And now it’s time to hear from our friend Jim Williamson. It’s recap time, and you know you love some recaps because something almost always happens. I will try and do a quick recap as I have to pull drapery fabrics for a client in Austin; select some new pieces from our awesome new furniture line, Powell & Bonnell, that will arriving soon; and I also have to talk to my real estate agent about listing my condo. (My NYC friends would say “Oh no, darling! You simple must say ‘apartment’ or ‘townhome.’ Please don’t be gauche.”)
I don’t use the place anymore now that Max and I have begun our fourth year of togetherness—or what I like to call “a very long engagement with gold finger bands.” And you don’t really need two residences in the same city that are located within a few miles of one another unless you have some major bladder issues or those homes happen to be located in the Hamptons.
We actually celebrated the fourth anniversary of our first date and that oh-so-awkward kiss just this week. It was very fancy as you have come to expect from Mr. Jim: Only the finest Pepe & Mito’s has to offer. But seriously, you can’t beat those tortillas.
Now on to Scottsdale, which has some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in America, and Sedona, home to awe-inspiring views and other things we will get to shortly. I had no expectations going into this trip because, being the jaded sort, I didn’t want to put some high hopes where hope doesn’t float. I did no research and waited until the very last minute to pack. But I was pleasantly surprised to see how lovely and lush the desert is. Whoever said the desert was dead has not been to Scottsdale. Beautiful, low-slung homes and resorts hidden behind thick hedges and walls offer many an oasis with an abundance of flora and fauna of the desert variety.
I believe Scottsdale has some 70-plus resorts and the largest rental car hub I have ever seen. This ease of getting in, out, and about is probably what makes this place so attractive for large corporate events and snow birds looking to escape winter. It is also a good place for weddings. We saw two in two days, one of which we unknowingly became a part of. We didn’t so much crash it as hang over it. We had just finished spa treatments at the resort, and we were relaxing by the spa pool, which is three or four stories up, about as high as you can go in Scottsdale without climbing Camelback. The pool just happened to overlook a wedding taking place in a courtyard below. There is nothing quite like having four people in white terrycloth robes drinking Champagne by the pool while giving up-to-the-minute critiques of the wedding. (Someone may have also yelled, “Don’t do it Tracey!”)
Here are some other special things about Scottsdale: It is very clean and orderly. There is definitely some interesting architecture, and it does indeed have a “dry heat” that cools down into the pleasant 60s at night. They also have some excellent dining options. On our first night, we tried Elements, a beautifully designed restaurant with lots of glass to take in the scenic desert vistas. The food didn’t disappoint, although the service was slow at times, which I will attribute to the large group next to us and not our server. The diners either had very weak bladders or just liked visiting the restroom “Hollywood” style. One woman went to the bathroom eight times between our first course and our entrée. I only know this because she bumped my chair each time she got up.
On Saturday night, we had dinner at POSH. No, Victoria Beckham doesn’t have a new restaurant in Arizona, and they don’t come to the table and say, “Tell me what you want—what you really, really want.” I’m not crazy about the name. (I also don’t like the word “classy.”) What I am crazy about is the amazing food they are throwing down. It is an interesting concept: You don’t get a menu. Instead you get a card where you cross off foods you do not like from a list of available ingredients that range from uni and halibut to beef tongue and escargot, just to name a few. If you don’t like beef tongue or goose egg, you cross them off so the chef knows not to prepare anything for you with those ingredients. You don’t know what any of your courses will be until they arrive, and each guest gets something different. We chose the seven-course meal with wine pairing. It was super delicious and everyone was excited. By the fourth course, Mr. Jim was feeling overstuffed, but everyone had a really good time. It was one of those evenings we won’t soon forget. In fact, we had so much fun that we decided to shoot for the 15-course meal next year. I have already asked if that includes a cigar and a nap between courses seven and eight.
My other favorite spot was Barrio Queen, home of what could be my one true love (behind Max and the children and Cartier): the Limon Y Coco. I know some of you are thinking that coconut and margaritas do not go together. I felt the same way until I had that first sip. It was refreshing and delicious, and it wasn’t too sweet and didn’t taste like it was made from reconstituted ingredients called “a mix.” The coconut comes from the flavored tequila, and with the fresh lemon juice, house-made orgeat syrup, and a splash of pineapple, I could have sipped on those until the urge to sing “Blue Bayou” came over me. Luckily, I had a flight to catch so that did not happen and everyone left with their eardrums intact.
So that was Scottsdale.
Now one to our day-trip to Sedona: We took off in our Dodge Charger, a gang known as the “Furious Seven,” to Sedona, which is only a two-hour drive from Scottsdale. It’s not a bad drive unless you haven’t slept well and get car sick riding in the back—both of which I was experiencing.
On the way to Sedona is the Rock Creek Café, a world famous café and all those pies. Seriously, they sell thousands of pies every weekend. It was too busy to stop and enjoy a slice on the way to Sedona as we were on a schedule and had to be back in Scottsdale by a certain time, so we just took a rest break and headed onward to our destination knowing we would try again on our way home.
It was lunchtime when we arrived in Sedona so we stopped for a frozen Rita and some Mexican food. Unfortunately, my tummy wasn’t up for much of either, as the dreaded travel tummy set in for both me and the designated driver. We have the sensitive tummy that sometimes requires Nexium, and somehow we both forgot to take it.
But after the other folks were stuffed full of rellenos and Ritas, it was time to do some gallery hopping. Sadly, it turned out we had chosen the weekend of the great chili cook-off weekend to visit. This meant no parking and, of course my all-time favorite, crowds of people. The two grumpy ones in the back (me and my sister from another mother) were all like, “If we can’t find parking quickly, we are not doing this festival. We don’t have to go. Really!” But Maxwell was intent on going and finding a bowl, which apparently I had mentioned in passing—probably during that multi-course dinner.
After a few attempts, we found a prime space thanks to a very nice lady whom I secretly wanted to slap because that meant I had to actually get out of the car. With no visible escape route, we started walking through the chili cook-off. If your stomach isn’t quite right and the sun is shining down ever so brightly, the last thing you probably want to do is smell hundreds of different types of chili all at once. I dashed in and out of as many galleries as I could to avoid those smells. They have some good art and some not-so-good art. It was much harder finding the good stuff. I’m not putting down any artist because I appreciate all different types of art forms and the skills that go into making said piece(s). I’m just saying I am not really into a lot of art glass, garden spinners, or dream catchers.
Now on to something that made me really happy: The spectacular views of the famous red stone formations like cathedral rock. We enjoyed the best views from the Church of the Holy Cross built in the buttes and completed in 1956. It is a very cool structure and apparently built in a formation known for its special energy powers from the universe. I didn’t feel any of that special energy, but I am pretty sure Jesus needs a new decorator because I did see plastic flowers on the altar. Please, no plastic flowers ever. If you have to dust them, they aren’t flowers.
After taking pictures and helping the elderly up the ramp to the church, we headed back to Scottsdale but not before stopping off to try those famous pies. Between the four of us, we tried about seven of the 30-plus flavors. I have to say, they were all pretty damn good and were made all the better as we made many jokes featuring the word “pie” as we rocked on a wagon-wheel bench.
So that is your recap. It was quick trip full of sun, fun, and food—lots and lots of food. Oh, and garden spinners. Have a great Friday. I’ll see you back here after Memorial Day when we will get yet another recap, this time from the lake. Which lake? That I don’t know. I don’t want to know until we arrive. What I do know is Max is not a lake person, so get ready for some really good stories.
