Noshing in Phoenix

Mmm...pho

Fair readers: I have been neglecting you. I'm so sorry. What can I say? It's summer.

These picks are from a few of the places I ate during my last visit to Phoenix in May...I think.

Springing into Summer

It was still a bit chilly when we hit the Terrace for the first time this summer (thus, the sweater), but I was still ready and willing to bask in the outdoors.

One of the summer's first trips to the Terrace

Early in the spring, we stumbled on Gallery Night. We saw a glassblowing demonstration at Studio Paran, took in some cool art, grazed on appetizers, ran into John Nichols, and stopped into the Ohio Tavern for a drink. (I probably won't return. It was a bit sketchy for my taste.) 

The classy dispenser in the Ohio Tavern's potty

Glassblowing at Studio Paran

Glassblowing at Studio Paran

In May, we walked up to Monona Terrace and went to the Great Dane for brunch.

In Great Dane's beer garden

A few other shots from the spring:

A spontaneous Happy Hour at the Orpheum with colleagues

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Mara and Owen visited from the Cities

Sweet Gracie underneath my drying 'brellie

When it was finally warm enough, we had a simple picnic by the lake with BLTs, wine, and salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette

The Day Off and Harbingers of Spring

Today, I took the day off. I didn't do anything terrifically exciting, but it was wonderful to do whatever I wanted and get a few basic things done. I slept late, then had breakfast and went to yoga at noon. At class, I met a new friend from Rome, and since I had planned to go for a hike in the arboretum after class, I invited her to join me. We grabbed lunch at Cargo Coffee and reminisced about various travels. (We were also hit on by a guy at the table behind us. He asked if he could take us bowling sometime. Yes, bowling. It was very odd.) Then it was off to Trader Joe's to get groceries. After putting away my groceries, I sat in the eucalyptus steam room at the gym and then picked up a few items at Target.

On the way home, I saw a gorgeous, gorgeous moon. It looked a bit like a mottled blood orange hanging in the sky. I'm choosing to interpret the beautiful moon as a harbinger of spring. I am so very glad that it is finally March. I know I'm supposed to appreciate all of the seasons, but the Wisconsin winter wears me out. By February and March, I am desperate for heat and sunshine and open water and green things.