Remember the Alamo!

September 12, 2016 by Patricia Farmar

Hello San Antonio! I spent a few days there last week at a work meeting - but not our usual work meeting. The usual meeting doesn't include free time to sightsee - but thanks to my great manager Roger we had a productive meeting AND had a bit of free time for fun!

Keeley and I spent a long weekend in San Antonio about 4 years ago and we had a blast. If anything - it has gotten even better. The River Walk area is really the main attraction, but the downtown area around it is really expanding and lots of boutique shops and local restaurants are popping up.

Our hotel wasn't right on the River Walk but it was close - only about two blocks away. When we were checking in we were greeted by this.......

They had a peacock family roaming around the property! That's the male. They warned us not to approach the female and her babies so we steered clear but definitely saw them.

We had some time before heading to dinner so Traci and I walked over to the River Walk. It was quiet but I love all the waterfalls, bridges, cool restaurants and shops.

Beautiful landscaping everywhere you look.

Dinner that night was at Rosario's - a very traditional Mexican cafe. Not right on the River Walk but in the downtown area and just a short walk from the hotel. Not everyone attending the meeting arrived in time to go but we had a fun group.

Day Two we wrapped up the meeting in time for some of us to walk over to The Alamo. Sometimes I am shocked at how little history I either know or remember, but to actually be there makes it so much more real to me and I am fascinated now to learn about it all. The Alamo dates back to 1718 and started as a mission. In fact I learned that San Antonio was part of Mexico until the battle in 1836! Then it was part of the Republic of Texas until Texas became part of the United States in 1845. And Davy Crockett died there.

The original complex was much larger then the existing area but what is remaining is very interesting. The tall building in the lower right corner was originally a hospital. It reminded me a little of Notre Dame in Paris as it has gargoyle's all aro… — The original complex was much larger then the existing area but what is remaining is very interesting. The tall building in the lower right corner was originally a hospital. It reminded me a little of Notre Dame in Paris as it has gargoyle's all around the top.

Next up - dinner on the River Walk. We met the rest of the group at a very nice restaurant called Boudros. The guacamole was prepared right at your table and was fantastic! They had a great selection of steaks, seafood and upscale Mexican options.

Kim is toasting with the signature cocktail - the Prickly Pear Margarita. Salmon for me and then we shared some delicious desserts!

You can't visit San Antonio and not do a River Boat Tour so that's where we headed. The boats are more like barges and seat about 30 or so people. The driver narrates the history of the river and the various buildings as you drive through the canals. Last time I did it during the day so it was fun to see it at night with the lights on. Both are good - just different.

The last day we wrapped up the meeting about 11 AM so people could head to the airport. Since our flight back to KC wasn't until mid-afternoon we had time for one more area - The Pearl. If you like beer you might be familiar with Pearl Beer - so it's the area where the Pearl Brewery is located. It's on the river but not by the River Walk. It's a really cool area. In addition to the brewery there is a wonderful hotel called Hotel Emma. There are boutiques and amazing restaurants.

I wish we had more time there! Definitely need to get back.

We had a great fun lunch at La Gloria. They call it Mexican street food but I am certainly not an expert. The menu is reasonably priced and mostly small plates to share. So we just ordered a bunch of different things and tried them all. Beef tacos, Mexican pizza, roasted corn, and something called Molcajetes which came in a large bowl and was skirt steak in chile Padilla sauce. It came with warm flour tortillas and was delicious. They also had quite a few fresh homemade juices. No margarita's since it was lunch!

A new teammate - the sombrero needs to go!!

Back to KC! Heading out again this Saturday - check back for another fun adventure!!! Going somewhere I haven't been before but it's been on my list. Pat Conroy is one of my favorite authors so that's a clue.

"Who lives sees much, who travels sees more." Arabian Proverb

Make it a great week!!

My Kind of Town.......

September 10, 2016 by Patricia Farmar

Chicago Is!!! Lucky me!!! I spent Labor Day weekend in Chicago having a fantastic time with my great friend Julie. And she just so happens to live in a state of the art high rise on Lake Shore Drive across the street from Navy Pier. The weather could not have been more perfect - so we spent most of the weekend outside enjoying the fabulous lakefront.

The view from my bedroom every morning!! Hello Chicago!

If you take a trip to Chicago I highly recommend taking the train into the city from either airport. It's very cheap and you avoid the traffic that is constant no matter what time of day or night you arrive.

I flew into Midway so the Orange Line takes you directly into the loop.

I knew I was in the right place - State and Lake!

We got up Saturday and headed right over to Navy Pier. Navy Pier opened in 1916, and is a 3,300 foot long pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. When I lived in Chicago 25 years ago it bears no resemblance to what it was like then!! It encompasses more than 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities. It is the #1 destination in Chicago and one of the top in the Midwest. Over 9 million visitors a year - so if you are there don't miss it!

It also has a brand new Ferris Wheel which just opened in May 2016 - and Julie has been wanting to ride it. So I agreed even though I am super scared of heights!!

Views from the top! 8 person enclosed gondolas and a very smooth ride - thank goodness!

We got over there before it was super crowded with the holiday - so really had fun browsing around.

Lobster Fest was going on! Not your usual fest food - Whole lobsters, tails, bisque etc. And lots of different boat rides to take including tall ships.

We happened across an ice skating rink sponsored by the Blackhawks - so since my motto is "Just say Yes" when Julie asked me if I wanted to skate you know what I said! We had a blast and got in some good exercise after we got in the groove. It had been years since either of us had been on skates. No broken bones and no falls.

We didn't indulge in the lobster so headed over to the River Walk for a late lunch. Every year that area just expands and gets better and better. Lots of cool restaurants to choose from and since it was so nice we wanted to eat outside.

Chicago Burger - not the healthiest option but delicious!!!

The Melas Fountain named after Nicholas Melas - Commissioner of the Water District from 1962-1992.

Too nice to not keep going so we headed up the lake looking for the big sand volleyball tournament at Oak St. Beach. It was huge! Had a big grandstand for center court and lots of other courts around the perimeter. Really great players from all over the country.

Boat area right off Navy Pier called the Play Pen. You guessed it - Party Central!!

My old building! Lake Shore Drive between Oak St and North Ave.

On our walk we came across something that really touched our hearts. Someone had made a display in the grass of painted rocks that all had positive affirmations written on each one - and then spelled out the word KIND!! Lots of people were stopping and every person left with a smile on their face. Just such a simple but touching way to spread some positive energy in the world.

We concluded a spectacular day by watching the Navy Pier end of season fireworks from Julie's place!

Day 2 started with a great breakfast right in Julie's building on the street level. Wonderful packed restaurant called Kanela. At first they said an hour wait but we got seated in 10 minutes - outside - our luck continued!!

We did have food! Lots of great sweet and savory choices. She said they have a couple of locations in the city so would highly recommend it! We were talking so I forgot to take a picture of the food - sorry.

Then headed out on bikes - rode along the lake past the Aquarium, Field Museum, Soldier Field and down to Hyde Park. Gorgeous the whole way. Since I lived there the entire lake front has been refurbished and made so welcoming and beautiful. It was so fun I'm thinking about maybe getting a bike!

I was thrilled to get to see Buckingham Fountain - one of my favorite landmarks in Chicago. It was dedicated in 1927 and is located in Grant Park. It is one of the largest fountains in the world and was inspired by the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles. It operates April to October and has water shows and evening color-light shows. It's a must see if you are in the area!

We headed back to get ready for church and dinner. We attended a jazz service at the Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Ave right across from the John Hancock Building and Water Tower shopping center. Living there I had walked by it hundreds of times but never been inside. Shame on me. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is in the Gothic Revival style. Originally built in 1871 but that's the same year of the famous Chicago Fire so burned down. The existing structure was built in 1874 - so just a few years later. When I travel in Europe I love to visit churches and was reminded that there are lots of beautiful churches here too. It was a lovely service and the singer had a great voice. We could tell she was holding back and when she sang "Eleanor Rigby" was finely able to fully unleash her wonderful voice.

Beautiful courtyard of the church. Amazing stained glass windows too!

Then a delicious dinner at Coco Pazzo Cafe. On St. Claire east of Michigan Ave. Wonderful little Italian restaurant with sidewalk seating. Yes - we would love to eat outside!

Chicken Liver appetizer, Beet salad ( not pictured), Pasta with sausage and Tartufo for dessert!! We split everything! Wine of course!

My last day started with a walk to the best donuts ever!!!

Chocolate for Julie and Buttermilk for me. I don't indulge often but it was worth it!

I needed one more walk on the lake so we headed north and decided to go see if the painted rocks had survived the weekend. We wondered if people walking by might have started taking ones that really spoke to them - which might have been the intention all along. We found them and they appeared to be all there for the most part - but were just in a jumble. So we decided to make another word with them.

Hoping to spread that message to everyone walking by - because it is a choice!

On our way back Julie was inspired to do this......

After a quick shower we headed over to Pinstripes to meet Robin for a fun lunch!

Chop Salad for me, Cobb for Robin and Caprese for Julie. And a bottle of wine - because I'm on vacation! And celebrating time with great and special friends!

To quote Evelyn Lauder - "I've always believed that whatever you are when you are young, as you age, you become more so."

I've been so fortunate to have so many wonderful fun friends over the years, and they continue to enrich my life and become even better every year! Thanks for being the most fabulous hostess Julie!

Dance Day and the Westside Neighborhood

August 28, 2016 by Patricia Farmar

Another great weekend in Kansas City - is it any wonder I count the days till Friday rolls around again?!! I started with Happy Hour Friday with some of my favorite work colleagues. And at one of my favorite happy hour places - Cafe Trio - overlooking the Country Club Plaza. Happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-6 PM. A great patio and a nice bar area open all year. They have a nice selection of discounted food, cocktails, beer and wine. A perfect way to wrap up the work week AND kickoff a fun weekend!

Those cocktails are called Pink Panties - and I believe quite a few were consumed!

Saturday was Dance Day - a day I look forward to all year. We are so fortunate to have the Kansas City Ballet Company here - and the last Saturday of August they sponsor Dance Day. It's held at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity - which is the home of the KC Ballet. The entire day is free and filled with dance classes in every style you can imagine - classes for both children and adults. There are also exhibitions by some of the professional dance groups in town along with our own KC Ballet Company.

The Todd Bolender Center is amazing! It was built in 1913 to house and burn coal to fuel Union Station and other surrounding buildings. It had become basically extinct and was saved from demolition in 2009 when it was purchased and restored to become the home of the ballet. It was completed in 2011 and is 65,000 square feet. It has 7 studios and the Ginger Frost Studio Theater which has a floor the same size as the Kauffman Center stage where the company performs. It also houses areas for wardrobe/costumes, physical therapy, artist locker rooms, storage and administrative offices. The design elements incorporated the original coal hoppers and ash chutes! I take classes there when I have time during the year and the space is part of the overall experience.

I was joined for the fun day by my friends Kristin and Cheryl, Kristin's daughter Rylee and her friend Alex. We all had a great time! There are so many classes available you really have to pick and chose. We started with a ballet class and followed that with Hip Hop, Zumba, Contemporary and Jazz. They have lunch available so we took a break after Zumba to refuel. We also watched some of the exhibitions while we let our lunch settle.

Checking in and getting our wrist bands.

Rylee and Alex with the Sugar Plum Fairy! Cheryl and the girls catching their breath before taking on some Hip Hop.

This was year 3 for me and I'm already looking forward to next year!

Saturday night and Sunday were spent in a great neighborhood close to me that has really turned around in the last few years. It's called the Westside, and it's at Summit and 17th. Basically just west of I-35 and The Crossroads. Some of my favorite restaurants are there - and I enjoyed eating at two of them this weekend. Saturday night met up with friends at Westside Local for dinner. It's not very big so reservations almost any night are essential. Luckily we planned ahead early in the week and had booked a table. It's all farm to table with great specials every night. They have a nice cocktail menu and a good selection of beer and wine fairly reasonably priced. We were so busy talking and enjoying the evening I forgot to take pictures of the food. - shame on me!!! And everyone had something delicious. Marsha and I had the same thing - angel hair pasta with some veggies in a light olive oil sauce with grilled salmon. JIm had blackened trout with dirty rice and Randy had some kind of chicken that looked fantastic. So sorry!! I did get a picture of the dessert - no surprise - cheesecake! But it came in like a mason jar with berries on top so a unique presentation.

The market/restaurant on the corner greets you with a mariachi band!! And two other really special places right across the street - Blue Bird Cafe and Frevere Bread.

Sunday after church I was headed to the grocery store but all of a sudden was overcome with a desire to visit Chez Elle for a delicious crepe. It makes me feel like I'm in Paris - both the food and the atmosphere - so made a sudden decision to go there instead. Just because I can! Still in the Westside neighborhood just across the street from Frevere Bakery. I can always go to the grocery store on Monday right??!!

Had the Le Jardin crepe - artichoke, spinach, sautéed mushrooms, Carmelites onions and Provolone cheese - topped with creme fraiche. And since it's Sunday a latte too!

It's such a great neighborhood to walk around in - so many beautiful old buildings that are being renovated for people to live in. And shops with cool stuff to look at!

I saw this posted somewhere and had to repost - it's just too perfect for me!

The next month I have some really fun trips planned - starting with the holiday weekend. So check back in and see "Where in the world is Patti?" All domestic - no international trips planned for the rest of this year - but so many great places still to see in the USA!!!

Make your week a great one!!

Is it really August??

August 21, 2016 by Patricia Farmar

The weather this weekend has been spectacular! Usually August is hot and humid but this weekend has been neither. Loving it! And consequently perfect for being out enjoying the city. This weekend I went to TEDxKC, saw a movie, ate at a new restaurant, sat outside at my favorite Coffeeshop, and took a walk in Loose Park. I'm happy to share more details -

Friday night was TEDxKC at the Kauffman Center. Pretty much everyone knows what TED Talks are - and I'm definitely a fan. The live show at the Kauffman Center sells out literally in minutes - but they were doing simulcasts in 3 other locations around the city - so I along with a few friends were able to participate at the KU Edwards campus in Overland Park. It ran from 6 PM to about 9:30 PM, and we heard 10 speakers with the general topic of "Question ? Everything." There were 5 talks and then an intermission with drinks and snacks, and then the remaining 5 talks. We heard from a Molecular Biologist, a Songwriter, an Engineer, a Poet, a Best-Selling Psychologist, an Inventor, an Ethnomusicologist, an Entrepreneur, an Activist and an Artist. We got TEDx tshirts and a swag bag. And afterwards we went out for a drink to discuss the topics. That's quite a bit of brain activation for a Friday night! I am excited to go again next year - and maybe try to even see the live show.

Saturday afternoon we went to see the movie Florence Foster Jenkins with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. I would pretty much see any movie with Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks - and this one did not disappoint. It's a true story about a woman from the early part of the 19th century that loved music with her entire being - but had an absolutely terrible singing voice. I can totally relate although I am very aware of this lack of talent - and Florence apparently was not. But I had to admire her passion for going for her dream! And seeing all the beautiful buildings and clothing from that era in New York was entertaining. And Hugh Grant is still a great looking guy!

A new restaurant opened across the street from me in the location that used to be the Cashew at 20th and Grand - so we tried it. It's called The Rockhill Grille , and I have been watching them rehab the space for months now as I walked around the neighborhood. They opened two weeks ago so it seemed like a good time to check it out. They have the same huge windows that the Cashew was famous for, and on a beautiful night had them all open. So the best of all worlds - feels like sitting outside with the comfort of being inside. They have done a great job with the space - casual but upscale and a beautiful bar area.

They also have a second floor lounge which serves fancy cocktails, small plates and has some great TV's.

Nice space for a Happy Hour get-together.

The food was delicious and the wine list decent and fairly priced. Not a huge menu but a nice selection of things that all sounded good. I had a hard time deciding. Some meat and seafood choices that I will work my way around to - and also an interesting vegetarian dish that I will try for sure.

Brussel Sprout Salad with grilled Salmon for Jim and Chicken, Sweet Potato Hash and Green Beans for me!

The owners were there and came by and introduced themselves and thanked us for coming. They had a pretty good crowd and I would definitely recommend it as a place to try. Reservations suggested on a weekend - closed on Sunday. And they do serve lunch.

Sunday - another beautiful day! Started with a stop at The Filling Station - my favorite Coffeeshop in town. Got to sit on the patio and enjoy a latte - a perfect way to start a relaxing day.

Their breakfast menu is really good too - breakfast burritos, sandwiches and quiche.

It was too nice to stay inside so I decided to head to Loose Park for a walk. If you have been to the Plaza and not stopped by there make it a priority. It's right on Wornall Rd at 51st St. - just south of the Intercontinental Hotel. Official name is Jacob Loose Memorial Park. The park is 75 acres and is home to a lake, large shelter, tennis courts, rose garden, Civil War markers and a children's play area - in addition to lots of picnic areas. Civil War markers because it the location of the Battle of Westport in 1864, which involved more then 30,000 soldiers and resulted in more than 3,000 casualties.

It is named after Jacob L. Loose owner of the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company and was originally used as a golf course by the Kansas City Country Club until it was bought in 1927 by Loose's wife Ella. She transformed it into a park and dedicated it to her husband who passed away in 1923.

Beautiful stone all around the park - and gorgeous flowers!

A very peaceful place to walk or read a book. Or play volleyball with friends!

The Rose Garden was built in 1931 and is tended to still by the Kansas City Rose Society. A popular place for wedding photos. It has over 150 varieties of roses - not that I can tell the difference!

There is no cheesecake to report on this week. I am still in sugar shock over the one I tried last week! But I had to have a little treat so went for something that never gets old.

My famous brownie with dark chocolate chips and pecans. Topped with the perfect flavor of ice cream - vanilla!

In my never ending pursuit to "live small" I was cleaning out some things and came across this quote which I had written down and saved.

It reminded me of something my wonderful mother used to say that with each passing year makes more sense to me. "When you're 20 you worry what people think of you. When you're 40 you don't care what people think of you. And when you're 60 you realize - no one is thinking of you!"

Not to say no one cares about you - but we are all pretty self-focused so if you are not living your life as you would like because you're afraid of what people might say stop it right now. You are responsible for your happiness - so do more of what makes you happy!!

Make it a great week!

Back to Oregon!

August 15, 2016 by Patricia Farmar

I wish!! Oregon has become my new happy place. I was there for the first time last summer when Keeley and Matt married in Bend, OR. And then again this past June for my college friends reunion. I think it has to be one of the most beautiful states and offers such a variety of terrains with the coast, mountains, high desert and wine country. Since I hadn't started the blog till after the first trip I thought I would walk down memory lane a bit and share some pictures of a few of the spots I got to visit on my first trip.

Crater Lake National Park

That's Wizard Island protruding from the lake. It was formed from eruptions after the lake began to fill.

Crater Lake was formed about 7,700 years ago when an eruption caused the massive Mount Mazama (thought to have been about 12,000 feet high) to collapse on itself. It formed a 6-mile caldera (a large cauldron-like volcanic depression) which slowly filled with water eventually reaching 1,943 feet deep, making it the nation's deepest lake. It is a beautiful clear blue and appears to be totally calm. You can drive the 33 miles around the entire lake, and at some places the drop-offs are pretty significant. There is a spot where you can hike a steep trail down to the actual lake and board a tour boat - but that's the only boat allowed on the lake.

There is also a very cool old lodge that has a restaurant and rooms to rent. It dates back to 1909 but was renovated in the 1990's to it's original rustic elegance. We got there in time to enjoy lunch, but since the blog had not begun I wasn't as good about taking picture - so you will need to trust me or better yet make a trip there yourself. It's definitely worth it!

We drove to Crater Lake after the wedding from Bend and it took about 2 hours. It is located in the more southern part of Oregon and quite a bit east of the coast.

Cannon Beach

We flew into Portland and stayed with my friend's Nancy and Bruce before heading to Bend for the wedding. Nancy gave us the choice to either head to the coast or go to the Gorge and we picked coast. We couldn't really make a bad choice. It took us a little over an hour to get to Cannon Beach from Portland - which is a 4 mile stretch of beach that is spectacular. The coastline is hemmed in by lots of trees so really is gorgeous with the contrast. There are lots of cute shingled hotels, restaurants and shops, and seems to have been able to retain so much old charm.

Nancy and I with a spectacular view of the coastline.

Lunch in Cannon Beach at the Screw and Brew - combo hardware store and brewery!

One of my travel goals is to drive the entire west coast from Seattle to San Diego. I definitely want to spend lots more time in Oregon. One thing I will enjoy more of is their delicious marionberries! It is a blackberry that was developed by Oregon State University in 1956 and named after the county it was widely tested in. It is used in pies, ice cream, jam, jellies and pastries.

There are lots of beautiful mountains in Oregon, and one of the most famous is Mount Hood. (Perhaps thanks to the movie The Shining which used exterior shots of the lodge in the movie.) Mount Hood is the highest point in Oregon, over 11,000 feet high, and home to 12 glaciers and snowfields.

View from the plane as we were flying over.

Well that's a blast from the past that I wanted to share. Now back to the most recent weekend here in KC. Since I was in town I was able to run with my running group Saturday morning. And it was a perfect day - clear and in the low 80's. Every month we run from a different spot and in August we are in downtown Overland Park. That works out perfectly because we finish right at the Farmer's Market - and it's a great one! There are lots of great vendors and food stands of some local restaurants. I heard the Salvadoran stand was great so I decided to try it. The Pupusas were fantastic! Choices were chicken and cheese, pork and cheese or bean and cheese. I went with the chicken and cheese. They grind the corn for the tortilla-like pancake right there at the stand so you know it's fresh. I ran about 6 miles so I felt like I had earned it!

Love my running friends!! We always have so much fun while we are running. Couldn't do it without them!

Last but not least - the next piece of Cheesecake!! I have been holding off on the selections that are so extravagant that they make me feel like they will give me diabetes- but this week went for it.

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake

Just looking at the picture is making me feel a little sick. I'm not saying it wasn't good - just so sweet and rich and gooey - yes too sweet for even me!! So from bottom to top it's a chocolate cake layer, then cheesecake with peanut butter cups in it, layer of caramel and then repeat. All topped with chocolate frosting and a large dollop of peanut butter frosting. And chocolate curls around the outside. I'm going to give it a 2. I never want to eat it again but if you share a piece with like 4 other people and you like peanut butter it's worth a try!

Make it a great week! Choose Happiness!!