Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Jerome, Arizona hosts First Saturday Art Walk


Cody DeLong’s newest painting from his recent Grand Canyon River trip will be on display
at his studio/gallery in Jerome during the June 1st Art Walk.
Jerome, Arizona is a funky, historic, hillside mining town that has an active arts community. They hold monthly art walks. June 1st, 2013 is the next event.

Warm, easy nights of June in Jerome will set the perfect mood to welcome art lovers as they stroll the lovely galleries and studios that circle the town from the Old Jerome High School to Made in Jerome Pottery and The Lincoln Gallery. This first Saturday Art Walk on June 1st will continue to delight the growing group of regulars as well as lucky newcomers to this wonderful evening.  The festivities start at 5:00PM throughout the town with a free shuttle running until 8:00PM. With 20 open galleries and studios, there is plenty to spark any art aficionado’s imagination. Great food and charming accommodations make Jerome a perfect weekend getaway. Six wine tasting rooms, live music at cafĂ©’s and bars and the offbeat ambiance of this mile high town are the perfect backdrop for a weekend of art.

No Mas Muertes!
"Border Songs" a collection of 31 songs and prose featuring well known US and Mexican artists is now on sale at Casa Latina at the Merchant’s Gathering. Proceeds from the sales help provide medical aid, food and water to end death and suffering on the Arizona / Mexican border. Pick one up at Art Walk and enjoy music performed by in-house artist Duane Ewing

Cody has just returned from his annual Grand Canyon River trip. Come into the Cody DeLong Studio/Gallery and see his plein air studies from the trip, and a new studio piece underway. Live music and refreshments. 300 Hull Ave. next to the Visitors Center. CodyDeLong.com 928-300-4576

The Wary Buffalo's Pentimento Gallery may be small, but it has a powerful impact. Spend some quality time with our thought-provoking artists and you won't be disappointed. It's all part of the unique, eclectic shopping experience you get at the Wary Buffalo in Jerome.

Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery-“It’s in My Nature”- Raina Gentry’s continuing farewell show. She’s leaving Arizona, moving to Denver. Stop by this fine gallery of local artists.

During Jerome's June Art Walk, Pura Vida Gallery will debut new designs by jewelry artist Annamarie Sabo.  Her sterling and 24kt gold plated rings, earrings, and cuffs are all cast from the skeletons of the desert's prickly pear cactus.  Many are adorned with precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, and blue diamonds.  Join Pura Vida for champagne and chocolates on the evening of June 1st.

“Wine About the ‘Walk” (TM) with a very special Art Walk Happy Hour with $1 off John McLoughlin's transcendent white blends and $2 off his luxurious red blends at The Bitter Creek Winery. 5pm-8pm

A fabulous selection of custom Jewelry created by the Father and Son team Rick and Ricky Hernandez.  Unique custom creations in 14k Gold and Sterling Silver.  Drusy, Tanzanite, Arizona Peridot and Fire Agate are among the colorful collection along with  brilliant rainbow colors of Australian Opal.  Jerome's Jewelry is the hot spot to shop.  Jerome's Jewelry, 114 Jerome Ave.

Roberge & Day Studio welcomes you to a world of wonder and whimsy!  Join us for refreshments and the richness of our one-of-a-kind wearable art, artisan fibers, and fine art.  Learn more about the ancient art of felting as Kelly Roberge demonstrates techniques throughout the evening, and find out about our classes in fibers, book arts and more!! Old Jerome High School, Building B, Suite 104.  928.634.2072.   Open daily 12-5, and by appointment!

Zen Mountain Gallery will host Joan Roberts demonstrating her jewelry techniques. Joan creates beautiful jewelry beginning with real leaves combined with metals, stones and casts of found objects. Zen Mountain Gallery is located at 515 Main Street, Jerome. 928.634.5009

Gallery 527 hosts another great party with its collection of local artists. Marian Ward will debut new fine silver and beaded jewelry. Lorraine Fexas brings in new fused glass wine bottle serving pieces, and Ron Gill has new sculpture of wood and metal. With a little luck, landscape photographer Shane McDermott will arrive with some stunning new pieces to wow his collectors. For more information on Jerome Art Walk, contact Donna at 928.649.2277
.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Tucson restaurants feature hot deals for 2013 summer savings



The Tucson Originals collective of restaurants are featuring some fantastic deals this year. Summer may just be an excellent time for foodies to visit Tucson, Arizona:

Blue fin Seafood Bistro
7053 N. Oracle Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85704
(520) 531-8500
Blue Fin will be hosting their annual Summertime Lobster-Fest! A one pound steamed Maine Lobster, Drawn Butter, Texmati Rice and Coleslaw Available for $20.13. Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

Dakota Café & Catering
6541 E. Tanque Verde Road
Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 298-7188
Chef August Ench at  Dakota Cafe is planning the  “Dakota World Tour 2013” for the summer.  The tour will feature a rotating monthly menu with specials from around the World.  www.dakotacafe.com

DOWNTOWN Kitchen & Cocktails 
135  S. 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 623-7700
Throughout the summer DOWNTOWNs AROUND THE GLOBE  will feature menus from cuisines around the world including Seoul, South Korea; Havana, Cuba; Marrakesh, Morocco; and Mumbai, India. For details visit: www.downtownkitchen.com
     
Ghini’s French Caffe
1803 E. Prince Road
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 326-9095
Enjoy two signature Eggs Provençal orders and two mimosas for $20. 

Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro
5845 N. Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85704
(520) 408-9000
Enjoy two Gluten Free Eggs Benedict (served all day) for $20, OR Choose any two Gluten Free Sandwiches with two iced teas $20.   

Jonathan’s Cork
6320 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 296-1631
Offering a weekly $15.00 dinner special. Specials will change throughout the summer to include items such as: Chicken Breast stuffed with Mushroom Mousse, Brined Pork Chop and a Catfish special. Each special entrĂ©e will include a small house salad with a choice of starch and house vegetables.

Kingfisher
2564 E Grant Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 323-7739
Now in its 19th year, Kingfisher will feature their Road trip menu starting on Friday May 24. The Road trip is a revolving menu that breaks the US into six regions and every two weeks it moves from region to region featuring indigenous specialties, both food and beverage, in addition to their regular menus.

Lodge on the Desert
306 N. Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 320-2014
Join Lodge on the Desert this summer for summer specials. Lodge on the Desert will be serving a $20 Summer Feature which includes: House Salad on chef’s whim, 20 Minute Sous Vide Natural Chicken with creamy white polenta, local Chinese long beans, confit lemon, and reduced chicken jus. Lodge on the Desert will also be serving a seasonal selection of House Made Gelato.

Monkey Burger (Downtown location)
47 North 6th Avenue
Tucson, Arizona 85701
(520) 624-4416
Monkey Burger (Williams Center location)
5350 East Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, Arizona 85711
(520) 514-9797
At both of their locations Monkey Burger will be offering any two burgers, any two sides and two soft drinks for $22 (tax not included).
Pastiche Modern Eatery
3025 N. Campbell Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 325-3333
Featuring two of their signature dishes for the perfect summer meal. Enjoy Baby Greens salad and the Bourbon Salmon for only $20. Pastiche will also be featuring wine features all summer long.

Renee’s Organic Oven
7065 E Tanque Verde Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 886-0484
Renee’s Organic Oven will be serving a summer special for $20 per person. The Summer Special includes a glass of wine, any small pizza, and a slice of flourless chocolate cake. No exceptions or changes. You may add to your order. Not valid with any other offers or discounts.

Rocco’s Little Chicago
2707 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson AZ, 85716
(520) 321-1860
Enjoy a large cheese, thin-crust pizza and 6 breadsticks OR a double house salad for $20.

Venice Restaurant & Pizzeria
7848 E Wrightstown Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 885-8946
Join Venice Restaurant & Pizzeria for happy hour for 3pm to 7pm every day - $2 domestic long necks and $3 well drinks. Venice will also be offering weekday specials from 4pm to closing – including three pizza toppings for the price of one on Tuesday, buy one spaghetti and get one ½ off on Wednesday, and many more!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Solving the mystery of Mo's on the Oregon Coast



For years I had heard about Mo's. I heard about their chowder and I heard about their fish combo dinners. But most of all I heard that people who moved away from Oregon couldn't wait to get back to Mo's. During a getaway to Lincoln City and the Siletz Bay, the mystery was solved. I finally understood people's obsession with Mo's.

I went over to Mo's for a late dinner after checking in at the Looking Glass Inn across the street. Mo's had booths all along the windows so I could enjoy views of the bay. That evening I had the special and added a cup of chowder just because of all the buzz.

The food was traditional fried seafood and was excellent. The coleslaw arrived with a huge pile of shrimp decorating it. But what surprised me was the chowder. It was creamy like most chowders but it had a decidedly bacon flavor. I found out they do put bacon into their chowder. Here's the recipe. It was the best clam chowder I had ever tasted. I was certain the clams were local. They didn't have that "clammy" taste at all. 

As I savored the dinner, the staff stopped by to chat. They are friendly at Mo's.

Mo's is a family owned restaurant that has been around since 1946.  They have two restaurants in Lincoln City. You'll find the original restaurant just to the south, in Newport.

Mo's has much more than chowder and fried fish. They offer burgers, salads, bouillabaisse, fish tacos, pastas and deserts like Marionberry Cobbler.

Mo's is so Oregon Coast and I am so hooked!

Mo's Locations
Newport
Original Mo's
622 SW Bay Blvd.
541-265-2979
Newport
Mo's Annex
657 SW Bay Blvd.
541-265-7512
Otter Rock
122 1st Street
(open seasonally)
541-765-2442
Lincoln City
860 SW 51st Street
541-996-2535
Cannon Beach
195 Warren Way
Tolovana Park
503-436-1111
Florence
1436 Bay Street
541-997-2185

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Santa Fe travel and restaurant news: What's new for 2013



It's spring in Santa Fe. So what is new with the "City Different?" Excitement is building for this season’s major art markets, music, performances and exciting, new restaurants that are opening in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With spring finally here and summer around the corner, locals and visitors alike are enjoying the delights that come with the change of season and enjoying what’s new in Santa Fe:

Restaurant and Food News
Midtown Bistro: Located in Ironstone Gardens, a hip, happening residential and commercial complex south of downtown Santa Fe, this new restaurant is already drawing crowds and great reviews. The owners and operators are both veterans of SantacafĂ©, one of the city’s most popular and respected restaurants and their experience shows. The restaurant has a cool, industrial vibe and is very comfortable. At lunch it tends to be packed with people who work on the south side of town. The menu for both lunch and dinner is varied with a bit of a local New Mexican twist.

·         Caffe Greco: Trekking up and down Canyon Road and taking in tons of amazing art can be a tiring experience. Now there’s a new place at the bottom of the hill with funky charm and home-cooked food, perfect for a snack! Chef Cindy Barerras is a fourth generation local who cooks up burgers, burritos, pastries and more, inspired by traditional New Mexican cuisine. The restaurant shares the building with Jacqueline’s Place, an upscale boutique.

·         Arroyo Vino: This exceptional wine store located on the outskirts of Santa Fe, in the community of Las Campanas, has just opened a new restaurant in March. Featuring small plates meant to be shared and created by Santa Fe chef, Mark Connell, the place provides a clean design with seating for 50, plus a small, but soon to be expanded, wine bar. Choose a wine from the restaurant’s ever-evolving list of wines by the glass or pick a bottle from the store’s stock to take into the restaurant, for just $20 over the shelf price. Then pair it with the array of choices from Connell’s kitchen from fresh salads to pork, lamb and duck dishes.

· 
 The Shed: One of Santa Fe’s most venerable New Mexican restaurants, was recently named to Travel + Leisure’s list of Best Mexican Restaurants in the U.S.

·         Santa Fe Culinary Academy: Chefs Rocky Durham and Tanya Story offer three hands-on intensive workshops this spring for home cooks who want to take their game to the next level. The Art of Pastry, Butchery and Charcuterie, and The A La Carte Restaurant Challenge will each give participants hours of personal instruction and practice over several days. At the end, all participants will be invited to collaborate on a pop-up Mothers’ Day Dinner on May 10.

·         KGB Spirits: KGB Spirits, a northern New Mexico boutique distillery, has just released a six year old sipping bourbon, Simeon Turley’s Taos Lightning. The bourbon is aged in charred oak barrels and is exposed to natural climate changes. It’s available at many Santa Fe restaurants and liquor stores.

·         Talin Market: Santa Fe cooks who love international flavors have rejoiced at the opening of the new Talin Market, a smaller, but well stocked version of a huge international grocery in Albuquerque. Talin specializes in the hard-to-find authentic ingredients used in Asian, African, Indian, and Latin American cuisines. There is also fresh produce, fish, and meats, plus a Japanese-style ramen bar. Talin is just next door to the new location of Ohori’s Coffee, so shoppers can take a break with a snack and a cup of artisanal brew.

Hotels
·         Inn on the Alameda: Guests at the Inn on the Alameda, a luxury boutique hotel just steps away from the heart of the city, now have the choice to stay in for dinner or late afternoon snacks. The kitchen and Agoya Lounge, where a lavish breakfast and evening wine and cheese reception are served, have been renovated in keeping with the hotel’s traditional Santa Fe style. The menu features light and interesting choices, including plates for two and a variety of paninis. Local ingredients are the focus and new chef Jordan Marsters’ inspiration for creating almost everything homemade. The wine list has been expanded to go along with the Agoya Lounge’s full bar offerings. In warm weather, the inn’s gracious patio is a relaxing spot for enjoying food and beverages. In addition, each of the inn’s 72 rooms has received attention and updates, from bathrooms to furniture to amenities to creating fireplaces where there were none. What has been an outstanding inn, is now a true, full-service hotel.   

·         Heritage Hotels & Resorts: Heritage Hotels has named Charles Thompson as Executive Chef for itsHotel Saint Francis and Hotel Chimayo. Thompson will oversee the kitchens for restaurants and bars in both hotels. He is a native of Santa Fe who has most recently been chef at The Legal Tender and the Hyatt Tamaya Santa Ana. Thompson earned his chef stripes working at some of Santa Fe’s best restaurants, including Geronimo and La Fonda Hotel.
two downtown Santa Fe hotels,

Fitness
·         Dance Conditioning Plus!: Also at Ironstone Gardens— Kate Eberly has moved her innovative and rapidly expanding dance fitness program to Belisama Dance. The studio is large, airy, and perfectly suited to the exuberant classes, which are so much fun that participants may not even notice how fit they are getting. Eberly is known for her own dancing in professional companies in New York and Chicago. The Dance Conditioning Plus! program includes several types of classes and a full schedule. It is accessible to people of all ages and levels of fitness.

·         Mellow Velo: One of Santa Fe’s most popular shops for renting mountain bikes, road bikes and city cruisers, just expanded in a new space right in the heart of the city. The new shop will feature the same services and bikes from a more convenient location making riding out the door and onto the trail that much easier. 132 E. Marcy.

Music
It may be several months away but the city is already buzzing about this summer’s Bandstand program of nightly live music on the Plaza. The free concerts kickoff in the evening on June 21st with an all-Salsa show and continue through August 19th . Performances go on four nights a week featuring Native American evenings, world music evenings and music from outstanding local and national talent playing folk, rock, jazz, mariachi and more. 


Information provided by The Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau
Photography Copyright: Elizabeth R. Rose Photography