Historic Hotel Congress in downtown Tucson is one of my favorite places. Built in 1919, the building features the quaint details of turn-of-the-century architecture with a Southwestern twist that makes it quintessentially Tucson. I love the setting, plus the hotel offers a variety of distinct areas to enjoy a drink and grab a bite to eat--the Cup Café, Lobby Bar, and Tap Room. You can even catch up-and-coming bands play almost every night inside Club Congress.

Recently, I had the opportunity to join my coworkers for a little celebration at the Cup Café. We were treated to Sangria and a sneak peak of some items that will soon be appearing on the menu. We sampled duck tacos, a carrot salad with cumin and citrus dressing, and pork with a delicious demi-glace. The carrot salad was my favorite, but I have to admit that cumin is one of my favorite spices, and the salad had a robust cumin flavor. We also sampled some old favorites: quesadilla with spicy black beans; "Thompson automatics," which are shredded chicken and gorgonzola wrapped in an egg roll with a little bit of something that tastes like hot wing sauce; and "the heartbreaker," which is baguette slices with roasted garlic, brie, artichoke hearts, and apple slices.

If you haven't had the opportunity to dine at the Cup Café and enjoy the ambience of Hotel Congress, I would highly recommend it. The hotel is truly a part of Tucson's history, and is the location where the notorious gangster John Dillinger hid out before his arrest in Tucson in 1934. The recent Johnny Depp movie Public Enemy tells the story of Dillinger's capture, but if you take a tour down the hall located just off the lobby and adjacent to the Cup Café, you can see artifacts from the real incident. There are news clippings from 1934 that tell the story of his arrest, as well as photos of Dillinger and his gang, and a copy of Dillinger's very long rap sheet.

Next time you are in downtown Tucson, immerse yourself in the sweet nostalgia of a bygone era and enjoy a break at the Hotel Congress. There's a good chance that I will be doing the same.

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Last year I discovered what a great escape Mt. Lemmon is when the summer heat makes Tucson less than ideal for outdoor exercise. At approximately 9,000 feet, the hiking trails near the top of the mountain wander through evergreen forests, with grassy areas, wildflowers, and even wild raspberry bushes lining the paths. Best of all, it's cool enough to enjoy the sunshine, even in the middle of July.

Although the Meadow Trail at the top is one of my favorites, this past weekend I decided to challenge myself on the Butterfly Trail. As you start the hike, the route opens up to scenic vistas of the valley below before descending into a shady valley. (I should note here, that the descent and subsequent ascent on the way back are what makes this trail physically challenging.)

On the way down the mountain, the hike was easy enough for me to enjoy the sites of cheerful yellow columbines cascading down a gully and patches of tall swirling meadow grass. The pine-scented air was refreshing and energizing, and both my dog and I enjoyed the adventure. As we neared the point where the Butterfly Trail joins the Crystal Springs Trail Trail, I was shocked to find myself in a field of emerald green ferns. It was a scene that I only would have imagined in the Northwestern part of the country.

When we reached the intersection with the Crystal Springs Trail, only about 1.5 miles from the starting point, I decided to turn around. The hike down was steep enough that I was a little worried about how well I would do on the way out. As it turned out, my dog was less excited about the hike out than I. Every few feet, she would stop in front of me, lie down on the trail, or crawl under the shady ferns and grass along the way. After many rest stops, we finally made our way back to the top. Tired and sweaty, but feeling very virtuous and healthy, we headed home. 

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