DETOUR DELIGHTS

Vivid #Adventures of a #Travelista of #Color

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#moonshot (at Sedona, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1wzZdgjjH/?igshid=1inrsoamimld6

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#SacredSites Kept getting the quickest glimpse of Sedona’s synagogue. Visitors note: tours and in-person services are suspended due to Covid per their website! What a location, though. (at Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1wQhHgUtb/?igshid=7bh94e3gyti0

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#FallColors #Sedona #sedonaarizona #roadtrip2020 #covidexcursions #safetravel (at Sedona, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1u4SKAK2k/?igshid=1v9ob0hk0w3nu

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Arrived in Sedona at night, and was staying a bit out of town to the South. So she surprised me with views at the strip mall parking lot and they got progressively impressive #redrocks #sedona #sedonaarizona #safetravel #covidexcursions (at Sedona, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1uYo5gO7j/?igshid=jx05vuyt8707

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When the gas station is a but a Mad Max mirage, and you’re *definitely* on E with 40 miles to a real, functional diesel station, and it’s the desert and it’s still 99F out and you have the AC off to conserve fumes, you pray to Our Hula Wahine of the Dash (she came through, too) #luckyme (at Desert Center, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1s0SVAtKV/?igshid=1h9ku5k3qcz32

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at Palm Springs, California https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1rr0HgN88/?igshid=16p4h8jsx0b2d

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#AZRoadtrip2020 started with an overnight in Palm Springs, a bittersweet place I’d only ever been with a dear friend who suddenly passed last year. I went back to the Ace, and looked at the (closed bc they’re not doing indoor service) booth where the four of us girls had a mad meal before a dash to the airport. Was that 2017?? It’s emotional aeons ago. But the Ace is as hip and guest-laden as I remember it, with more distanced seating and eating options. Their burger has haunted me for years and even in the presence of bittersweet thoughts, was powerfully good! #MissYouNurseNancy (at Ace Hotel & Swim Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1qtihAt22/?igshid=h8ao0rxxhbnu

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CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH RAT

I was in full lather the other week, revisiting the protests against the "bullet-hole" laden Crown Heights bar in order to contextualize my rage upon learning about the prison-themed bar in Koreatown, LA. While I was contemplating the gentrification effects upon these hoods, I knew my hometown could compete. Horrorscapes of public housing-themed restaurants on the site of former public housing developments danced in front of my eyes.  Then what do I see from our local media but this.

RAT POP UP, I never thought I’d see/read/think those words in my brain.

I poked more fun at the idea when I saw this delightful image on twitter:

And before you could twitch your whiskers, a fellow writer I know gets us on the list for the soft-opening. Insane. Ridiculous. I realize my true blocker to attendance was the price point.

What to wear????????? To a rat-themed????? Pop-up??????? I will be in all black, I think.

Judgements: I will be assessing this experience along three criteria:

Mood- this had better be dark spooky-ooky chic and not poverty-themed. Or ‘all restaurants have vermin’ themed (however true, who needs the reminder?). I will be particularly attuned to my favorite restaurant decor elements: bathroom wallpaper, light fixtures and seating comfort.

Cocktails - I’m looking for rat pun names and well-balanced flavors. Points will be deducted if no mocktails or bites are offered. Triple points awarded if someone has the ovaries to name a drink after the Bubonic Plague.

Rattiness- look. I’m into rats as pets! For people who like them. I have known many lovely pet rats. If these rats do not have shiny fur and bright eyes and seem ready for loving homes, I will be UPSET. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE RATTY RATS.  

All will be revealed in ONE WEEK’S TIME. STAY TUNED.

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Places to go back to in the #4eme - on the route and we passed on by #walkingtour #lemarais #parislemarais #travelphotography #urbanphotography #travel #france #paris (at Le Marais - Paris) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByL4zxcA4Pz/?igshid=z290cidituqe

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This, from the first stop on our patisserie tour of Le Marais is the mini chocolate Merveilleux option. Visit their site for the story of Baker Frédèric http://www.auxmerveilleux.com/the-story/ and how he fell for this specific type of dessert 🍮 * * #dessert #patisseriefrancaise #patisserie #travelphotography #urbanphotography #travel #france #paris #lemarais #parislemarais (at Aux Merveilleux de Fred) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByL20ntgDxp/?igshid=s2dklhjm4lkn

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I interrupt this #France photo stream to share a rare flower indeed! I did check though - no dial tone #phonebooth #archaic #sunsettingtechnologies #analogue #hawaii #oahu #Kailua (at Kailua, Hawai'i) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByHoKCYAgq9/?igshid=1apca658p9pg9

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My #Marais walking tour met in decently heavy rain at the lovely Église Saint-Gervais, where luckily we dried a bit and the rain let up. Outside of a rear entrance you may see a half-timbered home in the early 15c (possibly late 14c) style. Later, many similar structures were coated with plaster and lime to reduce fire risk. * * #travelphotography #urbanphotography #travelblogger #parislemarais #travel #architecturephotography #history #france #architecture (at Église Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx_7aVXgpue/?igshid=cb9l4xmjn0jo

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@cerealiste views * * #urbanphotography #parislemarais #travel #travelblogger #travelphotography (at Cerealiste) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5W23HgzLI/?igshid=1o4lhzbe3cqro

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@cerealiste views * * #urbanphotography #parislemarais #travel #travelblogger #travelphotography (at Cerealiste) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5W23HgzLI/?igshid=11w6n9of4xu3e

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at Le Marais - Paris https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx2bV00gkiW/?igshid=7da3xaijmqo

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My first full day in Paris I signed up for a walking/pastry tour of the Marais (Avec M. Emmanuel, on peut lui trouver sur #airbnbexperience). My walk to the meeting spot was my pre-tour tour - good #streetArt and a sudden downpour! #springtravel #affiche #affiches #posterart #graffiti #urbanphotography #paris #france #parislemarais #lemarais #travelphotography #travelblogger #travel #voyage #voyager (at Le Marais - Paris) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx1PecuAWMZ/?igshid=kyziqb61yp48

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If you’re new here you may not know that I have a small #bag problem. Not the kind you secure, that’s a different issue; the kind that always fits. High end, low end, #backpack, clutch: I have room in my heart for all of them. This window was just around the corner from my first stop in #Paris and if I hadn’t had an appointment to make, I’m certain this shop would have separated me from my Euros. #baglady #marais #fairedushopping #france #paris #travelphotography #travelblogger (at Le Marais - Paris) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxaEUWg7GW/?igshid=1d9l1s82vu17r