Scottsdale, Arizona - Dos Gringos

I am on my way to The Brush Bar and stopped by Dos gringos for a quick meal. I forgot how great nachos and a margarita taste on a hit summer afternoon in Phoenix, er Scottsdale.

Phoenix, Arizona - Julia Baker Confections

I stopped by the Apple store at the Biltmore Fashion Center on Camelback Road for a class. After the class, I decided to take a walk through the shops.

I was shocked, thrilled, amazed...and more... when I looked in the window of "Julia Baker Confections".  I was instantly in Paris.  The shop is just delightful.

I didn't know where to start looking. Chocolates, beautiful chocolates.  And wonderful packaging.

San Diego, California - Jasmine Seafood Restaurant

Jasmine is (obviously) a Chinese restaurant in San Diego.  The plan was to get a large table and enjoy the Dim Sum.  We got to the restaurant about 10:45 in the morning and as we left, I see why that decision was made.  By the time we left, there was a line out the door waiting for a seat. That is GREAT recommendation. I made sure that I put a reference on Yelp and TripAdvisor.  I liked it and would go again.  (Great and entertaining company too, which added to the experience.)

San Diego, California - Bistro Sixty

Bistro Sixty is a neighborhood cafe that started as a neighborhood bakery selling wholesale desserts.  A few tables were added to the front, and then the full restaurant setting grew in the space, then a patio seating area was created.  There is music most nights.  It was a little loud if you wanted to chat, but great if you wanted to listen and eat and drink a little wine.

Beijing, China - Temple of Heaven (Video)

Another iPhone video.. I use these videos to make panoramic photos.  If you are receiving this in an email, click on the post title to go to the actual blog to see the video.

China - One of Our Many Chinese Meals

I like this large lazy Susan idea.  This arrangement was very common at the restaurants that the group visited.

China - Great Wall Memorial (Video)

This are is next to the Great Wall. The bamboo pieces with the red string were each unique. And yes, that is a replica of a terra cotta warrior at the end.

If you are receiving this in an email, click on the post title to go to the actual blog to see the video.

China - Great Wall (Video)

Yep. It is awesome.

If you are receiving this in an email, click on the post title to go to the actual blog to see the video.

Cookies - What Fun!!

I noticed an open house retirement party this afternoon (on someone's Outlook calendar as I was scheduling a meeting) and decided to go for a snack. 

This is the newly retired, looking quite happy about the whole ordeal. 

Phoenix, Arizona - Leonardo Da Vinci The Genius

A friend and I attended the last day of the Da Vinci The Genius traveling exhibit at the Arizona Science Center.  No photos allowed, so all that I can do is to tell you that this is an incredible exhibit about an incredible man.  There are prototypes of some of his inventions, and a hands-on section that makes it all come to life. Good thing that a middle school student stopped to tell me that the little graphics indicated which exhibits you could touch and which ones were hands off.  There were about ten "inventions" and improvements on inventions that you could work with.  Very cool, to say the least.

All of the engineering skills were quite amazing.  Many of his drawings were in large scale on the walls, and there were even a few examples of his notebooks shown.  But nothing, and I repeat NOTHING, could compare with the analysis work, diagrams and larger than life versions of the Mona Lisa.

Check out the exhibition and make sure to attend when it comes to your city.  Don't wait until the last day...it gets quite crowded.  We were there when it opened so got a jump on the kids and parents.  Oh, and try to stand by an engineering dad explaining this stuff to his child.  It is informative and if the child doesn't ask questions, you can!

http://www.davincithegenius.com/