#single and snacking in phoenix az

[violetclarity]

2019 Creative Accomplishments

I was tagged by @aibidil to share what I’m most proud of this year, and now that I’m back from my first rl fandom friend meet-up (a different kind of 2019 accomplishment, non?) I have my computer back and can do it!

The two fics I’m most proud of in 2019:

As Long As There’s Sun (Jeddy, E, 55k) because I had been working on it for so long and it is, too date, the longest thing I have written (that actually reached a comprehensible final draft).

Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ (Ginsy, E, 55k) not only because I cranked it out despite all odds and dealt with lots of types of relationships, but because I’m so proud and happy that @frnklymrshnkly made the @hpwlwbigbang happen!

I’m also pretty proud of my Erised, but that is still 🤐 ;)

If you want to play, I’m tagging @whiskyandwildflowers @frnklymrshnkly @restlessandordinary @candybarrnerd or anyone else who wants a go because this is so interesting!

[sitp-recs]

Hidden Gems by @violetclarity 

Violetclarity is another incredibly talented and underrated writer that should get more love and appreciation. Interestingly enough, I stumbled upon her Pansmione magnum opus first, and was utterly obsessed with it. That fic is actually responsible for pulling me into this ship when I started the blog in 2020, and I still remember screaming at @teacup-tai about how brilliant it was. I found her excellent Drarry works soon after and fell even more in love with her writing; those sensitive and feel-good love tales make for perfect bedtime reads and I especially appreciate “strengthen to stay” for promoting body positivity 💜 I found her Ginsy fics more recently and was once again completely blown away by her A+ femslash content - these are long-ish fics with interesting plots, top notch angst and a fascinating take on the characters, the levels of UST and emotional development are addictive! Here’s a short selection of my personal favourites, I had a blast reading each one of these and I highly recommend checking Violetclarity’s full catalogue here. Happy readings!

Drarry

Christmas Eve and the Kisses Four (2018, E, 5.3k) - sweet friends to lovers get together with cheeky meddling kids (I love Scorpius!), domesticity and family Christmas feels.

Draco was determined to ignore Harry and have a good time at this Christmas Eve party, but with enchanted mistletoe in the mix, that was easier said than done.

Proper (2018, E, 8.7k) - a lovely 8th year secret relationship exploring their first time with enthusiastic consent, some awkward fumbling and unexpected feelings.

Draco sighs. “What kind of absolute twit has the chance to have sex with the Chosen One and can’t go through with it?"

In which Draco studies with Gryffindors, learns a new spell, and navigates the difficulty of being in a not-so-casual secret relationship with his childhood nemesis.

the strength to stay (2018, E, 29k) - my personal favourite! Auror partners, case fic, enemies to lovers with chubby Draco, mild angst, body image issues, very sweet happy ending 💜

Draco and Harry are the best Senior Aurors in the DMLE, which is why they’re working the case about Wings – a dangerous new potion that sends users into a dreamscape from which they may never return. When Harry is kidnapped by the group behind Wings, Draco takes it upon himself to go after him, and is forced to confront the reality of Harry’s feelings for him, which he’s been ignoring for years. Read my rec here.

Rare pairs

Private Relations (2018, E, 10k) - delicious Ginsy with Quidditch player soft butch Gin and badass PR Pansy, fwb to lovers, enthusiastic consent and background Drarry as a treat 👌🏼

Pansy Parkinson is the Harpies’ new PR person. Ginny Weasley is not impressed. // A tale of friendship, flirtation, and fancy dress parties.

Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ and art by keyflight790 (2019, E, 25k) - brilliant fwb + fake relationship Ginsy 🙌 oblivious Ginny, background Harry/Luna, some Harry and Draco bashing cause we love to hate them

When she told her friends she was bringing a date to Harry and Luna’s wedding, Ginny had only wanted them to stop bothering her about her love life. Now she’s facing an entire weekend of pretending that Pansy Parkinson, her casual hook-up, is actually her girlfriend. What could possibly go wrong?

Pansy, Rows, and Mutual Wanking (2020, E, 27k) - hands down my favorite Pansmione fic, such a great and emotionally rewarding journey! Hogwarts 8th year, they were roommates, enemies to lovers, pining Pansy, internalized homophobia & coming out (Hermione), party games, lots of sexual discovery, happy ending!

Eighth year. Hermione's ready. She's going to study, have fun with her friends, and ignore her new roommate's obnoxious wanking habits. And alright, maybe she wouldn't be so annoyed with it if she'd had any good sex in the past. But that doesn't mean she wants Pansy Parkinson to teach her how to wank...does it? Read my rec here.

[keyflight790]

2019 Fic Wrap-up

Hi all! This is more for my shitty memory, so I’m going to hide it all under the fold, but I wanted to do a little summary of the 45 (what???) fics, art and podfics I posted on A03 this year. Some of them are unrevealed, so they’re left off (erised, owlpost, mini-fest, etc) (heres my 2018 wrap-up!)

Total Word Count:  181k

Number of Fests: 12

Number of Stories/Art posted to AO3: 45 (including 5 arts & 2 podfics!)

Drarry: 24

Drarryville: 3

Neville/Others: 9

Ron/Draco: 3

Ginsy: 2

Other: 4

Most Kudos Fic: Tending the Flames 

Most Commented on Fic: I Just Want to be Fucking, Happy

Fic with the most Hits: Tending the Flames

Fic with the Highest Word Count: Risks Worth Taking

Fic I’m Most Proud of: Risks Worth Taking

Tumblr Drabbles: 

Drarry - Harry and Draco in class

Drarry - Daddy Potter & smol Draco

Veela!Neville

Drarry - Stockings

Drarry - Discord Drabble

Drarry - Royal AU

Drarry -  You’re enjoying this so much, aren’t you?

Drarryville - Flu

Drarry - Nobody knows you better

Drarry - thirsty Harry

Drarry - Poem

Drarry - Harry looks like sex

Drarry - Moving in

Silver trio - Nightmare

Drarryville - spoiling

Silver trio - alone

Fics

Drarry

General, Teen, Mature

Two Minutes - gifted to @hatsonhamburgers and based off of How I Met your Mother

Coffee Cup - gifted to @call-me-hopelesss - Coffee Shop AU

Fear - written for the @hpdarkarts My Bloody Valentine Minifest and was later podficced by smirkingcat!

Explicit - Top Harry

Catching the Niffler - written with @tsundanire for @bixgirl1 and it got amazing art!!! thanks @cheekytorah-laceybauthor!

Fake It til you Make It - favourite line - “It’s all pretend. Surely even you can pretend to be happy, Potter.” 

Risks worth Taking - written for the @hpconsentfest for @thirdeyeblinkings and theres a cat named Marzipan

Hook(up) - written for father @fantom-ftnoise and involves a hook and fucking off Ministry Time

Delay(ed) - I watched porn and then wrote it what even is my life now. Harry doms but bottoms in this one

Quite a Big Mission You've Got There - written for bixgirl1, I think I ran out of innuendos and I don’t care.

Explicit - Daddy Harry (all written for or with @mothermalfoy)

Feathers and Lace - the tinkling bells are one of my fav additions

Tending the Flames - i cant believe this is my most read fic ever, I wrote it in an afternoon. I’ve spent months on others 😂

Come On, Potter - Draco is such a shit when he’s horny

His Noble Love - written with @mothermalfoy, I haven’t written a full AU before, and really enjoyed this one (esp. protective knight Harry unfff)

Explicit - Top Draco

Dragontamer - written for @dewitty1 for her bday and the @dracotops-harry fest - 

I just want to be Fucking, Happy? - written for @lqtraintracks after binging several fics, fighting then fucking is my entire drarry aesthetic

Last Christmas (I gave you my cock) - written for the @wireless-festive-minifest and @tsundanire ‘s birthday, I came up with the title before I even started the fic

Explicit - No Top/Bottom

Bolt in the Darkness - Written for my first @hpdailydeviant and based off of lightning kink

Everything to Lose - written for the @hd-fan-fair and it has my fav pet so far, Niles the Knarl

Other

Dron - I wrote three Drons, all for @ohlookagaydraco! 

Checkmate - for the @rondracofest

Swallow it Down - ofc Ron has a food kink

Absolution - Draco has needs and Ron is able to help

Drarryville 

Sexting Station - @jeldenil wrote Sexting Central and was so gracious to let me respond

Get The Engine Running - and then we wrote some amazingness together!

Small Comforts - based off of @upthehillart ‘s artwork with trans!harry for the @growing-neville fest and one of my biggest accomplishments of the year for sure

Herbtamer

Cups and Swords for @awesomedig - they write such amazing herbtamer, and I was so excited to write this pairing for them

Tugging on My Heart(strings) for @buttertyrant for the rarepairshorts summer fest - and has CARDIGAN KINK which, I mean...so Nev.

Dreville - The Sun, The Heat - written for @dreville, who shares my love for Neville and Draco

Neville/Luna/Rolf - Fire and Ice - written for @hpdailydeviant and I did a ton of research on how candles are made - all which was irrelevant to the fic

Harry/all the other Gryffindors - Dare for a Lion - for @malenkayacherepakha -Dom!Neville and Ron being all wide eyed and Harry feeling safe, and I just love how comfy these boys are together tbh. There’s a part II coming in February, so...get excited!

Silver Trio - Looking Forward To - written for the @chubbynevillefest I have a real soft spot for these three

Ginsy - Let Me - gifted to @fleetofshippyships and theres an entire 3k more that I need to flush out and finish

Neville/Minerva McGonagall - Darling - written for the @hpdaddyfest and feels like the best/worst fic Ive written all year - it was definitely a guilty pleasure of mine to write these two, but I don’t know if I’ll have the courage to do it again.

Foam Friends

Flonks - Protection Detail by nachodiablo for the @hpwlwbigbang - I made a gif and finally it worked...I think.

Ginsy - Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ by @violetclarity for the @hpwlwbigbang - Ginsy flies!!!

Jeddy - Blind Adventure for @shiftylinguini who I admire through foam so often

Podfics - my first year doing these!

Drarry - Thursday Mornings 

Herbtamer - The Gladdest Thing Under the Sun by @tackytigerfic

This list doesn’t include the 5 or so fics that are still anon.

Thanks for checking out my year in review! Consider yourself tagged if I’ve tagged you in this, or if you’ve made it down this far!!! Happy Christmas everyone!

[kelsmister]

Phoenix Fan Fusion 2019 -- Artist Alley Review May 23-26 2019 *Thursday - Sunday* ==Opinions expressed are completely my own, and from my own record. If your experience differed, then good for you. This is how the event unfolded for me. You are more than welcome to write your own review, and even allowed to vend at this event. Keep in mind my opinions are again, of my own accord.== Once again I decided to brave the desert sun and venture out of my comfortable air conditioned room to sell my various wares in the hopes of making a decent buck. After my hard drive crashed two weeks ago I had high hopes this event could at least cover part of those expenses. Oh boy, did this show do a 180 and nose dive into the deep end of the pool without bracing for impact. Where to start? I’ve been doing PCC (as it was formerly known as before the lawsuit involving San Diego vs some weird event in Colorado), for about 6 ish years now. Maybe closer to 10 by now. Point is, I’ve seen this show go from great things to downright lousy. This year was one of the lousier ones. For those who don’t know, or plum forgot, around 2 years back a man brought in real weapons, real bullet proof armor, and had threatened the life of one of the guests at the con. Idiot posted said exploits online where his one and only online chum alerted authorities and he was swiftly apprehended before he could do such vile acts. The next day the con had to crack down hard on security, as the city pressured them to not have one of those ‘mass shootings’ happen in THEIR city. (Hey I don’t want to be shot at either!) The whole scramble to get metal detectors and REAL security personnel (not just teen volunteers) took it’s toll as lines stretched for hours around the buildings in 110+ sweltering heat. Some passed out, others drenched in sweat, it was bad. Many vowed never to return, as last year did show a slight decrease in attendance. However the damage was already done. Last year the increased costs for security left the con with empty wallets and almost zero budget, they fell seriously into the red nearly going bankrupt because of it. So this year they revamped everything by cutting corners wherever they could. First thing- entry points restricted to just 3. I believe the prior year it was 5, so right there it’s not as many personnel you need to hire, or rather pay the company to hire. Secondly, they moved registration back inside the building, so saving on rental tents and such. Third, they really cut corners with the artist alley. They added more artists. Pipe and drape were scraped. Tables were now side by side, no gaps no 2 feet of spacing between you and your neighbors. Now everyone resided in 8 table deep rectangles with taped down walkways behind everyone to ‘allow entry/exit’ for the middle tables with mini pipe and drape at the ends to block out the attendees. Did I mention more artists? Seriously, they squeezed in so many that the aisles did not match up with the vendor aisles. Row 900 was actually row 1000 in artist alley. This confused several attendees walking by who would look up to see a huge banner saying one thing but the ground saying another. Our once nicely printed up table signs, which use to hang off of the pipe and drape backings were now lazily stapled to the front of tables, which fell off rather easily fyi. The rectangle of selling for each cluster of artists left many to just push their now brought from home photo backdrops to the very edge of their space, some not caring at all and just going over these 1.5 feet of ‘walkway’. Many tri-pod legs stuck out, I myself kicked a few out of frustration and even had to yell at a neighbor behind me who somehow thought the double lines were ‘his’ space. Again, no one ever came by and demanded the space be free. If pipe and drape were used instead it wouldn’t have been an issue. But being right up against each neighbor was infuriating to say the least. You couldn’t hang anything on the sides of your display for fear people would think it was your neighbor’s work. Without the pipe and drape the sea of artists looked horrid. Random photo backdrops as far as the eye could see. Some looked good, but others yuck. For those who don’t have backdrops it looked just like a big yard sale. And a lot, and I mean A LOT of tables were left empty. At cons it’s common for a few people not to show up, emergencies happen, but heck even my neighbor didn’t show allowing me to stretch out onto his space (free of charge kind of nice). Besides this they never did closing announcements. You got one at 5 minutes till but nothing else. Not saying every con does this, but at a show this big, and a hall this grand, you have to warn the public. “Hey guys 1 hour until the vendor hall closes!” “Not to alarm you all but the hall closes in 30 minutes!” “Better make those last minute purchases, hall is closing in 10 minutes. Please start making your way to the exit!” Nope, none of this. Also, randomly, on Saturday around noon someone got a hold of the overhead PA system and started blaring music. It was so loud we all were covering our ears. After song number two started to play I rushed over to the exhibit hall manager booth where I kid you not an ARMY of angry vendors were ready to lynch someone. Eventually the music cut off and we all cheered, but never heard how that happened. Maybe a blu-tooth thing?

Security. Oh boy. They had MAJOR problems. This was supposedly the same company hired the prior year, but man they didn’t act like it. Prior year everything ran smoothly, never a problem, but this year it felt like rookies-r-us training camp or something. Day 0 I overheard one of them, as they searched me ask another “Uh.. what do I do again?” Not exactly encouraging to hear. I get not all of them can be trained veterans of this, but most acted like day 1 newbies. Each day their ‘allowed/not allowed’ list changed. Sometimes they allowed bottled water, other days nope toss it. Luckily being a vendor they allowed me all the bottles of soda and water and snacks, but I heard the rumors. Some said they had to toss their sealed Gatorade or sandwiches in bags. And sometimes I was allowed in any entry point, the last two days they forced me to the one furthest away. Again, you guys can’t change the rules EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Pick something stick with it. Heck on one day, I think Friday, I got in the specialty line but the staff pointed me to general and said it “would be quicker”. Ok whatever. So I hoped over, nope. It wasn’t. Guys in front of me reeked of BO, and this was at 9am, and of course had bags in a bag in a bag. So searching took FOREVER. As I’m waiting for my turn a supervisor approaches me and points to the other line saying “Madam vendors are supposed to go through the specialty line-” I cut her off “YES I know, YOUR employee sent me HERE. I’m not hopping lines, I’m staying here. Go yell at her.” She tried to make me go but gave up after a bit.  Never had this problem before. Makes me wonder what this company did to suddenly get a bunch of rookies working for them who haven’t got a clue. OH. With the weird ness too, some days they made me open the money box and shuffle through it, other days nope didn’t care! AGAIN IT WASN’T CONSISTENT. NOT ONE BIT. Bathrooms. Another disgusting beast. This convention center has multiple bathrooms, I’m thankful for that, but the one closest to me oh boy, it was busy almost every hour. It reeked by the end of day one and never lost that lovely wretched odor of feces, urine, and chlorine. Did I forget to mention that cleaning staff, fed up with doing their one job of cleaning, almost went on strike during this? They complained to the con saying the bathrooms were too hard to maintain during this crazy event, and had threatened to just up and close the downstairs restrooms as a consequence. Con luckily put their foot down, but it did explain why at one point I saw the barrier up around the bathroom while the cleaning crew gave me the stank eye as I had to walk further down to whiz. So, the take away, if you didn’t bother to read my lovely little rant. PROS: - 8 foot table - 3 badges per table - Largest show in AZ - Easy to get into (application wise) - Big attendance numbers - Several hotels near by - Easy walk from light-rail (public transit)

CONS: - Table cost over $300 (for inline) - Table cost varying $300-500+ (endcaps higher) - Security and flip flop rules - No ‘cheap’ food alternatives - No food trucks, only con center food court - Strict food ban (cannot bring in whole pizzas) - No free parking - Booth space reduced - Pipe and drape gone (possible cost in future) - TONS more artists now - Guests not best draws - Crowded but not a lot of buyers - Huge homeless problem (it is downtown) - Ticket scalpers, you have been warned - Aisles narrowed - Tables side by side (no exits for some)

[onestowatch]

TOUR DIARY: Smallpools Gives Us a Glimpse Into Their Tour Antics With 20 BTS Photos

Photo: Jake Maciosek

With an energetic, upbeat, and in-your-face sound, one can only imagine what Smallpools’ live show is like. Through the lens of their tour photo diary, we can enter the indie-pop band’s real-life experiences as they put on stellar shows while having a blast all along. 

Comprised of vocalist Sean Scanlon, guitarist Mike Kamerman, and drummer Beau Kuther, Smallpools released their debut single “Dreaming” in 2013. The track quickly climbed to the number one spot on the Hype Machine charts, now has over 40 million streams on Spotify, and was even remixed by The Chainsmokers. The band has since released two EPs and one full-length album and toured with the likes of Walk the Moon, Neon Trees, and Twenty One Pilots. 

No strangers to the road, Smallpools joined the lineup for Lollapalooza in 2014 and Rock in Rio in 2015, and they’ve just wrapped another tour supporting MisterWives on their Connecting the Dots Tour. The band offered the following reflection of this most journey on the road:

“We had the fantastic pleasure of spending the past six weeks on the open road with Misterwives & Vinyl Theatre. We were also lucky enough to be accompanied by two great photographers. As we decompress from the tour, we look back on some of our favorite memories through their photographs.”

Relive Smallpools’ experience on tour via their photo diary below, complete with personal captions.

Photo: Anna Lee

“James, help!” pre-show chat / calming of the nerves with our sound aficionado on night 1 / Blacksburg, VA (Virginia Tech)

Photo: Anna Lee

Beau lighting it up in the ATL / Atlanta, GA

Photo: Jake Maciosek

The upside down / Atlanta, GA

Photo: Anna Lee

..and the plot thickens / Orlando, FL

Photo: Anna Lee

Style boys / Austin, TX

Photo: Anna Lee

Don’t mess with (us while in) Texas / Austin, TX

Photo: Jake Maciosek

Xylophone wars > Nuclear wars / Austin, TX

Photo: Anna Lee

Impromptu photoshoot in our classy, pink “green” room / Phoenix, AZ

Photo: Anna Lee

We were lucky enough to jam with the insanely talented, Dr. Blum, on our song “Million Bucks” every night. Thank you doc / Santa Ana, CA

Photo: Anna Lee

Our pre-show ritual: the haphazard hi-five / Los Angeles, CA

Photo: Jake Maciosek

Air Bud / Los Angeles, CA

Photo: Jake Maciosek

Gettin’ rowdy in KC / Kansas City, MO

Photo: Anna Lee

We ain’t afraid of no ghost / Milwaukee, WI

Photo: Jake Maciosek

Inception / Philadelphia, PA

Photo: Anna Lee

Le Disco / Jersey City, NJ

Photo: Anna Lee

Apple picking’ a night before the Big Apple / Jersey City, NJ

Photo: Anna Lee

It’s lit, fam / New York, NY

Photo: Jake Maciosek

I need another descension / New York, NY

Photo: Jake Maciosek

Sean has been known to fund your post-show snack attack / Washington, DC, Night One

Photo: Jake Maciosek

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (that’s a wrap!) / Washington, DC, Night Two

[delfinamaggiousa]

The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019

America’s cocktail renaissance is 20 years old. This makes it easier than ever to buy a good drink. We also have unprecedented options. In 2019, new openings diversified the hushed speakeasies of the aughts, unveiling such unexpected spaces as a thoughtful tiki den thousands of miles from the tropics, and an Art Deco-inspired fantasia of post-industrial America. At last, the year’s hottest new openings bypass Edison bulbs for high style and — dare we say it — unapologetic fun (read: neon).

To create this list, we polled VinePair editors and contributors, industry friends, and cocktail fans nationwide. We used the same geographic breakdown as last year.

Here are America’s top 10 new cocktail bars in every region.

GREAT LAKES (IL, IN, MI, OH) Kumiko Chicago, IL

Bar Kumiko in Chicago. Credit: barkumiko.com

Japanese-inflected drinks created by Julia Momose (formerly of Chicago’s Aviary) headline this sophisticated West Loop destination. The seven-course tasting menu can be paired with alcoholic or spirit-free cocktails, or you can go à la carte with options like Queen’s Ransom, made with green tea shochu, single malt vodka, and cashew orgeat, or one of 10 Highball variations.

(Editor’s note: Kumiko technically first opened Dec. 28, 2018. Given the number of votes it received from our panelists, however, VinePair made a four-day exception to include it on this list.)

MIDWEST (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) Bellhop Des Moines, IA

Bellhop in Des Moines, Iowa.

The team behind downtown’s Hello, Marjorie debuted this tiki-inspired spot in East Village Des Moines in May, serving classic Daiquiris and custom creations like the No. 2, a gin and mezcal cocktail served over pebble ice (“they’re an odd duo that don’t look like they’d work together, but they totally do,” bartender Dale Rinderman told Imbibe). The team sources fresh pineapple juice from a farmers market vendor, and makes toasted coconut cream, orgeat syrup, and grenadine in-house.

WEST (CA, HI, NV) Rum Sugar Lime Reno, NV

Rum Sugar Line in Reno, Nev. Credit: rumsugarlime.com

Tropical ingredients are what it’s all about at this Midtown cocktail bar, which opened alongside the second location of Under the Rose Brewing in February 2019. Named for the components of a Daiquiri, Rum Sugar Lime (or RSL for short) serves tiki classics and house cocktails like the Jungle Berg, made with Plantation rum, Cynar, Underberg, and pineapple, in an industrial space with an elegantly tiled bar.

NORTHWEST (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) Roquette Seattle, WA

Roquette in Seattle. Credit: roquettesea.com

Erik Hakkinen, formerly of Zig Zag, reportedly named this Gallic-leaning cocktail destination after Paris’s Quartier de la Roquette, a lively neighborhood he likens to Seattle’s Belltown. It brings elegant vibes to the area and serves French spirits, as in a Cognac-infused Mai Tai, plus ciders, Champagne, and snacks.

SOUTHWEST (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) Century Grand Phoenix, AZ

Century Grand in Phoenix. Credit: centurygrandphx.com

From the team behind UnderTow comes this “Art Deco timewarp of a cocktail lounge” in a sweeping space that has a Pullman elevator-esque platform next to a video installation, and backlit cocktail bar with concrete walls and chandeliers. The expansive cocktail list includes a handy glossary of drinks terminology and historical context for the ingredients and recipes, and accompanies dishes by local chef Sacha Levine, formerly of FnB and Ocotillo.

SOUTH (AL, AR, PUERTO RICO, FL, LA, MS) Saint Leo Lounge Oxford, MS

Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Miss. Credit: drinksaintleo.com

In the former Oxford Eagle newspaper office lies the city’s first dedicated cocktail bar, opened by Saint Leo restaurant owner Emily Blount in March. Cocktails by Joe Stinchcomb, whose beverage program at Saint Leo restaurant was nominated for a 2018 James Beard Award, include a bourbon and bitters drink, Stop the Presses, and a clever Martini riff, Mind Your P’s and Q’s, made with gin infused with olive marinade from the restaurant.

SOUTHEAST (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) Kingfisher Durham, NC

Kingfisher in Durham, N.C. Credit: kingfisherdurham.com

Taste the Triangle’s bounty at this downtown Durham cocktail bar serving up local ingredients courtesy of “coolers and shelves stocked with jars of preserved and fermented ingredients, from peaches to boiled peanuts,” writes Drew Jackson in the Raleigh News & Observer. Cocktails are seasonally and locally inspired, as in the Bee Durham, featuring Durham Distillery Conniption gin and both honey and beeswax from the city farmer’s market.

MID-ATLANTIC (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Serenata Washington, D.C.

Serenata in Washington, D.C. Credit: instagram.com/serenatadc

“It’s not just tequila and mezcal,” Andra Johnson says of her drinks program at Serenata, a new pan-Latin cocktail and juice bar from Colada Shop founders Daniella Senior and Juan Coronado. Situated in Northeast’s sweeping La Consecha marketplace, Serenata celebrates the diversity of Latin spirits and ingredients, as in the Amazonia cocktail, made with Peruvian gin, orange blossom honey, and cucumber juice.

NEW YORK CITY Mister Paradise New York, NY

Mister Paradise in Manhattan, NYC. Credit: misterparadisenyc.com

While Edible Manhattan calls this bar’s Martini variation, Dr. Angel Face, “a true love-it-or-hate-it cocktail,” the VinePair team is firmly in favor. It’s one of many creative drinks at Will Wyatt’s (formerly of The NoMad) East Village spot, which has mod decor, cozy leather booths, elegant picklebacks made with Cynar, and a crowd-pleasing, McDonald’s-inspired cheeseburger as well as the best fried chicken we have ever had at any bar. Go early to eavesdrop on second dates, or stay late to hang with neighborhood and industry folks.

NORTHEAST (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) Longfellow Bar Cambridge, MA

Longfellow Bar of Cambridge, Mass. Credit: longfellowharvard.com

Drink in history at this chic new spot in Brattle Hall, an 1889 building in Harvard Square. The space includes cathedral ceiling, oak floors, and Carrera marble, and is situated directly above Alden & Harlow restaurant from Michael Sclefo, voted Boston Magazine’s best chef in 2017. (Sclefo also created Longfellow’s menu of finger foods, designed to be eaten without silverware.) Many cocktails have a savory, culinary bent, as in the vodka-carrot Other Side and Make My, a homemade apple juice amaro. There’s also a selection of classic cocktails and low-proof options.

The article The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/10-best-new-cocktail-bars-2019/

source https://vinology1.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/the-10-best-new-cocktail-bars-of-2019/

[samslater305]

4th of July 2020: Where to See Fireworks in and Near Scottsdale

This year, 4th of July festivities are going to look a little different than they usually do – but there are still plenty of celebrations planned. If you’re looking for the best places to see fireworks in and around Scottsdale, this list will get you started.

4th of July 2020: Where to See Fireworks

These are the cities that still have fireworks displays planned:

Apache Junction

Buckeye

Chandler

Gilbert

Goodyear

Litchfield Park

Maricopa

Mesa

Peoria

Queen Creek

Scottsdale

Surprise

Here’s a closer look at what each one has planned, starting with Scottsdale.

4th of July 2020 in Scottsdale

A 4th of July parade takes place just before a drive-in concert at WestWorld of Scottsdale (Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers are headlining). Tickets for the concert are based on how close to the stage you want to be, but you don’t have to attend the concert to see the fireworks. Fireworks are $25 per car (although VIP tickets, which include parking for up to three cars, a catered dinner and premium viewing, are available for $570). Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Get more info here.

There’s also a July 4 celebration at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess that kicks off on July 2 and runs through Independence Day, but it’s limited to nightly fireworks shows. There’s a vintage air show on July 4 at 4:45 p.m., but attendance is limited to those who are staying at the resort or who dine at one of the resort’s restaurants on that day. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Apache Junction

The Apache Junction fireworks display will be at Apache Junction High School, on the track. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the fireworks start at 8:30 p.m. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Buckeye

Buckeye’s annual fireworks show is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at Youngker High School. The school’s parking lot opens to the public at 7:30 p.m., but there’s limited space. You can watch the fireworks from outside the school or from inside your vehicle in the school parking lot. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Chandler

Chandler is sticking to just the fireworks this year, where you can see the show from Tumbleweed Park. Parking lots open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Parking spots are first-come, first-served, and once the lot is full, it’s being closed. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Gilbert

You can see fireworks from Crossroads Park in Gilbert, where parking opens at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. Only every other spot is open, and you can watch the fireworks from your vehicle or from within 5 feet of it. There will be food trucks, but you can bring your own food (you just can’t grill there). No alcohol, personal fireworks, tents or glass containers allowed. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Goodyear

Goodyear’s fireworks display is going to last 20 minutes, kicking off at 8:30 p.m. this year. You can head to the Goodyear Ballpark to see them, where the parking lot opens at 7 p.m. (and there’s overflow parking if the lot fills). You can bring snacks and water, and you can tailgate outside your vehicle – but you can’t cook or bring a tent. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Litchfield Park

The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park is putting on a fireworks show that starts at 9 p.m., but only people staying at the resort or who have a reservation at Red’s Bar & Grill are allowed on the property. If that’s not you, you can watch the show from outside the resort property.

4th of July 2020 in Maricopa

The city of Maricopa is hosting two fireworks shows at 9 p.m. – one on the north end of town and the other on the south end of town. The shows start at the same time and last 15 minutes each. There’s no on-site parking, so the city asks people to watch the fireworks from their own homes.

4th of July 2020 in Mesa

Mesa’s drive-in fireworks show is best viewed from the parking lot of the Fiesta Mall (now closed). The show starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. Cars will park in every other space, and you can bring food, non-alcoholic drinks, chairs and blankets, but there are no vendors coming. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Peoria

Peoria’s setting off three fireworks displays around the city, but it hasn’t disclosed any locations – you’ll have to view from home starting at 9 p.m. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Queen Creek

Queen Creek’s fireworks this year will take place at Schnepf Farms. There will be DJs, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, beer and wine, and a 30-minute show. General admission gets you a parking spot (it’s $25 per vehicle), and you can only buy them on Schnepf Farms’ website here. Tickets are not being sold at the gate. Get more info here.

4th of July 2020 in Surprise

Surprise’s fireworks are going off near Bullard Avenue and Paradise Lane at 8:40 p.m., and the display lasts 20 minutes. There’s limited parking available at Surprise Stadium, Surprise Aquatic Center and Dreamcatcher Park, but the city is asking people to watch from home if possible. Get more info here.

What Cities Have Cancelled 4th of July 2020 Celebrations?

Here’s a list of cities that won’t have 4th of July 2020 celebrations:

Anthem

Avondale

Fountain Hills

Phoenix

Tempe

Fort McDowell Casino and Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale, which usually have big celebrations, have both cancelled 4th of July 2020 fireworks displays, as well.

Are You Searching for the Perfect Home for Sale in Scottsdale?

While you can use this Scottsdale relocation guide as a springboard to learn more about the area, we’ll be happy to show you the homes that interest you most. While you’re here, explore all our Scottsdale real estate listings or look in specific communities:

Desert Highlands homes for sale

Hidden Hills homes for sale

Legend Trail homes for sale

Pinnacle Peak homes for sale

Sincuidados homes for sale

South Scottsdale homes for sale

SunRidge Canyon homes for sale

Winfield homes for sale

If you’re selling a luxury home in Scottsdale, we can help. You can use our home value calculator to get a ballpark idea on what your home may be worth – and you can call us at 480-351-5359 to talk to a REALTOR® about how we can market your home to all the right buyers.

Don Matheson REALTOR® | Founder The Matheson Team RE/MAX Fine Properties 21000 N. Pima Rd., #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 480-351-5359 don@scottsdalerealestate.com

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18946 N 97TH Place Scottsdale, AZ 85255

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14620 E Sierra Alegre Court Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

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35425 N INDIAN CAMP Trail Scottsdale, AZ 85266

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26590 N WRANGLER Road Scottsdale, AZ 85255

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3,328 SqFt

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30203 N 51ST Place Cave Creek, AZ 85331

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18911 E Quartz Way Rio Verde, AZ 85263

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13431 W Chapala Court Sun City West, AZ 85375

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20100 N 78TH Place #1065 Scottsdale, AZ 85255

2 Beds

2 Baths

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      #6088658 | Condo

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$265,000 (Under Contract-Backups)

4949 W Mindy Lane Glendale, AZ 85308

3 Beds

2 | 1 Baths

1,556 SqFt

      #6081099 | Single Family Home

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$49,000

20400 W TOPAZ Boulevard Goodyear, AZ 85338

4.36 Lot Acres

      #5813681 | Lots / Land

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    The post 4th of July 2020: Where to See Fireworks in and Near Scottsdale appeared first on Scottsdale Real Estate.

[wineanddinosaur]

The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019

America’s cocktail renaissance is 20 years old. This makes it easier than ever to buy a good drink. We also have unprecedented options. In 2019, new openings diversified the hushed speakeasies of the aughts, unveiling such unexpected spaces as a thoughtful tiki den thousands of miles from the tropics, and an Art Deco-inspired fantasia of post-industrial America. At last, the year’s hottest new openings bypass Edison bulbs for high style and — dare we say it — unapologetic fun (read: neon).

To create this list, we polled VinePair editors and contributors, industry friends, and cocktail fans nationwide. We used the same geographic breakdown as last year.

Here are America’s top 10 new cocktail bars in every region.

GREAT LAKES (IL, IN, MI, OH) Kumiko Chicago, IL

Bar Kumiko in Chicago. Credit: barkumiko.com

Japanese-inflected drinks created by Julia Momose (formerly of Chicago’s Aviary) headline this sophisticated West Loop destination. The seven-course tasting menu can be paired with alcoholic or spirit-free cocktails, or you can go à la carte with options like Queen’s Ransom, made with green tea shochu, single malt vodka, and cashew orgeat, or one of 10 Highball variations.

(Editor’s note: Kumiko technically first opened Dec. 28, 2018. Given the number of votes it received from our panelists, however, VinePair made a four-day exception to include it on this list.)

MIDWEST (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) Bellhop Des Moines, IA

Bellhop in Des Moines, Iowa.

The team behind downtown’s Hello, Marjorie debuted this tiki-inspired spot in East Village Des Moines in May, serving classic Daiquiris and custom creations like the No. 2, a gin and mezcal cocktail served over pebble ice (“they’re an odd duo that don’t look like they’d work together, but they totally do,” bartender Dale Rinderman told Imbibe). The team sources fresh pineapple juice from a farmers market vendor, and makes toasted coconut cream, orgeat syrup, and grenadine in-house.

WEST (CA, HI, NV) Rum Sugar Lime Reno, NV

Rum Sugar Line in Reno, Nev. Credit: rumsugarlime.com

Tropical ingredients are what it’s all about at this Midtown cocktail bar, which opened alongside the second location of Under the Rose Brewing in February 2019. Named for the components of a Daiquiri, Rum Sugar Lime (or RSL for short) serves tiki classics and house cocktails like the Jungle Berg, made with Plantation rum, Cynar, Underberg, and pineapple, in an industrial space with an elegantly tiled bar.

NORTHWEST (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) Roquette Seattle, WA

Roquette in Seattle. Credit: roquettesea.com

Erik Hakkinen, formerly of Zig Zag, reportedly named this Gallic-leaning cocktail destination after Paris’s Quartier de la Roquette, a lively neighborhood he likens to Seattle’s Belltown. It brings elegant vibes to the area and serves French spirits, as in a Cognac-infused Mai Tai, plus ciders, Champagne, and snacks.

SOUTHWEST (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) Century Grand Phoenix, AZ

Century Grand in Phoenix. Credit: centurygrandphx.com

From the team behind UnderTow comes this “Art Deco timewarp of a cocktail lounge” in a sweeping space that has a Pullman elevator-esque platform next to a video installation, and backlit cocktail bar with concrete walls and chandeliers. The expansive cocktail list includes a handy glossary of drinks terminology and historical context for the ingredients and recipes, and accompanies dishes by local chef Sacha Levine, formerly of FnB and Ocotillo.

SOUTH (AL, AR, PUERTO RICO, FL, LA, MS) Saint Leo Lounge Oxford, MS

Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Miss. Credit: drinksaintleo.com

In the former Oxford Eagle newspaper office lies the city’s first dedicated cocktail bar, opened by Saint Leo restaurant owner Emily Blount in March. Cocktails by Joe Stinchcomb, whose beverage program at Saint Leo restaurant was nominated for a 2018 James Beard Award, include a bourbon and bitters drink, Stop the Presses, and a clever Martini riff, Mind Your P’s and Q’s, made with gin infused with olive marinade from the restaurant.

SOUTHEAST (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) Kingfisher Durham, NC

Kingfisher in Durham, N.C. Credit: kingfisherdurham.com

Taste the Triangle’s bounty at this downtown Durham cocktail bar serving up local ingredients courtesy of “coolers and shelves stocked with jars of preserved and fermented ingredients, from peaches to boiled peanuts,” writes Drew Jackson in the Raleigh News & Observer. Cocktails are seasonally and locally inspired, as in the Bee Durham, featuring Durham Distillery Conniption gin and both honey and beeswax from the city farmer’s market.

MID-ATLANTIC (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Serenata Washington, D.C.

Serenata in Washington, D.C. Credit: instagram.com/serenatadc

“It’s not just tequila and mezcal,” Andra Johnson says of her drinks program at Serenata, a new pan-Latin cocktail and juice bar from Colada Shop founders Daniella Senior and Juan Coronado. Situated in Northeast’s sweeping La Consecha marketplace, Serenata celebrates the diversity of Latin spirits and ingredients, as in the Amazonia cocktail, made with Peruvian gin, orange blossom honey, and cucumber juice.

NEW YORK CITY Mister Paradise New York, NY

Mister Paradise in Manhattan, NYC. Credit: misterparadisenyc.com

While Edible Manhattan calls this bar’s Martini variation, Dr. Angel Face, “a true love-it-or-hate-it cocktail,” the VinePair team is firmly in favor. It’s one of many creative drinks at Will Wyatt’s (formerly of The NoMad) East Village spot, which has mod decor, cozy leather booths, elegant picklebacks made with Cynar, and a crowd-pleasing, McDonald’s-inspired cheeseburger as well as the best fried chicken we have ever had at any bar. Go early to eavesdrop on second dates, or stay late to hang with neighborhood and industry folks.

NORTHEAST (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) Longfellow Bar Cambridge, MA

Longfellow Bar of Cambridge, Mass. Credit: longfellowharvard.com

Drink in history at this chic new spot in Brattle Hall, an 1889 building in Harvard Square. The space includes cathedral ceiling, oak floors, and Carrera marble, and is situated directly above Alden & Harlow restaurant from Michael Sclefo, voted Boston Magazine’s best chef in 2017. (Sclefo also created Longfellow’s menu of finger foods, designed to be eaten without silverware.) Many cocktails have a savory, culinary bent, as in the vodka-carrot Other Side and Make My, a homemade apple juice amaro. There’s also a selection of classic cocktails and low-proof options.

The article The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/10-best-new-cocktail-bars-2019/

[isaiahrippinus]

The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019

America’s cocktail renaissance is 20 years old. This makes it easier than ever to buy a good drink. We also have unprecedented options. In 2019, new openings diversified the hushed speakeasies of the aughts, unveiling such unexpected spaces as a thoughtful tiki den thousands of miles from the tropics, and an Art Deco-inspired fantasia of post-industrial America. At last, the year’s hottest new openings bypass Edison bulbs for high style and — dare we say it — unapologetic fun (read: neon).

To create this list, we polled VinePair editors and contributors, industry friends, and cocktail fans nationwide. We used the same geographic breakdown as last year.

Here are America’s top 10 new cocktail bars in every region.

GREAT LAKES (IL, IN, MI, OH) Kumiko Chicago, IL

Bar Kumiko in Chicago. Credit: barkumiko.com

Japanese-inflected drinks created by Julia Momose (formerly of Chicago’s Aviary) headline this sophisticated West Loop destination. The seven-course tasting menu can be paired with alcoholic or spirit-free cocktails, or you can go à la carte with options like Queen’s Ransom, made with green tea shochu, single malt vodka, and cashew orgeat, or one of 10 Highball variations.

(Editor’s note: Kumiko technically first opened Dec. 28, 2018. Given the number of votes it received from our panelists, however, VinePair made a four-day exception to include it on this list.)

MIDWEST (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) Bellhop Des Moines, IA

Bellhop in Des Moines, Iowa.

The team behind downtown’s Hello, Marjorie debuted this tiki-inspired spot in East Village Des Moines in May, serving classic Daiquiris and custom creations like the No. 2, a gin and mezcal cocktail served over pebble ice (“they’re an odd duo that don’t look like they’d work together, but they totally do,” bartender Dale Rinderman told Imbibe). The team sources fresh pineapple juice from a farmers market vendor, and makes toasted coconut cream, orgeat syrup, and grenadine in-house.

WEST (CA, HI, NV) Rum Sugar Lime Reno, NV

Rum Sugar Line in Reno, Nev. Credit: rumsugarlime.com

Tropical ingredients are what it’s all about at this Midtown cocktail bar, which opened alongside the second location of Under the Rose Brewing in February 2019. Named for the components of a Daiquiri, Rum Sugar Lime (or RSL for short) serves tiki classics and house cocktails like the Jungle Berg, made with Plantation rum, Cynar, Underberg, and pineapple, in an industrial space with an elegantly tiled bar.

NORTHWEST (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) Roquette Seattle, WA

Roquette in Seattle. Credit: roquettesea.com

Erik Hakkinen, formerly of Zig Zag, reportedly named this Gallic-leaning cocktail destination after Paris’s Quartier de la Roquette, a lively neighborhood he likens to Seattle’s Belltown. It brings elegant vibes to the area and serves French spirits, as in a Cognac-infused Mai Tai, plus ciders, Champagne, and snacks.

SOUTHWEST (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) Century Grand Phoenix, AZ

Century Grand in Phoenix. Credit: centurygrandphx.com

From the team behind UnderTow comes this “Art Deco timewarp of a cocktail lounge” in a sweeping space that has a Pullman elevator-esque platform next to a video installation, and backlit cocktail bar with concrete walls and chandeliers. The expansive cocktail list includes a handy glossary of drinks terminology and historical context for the ingredients and recipes, and accompanies dishes by local chef Sacha Levine, formerly of FnB and Ocotillo.

SOUTH (AL, AR, PUERTO RICO, FL, LA, MS) Saint Leo Lounge Oxford, MS

Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Miss. Credit: drinksaintleo.com

In the former Oxford Eagle newspaper office lies the city’s first dedicated cocktail bar, opened by Saint Leo restaurant owner Emily Blount in March. Cocktails by Joe Stinchcomb, whose beverage program at Saint Leo restaurant was nominated for a 2018 James Beard Award, include a bourbon and bitters drink, Stop the Presses, and a clever Martini riff, Mind Your P’s and Q’s, made with gin infused with olive marinade from the restaurant.

SOUTHEAST (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) Kingfisher Durham, NC

Kingfisher in Durham, N.C. Credit: kingfisherdurham.com

Taste the Triangle’s bounty at this downtown Durham cocktail bar serving up local ingredients courtesy of “coolers and shelves stocked with jars of preserved and fermented ingredients, from peaches to boiled peanuts,” writes Drew Jackson in the Raleigh News & Observer. Cocktails are seasonally and locally inspired, as in the Bee Durham, featuring Durham Distillery Conniption gin and both honey and beeswax from the city farmer’s market.

MID-ATLANTIC (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Serenata Washington, D.C.

Serenata in Washington, D.C. Credit: instagram.com/serenatadc

“It’s not just tequila and mezcal,” Andra Johnson says of her drinks program at Serenata, a new pan-Latin cocktail and juice bar from Colada Shop founders Daniella Senior and Juan Coronado. Situated in Northeast’s sweeping La Consecha marketplace, Serenata celebrates the diversity of Latin spirits and ingredients, as in the Amazonia cocktail, made with Peruvian gin, orange blossom honey, and cucumber juice.

NEW YORK CITY Mister Paradise New York, NY

Mister Paradise in Manhattan, NYC. Credit: misterparadisenyc.com

While Edible Manhattan calls this bar’s Martini variation, Dr. Angel Face, “a true love-it-or-hate-it cocktail,” the VinePair team is firmly in favor. It’s one of many creative drinks at Will Wyatt’s (formerly of The NoMad) East Village spot, which has mod decor, cozy leather booths, elegant picklebacks made with Cynar, and a crowd-pleasing, McDonald’s-inspired cheeseburger as well as the best fried chicken we have ever had at any bar. Go early to eavesdrop on second dates, or stay late to hang with neighborhood and industry folks.

NORTHEAST (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) Longfellow Bar Cambridge, MA

Longfellow Bar of Cambridge, Mass. Credit: longfellowharvard.com

Drink in history at this chic new spot in Brattle Hall, an 1889 building in Harvard Square. The space includes cathedral ceiling, oak floors, and Carrera marble, and is situated directly above Alden & Harlow restaurant from Michael Sclefo, voted Boston Magazine’s best chef in 2017. (Sclefo also created Longfellow’s menu of finger foods, designed to be eaten without silverware.) Many cocktails have a savory, culinary bent, as in the vodka-carrot Other Side and Make My, a homemade apple juice amaro. There’s also a selection of classic cocktails and low-proof options.

The article The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/10-best-new-cocktail-bars-2019/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/190100900534

[violetclarity]

First Lines

Thanks for tagging me @goldentruth813 and @aibidil! <3

Rules: Post the first lines of your last 10 fics, and tag 10 people.

1. Ginny flopped onto her back, letting out a long exhale as her thighs stopped trembling. (Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ - ginsy, E)

2. “Ooo!” James’s eyes widened as he stopped outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, eyeing the latest Nimbus model in the window. (As Long As There’s Sun - jeddy, E)

3. Draco felt disgusting. (friday night and I won’t be long - drarry, E)

4. Scorpius rolls off me and I squeeze my eyes shut. (a note to the boy I love - scorbus, E)

5. Scorpius felt good about his first day of Muggle university. (Portkeys and Philosophy - scorbus, T)

6. Draco y Harry eran el mejor equipo de Aurores en el departamento. (Chismes y Esperanzas - drarry, G)

7. Lily knew that sharing a bed at sleepovers was a thing other girls did all the time, but she’d never been comfortable with it. (The Double Bed - lily luna/ofc, E)

8. The cashier smiled pityingly at Hermione when she handed over her shopping basket – assorted crackers, a bottle of wine, and two blocks of cheese. (Trust A Few - pansmione, T)

9. The Granger-Weasleys’ annual holiday party was an exclusive event. (Christmas Eve and the Kisses Four - drarry, E)

10. In the many years he’d worked with Draco Malfoy, pining in silence, Harry thought he’d come to a pretty good understanding of all things Draco. (you’re my angel, baby - drarry, E)

I’m actually kind of surprised with the variety here - both in terms of mix of ships and different ways I’ve started fics. Also, it feels like it’s been so long since I published anything! Probably because I spent most of 2019 so far working on As Long As There’s Sun and Single and Snacking. I need to mix it up some more!

Gonna do my best to tag 10 ppl here, sorry if you’ve been tagged already and feel free to ignore if you don’t want to play! @nifflers-n-nargles @littlerose13writes @fidgetyweirdo @coriesocks @frnklymrshnkly @unicornsandphoenix @restlessandordinary @carpemermaidtales @bixgirl1 @fantom-ftnoise

[sitp-recs]

hey! I know you're a drarry rec blog but I'm looking for good wlw fics, particularly linny. I would also love some nonbinary or genderqueer rep. any suggestions? :) thanks for being awesome!

Hi anon, thanks for the ask! I actually do read other pairings and occasionally rec them, but I’m no expert in Linny so I’m linking two fics below and I’ll let my followers rec their faves for this one. If you feel like exploring other pairings, let me take this opportunity to celebrate these amazing wlw works:

Independent Love Song by Writcraft (Ginny/Millicent, Explicit, 6k) - Millie is genderfluid

Millicent Bulstrode is a tailor and Ginny is losing her mind over a woman in a tweed blazer and burgundy brogues.

my heart beat a tattoo on my ribs by icarusinflight (Ginny/Luna, Explicit, 7k)

Ginny can't understand why anyone would want to mark themselves by choice but she still agrees to go with Harry when he says he wants a tattoo.

Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ by hpwlwbb, keyflight790, @violetclarity (Ginny/Pansy, Harry/Luna, Explicit, 25k)

When she told her friends she was bringing a date to Harry and Luna’s wedding, Ginny had only wanted them to stop bothering her about her love life. Now she’s facing an entire weekend of pretending that Pansy Parkinson, her casual hook-up, is actually her girlfriend. What could possibly go wrong?

Pansy, Rows, and Mutual Wanking by hpwlwbb, kysprite, violetclarity (Pansy/Hermione, Explicit, 27k) - Linny is a minor relationship

Eighth year. Hermione's ready. She's going to study, have fun with her friends, and ignore her new roommate's obnoxious wanking habits. And alright, maybe she wouldn't be so annoyed with it if she'd had any good sex in the past. But that doesn't mean she wants Pansy Parkinson to teach her how to wank... does it?

Maybe It's You by hpwlwbb, likehandlingroses, Showknight, WhyTFNot (Ginny/Luna, Mature, 30k)

Ginny and Luna haven’t spoken much since Ginny abruptly left Harry and separated herself from most of her old life. Luna is busy working in Diagon Alley, eager to earn enough money to move out of her father’s house and see the world. Ginny--fresh off a suspension from the Holyhead Harpies--has returned home and is dissatisfied with having to take two steps back in her life. She asks Percy if she can stay in the spare room in his and Oliver’s flat. The trouble is, he’s already offered it to Luna…

Play Me Like A Love Song by bergatroll, hpwlwbb, Owlpostart (Owlpostings), Writcraft (Minerva/Wilhelmina, Explicit, 67k)

Minerva McGonagall doesn’t believe in love at first sight, which is why her instant attraction to drag king Wilhelmina ("Will") Grubbly-Plank is so unexpected. War tears apart the wizarding world and as one battle ends Minerva and Will must fight once more, this time for the lives of their friends on Little Compton Street. A love story spanning five decades defined by music, laughter and tears, in which love is not always easy, but it’s always worth fighting for.

As for genderqueer fics, this lovely Drarry one comes to mind:

Pretty in Pink by Writcraft (2014, Explicit, 3.7k)

What happens when the only person who accepts your secrets is the one person you can’t stand?

As you can see I worship the ground @writcraft walks on lol oh, and I’ve also found these posts that might be helpful:

Reclists by @ani-mage

Reclist by @drarryruinedme7

[johnboothus]

The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019

America’s cocktail renaissance is 20 years old. This makes it easier than ever to buy a good drink. We also have unprecedented options. In 2019, new openings diversified the hushed speakeasies of the aughts, unveiling such unexpected spaces as a thoughtful tiki den thousands of miles from the tropics, and an Art Deco-inspired fantasia of post-industrial America. At last, the year’s hottest new openings bypass Edison bulbs for high style and — dare we say it — unapologetic fun (read: neon).

To create this list, we polled VinePair editors and contributors, industry friends, and cocktail fans nationwide. We used the same geographic breakdown as last year.

Here are America’s top 10 new cocktail bars in every region.

GREAT LAKES (IL, IN, MI, OH) Kumiko Chicago, IL

Bar Kumiko in Chicago. Credit: barkumiko.com

Japanese-inflected drinks created by Julia Momose (formerly of Chicago’s Aviary) headline this sophisticated West Loop destination. The seven-course tasting menu can be paired with alcoholic or spirit-free cocktails, or you can go à la carte with options like Queen’s Ransom, made with green tea shochu, single malt vodka, and cashew orgeat, or one of 10 Highball variations.

(Editor’s note: Kumiko technically first opened Dec. 28, 2018. Given the number of votes it received from our panelists, however, VinePair made a four-day exception to include it on this list.)

MIDWEST (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) Bellhop Des Moines, IA

Bellhop in Des Moines, Iowa.

The team behind downtown’s Hello, Marjorie debuted this tiki-inspired spot in East Village Des Moines in May, serving classic Daiquiris and custom creations like the No. 2, a gin and mezcal cocktail served over pebble ice (“they’re an odd duo that don’t look like they’d work together, but they totally do,” bartender Dale Rinderman told Imbibe). The team sources fresh pineapple juice from a farmers market vendor, and makes toasted coconut cream, orgeat syrup, and grenadine in-house.

WEST (CA, HI, NV) Rum Sugar Lime Reno, NV

Rum Sugar Line in Reno, Nev. Credit: rumsugarlime.com

Tropical ingredients are what it’s all about at this Midtown cocktail bar, which opened alongside the second location of Under the Rose Brewing in February 2019. Named for the components of a Daiquiri, Rum Sugar Lime (or RSL for short) serves tiki classics and house cocktails like the Jungle Berg, made with Plantation rum, Cynar, Underberg, and pineapple, in an industrial space with an elegantly tiled bar.

NORTHWEST (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) Roquette Seattle, WA

Roquette in Seattle. Credit: roquettesea.com

Erik Hakkinen, formerly of Zig Zag, reportedly named this Gallic-leaning cocktail destination after Paris’s Quartier de la Roquette, a lively neighborhood he likens to Seattle’s Belltown. It brings elegant vibes to the area and serves French spirits, as in a Cognac-infused Mai Tai, plus ciders, Champagne, and snacks.

SOUTHWEST (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) Century Grand Phoenix, AZ

Century Grand in Phoenix. Credit: centurygrandphx.com

From the team behind UnderTow comes this “Art Deco timewarp of a cocktail lounge” in a sweeping space that has a Pullman elevator-esque platform next to a video installation, and backlit cocktail bar with concrete walls and chandeliers. The expansive cocktail list includes a handy glossary of drinks terminology and historical context for the ingredients and recipes, and accompanies dishes by local chef Sacha Levine, formerly of FnB and Ocotillo.

SOUTH (AL, AR, PUERTO RICO, FL, LA, MS) Saint Leo Lounge Oxford, MS

Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Miss. Credit: drinksaintleo.com

In the former Oxford Eagle newspaper office lies the city’s first dedicated cocktail bar, opened by Saint Leo restaurant owner Emily Blount in March. Cocktails by Joe Stinchcomb, whose beverage program at Saint Leo restaurant was nominated for a 2018 James Beard Award, include a bourbon and bitters drink, Stop the Presses, and a clever Martini riff, Mind Your P’s and Q’s, made with gin infused with olive marinade from the restaurant.

SOUTHEAST (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) Kingfisher Durham, NC

Kingfisher in Durham, N.C. Credit: kingfisherdurham.com

Taste the Triangle’s bounty at this downtown Durham cocktail bar serving up local ingredients courtesy of “coolers and shelves stocked with jars of preserved and fermented ingredients, from peaches to boiled peanuts,” writes Drew Jackson in the Raleigh News & Observer. Cocktails are seasonally and locally inspired, as in the Bee Durham, featuring Durham Distillery Conniption gin and both honey and beeswax from the city farmer’s market.

MID-ATLANTIC (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Serenata Washington, D.C.

Serenata in Washington, D.C. Credit: instagram.com/serenatadc

“It’s not just tequila and mezcal,” Andra Johnson says of her drinks program at Serenata, a new pan-Latin cocktail and juice bar from Colada Shop founders Daniella Senior and Juan Coronado. Situated in Northeast’s sweeping La Consecha marketplace, Serenata celebrates the diversity of Latin spirits and ingredients, as in the Amazonia cocktail, made with Peruvian gin, orange blossom honey, and cucumber juice.

NEW YORK CITY Mister Paradise New York, NY

Mister Paradise in Manhattan, NYC. Credit: misterparadisenyc.com

While Edible Manhattan calls this bar’s Martini variation, Dr. Angel Face, “a true love-it-or-hate-it cocktail,” the VinePair team is firmly in favor. It’s one of many creative drinks at Will Wyatt’s (formerly of The NoMad) East Village spot, which has mod decor, cozy leather booths, elegant picklebacks made with Cynar, and a crowd-pleasing, McDonald’s-inspired cheeseburger as well as the best fried chicken we have ever had at any bar. Go early to eavesdrop on second dates, or stay late to hang with neighborhood and industry folks.

NORTHEAST (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) Longfellow Bar Cambridge, MA

Longfellow Bar of Cambridge, Mass. Credit: longfellowharvard.com

Drink in history at this chic new spot in Brattle Hall, an 1889 building in Harvard Square. The space includes cathedral ceiling, oak floors, and Carrera marble, and is situated directly above Alden & Harlow restaurant from Michael Sclefo, voted Boston Magazine’s best chef in 2017. (Sclefo also created Longfellow’s menu of finger foods, designed to be eaten without silverware.) Many cocktails have a savory, culinary bent, as in the vodka-carrot Other Side and Make My, a homemade apple juice amaro. There’s also a selection of classic cocktails and low-proof options.

The article The 10 Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/10-best-new-cocktail-bars-2019/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/the-10-best-new-cocktail-bars-of-2019

[keyflight790]

Your foam animation for the wlw Big Bang blew my mind. So, so cool 😱

OMG!!! PYGMY-PUFFY, your art is so incredible!!! I am honoured and starstruck that you even saw my weird attempt at (can’t even call it) art!

I actually did two for the @hpwlwbigbang!

One was for Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ, written by the incredibly talented and wonderfully supportive @violetclarity (It’s GINSY and FAKE DATING and ITS SO GOOD GO READ IT!!!)

And then @nachodiablo wrote Protection Detail, a super amazing fic thats FLONKS!!! I had never read that pairing before, and it’s so goood!!! Would highly recommend! I mean just look at these beans!!!

Plus the one and only @banana-ge-ge did some super hot and also comfy art for this pairing, and I could not stop looking at it. (THE BATHROOM GRAFFITI MY GOODNESS THE DETAILS)

THank you so much darling, for sending me this message, and for gracing our fandom with your incredible talent!!! ❤️

[hpwlwbigbang]

FIC & ART: Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ

Title: Single and Snacking in Phoenix, AZ Author: @violetclarity​ Pairing: Ginny Weasley/Pansy Parkinson Rating: Explicit Warnings/Content Notes: explicit sexual content, complicated relationship with an ex/post break-up residual drama, past Harry/Ginny, background Harry/Luna, pretend relationship/fake dating (please see AO3 for full list of tags) Summary: In for a Knut, in for a Galleon, Ginny thought. “It’s actually Pansy.” She looked down, not wanting to see Harry’s reaction. “Pansy Parkinson? From school?” Harry sounded a little strangled. “Parkinson?” Ginny lifted her chin. “Yes. I’m bringing Pansy Parkinson as my plus-one to your wedding.” When she told her friends she was bringing a date to Harry and Luna’s wedding, Ginny had only wanted them to stop bothering her about her love life. Now she’s facing an entire weekend of pretending that Pansy Parkinson, her casual hook-up, is actually her girlfriend. What could possibly go wrong? Word Count: 24941 Author’s Note: I am indebted to @whiskyandwildflowers and @frnklymrshnkly for their help in bringing this story to life. Thank you for fielding the dozens of ideas (okay, five) I waded through to get to this one, cheering me on as I wrote, and beta-reading the final product <3 And to frnkly, the most wonderful co to ever mod, thank you for coming to me with this idea, trusting me with this fest, and taking this journey with me. I can’t believe we did it! Artist’s Medium/Notes: @keyflight790 medium: gif made with foam, sparkly foam, pipe cleaners and a video of soaring through the Grand Canyon keyflight790 notes: I had so much fun foaming these two, thank you Violet for your wonderful and creative story!

READ IT ON AO3

[mnranger5]

A Grand Canyon HIKING ADVENTURE to FALL for, Phoenix & Supai AZ, 5/11/18 – 5/16/18

Webster’s Dictionary gives us the following definitions:

HIKING - to take a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise

ADVENTURE - an exciting or dangerous experience

1a. FALL (for) – to feel a strong attraction for  

1b. FALL - to come or go down suddenly from a standing position

So basically, if we combine them, Webster’s definition of our trip would be either:

Jake takes a long walk for pleasure in an exciting and dangerous environment that causes him to feel a strong attraction for the Grand Canyon.

Or

Jake takes a long walk for pleasure in an exciting and dangerous Grand Canyon that causes him to suddenly go down from a standing position.

Both are equally true descriptions of our hike into the Grand Canyon.   There is no doubt, this adventure into the middle of the desert was well worth the battle scars it left me.

Prologue

On our Arizona trip in March of 2017, Dyan got the idea she wanted to hike into Havasu Falls.  Of course she did.  Let’s tackle the most remote area of the United States for our first big hike…  I agreed because it sounded like fun.  Never in a million years did I think we’d actually follow through with it…

A few months later.  Dyan brought it up again.  We watched YouTube  videos and scoured Instagram.  There is this familiar feeling I get when I know Dyan is about to impulsively do something.  I was getting that feeling.  I was still uneasy about this whole thing.  There seemed to be many obstacles that were working against us.  Permits were difficult to obtain.  We didn’t have all the necessary gear required to backpack into the wildness for 3 days.  We didn’t have the experience of overnight backpacking.  With us being out of state, the convenience factor was a big challenge – we would need to fly our newly purchased gear to AZ and then worry about transportation to/from the trailhead.  And I wasn’t all that intrigued at the idea of hiking into uncharted territory with 80lbs of crap on my back.  For every cold shower I dropped on the idea, Dyan countered with a remarkable picture of the majestic falls.  It’s so beautiful, we would both say to each other, like a broken record. Dyan continued to rabbit-hole here and there, as she conjured up the perfect plan

And in the fall, it got real.  Really real.  Dyan was hook, line and sinker on Havasu Falls.  I was excited, but still skeptical.  Then, she calmed my nerves when she found a guide company named Wildland Trekking.  This company offered full service all-inclusive hikes in-to and out-of Havasu Falls, along with dozens of other places across the globe.  Wildland had a glowing record on TripAdvisor and each review gave a gushing recount of how spectacular the guides made the trip.  Based on the services they offer, they are the premier guide in the region.  They would take care of our permits, supply all necessary gear, prepare every meal and take care of roundtrip transportation to/from Flagstaff.  Game changer.

In February of 2018, we made our first deposit on the trip and booked our airfare.  We were going to Havasu Falls.

May 11, 2018

We caught the early flight into Phoenix, departing Minny at 7AM.  It was a super nice flight once we finally got out of the thunderstorms over Minnesota and South Dakota.

We arrived, got baggage, then hurried over to the rental car facility.  We had never rented with Sixt before, so I was not sure what to expect.  I had found a good deal on a pre-paid CLA and was pumped to drive a Mercedes for the first time.  Sixt’s check-in process was a bit confusing  as there is a large orange Sixt sign taking you into the car-pickup garage.  Only problem is, by following that sign, you skip the reservation counter.  So I backtracked.  Luckily, there was nobody in line, so the process went quickly.  However, there was an issue with the car we reserved.  The gal who checked in just before me got the last Mercedes CLA.  My only option in a lesser class was a Mercedes station wagon.  Or, for an extra $105, they would put me in a cool Volvo XC-60 SUV.  The SUV was more our style!

It was only 10AM by the time we were on the road heading north.  Our only commitment for the day was meeting our trekking group for the orientation at 5PM in Flagstaff.  We had the entire day to do whatever we wanted.   As we wandered north on I-17, the traffic was heavy stopping several time for no apparent reason.  Must be Phoenix folks heading north for the weekend?  As we neared Sedona, we noticed sign for Cliff Castle Casino.  Dyan won big at this casino last year.  I sensed a pit stop.

We treaded water on the new Buffalo Stampede machines for 30 minutes.  I finally told Dyan we need to find the old Buffalo machines.  We found a bank of them in a dark corner.  Within 5 minutes of playing, I hit the free spin bonus.  Then a retrigger.  Another retrigger.  By the 6th retrigger it was getting obscene.  I ended up getting about 60 free spins which gave us a cool $183 of vacation spending money!

We continued north, with a quick pit stop in beautiful Sedona.

It was hot, in the 90’s and the wind was blowing like a hurricane.  We decided to grab duck and pork street tacos at 89Agave.  We started out sitting on the patio, but the wind was blowing the chips off the table.  We finished lunch inside.  This restaurant had been so good on our last trip.  The tacos didn’t live up to our previous experience, so we’ll probably find a new restaurant to eat at next time we are in town.  

We arrived in Flagstaff around 2, and got some errands taken care of like REI for water bladders and Walmart for snacks.  Then we checked into Flagstaff’s finest, Motel 6!  Anybody who knows me knows that I like nice hotels at bargain rates.  But when we were looking for a single night stay in Flagstaff, all the nicer hotels were running $350-$450 per night.  Seriously?  No thanks.   We later found out that it was Northern Arizona University’s graduation weekend, so hotels were charging a big premium.  We were planning to check out of the hotel at 4AM, so spending that kind of money for a few hours of sleep was not something that interested me.  The Motel 6 was only $125.  Sold.

Our group orientation was at 5PM.  Dyan and I were a little nervous going into this meeting.  Not sure why?  We were about to meet our friends for the next three days.  The people we would hike, eat, sleep and laugh with.  All we wanted to do was fit in with the group.  Shortly before 5:00, we walked into the Little America Hotel for our orientation.

Enter Nick London and Michael Remke into our lives.  Nick greeted us at the door with a big smile and a warm welcome into the ball room where Michael and the rest of the group was seated.  There was six couples.  We went around the circle doing introductions and favorite ice cream flavors.  

First up was Susanne & Mark, from up in the hills of Colorado.  Susanne is an athlete in every sense of the word, competing in triathlons and hikes with her kids  while Mark cheers them on from the golf course.  They were absolutely good stuff.   When they were registering for this hike, Susanne sent the application to Mark and he listed every possible medical complication he could come up with (even being born c-section) in an effort to be deemed unfit to participate in the hike!  Hilarious.

Next up was Amy and her mom Debra.  They were coming from a chilly climate similar to ours being from Niagara Falls, Ontario.  Debra wanted to do a big hike, and her daughter, who is a nurse, was the only one who would volunteer to go.  We’d later find that Amy had recently returned from a backpack excursion to Machu Picchu!  A destination on Dyan’s bucket list.

Ty and Christina live in the Houston area.  They vlog, travel and stay busy with their numerous puppies and dance competition company, Streetz.   Ty and Christina had some remarkable travel stories as well as a planned trip that sounds absolutely amazing – The Giraffe Manor in Kenya.  Jealous.

Whitney and Justin, from Wichita, Kansas, almost weren’t in our group due to reservation mix up with the 4-day hike.  But we are so glad they found their way into our group and did the hike with us.

The second mother daughter combo of our group was Kassandra and Bella.  While they could not be at the orientation, we later found out they came in from Long Island New York.

Michael, a jack of all trades seemed to have done everything at least once in his life.  A PhD candidate, accomplished photographer, avid mountain biker, storm chasing (I think he said he did this?) and wildland fire safety are just a few of the things he balances when he is not guiding hikes into the Grand Canyon.

And last was Nick.  A native of Boise, ID, he roamed God’s country, sometimes in Alaska, sometimes in Arizona and lot’s of time in Yellowstone.  Living out of their truck, his girlfriend and him travel beautiful country and make a living doing what the rest of us do for vacation.  I like to think I am living the dream. But the truth is, I am just making a living to live out a 3 day dream in the Grand Canyon.

My favorite part of the orientation was the discussion around food and snacks.  Everyone got a chuckle out of Nick’s spiel about snacks and being able to trust their guides!   Michael and Nick had bought tons of snacks for everybody to pick from which was awesome, except for Dyan and I had just bought way too many snacks of our own at Walmart.  After the meeting, we joked about starting a snack black market in the campground since we had an insane amount of snacks.

After the trip details were discussed, we did a quick day pack fitting.  The packs were brought back to our hotels so that we could stuff them with the things we wanted for our hike – water, camera, hat, sunglasses, jacket, water shoes and swimsuit.  All of our other clothes, food/coolers, sleeping bags, tents, etc would be hauled down to the campsite on mules.

At the conclusion of the meeting, we were told to meet back at the Little America Hotel at 4:45AM.  From there we’d all hop in the van and take off for the Grand Canyon.

From our dingy hotel room that night, we finished last minute preparations for the hike and got all the cameras charged – the GoPro, Cannon and Nikon.  I even shaved my beard for the big adventure!

May 12, 2018

Four o’clock came early, and when we were moving our luggage out to the car, the chill in the air hit us.  It was in the 40’s and gusty once again.  We were the first to arrive at Little America, and as we waited in the parking lot, we both laughed about the doubts we were having regarding this adventure!  We had no relevant hiking experience.  My most recent physical activity was shoveling the late April snowstorm.    My hiking boots had never been worn and I was certain I would have blisters 15 minutes into the hike.  Had we bitten off more than we could chew?  At least we had snacks.  Lots of them.

Nick & Michael rolled up a short while later and we all slugged our way into the van.  We were on the highway by 5AM.  No turning back now.

At 7:30, we rolled into the outskirts of Seligman AZ and had a quick breakfast of bagels, fruit and yogurt which was provided by Nick & Michael.  

Then we made a slow drive through Seligman (Radiator Springs) which is the sleepy tourist town that the movie Cars is based on!  Super cool!

From there, we had another hour and a half drive through the middle of the high dessert.  On some of the reviews I read, this road was famous for cow dodging.  It’s true.  There were cattle all over the road.  Making that drive at night could get kinda dicey.  Our group was dozing on an off, occasionally being jolted from their sleep by the cattle grates on the highway.

And then, at 10AM, we rolled up on the trailhead of the Havasu Falls, perched high above the Grand Canyon.  

The breeze was strong, and chilly.  But the excitement of the moment pushed aside any discomfort from the cold.  

Michael and Nick spent about 45 minutes getting all of our camp gear ready for the mules and getting all 12 of us hikers ready for the trail.  

(From left to right, Ty, Isabella, Kassandra, Christina (kneeling), Amy, Debra, Mark,Susanne, Dyan, myself, Whitney and Justin.)

They fitted us with walking sticks, which were a godsend for the steeper downhill portion of the hike.  The trail to the campground (nestled between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls) is 10 miles, with a total elevation drop of 2,400 feet.  Around 11AM, we took our first steps on the trail.

It’s fairly well maintained but there is an abundance of loose gravel, chunk rock and sand that you do need to be careful navigating.  Wouldn’t want to bust an ankle…

The first mile and a half is a series of switchbacks descending abruptly into the canyon.  Nearly half of the total elevation of the hike is accounted for in this section.  Our crew, led by Michael, and tailed by Nick, made quick work of the downhill and got into a good pace as the canyon began to flatten out.  

Every 45 minutes of the hike, there seemed to be a group of mules or horses trotting to or from the trailhead saddled with all the gear nobody particularly cared to carry.  

They kicked up a tremendous amount of dust.  The dust is one thing that was never mentioned in any of the reviews.  The dust was overwhelming at times.  We were all covered in dust as we lumbered our way into the canyon.  Those brand new hiking boots didn’t look so pristine anymore!  

And speaking of the boots, by the time we stopped for lunch a couple hours into the hike, they still felt great.  No blisters!

One of the concerns I had coming into the trip was food (hence the reason we had so many snacks!).  I can be a picky eater…give me meat, and give me potatoes and I am happy.  So I was pleased to see that Nick and Michael prepared a lunch of summer sausage, a variety of Triscuits & cheeses as well as sliced apples.  There was hummus and green peppers too, but I made sure to save those for the others!  And the food was plentiful.  I am pretty sure everybody had multiple helpings and there was still food left over.

After lunch, we hiked on a mission.  

Beautiful rock formations jolted up toward the sky and the flowering ground cactus were in full bloom.

At 2:30, we reached the iconic “You’re Almost There” sign for Supai Village.

We were getting close!  But when we reached the village, it was a pretty sobering sight to see.  The setting - fertile green grounds beneath the red rock canyon - was beautiful, but the lifestyle on this reservation was likely a different story. While there were some homes, many of the dwellings were shanty-like.

There are no vehicles, other than the tribal police ATV.  Transportation was horseback, or walking.  Horses ate the trace amounts of grass in their pens and parked themselves under the shade of trees.  

Being one of the most remote locations in the United States, their connection with the outside world would appear to happen through tourists/hikers walking through their village.  Probably a life without the materialism that plagues the rest of us but rather a life that appreciates smaller things.

In the village, we bought a few Gatorades for $3.50/bottle and an ice cream snickers for $3.00.  We all changed into swimsuits for the remainder of the hike – the waterfalls were near.  We continued out of the village on a snaking path next to the turquoise blue creek.

Around 3:30, we reached our first waterfall, Fiftyfoot Falls.  

We were all tired, and it was getting hot.  Can we please just stop at the falls….maybe dip a toe in?  Michael and Nick wanted to push ahead. Just a few steps down the path, we came upon Navajo Falls.  

Holy Gorgeous!  This must be where our guides intend to stop.  Right?  Nope, we kept walking.  What the group didn’t know is that our guides were planning to bring us back here the following day.  I’ll admit, I was a little bummed at the time because I thought we were passing these amazing swimming holes.

For about 3/4th’s of a mile, the descent is fairly significant.  It’s all sand and silt.  Honestly, it was the most difficult portion of the hike in my opinion.  Sand just isn’t fun hiking in.  We came up on a very steep decline in the path.  We could hear water rushing just a short ways away.  Michael and Nick pulled the group together.  They gave us a quick spiel about how we had reached Havasu Falls and that we were all about to go crazy over the beauty that lies just ahead.  We were told to meet at the campsite in about 90 minutes.  For now, we were free to explore Havasu Falls. With that, we moved down the path about 100 feet.  The level of anticipation was 10 out of 10.  After 5 hours of hiking, the trail finally  opens up to jagged canyon walls, as orange as a sunset, jetting up into the sky.  Thick, lush, green vegetation covering the canyon floor. And then there is the centerpiece.  A brilliant, turquoise waterfall plummeting nearly 100 feet over the limestone and travertine formation into a pool below that resembles the Caribbean more closely that the desert.  

Havasu Falls is possibly the most gorgeous waterfall on the planet. Pictures cannot do it justice.  The sight is so much more powerful than I ever imagined.  

No amount of research can prepare you for the feeling you will have when you turn the corner and see Havasu Falls for the first time.  While the beauty is unrivaled, part of the allure of this spectacular fall is the difficult journey a person must take to reach this destination.  You don’t just wake up one Saturday morning and decide you are going to go visit for an hour.  

This is a destination that takes a significant amount of planning, effort and commitment to reach.  Reaching the falls is so much sweeter because of the journey we all had to take to arrive at this point.

We made the descent down to the base of Havasu Falls.  The pristine waters were full of hikers enjoying the reward of their laborious travels.  We wasted no time joining the others.  The water was a cool 70 degrees, but it was the perfect therapy for my sore feet and muscles.  We explored the smaller cascading falls just downstream from Havasu.  It is an adult waterpark, full of coolers and inflatables.  The crowd was diverse from the 70 year old retirees to the 21 year old’s taking a late spring break.  There were even some kids, probably less than 10 years old, but not too many.

With a few minutes to spare before we were supposed to congregate at our campsite, Dyan and I took a tour of the campground wandering down the riverside paths.  There was an abundance of remote camping sites with private beach/entries into Havasu Creek.  Many of the camps looked like long term sites, as if the campers could have been there for several weeks.  One camper had a hammock strung across Havasu Creek.  He sat sideways in his digs while reading a book and dangling his feet into the water.  Killer setup.

Our camp was a large open area perched up about 10 feet higher than the creek!  The current in the creek below our tent was loud enough to drown out any activity in the campsite.  It was perfect.  While the others were getting nestled into the campsite, Dyan and I took the opportunity to swim in the waist deep creek that surged next to our tent.  There was some serious current!

Not only had Michael and Nick setup our entire campsite before any of us arrived, but dinner was also cooking on the camp stoves, and it smelled amazing.

The dinner menu was rice noodles with chicken, broccoli & carrots with sautéed peppers and onions.  I am not a big veggie fan - like at all - but I was hungry, and thought I would try everything (except the peppers).  To my surprise, it was delicious.  Like, I wanted seconds before everybody else got firsts.  And others were in the same boat.  At one point, we thought everybody had gotten a plate, so several of us went back for another helping.  As Justin was dishing up another plate, it struck me that Kassandra and Bella were not at the table, so I asked the question.  The four of us standing around the camp stove were mortified when we realized that we were helping ourselves to the last of the food and not everybody had eaten yet.  Apparently Michael and Nick had not eaten yet either.  Justin had a single piece of chicken on his plate that he tried his best to offer to one of our hungry guides, but they laughed the situation off before correcting it.  Nick retrieved additional food from a separate Wildland Trekking group.  Problem solved.  Each meal thereafter, we were all a little more cognizant of whether everybody had eaten.

Michael and Nick prepared coffee and cookies while several of us played Bananagrams.  I played in the first game and schooled all of my new friends!  Then I quit while I was on top.  Susanne, Kassandra, Whitney and Amy were really good.  Justin, who was watching from the sidelines, did a great job at heckling and officiating Whitney’s words!  When it was completely dark, Justin, Whitney, Dyan and I hiked using our headlamps back up to Havasu Falls to see the billions of stars come out above the silhouette of the falls.  Astonishing.  It was here I found out some bad news about Justin.  He is a Kansas State alum!  So much for him being super cool!  We retreated back to our quiet campsite and drifted off to sleep.

May 13, 2018

Sometime around 2AM, the wind picked up.  I don’t know how gusty it was, but our tent was flapping in the wind like an inflatable wacky waving tube man. 

This made sleeping tough for me.  Dyan’s night was a little worse.  Her inflatable air mattress had lost air at some point during the night, so she was basically sleeping on the hard ground.  We weren’t the only ones with a tough night of sleep.  Mark had the quote of the morning how he summed up his night.  “I slept like a baby.  I woke up every hour and cried.”  Everybody got a chuckle.    Mark’s air mattress had also deflated along with a couple of others in our group.  The troops needed a pick-me-up to start the day.  And we were about to get it.  There is a morning time smell that dominates over any other smell.  It is universally accepted as the smell of deliciousness.  If you guessed coffee, you’re wrong.  The aroma of coffee wafting through the campsite would be enough to perk up some, but not the whole group.  Michael and Nick needed something stronger.  Something that completely drowns out the coffee aroma if the two are being prepared side by side.  The only right answer is, BACON.  And it was sizzling in the camp stove pan.  It was being prepared along with orange slices and French Toast, complete with powdered sugar and maple syrup.  Seriously?  This was my kind of feast.  And there was plenty for second and third helpings.

Also super cool is that Michael and Nick always had gluten free versions of every meal prepared.  I won’t pretend to know what those options tasted like, but it was awesome that they were able to accommodate everybody’s food preferences.

We needed a huge breakfast because today was a big exploring day for us.  Right after breakfast, we headed to the top of Mooney Falls, the largest waterfall along the creek dropping nearly 200 feet over the travertine bluff above.  

There were signs posted that said, “Descend At Own Risk.”  

That sounds ominous.  Going into this hike, I, the guy who Dyan calls Mr. Cautious, had not given two thoughts to this portion of the hike actually being difficult, and possibly dangerous.  I shrugged the sign off.

The first portion of the descent involves a series of switchbacks where the path is generally three to four feet wide.  

In some spots, the path narrows to about 12 inches as you have to scoot past a narrow ledge.  

At this portion of the hike, even if you fall off the ledge, you are probably only falling 15-20 feet onto the switchback below.  Not certain death, but probably not a pleasant fall either.

After the switchbacks comes two blasted out tunnels.  The tunnels were much larger than I had expected, and chillier.  They were pitch black but had steps carved into the floor.  You couldn’t really see the steps, but if you go slow, it is a pretty natural and easy step down through the cavern.   

In between the two tunnels is a small jaw dropping overlook of the falls.  

It was here that Michael warned us about the next portion of the descent.  “Please secure all possessions to your body and put away all cameras.”  Wait, what?  This sounds like things could be getting serious.  Was the descent really going to be that challenging?  We were about to find out once we got through next tunnel.

We made our way through the final tunnel, and then out into the open.  What should have been a beautiful vista of the waterfall was upstaged by the cliff at our feet.  Chains had been fastened to the top of the cliff and makeshift footsteps had been carved into the side of the mountain.  There is no harness to clip into the chains.  There is no safety net.  It is just you, the chains, and the side of a mountain.  Dear Lord Jesus, please be with us!

Mike started scaling the cliff first, followed by Dyan.  I stood on the perch, Dyan just a few steps below me, and Christine and Ty just exiting from the dark tunnel behind me.  There were people in the water below me, enjoying the waterfall.  They looked like ants from where I currently stood.  Oh how I wished I was already at the bottom.  I held it together, but I was freaking out on the inside.

Here we go.  I turned around, facing the wall with my back to the falls.  I gripped the cold chain.  It was heavy, sturdy, and surely looked as if it had been there for at least 100 years.   I took my first step down, sliding my hands down the chains.  Then the next.  My clumsy body was slow and I started searching with my foot for the next step.  I couldn’t find it.  Crap.  Keep it together.  I searched again.  I felt a ledge, but it was small.  Maybe that’s where my foot was supposed to go?  Just as I was about to put pressure on the ledge and take a step, I felt a hand touch my boot, pushing my foot off the ledge and to the right about 8”.  It was Dyan, guiding my foot to the actual step.  I felt so uncoordinated.  Dyan knew I needed some help, and started telling me where each step was.  I tried my best to relay that information to Christina who was hanging off the wall just above me, but I am not sure how well she could hear through my shaky voice.  Dyan guided my every step for the first 25 feet, but then was asked by Michael to scurry down the mountain so he could help the rest of us.  Apparently Dyan climbed the wall like Spiderman and didn’t need anybody’s help.

About halfway down the wall, Michael’s suggestion was to climb to an area outside of the chains.  In my head, I was like, “Are you nuts?!?”  He said it was the easiest and safest spot to climb.  Who am I to question the expert.  So I did as he asked.  I was literally climbing a mountain wall at that point.  All hands, and feet, securely on the rocks.  No chains.  For a fleeting moment, I felt like a badass climber…

Until I didn’t.  Which was just seconds later, when Michael warned me that the remaining 60 feet of descent would be wet from the mist of Mooney Falls.  Geez, are we were climbing down to Hell?  I cursed myself up and down for not wearing my hiking boots.  Earlier that morning, I made a very poor decision when I opted for a rather pedestrian pair of non-gripping sandals.  

I seriously began to wonder if anybody had ever slipped and fallen, ricocheting off the jagged edges to the most horrific and bloody death known to man.  

Jake, snap out of it!  Get yourself down this freaking wall.  I took a step with my fashionable sandals and slipped momentarily on the wet rock.  Yep. It’s definitely slippery.  My face was soaked, a mixture of nervous sweat and mist.  I wiped the moisture from my eyes, accidentally smearing a wet metallic residue from the chain all over my face.  Gross.  Slowly I progressed down the wall, and then finally made it to the ladders.  Once you get to the ladders, you are in the home stretch.  One rung at a time, I scaled the slippery ladders, all the way to the bottom.  And then I heard Dyan’s sweet voice, “One more step babe.” My right leg, came off the rung, and squished down into the wet mud.  As my other foot swung around to the ground, I slipped, and went down hard on my butt.  I was a muddy mess, but I made it to the bottom!  While the climb seemed like an eternity, it probably took about 20 minutes to go top to bottom.  Dyan was waiting at the bottom with a huge hug and a video camera, interviewing me with questions about the hike.  I was literally shaking, overcome with joy and a sense of accomplishment.  Although, an accomplishment I never needed to do again.  I was ready to start gathering food and setting up camp.  Let’s stay a few weeks, or years.  I had no interest in ever going back up that wall.  Once our entire group made it to the bottom, I found Michael and thanked him for the help.

The power of Mooney Falls is unrivaled.  From the pool below, the teal water looks as though it’s being catapulted from the sky above.  The roar of the falls sounds like a jet engine echoing in the canyon.  The water fall hits with so much force that you can feel the undercurrent pulling you into the falls.  We didn’t get too close, but close enough to feel the extreme power of this natural wonder.

The pool empties into a couple of different shallow wading areas with smaller cascading falls that you can swim behind.  Bliss.

After spending an hour at Mooney, Michael and Nick took us on a short hike to one of their favorite locations in the area, although I don’t recall the name.  It is a very narrow canyon which has a natural spring at it highest point in the wash.  

It’s also here that there are boulders the size of semi-trucks that have fallen into the canyon through years of erosion.  Michael and Nick wanted us to climb through the smallest crevice (green circle) between the boulders and pull ourselves up on top of the rocks.  

M’kay.  Second stunt of the day that was outside of my comfort zone.  The guides helped each of us through the tiny opening and expertly told us exactly where to position our feet and hands.  Getting to the top of the boulder ended up being pretty easy, and the view from the top was really cool.

After a quick snack, it was time to hike again.  We climbed down through a smaller opening (red circle) in the rocks and made our way back to Havasu Creek.  We went further into the canyon, when nature called.  While the rest of the group carried on about 100 yards ahead to the most beautiful wading pools, I ventured off the trail about 30 feet to a ravine.  There was sharp thorny bushes covering the ground scraping up my shins.  This sucks.  The ravine was about 6-8 feet deep and probably bursts with water rushing into the creek during flash floods.  But it was dry as a bone today.  I walked up just behind a shrub on the edge of the ravine when suddenly, the silty ground gave way beneath me.  I dropped like a rock into the ravine.  My right foot hit the bottom first, cranking violently to the inside.  There was a definitive pop.  Then the shear pain.  I was sure I broke something.  My mind was spinning as I floundered in the middle of the ravine.  Did this really just happen?  I needed to calm down and think.  How was I going to get out of here with a broken ankle.  Nobody will hear me if I call for help.  I have really gotten myself into a mess.  The irony of the moment was not lost on me at all – I had scaled a hundred-foot wall without falling, but couldn’t manage to take a leak on the edge of a ravine without a catastrophic fall?  The ravine was fairly narrow, so I was able to steady myself standing up, balancing against the walls.  Now, how do I get out?  I grabbed the shrub I had originally intended to use as my privacy and pulled myself up the ravine wall.  I began crawling through the woods, but all of the thorny bushes were cutting me up.  I had to try and stand, and limp out.  I used a small tree to help me stand up and put a little it of weight on my ankle.  Damn, it was bad.  But I had no other choice.  I hobbled out of the woods and down the trail toward the rest of the group.  Do I tell anybody, or keep this to myself?  I was super embarrassed, I walked along the water’s edge slipping and falling a couple of times due to the pain.   Most of the group looked as though they were ready to head out but a few were still in the water.  I pulled Dyan aside and told her I fell hard on my ankle and that I thought there was probably some damage.  She couldn’t believe it and wanted to tell Michael and Nick, but I stopped her.  I didn’t want to ruin the fun for the rest of the group and have to go back to camp early.  Let’s try and get through the afternoon and see how it feels later tonight…  If only I had taken the signs more seriously.

The group packed up and we hiked back up the creek toward Mooney Falls.  

Although, we took a different route, doing much of the hike in the creek itself.  The cold water felt really good to my ankle, and it allowed me to put less weight on it which was helpful.  

Along the creek we passed small waterfalls dumping spring water into Havasu Creek.  

With all the lush vegetation and waterfalls, it resembled more of a tropical rain forest than the desert.

The group stopped at Mooney Falls for another hour.  

Dyan and I soaked in the swimming pools for as much of the time as possible.  

Justin and Ty used the rope swing to crash into the lower pool.  It sure looked fun, but I wasn’t going to do any jumping in the condition I was in.

Then came the moment I had been dreading.  The climb up the rock wall at Mooney Falls.  I had a hard enough time getting down, but now throw in an injured ankle, a successful ascent was questionable at best.  But it’s the only way up, so her goes nothing.

I went first this time, with Dyan just behind me.  

Every step was excruciating pain.  I pulled with my upper body on the chains more than I pushed off with my ankle to reach the top.  The climb to the top went much quicker, but would have been much easier had both my ankles been 100%.  Nevertheless, it was uneventful, in a very good way.  We made it to the top.  I instantly, felt better.  Even my ankle felt a bit better at the top.

Once we reached the top, Debra told a remarkable story that she had recently overcome a fear of heights.    Overcoming the challenge allowed her to do this hike and scale a 100’ wall.  What a super cool moment for her!

Dyan and I hobbled back to camp, ecstatic that we survived such an amazing adventure, but the condition of my ankle weighed heavy our my thoughts.  Dyan suggested we hang out at camp the rest of the afternoon, but I wasn’t going to the a party pooper.  We were going to go exploring with the rest of the group.

Our next stop was Havasu Falls.  

At the base of the fall, Nick and Michael prepared an awesome chip/dip lunch of ingredients that I don’t usually even like.  There were tomatoes, avocados, odd looking beans, cilantro, limes and other ingredients.  I was certain that chips was the only thing I would be eating for lunch.  But I went ahead and tried the freshly made dip.  Need to keep an open mind, right? To my surprise, it was delicious.  I ate two full bowls!  I give these guys props for getting me to try new things outside of my traditional comfort zone.  

At the end of lunch, Nick drew the short straw and took all the dishes back to camp to wash them.  

Michael on the other hand took the rest of us on a two mile hike back up the sandy trail to the falls we skipped yesterday, Navajo Falls and Fiftyfoot Falls.  These swimming hole were remarkable.  You could swim right up next to Navajo Falls and stand in it, or jump off of the huge rock formations in the middle of the pool.  Justin, Whitney and Dyan jumped off the rock, but I elected for no additional trauma to my throbbing ankle.  Mark, Susanne and Bella also joined us at the pool and took a ton of pictures.

We then headed up to Fiftyfoot Falls which resembled a Costa Rican rainforest.  This was probably our favorite of all the falls.  There is a huge swimming pool at the base of the wide falls.  While the force of the falls is powerful, you can swim behind the falls.  Crazy cool.  Justin, Whitney, Dyan and I were the only ones in the deep pool and we were all bummed we didn’t have a waterproof camera.  Then from around the corner swam Kassandra, Bella, Susanne and Mark.  And, Kassandra and Bella brought their waterproof phone cases with them!  They snapped pictures of all of us in the falls helping us to preserve that memory for the rest of our lives.  Thank you.

We then hiked two miles downhill back to camp where Nick had already started dinner on the camp stoves.  Rice noodles with pesto sauce.  Once again, pesto is not my thing, but the way it was prepared, I ate every last bite.  Delicious meal.  For dessert, Nick rolled out a Mother’s Day special of chocolate fondue with sliced strawberries and bananas.  Wow!  Who would have guessed we’d be eating chocolate covered strawberries in the Grand Canyon!

Once again, we huddled around the picnic tables playing Bananagrams.  Except, Justin threw a twist into the game suggesting the only words that could be played had to be centered around a theme, like camping, hiking or adventure.  What a hoot!  I kept exchanging my letters to jokingly spell help or helicopter.  My pain was so bad I figured I need one or the other to help me get out of the canyon on the hike in the morning.

We all planned to retire early because our 5AM hike was going to come quick.  As everybody was getting ready for bed, I carefully took the boot off of my ankle for the first time since return from the falls.  It was swelling up like a balloon and significant bruising was forming on the outside.  Finally, Dyan convinced me to tell Nick about my fall.  I hobbled over to the picnic table and called to Nick who was getting some things packed up for the morning.  I told him the story about falling into the ravine, and he kind of chuckled, thinking it wasn’t going to be too bad since I had walked on it the rest of the day.  He flipped on his head lamp and examined my foot. 

“Wow.”  Was is first remark.  “Dude, you have like 30% swelling in your ankle.”  Yeah, tell me about it!  “How did you walk on this all day long?”  Nick grabbed a couple of frozen water bottles and had me ice it for 20 minutes and then he put a bandage around it.  Told me to keep it elevated overnight and then we’d ice it again in the morning.

May 14, 2018

We were all awake by 3AM.  We needed to get as much of the hike out of the way with before sunrise.  Nick took another look at it in the morning.  The bruising had worsened on the outside of my foot, and started on the inside of my foot.  “You need to get this looked at when you get out of here.  You could have some structural damage.”  Just what I wanted to hear before a 5 hour uphill hike through the desert.  I iced my foot while everybody else had an oatmeal and coffee breakfast.  Around 5AM, I had my boots on, and we were ready to break camp.  The pain was tremendous.  Each step felt like bones shattering in my foot.  I had little range of motion with my ankle.  I was in rough shape.  But I was going to try to hike myself out.

Supai Village was about 3 miles away.  That three miles is a steep grade uphill, in a trail of mushy sand.  I am not sure there is a condition that could have been any more uncomfortable on my ankle.  But we pushed forward.  Nick stopped about halfway to the village.  “Jake, how are you holding up?”  I responded, “Let’s keep moving.”  I didn’t want to slow the group down.  They were hiking on a mission.  But my ankle was not going to make it to the top of the hill, at least not hiking.  When we reached the village, Dyan could tell I was in significant pain.  As a last resort, she asked Michael if the helicopter out of the village would be an option.  Michael and Nick huddled up with me in the town and assessed my ankle once again.  They too agreed with Dyan that I should probably take the chopper out of the canyon.

However, this would present some possible logistical problems. It was about 6AM.  The chopper didn’t begin transporting until 10AM.  First priority is given to those who live on the reservation, so if many of those who live in Supai needed a ride out of the canyon, we could be waiting for a significant part of the day for our turn.  Luckily, Dyan and I we were near the front of the makeshift line that was forming.  Hopefully we’d get on an early ride.  Another potential snafu was if the helicopter decided not to fly, which we were told does happen frequently.  Dyan and I would be forced to rent a room at the Lodge in the village.  Hopefully they had vacancy!  The worst part was not knowing when we would reach the top of the hill.  It would be humiliating to know that our group just hiked their heart and souls out to get to the top of the hill and then had to wait in a hot van several hours for us to arrive by helicopter.  Just shoot me now if that happens.

As the group gathered at the edge of town to continue their hike to the top, Nick left us with one suggestion.  Make sure that when the guy with the clipboard shows up at 9AM to create the official passenger list, be as assertive as possible to get at the front of the list and on an early flight.  Being assertive is critical.  Luckily I have Dyan for that!

The minutes ticked by, quicker than I would have thought.  The makeshift line for helicopter lines started getting longer.  There were hikers that came to the front of the line asking the same two questions, “Is this the line for the helicopter?” and “Has a sign up sheet been started yet?”  Nope, no list yet, and the line starts way back there…past the benches, and the tree, and around the corner to the restaurant.  Everybody asking was so kind.  It appeared to be setting up in a very orderly fashion.  I am not sure there was really a need to be assertive given the nice line that was forming.

Around 7AM, the village store opened and Dyan stopped in to grab me a quick breakfast.

Diet Pepsi, how I’ve missed you.  And the freshest mini donuts I have ever had.  How does a place in the middle of nowhere get super soft donuts?  Baffling.

Around 8AM, the village was waking up.  Kids appeared to be on their way to school with backpacks in tow.  Dogs were exuding their dominance running round playing with each other.  The village sheriff moseyed by on his ATV.  Mules hauling gear traipsed by.   More and more people were joining the helicopter line.  Around 8:30, we heard a chopper in the distance and started getting excited.  The helicopter was starting early!  But there was still no list?

The helicopter landed on the pad and several villagers exited the fuselage.  Two other villagers jumped aboard and the helicopter was gone in less than 5 minutes.  I turned to Dyan, this must be a good sign, right?  They are getting the tribe passengers out of the way early so hopefully can start with the civilians right at 10, or sooner!

We waited, and waited.  It should only be a 15 minute round trip.  But the chopper wasn’t returning.  At 9AM, a couple of the natives came over the he helipad.  One with a clipboard.  The beginning of the line all stood up single file, orderly, but within 30 seconds, pandemonium broke lose.  Everybody at the end of the line flooded to the front, creating a circle around the clipboard.  So much for their politeness.  It became a mad scramble.  I sent Dyan up with the Visa card, and cash.  Glad we had both.  While they supposedly take Visa card, today they were only accepting cash.  Dyan paid $170 to be passengers #6 & 7 in line.  Sweet.  Just then, two helicopters showed up.  The passenger carrying helicopter took a mix of natives and civilians to the top.  The second helicopter appeared to be freight carrying only.

The guy collecting the cash for the helicopters randomly stopped taking cash and put the list away – which really ticked people off still waiting to sign up and pay.  He had other jobs to do.  He grabbed a hose - not a garden hose, but more like a fire hose - and began dousing down all the dirt areas around the helipad.  He could have cared less about getting anybody or any of their possessions soaked.  He hosed people, and their things down.  It was pretty rude.  He could have at least warned people, but his hose spraying was so random, not giving anybody any time to move out of the way.

At 9:30, the passenger carrying helicopter was echoing through the canyon.  You could hear it well before you could see it.  The List/Firehose Guy, called out the names of the passengers who needed to get ready.  Our name was called.  

We were getting out of here!  The helicopter landed and several passengers got off.  We were escorted out to the chopper.  Dyan got the front seat by the captain, and I got the window seat just behind her.  With a little assistance from the other passengers, I was able to slide in and pull my ankle up into the seating area.  Thirty seconds later, we were airborne.  We made a quick cruise across town and banked hard up into the canyon.  The ride was spectacular.  In the 5-minute ride to the top, we crossed the hiking trail a couple of times, wondering how far our crew was on the hike.  Maybe we would see them.  Surely, we’d see Justin and Whitney’s matching neon green shirts or Susanne bright hiking jacket.  We should easily be able to spot Michael’s bright orange jacket or Nick’s 700-pound crimson colored backpack.

The helicopter cruised through the canyon making quick work of the 10 mile and 2400 ft climb in elevation.  It was so fast.   I tried hard to capture pictures of the beautiful journey, but my camera kept focusing on the reflection in the glass as opposed to the landscape below.  Our helicopter landed at 9:37AM.  Surely, we beat our group to the top.  We grabbed our bags and limped our way over to the trailhead.  NO WAY!  There is Justin, and Whitney, and Michael!  They were already to the top!  So was Kassandra & Bella and Susanne and Mark too.  And Debra and Amy were just finishing as we approached the trailhead.  We had all arrived at nearly the same time.  I was so relieved nobody had to wait for us!  Kassandra snapped this cool pictures of our helicopter on final approach.

Within 30 minutes, our gear was packed in the van, and we were on the road to Flagstaff.  We stopped briefly for lunch at the Grand Canyon Caverns Grotto.  Dyan got me some ice while Susanne and Mark made sure I was comfortable.  My ankle was so swollen, my boot was a challenge to get off.  Everything about it was getting worse.

Michael and Nick prepared bacon and cucumber wraps which were good as we all sat out in the sun, relaxing in the rockers.  Our new friends deserved this relaxing break after the uphill hike they just accomplished.

The remainder of the ride into Flagstaff went fairly quick with lots of stories being told.  Our group had really bonded over the three days.  Dyan and I have never taken a group trip before, so we were unsure how the dynamic would be among the members.  But I can honestly say we had an amazing group to make this trek with.  Everybody was so kind, caring and had such colorful backgrounds and rich life experiences which we got to learn about.  I felt like we were all good friends by the time we left that canyon.  Each of us had a passion and appreciation for a good adventure, and I think that is why we all got along so well.  We were all there for the same reason.  Next time we take another group adventure, I can only hope our group is just as amazing as our Havasu Falls group.  You’ve set the bar high.  Thank you.

A crazy amount of credit for such a successful adventure should be given to Michael, Nick and Wildland Trekking.  Every step of this trip was thoughtfully planned out by our guides and their trekking company - from the food, to the hiking, to the gear to the the customer experience.  They considered everybody’s physical abilities and made sure to not hike to fast, or too slow.  Their attention to detail is second to none, never overlooking blisters from hiking, or carrying extra water for those who ran out.  They also did a good job at taking many of us out of our comfort zones by helping us experience things we had not expected - whether it be challenging activities, or new foods.  But most importantly for me, as Michael and Nick prepared to have me extracted from the canyon, they were on the phone with presumably Wildland Management who was walking them through the process of getting me out safely, and quickly.  I cannot express my gratitude enough for everybody involved in helping me get to the top of the trailhead.  I would highly recommend Wildland Trekking, and specifically Michael and Nick as guides.  We absolutely would love the opportunity to go on another adventure with Wildland.

Dyan and I wasted no time getting out of Flagstaff.  We had a date with the lavish pool at Sheraton Grand Resort at Wild Horse Pass.  But that was in Chandler, over 2 hours away.  Go , go, go.  Dyan drove while I elevated/iced my foot on the dashboard.  We hit rush hour traffic in Phoenix which delayed our arrival into the hotel to 5PM.  Pool sounds great, but given our meals the past few days, we were feeling rather carnivorous.  Texas Roadhouse was near the hotel.  I had the prime rib, and Dyan the chicken fried chicken. Mmmmmmm.  Not surprising, we crashed by 9PM.

May 15, 2018

My ankle continued to worsen.  Pain, swelling, bruising – it was brutal.  I contemplated an ortho quick care in Phoenix, but decided to wait to get it checked out when I got home.  We had breakfast at the onsite restaurant consisting of a breakfast sandwich and yogurt parfait.  It was fab.  We then spent the day at the pool drinking some kind of delicious frozen concoctions all while elevating with ice.  I could think of worse spots I’d rather be right now.  What if we would have gotten stuck overnight in Supai?  We’d be waiting for the helicopter right now!

It was 105 degrees, and felt every bit of that number.  But the pool water sure made the day like paradise.  We had lettuce wraps for lunch before heading back to the room to get ready for the evening.  Up first was the casino right next door to our resort.  This casino was bad to us on our first trip to Phoenix, and proved to be no better this time around.  Dyan and I couldn’t get anything going on Buffalo Stampede, Willy Wonka or a plethora of other machines.  I even sat at the blackjack table for about 90 second.  It was a $10 table – I was playing the minimum.  

First hand, dealer blackjack.  Minus $10

Second hand, dealer 20, me 17.  Minus $10

Third hand, dealer blackjack.  Minus $10

Fourth hand, dealer blackjack.  Minus $10.  You’ve got to be kidding me.

Fifth hand, I was dealt 12.  I hit and got a 10.  A bust at 22.  Minus $10.

There goes our winning from Cliff Castle Casino.  We left the casino.  We were hungry, and a little grouchy.  Stinks to lose, but looming largely was the end to our vacation tomorrow.  So, our moods weren’t the best.  We couldn’t agree on a dining establishment, so we drove aimlessly for almost an hour as we looked for restaurant signs through the window.   We settled on RigaTony’s, a highly rated Italian restaurant in Tempe.  It was good, but not great.

May 16, 2018

Once again, we ate breakfast (mouthwatering waffles) at the restaurant and spent the entire morning at the pool.  The pool at Sheraton Grand is amazing.

It was the perfect pool day with the temperature well the century mark.

This is our second visit to the Wild Horse Pass, and we will most definitely come back on future trips.  Around 11, we packed up the room and made our way back to the restaurant for a quick lunch.  Dyan had SW Tortilla Soup and I had the fresh pretzel bites.  Dyan made a great point, why don’t we just eat all our meals from this restaurant when we are in Phoenix?  Everything is so tasty!

By 1:00, we were checking in our rental car.  Sixt waived the $105 upgrade charge for us, so that was awesome!  And by 4:00, we had boarded our flight and were on our way home.  Luckily, it was not a full flight, so we were able to juggle seats to sit behind the exit row so I would have room to elevate my ankle.  The flight attendant even packed me a bag of ice.  Not sure the flight home could have gotten any better.  I had my foot raised with The Hangover playing on one screen and the flight map on the other screen.  

Out flight was super smooth and we caught a glimpse of some big storms over South Dakota.

For the amount of planning, preparation and anticipation, the trip went way too fast.  Bummed we were coming home, but happy I was still in one piece!

Update:

On May 18, 2018, I did visit Summit Orthopedics in Eagan to have my ankle checked out.  As I suspected, there was a fracture, although it’s not where I suspected.  In this x-ray, you can see the hazy white line on the backside of my tibia, that’s the fracture (red circle).  

They also believe I have grade III sprains (complete tears) calcaneofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament.  

Healing time is 4-8 weeks and they put me in a light soft brace when I was reluctant to wear a boot.   Awesome.

[dailynynews-blog]

Phoenix Events Calendar for September

New Post has been published on https://www.usatelegraph.com/2018/phoenix-events-calendar-september/

Phoenix Events Calendar for September

Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

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Phoenix Event Calendar – September

2nd Friday Night Out in Mesa Live music, entertainment, art walk, prizes. Each month has a theme. Family friendly. Free admission. On Main Street in Downtown Mesa. In 2017: 2nd Friday of the month

9/11 Memorial Events Observances around Phoenix to honor the victims and heroes of the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001. In 2017: Various dates in September

Arizona Cardinals Football The Arizona Cardinals play professional football at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. In 2017: Various dates in September

Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball The Arizona Diamondbacks play professional Baseball at Chase Field. In 2017: Various dates in September

Arizona Restaurant Week About 100 fine dining establishments in the Greater Phoenix area offer a prix fixethree course meal. In 2017: September 15 – 24

Arizona Rookie League Baseball Minor League Baseball has 14 Rookie League teams in the Phoenix area. In 2017: various dates in September

Astronomy Evenings A talk (novice level) explaining facts about the solar system and the galaxy around the planet earth followed by observing the moon, several planets, star systems through a celestron telescope. Weather permitting. Registration required. Ages 8+. Pinnacle Peak Park, Scottsdale. In 2017: September 22

AZ Nonprofit Expo Service organizations, volunteer opportunities, educational tools and workshops. Admission to exhibitors is free, fee to attend workshops and hear speakers. In 2017: September 23

Ballet Under the Stars Free performances at various parks in the Greater Phoenix area. In 2017: September 21, 22, 23, 28, 30

Birds ‘n’ Beer Birds ‘n Beer offers local professionals a fun and refreshing way to learn about Arizona birds and other wildlife while networking with fellow nature-lovers. Have a cold brew while enjoying an enlightening and lively presentation on Arizona nature. Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix. RSVP requested 602-468-6470. In 2017: September 21

Brazilian Day Arizona Festival The largest celebration of Brazilian art and culture in Arizona, bringing together Arizona’s Brazilian community in honor of Brazilian Independence Day to share a rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage. Scottsdale. In 2017: September 23

Chandler Symphony Orchestra Indoors. Family-friendly. Free, donations accepted. In 2017: September 8

Children’s Learning and Play Festival Speakers, vendors, play areas. Indoors. Free admission, free parking. WestWorld, Scottsdale. In 2017: September 9

City Lights Movie Night Free movie at CityScape in Downtown Phoenix. Giveaways, contests, prizes. Bring a chair. In 2017: September 8

Crossroads of the West Gun Show At the Arizona State Fairgrounds ( Sep. 9, 10)in Phoenix and Mesa Convention Center (Sep. 23, 24). The shows offer hundreds of tables of interest to both the once a year hunter and the avid collector. In 2017: September 9, 10, 23, 24

Desert Ridge Marketplace Concerts Free concerts on two stages in North Phoenix at Desert Ridge Marketplace. In 2017: Every Friday and Saturday night

Discount Tire Free Family Weekend Free admission for everyone at Phoenix Art Museum on the second Sunday of the month. Includes a special hands-on, educational programming and/or entertainment designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. Special exhibitions may have a reduced charge. More about Phoenix Art Museum. See a map. In 2017: September 9, 10

Downtown Chandler Art Walk Visit more than 70 artisans set up along the streets in front of the unique shops and cafes of Historic Downtown Chandler. Free. In 2017: Third Friday of the month

Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces an exhibition featuring more than thirty instruments with incredible inlay by North America’s finest artists and luthiers. Guitars, banjos, and one ukulele, featuring inlaid artwork created from materials including abalone shell, mother-of-pearl, coral, gold, copper, wood, and others. MIM, North Phoenix. In 2017: now through Sep. 4, 2017

El Zaribah Shrine Circus Indoor performances at WestWorld in Scottsdale. In 2017: September 9 – 11

Embracing Your Journey Expo A holistic, wellness and metaphysical event designed to enlighten and inform allowing people to explore alternative health and lifestyle products and services. Phoenix. In 2017: September 24

Experience India A celebration of East Indian music and culture. Musical and dance performances, hands-on activities, exhibit talks, temporary henna body art. Included with museum admission. More about MIM. In 2017: September 2, 3

Fall Concerts at Scottsdale Quarter Live musical performances featuring popular local acts. Free. The Quad at Scottsdale Quarter. In 2017: September 9, 16, 23, 30

Fiesta Septiembre  Mariachi groups, folklorico dancers, salsa, guacamole, and margarita contests, outdoor mercado, kids zone, food and beverage cantina, historic photo exhibits. Wickenburg. In 2017: September 2

First Friday Visit more than 80 downtown Phoenix art galleries, studios and art spaces. Free. In 2017: first Friday in September

Flashlight Tours at Desert Botanical Garden See, hear and feel the desert night’s plants and animals on the Discovery Trail. Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. Self-paced tours begin at 7 p.m. Recommended for families and children of all ages. Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. In 2017: September 2

Free Art Friday Preschoolers and their parents participate in an activity involving art and/or music. The theme varies from month to month. No registration required. Free. Tempe. In 2017: September 22

Halloween Haunted Houses Haunted houses, scary attractions and zombie shootouts start in September. Various locations. In 2017: Various dates in September and October

Halloween, Pumpkin Patches, Haunted Houses, Halloween Festivals and Events Many harvest festivals and Halloween activities start in September! In 2017: Various dates in September (not yet updated)

Hispanic Heritage Month Festivals and Events Music, dance, literature, art, and more at events across the Valley celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 though October 15. In 2017: Various dates in September (not yet updated)

Labor Day Weekend Specials and weekend getaways to celebrate the fact that fall is just around the corner. In 2017: September 2 – 4

Life Time Tri Tempe Two different races in downtown Tempe, with the swim at Tempe Town Lake. In 2017: September 17

Meet Me Downtown A casual, social self-guided 3.3 mile walk around downtown Phoenix. Evening, rain or shine. Free. Starts at CityScape, Downtown Phoenix. In 2017: Every Monday in September

Mesa Arts Center Season Kickoff Mesa Arts Center debuts its fall exhibitions, live entertainment, artist demonstrations, shopping, food and performances. Bring the family. Free. Mesa Arts Center. In 2017: September 8

Messy Fest Kids will have fun with cluttered, chaotic and untidy activities; expect clothes to get dirty, stained and/or torn! A benefit for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Queen Creek. In 2017: September 16

Mitzvahs & More Event Planning Expo A special event planning expo created for the Phoenix Jewish Community with entertainment choices, décor options, photography, videography, specialty caterers, unique venues and more. Scottsdale. In 2017: September 24

Monarch Butterfly Exhibit / Mariposa Monarca Marshall Butterfly Pavilion at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix. In 2017: September 30 – November 19

Motorcycles on Main The streets of downtown Mesa are closed to all but bikers and people who love motorcycles. Music, food, beer garden. Free admission. In 2017: first Friday of the month

Movie Night at the Ballpark Park concessions will be open. No alcohol, glass containers or chairs may be brought into the event. Factory sealed, pre-packaged single serving snack items permitted. One factory sealed plastic water bottle not more than 1 liter in size per person. Free. Goodyear Ballpark. In 2017: September 22

Oktoberfest Celebrations There are several places around town where you can get that Oktoberfest spirit, even though it’s still only September. Dress up in your Bavarian best, eat bratwurst and dance to the polka all day long, if you’d like. In 2017: Various dates in September

Performances at the Museum Performances from the East Valley community. Each performance is different. Includes children’s plays, kid and adult film series, classical music (check schedule). Tempe History Museum. Free admission. In 2017: September 9, 22

Phoenix Cooks! Attend Phoenix Cooks! classes, culinary demonstrations, sample Chef creations and spirits, marketplace. North Scottsdale. In 2017: September 2

Phoenix Rising FC USL Soccer. In 2017: various dates in September

Queen Creek Founders’ Day Festival Competitions, food, music, entertainment. Family-friendly, outdoors, free admission. In 2017: September 23

Rockin’ Taco Street Fest Kid’s zone with water play activities, a taco eating contest, live entertainment including steel drums, reggae, ballet folklorico dancers, and a DJ. Downtown Chandler. In 2017: September 16

Sahuaro Ranch Historic Site Tour Learn about the various buildings, barnyard, trees and groves at this ranch site, now a public park. The Sahuaro Ranch Park Historic Area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free, all ages. Sahuaro Ranch, Glendale. In 2017: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in Sept.

Science With a Twist The Arizona Science Center in Downtown Phoenix opens it doors one evening per month for an adults-only experience (21+), with lectures, music and scientific fun. Ticketed event. In 2017: September 15

Scottsdale ArtWalk Every Thursday evening the Scottsdale Art District invites you to spend a casual evening walking downtown and enjoying fine art. Free. In 2017: Every Thursday evening

Smithsonian Museum Day See which Arizona museums offer free admission on this annual recognition of affiliates of the Smithsonian Institution. In 2017: September 23

Somos Peoria National and local music performances, traditional foods, arts and crafts, softball and soccer tournaments, and other family activities in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. In 2017: September 30

Sun Devil Football Arizona State University’s football team competes for PAC-12 glory at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ. In 2017: Various dates in September

Taste of Greece A three-day celebration of Greek food and dance.  St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, Chandler. In 2017: September 29 – October 1

Teddy Bear Day Celebrate National Teddy Bear Day with make-and-take arts and crafts, treats and deals in Historic Downtown Glendale. Begin at the Glendale Visitor Center. The Visitor Center will be accepting new and gently hugged teddy bears for donation. Downtown Glendale. In 2017: September 9

Walk-In Wednesdays Local musicians perform at a free open mic night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tempe Center for the Arts in Downtown Tempe. In 2017: Wednesdays in September

Westgate Hot Rod Night Cool hot rods on display. Live music. Family friendly. Restaurant specials. Wednesday evenings. Westgate Entertainment District, Glendale. In 2017: September 6 – November 15

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