Riding the Rails Part One: Eastbound to Chicago, and beyond

 Our cross-country adventure started in an airport in California. There will be posts about the full trip on other blogs including my education blog found here. We will also record a couple of podcasts about the adventure. Here on Bek’s Bites, though, I plan to specifically review our Amtrak experiences. This is Part One of a two-part series of Amtrak reviews.

All aboard! I excitedly booked our first big train trip with Amtrak. Initially, we planned to travel east to Lincoln, Nebraska from California on the eastbound California Zephyr. With a necessary change in our schedule related to an activity for one of my kids, we adjusted slightly. We have taken the train before for shorter trips. We have traveled on the San Joaquin through California’s Great Central Valley with a connecting bus to Los Angeles Union Station and we have traveled on the Coast Starlight between Orange County and San Diego. The trips are not always perfect, but they have been enjoyable, and for the most part we have not had any particularly major issues.

For this trip, we would board the 6 California Zephyr in Lincoln in the wee hours of the morning and travel in two roomettes, head to Chicago where we would switch trains, and continue on the 364 Blue Water to East Lansing, Michigan. Or would we?

I somewhat kept an eye on how the trains were running the day before we were due to leave. I saw that there were a couple of delays and I knew there would be a chance that we may miss our connecting train. With that in mind, I carefully looked over our options and made a list of alternative trains that would likely work in the event that we missed our connection. This helped me feel a bit more comfortable. Then, the notifications about our train started coming through in the early evening, the night before our planned departure.

Our train was running late. It seemed to start out over two hours delayed and then continued to add minutes from there. Still, the Amtrak App (which is a somewhat helpful tool) continued to show our arrival in Chicago only 25 minutes late. Initially, I continued to hope for the best. Then I saw an email and a missed call from Amtrak, at which point, I knew I should do more than hope for the best. I returned the call and after almost one hour on hold, I spoke with a very nice gentleman who talked to me about the delay. I knew that he really only had as much information as I did (more or less) but I also knew that he would be the person to ask questions such as, “realistically, how likely is it that this train will make up over two hours between now and arrive in Chicago close to on time?” He seemed rather confident in telling me that Amtrak trains make up time “all the time” and it was very possible. Also, since the train was indicating that it would “only” be 25 minutes late arriving in Chicago, scheduling something different than our Blue Water (scheduled to depart 1 hour and 10 minutes after our on-time/scheduled arrival in Chicago) was not an option. I was back to watching things in the app and keeping my fingers crossed.

The 6 California Zephyr initially scheduled to arrive in Lincoln around 3:20 a.m. actually arrived just after 7:00 a.m. and departed from Lincoln just shy of four hours late. Not only had the train not made up any time, but it was now a full four hours late. There was a wonderful conductor who met us at the station in Lincoln. He would board the train when Lincoln passengers boarded and stay on until somewhere in the middle of Iowa. He would ultimately be one of the highlights of our experience. He was honest, but kind and understanding and did his best to help us all navigate the morning.

We boarded the train, received directions on where to place our suitcases from our car's attendant, and were advised to go up for breakfast. One of our roomettes was not yet ready so we dropped our backpacks in the one that was ready and headed to the dining car for breakfast. Being four hours behind schedule was far from ideal, but at least we would have breakfast and then take advantage of having a quiet place to get some rest on the way to Chicago.

Breakfast was delicious. I enjoyed scrambled eggs with bacon and potatoes. My 15-year-old ordered French Toast and my 12-year-old got the Continental breakfast which included oatmeal, bacon, yogurt, and fruit. We three enjoyed our breakfasts very much and were grateful for the friendly and incredible staff in the dining car. We looked forward to returning for lunch.

After breakfast, our second roomette was ready so we adjusted and got settled. Roomettes are the smallest option in the sleeper car, but worth the additional comfort, as well as the inclusion of meals. Traveling in a roomette means sharing restrooms and a shower with others on the same level in the sleeper car. This actually is ok. Well, I would think it could be ok; however, it was a bit tricky for us. You see, when we boarded the train in Nebraska, our sleeper car already had at least half of the restrooms out of order. Before long, there were no working restrooms in our sleeper car. I feel for our car’s attendant who was trying to fix things, but also had other duties to attend to in an effort to meet the needs and such of over 60 passengers.

My 12-year-old and I worked to set up the beds in our roomette so we could comfortably nap. By this time, it was around 9:00 a.m. The top bunk was easier to set up than the bottom bed, but we have a plan for next time (we will set up the bottom bed first). Initially, the top bunk was “a little scary” but eventually we both had at least short naps. Unfortunately, by 10:15, an announcement was being made that it was “time to rise and shine” and that rooms would need to be cleaned at lunchtime. While I am thankful for the privacy the roomette allowed us, setting up the beds for this part of our journey ended up being more trouble than it was worth. We did not nap long nor well. I know there are schedules to keep. I do wonder if the attendants operate by the current time or distance from the final destination. It is a bit curious, and when you’ve started out your trip tired it is also frustrating.

Before we knew it, it was already time for lunch. We headed back to the dining car where again we enjoyed delicious food and wonderful service. The dining car ended up being the highlight of Part One of our rail adventure.

Once we had finished lunch, I went into “what are we going to do” mode. I looked over my list of alternative trains and departure times, but I really was not sure what time we would actually arrive in Chicago and what to do. I consulted the Amtrak app, contacted my family in Michigan, and even started looking at airlines, Greyhound, and rideshare apps. Meanwhile, Amtrak seemed to finally realize that we would not make it to Chicago on time to make our 4:00 p.m. train to Michigan and changed us to something that would mean traveling overnight on a train to Toledo, Ohio, sitting in Toledo for two or three hours in the middle of the night, then boarding a bus to Michigan. No part of this sounded good to me. We started our trip exhausted, were unable to rest on the train despite paying for the roomettes, and I knew this would just not go very well for us. So, again I started looking for alternatives. Nothing looked especially promising, but I was determined to figure out something.

Ultimately, we arrived in Chicago 3 hours and 39 minutes late. Obviously, we had long missed our connecting train and my options were limited (to say the least). After exploring a rideshare option and seeing that go terribly, I booked a room in Chicago for the night, and scheduled us to head to Michigan on the first train out the following morning. I had lost the business class seats I had previous booked, but this train we were on was fantastic!

We made the most of our night in Chicago and then got an early start the next morning. We walked to Union Station and found our way to Gate C and the correct track. We took the Wolverine that departed right on time at 6:45 a.m. As a party of three, we were directed to sit at a table after placing our suitcases on the rack at the front of the car. We appreciated the comfortable ride. The Cafe had a good variety of breakfast options, so we each selected something. The breakfast sandwich is decent and the coffee and hot cocoa are good. I was thankful for this opportunity and very thankful that I decided to find a hotel the night before. Having a comfortable bed to sleep in before another almost four hours of train travel was important and helped us get a better start to the day.

Because I had strategically budgeted for this trip, I was able to make some adjustments and be a little more flexible. I recommend budgeting carefully to everyone for all travel. Specifically, though, I urge everyone to be flexible with time if traveling by Amtrak. If you have a tight schedule, Amtrak probably is not the best travel option. It led to frustration, tears, and a lot of chaos at times for us. Thankfully, we are experienced travelers and can work together through traveling hiccups. Having read that the California Zephyr’s eastbound line runs on time only about 5% of the time, I know now that it is not the method of travel I will use in the future, especially if we have a tighter timeline I am working within.

I chose rail travel because I remember how much my grandfather enjoyed it. My family had previously made countless trips across the country. I love riding the train and this seemed like a great way for my kids to see parts of the country they hadn’t previously visited. And they did see some sights. I’m sorry there were some disappointments and such along the way and I am sorry that traveling by Amtrak is not what it once was. In the meantime, we are remaining hopeful for the westbound trip which will certainly be a different adventure. Be sure to come back for Part Two of this rail travel review.

Part One Tips:

• Rail travel can be a fun adventure, but allow yourself extra time. It is not the way to travel if you have a schedule to keep.
• If you are traveling a long distance, the sleeper car is worth it. Explore the different options based on family size and age of kids. The roomettes are cozy, but definitely can work well and are cost-efficient.
• Remember to tip your servers in the dining car (it is not required, but I know it is appreciated).

Revisiting Downtown Merced

Over the past several years, I have found my heart for art and culture nurtured in the Merced area. A few years ago, I attended Hamlet as produced by the Merced Shakes group. Over a year ago, the kids and I attended an Art Hop event. Last September, we headed out to Shakespeare in the Park to see Love's Labour's Lost. All of these have been fabulous experiences. The Art Hop was especially interesting for us, as we walked through Downtown Merced to check out different art pieces and then finished with dinner at Pinnochio's, as recommended to us.

I often read about interesting things happening through the Merced Multicultural Art Center (the MAC) but rarely do we get to take advantage of the offerings. Between schedule conflicts and the driving distance, it takes a lot to get us there. However, everything fell right into place for this week. The MAC is currently offering three one-week sessions of a Youth Art Camp. Each week has three sections per day. My daughter signed up for the morning Portraits class and my son signed up for the morning Comics class. I knew that once I dropped them off, my best option would be to stay local, so I asked about "coffee and WiFi" as I dropped them off the first day.

Turns out that within walking distance is a great place called Coffee Bandits. The coffee is delicious and they pride themselves in part on offering a place for creative souls to work and create. Perfect! I needed a place to write, work in my planner, and spend some time focused on important-to-me items while the two kids were up the street creating artistically.

The staff at Coffee Bandits is extremely pleasant and helpful. Each day I ordered a large cup of coffee, but tried something different for breakfast. The first day I had blueberry muffin. While it tasted good, I have had better. That told me to move on to something else. The next time in, I asked for some suggestion on what direction to go with my bagel. I listened, then settled on a jalapeno bagel with egg and pesto. It was absolutely delicious! I will make an effort to go back in the future if for no other reason than this delicious breakfast bagel! The third day I ordered food, I went with an "Everything" bagel, toasted with cream cheese. I wanted something simple. Let me say again, though, the coffee is outstanding.

According to their website, Coffee Bandits opened in 2011 offering local, organic, and healthy options, as well as offering a creative outlet "for energies in Merced." As we made the hour drive back to Merced for the last day of art camp this morning, the kids and I discussed some of the things we liked and still wanted to do. "I want to try Cinema Cafe," said CD. So, we have agreed that we will return and try even more Downtown Merced offerings in the future. I hope to catch a poetry night at Coffee Bandits, too.

As I walked through Downtown Merced this week, I felt the creative energy that fills it. Walking from the MAC to Coffee Bandits likely had a lot to do with that. We hope to return to see a movie sometime, as well. The historic theatres in downtown are enough to draw you in and the Art Hop events are held four times a year. If you need a place to feel your creative energy nurtured, you will surely find it in Downtown Merced.

Where do you go to get creative? And, why? Share your stories in the comments.

Want to check out Coffee Bandits for yourself? You can find them at 309 West Main Street in Merced. Learn more about them and check out their events calendar here.
Learn about Merced Shakespearefest's upcoming productions, including Songs of Illyria (Twelfth Night) on their website.
You can also see what's happening at the MAC, including the upcoming two weeks of Summer Youth Art Camp by clicking here.

The kids had a wonderful time at Art Camp this week and are now looking forward to showing off their work at an art show tomorrow from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at The MAC.

Tips from an adventurous TeacherMom

Note: This particular post will appear here and on my education blog.

We are halfway through summer and our travels have only just started, but we are off on adventures and have discussed some ideas to make our experiences better, but also ideas to share with others in hopes we can help them enjoy their own adventures. These adventures may be family vacations, class field trips, or learning adventures. Heck, they may be all three rolled into one.

Combining my efforts

My grandfather would question my choices sometimes, but he eventually understood them generally and any time I could figure out a way to save some money, he would support it. The only one he never agreed with me on was my decision to rent a car on one of my trips to visit him. There was a trip where he supported my decision to rent a car, too, though. I travel to conferences and I travel with my children. It just makes good sense to have one help the other. I have joined rewards programs for Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards), Dollar Rental (Dollar Express), Days Inn (Wyndham Rewards), and my very favorite of all Hilton Honors. Every time I travel, I earn points, save money, save time, and find myself happier with the overall experience. Rapid Rewards with Southwest and Hilton Honors are the two I use most and have, as a result, benefited from most.

I only fly once or twice a year on average. but it adds up eventually. I have now twice used points to save on my airfare. I also appreciate the ease with which I can work with Southwest. When my grandfather died a few years ago, I had planned a trip to see him and instead that trip became a one-way trip to help my parents. Southwest was gracious and kind to work with in changing my travel plans. We worked everything out over the phone and there were no penalties. I can fly Southwest most anywhere I want to go or need to go and they do not charge for my checked bags. Their app is pretty fabulous too. As a tech-loving teacher, finding an app that works with relative ease is important too. I love that I can fly into Ontario Airport, rent a car, and drive to Palm Springs for the CUE National Conference. It saves me some money overall and the drive is beautiful. Side note: my two favorite airports to travel to and from right now are Sacramento and Ontario. Ontario is much easier to travel through than LAX.

I do stay in hotels several times a year. Last year, I stayed so much I earned my way to Gold status with Hilton Honors. This is a huge plus. This allows me to take advantage of additional perks here and there. Everything from little snacks to bonus rewards points to full breakfast. We have stayed at one hotel in particular so much that we have gotten to know people at the front desk, as well as some of the servers and managers in the restaurant. We treat them with respect and they always go above and beyond to make sure all of our needs are met. Because of that, we return to the same hotel whenever we need a place to stay in the San Francisco area. I have become better versed with how to shop for deals on rooms and I always book directly through Hilton, using my Hilton Honors information. If I don't find exactly what I am looking for on the website then I call the corporate number and if I still don't quite get what I am hoping, then I know I can call the hotel directly and often they are incredibly helpful.

By streamlining my preferred choice of air travel, rental cars, and hotels, with each trip, I am saving up toward future travel. This means my travel for conferences helps my adventures with the kids and vice versa. I view my traveling for conferences as an investment, but really, I am investing in several ways. One, the obvious, I am investing in future travel. Two, I am investing in myself as I continue to grow as an educator. I learn from others, collaborate with other educators, share some of what I know, and ultimately our students benefit. So, the third investment is the investment I make in my students and students elsewhere. Four, I see all of this as an investment in my own two children. We have started our #EdTechFamily podcast where we share ideas from a parent/teacher perspective as well as a child/student perspective. We grow together as lifelong learners.

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

This is my approach both in my classroom and in my home. We are all on this learning journey together and the investments I make in our travels keep the learning going.

Get Outside

The perks of being a rewards member for airfare, car rental, and hotel stays are all nice. But there is so much more to see in the world. When we get outside, we learn so much! My children and I enjoy camping trips throughout the year, including at the NorCal Renaissance Faire in the late summer/erly fall. We also enjoy hiking. Sometimes I invite students and families to meet us on hikes and sometimes I record the hikes to take back into the classroom for different activities.

Hiking highlight of 2017

Last week, we added a new hike. We visited Point Reyes National Seashore. We stayed in a lovely little cottage about 15 minutes from the Bear Valley Visitors Center. My kids worked on adding another Junior Ranger badge to their collection and we enjoyed a short hike on the Earthquake Trail. This trail features information on earthquakes in general, the San Andreas Fault, and the 1906 earthquake. We saw where Point Reyes shifted about 20 feet as a result of the 1906 earthquake. The kids took turns reading the information posted around the trail. This trail offers just one of many hiking opportunities in Point Reyes. We returned to our cottage and enjoyed a light lunch outside before setting off on the next adventure.

This time, we left the car behind and walked a short distance to Chicken Ranch Beach. A nice trail leads from the road to the beach. We took off our shoes and enjoyed the sand between our toes, though this beach has some pretty rocky parts to it as well. Those rocky parts don't feel so nice on the bottoms of your feet. Still, we dipped our toes in the water, observed interesting shells and rocks, taking only photographs and leaving everything behind for others to discover. As we learned back at the visitor's center, Point Reyes has igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. We discovered a rock on the beach that had quartz and obsidian in it. When we finished on the beach, we made the return trip back up the trail to the road where we made observations of interesting growths such as lichen. When we returned to the cottage, we made a quick and easy dinner.

The cottages at Point Reyes offer a nice, relaxing place to stay. We enjoy cooking our own meals and appreciated having a kitchenette. Though it was a little more "bare bones" than we expected, we managed to make our meals and enjoy them just fine.

As we drove down Highway 1 toward Stinson Beach after departing, we had a chance to talk some and compare experiences. Here are the rankings (so far):
CD
1. Lassen
2. Pinnacles
3. Point Reyes
Miss Hollywood
1. Lassen
2. Point Reyes
3. Pinnacles
TeacherMom
1. Point Reyes
2. Lassen
3. Pinnacles
Though, all three of us could shuffle those rankings on any given day. I factored in the drive for mine which is the only reason Lassen ranks lower for me. I shuffled my list multiple times. The nice thing with all three of these adventures is that they all offer something unique while all having something in common that we three love: geology!

We will return to all three, but since we have already done two trips each to both Pinnacles and Lassen, we have set Point Reyes to the top of our list for next summer.

What's the tip here? Find something you like, find a place that offers it, and take that adventure. Also, never stop learning. Learn with your kids because it is fun. Learn for yourself because you can. Continue learning always! Take the trips and treat them as investments. Trust me, it is all worthwhile.

Whether you are hiking a new trail or watching a baseball game, get out there and make the investment.

Remember the words of Socrates, "Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."

America's pasttime: a local experience you are missing

I am constantly working on review ideas for this blog, but every so often one comes to me that is a "I need to write this now." While it has been nearly a year since my last post (where did the time go?), I find that my "write this right now" post takes us back to the ballgame. As you know, I love baseball and I always find myself on a quest for a great ballpark experience.

Last night, we had a family trip to John Thurman Field to support our local Minor League team: the Modesto Nuts. When we moved to the Central Valley in the mid-1990s, they were known as the Modesto A's as they were affiliated with the Oakland A's. They changed affiliation to the Colorado Rockies and became known as the Modesto Nuts. Peanut, the elephant, was replaced by Al and Wally (an almond and a walnut respectively) who were later joined by Shelly (a pistacio). This season brought about another change for our hometown team. They are now affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. As we watch Big League games with Colorado Rockies star Charlie Blackmon who once played in Modesto, we now have a new local affiliation. That's ok. They remain our hometown team.

Last night, they welcomed the San Jose Giants. You would think a game such as this would draw a crowd. Think again. As we arrived about a half an hour before the game, parking was a breeze. At first I was thankful.  Then I wondered if the game time had changed. We walked through the gate with ease and getting our food took almost no time. It became obvious that turnout was low, but only when we entered the stands did it become obvious how low. The entire left field side was near empty. In over 20 years of attending games at John Thurman Field, never had we seen such a low attendance. We have a mini-plan for the second year in a row and our seats are right along the third baseline.

The Sunday before Fourth of July probably means many people have left town, but it still seems more people should have turned out for this game. Where were you last night? You weren't at John Thurman Field and you missed a great night of baseball.

If you have never attended a minor league game, you should. It provides some of the best baseball you can find. If you have never attended a Modesto game, you definitely should. Why should you?

1. Parking costs just $6 and gets you right up to the ballpark. The parking staff is always courteous and helpful. (Sidenote: handicapped parking has no charge.)

2. You always get a program and it includes pages where you can keep score.

3. Ticket prices are very reasonable. Our miniplan is one of the most affordable investments in baseball I make each year and it guarantees we have tickets for some games each season. Extra bonus: if we have trouble making a game work, generally, we can exchange our tickets for a game more accommodating to our schedule. The miniplan includes tickets for five games.

4. The food! Menu items include standards such as hot dogs, peanuts, and Cracker Jack, but also chicken strips, pulled pork sandwiches, french fries, corn dogs, and so much more. They have ice cream and cotton candy. They have Slush Puppies, 7-Up and RC soda varieties, and a wide beer selection for the over 21 crowd.

5. See the next rising star or better. You never know when you may be watching the next Charlie Blackmon. You also have a shot at seeing a Major Leaguer on a rehab assignment. A few years ago we caught Pablo Sandoval on rehab in Stockton when the San Jose Giants came to town. Last night, Madison Bumgarner made a rehab start with the Sacramento Rivercats and on Wednesday he is scheduled to make a rehab start with San Jose. Mike Trout is making a rehab start this week with Inland Empire and in mid-June Hisashi Iwakuma made a rehab start with Modesto.

Tonight, I suspect the crowd will be much larger at John Thurman as they have their Independence Day fireworks show slated for after the game. If you have never been to a game, get out to one. If you go, but have missed a quiet Sunday afternoon game, try something new. Let's fill the stands, folks. Last night we cheered for both our hometown team and the minor league affiliate of our favorite MLB team both. We got great baseball, folks. Hits, catches, base running, and good pitching. Plus, you get an up close view of it all. The players are so much fun to watch as they interact with each other and with fans after the game.

One last bonus: The Modesto Nuts run a summer baseball camp. It moved from June to July this year, so it is coming up next week. It is so much fun for the kids! Speaking of the kids, if you make it to the end of the game, there may just be a chance for kids to run the bases. Another fun experience for them!

Take yourself out to the ballgame and cheer on our local team. Baseball is America's pasttime and we should preserve it. Apple pie, lemonade, baseball. Get out to a game. Fill the stands. And, go Nuts!

Take me out to the ballgame: Revisiting the ballpark experience

Three years ago, I wrote about baseball and ballpark experiences. That post came after visiting three ballparks in four days. Over the course of the last three years, we have had a chance to attend many more games, primarily at AT&T Park. I have now had a chance to visit Angel Stadium twice with the kids, too, which offers a different perspective on things. Here are a few more thoughts as I revisit the ballpark experience.

Parking prices remain the same. As such, I will state from the beginning that Angel Stadium remains the best for parking, both with regard to cost and convenience. In fact, at the most recent game we attended there, I splurged on the premium parking ($20) and the next day paid to park at Disneyland ($18). So, for just $3 more than we pay to park for a game at AT&T Park, we parked at a baseball game and Disneyland. Often, we end up making quite a walk from where we park to the ballpark in San Francisco, but location has a lot to do with that. There is no parking directly adjacent to the ballpark.

Tim Lincecum's "Big A" debut with family.

With kids in tow, it becomes a little more difficult to avoid food and souvenir purchases as I had previously suggested. However, if you shop right, you can still avoid overspending. Angel Stadium has a kid's hot dog that went over well with the children in our group. You can splurge on some serious food and get the helmet nachos which gives you enough for an army to eat, plus you have a souvenir when you're all finished.


Cotton candy remains a game day must for CD and Miss Hollywood. At Angel Stadium, they shared one with their two cousins and that was perfect all around. The price is similar to AT&T Park. The cotton candy at John Thurman Field (Modesto) costs less, but is a significantly smaller portion. The team that makes it and the snow cones includes a very friendly woman who always seems to look out for her young customers.

Family Fun: Sundays are family days in Anaheim. At the end of Sunday games, children are invited to run the bases. This is the way baseball should be. The closest experience to that is at Modesto Nuts games, but we rarely make it to the end of games there as so many of the games are night games. A Sunday afternoon spent watching baseball and then running the bases is a great experience! CD and Miss Hollywood also had a chance to run the bases at AT&T Park last year. It came only on the final game of the season. But, it was enjoyed and what a thrill to be on the field! AT&T Park also has regular offerings for children. The Coca-Cola slide and a small play area for younger children are located behind Center Field. It is a great motivator to arrive early.

Garlic Fries: We have tasted garlic fries at AT&T Park, John Thurman, and now Angel Stadium. Gilroy Garlic Fries at AT&T Park cannot be beat! They are, hands down, the best of the best. You'll certainly keep vampires and mosquitoes away for days afterward, too!

Each ballpark offers a unique experience. At the minor league parks, my kids experience a little more freedom. At Angel Stadium, we experience an exceptional means of maximizing our dollar in relation to the amount of fun had by both kids and adults. At AT&T Park, we experience a little bit of everything.

I must add, in my post three years ago, I said there is not a bad seat at AT&T Park. Well...that changed for us last year. We sat at the top of the stands behind home plate. Our view was fine. However, smoke from a grill below billowed upward and we were colder than ever before at a game. It just did not work well for us. We left during the fourth inning, went to our hotel and watched the end of the game while sipping coffee and hot chocolate. We had a good time overall, but we will stick with our seats in left field or center field. I do dream of one day getting seats along the first baseline so I can directly compare that experience to the first baseline experience at Angel Stadium.

At the end of the day, though, you find what works for you. You find the ballparks you love and enjoy the experiences. The most important piece of all of this is that baseball remains America's pasttime. Football is nice. Basketball offers excitement, especially in the last 30 seconds of a game.. Hockey is entertaining. But, baseball is "as American as apple pie."

Yogi Berra once said, 

"Love is the most important thing in the world, 

but baseball is pretty good, too."

Get uptown funky and things will be great when you're downtown

This is a little bit different than past posts. I am looking at more, far more than a location, a restaurant, or a show, but it takes a look at an experience. Over the past few weeks, I have reflected quietly on experiences and places that collectively make life a little better. I have recently posted reflections on a couple of businesses in downtown Oakdale, California. That got me thinking about something more. Downtowns offer some incredibly wonderful experiences. Let us reflect on some.

Downtown Oakdale
This is the town I call home. I love the schools and walks to the park from home are simple but adventurous. I know the people as I check out at the grocery store and we can reach just about any point in town by car in 10 minutes or less, even with traffic. But, it is the downtown that has hooked me over the past couple of years. For almost five years, I have gone to the same hairdresser. I never thought I would be able to say, "I have a hairdresser," but I can, I do, and I love her. Judy takes fantastic care of me, and my hair. I found her when I was looking for a place to get a couple of additional ear piercings. She has now done several of them and carefully colors and cuts my hair regularly. She knows what to do with it ahead of summer and is sure to darken things up just a bit for winter. The other stylists there are wonderful and I love Saturday mornings when I get to engage with some of the other clients. Three doors down is Pamyla's where I go for my pedicures and massages. Soon, I will get to try an overnight "escape" there with a couple of educator friends. You can read more about Pamyla's in my review from earlier this year. Two blocks down is Rivi's, the wine bar I reviewed to start the year off. I celebrated my birthday ther

e with my best friend and had another wonderful experience, sitting by the fire, eating tomato soup and sipping delicious wine. Downtown Oakdale offers a great variety of shops featuring antiques, collectibles, and great little trinkets and treasures. There is a clock repair shop, a shoe repair shop, a nutrition center, and a handful of places to eat. Another downtown fixture is Moss Rose Bakery (just down from Rivi's). Whether you're looking for a sweet roll on Saturday morning or a cake for a special event, Moss Rose will happily oblige. Of course, you'll find lots of locals grabbing breakfast at Corner Cafe, too. On the other side of the main intersection, you will find Oakdale Garage with some of the friendliest service around. Plus, they always take great care of my vehicle. I love just walking through and window shopping when the opportunity arises. We love to peruse the furniture at Bordona's too. Downtown Oakdale has a little bit of everything.

Downtown Lodi
Speaking of a little bit of everything, Lodi has a downtown that offers some great variety as well. My home away from home, if I need to kill some time between school and evening event, Downtown Lodi lures me in with shops and restaurants, streets nice to walk, and interesting statues. Lodi Beer, Dancing Fox, and Smack Pie Pizza all offer some delicious food and beverages. Although it's a chain, I have to periodically pick up a special candy apple from Rocky Mountain Candy Company. A newfound favorite is slightly off the beaten path: School Grounds Coffee and Gelato. A must try, for sure! The movie theater is even downtown here. There are shoe stores, antique shops, and a great little shop called French at Heart.

Downtown Modesto
Great food, places to catch a show, a neat experiences are here. I have made some great memories in Downtown Modesto. Most recently, catching friends play at the Barkin' Dog Grill rocked! Last fall, I caught one of my favorite rock bands at the Doubletree. I've seen local bands and comedy acts at the Fat Cat. Back in college, you could frequently find me with friends at Deva Cafe on a Friday or Saturday night. I miss it opening on weekend evenings. But, if you're downtown at lunchtime, it still offers some delicious food. We have seen everything from my daughter's dance recital to plays and even a science show for schools at the Gallo Center! Next week, we will see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat a few days after I catch The Sirens, a play raising funds for Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus County while Michael Bolton plays in one of the other theaters. My most favorite part of Downtown Modesto is The State Theatre. I first wrote about The State in a 2013 review. If you're new to reading this blog, you can read more about the State here.

Downtown Turlock
Places to eat, things to see, people to visit. Going to Turlock is something I have done less of in recent years. But, when I have an opportunity to visit downtown, eating is usually involved. From the former Wellington Station, now known at 10 East Kitchen and Tap House to Turlock's claim-to-fame Dust Bowl Brewing, there are certainly fun places to eat with an interesting harder to find beer selection. A favorite for good eats or social time with a little dancing is Red Brick and the best Thai food I've had in the Valley is found at Ju Ju Thai. I have fond memories of purchasing fabric at Rainbow Fabrics and window shopping. A few years ago, there were two different tea shops where I enjoyed high tea. Some of the storefronts have changed, but Downtown Turlock still has some great charm.

Downtown Merced

I only recently spent some real time in Downtown Merced. I heard about the Merced Art Hhere. We found a great record shop that even had cassette tapes available which sparked my interest. As some of the shops started to close, we headed down to Pinocchio's to get some dinner. The Italian cuisine had something for each of us to enjoy and gelato for dessert! The best part of dinner was the staff. Fabulous folks who treated us as if we were regulars. The cooks even poked their heads out to engage my kids as they ate their gelato and watched the end of the Giants game. We will return!

op for April and saw it as a great opportunity to check out an area I felt less familiar with despite my occasional visits to Merced through the years. I took the kids and we enjoyed an evening of art and downtown adventure. The Merced Art Hop happens a few times a year and I highly recommend
checking it out sometime. You can get more information


Downtown Chico

The best part of Downtown Chico is....everything. The restaurants, the stores, the social scene, the farmers market. I rode a mechanical bull for the first time downtown. As I walked down the streets in Chico, I had flashes of my teen years in Whittier (more on Whittier in a moment). It felt like home in a lot of ways. When my best friend lived there, I loved visiting her. Sometimes with the kids and sometimes on my own. There are so many interesting things to see and do around Chico, but downtown and the area just outside of downtown have some of my favorite spots there.


Downtown Palm Springs
Every March I have a conference in Palm Springs. I find a hotel outside of the downtown area, but spend a good amount of time walking through downtown. It has become tradition to celebrate my birthday (which falls on the weekend of the conference) at Pomme Frite. French dining for a reasonable price and the food is terrific. There are also quaint local boutiques and shops. And, there are old time favorites that remind one of time in Hawaii. Yes, you can get a Dole Whip or pick out a new t-shirt at Crazy Shirts. This year, I expanded my dining experiences. The highlight was Fisherman's Market and Grill. It provides a unique dining experience. You are first assigned a place to sit, then you get in line and wait to order your food. You order your food, select your beverage and find your way to your table. I had gone by myself, but found myself chatting with people attending the s
ame conference I was and they invited me to join them. Another evening, an EdTech friend and I walked through the farmers market. Walking to, from, and through Downtown Palm Springs is a highlight of the minimal downtime during the conference weekend. I have a lot more to see still, but each year I find something new. The really neat part of the circumstances under which I have a chance to check out the shops and restaurants here is that as I meet more educators, the more I can "talk shop" while trying a new place to eat.

Bonus stop:
Downtown Fairhope, AL
I recently had a wonderful opportunity to visit schools in southern Alabama. I had never before spent any time in any of the Deep South. I knew that this trip would require taking some time to become acquainted with the culture and history of the area. On the first day of school visits, we used our lunch break for food and culture. My teacher friend took me into Downtown Fairhope. It had such a classic feel to it. This is a place where a local math class does a scavenger hunt field trip. For our lunch, we ventured into Fairhope's own French Quarter and dined at Panini Pete's. Panini Pete's has been featured on the Food Network and it has some great food. In fact, it has arguably the best beignets in the South, and I even stopped in at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans.

And now for a little "Uptown Funk."
Uptown Whittier
My favorite downtown of all is actually Uptown. Whittier the closest thing I have to a hometown. My roots are
there. I only lived there a few years as a teenager, but my family roots go deep. As a teenager, I spent a lot of time in Uptown. All of the things that I love about the above mentioned downtown areas are things that I first experienced in Uptown Whittier. Good food, window shopping, a movie theater, an old record store, charm, character, coffee, and joy. Whenever I visit Whittier, I visit Uptown. The most recent trip was for my 20th high school reunion last fall. We enjoyed sushi and karaoke at Bambooze, we went into a collectible store and an old bookstore, we sat and enjoyed coffee, and we had brunch at one of our longtime favorites: Rocky Cola Cafe. My best friend and I walked down the street singing Uptown Funk at one point. There is just something marvelous about Whittier, specifically Uptown Whittier.

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city

Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty

How can you lose?

The lights are much brighter there

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

So go downtown

Things will be great when you're downtown

No finer place for sure, downtown

Everything's waiting for you

Don't hang around and let your problems surround you

There are movie shows downtown

Maybe you know some little places to go to

Where they never close downtown

Have you had a fantastic experience with a downtown? Share it here. If you haven't yet, what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience downtown!

Live music and great food at Barkin Dog Grill

A few years ago, I was a smalltown newspaper publisher/journalist who got called to jury duty in Modesto. Off I went on a Downtown Modesto adventure.

I was in the basement of the courthouse, sitting and waiting to see what my fate as a potential juror had in store as lunchtime neared. I looked over the list of places nearby to eat and found something I knew I needed to try: Barkin Dog Grill. I remember having a delicious hotdog for lunch. Now, let me tell you, I am far from a regular hotdog eater. Whn I make them at home, I insist on Hebrew National dogs and I pile it high with sauerkraut, onions, mustard, and bacon. So, for my first positive experience with a restaurant to include a hotdog, it really is a big deal.

In late 2014, I returned to Barkin Dog Grill with a group of colleagues, again on a lunch break. We walked over from an all-day conference at the DoubleTree.

I finally had the opportunity to give it a try at night. A Friday night even!

Barkin Dog Grill does more than offer great food. On weekends it often offers local music for entertainment. It is often crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, last night (Friday, February 5) was no exception.

A local band, the California 99ers played to a packed house. This band includes two MAMAs winners, the man who started Modesto's first rock band in the 1950s, and a young woman with a full and beautiful voice who can actually do justice to Patsy Cline tunes. Bassist Mike Thorington received the MAMAs 2015 Lifetime Achievement award. What's not to love about a band that pays homage to some of the greatest music of our time and has skilled musicians?



Put great music together with great food and you have a win for an evening out!

I enjoyed a burger with fresh greens, horseradish, bacon, and two onion rings. I added bleu cheese for good measure. It came with fries. While I often will skip fries and choose something else, I decided to go ahead and get them this time. As I had earlier perused the menu, I took note of the fact that one of the burgers included chipotle mayonnaise. When my plate arrived, I requested a side of the chipotle mayo and the server obliged. It was delicious!

Plus, they have 805 on tap!

If you're looking for some great food and a glass of wine or beer with good entertainment, give Barkin Dog Grill a try. It is also a fantastic and quiet lunch spot, conveniently located n 11th Street. A few doors down is the Firkin and Fox (a favorite of mine) and the Fat Cat is right next door. With draws such as those so close, it may be easy to overlook this understated place to grab a good bite. Street parking is limited and hard to find on a Friday night, but the 11th Street parking garage is directly across the street and available for a reasonable rate (day or night).