I know, I know … this is a travel blog. But I have to digress for a moment to write about my home. Here in Phoenix, we’re a few days from something that’s pretty unlikely – watching the Cardinals in the Superbowl.
This post is about two things: Why you should, no matter what, support your home team and uniting the colors of a city’s sports teams.
On the first, let me get something out of the way: I am not a big football fan. But I am a hometown sports fan. Under no circumstances have I ever rooted against a Phoenix team. This includes in hockey, the sport I have followed ever since Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione and Co. defeated the Soviets in Lake Placid. Being born in Chicago, my two heroes were Jim Craig and Tony Esposito. Even after moving to Arizona, I continued to be a Blackhawks fan since Phoenix had no NHL franchise. When the Winnipeg Jets pulled up stakes and became the Phoenix Coyotes, I traded my red for what was then the funky green and maroon of the Coyotes.
I did this not because I’m a traitor or a fair-weather fan. I did it because I am part of something larger: People like each of us are part of Arizona’s identity. If you live here, you are a part of it. You are here because there was an opportunity here that there wasn’t wherever else you’re from (and most of us are from somewhere else). If you [...]
January, 2009:
Two Things About Phoenix That Should Be True
The dirt on … 5 Ski Resorts in North Tahoe
From tahoe
Alright, this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! After all, I didn’t go to Tahoe to eat smoked trout and guzzle coffee – I went there to ski. And I’m gonna spill the beans about where you should go. Bear in mind that conditions were icy, and mid-day temps were in the mid-forties. Bummer conditions for skiing. Can’t fault the mountains for that – it’s just plain ol’ bad luck.
1. Northstar-at-Tahoe – This is where we spent our first day of skiing. It’s a darn nice hill with a plethora of blue runs. It’s big, with lots of lifts headed to many places. The staff is really friendly, and the trails are pretty well-marked. The views on the southeastern-most trails are beautiful. Problem is, there’s a lot of homogeneity to the blue runs. Not a lots distinguishes them. They are long, so you get a nice, long, groovy glide. Be sure to check out the tubing park about halfway up the mountain. I didn’t, and regretted it. There’s lots of great food everywhere, especially at the condo/shopping area near the outdoor ice rink. Earthly Delights is pretty awesome. Oh, and don’t buy gear at any of the shops there. Rip-off! Oh, and Northstar is packed with sprogs. If short people put a harsh edge on your shred, best to avoid it.
Awesome view from a Northstar run. From tahoe
At the very top of Northstar after clouds roll in. From tahoe
2. Homewood Mountain Ski Resort – The most laid-back, [...]
Four Places in Tahoe to Go Grubbin’
From tahoe
You can only cram in so much skiing, especially when the slopes are icy. There comes a time each day when you’ll have to troop indoors for a bite. Or sometimes before you board the lift.
I can’t say North Tahoe cuisine titillates the tongue. It’s a lot of Mexican food, steaks and pizza. But there are a few neat little places tucked around, if you know where to look. Let me save you some time driving up and down the winding roads. In no particular order …
FiftyFifty Brewpub – There’s a lot to like about this spot in Truckee. And I’m not just talking about the oak-aged barleywine, which is a rare treat you shouldn’t miss. But you can also get some great entrees. I went for a BLT served with seared ahi tuna. And get this – FiftyFifty offers a side of black beans! Far healthier and tastier than fries or chips, no? I’d like to go back and try a pizza. The service was also excellent.
Tahoe House – Our hostess at the Firelite Lodge pointed this one out to us. We never would’ve found it otherwise, since it’s just off the junction that splits Tahoe City traffic to either Truckee or Homewood. If you head toward Homewood, Tahoe House is just a few hundred feet away. They brew really strong coffee by the cup (no sitting around and getting sour here) and have awesome baked goods. My coffee paired nicely with a smoked ham and gruyere croissant. [...]
Coming Soon: Max Powder and The Ice Queen
Hey, everybody! I’ve been a little quiet, but there’s a good reason: I’m recharging my adventure reservoir. I can promise you that, in the next few days, I’m gonna give you some awesome info to get the most out of the North Tahoe area in the wintertime.
In the meantime, here’s a little something nice to whet your appetite … are these views not epic? Be sure to click on them for the large view. Man, Tahoe is beautiful. But I’m gettin’ ahead of myself.
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From tahoe
From tahoe
Why I Hate the P.F. Chang’s Rock & Roll Marathon
If there’s any one marathon in Phoenix that people know about, it’s the bloated corporate monster that is the P.F. Chang’s Rock & Roll Marathon, which is coming up in a few weeks. So, why do I, the normally laid-back Wandering Justin, shoot flames from my eyes at every mention of it? (And you should see my wife every time someone asks if she’s running the Rock & Roll Marathon … the offending person usually gets in earful from her very similar to what you’re about to read)
Here’s why:
4. The course is incredibly dull and ugly, meandering through some of the most unscenic parts of the Phoenix concrete jungle. There are decent bits, but overall it’s uninspiring as all get-out, running near a freeway for a good distance before turning onto the charmless Van Buren Avenue before heading to the finish in Tempe. Ugh.
3. I love rock & roll. Love it enough that I devote a lot of time to playing the guitar and writing songs. But this event just doesn’t draw good bands. I suspect that’s because it’s way too early for the rocker lifestyle. What can the event organizers do to get better bands? Embrace the fact the rock should be loud and edgy, and that a good band just might make the event a little less family-friendly.
2. There’s a freakin’ huge number of people in this thing. That makes parking a nightmare. Running a full marathon is tough enough. Who wants to add logistical headaches to it? [...]
Making the Leap to an SLR
Since I bought my first point-and-shoot digital camera back in 2003, I’ve been getting more interested in photography. After I wore that cute little Canon out, I switched to a Fuji S5200 superzoom. Then, I ran into some of that camera’s limitations: the small sensor, the slow-to-clear buffer, the excruciatingly slow RAW performance, just to name a few.
I began looking at the usual suspects from Canon and Nikon before discovering the nice little Olympus E-Volt 420. Then I got really lucky when a co-worker suggested Pentax.
Granted, Pentax isn’t the first name to pop to mind in digital cameras. And that’s a shame, because I think that they make far and away the best entry-level D-SLR. I wound up with one of last year’s, a K100D-Super. I scored it for $349 for the body only, and added an 18-55 mm zoom lens for $100.
Okay, you must be wondering why I liked the K100D-S better than Canon and Nikon, the industry standards. Here are the big points that stood out:
-Construction quality. Just feel the Pentax. It’s weighty and has a far less plastic-like feel.
-6.1 megapixels. That’s less than a lot of others. For me, that’s a benefit. That means I can get more on an SD card. It’s unlikely that I’d print anything at full 12-megapixel size, anyway. Give me the extra room.
-In-body image stabilizer. This means I can score awesome deals on cheap old K-Mount lenses!
-Relatively small, just slightly larger than the Olympus eVolt and that wild Panasonic Lumix.
Also, I like [...]
Park City, Utah – 5 Things You’ll Love About It
From ski utah
Holy cow, it’s so easy to beat up on poor Utah. People snicker about Mormons with dozens of children in tow. They giggle about not having any fun … at least when other Mormons are watching. They wet themselves laughing about the unfailingly cheery young men pedaling bikes everywhere from Tucson to Timbuktu.
But really, if you want awesome skiing and a cosmopolitan vibe, you are going to have a hard time beating Park City, which is just 40 minutes from the airport in Salt Lake. You’ll find a wealth of awesome ski resorts, great food, excellent post-ski activities and killer scenery all within about 20 minutes of each other. And you don’t even have to rent a car: You can grab a shuttle from the airport, and Park City has an extensive (and free) public transit system. This city is still riding the high from hosting the 2002 Olympic Winter Games … that Park City won restored a smidgen of my faith in the selection committee, because I believe this city deserved it.
What won’t you find? If you’re a beer snob, you’ll suffer. Utah law caps the alcohol by weight at 3.2 percent. And that, my friends, is the end of the taste. It’s a small price to pay, though, for awesome, convenient skiing.
Here are five things that make Park City rock, in no particular order.
1. The Canyons Ski Resort – Sorry, wanna-be X-Games dudes with funny hair, piercings and MP3 players jacked directly into your brains: No [...]
