Tour de Scottsdale

I felt like the entire course was uphill. It was a windy day. Too blustery to enjoy the race. I hopped on a support vehicle at mile 57.

Tour de Scottsdale

Early morning prep at DC Ranch in Scottsdale

The Mission

I topped off restaurant week with a visit to The Mission -an Old Town Scottsdale restaurant that serves "modern Latin cuisine mixing tradition and ingenuity".  The ambiance was dark, rich and comforting - evoking a mix of Old World elegance and modern Southwest.  The service was a tad brisk, but gracious.  This time, we sampled the prix fixe offerings.  The winners... the Halibut (tender with an interesting tamarind/fennel/mostarda sauce) and the Filet Uruguayan (perfectly cooked and served with crispy potato croquettes).  The BEST dish by far was the Pumpkin Bread Pudding which, in my mind, tops the Cowboy Ciao version.   All in all, a wonderful meal.  Check them out at www.themissionaz.com.   

 

 

Avalon

Avalon is a new Scottsdale restaurant with the typical polished Scottsdale decor in an atypical South Scottsdale location.  The biggest plus - you don't have to sift through a pulsing heap of humanity to get to a table and enjoy the food.  Try and hit Avalon for Sunday brunch.  They have phenomenal live music, AM cocktails and THE BEST toast (pre-treated with vanilla butter).

 

For dinner, the Duck-Duck-'Goose' was a bit underdone, and the Seared Maine Diver Scallops were a smaller than expected - (but still delicious).  We were really impressed with 'Provimi Farms' Lamb and the Aged Prime Rib-eye Steak. Oh, and for desert, the Roasted Banana Bread Pudding (peppered with salted caramel) was very very good.

 

I was hesitant to post this because it's nice to keep a good thing to yourself.  Many Scottsdale restaurants just like this start out as relaxing hangouts only to mature into PACKED houses where people watching is the main sport -spot the cougars/divorcees, $30,000/yr millionaires and prostitutes.  I'm hoping Avalon doesn't succumb to the same fate.  When/if it does, I'll stop visiting.  For now, I'll be hitting it occasionally for a relaxing brunch or dinner.

Try and visit when the band is playing on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.  Check out restaurant.com for coupons.  Avalon is at http://www.avalon-scottsdale.com/.

Cholla

Cholla and rock at sunset. 

I'm down to two stock sites - shutterstock and bigstockphoto.  It's too time consuming to submit to any more.  The cholla shot above is one of my favorites, but it was officially rejected by both stock sites.  No big loss - I get to post it in large format on this blog.

Here is a great article outlining the recent changes in microstock. 

Another Stately Saguaro

The Other Side

Here's a shot of the other side of the canal.  Wish more lights were on.

Waterfront

View from bridge at Scottsdale Waterfront

Water Front

View of bridge by Scottsdale Waterfront

Pony Express

Passing the Legacy

by Herb Mignery

Bronze, 2008

by the Scottsdale Waterfront bridge

Ugly Duckling

Little camera for little hands - Guest photographer, Colin (age 11), handled the micro four thirds body  nicely.  This picture of his sister, Kennedy (center), playing the mother swan in Desert Stage's production of "The Ugly Duckling" was taken with steady hands and no flash.

Old West Reproduction

Pinnacle Peak Patio

Goldwater Dusk

Dusk - Goldwater Road

Tree

North Scottsdale View

View of Troon community.

Ringed Saguaro

Owl

Wooden owl scarecrow.

Peak

Pinnacle Peak Visitor's Center.

Golf

Estancia golf.

Proud Mama

"Proud Mama"
by Colleen Madamombe
Springstone
Zimbabwe, Africa

At El Pedregal