Brrrrr it's cold up here

I have been pretty much in hibernation for a while now but I wanted to let everyone know I haven't forsaken this blog. After the New Year I hope to be back to my click happy self, but in the meantime I wanted to share a few South Dakota fun shots.

 You Know You Are In South Dakota When
The gas station / market has hitching posts!

Last month on our way to Sioux Falls we had to make an unexpected stop in Presho, SD.  The vibrant reflection in the windows caught my eye and then when I got out to take the picture it dawned on me what the posts are for....LOL

Brrrrrrr it's cold up here!

Here is a map of yesterday's highs for the area. Thankfully today is much warmer, it is actually 36 degrees but rather windy so it only feels like 24.

 

 So we bundle up!

Only go out when we have too!

And snuggle with a loved one!
I finally got a semi decent photo of birds, it just took going to the library where these cute little guys live.

So what do you do when it is cold outside?

Revisiting Art Alley

I have shared photos of this great alley before Here, but have discovered that the art in Art Alley changes quite regularly, so here is another visit with some new shots of the artwork.

This was painted on a garbage disposal bin

I absolutely love the message on this last art piece.

Rapid City Zombie Walk

To think I almost totally missed this. Today was the annual Zombie Walk. There is a great article about today's zombie walk written by Jack Siebold on the local TV stations community news site My Town, you can read it here. I didn't know anything special was going on when I headed down town to do THIS.
I thought it was a bit strange when I saw this young man, but hey it is nearing Halloween, so it didn't shock me too much.

That is what was going on in our city.

To share what is going on in your city or visit other cities around the world click on the button below to hop over to Unknown Mami's for Sunday in my City.

Sabor a Mexico

Where should one eat in Rapid City if one wants a true Mexican meal?

Being of Mexican heritage and living in the Midwest I shouldn't be surprised that so very few people really know how 'authentic' Mexican food really tastes, but I am. Here in Rapid City there are many so called Mexican restaurants, so I was hopeful that I would finally have the opportunity to sit down to a traditional Mexican meal that I could fully enjoy without having to be the one in the kitchen cooking. The natural instincts are to ask those who have lived here longer which restaurants are good. Unfortunately this is not the wisest course.

If you ask the self proclaimed 'practically Mexican' girl from Texas the answer is Ixtapa. But whatever you do don't believe her. As my daughter said after going there with that very same girl, it was definitely NOT authentic Mexican food. Hmmm, maybe there is a major difference between Mexican cuisine in our family and that of those in Texas...????

Avoiding Ixtapa, I decided to try out Que Pasa. It has had some good reviews and got its start with the help of a Hell's Kitchen Chef, so I thought he should know what he is doing. WRONG!
The minute we walked in the door I was overwhelmed with the smell of get this .... not fresh hot tortillas or the rich aroma of Mexican spices, but the smell of CANNED re-fried beans.  The atmosphere was pleasant and they sat me right away, but I was far from impressed. Needless to say I did not stay. I wanted real Mexican food not canned!

There are a few other large Mexican restaurants in the area. However, I wanted taste not atmosphere! So, I decided I needed to look for a small mom and pop whole in the wall if I was to have a true Mexican meal. I am happy to say I found one!

Sabor a Mexico

This tiny family owned and operated restaurant is definitely has a taste of Mexico. And yes it is tiny, the dining area only seats around 30 people. It was just what I was looking for. The aroma when I walked in told me I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't. 
My daughter had Carna Asada and I ordered a combination plate with one shredded beef enchilada, one pork tamale and one jalapeno and cheese tamale, of course it came with rice and beans as well. The enchilada was very good and the tamales were mouth watering good, especially the jalapeno and cheese tamale. And the re-fried beans, Oh My, they were heaven! No canned beans here, they were honest-to-God re-fried beans. For those of you who have only ever tasted canned re-fried beans, you are truly missing out on one of the great pleasures of an authentic Mexican meal. 
My only disappointments were that the salsa was very mild, and the rice to me was rather bland but at least they both had the right blend of flavors. I also reminded myself that here in the Midwest they undoubtedly had to keep it mild or risk losing business. Heck, even within my own family if I make things to satisfy my craving for hot spice most of the rest of the family say it is too hot, so I typically make a small batch of HOT salsa for those of us that like a bit more kick and we add that to our food.
So if you are in Rapid City and craving Mexican food I recommend giving Sabor a Mexico a try. 

After The Storm

Rapid City after Friday's blizzard.

For more photos of this last weekends blizzard click here.

Prehistoric Guards

Located on scenic Skyline Drive, which runs along hogback ridge dividing Rapid City east from west, is Dinosaur Park. This park is home to four life sized historic dinosaur figures each facing a different directions. Built in the 1930's these concrete dinosaurs stand guard over the city. 

 Even on a somewhat hazy August day the view was amazing.

The park is also home to a seasonal gift shop full of fun and interesting gifts, souvenirs and treats. Dinosaur park makes for a nice outing as long as you are not afraid of heights and don't mind climbing stairs.

Linking up with Unknown Mami for

Main Street Square

Main Street Square comes alive all through the summer with free concerts every Thursday night and the fun doesn't end when summer ends. The fun continues with Autumn nights through the month of September.

Parking was a tad hard to find, however parking a few blocks from the square gave me the opportunity to enjoy the sights on my stroll to the square. Seen above is The Firehouse Brewing Company one of the evenings entertainment sponsors, and now on my list of places to visit. This historic 1915 firehouse has been turned into an amazing restaurant.

The show was in full swing when I arrived at the square. 

 Ten Foot Tall and 80 Proof was great. Their music was full of energy and so much fun.

Although it was on the chilly side and late when I arrived there were still a good amount of people enjoying the show.

Some were bundled up and others were taking full advantage of the music and dancing. There was even one girl who was amazing dancing with a glowing hula hoop.

I hope you have enjoyed this virtual visit to Rapid City's Main Street Square, now be sure to head over to Unknown Mami's to continue your virtual travels at Sundays in my City.

Graffiti Art Alley

While wasting some time between appointments I decided to make a brief exploration in Down Town Rapid City. I was thinking to capture photos of the American President statues that are on each corner, like this one of Thomas Jefferson, instead I came across this amazing alley.

While many consider graffiti to be destructive I do think when done responsibly it can be amazing and really quiet beautiful. Although at first glance it looks dark and messy, when you look closer there is some really fantastic artwork.

I didn't have much time to really explore the artwork along this alley canvas but plan to return soon to give it my full attention. To learn more about this alley you can visit their website here.

I hope you have enjoyed this little glimpse of Rapid City, South Dakota. You can continue your virtual travels by clicking the Sunday In My City button below.

 

Just a peek

I am hoping to get out and photograph more of the Black Hills National Forest soon, but for now here is a little peek at the beauty it holds.

Canyon Lake Park

With the busy summer season upon us, I thought it would be nice to share a bit of Canyon Lake Park, which is just one of our many parks here in Rapid City.

Not only is Canyon Lake Park's picturesque setting perfect for your outdoor gatherings and events, it is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon relaxing.

You can:

 Enjoy some fishing.

Spend time on the lake.

Escape from the summer heat.

Do a little homework or maybe just find a nice spot in the shade to nap.

The park also has a number of playgrounds and picnic shelters.

If you enjoyed seeing a part of my city you may also enjoy visiting other cities by hopping over to Sunday In My City, where Unknown Mami and a host of other bloggers share their cities.

When It Rains, It Hails!

As much as I love a good summer thunderstorm, I am not all that fond of the hail!

I am beginning to wonder though if the thunderstorms here in Rapid City come minus the hail.

I can't help but think of the saying 'it never rains in Southern California, it pours!'. Growing up in Southern California I can vouch for the accuracy of that statement. 

Maybe Rapid City's summer weather statement should be 'It never rains in Rapid City, It hails!'