Fall Hiking – Dirty Devil, Angel Slot Canyon: Take Two

October – a great time for hiking the Dirty Devil, as we established last year in at Angel Cove and Angel Slot. Well, start the day off first with some breakfast.

Pack your things and off you go!

As I mentioned before, Angel Slot has got to be one of my favorite canyoneering routes so far. It’s short, sweet, fun and exciting. You’re off in the middle of nowhere, about eight miles on a dirt road and smack-dab in the middle of insane canyons. Stick to the roads if you are driving at night as you could be wandering off a cliff at anytime!

Spanish Fork Canyon – Wine and Dine at Fifth Water Hot Springs

Last month, despite the near 100 degree weather, we hit the hot springs.

It was awesome. Wine. Sandwiches. Cherries. Wine. Bag of wine. Good company. Too bad I had to get back to the city for a birthday dinner…

Independent Tubing – Provo River on July 4th

Post-dislocated shoulder only allows me to tube the Provo River! Here’s a recap of the event…

Make sure you got your tube.

Zion National Park Kicks My Das Boot into Subway

Almost two months ago, I dislocated yet another joint at Zion National Park.

Okay, let me start from the beginning…

It goes like this: last minute lottery permit; decide on Thursday evening to leave Friday after work; set out with friends also willing to be spontaneous; pack up stuff for a couple of technical hikes plus some; get ready for heat and adventure.

Zac grabbed a last minute permit for us to do Das Boot and the famous Subway canyon. Psychedddd – I asked Kent to come since we had a last minute spot. Zac, Lisa, Pat, Kent and myself.

The Okonomiyaki Experience – Gaja in Lomita, CA

Last month when I was in LA, I went with an old high school friend and her husband to gorge on KBBQ. And about 8 hours later, an old friend from college took me to gorge on okonomiyaki (some call it a healthy Japanese cabbage pancake, er… yeah) and beer at Gaja. This is that latter pig-out in photos. Ugh, I must’ve gained 30 pounds that day but I want to go back immediately! Aiyah.

Torihei Yakitori Robata-Ya – Another (Sorta) Izakaya Food Porn Quicky

Okay, I love izakayas and wish we had one in Salt Lake. Yes, I know. I will keep dreaming. Anyway, on a recent trip to LA, where else would I go but to a recommended izakaya? Ahh, okay, Torihei is labeled a yakitori robata-ya, but it has some izakaya feel? Ugh, I loved that yaki-onigiri. So good. And the yogurt shochu!! Dammit, Salt Lake City! Drool on.

Before Once on Broadway is a Kyotofu Dinner – Food Porn Quicky

For my trip to NYC, my friend grabbed tickets for us ahead of time to see Once (um, Tony award-winning musical this year!!). It was New York! I had to see a show (or two or three or four, as it turned out). She also recommended Kyotofu for dinner – I didn’t argue.

Curry Rice

Cha Soba Noodles

Yuzu Citrus Tofu Cheesecake

Um, as you can tell, there’s a lot of food there for three people. Let me explain how this dinner went… Our server was fucking awesome. Why? Well, he was also our bartender and catered drinks based on our likes – a virgin margarita (on the house because it was his first virgin creation) and two recommended sake cocktails (I forget what they were…). Oh, it was also happy hour. He also gave us all the kitchen and bar mistakes. This meant – three shots of different sakes, onigiri and the cheesecake. Yeah, definitely going back next time in NYC.

Best first night in NYC dinner ever. And the show? It was good too; it definitely made more sense after I saw the movie though. WAHOOO first night in NYC; what a way to start it off.

Summer Season in Utah – Weber River Tubing

It’s become quite the annual activity. It’s cheap (depending on how much you drink, I suppose). It’s fun. It’s a whole day’s worth of adventure. It can be done, somewhat, on the fly, even. Last week, June 3, 2012, was our first tubing venture this year: Weber River, Utah.

NYC East Village Food Binge – Food Porn (Not So) Quicky

Anyone that vacations with me knows that I try to pack as many food highlights as possible… New York City was definitely no exception.

After watching Fuerzabruta at the Daryl Roth Theatre near Union Square, we begun Melani’s downward food spiral. She was eating healthy, proportionate meals at regular times of the day until I came to stay with her in NYC. Muwahahaha.

Rumba Cafe Brunch – Food Porn Quicky

Rumba Cafe! Adam’s Morgan area in Washington D.C. – the food is good, the mojitos are great, but the service was mediocre. Huevos rancheros, an omelet with fruit and potatoes… and I forget what I had but it was like fried plantains on the bottom with two poached eggs and tomato sauce. Add a side of perfectly crunchy potatoes, sour cream, slice of avocado and diced tomatoes.

Looking at the website now, I also feel like we must’ve went somewhere else… the site portrays an establishment of a completely different nature! Well, we were there for brunch on a Saturday morning (apparently it’s a DC thing: brunch)… but that happy hour sure makes a difference. A $9 mojito versus a $5 happy hour mojito?! Yeesh. Next time, Patrick, I think we need to meet at happy hour rather!