Cisco Executive Briefing Center and more

Leaving the house just before 7 am, I headed to Santa Clara. It was a remarkably easy drive [80 to 680 to 880 to Tasman Drive]. I took me roughly two hours and fifteen minutes. It was a much easier trip than the last time. Over the years, I have made a lot of trips to the Cisco Executive Briefing Center.

I spent a couple of hours looking at Cisco video conferencing solutions. I am trying to figure out the right solution for our boardroom.

After a quick bite to eat at Cisco, I headed to the Microsoft campus in Mountain View. I was frankly disappointed with this stop. I am trying to find a room that I can show our business leaders, but I was underwhelmed by the Microsoft room configurations.

Back in the car just after 2 pm, I headed home. The world is a parking lot. It took me three hours and twenty minutes to drive 143 miles [880 to 680 to 580 to 205 to 4 to 5 to 50]. Waze did something interesting in Tracy. Just as the traffic was coming to a stop, it routed me north to Highway 4; section from 205 to 4 to 5 was an interesting drive.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #11

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom started the morning with breakfast at Cafe Mutton.

Checking out of the hotel, Sharon and Tom spent the day visitng the Thomas Cole Historical Site and the Olana State Historical Site. The later was the home of Artist Frank Church.

They ended the day at the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs. Sharon and Tom are spending two nights there. They had dinner at Boca Bistro sharing Paella Mixta [Calasparra rice, chicken, Chorizo Bilboa, clams, calamari, mussels, shrimp, scallops, cauliflower, red & green bell peppers, peas, tomato, saffron, paprika] .

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #10

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Thursday morning, Sharon and Tom toured the Vanderbilt Mansion. Sharon and I both read Anderson Cooper's book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. The mansion features in several chapters of the book.

In the afternoon, they took a boat tour on the Hudson. Sharon described it as a bust.

Sharon and Tom finished the day with a tour and dinner at the Culinary Instuitute of America in Hyde Park. They had dinner at the America Bounty Restaurant.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #9

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom started the day at Val-Kill, the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site.

Afterwards, they stopped at Milea Estate Vineyard for local New York wines and charcuterie.

From there, they visited FDRs house at Hyde Park.

They finished the day with dinner at Le Petit Bistro, another farm to fork restaurant.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #8

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom picked up an Avis car in Midtown and drove out of the city. It was raining hard as they drove north from Manhattan.

After stopping at the Sleepy Hollow cemetery, they went to West Point. Sharon and Tom ended up spending almost three hours at West Point. They stopped at the Visitor Center and then got a pass to drive through the campus. Sharon said that she was very impressed.

They are spending the night at the Beckman Arms Hotel in Rhinebeck. Sharon visited the area in 2005 when Liz was working at Omega.

Sharon and Tom finished the day with dinner at Terrapin. The farm to fork restaurant in rhinebeck is located in a former church. Tom had Taste of Summer Pasta [Gemelli with a daily assortment of farmer's market vegetables and camembert sauce].

Back to Carmichael [Boys Weekend - Day #4]

Although I had thought about getting a hotel at one point, I decided to just crash on the fold out couch at Jack and Jason's apartment. With everyone moving slowly, I eventually wandered to Souvenier Coffee and got some coffee for me and pastries for the boys.

Looking to beat the heat and the Labor Day traffic, I rolled from San Francisco about 8:40 am. I made a half an hour stop in Orinda for a quick visit with Drew and Carmen. I was back in Carmichael just before 11 am.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #7

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom's plan for the day was to walk the Highline and visit Little Island. Taking refuge from Labor Day crowds and oppressive humidity after walking the Highline, they ended up at the Fig & Olive.

They stopped for for tapas and basque wine at Mercado little Spain in the Hudson Yards. Tom noted you could really do the equivalent of a pub crawl walking Highline and popping down to street level for little pubs and taverns.

They finished the day with dinner at Quality Meats Steakhouse. Tom said that some good came from Covid; they got to dine in their own animal themed street cabin with a ceiling fan and giraffe wallpaper and lamp. The giraffe's head is sticking out the top of shade.

2022 Giants versus Phillies [Boys Weekend - Day #3]

Jack and I left Camichael about 8:45 am. Unlike two weeks ago, it was an easy drive into the city. Picking up Jason on the way, we parked near Jack's apartment before 11 am.

After getting settled in the apartment, Jack, Jason and I caught an Uber to Oracle. Partly as a birthday present for Jack, I took the two of them to Giants versus Phillies baseball game. Jack wanted to sit along the right field wall; I bought three tickets in section 146 [row 6, seats 13, 14 and 15]. Although the temperature got into the 80s, there was a nice breeze.


With the score tied 3 to 3 in the bottom of the ninth, we thought that we were going to be there for a while. Wilmer Flores then hit a two out walkoff home run and the Giants won the game by the score of 5 to 3. Carlos Rodon pitched six strong innings for the Giants. He struck out 10 batters, but got a no decision. J.T. Realmuto hit a game tying three-run homer for Phillies in the top of the eighth.

After the game, Jack led us to Local Brewing Company. We had a beer and West Coast IPA Hummus [acompannied by fresh Veggies and house-made focaccia crackers].

From there, we caught an Uber to The Ramp. We caught up with a group that included Jason's girlfriend, MacKenzie.

Eventually, we took an Uber back to Jack and Jason's apartment. We made a quick stop at Trader's Joe's for some food. We finished the night watching episode three of House of the Dragons.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #6

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom started the day with Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Jack, Sharon and I went to Easter Mass there in 2018. We also attended Mass there in June of 2009 and I attended Mass in May of 2009.

After Mass, they went to the top of the Empire State Building. Jack, Morgan, Sharon and I went to the top of the Empire State Building in 2009. A picture from the top is here.

Sharon and Tom saw a matinee of Hamilton at the Richard Rogers Theatre. Jack, Sharon and I saw a performance there during our 2018 visit.

They finished the day with dinner at the Russian Tea Room. Sharon said that the ambience was nice, but the food was so, so.

Ancil Hoffman [Boys Weekend - Day #2]

Jack, Larkin and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman. We had a 10:44 am tee time and ended up playing as a threesome.

I was relatively pleased with how I played. I shot a fairly honestly scored 106. I parred the par three fourteenth; it was playing to the elevated green. I used one mulligan off the tee on the back nine and didn't lose a ball.

I am amazed at how well Jack played. He hasn't played since Rod's tournament in April.

It was a hot slow day. It took us five and a half hours to play eightteen. Larkin dropped after teeing off on the fifteenth. Jack and I both kind of faded on the last couple of holes.

Afterwards, Jack and I took a dip in the pool.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #5

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom spent the morning at The Met Cloisters. The Cloisters is a museum in Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights specializing in European medieval art and architecture with a focus on the Romanesque and Gothic periods. I have never been there. They both raved about it.

They finished the day with dinner at Gramercy Tavern. Sharon and I have been there several times [2015, 2013].

Jack [Boys Weekend - Day #1]

Jack took a bus from San Francisco to Oakland and then the train to Sacramento. I scooped him up about 6:15 pm. We finished the day with dinner at Rey Azteca.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #4

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Sharon and Tom spent the morning exploring the financial district and Wall Street, including the 9/11 Memorial. They had lunch at Fraunces Tavern. The tavern is New York’s oldest and most historic bar and restaurant. It is a National Landmark building that once served as a watering hole for many of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.

Friday night, they went to see Six at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Tom's description was "fantastic broadway musical all female cast and musicians telling their stories of being married to Henry VIII, including 1-Divorced, 2- beheaded, 3- died, 4-divorced, 5-beheaded, 6-survived."

Snipes' 70th Birthday Party

Thursday night, Drew and I attended Snipes' 70th birthday party at the Super Owl Brewery in Davis. It was a small group that included the Tomasins, three other couples, Keith and his friend, Drew and I.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #3

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Spending another day in Manhattan, Sharon and Tom spent the morning at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

They had lunch at the Tavern on the Green.

After lunch, Sharon and Tom went to the the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. They went back to the Met briefly before it closed.

They finished the day with dinner at Darling Rooftop, an elegant rooftop bar and lounge, 47 stories high atop the newly reborn Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South, with panoramic views of Central Park and the surrounding city.

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #2

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Tom's cruise ended on Wednesday morning. He met Sharon at the hotel.

They spent the afternoon taking a Circle Line Boat Tour. Jack, Sharon and I did the Circle Line tour in 2018. I did it by myself in June of 1998.

After a Greenwich neighborhood walk, they had a drink at Buvette. Owned by a high school classmate of Sharon, Jack, Sharon and I had dinner there after our Circle Line Tour.

They finished the day with dinner at Via Corota.

Princess Canada and Greenland Cruise

On Wednesday morning, Sharon's brother Tom finished up a 16 day Princess cruise of Canada and Greenland.

Catan for Jack's Birthday

Tuesday night, Drew, Jack and I played Catan to celebrate Jack's birthday. Jack won the first game. I won the second game; I rarely win. Sharon popped into facetime from New York City to wish Jack happy birthday.

Jack's 24th Birthday!

Jack's 24th Birthday!

Sharon and Tom's 2022 New York Adventure - Day #1

Sharon and Tom's New York Adventure

Up at 3 am, Sharon and I rolled to the airport at 3:45 am. Sharon caught a 5:30 am United flight from Sacramento to Chicago. She then took a 9:45 am United flight to New York City's LaGauardia Airport. Using points, Sharon upgraded to first class on both legs.

With storms on the east coast, the flight from Chicago was routed over the Great Lakes and into Canada. Sharon was on the ground in New York about 4:20 pm.

Sharon took a cab into Manhattan. She is spending seven nights at the Westhouse Hotel.

Sharon's brother Tom is showing up tomorrow. He has never been to New York City. They are going to spend six days in the city and then six days in upstate New York.