Tootsie Yr2: Sioux Falls, SD
Feb. 5th, 2023 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taz_39**It's a long post, sorry!
A lot of stuff is hidden under LJ CUTS so please look out for those to see the entire post.**
-----------------------------------------------------------
Early morning for the bus. Ride to the airport was normal.
Flight was delayed a bit, but whatever. The nice thing about earlier flights is it doesn't matter as much if you get delayed.
As we flew out from Denver I tried to get a picture of the mountains.
That dark patck, below the line of mountains and to the left, is Denver.
Landed and loaded onto the bus in Sioux Falls, and the temperature was 3 degrees Fahrenheit with a -16 windchill, which according to my weather app somehow equaled "feels like -16". I guess after a certain point it doesn't really matter.
It was brutal, bitter cold. I had planned to walk to the Sioux Falls co-op, even at 5 degrees, but did not feel comfortable doing so with the windchill. Even with my layered sweaters and coats, my legs and hands and face only have one thin layer of protection, and the co-op was more than 20 minutes away. I know when to admit I'm not equipped.
Instead I Ubered to Natural Grocers, where I didn't get much because this one was not nearly as interesting as the one in Colorado Springs. I got a different flavor of sheeps milk yogurt, and some chicken spinach sausage...oh, and they had sporks that matched my UCO mess kit! I have been wanting one for a long time because my spoon has gotten really scratched up somehow and needs replacing.
There was a Walmart right next door so I went over there for my actual groceries (see? I can shop at Walmart too. I'm not a prude, just like to buy stuff I can't afford!). We are only here for a few days so there wasn't much to get, just fruits and veggies and protein and distilled water for the kettle. Back at the hotel I was very tired, having gotten only four hours of sleep last night, so ate a simple dinner and relaxed until I fell asleep.
-----------------------------------------------------
Friday morning was wonderfully chill.
I woke up at 7:30, had nice warm cereal and the sheeps milk yogurt (vanilla. Very good!), and did a load of laundry in the hotel's facilities.
Since it is too cold out to walk around, I am using the hotel stairwell instead of the elevator to get some exercise.
Laundry is on the 2nd floor and I'm on the 5th. So I went up and down three flights, three times this morning. Not bad.
By the time lunchtime rolled around it was a whole 2°F outside with a -10° windchill, so I bundled up and walked to Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean. It was only about a 6-minute walk, but in that short time my nose and eyes felt painful because of the cold, and my pinky fingers had gone numb. Crazy!
(I am wearing three coats in this picture lol)
The restaurant was large, warm, and inviting. Lots of folks in there enjoying meals or getting food to go.
The restaurant's logo features an artistic rendering of the owner herself, and so I was surprised to actually see her there in person!
Not only working in the kitchen, but also coming out and busing tables and talking to guests from time to time.
Already I am thinking, "This is an awesome person, and an awesome place!"
It WAS awesome. There was lots to choose from, but I got two fatayer to go.
Fatayer are like the Mediterranean version of a calzone or pasty, made with soft pita dough rather than pizza dough or puff pastry.
One was the "laham b’ajeen": A meat pie made with beef, onions, pomegranate molasses, and seasoning.
I couldn't necessarily taste the pomegranate molasses as a distinct thing, but the flavor of everything together was warm and rich and spicy, with just a little tang. Perfect flavors for such a cold day.
The other was sweet potato diced and cooked with caramelized onion, pepper, sun-dried tomato, sumac, cilantro, harissa, lemon zest and lemon juice, and drizzled with tahini sauce. I loved the pop of acid from the sun-dried tomatoes and the lemon, and the chunks of potato were amazing and sweet and caramelized.
They were a bigger than expected so I initially ate half of each, then went back for the rest of the beef one later on.
Both were wonderful to eat. I liked the sweet potato a bit better, but really was very happy with both. The fillings were so delicious, especially wrapped in that fluffy warm pita bread. Totally hit the spot.
After that I packed my dinner to bring to the theatre later because I don't think I want to walk back and forth in single-digit temps after the sun goes down tonight. I have big plans for our 35-degree Golden Day here, so that's when I'll get my exercise.
This theatre is pretty. Nice lighting.
Sound check was fine, and I ate my dinner in the Green Room. A bunch of the cast did the same, and we chatted a bit as we ate.
The show went well. For some reason during preshow there was a spotlight pointed at the pit, so I wanted to play with it.
Kevin (reeds) offered to take a picture.
Bill (trumpet) also offered to give me a headshot for my birthday!
He's a really good photographer, so I took him up on it.
Here is the result:
I've made it my profile pic on social, and may indeed use it for headshots to go with my portfolio as well.
Hopefully that's all the photos of me for a while...I'm fairly camera shy and all this attention made me nervous!
-------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, my birthday!
I had breakfast and did my dishes, responded to birthday wishes, chatted with family and friends. How nice!
I was grateful to hear from people and receive some lovely long-distance gifts :)
The best unintentional gifts this weekend are
A) the temperature jumping up to 35°F!!
B) The Golden Day on Sunday, plus temperatures remaining in the 30s so that I will have a full day to explore Sioux Falls!
I had been worried that frigid temps would prevent me from seeing this new city.
What a great gift!
Our Covid officer, Katie, generously gave me some money toward a treat from CH Patisserie right next to our theatre this week.
The shop is extra-special because it's owned by Chris Hamner, who won Top Chef and is currently one of the Top 10 pastry chefs in America. Those must be some rare treats indeed!
So after getting ready for the show, I walked over a bit early to check out the patisserie and pick out something nice.
There was quite a lot of "nice" to choose from.
They also had croissants, beignets, quiche, and macarons.
After a lot of indecision between a dulce de leche brioche, or this chocolate petit gateau, I finally went with chocolate.
It is so shiny that you can see your reflection in it!
My goodness, it was delicious.
Decadent, with three layers of chocolatey goodness in the form of mousse, cremeux, and flourless torte.
I ate half mostly because of potential lactose issues. I'll eat the rest tomorrow on the golden day.
At the theater our matinee went well. We've had wonderful audiences here and that trend has continued.
It was also really nice to see people out walking around in general due to the sudden 40-degree jump in temperature :)
As I was leaving the theater to get dinner, I came around the corner and was surprised to be gently whacked in the face with something big and white. Chris, our Head Carpenter, is a former Ringling person just like me. He knew that it's tradition in the circus for the clowns to pie you in the face on your birthday. But he didn't have a pie...so he made do.
That's right: he wrote "pie" on a piece of paper, drew a circle around it, and "pied" me good!
I was actually very touched by this. It's a fond circus memory, and an amazing thing for someone traveling with me to know about it and keep it going this way.
The evening show went well also. After each show here the audience has applauded specifically for the band, which doesn't happen even half the time, so it's REALLY appreciated :)
And with that, our shows are finished here in Sioux Falls!
We load out of the theatre tonight, but will be in Sioux Falls for a day off tomorrow!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday. A Golden Day!
It was strange to wake up and have "nothing" to do. And nice!
I had breakfast as usual and did some minimal packing...the thing is, my cooking stuff has to go in the suitcase first, so I usually have to wait until after dinner to fully pack. In the meantime I kind of put things in organized piles or package them up to prep for travel.
Then some data entry, and then I finally got to walk to Sioux Falls Co-op!
It was a nice little store with a good selection. Was hoping for Fage yogurt but they didn't have it, so I got a high protein cottage cheese instead. Also picked up a single-serve packet of golden turmeric latte.
I skipped the antique store because it was a lot smaller than expected, plus I was super hungry.
Back at the hotel a quick lunch of leftovers, then off to Falls Park.
There were placards everywhere to describe the history of this or that spot, and the industries and businesses that had helped the city of Sioux Falls spring up around the river.
Because of all the snow I couldn't get close to most of the placards, so settled on enjoying the park itself.
There were lots of people out with kids and dogs, playing in the snow, sledding, taking pictures, all that good stuff.
It's a beautiful space.
The falls themselves were mostly frozen, but there were breaks in the ice where you could see and hear water rushing by underneath.
There was a huge wall of icicles, a portion of the falls frozen solid that you could actually walk up to and touch!
And the rock formations were very interesting too, at least to me. They were like the layered, reddish, cubic formations that you find in the desert, yet set in this very flat plains area. Very cool, and so different from the formations we have on the east coast.
Please CLICK HERE to see pictures and video from Falls Park. I'm sorry that DW won't let me embed anything.
I did a big loop around the whole park, then went back to the hotel to rest and pack some more.
When dinnertime rolled around I mixed the turmeric powder with the cottage cheese, then layered sliced bananas, strawberries, and blackberries on top along with some crushed cashews. It was pretty damn good!
The turmeric powder had some powdered coconut milk in it, which gave everything an awesome creamy tropical flavor.
I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for those latte packets so I can make something like this again.
Would prefer to do it with yogurt next time.
The rest of my night was chill, cleaning up and packing and preparing for travel.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's travel day is going to be a little rough.
Our flight LEAVES at 7am. Which means we are riding to the airport around 5am. Which means waking up before that :/
But. The reward is a whole week in West Palm Beach.
Temps in the mid-70s! Beaches! Rental cars!
A Whole Paycheck and an outlet mall right next to the hotel!
I have many exciting plans for this week:
- aioli restaurant for avocado toast and a pastry
- Dr. Limon for ceviche
- Visiting Manatee Cove
- Picking green peppers as part of charitable outreach, organized by Brian (cast)
- Some minor outlet mall shopping
In closing: you are never too old to own an icicle sword :)
A lot of stuff is hidden under LJ CUTS so please look out for those to see the entire post.**
-----------------------------------------------------------
Early morning for the bus. Ride to the airport was normal.
Flight was delayed a bit, but whatever. The nice thing about earlier flights is it doesn't matter as much if you get delayed.
As we flew out from Denver I tried to get a picture of the mountains.
That dark patck, below the line of mountains and to the left, is Denver.
Landed and loaded onto the bus in Sioux Falls, and the temperature was 3 degrees Fahrenheit with a -16 windchill, which according to my weather app somehow equaled "feels like -16". I guess after a certain point it doesn't really matter.
It was brutal, bitter cold. I had planned to walk to the Sioux Falls co-op, even at 5 degrees, but did not feel comfortable doing so with the windchill. Even with my layered sweaters and coats, my legs and hands and face only have one thin layer of protection, and the co-op was more than 20 minutes away. I know when to admit I'm not equipped.
Instead I Ubered to Natural Grocers, where I didn't get much because this one was not nearly as interesting as the one in Colorado Springs. I got a different flavor of sheeps milk yogurt, and some chicken spinach sausage...oh, and they had sporks that matched my UCO mess kit! I have been wanting one for a long time because my spoon has gotten really scratched up somehow and needs replacing.
There was a Walmart right next door so I went over there for my actual groceries (see? I can shop at Walmart too. I'm not a prude, just like to buy stuff I can't afford!). We are only here for a few days so there wasn't much to get, just fruits and veggies and protein and distilled water for the kettle. Back at the hotel I was very tired, having gotten only four hours of sleep last night, so ate a simple dinner and relaxed until I fell asleep.
-----------------------------------------------------
Friday morning was wonderfully chill.
I woke up at 7:30, had nice warm cereal and the sheeps milk yogurt (vanilla. Very good!), and did a load of laundry in the hotel's facilities.
Since it is too cold out to walk around, I am using the hotel stairwell instead of the elevator to get some exercise.
Laundry is on the 2nd floor and I'm on the 5th. So I went up and down three flights, three times this morning. Not bad.
By the time lunchtime rolled around it was a whole 2°F outside with a -10° windchill, so I bundled up and walked to Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean. It was only about a 6-minute walk, but in that short time my nose and eyes felt painful because of the cold, and my pinky fingers had gone numb. Crazy!
(I am wearing three coats in this picture lol)
The restaurant was large, warm, and inviting. Lots of folks in there enjoying meals or getting food to go.
The restaurant's logo features an artistic rendering of the owner herself, and so I was surprised to actually see her there in person!
Not only working in the kitchen, but also coming out and busing tables and talking to guests from time to time.
Already I am thinking, "This is an awesome person, and an awesome place!"
It WAS awesome. There was lots to choose from, but I got two fatayer to go.
Fatayer are like the Mediterranean version of a calzone or pasty, made with soft pita dough rather than pizza dough or puff pastry.
One was the "laham b’ajeen": A meat pie made with beef, onions, pomegranate molasses, and seasoning.
I couldn't necessarily taste the pomegranate molasses as a distinct thing, but the flavor of everything together was warm and rich and spicy, with just a little tang. Perfect flavors for such a cold day.
The other was sweet potato diced and cooked with caramelized onion, pepper, sun-dried tomato, sumac, cilantro, harissa, lemon zest and lemon juice, and drizzled with tahini sauce. I loved the pop of acid from the sun-dried tomatoes and the lemon, and the chunks of potato were amazing and sweet and caramelized.
They were a bigger than expected so I initially ate half of each, then went back for the rest of the beef one later on.
Both were wonderful to eat. I liked the sweet potato a bit better, but really was very happy with both. The fillings were so delicious, especially wrapped in that fluffy warm pita bread. Totally hit the spot.
After that I packed my dinner to bring to the theatre later because I don't think I want to walk back and forth in single-digit temps after the sun goes down tonight. I have big plans for our 35-degree Golden Day here, so that's when I'll get my exercise.
This theatre is pretty. Nice lighting.
Sound check was fine, and I ate my dinner in the Green Room. A bunch of the cast did the same, and we chatted a bit as we ate.
The show went well. For some reason during preshow there was a spotlight pointed at the pit, so I wanted to play with it.
Kevin (reeds) offered to take a picture.
Bill (trumpet) also offered to give me a headshot for my birthday!
He's a really good photographer, so I took him up on it.
Here is the result:
I've made it my profile pic on social, and may indeed use it for headshots to go with my portfolio as well.
Hopefully that's all the photos of me for a while...I'm fairly camera shy and all this attention made me nervous!
-------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, my birthday!
I had breakfast and did my dishes, responded to birthday wishes, chatted with family and friends. How nice!
I was grateful to hear from people and receive some lovely long-distance gifts :)
The best unintentional gifts this weekend are
A) the temperature jumping up to 35°F!!
B) The Golden Day on Sunday, plus temperatures remaining in the 30s so that I will have a full day to explore Sioux Falls!
I had been worried that frigid temps would prevent me from seeing this new city.
What a great gift!
Our Covid officer, Katie, generously gave me some money toward a treat from CH Patisserie right next to our theatre this week.
The shop is extra-special because it's owned by Chris Hamner, who won Top Chef and is currently one of the Top 10 pastry chefs in America. Those must be some rare treats indeed!
So after getting ready for the show, I walked over a bit early to check out the patisserie and pick out something nice.
There was quite a lot of "nice" to choose from.
They also had croissants, beignets, quiche, and macarons.
After a lot of indecision between a dulce de leche brioche, or this chocolate petit gateau, I finally went with chocolate.
It is so shiny that you can see your reflection in it!
My goodness, it was delicious.
Decadent, with three layers of chocolatey goodness in the form of mousse, cremeux, and flourless torte.
I ate half mostly because of potential lactose issues. I'll eat the rest tomorrow on the golden day.
At the theater our matinee went well. We've had wonderful audiences here and that trend has continued.
It was also really nice to see people out walking around in general due to the sudden 40-degree jump in temperature :)
As I was leaving the theater to get dinner, I came around the corner and was surprised to be gently whacked in the face with something big and white. Chris, our Head Carpenter, is a former Ringling person just like me. He knew that it's tradition in the circus for the clowns to pie you in the face on your birthday. But he didn't have a pie...so he made do.
That's right: he wrote "pie" on a piece of paper, drew a circle around it, and "pied" me good!
I was actually very touched by this. It's a fond circus memory, and an amazing thing for someone traveling with me to know about it and keep it going this way.
The evening show went well also. After each show here the audience has applauded specifically for the band, which doesn't happen even half the time, so it's REALLY appreciated :)
And with that, our shows are finished here in Sioux Falls!
We load out of the theatre tonight, but will be in Sioux Falls for a day off tomorrow!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday. A Golden Day!
It was strange to wake up and have "nothing" to do. And nice!
I had breakfast as usual and did some minimal packing...the thing is, my cooking stuff has to go in the suitcase first, so I usually have to wait until after dinner to fully pack. In the meantime I kind of put things in organized piles or package them up to prep for travel.
Then some data entry, and then I finally got to walk to Sioux Falls Co-op!
It was a nice little store with a good selection. Was hoping for Fage yogurt but they didn't have it, so I got a high protein cottage cheese instead. Also picked up a single-serve packet of golden turmeric latte.
I skipped the antique store because it was a lot smaller than expected, plus I was super hungry.
Back at the hotel a quick lunch of leftovers, then off to Falls Park.
There were placards everywhere to describe the history of this or that spot, and the industries and businesses that had helped the city of Sioux Falls spring up around the river.
Because of all the snow I couldn't get close to most of the placards, so settled on enjoying the park itself.
There were lots of people out with kids and dogs, playing in the snow, sledding, taking pictures, all that good stuff.
It's a beautiful space.
The falls themselves were mostly frozen, but there were breaks in the ice where you could see and hear water rushing by underneath.
There was a huge wall of icicles, a portion of the falls frozen solid that you could actually walk up to and touch!
And the rock formations were very interesting too, at least to me. They were like the layered, reddish, cubic formations that you find in the desert, yet set in this very flat plains area. Very cool, and so different from the formations we have on the east coast.
Please CLICK HERE to see pictures and video from Falls Park. I'm sorry that DW won't let me embed anything.
I did a big loop around the whole park, then went back to the hotel to rest and pack some more.
When dinnertime rolled around I mixed the turmeric powder with the cottage cheese, then layered sliced bananas, strawberries, and blackberries on top along with some crushed cashews. It was pretty damn good!
The turmeric powder had some powdered coconut milk in it, which gave everything an awesome creamy tropical flavor.
I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for those latte packets so I can make something like this again.
Would prefer to do it with yogurt next time.
The rest of my night was chill, cleaning up and packing and preparing for travel.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's travel day is going to be a little rough.
Our flight LEAVES at 7am. Which means we are riding to the airport around 5am. Which means waking up before that :/
But. The reward is a whole week in West Palm Beach.
Temps in the mid-70s! Beaches! Rental cars!
A Whole Paycheck and an outlet mall right next to the hotel!
I have many exciting plans for this week:
- aioli restaurant for avocado toast and a pastry
- Dr. Limon for ceviche
- Visiting Manatee Cove
- Picking green peppers as part of charitable outreach, organized by Brian (cast)
- Some minor outlet mall shopping
In closing: you are never too old to own an icicle sword :)
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Date: 2023-02-07 04:04 pm (UTC)