Showing posts with label Almost Like Being There. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Almost Like Being There. Show all posts

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

By Stacey Kuhns


Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


Well Worth a Visit

 

On Sunday, June 4, my boyfriend and I decided to check out Liberty Public Market.  I had heard many good things about it and my kids gave it great reviews. My boyfriend was very curious about it as he went to Boot Camp at Liberty Station many years ago. He said it looks very different now. (I bet it does).

It is definitely a busy place so be prepared for a lot of traffic. Located at 2820 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego, 92106. The facility is open from 11am to 8pm. They also have a Farmer's Market on Thursdays.

We had a bit of difficulty locating the entrance as all we saw when we drove in were restaurants with lines in front of them. We began walking around and most of the galleries and stores were closed on Sunday, which was disappointing.

There are stores and a women's museum around the perimeter of the grounds (large grassy areas, fountain, sand area for kids to play in). The grounds are beautiful though and many families were walking around with their children and everyone seemed to be having a good time. I think we were too early and the reason we could not find the place itself was because it was not opened yet. We finally found it!

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


I found the hallways to get into the main area to be dark and dingy. There were kiosk vendors in the hallways and they were getting very little business from what I observed. The area with the food vendors is well lit and there is a "mess hall" where you can take your purchased items and sit and eat.

It gets very crowded so my boyfriend and I found a table in the dark hallway outside Parana (an empanada vendor). We purchased three empanadas (small). I thought it was cool that the flavor of the empanada is stamped into the dough with initials. The empanadas did not taste homemade and I would not purchase them again. It appeared they were pulling them out of a refrigerator or freezer and putting them into an oven already made.

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


My boyfriend bought a roast beef roll from the Roast Meat and Sandwich shop. He loved it. He bought me a lobster roll from Wicked Main Lobster, which was excellent. I got the traditional style and it was just loads of wonderful lobster meat and not much else, just the way I like it. They were so busy, they were giving people buzzers to come back and pick up their food when it was ready. (Difficult to get good pictures because it was so dark in the hallway).

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


We purchased some fresh ravioli, from Pasta Design, to take home and cook (chef's special, which was chipotle chicken and also a bacon/mozzarella one). I made a homemade marinara sauce and the bacon ravioli was my favorite. Delicious. They package the pasta in nice boxes. It lasts two days in the fridge or a month in the freezer. Cook in boiling salted water for approximately one minute in a large pot (so they do not stick together).

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


When you go to Liberty Market, be prepared. Everything is pricey. There are healthy options, such as a salad place to the not so healthy fare, such as sweet treats.

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


We purchased several items from Crafted Baked Goods. All wonderful. (And yes, there is a bite taken out of the "brookie"). LOL.


Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


These three items set us back $16! There is also a fish market (very expensive). You can purchase live prawns and sea urchin.


Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)

Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


All in all, I am not sure I would return to Liberty Public Market. The aisles are very small and with the crowds it is difficult to navigate through everything. I was underwhelmed with the selection of eateries and was expecting more of a variety of ethnic foods to try.

Some skylights in the hallways would be a welcome addition. Also, for us, the expense was a once in a blue moon splurge. I almost forgot to mention the proximity of the Liberty Public Market to the airport. If you are dining outside or just walking around outside, the constant air traffic is quite noisy. Overall, I would say "meh."


Liberty Public Market (#LibertyPublicMarket)


Monday, May 22, 2017

San Diego Botanical Gardens

San Diego Botanical Gardens

A Place for All Ages


Last month, my boyfriend and I visited the San Diego Botanical Gardens.  I have been there a number of times over the years, but this was his first time there.

The botanical gardens are located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, in Encinitas, right off the Encinitas Blvd. exit from I-5. They are open daily from 9a.m. to 5p.m. and the cost is $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, students, and active military, and $8 for children 3-12. Members and children under 2 are free. Parking is $2.

On the first Tuesday of the month, San Diego County residents get in free but still must pay the $2 parking fee. The parking fee is waived if you have 4 or more people in your car. 





I would advise bringing a hat or wearing sunscreen, especially on those hot days. Also, bring snacks and water as there is only one kiosk near the visitor's center and gift shop (yes, they do sell plants). There are a limited number of picnic tables available and you are welcome to bring a picnic. There are no restaurants on site but plenty in the surrounding Encinitas area. The botanical gardens cover 37 acres and most of it is easy walking. Of course, different times of the year, you will see different plants in bloom. 






 You may even catch sight of a smiling dragonfly.



There are a number of gardens containing plants from around the world. There is even a bamboo garden where bamboo is harvested by San Diego Zoo staff for their pandas. The cacti all over the area were in full bloom and flowers were abundant so this is a great time of year to visit. There is also a children's garden that has an edible plant garden and lots of interactive activities for the kids, including some climbing structures.




There is also a garden area that has sculptures made out of plants.



There are certain places within the gardens where you can see the ocean. There is also an area that has a fairly tall waterfall. There were lots of different kinds of butterflies and birds flying around. There are great places to just sit and relax and enjoy the scenery. Many of the plants don't look so exciting on the outside, but if you lean over and look inside, they are magical.



There are plenty of docents and volunteers around to answer questions or show you special plants. We had a volunteer show us a cucumber thistle. They were trying to get rid of a lot of them as it is an invasive plant, but she let us hold one and look inside and touch one of the seeds. It was very cool. 



All in all, a very interesting place to visit any time of the year.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food Event

Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food Event

Saturday, April 22 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. 

 
Oma and Opa at the Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food Event


Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food EventYesterday, my husband Paul and I were honored to be included in the Valley View Casino VIP Wine and Food Event. This experience was ‘By Invitation Only.’ However, I won our participation through a contest presented by KFM-BFM .

Check–in at 5:00 p.m. went smoothly and quickly. We were given purple wristbands that allowed us entry into this very special wine and food gathering. During this exclusive VIP Event, we sampled numerous varieties of wine from BK Cellars Urban Winery while indulging in delicious ‘made-from-scratch’ food pairings.

 

Wine / Food Pairings

  • Cabernet Sauvignon (South Coast) paired with chocolate fountain-dipped strawberries, petit fours and truffles.
  • Grenache / Syrah / Mourvedre (El Pomar District) paired with cheese, crudite, dried fruit, nuts, olives, grapes, crostini/crackers and bread with spreads (Hummus, White Bean, Olive Tapenade).
  • Le Melange Blanc (California) paired with chilled lobster, grapefruit, fennel, pickled red onion and arugula with citrus vinaigrette.
  • Merlot (Temecula Valley) paired with lamb sliders
  • Syrah (San Pasqual Valley) paired with braised beef short ribs and potato puree



The Valley View Chefs did an excellent job with all the food.BK Cellars is one of San Diego County’s newest urban wineries. They make wine in the historic Escondido Vineyard District. This urban winery is a functional winery making wine on-site from California grapes and serving their tantalizing white and red wines in a tasting lounge with a cosmopolitan flare.

Both the food and wine was available and free for the whole four hours. While the portions were small; you could have as much as you wanted. My wine of choice was the San Pasqual Valley Syrah. The Valley View Chefs did an excellent job with all the food; however the chocolate fountain-dipped strawberries definitely proved to be my downfall.


Live music was presented throughout the evening by a trio named 'Tres.'


Live music was presented throughout the evening by a trio named 'Tres.'  I was amazed at how many of my favorites they covered. I loved their closing performance of 'I Don't Know Why' by Norah Jones.

Brett Winterble expertly served as the event master of ceremonies.

Brett Winterble expertly served as the event master of ceremonies. He proficiently kept the appreciative attendees excited and engaged. A free bottle of BK Cellars Wine was given away every 15 minutes until the Grand Prize drawing at 8:30 p.m. The Grand Prize consisted of an all-inclusive Napa Valley Get-Away for two including airfare, couples massage, wine tasting, and a $1,000 spending cash.


Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food Event

Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food Event

Although we did not win anything at the wine tasting event itself, both Paul and I had abnormally good luck at the slots. We actually returned home with an extra One Hundred and Fifteen Dollars ($115) in our pockets.

The only con of this VIP affair was a lack of adequate seating.

The only con of this VIP affair was a lack of adequate seating. There were plenty of older patrons forced to stand for long periods. Nevertheless, both Paul and I thoroughly enjoyed making history by attending this first-ever Valley View Casino – VIP Wine and Food Event. If you ever receive an invite, I recommend that you go.


A post shared by Missy Smith (@zwriter1) on

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

by Stacey Kuhns


Even Features a Paved Trail to Accommodate Wheelchairs!


Mission Trails Regional Park is 7,220 acres of adventure and discovery for the entire family. It is located at 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail in San Diego, CA, 92119. This park represents a San Diego prior to the landing of Cabrillo in San Diego Bay in 1542. It is one of the largest urban parks in San Diego and now is the best time to visit. There are handicap accessible areas and even a long, gorgeous paved trail to accommodate wheelchairs! No one needs to miss out on this amazing park.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


My boyfriend, my service dog Henson, and I, have been to the park on several occasions and each one is a different experience depending on the time of year. My boyfriend hikes there regularly, but due to my disabilities, I am unable to do the climbs he does there.

No matter, I am able to enjoy miles of trails throughout the park. We visited there about 4 months ago. It was a good hike, but the landscape was mostly brush and all the stream beds were dry. We visited there last weekend and it was like another world! I was amazed and had the most wonderful day. It was still hot (so bring plenty of water if you go), but it was lush, flowers were blooming everywhere, and the streams were flowing quite well. Gorgeous.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


We started at the East Fortuna Staging Area. There are mostly flat, easy trails until you get towards the hills. You can choose a variety of trails to take and can spend a few hours hiking or hike all day. We mostly had the place to ourselves (got there around 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning). We spent hours there just walking around, enjoying the greenery, resting in the shade when needed, and Henson loved playing in the streams (on leash at all times). There are marsh areas with water birds (courtesy of the recent rains). We did run into a few areas, unexpected, where we had to cross over water to continue on the trail (again, courtesy of the rains), so you may want to wear boots just for that reason. I was in tennis shoes and did fine, but needed help crossing some areas just because of my disabilities.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


The grasses were so long and beautiful. It just felt like our own slice of paradise. We saw more flowers here and more of a variety than we did in Anza Borrego the weekend before. (Click Here for That Story)

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


The most popular area is the Old Mission Dam. There is a small parking lot very close to the dam. The history is fascinating; love this area. Old Mission Dam. History: When the population of San Diego de Alcala Mission grew during the late 18th century, so did its demand for water. The Spanish colonists solved the water shortage problem by building what is likely the first major colonial irrigation-engineering project on the Pacific Coast.

Known today as Old Mission Dam or Padre Dam, this National Historic Landmark collected water near the head of Mission Gorge on the San Diego River, and its five-mile-long aqueduct provided the mission with water for American Indians and Spanish colonists. Though damaged by floods, earthquakes, and human activity, the dam's stonewall continues to hold water. This impressive colonial ruin is a public site that visitors can enjoy within San Diego’s Mission Trails Regional Park.

The mission community started work on the dam after the drought in 1803 and completed construction of the larger irrigation system by 1817. When the laborers finished, the dam was 220 feet long, 12 feet high, and 13 feet thick. The laborers used cobblestones, bricks, and cement for the dam wall, and they laid tiles on the bed of the long aqueduct to keep water from seeping into the sandy ground. The aqueduct, which ran from the dam to the mission, was two feet wide and five miles long.

The community used the water to support its people, agriculture, and herds of cattle and sheep. After the secularization of the California missions in the 1830s, which followed Mexican independence, the dam fell into disrepair. By 1867, the dam and aqueduct were in ruins. In the 1870s, residents of the mission valley restored the dam. The historic dam still disrupts the flow of water in the San Diego River. There is fishing allowed here and there were families with their kids fishing.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


The dam area is always a bit more crowded but there is shade to relax in, you can sit on the walls and just watch the water, or there are picnic tables for a snack or lunch break.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


Further down the trail from the dam is a bridge and then a number of trails to explore.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


Water was flowing quite swiftly under the bridge which was amazing to see. Lovely areas to walk along the water (but they are not trails so you do have to move some tree branches out of the way and step over uneven rocks and things to get there). I was able to do it with help so it is not that difficult.

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


After spending most of the day hiking around, we decided to drive the Father Junipero Serra Trail through the park. There are many, many more trails to hike along this trail and this is where the paved area is for wheelchairs, bikes, strollers, etc. It is also accessible from the dam trail area. The drive is so beautiful, we did it twice!

There are many flowers growing along the rocks and you can see patches of flowers all the way up the hills and mountains. There is also a stream that runs alongside the paved area, but there is very little parking and just a few pullouts (also, there is a warning of rock slides if taking a chance of parking on the sides of the road).


Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips

Mission Trails - Worth Multiple Trips


Mission Trails Regional Park is worth a visit, or a few visits. And best of all, it is free! If you get down there, spend the day, and want to take a lunch break, there is not much in the area. There is a large convenience store (appears to be independently owned). Inside the store is a Subway, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. A great place to pick up items to take into the park for a picnic. The store and Subway are located at 7757 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, 92071. Very friendly, good service, and clean.

I hope you visit the park and let me know your thoughts about your visit. I personally prefer this time of the year as opposed to summer when it is too hot and things are dry, but my boyfriend loves the summers there.

Enjoy exploring San Diego!