EXPECTATIONS AND A PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE (OR COFFEE DATE DOESN'T GO TO PLAN)

I love the fall. Living in Quebec the last 23 years, I never tire of marvelling at the colours that line our streets and highways. I walk to the train or the library or through a nearby park, and the reds and oranges and yellow and greens are continually changing. Today there are burgundy colours and topless trees, as though giraffes came by and ate only the leaves higher up, leaving only the low lying leaves for today.

View from my kitchen window. My weeds have never looked better!

It has been raining for 24 hours, and the winds have strewn branches across driveways and lawn. Not the best weather to go out in, but not a bad evening to dress up a little warmly, and go for a Starbucks coffee.

Today was a slow start to the day. I changed the batteries in the furnace thermostat (why are rechargeable alkaline batteries 1.4 V when you need 1.5 for remotes and thermostats?) and was woken up in the middle of a hot flash at 3:30 am, exactly 3 hours and 30 minutes into my sleep. It was not because I am hitting menopause, although the thought did cross my mind. It was because the thermostat refused to acknowledge the 24 hours clock, and had start to pump the house full of heat to reach the 20 degrees meant for the afternoon, but inconveniently began in the middle of the night. Needless to say, it took me a while to fall back asleep, and then I was awoken yet again by the early rise neighbour whose car is tricked out like a motorcycle with a muffler that is unnecessarily noisy, before falling asleep for a few more hours. I woke to an alarm that allowed me time to shower and make a coffee, and then I had a meeting that I was able to do from home, saving me a 2 1/2 hour commute.

I had the time to finish a craft Princess Pirate and I had tried yesterday, but failed.

Candy Corn from Rainbow looming

         

I tried a recipe that was made with pumpkin and looked like a pumpkin. It was a hit!

I had my girl over after school with a friend, and they ate celery peanut butter boats and foamed chocolate milk and loved the pumpkin buns. I had a couple dear friends text me as I was thinking about how to describe myself tonight at a coffee date that I did not have high hopes for happening.

When I was asked to pick a beverage of choice, and to meet, I chose Starbucks, and the first available evening, nearly 3 weeks away. I wasn't sure if that would be taken badly, but I am looking for a secure guy, and Nick said great. I picked a place with mugs and have looked forward to a pumpkin spiced latte ever since. We were supposed to meet tonight at 8 pm.

I started watching a movie I have been thinking of since the temperature started falling. It's a fall classic: You've Got Mail.  I ate homemade pizza covered in mushrooms, changed my clothes, primped my hair and face, and walked through a cloud of vanilla perfume. I left without any expectations, and with most of the movie left to watch.

Tall Pumpkin Spiced Latte with whipped cream: 380 calories!

I was just a little early, but found a couple of chairs to save. The crowd was young so it was easy to see I was the first to arrive. We had moved the time to 8 so neither of us would be late. By the time I sat down, I was starting to wonder, but I had brought a book and drawing material, and had a latte to enjoy. A few sips in, and a few minutes after 8, I checked my email. He was making an apology, and excuses, but he wasn't going to make it.

I remember a time in the late 1990s when my friend Lui and I had made plans to meet the next time he was in Montreal. At the time, he was travelling through Europe and the States, and knew he would have the same conference the following year. We made plans to meet, never checked, and we were both there one year later. Times have changed. 

I had a few thoughts about work and dating that I jotted down. I enjoyed every sip of the coffee. I texted with my two friends, and felt grateful for my life, my kid, and the tier of good friends that fill my life with joy and reasons for gratitude. Then I came home and watched the end of this great movie that is a total fantasy, but a wonderful one.

The parallel to my night was my favourite part. When Meg Ryan's character is stood up, her employees/friends try and make her feel better but also make her feel worse! They keep using the phrase she dislikes, "stood up". She makes herself feel better by rationalizing that "something terrible and unexpected that made it impossible for him to call" must have happened, so that she can hold on  to the ideal of this man she has fallen in love with in correspondence. When she worries that maybe "he showed up  and took one look at me and left", her friends reassure that that's not possible, and come up with explanations like, " the train got trapped under ground" and he touched "the third rail" and "he's toast", or he was in a "car accident", or his "elbows are splinted so he couldn't call" or he's "unconscious", "in a coma", "in the intensive care", or he was the "rooftop murderer" and now he's "in jail".  "You are so lucky", they say. "You could be dead."

I am a big fan of principles. I love that Lui kept his word. I am proud that I remembered to bring a coffee mug, in case they didn't have a ceramic one I was hoping for. I would have be impressed if Nick was on time. I was lucky that he didn't show up. He had work going on at his house. I would understand that he couldn't stay. That he came late. I would get if he had rescheduled. Said something like, I need it to be closer to home. It may have to be another day. But he didn't. Everything was okay. The date. The place. Then suddently, it wasn't. Really, it is a gift to know that he lacked the integrity to show up.

When Meg Ryan's character, Kathleen Kelly, has to face the fact that her beloved bookstore has been driven out of business by Tom Hank's character, Joe Fox, her bookkeeper validates that "Closing the store is the brave thing to do", even though she and the viewer knows that she would say the same thing no matter what she chose to do. Kathleen recognizes the grace of the statement, and expresses gratitude, but my favourite lines are what follow,

"You are daring to imagine that you could have a  different life. Oh, I know. It doesn't feel like that. You feel like a big fat failure now. But you're not. You are marching into the unknown armed with nothing." 

So to marching into a brighter future with nothing, but the gift of myself!

STABAT MATER DOLOROSA/CARMINA BURANA

I grew up in a Protestant church, with music that ranged from hymns to praise and worship songs. The hymns became less and less sung over my growing up year, but when I attended a Luthern high school, liturgical sermons and hymns were more the norm. The Christmas concert was a choir event that included bells and acoustic pieces. The soundtracks of movies from that era often included classical music. It was a familiar, and enjoyed genre of music, but not as much for my peers.

So when I invited a friend to a recent ballet with medieval music like Carmina Burana and Stabat Mater, I wasn't sure what she was thinking during the show, but I was elevated to another plane with the performance of the orchestra, choir, and soloists. Montreal tends to react negatively to religion, and push boundaries that I would consider nearer heresy than secularism, so I wasn't sure how the show would be, nor how it would be received.

Piano Nobile bar above the orchestra floor(A quiet floor, perfect for a drink before the ballet started)

On Friday at Les Grands Ballet, the Opera began with what seemed like the whole company of dancers. The stage was filled with dancers before we even sat down. The costumes were muted and simple. This is the second time I saw the Latin phrase Stabat Mater, and remembered it was Mary Mother of Jesus' song. It means "Grieving Mother Standing". It's from a fourteenth century poem, and it has been set to music by multiple composers. The teams were equal of men and women. The ballet this past weekend was the version done by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, written in the 1700s.I am listening to a recording of it offered on youtube.  It's a beautiful arrangement, and it was staged, a little surprisingly, in a religious theme, complete with aa clear story of the crucifixion.

Carmina Burana was a work done by a German composer, Carl Orff,  in 1935-6, and first performed in Frankfurt's impressive Alte Oper. This was the second act of Friday's event, and my favourite half. The feature that was most noticable was a large ring handing over the stage that represented a "Wheel of Fortune". The opera was inspired by a collection of stories, and begins with a piece called O Fortuna. It is a dramatic beginning to an emotional opera, and the recording brings it to memory, but its real life was in a silent Wilfred Pelletier, with exquisite voices raised in excellent acoustics. On stage the ring, resembling a giant magnet, descended from the ceiling and lowered to contain some dancers, and exclude others. At one point, the tenor onstage links hands with the dancers on either side, while singing exquisitely all the while. The latin lyrics cover  the gammet of topics from fate, springtime, attraction, dance, love, virginity, misery, taverns, and joy. It was easy to stand for an ovation with such an ending.

Thankfully, taking my friend was a great idea. She loved it too!

YESTERDAY ELIUD KIPCHOGE BROKE A WORLD RECORD, AND TODAY BRIGID KOSGEI DID TOO!

The sub-two hour marathon has been an obsession for many, and on October 12th, 2019, a 34 year old Kenyan man ran the fastest marathon ever in Vienna, Austria. Obviously a modest man, Eliud credited his team of pacers for his remarkable feat. He beat his own record, given that he had run the Berlin marathon in record time just last year at 2 hours and 1 minute. Every report emphasized, however, that it had not been an official race, the route was chosen for its flat nature, and credit was given to Nike's newist technical pair of shoes called Vaporfly that will be all the rage henceforth. All discrediting comments aside, it is an amazing moment of human achievement! Trevor Noah's take on it was bang on!

I wasn't around for the sub-4 minute mile, but I have long awaited the day when the sub-2 hour marathon was run. I cannot imagine running a 4 minute kilometer, and I am impressed beyond words for a four minute mile, but to run an average of 4.52 minute miles during a gruelling 26.2 miles is mind-blowing! It's hard to believe that in the first modern Olympics in 1896, the Greek runner to set a record ran it in 3:11:27. That's a big difference from today's top athlete!

When I sat down to write about this remarkable day, I saw that today the women's world record was broken in the Chicago marathon by Kenya runner Brigid Kosgei! This was for the first time since 2003 when Paula Radcliffe broke the record in London. She was awarded with a bonus of $75,000 for beating the course record as well, over the equal gender prizes of $100,000 each. That's a long way from the female entrance to marathons, paved by Kathrine Switzer, who was harassed and assaulted for having the audacity to run as the first woman in the Boston Marathon in 1967.

Congratulations, Mr Kipchoge! Congratulations Ms. Kosgei! Congratulations to Nike and all those scientists and engineers at INEOS 1:59 that made this day possible! I cannot be more proud!

THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

On Canada Day this year, we spent it in Ottawa. Our party noticed a tour of the Supreme Court of Canada, and were game to spend the time. It was the first time I had noticed the building, set back impressively from Wellington street, and visible from the riverview in a less obvious view.

The entire building is symetrical, symbolizing the balance of justice. Outside were two statues: IVSTITIA and VERITAS. The hooded foreboding man above IVSTITIA puzzled me, as I struggled to remember there is no J in Greek, or V for that matter.

It was was right up my alley of favourite architecture and symbolism, with its Château Style roof and Art Deco interior. The first stone was laid by Queen Elisabeth I in 1939, but was not used as a court until 1946, having been delayed in construction by the war.

The SCC was designed by Montreal architect Ernest Cormier. He is known for designing the art deco U of M main building with tower that stands out against Mont Royal from the North, and lived in the house he designed for himself (Ernest-Cormier house) on Pine Avenue, previously owned by Pierre Elliot Trudeau, and now apparently owned by Sacha Trudeau. He also designed the second Quebec Court of Appeals in the Old Port of Montreal, across from the Palais de Justice (Montreal Courthouse).

The first Saskatchewan judge was a lawyer named Cathcart in 1912.

The first female supreme court justice was Bertha Wilson in 1982.

Initially there were 4 judges, but a tie could never be settled, so an odd number was chosen from then on. 3 out of 9 judges must be from Quebec. Usually 3 others are from Ontario, 2 from out West and 1 from the Atlantic provinces.

Deliberations happen around a round table.

Each chamber of appeal and lower court are judged by 3 judges.

In Canada, under common law, there are three levels of court in each province and territory: lower, superior, and appeals.  In Quebec, given a different type of law (civil), the highest court is La cour supériere du Québec.

INSPIRED BY KIM CAMPBELL

I turned on the radio, and heard a woman speaking with an interviewer on CBC radio yesterday. It didn't take me long to figure out who it was, because we have only ever had one female prime minister in North America, so it wasn't much of a logistical challenge. Kim Campbell was talking on the show Out in the Open.

Honestly, I was reminded that Kim Campbell's short run in leadership may have had an influence on me in ways I am just beginning to understand.  I think it was a short lived belief of its normalcy, but it was shattered when she lost the election to Cretien in 1994. I realize now that I was disappointed, but that I had no idea what sexism was involved in the aftermath. I understand a little better now what it means to be scapegoated for your gender. I understand her thoughts on feeling isolated. It especially resonates that when you are different, you give people a feeling of discomfort from what they are used to, and that feeling translates to dislike and exclusion, based not on any personal failing, but simply because you don't look like what they are used to.

Conscious bias still exists, but is less and less tolerated. Unconscious bias is the sexism that still exists today. Kim's wikipedia bibliography links to this interesting article.

I remember people making a big deal about her showing her shoulders in her lawyer garb, and I was probably in agreement with them. Now, a little smarter and openminded, I laughed at her response to the comparisons made to Madonna. She wore "a strapless gown" compared to Madonna's "gownless strap"! I didn't think to ask the context of the photo, which was an artistic photo for a book on unconventional women (the rebel girls of today!) Seriously though, her thoughts on dress in positions of authority are in line with mine. In a venue where the majority of politicians with power are men in suits,  there is a power differential that is accentuated when women are not dressed similarly. It is still uncomfortable that some feel their feminine power is in the dress, but in my peer group and position of authority, I abide by the same idea. Distraction is not helpful in the power struggle women still lose at. Maybe some day, with power redistributed, could the fashions change.

What I find interesting is what happened in the aftermath of losing the election. She wrote an autobiography called Time and Chance. She worked internationally in politics and teaching. She and her husband launched a musical called Noah's Ark. She has a collection of honorary degrees from across North America.

AXEL : CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ON ICE

Cornwall is almost exactly half way between Ottawa and Montreal, with a drive of about an hour for each. My friend organized for us to meet last Saturday for the newest Cirque de Soleil show.

We were glad for any excuse to see some of our favorite people, and we have see some amazing shows (Allegria, Varekai). It was supposed to be on ice, which is not the kind of show we usually go to, but it sounded interesting, so we ate supper at Thum's for Thai, and then headed to Cornwall's arena.

The first thing I remember was thinking that the arena was warmer than I expected for a show on ice.

The second thing I remember was the light show. It was geometric in black and white, amd became colourful as it went on. It was so different and mesmerizing that I found myself willing my attention back to the characters at hand, who were doing impossible things on skates, but it didn't translate well from the complexity of what they were doing and the mistakes that looked simple to avoid.

The third thing I noticed was the music. A lot was copyrighted music, and the main character, Axel, an androgynous character in jeans and on skates, sang a lot of it. He was not a alone, with a live band that moved around, and were part of the show at different moments.

Mad World Gary Jules 2001
I Feel Like Dancin, by All Time Low 2011
Jump Van Halen 1984
Creep Radiohead 1993

The story seemed lacking, with stereotypes of superheros and villains, and two female characters that seemed identical, but while taking bows at the end, clearly weren't.

I am still not sure I liked it, but there were interesting elements, and the girls (ages 11-14) loved it! I would pan it more, but the performers gave it their all, no matter I felt about the arrangement.  It is so easy to be a critic, but, although this may not have been the greatest show on earth, I would do the evening again, but maybe this time wait until it came to the Bell centre.

LOOKING FOR RAPTORS (RAPACES)

I am not sure when the term started to mean birds of prey, but much like we were obsessed with dinosaurs, Princess Pirate is obsessed with the modern raptors (birds of prey). So it was with great excitement that we returned to St. Bruno park for a demonstration put on by the park.

There were taxodermy models, posters and binoculars (jumelles). There was a whole new vocabulary to learn.

 



Can you tell the differences in the silhouette?

La crécerelle d'Amérique is the smallest, also known as the kestrel. We know it from Granby Zoo and the Forestry Farm as an endangered species.
Le faucon émerillon is a merlin.
Le faucon gerfaut is the gyrfalcon, the largest falcon.
Le Faucon pèlerin is the peregrine falcon.
Le Pygargue à tête blanche is the bald eagle.
L'aigle royal is the golden eagle.
L'urubu à tête rouge is the turkey vulture.
Le balbuzard pêcheur is the osprey.
La buse à queue rousse is the red tailed hawk.
La buse à épaulettes is the red shouldered hawk.
La petite busse is the broad-winged hawk.
La buse pattue is the rough-legged hawk.
Le busard Saint-Martin is a hen harrier. Its genus is Circus, from the circling behaviour common to birds of prey.
L'épervier de Cooper is Cooper's hawk.

These are all birds we can see in eastern North America.
The eight highlighted in orange were the diurnal ones to look for in Quebec.
Mostly, we saw vultures and crows!

SPOILER ALERT!

1. Buse/Hawk
2. Epervier/Eagle or sparrow hawk
3. Faucon/Falcon
4. Urubu/vulture

SEASON ENDERS

A few crickets still chirp.
I heard geese leaving.
The painted ladies still flit, but the monarchs are gone.
The tiniest caterpillar was looking for lunch.

THUM' S KITCHEN, CORNWALL

My experience with Thai food is not extensive, but it usually involves heat, so when we were invited to eat in Cornwall by friends equidistant coming from Ottawa, I thought I'd better take a look at the menu and find some kid-friendly alternatives.

There was no problem on a menu this long, and Princess Pirate surprised me by ordering a dish I had a hankering to try as well. The restaurant had some nice details, the servers had traditional dress, and the food came hot, fast and tasty!

Chicken satay (SatauGai) with peanut sauce
This was a very generous portion for an appetizer price, served on crispy rice noodles, in a boat! Not sure if it was the fish sauce, but the sauce tasted a little stale. It was a very good choice for a hungry girl.

Pad (Mee Koret) See Eaew
I liked the noodles, PP the omelette. I was hoping to try a kind of egg pancake I had seen on a travel show, which turns out to be Vietnamese Banh Xeo. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it fed us well.

Gang Garee Gai: Yellow curry with chicken and potatoes.
The portion was modest but the curry was hot and smooth. Served with a side of tiny dry sticky rice (Kao Neaw), the extra vegies were necessary but disappointing.

VICTORIA PARK, REGINA

Across the street from the Hotel Saskatchewan is a park that I identify as downtown. I suspect consumers would argue that Cornwall center is, but this pretty park, flanked by a CP hotel and the library, was the center of the universe to me. Books and architecture and Saskatoons at the farmer's market. This is my happy place in Regina, with Wascana Park a close second.

I worked at the Regina Public library in high school, rewinding and repairing films in the AV department, back when projectors were the norm for showing film in class, not a tv! It is classic place, and it the bones of it are not much changed. From memory, I am sure that this interior is the same:



From the date on the wall, this probably is not changed, but the brick seems to be from a more modern era than my time there.


I honestly don't remember these ruins. There was a time when it was all the rage in canada for the wealthy (I learned this from William Mackenzie King's estate) to recreate their own ruins. Maybe this was always there? The courtyard was for sure. Ancient Greece and Rome was not on my radar at the time.



One of two churches on the park is the Knox Metropolitan United. Like many others, it had to rebuild after a tornado struck Regina, in 1912. In retrospect, this boded ill of a wedding to take place on June 30th, 2002.

The wedding cake building on Scarth Street, as my mom would call it. It is a goverment of Canada building that is, of course, Art Deco. This space, however, has a more infamous claim to fame. It the site of the building, where in 1885, Louis Riel was "tried" and sentenced to hang.

There is no statue of Victoria in the park, but there is one of John A MacDonald, looking a little like Lewis Carroll in his jauty pose.

The stark central figure of the park: the war memorial (cenotaph).

This exhibition was a yearly event, just like mosaic was.

HOTEL SASKATCHEWAN

It was a monumental event. Luther College High School was having a homecoming, and it was my class' 30th. Most of us were from out of town, and hadn't seen each other for 20 years or more, so we rented a bunch of rooms, and for the first time, I stayed at the Hotel Saskatchewan. It was a thrill for me, as it was one of the last in a list of Canadian Pacific Railway hotels that I have obsessed over, and now stayed at.

It has been restored recently, and to good effect. The details in the hotel are wonderful, but not one painting captured my interest. They were all prints! However the bar in lobby was often busy, and had great service and yummy drinks.

The Marriott had taken over the property, with Bonvoy membership allowing calls (who needs a phone anymore!) and free wifi. The fitness room was well equipped and had a small tiled "spa" that I had hoped to use, but did not. Something for next time, when the day is not so filled with friends and food!

The marquise

A little history, set in the obligatory Tyndall limestone

Welcome mat

New logo on the elevator doors.

The entrance carpet, with an old font that I prefer

 I love a train clock in the lobby

Conference Floor in Damask

My favourite room, the library!

Fireplace with faux light (library)

One of the queen beds

A nice place to chat by the window

A darker corner for working at, but very little natural light

Small bathroom with a deep tub. Taking a bath took planning, as the water flow was slow, but the tub was deep and the water warm (once I figured out the dials!)

View to Victoria Park

MY CHEWBACCA

THE ACT OF LEARNING

"It is not knowledge, but the act of learning,
not possession but the act of getting there,
which grants the greatest enjoyment."

Carl Friedrich Gauß, mathematician

STELLA'S AT WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

First, you need to exit 

Turn to the right, and wait for a seat. If you don't have much time, line up at the counter for a baked good.  If you are lucky, you have time to sit. 

Dragon Bowl: I was initially underwhelmed, with raw vegies and frozen peas,  but underneath was a warm hearty quinoa and rice with sweet and sour sauce ("spicy chili garlic tamarind sauce"). The eggplant was not well done, and the most plentiful. With a glass of Peller Estate Pinot Grigio, and a good hour and a half layover, it was a wonderful meal to pick over while people watching.

No Wolseley bar today, but a buttery enormous raison scone was delicious alternative

The Wings of Daedalus (as I see it), from the roof of the airport at YWG

The architectural design of this airport is gorgeous.

IB LEARNER QUALITIES AND QUOTATIONS

RISK TAKER : ELEANOR ROOSEVELT "Do one thing everyday that scares you."

REFLECTIVE : CONFUCIUS "Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous."

INQUIRER : PLATO "As it is, the lover of inquiry must follow his beloved wherever it may lead him."

CARING : ABRAHAM LINCOLN "He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help."

PRINCIPLED : DWIGHT EISENHOWER "A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

KNOWLEDGEABLE : L. FRANK BAUM " No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire."

BALANCED : HILLARY CLINTON " Our lives are a mixture of different roles. Most of us are doing the best we can to find whatever the right balance is... For me, that balance is family, work, and service."

OPEN MINDED : ALBERT EINSTEIN " The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size."

COMMUNICATOR : PEARL S. BUCK "Self-expression must pass into communication for its fulfillment."

THINKER : SOCRATES "I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think."

GUIMOND METRO : PLACE VICTORIA TRANSPORTS ME TO PARIS EVERYTIME

Fall leaves and fountains with gothic font and floral martians

BROCCOLI CAPRESE

Finely chopped broccoli, apple and raisin with a simple creamy vinaigrette 

HIGH TEA/LUNCH IN RIGAUD

When Princess Pirate had a high tea birthday party in Hudson at Cafe de l'Horloge, I needed to find a place for lunch, and the Chinese restaurant, Terrasse de Chine, I had planned to visit was closed for renovations. I found Au Croissant 21 right across the street, and had a very nice lunch while making my way through the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series.

Croissant sandwich and creamy broccoli salad at Au Croissant 21

Creamy cheesecake with stale chocolates and a lovely earl grey tea at Au Croissant 21

A Painting at Le Cafe d'Horloge 

A Painting at Le Cafe d'Horloge 

MENU
SAVOURY BITES/Bouchées Salés
Brie, fig and pecan crostini/canapé
Ginger shirimp and avocado crostini/tartines
Mushroom puff pastry/feuilleté
Tomato puff pastry
Cucumber (computer as one of the triplets would say) sandwiches
Smoked salmon sandwiches
Chicken sandwich with turmeric and cranberries
Apple, old cheddar, and raisin grilled cheese
Salad of the day
SWEETS
macaron
lemon curd on a sugar cookie/sablé (mignardise)
chocolate pistachio mousse (mignardise)
chocolate praline crunch (mignardise)
baklava
carrot cream cookie
lemon Madeleine
alfajores
salted caramel and pecan brownie

TORONTO DOMINION BANK TRILOGY

Walking in the old port today, I had a few minutes to wander. This was a shield on the outer wall of the bank. I thought the three lofty ideals that TD bank had chosen was a nice arc of ideals for work, and romance. Had my marriage had all three, we would have been all right. Sapiophiles beware!

INDUSTRY, INTELLIGENCE, INTEGRITY

ENJOYED A LAZY SUMMER WITH NO RACES TO TRAIN FOR

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LA CAPITAL TACOS : MEXICAN IN THE HEART OF CHINATOWN

It felt weird to walk through china town and stop at a taco place, but it was a great meal with great service. Accompanying it all was an amazing tequila based cocktail called Paloma with grapefruit and lime juice. La Capital Tacos are delicious! By the time we got our food, having tacos on china just made sense! My companion was happy with her ribeye choice. Next time, I want to try the vegan Tinga.

Rosarito
Beer-battered shrimp, red cabbage, pico de Gallo, chipotle mayo and avocado sauce

Ensalada Fresca
Watermelon, cucumber, mint, pepitas, lime vinaigrette
Paloma
Tequila, Lime Juice, Grapefruit juice