Monday, August 18...
Borrowed my Dad's car, and headed East. Grand Rapids to Chicago... real easy drive, just under 3 hours, even with construction and 3 stops to pay 5 bucks in tolls. Crossed the bridge and the Chicago skyline opened up in front of me. I had only visited once before, when I was a kid, so I was way overdue. I drove into the heart of downtown and quickly ditched the car in an underground parking garage. Pretty sketchy garage with extremely tight corners, and I had to pay an attendant to park it. Scarfed down some chicken wings, and went outside to walk amongst the giants.
Couldn't get over the skyscrapers. Just amazing, what man can create. After hoofing it in the hot sun for awhile, I opted for a boat trip. I found an architecture tour on an open air vessel that slid along the Chicago River, under some 25 low-hanging drawbridges. We had a great tour guide, who described many of the buildings towering above... The Sears Tower, Hard Rock, and the almost-finished Trump Palace, to name a few.
After the boat ride, I walked the city a bit further, stopping for a classic Chicago-style hot dog at Gold Coast. Late in the afternoon, I grabbed my car after paying the $25 to park, and drove North, to Lakeview.
The skyscrapers were replaced by old row houses, shops, and bars as I neared Wrigleyville. I was staying with the Chikos', my friend Elaina's two sisters, and lucked out with my timing because their third roommate was out of town. That translates to a bedroom for yours truly! They live in a third floor apartment, next to the El Train, and around the corner from a click concert venue called The Vic. Alison, the older sister met me there, and fixed up some killer margaritas. Didn't take long for us to hit it off, chatting like we'd known each other for years.
We cleaned up, and walked to a killer Thai restaurant a few blocks over. After dinner, we hiked to Wrigley Field, and grabbed a beer at one of the MANY cool, local pubs. Crashed about midnight, my legs pretty much finished.
On Tuesday, I slept in a bit, and met the younger sister, Tracey, who had worked the night before. I walked to a slick little omelet shop for some decent breakfast, excellent coffee, and "frushi" for dessert. (Sushi-shaped fruit). Tracey and I then hopped on the El for a 15 minute ride downtown. Soooooooo much better than taking the car. After a few wrong turns, we found the Art Institue, where we oggled Van Gogh, Picasso, and Pollock (my favorite). We then hit up Millenium Park and "the Bean", downing a couple Chicago Dogs in the process.
We hopped on the El for our return trip back home, to meet up with Ali. The three of us cleaned up and headed South to Gino's Original for some authentic, deep dish pizza. GUT BOMB, but damn good. Barely made it through 2 slices before we surrendered and headed to Wrigley Field.
The Cubs had a night game, and the original plan was to get a couple cheap seats after the game started, but it was a total pitcher's duel and by the time we got there, the game was half over. No matter... we planted ourselves at a bar right next to the stadium, and could hear the action from the patio. Cubs Win! We hit another cool little bar, Raw, for martinis on our way home, and watched "The Blues Brothers" before bed... (Tracey had never seen it!)
My last day in town, and neither of the girls had to work, so we hiked a few miles to Lake Michigan, and followed the boardwalk to the Lincoln Park Zoo. What a nice setup... totally free, and ALL the animals were out... lions, camels, even polar bears. Great time... walked back, and after lunch, I said my goodbyes, reluctantly. Chicago is such a fantastic city... if it weren't for the cold winters, I could totally live there... take the El everywhere, go without a car... be a Cubs fan...
August, Part 3 - Grand Rapids, MI
August 22, 2008...
Waiting on my flight, relaxing in the Grand Rapids airport. I've got a quick flight to Milwaukee, and a connection back home to Phoenix. It's been a great trip out East. The last night in Detroit, the Vesbits and I headed to Baker's keyboard Lounge for soul food and fantastic jazz. Such a great place... established in 1934, it's one of the world's oldest jazz clubs, and has seen the likes of Nat King Cole, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald. We hung out for hours, enjoying the feast and amazing service, not to mention the stellar live music.
The next morning, Jen dropped me off at the bus station. It was my first time hitting up the Greyhound from Detroit to Grand Rapids, so I wanted to get there early. Greyhound, on the other hand, didn't seem to care that much: the station was closed. Doors locked, nobody home. This posed a problem, because I still needed to buy a ticket. Our bus pulled up, and the driver needed 20 bucks cash, and I only had 12. But a nice lady gave me the extra, and we were under way... that sweet hospitality you can only find in downtown Detroit!!! The entire trip took less than 3 hours, and at a total of $27, you really can't go wrong.
Mom met me at Founder's Brewery for some lunch downtown, and I walked around while she went back to work. I checked out the museum for an hour, which was a bit of a snooze-fest although the jukebox exhibit was dynamite. Cool machines dating back to the 1940's. My buddy, Matt Priest called, and we met for a few beers at Flannagan's. Great to see him, and we couldn't stop giggling at the middle-aged man playing hard-core air guitar a few tables over.
Thursday, my folks and brother Mark headed to East Town for some solid Cajun food, and I caught another friend of mine, Paul Lesinski playing piano downtown at the B.O.B. Matt met up with us back at Paul's for some more live music. Stayed up way too late, and succumbed to Matt's midnight "McDonald's Run", which didn't hurt as much as I feared. Scary.
Friday, the folks and I headed West to Grand Haven, on the shores of Lake Michigan. Beautiful day... walked the boardwalk to the beach, and grabbed some lunch in the slick little downtown area. Back home, the summer Olympics sucked us in. Never thought I'd say it, but really got addicted to the beach volleyball.
Saturday, we hit up my Aunt and Uncle's house for a bbq, where they cooked up some fantastic steaks, with some of my Mom's amazing ice cream pie for dessert. So good to see everybody... it had been way too long. After dinner, I met up with Matt again and we cruised downtown, doing a little bar hopping and hanging out at our friend Colin Sullivan's apartment in the sky.
Perfect weather in Grand Rapids... such a nice week back in my hometown. On Sunday, I relaxed, watched more Olympics coverage, and prepared for my next trip... to Chicago.
Waiting on my flight, relaxing in the Grand Rapids airport. I've got a quick flight to Milwaukee, and a connection back home to Phoenix. It's been a great trip out East. The last night in Detroit, the Vesbits and I headed to Baker's keyboard Lounge for soul food and fantastic jazz. Such a great place... established in 1934, it's one of the world's oldest jazz clubs, and has seen the likes of Nat King Cole, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald. We hung out for hours, enjoying the feast and amazing service, not to mention the stellar live music.
The next morning, Jen dropped me off at the bus station. It was my first time hitting up the Greyhound from Detroit to Grand Rapids, so I wanted to get there early. Greyhound, on the other hand, didn't seem to care that much: the station was closed. Doors locked, nobody home. This posed a problem, because I still needed to buy a ticket. Our bus pulled up, and the driver needed 20 bucks cash, and I only had 12. But a nice lady gave me the extra, and we were under way... that sweet hospitality you can only find in downtown Detroit!!! The entire trip took less than 3 hours, and at a total of $27, you really can't go wrong.
Mom met me at Founder's Brewery for some lunch downtown, and I walked around while she went back to work. I checked out the museum for an hour, which was a bit of a snooze-fest although the jukebox exhibit was dynamite. Cool machines dating back to the 1940's. My buddy, Matt Priest called, and we met for a few beers at Flannagan's. Great to see him, and we couldn't stop giggling at the middle-aged man playing hard-core air guitar a few tables over.
Thursday, my folks and brother Mark headed to East Town for some solid Cajun food, and I caught another friend of mine, Paul Lesinski playing piano downtown at the B.O.B. Matt met up with us back at Paul's for some more live music. Stayed up way too late, and succumbed to Matt's midnight "McDonald's Run", which didn't hurt as much as I feared. Scary.
Friday, the folks and I headed West to Grand Haven, on the shores of Lake Michigan. Beautiful day... walked the boardwalk to the beach, and grabbed some lunch in the slick little downtown area. Back home, the summer Olympics sucked us in. Never thought I'd say it, but really got addicted to the beach volleyball.
Saturday, we hit up my Aunt and Uncle's house for a bbq, where they cooked up some fantastic steaks, with some of my Mom's amazing ice cream pie for dessert. So good to see everybody... it had been way too long. After dinner, I met up with Matt again and we cruised downtown, doing a little bar hopping and hanging out at our friend Colin Sullivan's apartment in the sky.
Perfect weather in Grand Rapids... such a nice week back in my hometown. On Sunday, I relaxed, watched more Olympics coverage, and prepared for my next trip... to Chicago.
August, Part 2 - Royal Oak, MI
Monday, August 11. "Royal Oak"
Back in Detroit, once again. I'm here, visiting my good friends, Tom and Jen Vesbit for a few days before I bus it to my parents' place in Grand Rapids. Took a real nice walk today, a mile or two into downtown Royal Oak. Beautiful day outside... and it's been awhile since I could say that. The last 3 days in Maine were non-stop rain(until the sun broke through on the morning I left. So it goes.)
It took three flights to get me from Portland, ME to Detroit, MI. Stopped in Baltimore and Atlanta... I guess the scenic route to Michigan. Pretty easy travel day, until the end when the airline lost my guitar. Not really a pain, though. They'll deliver it to Tempe and I won't have to lug it around. Besides, it served its purpose, which was a week of play in Maine. Ben and I had a couple real nice days of live music with on the dock, and then in his uncle's amazing cabin, "The Cove" when the rain wouldn't stop. I just hope the guitar makes the trip safely.
Yesterday, Tom, Jen, and I went to a little jazz spot for breakfast. Great food with a VERY solid trio, jamming out on the back patio. Bass, Cajon (box drum), and amazing acoustic guitar. Thought we'd have a nice day, but the weather quickly turned cold and rainy. Jen went home to study, and Tom and I headed to nearby Birmingham to catch a flick: "Pineapple Express". Ridiculously funny, and that makes 4 good movies in a row for me: "Batman", "Wall-E", "Step Brothers", and now "Pineapple". When's the last time I could say "4 good movies in a row"???? (Let alone ONE!?)
After the movie, we headed back home to cook up some dinner. Fantastic kabobs off the grill with cous-cous and hummus, followed up with our fancy "medleys of berry". Watched some TV ( it had been a long time... no TV in Maine), and rolled into bed about midnight. And here I am, enjoying some tea after a damn fine sushi lunch and a walk around Royal Oak.
Back in Detroit, once again. I'm here, visiting my good friends, Tom and Jen Vesbit for a few days before I bus it to my parents' place in Grand Rapids. Took a real nice walk today, a mile or two into downtown Royal Oak. Beautiful day outside... and it's been awhile since I could say that. The last 3 days in Maine were non-stop rain(until the sun broke through on the morning I left. So it goes.)
It took three flights to get me from Portland, ME to Detroit, MI. Stopped in Baltimore and Atlanta... I guess the scenic route to Michigan. Pretty easy travel day, until the end when the airline lost my guitar. Not really a pain, though. They'll deliver it to Tempe and I won't have to lug it around. Besides, it served its purpose, which was a week of play in Maine. Ben and I had a couple real nice days of live music with on the dock, and then in his uncle's amazing cabin, "The Cove" when the rain wouldn't stop. I just hope the guitar makes the trip safely.
Yesterday, Tom, Jen, and I went to a little jazz spot for breakfast. Great food with a VERY solid trio, jamming out on the back patio. Bass, Cajon (box drum), and amazing acoustic guitar. Thought we'd have a nice day, but the weather quickly turned cold and rainy. Jen went home to study, and Tom and I headed to nearby Birmingham to catch a flick: "Pineapple Express". Ridiculously funny, and that makes 4 good movies in a row for me: "Batman", "Wall-E", "Step Brothers", and now "Pineapple". When's the last time I could say "4 good movies in a row"???? (Let alone ONE!?)
After the movie, we headed back home to cook up some dinner. Fantastic kabobs off the grill with cous-cous and hummus, followed up with our fancy "medleys of berry". Watched some TV ( it had been a long time... no TV in Maine), and rolled into bed about midnight. And here I am, enjoying some tea after a damn fine sushi lunch and a walk around Royal Oak.
August, Part 1 - The Story Continues... in Maine
Greetings everybody! It's been awhile, but I have not forgotten you. Just wanted to toss up an update of my most recent adventures, through August and into September, as my 6 month sabbatical continues. Five days after my 4500 mile drive across the Western United States, and I was back at it again, this time flying East...
Thursday, July 31, 2008... Tempe to Boston
Hanging out in the airport, about ready to hop on Continental Flight 434, the red-eye to New York. Feeling a bit crunchy, but not as bad as I was earlier in the week. It's been strange, back in Tempe after 4 weeks touring the West. Things seemed a bit foreign, and I wasn't feeling myself... almost like jet-lag had sunk in after the long drive. I'll chalk some of it up to the heat, something I needed to get used to all over again. The few times I've climbed back in my pickup, I truly feel at home. I want to head out, and hit some of those same spots from my road trip that I really liked... and I really miss camping up in those trees.
So hopefully this next round of travel, followed by a longer stay in Tempe in September, will hit the spot. An overnight flight across country should be interesting, to say the least. Hope I can sleep. From New York, it's a quick flight to Boston, where I'll meet my friends, Ben, Elaina, and their boy Jaden, and we'll drive up to their cottage on Long Lake, near Portland, Maine.
Friday, August 1... Boston to Long Lake, Maine
I'm in Boston! First time... and I haven't been outside just yet, but I'm here. Both flights were easy, although no sleep to be had on that red-eye from PHX to New York. It was a brand new plane (my flight was its second), but I was stuck in a really uncomfortable aisle seat. Lots of babies, so I tried to drown them out with some podcasts. I really need to invest in some better noise-canceling headphones. After a quick, 40 minute flight to Boston, here I sit, enjoying a Sam Adams and some killer clam chow-dah. My friends should be showing up in a few minutes, as it looks like their flight out of Chicago is early. Almost time to get outside, and see some new parts of the country.
Saturday, August 2... Naples, Maine / Long Lake
This was truly a special place... thanks to the Zorensky / Goldman family for sharing it with me. Time slows down up on the shores of Long Lake, and my journal from that amazing week are just random thoughts. Maybe someday I'll elaborate, but for now, here goes:
Inhaling Maine. No rain all day, but dark skies. Moss-covered trails to the beach.. walking on a soft, green carpet. Our first canoe-test run, around the islands.
Kabobs on the grill... veggies, lamb, chicken, beef. Chard. Cous-Cous. Vino. The first of many fantastic feasts. Dinner with Grandma Elise.
Guitars on the dock... Joan London on a jet-ski! Ferns and forest, and our first dip in the clean, black lake. And then... the rain.
Sunday...
More sun today. Light trail-blazing. Dunkin' Donuts coffee (so many Dunkin' Donuts out here!). A long swim to Elise's dock. Dusk.
Feast of feasts... lobster. Maine lobster. Clams, Corona's... treasures of the sea, stretched out atop our table, covered in old issues of the New York Times.
A little more rain tonight... chilling out with a magazine. Need to get the canoe out again tomorrow.
Tuesday...
Visited Elise at the library... bought books and puzzles for Jaden. Struck out at the "Freedom Cafe" (Freedom wasn't free, and didn't taste very good, either). No rain all afternoon... hung out on the dock, soaking in the beautiful sunlight.
Long swim, to Elise's dock and back. Amazing pasta and sauce for dinner. Finished one book, "Barrel Fever", and moved on to "Red Badge of Courage". Early to bed... 10 hours of dream-filled sleep.
Wednesday - Saturday...
Rain. Looks like it's here to stay. Hikes to the wood pile... perfect fires back home, back in our "Owl's Nest". Jazz and Blues on the internet radio, reading and rainy walks. Played guitars in "The Cove", the original cabin. More lobster. Sunshine on Saturday, but it was my final day.
To the airport in Portland, and a long, "scenic" series of flights to Detroit...
Thursday, July 31, 2008... Tempe to Boston
Hanging out in the airport, about ready to hop on Continental Flight 434, the red-eye to New York. Feeling a bit crunchy, but not as bad as I was earlier in the week. It's been strange, back in Tempe after 4 weeks touring the West. Things seemed a bit foreign, and I wasn't feeling myself... almost like jet-lag had sunk in after the long drive. I'll chalk some of it up to the heat, something I needed to get used to all over again. The few times I've climbed back in my pickup, I truly feel at home. I want to head out, and hit some of those same spots from my road trip that I really liked... and I really miss camping up in those trees.
So hopefully this next round of travel, followed by a longer stay in Tempe in September, will hit the spot. An overnight flight across country should be interesting, to say the least. Hope I can sleep. From New York, it's a quick flight to Boston, where I'll meet my friends, Ben, Elaina, and their boy Jaden, and we'll drive up to their cottage on Long Lake, near Portland, Maine.
Friday, August 1... Boston to Long Lake, Maine
I'm in Boston! First time... and I haven't been outside just yet, but I'm here. Both flights were easy, although no sleep to be had on that red-eye from PHX to New York. It was a brand new plane (my flight was its second), but I was stuck in a really uncomfortable aisle seat. Lots of babies, so I tried to drown them out with some podcasts. I really need to invest in some better noise-canceling headphones. After a quick, 40 minute flight to Boston, here I sit, enjoying a Sam Adams and some killer clam chow-dah. My friends should be showing up in a few minutes, as it looks like their flight out of Chicago is early. Almost time to get outside, and see some new parts of the country.
Saturday, August 2... Naples, Maine / Long Lake
This was truly a special place... thanks to the Zorensky / Goldman family for sharing it with me. Time slows down up on the shores of Long Lake, and my journal from that amazing week are just random thoughts. Maybe someday I'll elaborate, but for now, here goes:
Inhaling Maine. No rain all day, but dark skies. Moss-covered trails to the beach.. walking on a soft, green carpet. Our first canoe-test run, around the islands.
Kabobs on the grill... veggies, lamb, chicken, beef. Chard. Cous-Cous. Vino. The first of many fantastic feasts. Dinner with Grandma Elise.
Guitars on the dock... Joan London on a jet-ski! Ferns and forest, and our first dip in the clean, black lake. And then... the rain.
Sunday...
More sun today. Light trail-blazing. Dunkin' Donuts coffee (so many Dunkin' Donuts out here!). A long swim to Elise's dock. Dusk.
Feast of feasts... lobster. Maine lobster. Clams, Corona's... treasures of the sea, stretched out atop our table, covered in old issues of the New York Times.
A little more rain tonight... chilling out with a magazine. Need to get the canoe out again tomorrow.
Tuesday...
Visited Elise at the library... bought books and puzzles for Jaden. Struck out at the "Freedom Cafe" (Freedom wasn't free, and didn't taste very good, either). No rain all afternoon... hung out on the dock, soaking in the beautiful sunlight.
Long swim, to Elise's dock and back. Amazing pasta and sauce for dinner. Finished one book, "Barrel Fever", and moved on to "Red Badge of Courage". Early to bed... 10 hours of dream-filled sleep.
Wednesday - Saturday...
Rain. Looks like it's here to stay. Hikes to the wood pile... perfect fires back home, back in our "Owl's Nest". Jazz and Blues on the internet radio, reading and rainy walks. Played guitars in "The Cove", the original cabin. More lobster. Sunshine on Saturday, but it was my final day.
To the airport in Portland, and a long, "scenic" series of flights to Detroit...
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