So, when I got the invitation to check out the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic this summer with some friends, I couldn’t say no.

Russian River Brew Pub
Santa Rosa, CA

The first stop along our drive to Sonoma was at the Russian River Brewery Brew Pub in Santa Rosa. We tried a variety of their beers and food. It’s perfect for aficionados and foodies alike. A word to the wise: come early and prepare to wait in line before getting seated.

We ordered this massive beer flight

Declious, gooey pizza

A few candids of Shannon from downtown Santa Rosa

We stayed the night at a campsite in a local KOA. We pitched our tent as quickly as possible and hit the sack immediately as we would have to wake up a few hours later to be at the park before sunrise.

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic
Windsor, CA

Most of us arrived before or during sunrise to watch the balloons launch and slowly rise up into the sky. It was a cold, but beautiful morning. As we huddled for warmth, the sky progressed from a breathtaking orange sunrise to a blue, nearly clear sky.

Ben enjoying a breakfast burrito

Natalie

Nothing beats early morning light

Rumba Cuban Kitchen
Windsor, CA

After we had our fill of balloon watching, we headed to Rumba Cuban Kitchen for breakfast. They were extremely accommodating even though we arrived rather early in the morning with a large group. I can’t speak to if the food was authentic or not, but it was delicious and I would certainly eat at Rumba again.

Michelle breaking open a Croqueta

Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center
Santa Rosa, CA

We split into multiple groups after breakfast. One group continued into wine country for wine tasting. Another headed south to Sausalito to grab ice cream at Lappert’s. Jeff, Natalie, Q and I went to the Schulz Museum.

I had already visited the museum with my parents a few years back, but it was still as good the second time around. They rotate out their first floor exhibit a few times a year and the rest of the exhibits are well curated.

It’s museum is a must visit for fans of Peanuts, cartoons, animation, design and art.

Q loved the museum

Q exercised her drawing muscles with a drawing of the balloon fest

Sausalito

Natalie headed home from the museum and the the rest of us headed to Sausalito to try Lappert’s Ice Cream just as Ben and company had done a few hours before. I didn’t take any photos of the ice cream as I was thoroughly engrossed in eating it.

I’ll close out the post with some photos from our walk through Sausalito. Enjoy.

The car that got us there, my GTI

My companions: Q and Jeff

A vintage Nissan Z

A launch edition Alfa Romeo 4c

Those sandwiches were delicious

Justin has taken to photography after purchasing a Fujifilm

All smiles along the hike

Can you spot the camouflaged creature?

Another picture of Justin from Fraiche

Dallas Contemporary
Dallas, Texas

The first piece we saw at the gallery wasn’t actually in the gallery, but outside it. One of the more controversial works of art of recent time, Playboy Marfa by Richard Phillips was installed roadside in Marfa last year. It’s a large neon Playboy sign placed above a black, stylized dodge charger on a tilted concrete table.

The piece immediately drew criticism and was eventually dismantled after TxDOT ruled that it is in fact an unpermitted advertisement and not art. The ensuing discussion then called into question the future of another work, Prada Marfa, arguably the most popular work of art in Marfa.

The key difference between the two however is that Playboy paid for Playboy Marfa to be placed in land not permitted for signs while Prada Marfa was done without any support from Prada and was placed in leased, privately owned land. This allowed Prada Marfa to be classified as a museum with the piece itself the only exhibit of that museum.

After being dismantled, Playboy Marfa was moved to Dallas and if I’m not mistaken, is still there.

Playboy Marfa

A Close-up of the Playboy sign

There were quite a few other works on display, but none piqued my interest as much as one we came to see, Anila Quayyum Agha‘s Intersections

Intersections is an elegant piece composed of only laser-cut wood, a single light bulb and an empty room.

The artist may have intended it as an exploration of geometric patterns from Islamic sacred spaces, but I see it as an extremely pure piece of design.

I really wish I could have seen the sketches and prototypes that she went through before achieving this final result. I can’t imagine the number of iterations required to reach a result this minimal.

Intersections

Shadows cast by viewers are an amazing facet of this work. They make viewers part of the art in a way that normally isn’t possible with non-interactive, static works of art.

Self Portrait

I was blown away when I first saw photographs of it, but this work of art is truly something that needs to be experienced in person. Go see it.

Cosmic Cafe
Dallas, Texas

After leaving the gallery and then walking around the Design District, we got dinner before returning to Plano. Since we were nearby, we stopped by one of our favorite vegetarian restaurants, Cosmic Cafe. If you are in the area and like simple, asian-inspired fusion food, then this is well worth a try.

As we sat down waiting for our food, I was reminded how lucky I am to have my parents. They are supportive of all my interests and keep very open minds. Even though art wasn’t a big part of their lives growing up, they didn’t think twice when I suggested that we go to an art gallery.

Thanks amma and appa. The fact that you not only help me cultivate my interests, but also make a concerted effort to understand and enjoy them yourselves speaks to the amazing people that you are.

After the wedding, a bunch of us went to Topgolf for some drinks, food and of course golf.

The wedding reminded me that even though many things have changed — some of us are getting married; most of us have jobs or are finishing graduate school — we still have as much fun together as we did almost 10 years ago.

In late April, after a few days of eating, drinking and partying in Las Vegas during Phil’s bachelor party, four of us took the most logical next step. Phil, Sean, Vinny and I packed into a rented a Kia Optima car and drove to Arizona to experience some of the natural wonders of the American Southwest.

Grand Canyon

The trip began with a hike along the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. We hiked down from the rim, turning around at Cedar Ridge.

The singular beauty of the place was breathtaking even though I had already seen the Grand Canyon more than 10 years earlier.

On our way down the South Kaibab Trail

The view from Cedar Ridge

I think that trips are defined not by the geographical journey one takes, but by his companions. While a trip with my family can feel mostly relaxing, but sometimes stressful (because of inevitable quarrels), trips with friends feel more adventurous. I don’t feel the familiar comfort of knowing that I’m traveling with my parents, two people who have seen far more and far wider than I ever have.

Self portrait on Sean’s sunglasses

Vinny jumped between cliffs

Vinny also did some climbing

As we were walking to one of the viewpoints near the visitors center, we saw this group of people being led to it with paper bags on their heads. What a surprise it must have been when they removed their bags and began to take in their surroundings.

A surprise view

I want an expedition vehicle like this one day

Horseshoe Bend

Our second stop along the way was Horseshoe Bend, or shall I call it gnat bend. We couldn’t fully enjoy it because of the swarms of gnats that were everywhere.

Quick challenge: how many gnats can you count in the photo below?

 

swarms of gnats

 

 

 

Sean comforts Vinny

 

 

 

Phil is not pleased

 

 

 

Soaking in the views and the gnats

 

 

 

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon had to be the highlight of the trip. You have certainly seen photos of it before. One even sold for 6.5 million dollars.

Antelope Canyon is a name given to two sections of canyon carved by a tributary of Lake Powell. Lower Antelope Canyon is known for its colors and rock formations. Even though it isn’t as popular as Upper Antelope Canyon, I would still suggest signing up for a tour well in advance.

 

 

 

 

Our ride, the Kia Optima in front of the Navajo Generating Station

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lower Antelope Canyon is accessed by staircases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took a lot of photos

 

 

 

On the left, our tour guide points out some interesting formations

 

Upper Antelope Canyon is much more popular since it is flat throughout (not requiring any stairs or climbing to traverse it) and features beautiful shafts of light during mid-day. It’s not as easily accessible as Lower, requiring a truck to take you there from town. Definitely do your research before going. Light beams are only seen during a small window of time during the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen Canyon Dam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw the Hoover Dam and a few other smaller attractions along the way. I did however take the cheesy photo below. It’s my favorite iPhone game, Monument Valley, in front of Monument Valley.

 

Monument Valley in front of Monument Valley

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