San Antonio, TX

Texas – again!!!!

While I couldn’t believe that I was heading off to Texas for the third time in six months, I was nonetheless excited to go to San Antonio. My friend Camy and her husband moved to San Antonio a while ago and I would finally be able to see them again. While San Antonio isn’t my first choice (I am still holding out for a chance to return to Houston after almost nine years) I was more than happy to reconnect with Camy.

United Airlines is not on my good list right now. I arrived at the airport in plenty of time to make my 8:22 am flight to San Antonio only to have them bump me. It was unceremoniously done as they tried to blame me for arriving to late. Seeing as I arrived at the gate at about 7:15 am, I don’t think the blame should reside with me. Additionally, they bumped several members of the military that had orders to report to one of the Air Force bases in San Antonio. According to my fellow bumpees, the airline cannot bump travelers with military orders. The woman at the gate could not have been less helpful. She actually disappeared and someone else had to come help us, although he was fairly useless as well. I had purposefully chosen an early flight, and paid full price for the ticket, because I have to ensure that if I do get bumped, that I can catch another flight. United finally got me on an American Airlines flight to San Antonio with a stop in Dallas. The problem was that I didn’t even arrive in SA until 11:45 pm CDT. By the time I checked into my hotel at about 1 am Monday morning, I was exhausted. But I am pro and tried not to let it show when I arrived at USAA.

San Antonio is the headquarters for USAA, the banking and insurance company dedicated to the military. The USAA complex is absolutely enormous: tennis courts, driving range, two pavilions, Frisbee golf courses, about ten zillion entrances to the complex and enough room for deer to roam freely on the grounds. What really blew my mind was that I rode around on golf carts inside the building in order to get from the visitors building to the training room. It reminded me of that scene in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery when he is on that stupid cart trying to do a thirty point turn. Luckily these halls were wide enough for us to easily make U-turns.

I had a great time with my class because they were super nice people and they were very interested in where I ate dinner every night. I went to places they recommended and every day I had to write the name of the place I ate the night before on the board. I loved that they were interested in my nightly escapades and were very upset when I neglected to update the “Dined At:” list.

Monday night I returned to Pappadeaux for my favorite Citrus Crusted Tilapia because their fish always tastes so fresh. I can only go to Pappadeaux when I am in the south so I always take full advantage of my time in Texas and Georgia (I don’t know what other states have a Pappadeaux). I ordered dessert, which I rarely do as I eat poorly as it is when I travel, but I was wooed by the Praline Cheesecake. It took me 3 days to finish it, but was worth every bite. The caramel that accompanies the cheesecake was perfectly done as it was not burned or too oily – as Goldilocks would say, it was just right.

Tuesday I went to Tomatillos which received the City Search award for best margaritas in San Antonio. I can’t comment on the margaritas, but their Tres Colores Enchiladas were very good and gave a nice variety of Tex-Mex cuisine. They also had very professional waiters and excellent guacamole which is always a plus. Tomatillos is also located across the street from a Half-Priced Books so you can totally make a night of it…if you like cruising bookstores.

Wednesday Camy, her sister Becky, and Camy’s daughter Sierra (2) picked me up for a girls night on the town. I had so much fun catching up with Camy and getting to know Becky better, as the last time I spoke with Becky was at Camy and Jason’s wedding. Sadly Jason had to work as he is completing his medical residency with the Air Force. We missed you Jason. Sierra is a doll. She is crazy smart and definitely has a mind of her own. She spent a portion of the night being a duck. I must say that with a few more months of practice she could go pro.

We first went to the Bass Pro Shop which was ENORMOUS. The place has a multitude of taxidermy animals that Sierra likes to look at and pet. When Camy mentioned looking at the animals I thought it would be some deer, elk and maybe a bear. Boy did I underestimate the Bass Pro Shop. They had lions, wolves, zebra, longhorn cattle…quite the menagerie. They also had a laser tag like shooting range. I have to admit that I am not very good, but after three rounds I increased my score from some type of Very Bad score to “Needs Practice.”

When in Texas you are morally obligated to eat BBQ. Camy suggested a place called Rudy’s (which my students confirmed as wonderful). When you walk up to Rudy’s it smells like a campfire because the food is all smoked and cooked over the flame. We ended up ordering brisket, turkey, chopped meat, and sausage. The potato salad and peach cobbler were also wonderful. Their creamed corn is to unlike anything I have ever had. The recipe is top secret, but I would swear that they put grits in mix. It was classic, no-frills BBQ, complete with the half a loaf of white bread, and I loved it.

On Thursday I knew I needed a steak (again, a moral imperative in Texas) and my class recommended a place called the Little Red Barn. When I pulled up to the restaurant, there were 4 police cruisers in the parking lot. I took that as either a really bad or a really good sign. It turns out to be a good sign as there were probably 8-10 police officers in the cashier’s line. Aside from the fact that they put me behind a wall (“A woman dining alone – UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN”) I still enjoyed the experience. I felt that my steak was too done but at least it was reasonably priced. Also, the cowgirl outfits that the waitresses wear are outrageous.

On Friday I returned to the Tip Top Café. I had tried to dine there earlier in the week, waited in line for 20 minutes only to realize that they don’t take credit cards. This time I came prepared and happily ate lunch at the counter. The Tip Top had been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network and the place was packed all the time. The portions were gigantic, I ended up giving my onion rings to 2 women sitting next to me. They have the best apple pie that I have ever tasted. I would highly recommend the restaurant if you are ever in San Antonio.

My last day there I headed to the Alamo and the River Walk. To paraphrase Shelley, “Leave it to the Texans to take a huge failure and play it off as a success.” I decided that as a historian and a mocker of Texas, I should see the Alamo. I found the grounds to be surprisingly lovely. As for the actual Alamo, it was fine and slightly forgettable. The River Walk, however, far exceeded my expectations. The landscaping and architecture are charming. I ended up walking up and down the river and enjoying all the people watching. I also took a dinner cruise so I could see all of the sights. I had a great time even though I was the only single person on the boat. Good times!

Next trip – Akron, OH

Bank of America

Truer words were never written:



Thanks for sharing Katie M.

West Palm Beach, Florida

I made my first trip to Florida during the first week of June. Everyone at work voiced their jealousy that I got to go to West Palm Beach. I don’t think I was appropriately excited as I had never been to Florida and had very low expectations. Overall I enjoyed my time in Florida, although I found the humidity to be very oppressive (I am sure this is not big surprise as I hate the heat and humidity).

When I arrived in West Palm Beach I was so excited to see palm trees again. I am always surprised at how much I miss palm trees. Those blasted trees made me miss California even more than I already do. I just found myself staring at the palm trees and hoping to go home and visit sometime soon. The palms are all strategically placed, especially in Palm Beach. Palm Beach differs from West Palm Beach in that Palm Beach is on a slip of sand separated from the Florida mainland by a waterway called the Intercoastal. Palm Beach is also home to huge homes and country clubs (see Mar-a-Lago which is now owned by Donald Trump and cost around $125,000 for the yearly dues). They work very hard to keep people like you and me out of town as it was founded by Old Money. Aristocratic mentality aside, they do know how to create a community that is lovely and meticulously maintained – palm trees and all.

Luckily I was working with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and they told me what parts of town to avoid. Apparently the Crowne Plaza I stayed at was not in a good neighborhood. I think the phrase, “Don’t walk outside at night,” came up several times. I love working with the police I always feel like I have a great insight into the community.

I was very excited to have authentic Cuban food. The way I see it is that the best place to get Cuban food outside of Cuba (which I don’t think I will be visiting anytime soon) is south Florida. I went to a restaurant called Havana that was listed as one of the best Cuban places in West Palm Beach. I had tostones and a skirt steak that had been marinated and seared. I love a tender steak and this one was so flavorful and tender.

I ate at another local restaurant called E.R. Bradley’s. This restaurant/bar has a lovely outdoor and covered eating area. I sat right on the edge of the covered porch and overlooked the Intercostal as I ate blackened Mahi-Mahi. The food was okay, mostly forgettable, but the combination of outdoor dining and a lovely water view made the night worthwhile.

On Thursday nights in downtown West Palm Beach they have a street festival called Clematis by Night. They have bands, food, and vendors that you can enjoy for free. They also have this giant fountain that kids, and only kids, can play in. My students suggested I make a night of it, so I headed downtown.

I really enjoyed the band as they played a lot of Motown hits that I enjoy. It was also a people watching hotspot: watching the public dancing, kids playing in the fountain, etc. I found a French bistro called Pistache. I had a wonderful table that overlooked all the activity at Clematis by Night, it was perfect. I had the best prime rib I have ever had. The steak must have been cooked in some red wine reduction because it was so flavorful. While I was eating my dinner I saw someone walk by my table that looked familiar. I realized that it was Pretentious Stephen from the first season of Top Chef. Remember the jerky sommelier with the double Windsor knots in his ties. I didn’t say anything to him, I just had the sense of satisfaction that he is just as pretentious in real life as he appeared on TV.

I feel like it would have been insulting to my co-workers, Florida and the Atlantic Ocean if I didn’t go to the beach while in Palm Beach. Now I didn’t go swimming in the water for a number of reasons, but I did enjoy walking on the sand and getting my feet wet. I cannot get over how warm the Atlantic is compared to the Pacific. It was like a bathtub…am I used to West Coast beaches where you suck it up because you are at the ocean and the ocean is awesome regardless of how cold it may be. I can also see why there are no great East Coast surf legends. The waves were practically nonexistent. You definitively need to hit the Pacific if you are going to surf like a pro.

Overall I really enjoyed my time in Florida. I spent my last night driving down the island from Palm Beach to Boca Raton. Some of the architecture is so distinctive of south Florida; I think I could live well with a house that had a beautiful terrace overlooking the Atlantic. One interesting aspect of the island is that it is obvious when you cross city lines. The second you drive over the city line the whole dynamic of a town changes. It goes from being ritzy and old money to a much more lower or middle class lifestyle.

Next Trip - San Antonio, TX

Ft. Gratiot, MI or "Care Bears are Yucky"

I recently returned from Ft. Gratiot, MI to visit my college roommate Kristine and her family. I always love to visit Kristine as she and I are just two peas in a very strange pod. I also adore her children (since I only like kids on a case-by-case basis, it is a real compliment that I like all three of her kids). I see it as my job to spoil them as their Aunt Jendavis. Her children all call me Jendavis. When I have tried to explain to them that my first name is Jen and my last name is Davis the response is generally one of incredulity. I think we are all at the point where Rachel, who is 4, thinks my name is Jendavis Davis. Although it is progress in the arena of name comprehension, it love that they call me Jendavis and wouldn’t change it for the world.

I was only up in Michigan for a few days but I had a blast hanging out with the kids, spoiling them, and chatting with Kristine and Jon late into the night. Ft. Gratiot is located about 60 east of Detroit on Lake Huron. I have to say that Detroit leaves a lot to be desired. I know that Michigan is way ahead of the country when it comes to an economic slump and it shows. Luckily Jon has a great job and that makes Michigan a great value when it comes to housing. I am content to visit at this point.

We mostly hung out and went to some of the kids favorite places like Golden Corral and the Rainforest Café at Great Lakes Crossing. The kids love Rainforest and the mall is pretty cool. They have a very kid friendly Chuck E. Cheese like place that they just adore. I let them go to the Disney Store and pick a gift. It was so awesome to be able to just spoil Rachel, Carter and Katey rotten and be the favorite for a good 10 minutes.

I was also able to go to Rachel’s preschool graduation which was appropriately adorable. They sang songs and fidgeted and ate cookies brought in by the parents. She was so proud of her achievement and is far too smart for her own good.


Carter, 2, is talking so much more than when I last saw him in October. It is great to see his personality come out. He has so much energy and is the quintessential boy. He refuses to watch Care Bear cartoons as they are “yucky.” He sat in the car for 30 minutes with his hands over his eyes rather than watch the Care Bears. I don’t think Jon has ever been more proud.

Katey,1, is so well mannered and easy going. She entertains herself so well and loves to laugh. She is my kind of kid.

I can’t wait to go back.

New York City

I received the coolest assignment back in April because I got to go to New York. I had only been to NYC once before, for two days, and I definitely wanted to visit again. While the downside to the assignment was that I had to work and couldn’t spend all my time out on the town, the upside was that work allowed me to visit Manhattan in style. Here is a breakdown of the trip:

I stayed at the Millennium Hilton which is located in the Financial District. My room overlooked Ground Zero so I got up close and personal to the construction site. It does not bear any resemblance to the Ground Zero (thank heavens) that I saw in October 2001. It looks just like any other construction site that also serves as a tourist attraction. The restaurant in the Hilton, Church & Dey, is unremarkable. The food was on par with an Olive Garden. What really angered me is that they used Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup on my ice cream. For heaven’s sake, spring for some hot fudge people!

Monday night one of my students recommended a restaurant called Brasserie Les Halles. I have since learned that there is one located in DC (and is owned (?) by Anthony Bourdain). It was wonderful, although too dark to read (I know, I know but what are you supposed to do when eating out by yourself?), and I would highly recommend the steak, the amazing French fries (soooo good), and the chocolate mousse. I am told that the service at the Les Halles on Park Avenue is better than the downtown location (I went to the Park Avenue café).

Monday was also my first solo foray onto the NYC Subway. I have lived to tell that it is a very convenient and accessible mass transit system. That being said, I found it to be dirty, especially in comparison to the DC Metro system. I only took the wrong train one time (to which I received applause from my students). I also saw a small child fall between the platform and a departing train. Luckily his mother was able to pull him onto the platform before he was hurt. The child was totally fine, but I think his mother lost a few years off her life. She was sobbing and hugging the boy like crazy. I was glad to see so many concerned citizens try to help as I expected that New York apathy. I have also decided that the grossest dare in the world would be to lick a step on a NYC subway station stairway. I gag just thinking about that.

Tuesday I got tickets to Young Frankenstein. It was hilarious, smart, goofy, and very well acted. Roger Bart, who you have all seen but don’t know by name, played Frederick Frankenstein and Megan Mullally (of Will & Grace) played Elizabeth. Both are excellent comedians and wonderful singers. I had 3rd row center, orchestra seats that blew my mind. Good times!

I had a pre-theater dinner that night at a place called Barbetta. It was okay, if overpriced, with very good polenta. Apparently it used to be one of Sinatra’s old haunts and the restaurant is housed in home at one time owned by the Astor family.


Wednesday I went to Serendipity (yes the one from the movie) and had a lovely ham and brie sandwich. The highlight was the frozen hot chocolate, which was very refreshing. Be warned that it causes severe brain freeze and the serving is too large for one person. Otherwise I just walked all over Midtown, stopping at Bloomingdales, the Plaza, and Rockefeller Center. I walked down 5th Avenue and looked at all the amazing clothing and jewelry that I cannot afford. I really want to participate in wanton consumerism (at times).

Thursday I saw Mary Poppins. The two leads in the show are so talented. I enjoyed the story and the child actors we much better than I expected. They had some lame back story about Mrs. Banks and her attempts to find herself and reconnect with Mr. Banks. I found it boring and longed for the suffragette Mrs. Bank singing “Votes for Women.” There was one number in Mary Poppins that freaked me out a bit. It was like a combination of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’s Island of Misfit Toys and Dumbo’s Huffalumps and Woozles. I didn’t like it at all. Although I had front row seats, I had no leg room. I am not tall and I was dying. I don’t know how tall people can sit that long in seats that are worse than economy class.

Before the theater I had pastrami and corned beef rolls at Junior’s off Times Square. I also had some of the best cheesecake ever at Junior’s. I guess they are well known for their cheesecake and it is not without reason. I was going to go to Roxy's but all the online reviews said the staff was rude and the restauarnt was unclean. Junior's was the exact opposite, go if you want good food, although it is very busy.

On Friday I just walked around the Financial District until I had to catch my flight. I went to St. Paul’s and saw George Washington’s pew, Trinity Church (of National Treasure fame), the Stock Exchange, and to the Federal Hall museum which is a national park.

I had a blast and I would love to go there again. I would happily live there, if I had the paycheck to make living in Manhattan fun and exciting. For now I will just let work send me.

Philadelphia

Back in April our ward planned an activity with the Philadelphia singles ward. I normally don’t participate in ward activities (I am lazy and would rather be home watching a movie) but Shelley and I decided to go. Now the plan was to drive up to Philadelphia and stay with people up in Philly, doing some urban camping. Now I am far too old and far too pampered to sleep on someone else’s floor. So I talked Shelley in splitting a hotel room with me. Now that I am in my 30’s I have gone totally soft and I want a comfortable night’s sleep. I am worried that I am about two years away from having a bed time of 9:30 pm and nodding off while reading Reader’s Digest Condensed Books.

Shelley and I arrived in downtown Philly on a Friday night so we could do a little sightseeing on our own. When we arrived at the hotel, we were informed that the hotel had given my reservation to another Jennifer Davis from West Virginia. To make up for it, they gave Shelley and I a Junior Suite, which was like a regular hotel room except that it had two TVs. It was awesome.

Now I warned Shelley that Philadelphia is kind of gross, but I don’t think she really believed me. Luckily the city hadn’t changed much since I was there seven years ago and I did not come off looking like a liar. That being said, we had a great time wandering around Old City. We ate a place called City Tavern which was very cool. City Tavern offers “authentic colonial-style cuisine that is served in this historically accurate reconstruction of the original 1773 tavern. There are three floors with colonial décor and staff in period costume.” It was surprisingly good and I gladly wasn’t freaked out by the living history performers.

Shelley and I spent Saturday wandering around Philadelphia with our friends Kasey and Justin. We saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Ben Franklin’s grave and ate cheesesteaks at Jim’s. I had a great time and I think Shelley really enjoyed all the historical buildings. I really liked the cheesesteaks.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Despite having lived in the DC area on two separate occasions before moving out here last November, I have never lived here in the spring. I don’t know how I managed it, but I always seemed to miss the famed cherry blossom season. I was excited to finally be able to go and see what all the hype was about.

Seabreeze thought that we should go to the Cherry Blossom Festival for Shelley’s birthday. It became a bit dicey as it had rained the day before and was supposed to rain the day of her birthday. Miraculously, it stopped raining just in time for us to go to the festival. I stand by my claim that God really likes Shelley, as the day turned out to not only to be rain-free but was also beautiful, warm, and sunny.

Amber, Shelley, Seabreeze and I spent a lovely evening in DC. We headed to the Mall and the Tidal Basin to enjoy the cherry blossoms. I must admit that the cherry blossoms were far more impressive than I imagined. They are so soft, light, wonderfully scented and are the epitome of spring.

Later, we headed for a nice restaurant called Rosa Mexicano. They had great food, including awesome guacamole. Seabreeze sure knows how to pick a restaurant.

I have been enjoying Spring this year for the very first time. It was a long winter, and I love watching the blossoms appear on the trees and then the leaves return. I understand now why people look forward to Spring. Good times!