Enjoyed Taliesin West. The tour guide had an annoying "I've done this 8 million times and I can't remember what I'm saying" voice and chuckled at her own jokes. And I still was left without a good sense of the true dimensions or layout of the place.... but it was interesting to see Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture again. And several of the bronze sculptures on the site were engaging.

Zinc Bistro was a bust.... We timed our arrival, it seems, for maximum hostess snottiness. "Just so you know.... We are only serving our off-hour menu now, to give the kitchen time to prepare."

OK, no problem. Can we sit outside?

"Sure. Right this way...." We are led to the back patio. The dark, cold back patio. Past all other tables and to the lone two-top... next to a glamour queen enjoying a Virginia Slim with her foie gras.

Can we sit out front? (At one of the very empty tables on the sidewalk patio. Since there are only about twelve sidewalk tables in Phoenix with any pedestrian traffic, this would have been a treat.)

"No, sorry, those are all reserved for dinner." (4:30pm)

After a half-hearted attempt to make another table work, we tossed our starched napkins aside and were outta there. Disappointing.

We walked next door and had a lovely dinner at North, the way-too-chic Italian joint I've been wanting to try. Nice crispy calamari and arugula, chewy bread, decent olives. After a Pironi or two, I was quite happy. The portions were modest, but my halibut was perfect. I could have done without the sweet-sweet-sweet Frangelico sauce.... Nonetheless, an altogether satisfying meal.

The French, it seems, will have to wait.

Beautiful sunny, mild fall day here in Phoenix. Finally. After the hottest damn October on record, we've crashed headlong into decent weather. The sort of weather that makes Phoenix such a lovely place to live for a few months out of the year.

About damn time.

Jason and I seem to have agreed that we'll stick it out here for at least another year or so. Therefore, we gotta enjoy the good stuff while we can.

Walked the bundle of energy (Oscar) around the neighborhood this morning. Lots of interesting new things going in close to the house. A new foofy wine/cheese/attitude/shiny-black-shoe bar opened on the corner. A new barber shop across the street. A new Italian grocery in the Gold Spot Market is opening soon. I'm trying to patronize local downtown businesses more. Use 'em or lose 'em. (The coffee shop across the park was lost.... Speeder and Earls out of business. Or perhaps Starbucks is going in.... That would actually be a blessing.)

Today we're taking Jason's bike up to Taliesin West, since he hasn't seen Wright's winter camp. Then an early dinner at Zinc Bistro....

In other food news, a new Vietnamese Cafe opened in North Scottsdale recently. Excellent, inexpensive lunch-style place. I haven't had good Vietnamese in awhile, and I think I'll be making this place a regular stop.... Pork roll bahn mi and yummy cha gio.