, the king’s royal bandmaster.
And here are the lyrics to the beloved anthem, as well as the English translation.
Hawai’i pono’i
Nana i kou mo’i
Ka lani ali’i
Ke ali’i
Hawai’i pono’i
Nana i na ali’i
Na pua mui kou
Na poki’i
Hawai’i pono’i
Nana i na ali’i
Na pua muli kou
Na poki’i
Hawai’i pono’i
E ka lahui e
O kou hana nui
E ui e
Chorus:
Mauka lani e
Kamehameha e
Na kaua e pale
Me ka ihe
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Hawai’i’s own true sons,
Be loyal to your king,
Your country’s liege and lord,
The chief.
Hawai’i’s own true sons,
Look to you chiefs,
The children after you,
The young.
Hawaii’s own true sons,
People of loyal heart,
The only duty lies,
List and abide.
Chorus:
Father above us all,
Kamehameha e,
Who guarded in the war,
With his spear.
Today’s cocktail is the Pometini, a pomegranate-flavored cocktail that is a nice, refreshing alternative to the old workhorse Cosmopolitan. Plus, it’s loaded with Vitamin C and beneficial antioxidants. As they say,” it tastes good, and it’s good for you.”
1. Fill shaker with ice
2. Combine ingredients in shaker
3. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass
4. Garnish with lime slice
5. Serve, enjoy and repeat, as needed
Today’s video is a hilarious sketch from Saturday Night Live (circa 1978) in which Dan Aykroyd famously parodies American icon Julia Child as she prepares a chicken on her TV show, The French Chef. According to some published reports, Julia Child loved this parody and showed it to dinner guests at her home. Bon Apetit, Julia!
In a clever move, Nora Ephron includes this SNL skit in a scene from her new movie, Julie & Julia.
To go to previous posts in the “Today’s Video” category, click here.
This twist on the Negroni (mixed with vodka instead of gin) was poured in a classic cocktail glass at the large, comfortable and attractively furnished bar at the Grand Cafe Brasserie, located in the Monaco Hotel, at 501 Geary Street, in San Francisco, CA.
The Bar is currently featuring a Happy Hour Menu of specially-priced drinks and appetizers, available from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at prices ranging from $4.00 to $7.00 per drink or dish. The delicious Negroni, for example, was available during Happy Hour at $5.00.
Above: A partial view of the bright, sun-drenched bar at the Grand Cafe. Below: The open raw bar at Grand Cafe, located near the Bar.
Above: A view of the large, grand dining room with oversized light fixtures, large comfortable booths, and whimsical sculpture. Below: Cocktails were followed by a lovely meal, which included this delicious heirloom tomato salad with blue cheese. Yum.
To read more about the Grand Cafe or to make reservations, go to their official website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
Each year Skytrax names the Top 10 Airports in the World as part of its annual consumer survey of the best airlines and airports. In June, Skytrax announced that the World’s Top Airport for 2009 is Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea. Opened in 2001, the Incheon International Airport is located about 40 miles from the capital city of Seoul and is the international hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and Polar Air Cargo. It is the world’s eleventh busiest airport in terms of international passengers.
According to Skytrax, more than 8.6 million passengers from over 95 countries took part in the 10 month survey of 196 airports. The survey measures perceptions on over 35 elements of the airport experience, determining how well each airport performs against customer expectations.
Hong Kong International Airport, which ranked Number 1 for three consecutive years, was bumped to the Number 2 position by Incheon International Airport, which has steadily been climbing the list.
Not surprisingly, no USA airport was included in the list of Top 10 Airports in the World.
I’ve passed through seven of the Top 10 Airports in this year’s list, but have not yet been to Incheon, Centrair Nagoya and Auckland. (My last visit to the Auckland Airport was more then 20 years ago, so I don’t think that qualifies.) My favorite airports are Hong Kong International, Beijing International (Terminal 3) and Kansai (Osaka) International, in that order.
What is your favorite airport?
To read the full results of the 2009 Skytrax Best Airport Awards, go to their official website by clicking here.
Today’s cocktail is the Negroni, a classic aperitif, or pre-meal cocktail that is intended to help stimulate the appetite (or at least stimulate the appetite for another Negroni!). The cocktail was reportedly invented by General Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni (1829-1913).
INGREDIENTS:
* 1 oz Gin (or substitute vodka, if you prefer)
* 1 oz Campari
* 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
DIRECTIONS:
1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add gin, campari and sweet vermouth in cocktail shaker.
3. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with lemon twist (or an orange twist or orange slice).
5. Serve, enjoy and repeat as needed for desired effect.
The delicious Negroni is #10 on my list of Top 10 Favorite Cocktails. To view the full list from a previous post, click here.
To go to other cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
Today’s website is Serve.gov, a national clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities, which is being managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The CNCS is a federal agency that is chartered with improving lives, strengthening communities and fostering civic engagement through service and volunteering by providing grants through the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, and Learn and Serve America programs.
United We Serve, which was launched by President Barack Obama earlier this summer, is a nationwide service initiative designed to help address the growing social needs resulting from the current recession. The 81-day program, which runs from June 22 to September 11, aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers and encourage volunteers to develop their own local “do it yourself” projects with family, friends and neighbors.
The Serv.org website provides individuals with the ability to locate organizations in their local area who are seeking volunteers, via a tool from All for Good which provides a list of organizations based on keywords (e.g., AIDS, recycling, children, pets, etc.), as shown below. The website allow enables organizers of local and community-based organizations to register their initiative and to help them find volunteers.
Here’s a 3-minute video released by The White House in which President Obama introduces the United We Serve campaign.
On August 15, 1969– forty years ago today– the Woodstock Music and Art Fair got underway for three days of live music performed on a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York, a small rural town located about 40 miles southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York.
The event, which was expected to attract 50,000 people, swelled to over half a million concertgoers, who endured rain, mud, poor sanitation and limited food, to be part of a festival that is now regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history. Woodstock was captured in a 1970 documentary movie, Woodstock, and an accompanying soundtrack album.
Among the many artists that performed at Woodstock were Joan Baez, Santana, The Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Crosby Stills, Nash & Young.
The film, Woodstock, was directed by Michael Wadleigh and edited by Thelma Schoonmaker and Martin Scorsese (who met in a summer film course at New York University in the mid-1960’s and began a lifelong collaboration on such classics as Raging Bull, Casino, Goodfellas, and The Departed). The film won the 1970 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary.
The Woodstock album was released in 1970 as a set of three LPs and became Billboard Magazine’s No. 1 Pop Album of the year.
The cover of the Woodstock album, which featured a photograph of a young couple who huddled together under a blanket for shelter from the rain and mud, became the symbol of Woodstock and is one of the most recognized album covers in the world. The couple in the photograph– Bobbi and Nick Ercoline– were girlfriend and boyfriend at the time and stayed just one night at Woodstock. They were married two years later and have been together since then. Today, they live in Pine Bush, NY, and have two children, ages 28 and 30. Bobbi Ercoline is a school nurse and her husband, Nick, is a home inspector.
In an interview, Bobbi Ercoline said “I think the further we get from the original event the more meaningful it becomes, the more we realize how phenomenal it was: all those people coming together with no violence, just peace, love and sharing. Forty years later, it’s just remarkable that it could have occurred.”
Above: The iconic image by photographer Burt Uzzle, featuring the young couple Bobbi and Nick Ercoline, appeared on the cover of the Woodstock album. Below: Forty years later, Bobbi and Nick Ercoline, are still together.
Above: A short video that describes Bobbi and Nick Ercoline’s story as they look back at Woodstock, forty years later.
“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
– Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)
To go to previous entries in the “Today’s Quote” series, click here.
Do you find yourself searching for an available USB port on your laptop or desktop device or having to disconnect one USB device in order to temporarily use another USB device? Although there are dozens of portable USB hubs available on the market, few products offer a solution that is as playful, stylish or colorful as the USB Octopus Hub, which includes four USB ports on flexible cords. And, at a retail price of $10.00 each, it’s a good value, too.
The USB Octopus is available in black, white, purple and yellow (not pictured here) from Gadget4All.com. Go to the official Gadget4All website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the Gadgets, Gizmos and Gear category, click here.
“She set out to change the world and to change us, and she did that and more. She taught us by example and with passion what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others.”
— Statement from the Family of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 8/11/09, following the announcement of her death
“When the full judgment of the Kennedy legacy is made — including J.F.K.’s Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress, Robert Kennedy’s passion for civil rights and Ted Kennedy’s efforts on health care, workplace reform and refugees — the changes wrought by Eunice Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential”
— US News and World Report, 11/15/93
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away on 8/11/09, at 88, left a lasting legacy through her lifelong and tireless efforts to remove the social stigma and improve the lives of people with developmental challenges. Among her many accomplishments, Eunice Shriver founded the Special Olympics, which today attracts 3 million athletes in 180 countries.
“Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.”
— Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
To go to previous entries in the “Today’s Quote” series, click here.
This chilled Sauvignon Blanc from Navarro Vineyards was served in a nicely-proportioned glass at The Restaurant at the Sea Ranch Lodge, located at 60 Sea Walk Drive, The Sea Ranch, CA., along the beautiful Sonoma coastline. The handsome wood-paneled restaurant with soaring ceilings and large glass windows provides breathtaking views of the ocean and the property’s sloping grassy field.
The Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Above: A view of the casual, light-filled dining room provides guests with great outdoor views. Below: A delicious and imaginative interpretation of a turkey salad at The Restaurant at Sea Ranch Lodge. Yum!
Above and Below: Views of the front deck of the Sea Ranch Lodge with seating for guests to lounge, visit and admire the landscaped gardens.
Above: A view of the entrance to Sea Ranch Lodge, which features 20 guest rooms, all with views of the ocean. Below: A view of the Sea Ranch Lodge, as taken from the sloping grassy field that extends to the ocean cliffs. The glass enclosed room, and adjacent room with large tinted windows, are part of The Restaurant.
Above: One of several striking sculptures located on the grounds of the Sea Ranch Lodge. Below: The driveway leading to the Sea Ranch Lodge from Sea Walk Drive, in Sonoma County, CA.
Above: Lucy (left) and Peggy take in the dazzling views of the Sonoma coastline from the Sea Ranch Lodge.
To learn more about the Sea Ranch Lodge or to make reservations for a stay in one of their guest rooms, go to their official website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
Congratulations to Wise Latina Sonia Sotomayor, who became the 111th Supreme Court justice on 8/8/09, taking an oath to “administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich.” It’s a landmark day, particularly for Latino Americans and American women of color, and reason for all of us to celebrate.
Above: Sonia Sotomayor, left, takes the oath from Chief Justice John Roberts on 8/8/09 to become the Supreme Court’s first Hispanic justice and only the third woman in the court’s 220-year history, Her mother, Celina Sotomayor, the woman to whom Sonia Sotomayor attributes much of her success and achievement, is holding the bible, while her brother, Juan Luis Sotomayor, stands at her side.
Peggy and Lucy both had a wonderful stay in Mendocino; however, the time has come for them to say farewell to their many new friends and admirers and to get back on Highway 1 and US 101 for the ride home. Before leaving, Peggy and Lucy take one last pause to admire the stunning view from the bluff opposite the historic Mendocino Hotel on Main Street in Downtown Mendocino.
Above: Peggy and Lucy are enjoying the dramatic view (and gusty winds) on the cliffs overlooking the waters surrounding Downtown Mendocino.
To plan your next visit to Mendocino, CA or to learn more about Mendocino County, go to the Mendocino County Official Travel Website by clicking here.
While in Mendocino, CA, Peggy and Lucy are staying as guests at the pet-friendly Auberge Mendocino, a bed-and-breakfast inn located off Highway 1, near Big River on California’s scenic Mendocino Coast. Auberge Mendocino features 12 guest rooms in several small buildings clustered on a lovely grass-covered property on a cliff above Mendocino’s dramatic, rugged coastline. Most of the guest rooms and suites include wood-burning fireplaces and some units have their own private deck. Guests enjoy a delicious breakfast of fresh fruits, juices, bacon/mushroom quiche, toast and coffee served in the main building.
Most rooms have complimentary wireless Internet access and three rooms are designated as “pet-friendly.”
Above: Peggy and Lucy were guests in the Merlot Room, one of three guest rooms at Auberge Mendocino that are specifically designated for pets and their owners. Below: A view of the charming Merlot Room, with a wood-burning fireplace and deck overlooking the garden.
Above: A view of the modern and handicapped-accessible bathroom in the Merlot guest room. Below: A partial view of the comfortable sitting area provided for guests in the small building that houses the Merlot room and two other guest rooms. This shared space is made available for reading, lounging and relaxing.
Above: A view of the side entrance to the Merlot Room, which can be accessed via the main entrance of the building or via this private deck. Below: A view of the comfortable deck for the Merlot Room at Auberge Mendocino, which is the perfect setting for morning coffee or an evening cocktail or glass of wine.
Above: A view of the charming landscaped garden outside the Merlot room at Auberge Mendocino. Below: Peggy (left) and Lucy are relaxing in the comfort of their room at Auberge Mendocino after a long and tiring outing at the beach.
To learn more about Auberge Mendocino or to make reservations for a stay in one of their guest rooms, go to their official website by clicking here.
The feet are pausing along the long gravel walkway leading to the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, located between Point Arena and Cape Mendocino, in Mendocino Country, CA. Built in 1909, the Lighthouse is named after Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and occupies a dramatic site on a promontory overlooking the jagged Mendocino coastline. The US Coast Guard manned the station until 1973, at which time the lighthouse was modernized with an automated, rotating beacon.
The lighthouse building now houses an exhibit that describes the rich history of the lighthouse, with photographs and artifacts. Souvenirs are also for sale in the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1991 and was purchased by the California State Parks in 2002. A variety of events are planned this year in honor of the Centennial of the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse.
The grounds are open to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset. The lighthouse and other exhibits are open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, daily.
Above: The sign marks the entrance of the Point Cabrillo Light Station and Preserve, which is operated by the California State Parks. Below: A one-half mile road leads visitors along a lovely walk to the Light Station. (Only emergency vehicles and vehicles with handicapped visitors are allowed on the roadway.)
Above: A view of the Light House, taken from the walkway along the bluff. Below: A photograph taken in 1909, the year it was built. (Photo Credit: Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association)
Above and Below: Views of the rotating, automatic light installed in 1973.
Above: A view of the jagged coastline surrounding the Point Cabrillo Light House. Below: A view of the approach to the Light House, as the fog and mist clears.
To learn more about the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, visit the Point Cabillo Lightkeepers Association website by clicking here.
To go to previous entries in the “Where are the Feet?” category, click here.
Peggy and Lucy decided it was time for a weekend getaway– and what’s a better place for a getaway than Northern California’s beautiful Mendocino coast? So, it’s off to Mendocino and a stroll along the sandy beach about 1/2 mile from the mouth of Big River.
Above: Peggy and Lucy take in the sights on the beach near Big River. Below: Lucy dashes off to explore the coastline.
Above: Peggy (left) and Lucy are busy exploring among the fallen tress on the beach at Mendocino. Below: Lucy pauses to admire the view of the coastline, next to a rock pile left by a previous visitor.
Above: Lucy races across the beach at Mendocino. Below: Peggy is keeping a watchful eye on the activities along the beach at Mendocino.
Above: After romping around the beach at Mendocino, Peggy (left) and Lucy are ready for their mid-morning nap. Below: The quiet beach was located about 1/2 mile from the mouth of Big River, just off Highway 1, in Mendocino.
To plan your next visit to Mendocino, CA or to learn more about Mendocino County, go to the Mendocino County Official Travel Website by clicking here.
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
To go to previous entries in the “Today’s Quote” series, click here.
Before saying adios and farewell to Cancun, Mexico (as well as “thanks” for a wonderful stay), it’s time for the feet to relax at the Hyatt Regency Cancun and to admire the spectacular view of Punta Cancun and the famous “Cancun Strip” from the 12th floor guest room.
To read what other guests are saying about the Hyatt Regency Cancun, visit TripAdvisor.com to review guest reviews by clicking here.
This lovely glass of very tasty Sangria was served (from a large, well pitcher, which it out of view) at La Habichuela, one of Cancun’s largest, most popular and more upscale restaurants serving traditional Mayan fare. Opened in 1977 on the site of the owner’s home, La Habichuela is conveniently located in Central Cancun, and features a large air-conditioned dining room and bar, a sculpture garden with fountains, and a spacious patio with outdoor seating that is beautifully shaded by large trees.
Above: La Habichuela has been serving customers in the same locationsince 1977 and is still owned and operated by the same family. Below: A view of the lovely main indoor dining room.
Above: Lunch included a delicious fish dish, rice and steamed vegetables– and lots of sangria, of course. Below: A view of one of the several nicely-shaded, “grotto-like” patio dining areas at La Habichuela.
To read more about La Habichuela, go to their official website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
On August 6, 1945– 64 years ago today– the USA B-29 bomber, known as the Enola Gay, dropped the world’s first atom bomb, called “Little Boy,” over the city of Hiroshima, Japan. As a result of the bomb:
* 140,000 people were killed or died within an year from the effects of the blast and radiation;
* 35,000 people were injured;
* 62,000 buildings (nearly 70% of all buildings in the city) were destroyed.
Three days later, on August 9, 1945, the “Fat Man” atom bomb was dropped over Nagasaki, killing another 80,000 people. On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its surrender to the Allied Powers, ending the Pacific War and therefore World War II.
This beautiful and incredibly refreshing (in 95 degree heat and humidity) Sangria was served at one of the tables near the Poolside Bar at the ultra-luxurious and very modern Mandarin Oriental Hotel Riviera Maya, located on 36-acres of breathtaking beachfront property fronting the Caribbean, near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Opened in 2008, the hotel contains 128 rooms and suites, spread across a sprawling property that features lagoons, a fresh water spring, a 25,000 square foot spa, five dining venues, a business center, and three guest swimming pools. To access the guest rooms and other facilities across the property, hotel staff shuttle guests in small electric vehicles (a much-appreciated service in Mexico’s blazing sun and heat).
Above and Below: A view of the oceanfront deck housing the hotel’s main swimming pool and poolside Bar.
Above: A view of the jacuzzi tub and small infinity wading pool adjacent to the very contemporary lounging cabanas. Below: A view of guest rooms contained in individual structures perched above one of several lagoons. The rooms on the second level have their own private roof-top deck.
Above: A view of the beautiful beach fronting the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Maya Riviera. Below: The striking open-air pavilion, set in the middle of a reflecting pond, serves as the reception and lobby area for the hotel.
To read more about the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Maya Riviera or to book your stay, visit their official website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
Today’s video is a short clip about two Purdue University students– Cameron Brown and Brett Westcott– who spend time each Wednesday passing out “free compliments” to passerbys on the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, IN. Known affectionately as “the Compliment Guys,” they have been featured in local and national newspapers, as well as NBC’s Today Show.
To go to previous posts in the “Today’s Video” category, click here.
As my Adventure in Cuba comes to a close, it’s time to say farewell to Havana… at least for now. It’s been a great first visit, filled with new experiences and some brief glimpses into a city and culture which most Americans have not seen. And what’s a better way to say “adios” than with a nice, cold Dos Equis beer, served aboard Mexicana Flight 326 from Havana International Airport to Cancun, Mexico.
The Adventure in Cuba continues with a brief trip by rented taxi to Cojimar, a small fishing village located about 15 miles east of Havana, Cuba.
Above: This weathered and crumbling sign marks the entrance to the fishing village of Cojimar, located about 30 minutes by car from Havana. Below: A view of the outdoor sign of La Terraza Bar and Restaurant, situated along the harbor in Cojimar.
Above and Below: Views of La Terraza, one of Hemngway’s favorite places in Cojimar and now part of “The Hemingway Trail” for visitors.
Above: A view of the handsome interior of the dining room at La Terraza, with walls lined with photographs of its most famous patron, Ernest Hemingway. Below: The corner table, with a fine view of the Cojimar Harbor, was the author’s favorite spot, according to the restaurant manager, who kindly allowed us to visit the restaurant before opening hours.
Above and Below: Two views of the fishing pier in the harbor at Cojimar, which can be viewed from the dining room at La Terraza Restaurant and Bar.
Above and Below: Two views of the Ernest Hemingway Memorial, located along the waterfront walkway in Cojimar. According to local lore and some published reports, Cojimar served as Hemingway’s inspiration for the town that provides the backdrop in “The Old Man and the Sea,” which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the Nobel Prize in 1954.
This tasty, nicely-prepared Mojito was served in a tall glass in the Lobby Bar at the Hotel Ambos Mundo, located at the corner of Obispo and Mercaderes Streets, in the Old Town section of Havana, Cuba. Built in 1920, the hotel gained fame as the occasional home of Ernest Hemingway, who frequently stayed at the hotel during the 1930’s. Room 511, reportedly his favorite room in the hotel, has been converted to a museum and is open to the public for an admission fee of about $2.00.
The hotel, which recently underwent a complete renovation, includes 52 guest rooms and suites, and a rooftop restaurant and bar that offers impressive views of Central Havana. The spacious open-air lobby features contemporary furnishings and is filled with photographs and memorabilia about Hemingway. Because its one of the significant sights along the “Hemingway Trail” in Havana, the two bars at Hotel Ambos Mundo are typically filled with tourists who eager to view Room 511 and to learn more about Hemingway’s days at the hotel, where he reportedly wrote portions of “For Whom the Bells Toll.”
Above: The entrance to Hotel Ambos Mundo which has been modernized as part of a recent major renovation. Below: A view of the Lobby Bar which specializes in Mojitos.
Above: A partial view of the Lobby of Hotel Ambos Mundo, showing some of the many photographs of Ernest Hemingway which are on display throughout the hotel. Below: A view of the brightly and distinctively painted facade of the hotel.
Above and Below: Hotel Ambos Mundo proudly displays signage on the exterior of the building (above) and memorabilia (below) of its most famous guest.
Above and Below: Views of the large rooftop bar at Hotel Ambos Mundo, with both covered and open seating.
Above: A view of Central Havana taken from the rooftop bar at Hotel Ambos Mundo.
To learn more about Hotel Ambos Mundo or to make room reservations, visit their official website by clicking here.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
This cool and thoroughly refreshing mojito, served in the classic and ubiquitous Havana Club logo glass, was served at Paladar La Guarida, a small, popular restaurant located in Central Havana, serving traditional Cuban fare.
The restaurant occupies the space of a former apartment on the third level of a once grand, but somewhat decaying mansion. The guest tables are assembled in cozy, yet comfortable groupings in several separate rooms. The walls are covered with an assortment of vintage photos, original contemporary works of art by local artists, and old Havana memorabilia.
Above: A view of the entrance to the building where La Guarida is located. The restaurant is accessed via a grand stairway leading to the third level. Below: A view of one of the small dining rooms which are handsomely decorated with a mix of art, photos and memorabilia and ephemera.
To go to previous posts in the “Where is That Drink” series, click here.
The feet are pausing while strolling through Central Havana to admire the amazing assortment of buildings– some grand, and some not– in various stages of preservation or decay.
To go to previous entries in the “Where are the Feet?” category, click here.
David on August 31st, 2009
