Drove my Chevy to the bakery and got a good buy... an oven-fresh Cherry, and a Dutch Apple Pie. Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery 610 E Fillmore St. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719.264.0177 
The Hungarian Goulash at Uwe’s really hit the spot for lunch today. Couldn’t resist a slice of warm Apple Strudel for dessert! This place is surprisingly bigger than it appears on the outside, and tends to fill up with loyal regulars rather quickly. The staff are always very welcoming and the food spot on each and every time. Uwe's has been serving Colorado Springs authentic German and European cuisine since 1985. Uwe's German Restaurant 31 Iowa Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719.475.1611
One of the newest additions to Colorado Springs ever expanding dining choices is Colorado’s Rib & Chop House at Powers and Dublin. The 6oz Filet was cooked to perfection and served with two sides. I selected the loaded potato and “Carrot Soufflé. Wow, who knew carrots could taste so good! Definitely my new favorite side, but the only place I’ve ever seen it is here. Shout out to Regina for her excellent suggestions and service. Colorado's Rib & Chop House 5935 Dublin Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 719.597.2510
Just a short walk from the hotel we found many dining options. We chose to try the fish and chips at Pompei's Grotto, locally owned and operated since 1956. While eating a light rain shower started, which is not uncommon this time of year. Afterwards I took an Uber ride downtown for a night at the theater.
LIVE at the Sydney Goldstein Theater
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION Christmas Show What an awesome, live, Saturday night performance of A Prairie Home Companion at the packed Sydney Goldstein Theater with the entire original cast. A Prairie Home Companion is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016 on NPR (National Public Radio) every Saturday evening from their home at the Fitzgerald Theater in Minneapolis or some large city throughout the United States when they took the show “on the road”. The group reunited for four Christmas performances in Minneapolis, San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York City for 2019.
DAY 2
Any visit to the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area should include a visit to Fisherman's Wharf, famous for seafood dining. The Franciscan Crab Restaurant was just a short walk from the hotel and offers superb panoramic seafood dining. Enjoy seafood favorites including Dungeness Crab, Crispy Crabcakes, Seafood Antipasto, fresh oysters, and steamed mussels. They also features freshly made burrata and salumi. To further enhance your visit, you'll find unforgettable views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, San Francisco's spectacular skyline, Alcatraz and of course, historic Fisherman's Wharf right from your table. A local favorite since 1957.
DAY 3
After securing tickets for a BigBus Tour there was just enough time for a terrific breakfast at Boudin's Bakery. I had the traditional breakfast, which was very filling and included fresh-toasted sourdough bread. They have an amazing gift shop too!
LIVE at Grace Cathedral
ORGAN & BRASS Christmas Concert By doing research ahead of your visit you may discover additional things to see and do. We happened to find that a Holiday concert was being held at the beautiful Grace Cathedral on one of the evenings we were in town. It featured San Francisco's own Bay Brass performing alongside the church's 7,466 pipe organ. By purchasing our ticket ahead of time on line we were able to secure a fifth row seat for the event.
DAY 4
Just a short walk from the hotel is the Powell & Hyde Street Cable Car. We got off at the top of Lombard Street to walk down the "Crookedest Street In The World".
A steep downhill block or two away I stopped in at the 901 Columbus Street Cafe for a light breakfast before catching the next cable car that would take me to the Bart Station that takes you to the airport.
Consistently good, consistently fresh, consistently clean, each new day after day. Serving breakfast and lunch daily from 7:00am - 3:00pm, this gem of a cafe in Rockrimmon is sure to please everyone in your party. Shout out to Alyson for great service in the middle of the busy lunch hour. New Day Cafe 5901 Delmonico Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80919 719.266.0555
A great way for us to wrap up November is having dinner at Dat’s Italian in the heart of Old Colorado City. Tonight I strayed from my favorite, the Lasagna, to try the Sicilian Spaghetti Pie. It too was very good and SO filling. The evening would not be complete without an out-of-this-world delicious Canoli for dessert, the best I’ve ever had anywhere to date. Shout out to Phillip for his excellent recommendations and service. Dennis and his family have been serving Colorado Springs since 2010 and also own and operate Templetons, one of Colorado Springs newest restaurants. Dat's Italian 2514 W Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80904 719.632.3287
Enjoying a leisurely Christmas Stroll through Old Colorado City after a day of shopping on Small Business Saturday.
This year I almost didn't get a pie for Thanksgiving. The snow storm prevented me from venturing out on Tuesday and, by the time I popped in late Wednesday afternoon, my neighborhood pie shop was nearly sold out. Oh my, now what kind of Thanksgiving would it be with no pie? 3.14 Sweet & Savory Pi Bar 5152 Centennial Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80919 719.314.6172
A cold and snowy day had me hankerin' some good old fashioned comfort food. The meatloaf (House Special) at The Roswell (formerly Smorbrod) in Lincoln Center really hit the spot! (It could be a great Blue Plate Special during the lunch hour!—Hint Hint!) The carrot cake Brandie twisted my arm to try was a great follow up to a very tasty lunch too! My visits to Penrose Hospital the last few days (just a couple blocks away on Cascade) have been much more enjoyable as a result. The next time you're driving down busy Fillmore Street you really need to take a quick detour south on Cascade just a block or two and visit the fine folks at The Roswell. New name. New menu. The Roswell 2727 N. Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719.634.2727
There’s nothing like a delicious Roman Villa pizza with hot, bubbly cheese on a foggy, snowy, bone-chilling night! This warm and cozy, family-owned restaurant has been a local favorite since 1959! Stop in and say hello to Amber and the gang, and help them celebrate their 60th birthday! Roman Villa 3005 N Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719.635.1806
What better way to celebrate a perfect eye examination than to have an awesome Lasagna dinner at Paravicini’s in Old Colorado City? Everything was spot on as usual, including the exceptional service by Katy. It’s always nice to see the staff interacting with the local regulars. Paravicini's Italian Bistro 2802 Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80904 719.471.8200
We purposely chose to meet at La Cava this evening for a farewell dinner with Tyler. It was disappointing to learn that Chef Carlos and Maria are no longer there as of two weeks ago, and the restaurant is now under new management. We arrived promptly at 5:00pm and found the doors still locked and the neon “open” sign unlit. Tyler called and Tim, one of the new managers, said to give them about five more minutes. The service was slow and the entrees not to our usual expectations, but the chips and guacamole were very good. There were five tables being served, including our own, while we were there. We noticed upon leaving that the “open” sign remained unlit. We wish Tim and his new venture success and give them the benefit of doubt that they will soon be able to improve on some of the things we found lacking on tonight’s visit.
Before visiting the National Museum Of World War II Aviation, near the Colorado Springs Airport, we stopped in for lunch at The Airplane Restaurant nearby. Tyler said the fresh corned beef on his Rueben was very good, and the Spicy Teriyaki Wings will send your tastebuds “soaring” with just the right amount of heat.
What a wonderful collection of aviation history! We thoroughly enjoyed a tour of the museum with our very knowledgeable guide, Ned. Our tour included a visit to the Westpac Hangar where we witnessed the restoration of vintage aircraft in progress. Whether you live in the area or are just traveling through, you’ll want to make this awesome museum a part of your itinerary. National Museum of World War II Aviation 755 Aviation Way Colorado Springs, CO 80916 719.637.7559
Awesome lunch at MacKenzie’s Chop House, a local favorite since 1997. Tyler chose the Basil Poblano Tortellini with Chicken and I had the Center Cut Pork Chop, both excellently prepared and absolutely delicious. Thanks to Kevin for excellent service!
Cool day (literally) at the awesome Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We recommend getting there by lunchtime during the colder months. You’ll find the sun disappears behind the mountains by early afternoon, leaving you in the shadows and making it feel much cooler. Many of the animals we saw were enjoying the warmth of the buildings rather than be outdoors. Regardless, the Zoo is always an enjoyable experience any time of the year.
This was our first time at the newest Skirted Heifer at Dublin and Powers. Once inside, it’s remarkably similar to the downtown location. The owner’s son, Kevin, manages the newest location. We couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome by him and his staff. We had the Classic burger with the “skirt” of delicious fried cheese...SO awesome! We also split an order of fries and still had some left over. They’re fantastic dipped in the amazing “Heifer Sauce”. Be careful, Kevin’s award-winning smile is contagious!
Tyler and I enjoying some night views of the mountains above Garden of the gods and Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD) from the Mesa Overlook and of Garden of the gods from inside the park. Wow, it sure is dark early now!  Night view from Mesa Overlook.
|
