Frost on the pumpkin

This morning's cool temperatures brought lots of walkers into the mall today, including me. It actually took me a few days to recuperate from a trade show that I attended in Chicago last week. I spent many hours on my feet and the padding on the cement floor helped, but it's still cement after all. One highlight was getting to see the play "Wicked" by Stephen Schwartz - the creator of "Children of Eden" that was recently performed by Logos Theatricus here in Roanoke. I highly recommend this show, especially if you're a fan of the Wizard of Oz. The costumes were great, the staging was magnificent and the actors performed brilliantly.

I wonder if the cool temperatures caused some of the store keepers tardiness today. Kay Jewelers was just raising their gate at 10:09 today. When I walked past at 9:45 there were 2 clerks scrambling to get the show cases filled and I thought to myself that they would certainly not be ready by 10:00. I didn't slow down enough to see if one of the clerks was the same one I saw last week who was strolling around the store in bare feet (and they were dirty and disgusting). I guess she missed the class on proper business attire and presenting a professional appearance.

I noticed some activity in the former Dragon Fly space. Perhaps they are coming back for the Christmas season or there must be someone new going in.

The trees, they are a changin'

On this past Wednesday's walk by the river I noticed it was being stocked with fish. This morning there were quite a few folks fishing them out of the water. Although the water level is low, the water looks relatively clear. But I still don't think I would eat the fish. The air was so clear and crisp and I just don't think the sky could get any bluer that it was today. I didn't see any pigeons but I did see a large red-tailed hawk. His belly must be full.

As I walked past the trees in Wasena Park I was thinking "Didn't I just take pictures of these trees at their peak of color?" There's just a smattering of color now, but these cool nights are sure to promote further turning. It's hard to believe another year has flown by.

One reason I wanted to make sure I walked today is because I knew that I would be dining out tonight and would probably eat too much. Now that my stomach is full, I'm thinking I should have walked an extra 5 miles. Dinner at 202 Market in downtown Roanoke was everything I knew it would be. I had CAMEMBERT CHEESE RAVIOLI with apricot, white chocolate and smoked cashews as an appetizer. The nuts must have been ground into either the ravioli dough or the filling as I didn't bite down on anything crunchy. The white chocolate ribbon and apricot flavors blended very well with the cheese and there were also some champagne grapes sprinkled onto the plate. The presentation was spectacular and the blend of textures and flavors was amazing. For my entree I chose the PASTRAMI SALMON that had a light apple wood smoke flavor, crème fraiche potatoes, and green beans. The salmon was cooked to perfection and had a crust on the outside but was very moist and tender on the inside. There was a foam over the salmon (wasabi?) and it was a large portion. It is surely the best salmon I have had at a restaurant. I probably shouldn't have had dessert, but who could resist? For my sweet I chose BANANA PANNA COTTA with caramel popcorn and banana clouds (little puffs of flavored cream). The texture of the panna cotta was so rich and creamy and had a potent banana flavor. The crunchy popcorn was a great contrast. Of course I had to have a taste of everyone else's meal and every bite was so delicious - mussels and cheesecake with yuzu air included. My Mom and Dad split a steak that they both raved about. Our waiter was very attentive without being annoying and displayed suitable professionalism. If you would like to sample flavors that you could not imagine combining on your own, give 202 Market a try. It will expand your epicurean horizons.