Arizona Archives - Floradise

01/03/2018

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

I thought I wanted to sell our Phoenix condo, but visiting for the holidays reminded me how great the neighborhood is and how much I love it. One reason it’s so fun: It’s in the middle of the action, including pretty much all the major parade routes. We took in the Fiesta Bowl Parade the weekend after Christmas and were reminded about things that make Arizona so great.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

First, it looks like fall in the winter, but it’s 70 degrees and sunny.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

I love our sports teams.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

Cacti are just so beautiful, and floats are fun, too.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

The crowd loves it when the volunteers spin the balloons, including my section, which would yell “Spin! Spin! Spin!”

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

The Fiesta Bowl helps the community.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

The more than two-hour parade has lots of fun floats.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

It wouldn’t be an Arizona parade without lots of horses.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

The marching bands are fun to watch.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

There’s always a flyover or two!

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

So many talented dancers and groups perform.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

And you’ll see some fun movie tie-ins.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

You’ll see local celebrities like the White Mountain Apache Rodeo Queen and attendants, and the Coyotes’ Shane Doan as the grand marshal.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

Some floats and participants you see year to year, like Spirit the balloon and the Wells Fargo carriage.

Fiesta Bowl Parade 2017

Have you attended a bowl parade? What’s your favorite?

Fiesta Bowl Fun in 2014

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11/03/2017

My Ancestry DNA Experience and Results

** This is not a sponsored post; however, this post contains a referral link for Ancestry that is rewarded with Amazon gift cards. Thank you for supporting Floradise!

I’ve always been curious about my heritage and where specifically my ancestors are from. Often when Graham and I travel we get questions about my ethnicity and I’ve accidentally been given local discounts because some people have assumed I am a member of a certain tribe or that I am from the area rather than a visitor. That was always surprising to me, but I have also always wondered exactly where I am from. Graham and I recently purchased DNA kits from Ancestry to try to find out.

Graham has yet to take his saliva sample, but I was able to finally do mine a couple of weeks ago. I paid $79 for my DNA kit and additional kits were $69. I used my sister’s referral link, which got her a $10 Amazon gift card. To take the test, the first step is to activate your kit online. Also, you can’t eat, drink, smoke or chew gum for 30 minutes before doing the test. Once you are ready, you fill the sample tube to the indicated line and then close the tube. You then twist to tighten the cap until the blue stabilizing solution drops into your sample. You shake the tube for 5 seconds and then it’s ready to place into the little collection bag and mail it back to the lab in the enclosed mailing box. (These directions are printed on a card inside your kit.)

You receive an email when the lab has received your kit and you can track where the kit is in the process. Initially the email estimated it could take six to eight weeks to receive my results, but the lab received my kit on October 20 and I had my results November 1. Not too shabby!

My results:

My ethnicity estimate indicated 49 percent Native American from Northwest Mexico and the Southern California Coast, 19 percent Iberian Peninsula, 9 percent Ireland/Scotland/Wales, and 7 percent Middle East and 3 percent Africa North. The rest were low confidence regions.

I found it interesting how many of my DNA matches were from Sonora, Mexico, and California. It seems my family members have stayed in the same general area. The ethnicity timeline for that area goes back to the 1700s. It says:

Survivors on the Spanish Frontier

Early settlers who followed the narrow corridor between the mountains and the ocean to the northern frontier tamed the farthest reaches of the Spanish Empire. They were generally cut off from the rest of Mexico, often enduring temperatures greater than 100 degrees, and surviving as silver miners and farmers. The Jesuits, a Catholic monastic order, built churches, schools, and strong communities that made religion the center of daily life. During the late 1700s, residents faced frequent raids by Native American tribes.

While I was excited to learn my results, I wish I could know specifically which Native American tribes vs. the general area they lived in. I am more interested in knowing that, though I am not sure how to go about finding out. However, I was happy about the number of DNA matches I was able to see. I didn’t expect so many matches to show up in my list! My sister has already done a DNA kit, so she showed up at the top of the list. Two estimated third cousins also showed up in my list of matches, along with many fourth-sixth cousins. If you would like to you can message your DNA matches, which I think is awesome!

To really dig into your family tree you will need an Ancestry membership, which I’m considering. In the past, my sister has found documents listing relatives from when they crossed into the U.S., along with much more. I think the DNA kit is a great way to get started on learning more about your ancestry, and overall I am glad I did a DNA test.

Use my referral link to try Ancestry DNA for yourself. I receive a $10 Amazon gift card, but no other compensation.

Have you considered taking a DNA test? Have you ever used Ancestry?

Order your Ancestry DNA kit.

12/19/2016

Phoenix Travel: Camby Hotel

Last week was yet another whirlwind. In my life, weeks are either super slow or an avalanche — there is no in between. On Wednesday night Graham and I went to his work holiday party. At 4 a.m. the next morning I was on my way to Midway Airport to travel to Phoenix for work and for my holiday party. I landed in Phoenix about 9 a.m., changed into Phoenix-weather appropriate clothing and worked a full day in the office. I couldn’t keep my eyes open at this point, so I returned to my hotel room that evening for one glorious night of uninterrupted sleep, a rare occurrence in my life as a new mom.

My blissful sleep was at the Camby Hotel in the Biltmore area of Phoenix. The best way I can describe the Camby is quirky. I’ll let the photos do the talking:

I loved the chandeliers throughout the evening and lobby.

This neon mixed media saguaro was my favorite.

The artwork/light in my hotel room was my favorite.

The bathroom was well appointed.

After coming home to one of the worst weekends I’ve had lately. I wish I were still at the Camby right now! What’s the best or quirkiest hotel you’ve stayed in? Share in the comments below!

06/29/2016

Phoenix Eats: Reyes de la Torta, Flower Child, Stock & Stable

Besides seeing my friends and family, the best part about being back in Phoenix for a few days was eating at places I love. I wasn’t able to visit all of my favorites, but I did have some excellent meals last weekend.

Here’s what I ate at three great local Phoenix restaurants:

Reyes de la Torta: It’s a no-frills mom-and-pop Mexican food location. Most (if not all) the servers speak Spanish and often music or television is playing in Spanish. The food comes in large portions and it’s simply delicious. It’s not about the decor, it’s about the food here.

I ordered the veggie torta, which mainly composed of cheese plus lettuce, beans, jalapeno and tomato. I also had rice on the side. I thought the torta would have more beans than it did, so next time I would add some as a side.

The Del Rey torta.

Flower Child: The Late Riser (cage-free eggs, beans, quinoa, roasted chile,salsa, avocado,corn, Greek yogurt and queso blanco) is delicious and guilt-free. I wished I could order a free refill! Also, if you show up for breakfast, which ends at 11, you can have free refills of the cold brew. This restaurant is adorable and I love the details like yoga mat parking, an infused water station outside and wall art.

Stock & Stable: This new restaurant opened in my old Phoenix neighborhood. Its dishes focus on meat (hence the name) but I found several pescatarian-friendly options. The squid ink cavatelli is tasty, but it kind of looked like bugs. You will see when you order it. Just don’t look at it; eat it!

The potted crab (a dip) is amazing. Do yourself a favor and order one (or two) and be sure to get extra bread.

We ordered the Eastern Promises and Black Hatchet drinks from their cocktail menu as well. I liked both, but I preferred the Black Hatchet.

This would be a great place to eat on a patio when the weather is nice.

Eastern Promises and Black Hatchet

If you try any of these places let me know what you think! What are your favorite places to eat?

05/27/2016

Phoenix Eats: Herb Box Midtown

One of the things I miss about Phoenix is my neighborhood. The area surrounding our condo has seen lots of redevelopment recently, adding trendy new restaurants and bars. I try to check out a new restaurant each time I visit Phoenix. This month I was able to try the Herb Box’s new Midtown Phoenix location on Seventh Street just north of Missouri Avenue.

The Herb Box is in the Colony development project, which will also house other new restaurants. I watched an abandoned senior-housing complex be torn down to begin construction before I moved to Chicago last year. The restaurant has a great patio that will be nice in cooler Phoenix months.

I met my friend there for happy hour, during which most drinks are $11. The house wine and beer were $5. (I chose the white house option, which was Chardonnay. Not my favorite, but I’m on a budget.) On a Thursday afternoon, only a few other tables were occupied.

I started the meal with the Avocado Love, which by the description sounded like avocado toast. When it was delivered to the table, I was shocked. Where’s the avocado? Instead I saw a mountain of arugula covering the toast. Don’t get me wrong; it was delicious, but I was not expecting this much arugula. I had to scrape a bunch of it off onto a plate so I could eat the avocado toast. (I later ate the arugula at home as part of a salad.) The sweet-hot Serrano glaze is delicious!

I also ordered a side of gouda mac and cheese, because I was looking for a smaller pre-dinner meal. It had a smoky flavor and was filling enough for me.

My friend ordered the butternut squash and corn enchiladas, which I tasted and loved. I would definitely order it again on a future visit. It was served with a salad.

My first impression of the Herb Box is that it is a nice option for healthier fare than the norm. The prices are a little high but seem to be in line with other trendy restaurants that serve fresh food.

Have you tried the Herb Box? What did you think?

03/22/2016

A Wedding at the Farm at South Mountain

Cousins are your first best friends. Growing up, my cousin Paulette, my sister Angie and I were inseparable. So when Paulette’s wedding came up this month, I was thrilled to be able to fly back to Phoenix from Chicago. I was also excited to attend a wedding at the Farm at South Mountain. It’s the perfect venue.

The ceremony was in the Stone Grove, followed by the dinner reception at Quiessence. The decor fit the farm nicely. The bridal suite is spacious and adorably decorated. It has plenty of dress hooks for those must-have wedding dress photos. It also has abundant closet space and a kitchen. The groom used a smaller suite next to the Stone Grove to get ready. Cute little clear and green mason jars filled with assorted white flowers hung on the ceremony chairs. Burlap decor was placed throughout. It was a Pinterest wedding come to life.

I may be biased, but the flower girl is pretty darn cute.

After the ceremony, we headed to Quiessence for the most delicious meal I’ve had in a while. One of the highlights was the apple mascarpone cannolis.

Have you ever been to the Farm at South Mountain? Isn’t it just the cutest place ever?

01/04/2016

Phoenix Must-Try: Ocotillo PHX

One of the best things I’ve been able to do while visiting Phoenix for Christmas was try brunch at Ocotillo PHX on Third Street south of Osborn Road. I hadn’t heard of this new restaurant (it opened in September), but a quick glance at the menu convinced me this place could be great.
The restaurant had a Yard-like atmosphere. It has a separate little coffee house, and the patio had ample seating and heaters surrounding picnic tables. When I made the reservation I was offered a chef’s table seating arrangement, though we opted for a half-booth, half-table setup instead. Inside, Southwestern art and photos decked the walls, but in a minimalist way. The decor wasn’t over the top.

My friend and I ordered the scrambled farm eggs and the falafel burger (paired with fries) to share. I thoroughly enjoyed the burger, but I couldn’t get enough feta-yogurt sauce. The eggs were scrambled with chili sauce, queso fresco, avocado, blue-corn tortillas, radishes and pico de gallo. Out of the two, I liked the falafel burger more.

Scrambled farm eggs from Ocotillo PHX.

Falafel burger and fries from Ocotillo PHX.

My brunch companions ordered the smoked brisket, which they raved about; the breakfast chimichanga; and the skillet pancake, which looked like a cake. All portions were hearty and looked amazing on the plates. The medjoul date appetizer (not pictured) was a hit, too.

The enormous skillet pancake from Ocotillo PHX.

The Ocotillo will be a must on my next Phoenix visit. I can’t wait to try more of the venue. Have you been to Ocotillo? What did you think?
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01/03/2016

Football at a Baseball Stadium?

When I found out I could go to the Cactus Bowl game featuring my alma mater Arizona State and West Virginia, I was pumped. Then I found out it was at Chase Field, and I was intrigued. A bowl game at a ballpark? A little unusual, but cool! I am used to going to Arizona Diamondbacks games at the stadium, which I sometimes mistakenly call Bank One Ballpark, its former name. We picked our tickets up from will call and entered through the neighboring gate. Luckily, our section was nearby, so we didn’t have to wind our way around the entire concourse. The lines outside before the game snaked around the stadium, so at first glance I wanted to turn around and walk the half-mile back to the car. But no, we had made it to the game in time. By the way, if you’re ever attending a game at Chase Field, just look for a spot south of Fillmore. It’s only a half-mile walk and you can find plenty of free places to park. I needed the exercise after two weeks of nonstop eating and celebrating. Otherwise, look for a meter spot, which is cheaper than the $12-20 you can pay at garages.
Back to the game … It was my first ASU game since graduating. The back-and-forth of the game was entertaining, despite the outcome. The energy was different than games at Sun Devil Stadium, but that’s to be expected.
If you’re wondering what a football game at Chase Field is like, take a look. It’s a lot like any other game. Those grounds crews are miracle workers, I tell ya.

Go Devils!
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12/23/2015

Christmastime at Camelback Mountain

If you live in Phoenix, or know anyone who does, you’ve probably heard of the Christmas tree atop Camelback Mountain. It seems to be what everyone’s talking about nowadays, besides the weather. You’ve probably also heard about the guy who dresses as Santa and poses for photos with hikers on weekends leading up to Christmas. While I didn’t get a photo with the big guy, I saw the Christmas tree for myself for the first time in a few years this week. As soon as I saw it, I kicked myself for not bringing an ornament to hang on it. (If you’re reading this and plan a hike soon, please hang one in my honor.) I did, however, pick up an ornament that had fallen and hung it back on the tree, which counts for something, right?
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
My friend Ashley and I planned a hiking date to reunite after months of not seeing each other. Ashley is a New Yorker and I am a wannabe Chicagoan (?) now, so we have missed the mountains. I researched Camelback parking online and asked Instagram friends about the parking situation, and what I read made me nervous. Everything I read said that you’d have to wait for parking to open up and that the mountain gets busy on holidays, and in the winter overall. I decided we should be dropped off so that we wouldn’t have to worry about finding parking. We awoke at 6 a.m., sipped on coffee courtesy of Ashley and made it to the mountain. What did we find? A nearly empty parking lot. We didn’t complain, though, because that means fewer people on the mountain.
I was out of breath almost immediately as we began the Echo Canyon hike. Those inclines are even more intense than my Orangetheory workouts! I had been proud of myself for being in better shape after three months of sessions, but now I see I still have work to do. The views are completely worth the effort though. See for yourself.

Have you hiked Camelback recently? Do you stick to the Cholla trail or the tough Echo Canyon side?

12/23/2015

Arizona Storytellers Holiday Spectacular 2015

I laughed hysterically one minute and held back tears the next.
I wanted to attend the Arizona Storytellers Holiday Spectacular for years, and I finally made it this week. Storytellers events are nights when people share tales from their lives, often with a particular theme. The audience is encouraged to actively participate by taking the story in and being engaged listeners. It’s my second Storytellers event — I attended one last year at The Newton — and this time the audience was 630 people vs. a couple hundred. The Arizona Biltmore opened up its McArthur Ballroom for the event and served holiday cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. I opted for a glass of wine to calm my anxiety about being among so many people. Introversion, you know? Among the audience members were some of my former co-workers from The Arizona Republic. It was such a treat to catch up with a fellow (former) copy editor and hear about his adventures traveling the country with his wife. Retirement sounds like a distant, heavenly dream. *Sigh.*
The stories began with Joe Finnerty, who is not related to host Megan Finnerty, talking about his family’s Christmas traditions. I was already emotional hearing it, and it was just the beginning. Not all of the stories were about joyous family traditions, though. One story talked about the harsh realities in the teller’s life one year, including finding out a loved one was addicted to heroin. That story hit home because I have relatives who suffer from addiction and I know the impact it has on the person and his or her family and friends. That sadness turned to laughter when I heard another story about a father who made extra-special tamales for his family one year after being pressured to make them. And then I craved more tamales.
I have absolutely zero photos of the night because it’s not an event that can be easily documented while being an engaged listener. I wanted to truly get into the stories and the messages, and I did. The Storytellers nights have expanded to cities like Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Find a list of them in this Poynter article. If you have a chance to go to a Storytellers event, I highly recommend it. You can also sign up to be a teller, which Megan will be thrilled about.
Get more information about the events in Phoenix on the Storytellers website, and let me know what you think!
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