Park City Getaway 2010 continued

While I was walking around Old Park City, I spotted this restaurant and made a mental note that I would like to give it a try.

Later when I picked Bernie up from his golf game, he said he had played with a PC resident who recommended we go to Shabu for dinner.

Isn't that a fun co-incident?

We walked in, and I was immediately pleased with the atmosphere.

Orange walls: I love orange walls!

And I thought the wall hanging in the entry way was a very clever way to display a shell collection.

Usually I don't pay much attention to the drink menu, let alone a Martini list.

But we couldn't pass up "Friday Martini Madness"...especially with such interesting selections.

I went with the Jupiter Cosmo.

(Had to, don't you think, to celebrate the recent Jupiter moons sightings.)

Bernie went with a Green Dragon.

Oh so light and delicious!

Behind where we sat was the most creative light fixture I had ever seen. Several of the larger shells were lit, creating a golden sunset glow about the area.

Our appetizer: Something new for us: Blistered Green Beans: here's a similar recipe.

Delicious! (The dish we had had peanuts instead of sesame seeds though, and no chili sauce.)

We took quite awhile deciding on our main course. So many yummy possibilities.

Bernie went with Blacked Cod in sweet miso sauce.

I had Short Ribs in a Oriental sauce, corn bread drizzled with miso, and watermelon, jicama and red bell pepper slaw. Every mouthful was an amazing experience!

Check out that satisfied smile! Check out the lampshade made from pieced together sari fabric!

Dessert was Raspberry Rosemary Sorbet. What a wonderful flavor pairing! We were so happy with everything-the atmosphere, the wait staff, the food-that we can't wait to go back again soon.

The owner walked out with us. He explained that this was their last night in this locations (?!?!?!), that they would be closed for two months, then re-opening just down the street in a slightly smaller street level location. (I actually liked being upstairs for the view at the original place...hope the view from the street will be good.)

Times have been hard for the PC restaurant owners; the economic situation has led to restaurant offering great deals on various menu aspects (drink specials, appetizer specials, two for one...) but Shabu were doing fine...just wanted to take advantage of a more visible location on Main Street.

Once the snow flies...they will open again.

I think there is a really good chance we will be there when it happens!

(especially since we found a "buy a $10 gift card for $25 off dinner" offer at the restaurant on line. I had never thought to look for such a thing, but when I went to check out their reviews, there it was. Hmmm....I'm going to do that kind of research more often!)

How does one finish up the evening after such a great meal?

Go see one of the many art galleries on the same street.

It was "Last Friday of the Month Park City Gallery Stroll"; had we been so inclined, we could have just gone from gallery to gallery to nibble and nosh and sip beverages until we were quite full.

This gallery was having a fund raiser for PC Theater. We could have purchased a drawing ticket for $25; if our ticket had been drawn, we would have received a certificate for $500 in merchandise from this gallery.

When we were there, at after 9 pm, there had been twelve tickets sold.

So tempting...but there are other causes that we support.

I have to wonder though: which of the wonderful pieces of art that we admired would we have purchased if we had won?

Something to think about, when in the future I revisit the evening in my mind.

Park City Getaway 2010

It really is a pity to have a time share for a whole week in a really great place like Park City and not be able to get away to use it.
Bernie had to be in the Houston area during the first part of our time share week so unless I wanted to go alone up alone, the place would sit empty.

We tried to get family and friends to use the time, and even offered it to our church for use by anyone who wanted to get away.
No takers. Oh well....

Bernie got home Wednesday; I got off work at 3 on Thursday, and then together we raced over the hill to at least get some time in up there.
So how much fun were we able to squeeze in between 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon and 10 am Saturday morning?

A bunch!

Thursday night was Mexican food at our favorite restaurant, (with margaritas...yes, the mini vacation was off to a good start!)

Thursday night we started watching a Bollywood movie, then as soon as it was dark we went to use the telescope to scope out Jupiter.

Friday morning was shopping: Yes, the Tanger outlet center had some amazing deals on Crocs (I got five pairs of sandals, dress shoes and even slide high wedge heels!) and bras.

Like most ladies, I hate bra shopping; this time the sales girl was amazingly helpful and I for once got comfortable well fitting bras (buy two, get one free no less!)

What a treat not to have to keep trying and trying and trying different sizes and brands to get a winner!

Bernie waited for me as I shopped, so naturally I was most agreeable to the idea that later in the day he play golf while I checked out all the galleries in Old Park City.

Check out this piece of art above. I saw the original piece. Can you guess the media the artist used?

Answer at end of this post!

I had always wanted to drive around the historic residential area behind the Main downtown area.

Ski town fencing is fabulous don't you think?

Houses that were built in the late 1800's have been revamped within criteria to match the historic flavor of the area.

Cute, cute, cute...

Some of the buildings have been re-purposed.

While others continue on with their original mission.

(Did you notice that the church had stain glass columbine designs in the window above the doors?)



A few slightly modern houses must have been grandfathered in to the area's Historic designation code. The view from that room must be amazing, especially in the snow.

Who doesn't love a sweet yellow house with picket fences and gingerbread trim?



I laughed at this house: apparently I am not the only person who occasionally says "Oh what the heck, let's just use all the colors we like!" instead of going with the typical neutral palette that is so pervasive in modern house coloring.


The tin roof and the extra painting detailing on the trim makes this house a standout to me.

I especially like the trim around the the single window...how storybook sweet is that?

I'm thinking this house escaped from New Orleans with that fussy iron work fence.

I like it "as is" for now, but wouldn't it be prettier in the snow if it was painted black?

A touch of fall color, and a broom at the ready to sweep the leaves away...but not just yet. I think the leaves add to the charm of this house.

I do hope they put big Christmas lights up on this house, the old fashioned kind, and in the traditional multicolor mix to shine in the snow.

There will be snow...and plenty of it in this town.

(That's a ski lift running behind this house by the way.)

I think I liked this door the best. A red door, of any shade, always seems so welcoming!

Notice the prize ribbon hanging inside the grapevine wreath: the town has a yearly judging for historic preservation efforts.

This house must have won a prize in some category.

What nice porches to pass away a lazy fall or summer day.

I wouldn't mind spending a snowy winter day in that bay window area either!

It is so neat to see pride in the historic aspects of a place.

Park City: You are doing it right!

(The Mona Lisa was a huge wall sized piece of art created using spools of sewing thread.

The artist took a photograph of various famous paintings, then zoomed in on them until the photograph pixelated.

She then selected thread colors to match the squares in the pixelation, recreating the picture upside down.

The picture was then to be viewed through a crystal globe, which resulted in the image being recreated right side up, and no longer pixelated.

Is it art?

Is it wonderful?

Is it crazy?

Is this, at last, the perfect way to use up all those left over spools of threads in a "green" guilt-free manner?

I think Yes, to all of the above!