Resurrection

If you should find yourself in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and you're looking for a truly worthwhile dining experience, then make your way to The Block Kitchen & Lounge in the city's Northwest. The Block occupies the space that was home to Rembrandt's Pub & Grill for 27 years or so. The less said about that place the better, but know that it was very tired and needed to be put to rest. The new venue is fresh, inviting, and decorated with a deft touch that feels both casual and elegant at the same time.

Inviting Environment

With luck, you'll run into Kai Salimäki, your energetic and outgoing restaurateur, and what appears to be the driving force behind this outstanding operation. This is not Kai's first rodeo, and it shows. I really didn't want to write this post as a review at all, and instead wanted to use this new restaurant in a rapidly redeveloping neighborhood as a springboard for a treatise on urban rebirth. Travellers rarely see this process in action, but often benefit from it. Unfortunately for me as a writer, Kai kept setting food of such distinction in front of us that I've been robbed of my first plan, and have now been forced to expound on the food. Damn him!

Coolest Light Bulbs EVER - But I Digress...

The older you get, the harder it is to be surprised. There is no greater honor that can be bestowed upon a chef than to say that he or she surprised you. To taste a forkful of something and not have a ready-made dusty pigeonhole of past taste memories to file it in, is as good as it gets. The Lobster Ravioli for instance needed a shiny new spot on the shelf of food experiences in my mind. It featured a subtle and delicate combination of flavors that let the easily overpowered taste of lobster hold the spotlight.

Lobster Ravioli - Wow, that's...NEW!

Vicky had the Steak Sandwich, which held down the fort at the opposite end of the taste spectrum with a powerhouse explosion of "umami". (For those of you not glued to the Food Network all day, umami is a word borrowed from Japanese -- roughly translated as "deliciousness" -- and is the fifth taste. It's often described as savory, meaty, and satisfying). Once again, neither Vicky nor I had ever tasted anything quite like it. Two for two.

A Surprising Steak Sandwich

Then came the Calamari (expertly cooked, and the pickled red onion was a well chosen counterpoint). We rank it in the top three we've ever had, and that number includes the Calamari at the incomparable Sorrisi in Cozumel, Mexico. Trust us, this is high praise.

Calamari - Crunchy Outside, Tender Inside

We also sampled the Deep Fried Pickle Chips (piping hot, perfectly acidic, and slightly spicy) and on an earlier visit, a Cubano Flatbread Sandwich lunch special (a fiesta of contrasts in texture, temperature, and taste), as well as the Prawn Po' Boy. All hits - no misses.

Fried Dill Pickle Chips

There are plenty of great options for the craft beer fan and we thoroughly enjoyed the St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, and the heavily hopped Wild Rose IPA, both on tap, as well as the Village Blacksmith in a bottle. You'll find an extensive and varied wine list here as well. While our visits were during quiet times of the day, we found the staff to be happy, pleasant, and clearly invested in making the place a success.

The Wine Selection

While what's taken Rembrandt's place is completely different in every way that matters, a single gene was passed onto The Block from it's deceased ancestor. Like Rembrandt's, The Block has VLT's (Video Lottery Terminals, which is Government-Speak in Canada for slot machines). Do NOT let this throw you. We've been there twice, and we still haven't seen them. We have no idea where they are, and we don't care. (Gambling is just a tax levied against people that can't do math anyway).

The real "payoff" here for you and me is that the presence of the VLT's (wherever they are) means that minors are utterly forbidden to be on the premises. Period. So those adults among us that -- for whatever reason -- would prefer to enjoy their dining experience only in the company of other adults, are safe at The Block. (Insert dreamy, contented, sigh of happiness here).

The Menu Of The Moment - Expect Regular Updates

There's real value to be had at The Block, but remember that value doesn't necessarily imply inexpensive. That said, any day that I can put something brand new into my mental collection of taste experiences is a day, and a restaurant tab, well spent.

Fox & Vicky

The Happiest Place On Earth! - IF You Know What You're Doing

My Mom first visited Disneyland when she was 7 months pregnant with me. You know how they say that babies can hear you talking to them, or benefit from hearing music while still in the womb? Well I think that somehow her excitement and wonder at visiting Walt Disney's park back when he was still alive somehow got into my system. Maybe I even heard it all for myself in her belly...and I'm only half joking here. I just LOVE being there, and it's one of our favorite travel destinations for many reasons.

Main Street Station - At The Entrance To Disneyland, Anaheim, California

I'm sorry to admit that I went about it all in the worst possible way when Vicky and I first started to visit "The Park" as a couple. (When you're there, you'll never hear anybody that really knows the ropes say, "We're going to Disneyland today", and instead they'll say, "We're going to The Park", and they say it in capitals). I felt that I already knew all there was to know about Disneyland, since I'd been going there since I was very young. We had family that lived in Anaheim at the time, so going to Disneyland was just a natural for us in the 60's.

The Setting California Sun Bathes The Spires Of Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Our early trips as an adult couple were brief, and I insisted on doing EVERYTHING, and I had to do the really good stuff twice. I was a Disneyland Commando. This drove Vicky crazy, and I often got her up at 5 AM to be at The Park well before opening time so that we could be nearly first in line. Then I marched the poor girl around the place for 14 hours a day like a drill sergeant, often with a detailed "touring plan" in hand that specified the most efficient order in which to do things. This got a lot done in the time available, but it was physically grueling, and we needed a vacation when we got home from our vacation....and Vicky hated my guts.

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party - A Disneyland Staple Since 1955

But if fifty years of repeat visits to The Park have taught me anything, it's that Disneyland is meant to be sipped, not guzzled. If at all possible, the best experiences are to be had with longer visits. Two weeks is what we prefer these days, and given the overwhelming number of entertainment and dining options now available, I could stay even longer.

The Riverboat "Mark Twain"

If you must visit Disneyland on a tight schedule (3 to 5 days) then do yourself a huge favor and buy a copy of Bob Sehlinger's indispensable book, "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" before you go. While you might find yourself being a bit of a Disneyland Commando, the author's brilliantly conceived and efficient "touring plans" will give you a real shot at experiencing all the best offerings of the resort, even on a short visit.

The "King Arthur Carrousel" - Perhaps The Finest Still In Existence Today

Don't forget to take your camera. Disneyland is one of the most photographed places in the world, and for good reason. It presents an amazing bounty of great opportunities for both casual and serious photographers to explore their creativity. Having enough time to stop and smell the roses, and then take pictures of them, is perhaps one of the greatest rewards that come with the luxury of longer stays. The experienced visitor will often find themselves absorbed more by the rich detail and subtle beauty of their surroundings, than they are by the admittedly astounding attractions that Disneyland is known for.

R2D2 Rides Shotgun On Your Star Tours Adventure

Even the food at Disneyland is a draw these days, and for those that know the history of The Park, that is a kind of miracle. Up until the last few years, there was very little to recommend eating in Disneyland at all. You were better off at the Denny's on Harbor Blvd. across the street from the main entrance. This was always a great mystery to me; how could Disneyland possibly be so good at everything else, and be so bad at preparing food?

The Beautiful "Court Of Angels" In New Orleans Square - Sadly Now Closed To The Public

Apparently serving mediocre food for half a century or so was their limit, and suddenly, amazingly, gloriously, that all changed. Now there are so many great places to eat that it's nearly impossible to hit them all, even in a two week visit and eating exclusively at Disney restaurants. In fact, the great food offerings are so numerous that they'll need to be explored in detail in future posts.

Castle Reflections

It's been said that, "Walt built Disneyland because he wanted one", and while he may have been beaten to the punch by Knott's Berry Farm, and Santa's Village, Disneyland really defined the final form of the new entertainment venue that came to be known as the theme park. I'm confident that it remains the premiere destination for theme park fans today because it was the only one that Walt ever actually set foot in, and it bears the unmistakable touch of his creative hand.

The World Famous "Jungle Cruise" - Featuring The "Backside Of Water"

Many make the error of thinking that it's somehow a place meant only for children, and that adults just endure it for their kid's sake. But the opposite is really true, and it's much more a playground for adults than children.

Check Your Adulthood At The Door Please

When queried, the 5 to 7 year old set respond that the best part of their trip to Disneyland was the swimming pool at the hotel. Nothing could more clearly illustrate the need to wait until your kids possess both the maturity and the stamina to enjoy The Park for what it really is - a place to cast off the mantle of reality, and revel in the suspension of disbelief. It may well be the greatest example of virtual reality ever conceived, and it's adults that need this place to rediscover the lost art of "play", not children; they haven't lost it yet.

Fox & Vicky

How To Rescue A Blown-Out Flip Flop

Today we'll add a new item to your growing save-a-trip kit, and at the same time make good on our earlier promise to show you a handy trick to fix a blown-out flip flop.

A simple plastic bread bag tab will temporarily get a broken flip-flop back into service so you can finish your day in peace at the beach or pool without having to run out and buy another pair.

Small item - Big save

Usually the problem happens when one of the rubber plugs that attach the straps to the sole of the shoe tears through the bottom.

Nothing to it.

Simply snapping the bread bag tab over the rubber plug in question will keep it from pulling through again.

Back in business!

Throw a few of these into your plastic zipper bag with your other save-a-trip items. Have fun, and remember that, "good trips happen before you leave".

Fox & Vicky