Summertime!

School’s out for summer and it’s Memorial Day weekend. Congratulations to all the students, teachers, administrators, volunteers, staff and parents who made it through the crazy month of May! Here’s a list of 10 fun activities to help you celebrate. 1. Go to an Alpine Bank Junior College World Series baseball game! Nothing says the beginning of summer like the annual JUCO tournament hosted in Grand Junction. Grab a hot dog and cheer for your favorite teams. More information is available at www.jucogj.org. 2. Enjoy a tasty meal with stunning views of Colorado National Monument. Located at 2325 W. Ridges Blvd, Ocotillo at Redlands Mesa golf course has an incredible patio. Some evenings they even have live music. 3. Wander around your local downtown or visit one of the many other ones on the Western Slope. Try some new foods, go shopping, explore a museum, view art and learn new things.

4. Sit outside on a sunny day with a fun book to read. I recommend the delightful, food-related All Four Stars by Colorado author, Tara Dairman. Written for everyone ages eight and up, this book is the first in a trilogy about a girl who wants to be a food critic.

5. Go to La Michoacana next to Home Depot at 2430 Patterson Road and have fun exploring their treats. Their popsicles (paleta) are yummy or get the delicious Sandia Loca (“Crazy Watermelon”) to share. This massive watermelon half comes filled with jicama, peanuts, candy, and so much more! It makes me smile just looking at it.

6. Head across the street from La Michoacana to Mesa Mall, 2424 U.S. Highway 6 & 50, and buy some cotton candy in their food court machine. There are multiple flavors to choose from and I felt like a little kid just watching the machine make it!

7. Go to a movie in the middle of the day. Eat some nachos or other treat while you enjoy a good show. I really like Picture Show, 590 24½ Road, where you can buy your tickets online and reserve your reclining seat.

8. Spend hours at Bananas Fun Park, 2469 Riverside Parkway, in Grand Junction. Play laser tag, drive a go cart, ride on the bumper boats, splash in their water park, do a round of mini golf, have some pizza and keep playing!

9. Visit one of the many beautiful outdoor places on this side of the state and pack a picnic to enjoy. We are lucky to have so many wonderful options!

10. Head out to Loma for some live music on Sunday. Pickin’ in the Rockies will be held at Absolute Prestige Ranch, 1351 Q Road, Loma. According to their website, this musical event is a “family-friendly Bluegrass festival guaranteed to provide a whoopin’ and hollerin’, toe tappin’, hand clappin’ good time!” Food and beverages will be on sale there so you can just relax and have a great time. More information is available at www. pickinintherockies.com.

Be sure to also learn about the origins of Memorial Day and how to honor it. The website www.history. com has a variety of interesting information about this holiday of remembrance.

Wishing you a fun and meaningful beginning of summer! If you have any food and beverage-related events or information you want readers to know about, please email me in advance at AllThingsFoodChristine@gmail.com.

Starcher Hutsen performs at Ocotillo, which provides beautiful views and live music every Friday and sometimes Wednesdays (Photo by Kate Weckely).

The Sandia Loca with a Paleta from La Michoacana (photo by Christine Gallagher).

Nothing says childhood like cotton candy! This machine in MesaMall’sfoodcourtissofun!(photobyChristineGallagher). MoviepopcornatPictureShow(photobyChristineGallagher).

FOOD NEWS

ALLAGHER