A 15-Mile Bike Ride with My Daughter Michelle for the First Time Since Her Childhood

“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.” —Boris Pasternak

I was pleasantly surprised today. I led my daughter Michelle on a 15-mile bike ride on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The seed for such a happening was planted yesterday when Michelle and her husband Kyle brought our granddaughters over for a visit yesterday. The subject of bicycling came up. Kyle, an avid cyclist had recently bought Michelle a Trek bike that she hadn’t had the opportunity to ride yet. The last time she was even on a bike ride was while attending a wedding in Colorado recently where she and Kyle rode about seven miles on rental bikes with the kids. I told Michelle I look forward to the day when we could ride together. Kyle offered to watch the kids, and before I knew it Michelle and I hit the Los Gatos Creek Trails this afternoon. I don’t remember the last time I was able to be with her, never mind ride with her without having to worry about attending to our beautiful granddaughters. I have to say when our beautiful Michelle was riding right behind me in the bike lane for the first time ever, I felt emotional and grateful at the same time. The last time I rode with her was when she was a toddler sitting on a child seat on the back of my bike.

It is pretty special when moments of unexpected joy come our way. “It is not that we seize them,” said the late British-American anthropologist, Ashley Montagu, “but that they seize us.” Michelle and I agreed we will do it again. She found it as joyful and relaxing as I did. Thanks Kyle for paving the way to make this happen.

An Awe-Inspiring Viewing of Sharks & Other Underwater Creatures at Ripley's Aquarium Invoked Memories of My Shark Cage Dive in South Africa

"Many people continue to think of sharks as man-eating beasts. Sharks are enormously powerful and wild creatures, but your more likely to be killed by your kitchen toaster than a shark!

—Ted Danson

Cecile and I along with friends Nelson and Susan Bye had quite an amazing experience seeing a collection of 20,000 aquatic wildlife on display from around the world at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto recently. They have one of the most extensive jellyfish exhibits, Pacific Sea Nettle jellyfish, stingrays, and an assortment of mesmerizing sharks in their 135,000 sq. ft. interactive aquarium that immerses its visitors in a thrilling underwater adventure.

One imaginative exhibit is described as a “heart-pounding Journey through Dangerous Lagoon,” where we stepped onboard a moving sidewalk that transported us through North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel. This is the home of the most fearsome-looking animals like Sand Tiger Sharks, Green Sawfish and Green Moray Eels. Kids and adults alike were emoting oohs, aaahs, and wows as these majestic creatures were gliding mere feet from the top of our heads.

There were also a kaleidoscope of colorful fish and coral that is home to over a 100 species of fish. They also have a Discovery Dive for those who wanted to swim with sharks with their public S.C.U.B.A dive program where you can get up close and personal with the sawfish, sharks, turtles and fish on a 30-minute guided dive in Dangerous Lagoon.

As if that weren’t enough stimulation for you, you can spend an evening exploring and learning about marine animals that grace its waters and tuck into your sleeping bag for an unforgettable evening beneath the “Dangerous Lagoon” shark tunnel protected by the glass enclosures. It’s a slumber party to remember.

Postscript: I had my extreme adrenaline-inducing adventure cage diving with great whites with my brother-in-law in South Africa to satisfy my curiosity and I got sea sick from the swells:). See photos of the shark cage and a great white.

Biking 25-Miles Roundtrip Along the Sheltered Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Reservoir

“You don’t stop doing things because you get old. You get old because you stop doing things.”

—Rosamunde Pilcher

After Bike riding the Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Reservoir County Park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Bill and I rode around and above the 338-acre man made reservoir clockwise. This is one of our favorite rides as it is totally sheltered from car traffic. The first half the loop is quite steep, but settles to a steady climb after a couple of miles. The downhill part with all its twists and turns is quite exhilarating with a top speed of around 27-miles an hour. The last leg of the ride is under a wooded canopy of cool shade. The views are spectacular as can be seen by the photos. There is a narrow opening that enters onto a dirt road that takes you further down to the waters edge where people in small numbers fish and set up their private little picnic areas. One section runs below and along the side of a curvy area of Highway 17. The side of the supporting structures below are filled with paintings from graffiti artists. Bill spotted wild turkeys, a deer and a coyote that ran off into the brush. The heat and dry winter months has taken its toll and water conservation is in effect, especially between certain canyons where water level is usually more shallow and is consumed by evaporation by the sun. The Smoky the Bear sign along the upper part of Highway 17 near Bear Creek road was out warning people that the FIRE DANGER WAS VERY HIGH TODAY!

We Had a Pleasurable Dining Experience with Friends at Michelin-Rated ASA Restaurant

“The kitchen manages to infuse a bit of fun into its repertoire of serious food. There’s something for everyone on this wide-reaching carte especially if you love fish which is sustainable harvested.”

—Reviewer dining notes

Cecile and I had intended to have dinner with our good friends Nelson and Susie Bye this passed weekend at another restaurant that was all booked. So we settled on ASA which turned out to be an exceptional first time experience for all of us.

Cecile and Susie had a Lemon Drop cocktail while Nelson had an Almanac Love Hazy IPA and I had a Third Window, Merci Perre Wit Ale. We all ordered an entree-sized Exotic Rigatoni Pasta Dish with mushrooms for an appetizer for the table to share. Susie had a Chilled “Cocktail” Cup of Fresh line caught halibut, lime bath, tomato, avocado, cilantro with tortilla chips. She also had roasted Spanish-Style Yukon potatoes, paprika bill, with lemon aioli dip. Cecile and Nelson had a Sustainable Sourced Halibut with Fennell seed dusted, summer squash, Yukon gold potato puree, and I had a tenderized and marinated Spanish-style herb chimichurri marinated Argentinian Steak with sautéed spinach and mash potatoes. I also shared a Rainbow Orange Beet Salad with apple, orange segments, black pepper and caraway seed dressing with Cecile.

For dessert we were blown away by the Banana Bread Pudding with rum, vanilla, cinnamon, brandy caramel glaze and whipped cream; a Strawberry Rhubarb Galette and Vanilla a La Mode, and a Carrot Cake with golden raisins, walnuts, whiskey cream cheese frosting, carrot caramel sauce and shortbread crumble. ASA earned a “Bib Gourmand” write up in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2021, which in our opinion was a hundred per cent well deserved. I can wait to go back to try some of their other entrees.

ASA which is named after the son of Silicon Valley Restauranteur, Andrew Welsh features a chic dining room with sleek furnishings with a painted portrait of his son on the wall. The horseshoe-shaped bar out front is an ideal perch for a sip and or a solo meal. Outdoor dining is available which is what we requested. Asa is located off the beaten path from restaurant row in downtown Los Gatos. It is tucked in next to the Best Western and across the street from the Los Gatos Inn. But that hasn’t kept diners from discovering their location formerly occupied by 57 Grill on Saratoga-Los Gatos Road. The place was bustling.

Participating in a First Nations Drum Music & Dance Ceremony on Little Current (Manitoulin Island), Ontario

“For native people, the drum represents the Universal Heartbeat of Mother Earth, the Universal Goddess and Mother to us All.”—Native American Wisdom

The port of Little Current is quite literally the gateway to the world’s largest freshwater island of Manitoulin, in Ontario, considered sacred by the native Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe) people. The only land access to the island is the iconic swing bridge. It is also recognized as one of the best freshwater boating regions of the world. A stroll along the boardwalk reveals boats from all over the Great Lakes Basin, the eastern coast of Canada, as well as the United States.

Cecile and I and our friends Susan and Nelson visited the Church of Immaculate Conception along with other travelers from our Great Lakes Cruise. I was struck by its distinctive tepee-like architecture to discover where rituals converge. We learned how the Jesuit and Ojibwa community came together to create a unique place of worship. Here, we enjoyed an informative presentation on the religious beliefs of the Ojibwa.

From there our bus driver took us to the Qjibwa Cultural Foundation where we received a traditional welcome ceremony before embarking on an interpretive tour of the center and participating in an authentic smudging ceremony. This involved the burning of the Four Sacred Medicines; tobacco cedar, sage, and sweet grass, which is common in many First Nation ceremonies. Smudging allows people to stop, slow down, become mindful and centered in the event, task of purpose at hand. Think of it as a cleansing or purification process.

Finally, we got a glimpse into a tradition of the First Nations people as we were invited to participate in an Aboriginal Drum and intertribal dance. They are considered an important part of a powwow. As visitor guests, we were offered to dance in the arena. Susan accepted the invitatio. I didn’t realize until it was announced after the completion of the ceremony that I was being congratulated for my courage of being the only male from the audience to participate in the dance. I have actually participated in indigenous tribal dances, smudging rituals, and sweat lodges on a number of occasions.

Pow Wow in Little Current

Lunch at the Iconic Buck's Restaurant in Woodside: A Great Place to Eat & Enjoy a Museum of Eccentric Collectibles on Display

The interior of Buck’s Restaurant in Woodside, features a boat load of memorabilia—or as my Jewish wife Cecile would call them— a bunch of tchotchkes. They include a model of the Statue of Liberty wearing a sombrero and sunglasses, a flying horse, Flying nuns, a Red Western hat with painted skeletons dancing and playing a guitar, a model seaplane suspended from the corner of the ceiling, an ornate tiffany lamp, a blue hammerhead shark over the back of a booth, an astronaut on the top of the ceiling and much, much, more.

We elected to eat outdoors. Though it was sunny, there are a generous supply of decorative umbrellas. Cecile ordered the Avocado Toast with mascarpone, rosemary, chili flakes with a side of delicious Maple Black Pepper Bacon. I had the Heirloom Tomato B.L.T in focaccia, garlic aioli, mixed baby lettuce, smoked bacon, avocado with fries.

Colorful Background History of Buck’s and it’s Connection to the Silicon Valley Crowd:

Buck’s, founded by Jamis MacNiven left a career in construction open the restaurant in 1991. At the start of the dot-com boom in 1995, Bucks’s became a hotspot for Silicon Valley’s most powerful. The restaurant is strategically situated near Stand Hill Road, home to the majority of The Valley’s venture capitalists and Stanford University. Companies like Netscape, Hotmail, PayPal and Tesla Motors held early meetings at Buck’s. In fact, “Breakfast at Buck’s" is the title of the introduction, “The Start up Game," Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs, by venture capitalist Bill Draper. In 2003, Forbes magazine named Buck’s one of the top business restaurants.

According to Wikipedia Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple is one of the few Silicon Valley icons who never set foot in Buck’s. Apparently he had a falling out with MacNiven in the 1980s after Job’s hired him to remodel his home. Nevertheless, Buck’s has a rare photo of Jobs wearing a set of Groucho plastic gag eye-glasses with the big nose, brushy eye brows and mustache on display.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, the restaurant shut-down and James MacNiven, decided to retire. However, in August 2020 Buck’’s was re-opened by his son Tyler MacNiven who now operates it. The place is hopping, is open 7 days a week, provides good service and you don’t have to be a tech titan to enjoy the food.

A Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Mackinac Island Including the Fort & the World Famous Grand Hotel

“With awe-inspiring sunrises and unforgettable sunsets, Mackinac Island centers the spirit and soothes the soul.” —The Daily Voyage

Following a cruise stop at the port of Lake Huron last month, Cecile and I and our friends Susan and Nelson Bye enjoyed a charming tour through Mackinac Island State Park via horse-drawn carriage. Our entertaining guide told us his horses Jumbo, Rupert and Clovis were raised by the Amish. Most of the land was designated a national park in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Although Oldsmobile was making automobiles in nearby Lansing, Mackinac banned cars which is a distinctive characteristic to this day. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and had become an ideal vacation spot for centuries. Mackinac became famous for it fudge-making that dates back to the 1920s. Downtown shops innovated the brilliant techniques of demonstrating fudge making in front of its customers. By using large ceiling fans you could smell the sweet scent that wafted out onto the street. We brought some home for ourselves and family. We watched soldiers fire a cannon at the historic Fort Mackinac and enjoyed the stunning views of the Straits of Mackinac from the world’s largest porch at the legendary Grand Hotel that opened in 1887. Over forty years ago the cult classic “Somewhere in Time,” a romantic fantasy starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed at the world famous Grand Hotel. The hotel has hosted a number of notable guests including five United States presidents, two Russian presidents, Thomas Edison, and Mark Twain.

Enjoying the Riot of Colorful Flowers at Stanford Shopping Center & Why They Make us Feel Good

“People are starved for beauty, and flowers are nature’s biggest show-offs. They are mood elevators and stress relievers.”

—Lewis Miller, world renowned florist

After purchasing a quart of fresh squeezed orange juice and organic fruit at the Saratoga Farmers Market, Cecile and I went to the Stanford Shopping Center to exchange an item at Bloomingdales, and had lunch at Chipotles Mexican Grill. While Cecile did some browsing and tried on some outfits in other stores I did a self-guided garden tour on the fly at my own pace that included a vast array of dahlias, hydrangeas, delphiniums, shining rose, begonias, camellias, to mention a few.

While not essential, flowers are powerful and beautiful. They make a person happy. Scientists say they stimulate the brain’s key happy chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. During the coronavirus pandemic, Lewis Miller quoted above the title of my post was praised for adorning trash receptacles with colorful flowers throughout New York City. He was quoted in Vogue in Elise Taylor’s article “It’s Scientifically Proven That Flowers Make You Feel Better," (May 18, 2020) as saying, “every New Yorker deserves to be bowled over by nature’s raw and unbridled beauty.” Pinterest found searches for “flower boxes” were up 408 percent year over year which proves Miller’s point.

Delphiniums are a symbol of lightness, fun, levity and joy. Blue Hydrangeas in particular represent gratitude, grace, and beauty. Red Dahlia like the ones above Cecile’s head in the photo I took of her in her flower print top in front of the white planter is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family and can be orange, yellow and the more common red. Begonias stand for caution and consideration, as well as good communication between different parties. They are often given as a gift when paying back a favor, or to end a feud or argument, especially men who find themselves in the doghouse:-)

Even after his death of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, his family found comfort in adorning the autocratic dictator’s body for public display with Kimjongilia, a beautiful red hybrid flower named after him that was registered as the scientific name: Begonia XZ tuberhybrida ‘Kimjongilhwa.'

Henri Matisse once said, “there are always flowers for those who want to see them.” They won’t cure all your ills, but taking some time to see them, will make you smile and feel good, something we could all use from time to time.

Solo Bike Ride to the Colorful Willow Glen Neighborhood of San Jose

“As a kid, I had a dream. I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike…”

—John Lennon

“I don’t ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days.”

—Author Unknown

I couldn’t have picked a better day for a 20-mile solo bike ride. The temperature was in the low 70s, breezy, and sunny. Though there is nothing like the shared experience of riding the trails or roads with friends, any bicyclist will tell you that sometimes it's such a joy to pedal the roads all by yourself and at your own pace. Moreover, it affords riders a little ‘me time’ to clear your mind chatter that we all crave from time to time. You can stop as many times as you want without feeling you’re holding anybody up.

Willow Glen is known as “San Jose’s Local Treasure.” With historic homes and charming tree-lined streets, and a colorful downtown area, it is a perfect destination for a bike ride. The Los Gatos Creek Trail which is about a mile and a half away from my home gets me there with very little time spent riding through street traffic. Willow Glen is one of the most charming, safest and most diverse neighborhoods in the San Jose area. The streets are lined with beautiful trees, the parks are safe for all ages and the downtown is filled with diverse restaurants including Japanese, Italian, Greek, Asian and American cuisine. Willow Glen was originally an independent town until it was annexed by San Jose in 1936.The downtown area is located on Lincoln Avenue. Formerly known as “Willow Glen Road” the name change occurred in 1865 after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

My favorite thing to see there is a mural created by artist Lila Gemellos located in the heart of downtown. It is often referred to a trip down memory lane as it tells many old stories about Willlow Glen including historic signs and depictions of long-gone businesses like the Willow Glen Basket Factory. There are also smaller flourishes of iris and lily flowers as well as peaches and grapes that harken back to the days of the agricultural roots of what was called the "Valley of the Heart’s Delight." The mural is an eye-catching visual that makes you want to drop everything you're doing to take a postcard-perfect snapshot. The mural gives off good vibes, and makes all passersby want to linger and enjoy its “Where’s Waldo” quality. There are other colorful murals on the walls of buildings facing small parking lots and alleyways including Mike's Bikes. Before heading back home I made a pit stop at Jamba Juice and ordered a large Greens and Ginger. I made other stops inncluding the Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park, the Los Gatos County Park to check out some beautiful Harley Davidsons at a benefit for kids and, Effie's parking lot to take a photo of a restored red vintage car.

4th of July Family Barbecue & Highland Park Tragedy Strikes Too Close to Home

Our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle and our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy joined us for a swim and barbecue. Cecile prepared an avocado dip and a Muhammara appetizer dish. The latter is made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, molasses and other ingredients that give it a smoky, sweet, tangy, nutty, and spicy flavor all at the same time. We were learned about this Middle Eastern dip last month at Aba Restaurant in the Fulton Market area of Chicago—A Lettuce Entertain You restaurant where our nephew Jacob Schwimmer works as its' District Manager. She also made corn on the cob and a pasta salad with black olives, and sun-dried tomatoes with a splash of virgin olive oil. Kyle and Michelle brought hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple chicken sausage for grilling. For dessert, Cecile made everybody’s favorite: a No-Bake Chocolate Oreo Mud Pie with fresh whipped cream topping.

Before our family arrived later in the afternoon, news of another national tragedy made headlines.

What began as a charming, peaceful and joyful Fourth of July flag-waving parade in Highland Park, Illinois, turned into another scramble to survive at a crazed active rooftop shooter event. Known to be a safe, affluent lakefront suburb of Chicago, seven people were killed and about 30 people were wounded by Robert “Bobby” Crimo lll who is currently in police custody. Highland Park is near the neighboring town of Wilmette, where Cecile's brother Mark lives. We were in the vicinity last month after our cruise of the Great Lakes visiting Mark and other family members.

We would later find out other related family members living in the area, as well as friends and acquaintances who were visiting from California attended the actual parade. Thank God, none of them were victims of this horrific attack. Oddly enough, the shooters father, Bob Crimo operated a Pantry & Deli in Highland Park that used to be a Covenience Store formally owned by Cecile’s late parents more than 30 years ago.

Later that evening when we went to bed, the fireworks in the distance sounded eerily like the shots being fired at the Highland Park Parade. Cecile and her sister Sherry used to teach in the inner city schools of Chicago where they had weapon checks of students. Now the shooters are coming to a city near you/us. America has a gun to its head. When will this insanity end?

Dinner with Friends at Anchors Fish & Chips & Seafood Grill in Historic Saratoga's Restaurant Row

Humble Beginnings: One of the earliest known fish and chips shops was opened by Ashkenazi Jewish proprietor Joseph Malin in the nineteen century. He combined fried potatoes with fried fish, and serving it warm rather than cold as the Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal had done in Holland and London before him. From there it spread throughout England, and the rest of the world including the United States.

Cecile and I met good friends Bill and Sarah at their home just a hop, skip and a jump from our townhome for drinks and avocado and chips before having dinner at the relatively new Anchors Fish and Chips and Seafood Grill on Saratoga’s restaurant row. The village and its’ vendors had decorated their stores and restaurants in advance of the 4th of July holiday.

A while back I had fish and chips at a stall at the Anchors San Pedro Square’s Public Market in San Jose where Bill and I stopped for lunch during a bike ride. Anchors is owned by South Bay veterans Nestor and Carlos Zubizarreta and Chef Mario Ariza. A surprise to all of us this is that this is not your typical fish and chips operation. Anchors also offers a diverse menu that features grilled halibut, salmon and sword fish, lobster rolls, seafood salads, oysters, teriyaki salmon bowls, linguine with clams or sea scallops, seafood pasta dishes, grilled fish tacos and more. Had we known, we would have definitely reserved sooner. We were able to score a private corner table outdoors that Cecile requested when she made the reservations. Sarah had a skewer of shrimp and sea scallops with fries and asparagus; Bill had a skewer of shrimp, rice and potatoes; Cecile had grilled sea scallops with vegetables and cherry tomatoes and I had wild mahi-mahi with roasted vegetables and baby carrots. We can’t wait to come back to try other dishes and drinks from their full service bar.

A Happy Accident: Our Granddaughter Lyla Gets Her Wish

"A child is going to remember who was there, not what you spent on them. Kids outgrow toys and outfits, but they never outgrow time and love."

Our son-in-law Kyle dropped off our sweet 14-month old granddaughter Emmy to babysit yesterday. Emmy’s 3 1/2 year old big sister Lyla whom Kyle was taking to preschool wanted to get out of the car to say hello to Nonnie and Papa. Once here she didn’t want to leave. Kyle gave her a few more minutes and off she went—reluctantly I may add. By the time Lyla was ready to be dropped off, one of the school’s staff members said there was a power outage and classes were cancelled. Lyla is too young to realize it yet, but she was the recipient of a happy accident, or one can say, she got her wish. It reminds me when I was a young boy and really didn’t want to go to school the next day when a snow storm hit and school was cancelled.

When good things fall into place, Cecile and refer to them as a “happy accident." This is based on the fact that we ourselves have been fortunate recipients of these type of events such as the time we reserved connecting rooms at the Hotel Lutetia in the heart of Saint Germain in Paris and were upgraded to a penthouse sweet overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

Lyla said she was hungry so Cecile made croissants for all of us for breakfast, and prepared some fresh cut fruit to go with it. Lyla also wanted "something special" to drink which is usually code for fresh orange juice which we ran out of. She settled for a little glass of plain sparkling Pellegrino.

We decided to take the girls for a stroll around the lake where we live to explore nature, something the girls love doing. We saw a number of lizards, turtles—big and small—lounging on the rocks, one that had a black American Coot (mud hen with web feet) standing next to it. There was also a raft of ducks paddling toward us in unison across the lake. Finally, the girls saw white tailed rabbits darting in and out of the bushes or what Lyla described as “scampering,” which caught us off guard. I don’t think I ever used the word scampering until I was in my teens:-) Later, I pointed out a metal utility rowboat that was tethered to shore we had both sat in when she was younger. She said, “I want to go in!” She did with my supervision and she was all smiles. On the home stretch of our walk, Lyla said her legs were tired. So I carried her until Cecile recommended placing her in the stroller while I carried Emmy back home. I changed Emmy’s diaper and got her ready for her nap. She was in a giggling mood and relaxed in my arms as I rocked her to sleep.

Ducks across the lake

Exploring the Deep Rooted Culture of the Mennonite Community in the Canadian Countryside & Dinner at Volos

“My mother’s people are Old Order Mennonite-horse and buggy Mennonite, very close cousins to the Amish…”—Beverly Marie Lewis, New York Times Best Selling Author

Our guide Leon took us on a 100-mile journey to explore the splendor of Canadian countryside, one hour west of Toronto to visiit the colorful St. Jacobs Farmers Market and to learn about the culture, customs, and lifestyle of the Mennonite community. Walking down the main part of town, there were Mennonite men riding their horse drawn carriages. The women were walking into stores wearing their small circular-ish lace head covering. It is a Biblical command for women to cover their heads while praying. Since they must always be ready to pray, they were their coverings all the time. They also wear bonnets like the Amish. Black bonnets mean they are single and white bonnets mean they are married.

As St. Jacobs attracted more tourists there was a need to communicate with the curious visitors like ourselves about the Mennonites deep rooted culture.The Mennonites are named after Men Simons, a Dutch Priest who joined the movement inn 1536. Today, they are a worldwide community of 2.1 million in 86 countries that encompasses a broad variety of religious practice that include the Older Order, Conservative and more assimilated communities. This is in contrast to the Amish community led by Amman that began in 1693, who are very close cousins to the Mennonites and by all accounts somewhat stricter than the Amish. Today the Amish are located primarily in the United States and Canada.

After a late afternoon respite we had dinner at Volos Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant in the Financial District near our hotel.

Brunch at the Gold Miner Cafe: A Little Touch of Folsom & Johnny Cash Looking Over our Shoulder

Cecile and I had breakfast at Folsom’s legendary Gold Miner Cafe. Owner, Kay Gardner and her daughter, Tiffeny Ayala run the eatery. Gardner bought the restaurant in 1984. It was named Laurie’s Kitchen back then and she turned it into the Gold Miner. In 2006 she sold it and bought another restaurant in Rocklin. When it came back on the market for sale, Gardner embraced the opportunity to own it again in what the late Yogi Berra would call de déjà vu all over again. It was a gutsy move on her part, especially during the pandemic in November 2020. But, she brought it back to life with word of mouth and social media. Though the place was packed, we received our generous portions of food very promptly as Johnny Cash’s likeness was looking over our shoulders.

Speaking of Johnny Cash, in January 13, 1968, he made history by recording a live album inside of California’s Folsom State Prison. Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison is the first live album by an American singer-songwriter. It was released on Columbia Records on May 6, 1968, became a hit in the United States, reaching number one of the country charts and the top 15 of the national album chart. The song that started the prison obsession for Cash was his own “Folsom Prison Blues.” It was written in 1953 while serving in Germany with the US Air Force, and was inspired by the 1951 film, Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison. After the release of his hit record in 1955, he began getting letters from inmates around the country asking him to play.

Postscript: Folsom Lake reveals Gold Rush era relics artifacts that are typically sumbmerged are now visible due to California’s ongoing drought and water crisis. Panning for Gold is legal.

Celebrating Our Son Jason's Birthday at Scott's Seafood Roundhouse in Folsom

Dearest Jason, may the year ahead continue to exceed your expectations and always remember that you are loved more than you know. Love, mom and dad

Cecile, Alex and I celebrated Jason’s birthday last evening at Scott’s Seafood Roundhouse in the historic downtown Folsom. Some people say the older you get the less likely you are willing to celebrate your birthday because it is a reminder that we all have an expiration date. But, not our family. Cecile and I have always taken time to celebrate our respective family birthdays in keeping with our motto “Enjoy Your Life Now,” since NOW is all we have.

We started off with cocktails, beer and wine along with appetizers: Calamari and Thai chili, and House-made Falafel (seasonal hummus, feta, kalamata olives, cucumber, heirloom tomato and dill). For our dinner entrees the guest of honor enjoyed Grilled Petrale Sole Dore, Alex had Seafood Papardellie: Day boat scallops, jumbo shrimp, artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, and spinach. Cecile had Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops with yellow corn risotto, goat cheese, basil peach salsa, squash and arugula. I ordered Char Grilled Sterling King Salmon, with Thai pesto rice noodles, summer squash, peak salsa, cashew, spiced yogurt, and peach curry. The presentation was beyond measure and the food was excellent.

I love a restaurant with a story behind it and Scott’s fits the bill. The dream of the owners, John and Suzanne Cook was to create a restaurant that would be a replica of the old Sacramento Valley Railroad depot in Folsom. That vision became a reality in July 2020 when the restaurant opened its doors at their new Sutter Street location where the trains from Sacramento used to stop for servicing before their engine was set on a turntable that spun around and headed them back the way they came, hence the word “Roundhouse.” The word Roundhouse is also defined as a circular building for housing and repairing locomotives.

In honor of Jason’’s birthday, the waiter brought a Raspberry Jack: Double rainbow vanilla bean ice cream raspberries with a douse of triple sec with a candle on it and we all sang Happy Birthday and a Ghirardelli Hot Fudge Sundae which we all shared.

Postscript: Some photos from the past

Private City Tour of Top Sights in Toronto with Friends

"Sometimes all you need are great friends and a mutual thirst for adventures”

—Unknown Author

Our tour guide’s name was Adeodata. She pointed to a cubed charm bracelet shaped like dice that was hanging over her dashboard. "It was given to her by a friend," she said. Sensing I was wondering what the origin of her name was, she added “It means 'God Given.’” She was charming, fun, a bit quirky in a good way, turned out to be an exceptional guide. She referred to her red Toyota as her “Red Rocket.” Our first stop was at the St. Lawrence Market, one of the world’s great markets. We sampled cheese, and coffee from Luba’s Coffee Boutique. We continued on to the Cathedral Church of St. James. Adeodata told us that Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world and that over 150 languages are spoken. Everybody gets along and that it is a safe city. She took photos of us in front of the Historic Romanesque Old City Hall. We saw the Gooderham Building, also known as the Flatiron Building in the Financial District that was completed in 1892. Any building over a 100 years old must be preserved, and in this case stands amidst the huge skyscraper office buildings. We went on to the see the iconic three-dimensional illuminated Toronto sign that spells the the city’s name at Nathan Phillips Square at the New City Hall. It was a great photo op. We then visited the University of Toronto public research university located on the grounds that surround Queen’s Park. Surprisingly, one of the most fascinated museums we visited was the Bata Shoe Museum which exhibits the 4500-year history of footwear ranging from Chinese bound woman’s shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut-crushing clogs and glamorous elevated footwear, and shoes of royalty, and religious orders, etc.

We visited synagogues including the Toronto Hebrew Congregation known as Holy Blossom that was founded in the mid to late 1800s by seventeen Jewish families from England and Continental Europe. We visited some castles (former horse stables) built for Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 1900s. A photo exhibit of Princess Diana is currently taking place there. The next stop was Kensington market, a walkable neighborhood, that has a wonderful eclectic and bohemian vibe, charming cafes, hipster hangouts, artists hubs and underground speakeasies. Adeodata then drove us to Dim Sum King Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown for lunch. Our final destination before we headed back to our hotel was Distillery District, formerly home of the largest distillery in the world, now a pedestrian neighborhood closed off to traffic. Adeodata took us to Soma Chocolate-maker, and had us pick out a chocolate confectionary of our choice before heading over to Balzac’s Coffee Roasters further down the street to order a coffee of our choice. Balzac's has transformed an 1895 Pump House into a very charming two story Grand Parisian style cafe. When we got to the hotel we thanked our guide guide for a wonderful tour. Nelson gave her an excellent Google review on our behalf which she gratefully appreciated. After a respite we had dinner at the Richmond Station, a Co-owned "Top Chef Canada" winner near our hotel.

An Abbreviated Self-Guided Tour of Beautiful Downtown Toronto

“I didn’t realize Toronto was so beautiful. Everywhere you go you see beautiful architecture.”

—Keven Costner

It has been many years since Cecile and I were in Toronto. So much so that everything is fresh and new to us. Though we are doing a half-day private guided tour tomorrow with our friends, the Byes who arrive this evening, we decided to get our 10,000 steps in and stretch our legs. We did a simple abbreviated self-guided tour of some sections of the downtown area, right after checking in and having a complimentary breakfast at the Hilton Toronto, located in the heart of the Entertainment District.

Our first stop was the CN Tower (as in Canadian National), the most recognizable and celebrated Icon in Canada is a 1,815 ft high concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto. It is considered to be an architectural triumph the world over and an engineering Wonder of the Modern World. When we saw it from the breakfast floor at the Hilton we knew we had to get closer to see an obstructive view.

A few minutes away is Roundhouse Park (former Railway Lands) is a 17-acre park also in the downtown, a preserved Locomotive roundhouse and colorful vintage railroad cars which is home to the Toronto Railway Museum, Steam Whistle Brewery and entertainment complex.

As I write this post I feel soothed by the church bells ringing from St. James Cathedral. It reminds me of the Church bells of Our Lady of Grace, a block away from where I grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and the church bells that rung near the home of my Sicilian relatives during many visits there.

Wonderful Dinner with my Son Jason at Furusato Which Opened up a Discussion About Cecile and my Travels to Japan

“Japan is the most intoxicating place for me…The Japanese culture fascinates me: The food, the dress, the manners and the traditions. It’s the travel experience that has moved me the most.”

—Roman Coppola

When we have an urge for authentic Japanese cuisine Furusato is the place to go, not only for its’ artistic presentation, great service, quality of its food, and generous portions, but also for its Japanese-style interior design and traditional Japanese

ambiance. They have four private “Tatami” rooms for groups of 4-20 people, great for parties and special events. Great place for sushi lovers. Furusato literally means “old Village” or “hometown,” but closer English equivalents are “home” and “native place."

We both ordered a combination entree. Jason had Chicken Teriyaki and California Roll and I had the Salmon Teriyaki and Beef Teriyaki Rib Eye. Both dinner offerings are served with Rice, Salad, and Miso SouP. We also shared a large bottle of Sapporo Beer and a cold bottle of Sake. I usually drink it hot, but Jason recommended I try it cold. He was right. It was refreshingly tasty.

I was sharing with Jason how beautiful Japan is. It is on his and his partner Alex's bucket list. Like many of us, the pandemic blunted their travel pIans. I highly recommended that Jason and Alex go during the Cherry Blossom season. In 2009 Cecile and I went on a group tour organized through Hakone Garden and the City of Saratoga, CA in conjunction with Saratoga sister city, Muko-Shi with which it has had almost a 40-year relationship including visits, exchanges of gifts, traditions and culture. We got to meet the mayor of Muko and other officials during our visit there. Muko is adjacent to Kyoto, the cultural and historical heart of the country where we experienced traditional temples, shrines, gardens, geisha and festivals. Back in the day, it used to be the capital of Japan. It was worth spending several days there.

One of many other highlights is the famous and ancient Nara Park, home to over 1,000 sacred deer that sits at the foot of Mount Wakakusap. The free roaming deer are designated as a national treasure. They actually have learned to beg for food, and Cecile and I were happy to oblige (photos). In the Shinto religion these deer are considered messengers of the gods. Nara Park was established in 1880 and is one of the oldest parks in Japan. Also on the grounds is the Todajii Temple, considered to be the world’s largest structure and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. And, if that is not enough, the National Treasure Museum which has a collection of Buddhist art, and Japan’s second-tallest five-storied pagoda built over a thousand years ago. Ah, memories. So nice to revisit them.

Blowing Bubbles with our Grandchildren in our Zen Buddha Garden in our Front Atrium

“Have you ever noticed how blowing bubbles brings delight to adults and children alike? There’s something about their rainbow sheen as they float to the floor that captivates us all.”

—Julie Murray

It hasn’t been too long ago that we remodeled our front atrium patio with Tuscan stone pavers. We created a peaceful Zen garden with plants, colorful petunias and a Buddha statue sitting in meditation that I bought many years ago during a day retreat with author and meditation teacher, Jack Kornfield, at Spirit Rock in Marin County. We also have another Buddha statue (white) on a pedestal near our front door. The atrium throws off a peaceful countenance for personal reflection and playing with our grandchildren, Lyla and Emmy, especially while engaging them in bubble play.

We will never regret these precious times spent blowing bubbles—or using colorful patterned wands of all sizes to get the same effect. Little Emmy gets a thrill that with one flick of the wrist, she can create up to five or six bubbles at a time. Her big sister Lyla almost 3 1/2 years old has become more skillful at the craft than she was at Emmy’s age (14 months). There is something a fragile, yet bigger than life shiny rainbow bubble that captures their imagination. It is a joy-inducing distraction when you have run out of things to do. Developmentally, it is a boon to help them develop their eye-tracking skills that improve their focus on moving objects and light, and motor skills. It gives them playful sensory input—with each bubble blown—as they see delightful balls of bouncing light be carried off by the wind. And, as they go pop when they hit against a chair, a wall, or the ground. When repeated over and over again they learn about object impermanence and the impact of cause and effect, something the Buddha taught his followers during hins many discourses. But, most of all the bubble play creates a lot of laughter and a genuine bonding between adult and child.

Speaking of the Buddha, since today marks the celebration of Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment and death [called Vesak], I thought it would be a perfect day to post these recent fun photos of us and the girls.The holiday has been officially celebrated since 1950 (the year I was born), when the World Fellowship of Buddhists formalized it as Buddha’s birthday. The United Nations’ official date for Vesak this year is Monday, May 16. The Buddha was a man of great wisdom and compassion who taught people how to overcome suffering even in the midst of chaos. After he died 485 years BC, his teachings became the foundation for the development into Buddhism and mindfulness practices now being used in education, law enforcement, the military, prisons, hospitals, sports, yoga and fortune 500 companies.

Bicycling & Horsing Around Mt. Eden Road Corrals & riding the perimeter of Stevens Creek Reservoir

“Choose Happy!”—Bubba, the Bubb Road Bear

My friend and riding partner Bill and I began our 21-mile ride to Big Basin Way, making a right at Pierce Road past the notable Mountain Winery in Saratoga. We continued to the left of Garrod's Stables and Cooper Garrod-Garrod Estate Vineyards to Mt. Eden Road where we made a left and stopped at a series of red corrals to visit with some friendly & gentle horses.

We then continued down a winding road toward Steven’s Creek County Park in Cupertino. I pulled over to the side of the road to take a drink of water when I noticed a large group of cyclists coming our way on the other side of the road. I quickly got my iPhone out to take a video of a peloton (from the French word, originally meaning ‘platoon’) or a pack of riders, from which the Peloton company got its name. It is used to describe the principle of surrounding the key rider with experts who together perform faster than one individual. Back in the day, Bill used to ride in a peloton pack. While it was fun to witness this colorful spectacle, we were happy riding independently and stopping to see the sights at our leisure. After reviewing the short video, note one of the cyclists in the peloton group was smiling, happy he was being filmed.

Bill and I then continued our ride toward Stevens Creek Quarry and made a turn around Steven’s Creek Canyon Road, stopping a few times to take photos of the Steven’s Creek Reservoir along the way. As they say it was all downhill from there. The last leg of our morning ride involved stopping to see Bubba the Bubb Road Bear. Tended by a Cupertino homeowner, the carved wooden bear was garlanded with flowers and a sign that reads: “Choose Happy!”

From there we road in some quiet neighborhoods and connecting with a dirt road along railroad tracks we have frequented many times and back to our respective homes at Rinconada Hills.