A Day at the Fair

On Saturday, Jora and I took her three kids and my two nieces to the San Diego County Fair (aka the Del Mar Fair to us locals.)   I hadn't been to the fair in a couple of years - and I hadn't ever been with kids.  It was a whole different experience.  Exhibits?  Pshaw... the kids wanted to go on the rides.

So Jora and I started out by buying one of these $50. sheets of ride tickets - 72 tickets - EACH.

Guess what?  When there are four kids riding - and each ride takes 3-6 tickets, those suckers go fast.  So fast, I had to buy ANOTHER sheet in the afternoon.  So fast, I still didn't go on but one ride all day - and only then because the younger one wasn't tall enough to go without an adult.  I wanted the girls to wring every precious bit of joy they could from those things.  I guess I have to admit, seeing expressions like this their faces made it all worthwhile... as long as I don't think about it too much.

I had fun photographing the rides and scenery while the girls were whirling around.  I almost want to go back again just to "photo safari."  And maybe go on a ride or two myself...

Happily, even though it was the first Saturday the fair was open, the lines weren't long at all.  The only crowds we encountered were around the food booths along the midway.  We had the obligatory funnel cake - which was worth every calorie, especially when shared with two voracious children.  For lunch, we had the barbecued chicken from the bbq stand, and Greek salad and gyros from the Greek stand.  It was all relatively healthy, and really very good.

Though it was tough herding four kids around the fair (plus a baby in a stroller), we did have Caelan and Emma, who are now 11 and 8 respectively, to help. I asked Caelan to chaperone C-man and Emma to look out for Juju, and they took their jobs very seriously, as you can see...

After we accomplished our primary mission at the Fair, which was to see our friend Heidi perform with her Zumba team, we took the kids over to the Farrell's for an ice cream cone, and sat down for a break to eat it - because it turns out that with small kids, eating and walking just doesn't work so well.

Jora and her clan called it a day shortly after that, but the girls and I still had a couple of hours to kill because we were going to the concert that night - Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae.  (See discussion above regarding second sheet of ride tickets!)  They went on some more rides, had some cotton candy, and before we knew it - it was time to get in line.  

Until a week or so ago, I think I might have been the only person alive who didn't know who Bruno Mars was, but I was told the girls were crazy about him so I looked into it.  I checked one day and couldn't get anything, but checked again the next day and was able to get unreserved Terrace seating.

The Terrace is a great place to sit because it's the table seating.  Unreserved means first come first served though, so you have to get there early and wait in line.  We got in line at 4:45 for a 7 PM show, but it paid off - our section was on the far left side, but we were able to get seats on the end.

We had table service, so we ordered food and drinks - but if you prefer you can bring in whatever you like from the fair.  They actually put on a really fun show - I think I enjoyed it as much or more than the girls did.  It was their "first concert" -  they thought it was a little loud, and they were getting tired by the end after a long day of fun at the fair - but I do think they liked it.  If nothing else, hopefully, they will at least remember it!

If you're going to the fair and you are interested in the rides, consider the "wristband day" deal available certain dates - it's gotta be the way to go, even if the lines are longer.  Also, kids under twelve get in free any day if they fill out a form indicating they've read 10 books, and have it signed by a teacher or librarian!

Spring Break Part One - The Ace Palm Springs, etc

I think one of the very worst parts of being a grownup is the absence of breaks.  As a kid and all the way into college (or grad school) you come to rely on things like winter break, spring break and summer to well... break things up.  Every fall is a fresh start, and every winter and spring you get a little time to take care of business, go on a trip, or just be for a little while.   Having a job has it's advantages, but I really miss those little refreshers - so this year I decided to take a spring break of my own.  It grew out of a trip to New Orleans (we leave tomorrow) and the fact that my nieces had last week off from school.  I'd told them I'd try to take them out to the Ace in Palm Springs for a quick overnighter in March - but the weekends don't really work (too debauched) and they can't miss school.   Hence, last week was the perfect time.   We drove out on Monday morning and didn't leave the property until noon the next day. 

Jora came too and brought little Baby E.  The girls were fantastic with her, and she had a blast making friends with everyone.  (I think she was the only girl at the pool with rolls on her thighs and a belly.)

I really do love the Ace. At least during the week it's a mellow scene.  There were a bunch of kids there since it was spring break for the public schools - but I'm sure that's not normally the case, and it wasn't really a bother anyway - they just played in the pool.  We had two good meals at the Kings Highway - I especially recommend the ALT sandwich - and the version where they add an egg and bacon at breakfast.  The coconut french toast was pretty decadent too.  They have great cocktails (I like the one with bourbon, ginger beer and blackberries) the service isn't pretentious, the rooms aren't expensive.  Jora got one with a little patio and a record player.  The record player was fun and it was nice to have a little room to spread out - especially with the baby.

Of course, we had to take this picture.  Alice, Caelan and Emma...

and the lovely Jora with Emilia...

When we got back, the girls spent another night, and I made a blackberry streusel coffee cake the next morning. There's nothing more indulgent than a lazy Wednesday morning with homemade coffee cake.  Then Emma hauled out the chess set and asked me to play.  We also played Battleship the day before - which they LOVED. (James and I couldn't stop saying "You sank my Battleship!" to each other, which of course meant nothing to them.)   

Their one request was to go to the tidepools in La Jolla.  We had to wait until late in the day for the tide to go out, so I took them to the mall to kill some time, and look at the new stuff for spring.  It was the first time they've shown any interest in shopping or clothes.  They were holding things up to each other at Anthropologie and trying on shoes at Nordstrom.  At home, Caelan picked up one of my issues of Vogue and said "I like to look at fashion magazines, they look cool."  Uh oh...

I'd forgotten that the tidepools at the south end of the beach are totally submerged at this point - those were the tidepools I used to go to as a kid, but that was, err... a long time ago.   We hopped back in the car and drove up to the north end of the beach by the pier, and they got to poke around for a while...  

Then we headed further north, and met their mom at Blue Ribbon Pizzeria.  I was coming down with a cold, we were wet and sandy from the beach, and their baby brother was fussy - so we decided to just get takeout and head our separate ways.  I ordered two pizzas and two salads and brought them all the way to  La Mesa from Encinitas - and I think the food was better than it was when we ate in the last time - believe it or not. Both of the pizzas - the signature and the father's special (or something like that) had their ricotta on them.  Do not miss that.  The salad with bacon and breadcrumbs and the tuna with avocado and grapefruit were similarly divine.  I definitely see inspiration from Pizzeria Mozza in their menu, and it's hard to go wrong with that.

Speaking of Pizzeria Mozza - I also went up to LA with a friend for a little shopping trip last weekend.   More on that is coming soon -  but now I have to pack for New Orleans.  Laissez le bon temps rouler!!   xxoo