Testing out the “stark black and white” filter during our friend’s visit with us in STL. We took them up in the arch, stayed at the Hilton Pennywell and visited the St. Louis Art Museum. And laughed a lot. #stl #stlouisgram
Belated photo dump of life lately over the past couple of months.
1-4) celebrating our dear friend Amy’s birthday at the incredible Prima Facie restaurant where we dined in the vault.
5-7) Super Sam dinner supporting the Super Sam Foundation hosted by the Lorentz family who always create an amazing dinner party.
8) Mr. Man in the hammock
@primaparkville@supersamfoundation
Happy New Year friends! Keith and I are starting a new travel-focused endeavor focusing on traveling as we age. The goal is humorously and informatively taking you all along our journey. The link to the new website is in the bio. Come join us as we meander through it all! Please like and share!
Years ago, through Keith’s sister Kim, we became aware of the Super Sam Foundation in Fulton, MO. Super Sam’s parents, Matt and Cassie and his twin sister Ava created this foundation in honor of Sam, whom they lost to cancer at a very young age. Since that unimaginable loss, they have all worked tirelessly along with the other Super Sam volunteer heroes, to help other children and families in the struggle with childhood cancer. We have assisted with a few events over the years, but it was so gratifying to attend this year’s Super Sam Gala at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City to really see the progress and amazing results of the good this phenomenal organization does. We got the opportunity to hear from Cassie herself and many of the Super Sam volunteers as well as some of the families who benefited from the Super Sam Foundation. It is incredibly moving to hear the stories of their journeys and to learn of the powerful help the Super Sam Foundation provides, from Comfort Packs for the patients and families to money for research grants. Particularly impressive was Super Sam’s twin sister Ava, who created Ava’s Avengers, a group of her friends and classmates who have taken this fight against childhood cancer to new heights in their actions. Ava was breathtaking in her presentation; demonstrating her and her Avengers’s perseverance and determination to carry this fight wherever it needs to go.
Before Sam passed, his prayer and wish to his parents was to help ALL the kids. Super Sam, a true superhero, must be so proud to see that his family has achieved so much in his name. To donate or volunteer or just see the good this amazing foundation does, follow this link:
Well, I could start off my recap with our usual overly stimulated thoughts at the end of our journeys…something along the lines of “that place was so cool, let’s move/retire there!” Generally, this sentiment is followed by our investigating the local costs, etc. and resigning ourselves to staying where we are (where we admittedly love to live). Indeed, we were spellbound by the beauty and wonder of Colorado and really dug Colorado Springs in particular. The weather during our week was pristine, warm days and cool nights and serenely clear skies. To say I didn’t miss the humidity blanket that Missouri seems to always be under at this time of year was an understatement. We also really dug the adventurous feeling of Colorado. Everywhere we looked, every town we visited, the locals seemed to be either on their way to or returning from some activity: hiking, climbing, cruising in their Jeeps, camping, and who knows what else. The air felt so crisp and alive; like an unspoken and endlessly open invitation to adventure. Yet, the surrounding settings were so restful and comforting, it was as if the area was also reminding you that when you returned from said adventure, there were countless warm and cozy spots to settle back in. That was an unbeatable combination for us. Thank you, Colorado, for one unforgettable week…can’t wait to return! #colorado #coloradosprings #coloradocamping
Dinner in Denver made for a lively last evening on our wild week in Colorado. We dined at Corinne next to the Le Meridian Hotel in downtown Denver. Admittedly, at this point, I was feeling a tad wore out from the site-hopping of the day and worried this downtown scene might be a bit much, but soon we settled into the vibe and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We sat back and sipped Corinne’s signature old fashioneds (Old Forester bourbon, vanilla demerara sugar and black walnut bitters) and reveled in the sublime people-watching. We split our meals once again…first, their Port Judith Calamari with a lemon aioli that I wanted to sop up with everything, then their Truffled Bucatini, with pecorino and Reggiano cheeses, black pepper and a sauce that I learned about for the first time: a beurre fondue, which is a warm emulsion sauce is based on lemon juice, water, and butter. Both were delicious. We ended our dining experience at Corinne with their decadent Bread Pudding, with bourbon caramel, candied pecans and vanilla ice cream. After dinner, we strolled through The Hub, Le Meridian’s luxuriously designed lobby, with their hotel bat The Lobbyist, which was hosting a happening hotel bar scene. What a spohisticated way to top off our wonderful week in Colorado…before heading back to our little campground to pack up and head home the next morning. #denver #colorado @corinnedenver@lemeridiendenver
I am always in search of a bookstore when traveling and make it a point to research the local favorite independent version. If it comes with a noted history, even better. The Tattered Cover in Denver had been a revered independent since 1971and I had wanted to pay homage in person for many years as I had heard so much about it. Upon finally making it to the Colfax store, I was surprised to learn that bookselling giant (and my former employer) Barnes and Noble purchased it last year to rescue it from bankruptcy. I’m sure there is much debate over that move, but I will say strolling this lovely space did not feel at all like a corporate environment to me and I would have had no idea until they asked if we had a B&N membership. Even then, I thought it might be a partnership, so I didn’t learn about the purchase until I left the store that day. I didn’t get to experience The Tattered Cover before the buyout, so I can’t say if it feels different now, but I was indeed in my usual bookstore-loving bliss strolling the shelves and soaking in the cozy atmosphere. The Tattered Cover has been beloved by customers and authors alike, so it’s good to see it continue to be busy yet seemingly retain its independent feel in its new life. #bookstgram #bookstores #bookstoresofinstagram @tatteredcoverbookstore
- We knocked out our next National Park visit …Rocky Mountain National Park to be exact…where the highlight was an afternoon in renowned mountain getaway Estes Park. When you imagine what a perfect mountain town might look like, this picturesque locale fits the bill. We had limited time here, so we tried to immerse ourselves in as much of the environment as we could. The setting certainly helped with that, with its charming shops and lively eateries surrounded by majestic mountainous beauty. I had to get my craft beer on, so we hung out at The Hive in Estes Park Brewing for a beer flight to taste their wares. Winners for me were the crisp Renegade IPA and the citrussy Redrum Ale (another nod to local Stanley Hotel where The Shining was filmed). We then checked out the shops and indulged in a bit of ice cream at local favorite Pines and Cones (the lemon-blueberry was to die for) before we had to get back on the road. We left lovely Estes Park far too quickly with the determination to return as soon as we can. #estespark #colorado @estesparkbrewery@pinesandcones_icecream
Strangely, in researching Colorado Springs, I somehow skipped past the Stanley Hotel altogether. Had I been driving when we drove past it toward another destination, I probably would have wrecked us. I have long been a Stephen King fan, and suddenly discovering the imposing hotel where The Shining was filmed nearly made me hyperventilate. I said we HAVE to come back. Upon returning, the eeriness settled over me as we were looking up at that historic structure. Jack Nicholson was roaming maniacally through its halls in my mind. Once inside, the spirits felt abundant and though I don’t claim to have sensitivity toward such things, I was chilled right down to my bones, y’all! I worked in a reputedly haunted hotel for 12 years and only once did I feel as unnerved as I did walking in the Stanley. However, the hotel I worked in didn’t have the influence of a famously terrifying book and film as the Stanley Hotel does. Don’t get me wrong, the staff were super accommodating, and the hotel is gorgeous, but dang…goosebumps! I haven’t read that book or watched that movie in decades, so I was surprised to find it casting such a spell on me after all this time. I had to see a guestroom hallway and sure enough, I could see (in my mind) the creepy twin girls at the end of them. We ambled through the corridors and up stairways and studied the eerie artwork. The creepiness reached its zenith with the discovery of the Seance Room. It wasn’t open at the time of our visit, but we peeked at its haunting décor. We had lunch at Cascades Restaurant in the hotel to take some time to sit with this unsettling but exciting feeling with a cocktail from their Whiskey Bar. We noshed on delicious French Dips and soon were delighting in the lively atmosphere and chased that disquieting feeling away. The Stanley truly is a gem, a beautiful historic hotel that is a must-visit. Unexpectedly discovering this grand legend was an awesome surprise that was equally eerie and excellent. #estespark @thestanleyhotel
“A dream is not reality, but who’s to say which is which?”
― Alice Through the Looking Glass
Who indeed? Having spent an evening at the Alice in Wonderland-inspired eatery in Colorado Springs called The Rabbit Hole, I am still uncertain as to whether it was real…or maybe just a dream? When you arrive, you enter a portal…er, a doorway in the middle of the sidewalk and descend a set of stairs that lead to a dark and indeed dreamlike space. The abundant Alice décor in the dimly lit dungeon-like space gives this eatery an unearthly dimension, but the amiable service and yummy food really make this a unique dining experience. Their cocktail menu is found in a tabletop barcode titled Drink Me/Eat Me and we selected two drinks we greatly enjoyed: for he; their version of an Old Fashioned with Breckenridge Bourbon, for me a Rusty Knees with Buffalo Trace bourbon, Drambuie, Chartreuse, lemon and honey. We split their brussels sprout appetizer with red pepper vinaigrette and pepitas and the delectable bison short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. We thoroughly enjoyed both. And yes, in a spot this whimsical, we had to split a dessert, their version of a Moon Pie with a milk chocolate shell, vanilla mousse and chocolate ganache. So inspired by this little culinary adventure, we also had a drink at one of their sister properties down the street, a back-alley bar hilariously called Shame and Regret. This well-liked hang is considered the premiere scotch and whiskey bar of Colorado Springs. We sat at the bar and met the awesome bartender Bebe, who gave us great insight on life in Colorado Springs. She also makes excellent (and wicked) drinks! I had a cheekily named Scout Master Kevin (marshmallow whiskey, bourbon, vanilla bean, scotch, bitters and a toasted marshmallow as a garnish) and Keith had one called Lowered Expectations (vanilla vodka, house made root beer syrup, vanilla bean, Fernet, sarsaparilla bitters and whipped cream). Hanging here was a warm, cozy way to end the night. #coloradosprings #colorado @therabbithole719@shameandregret
