ACQUA OPENS AT THE RIVER IN RANCHO MIRAGE

CONGRATULATIONS TO BARBARA AND JERRY KELLER!!! THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN.

ACQUA OPENED TODAY AT THE RIVER AND IT SHOULD BE A SMASH

The River Room view

Look at this view. If you eat in the River Room, one of their FOUR dining areas, this is what you'll see. It's so beautiful.

Barbara and Jerry gave us Lulu's in Palm Springs, and they've redone their former Acqua Pazza and turned it into Acqua, a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm absolutely positive their presence will turn the River into a "must-go" again.

Acqua's menu is the same as Lulu's, so you know you're in for comfort and happiness.

Larry Luckinbill, Lucie Arnaz, Don Amendolia and I went for their "soft" opening.

Classic Wedge

Their Big Chips take two days to make

Fried Zucchini

Chicken Florentine

Fall off the bone gorgeous ribs

Don's Floating Island had patrons gasping

Tiramisu

Acqua has four different dining areas, as wells as two private rooms with moveable walls. The River Room features raised booths that are on wheels so they can go anywhere. There are also video monitors playing the wonderful art of Marvin Cohn, Barbara's 104-year-old father.

Here's a look around........

The bar

Open kitchen dining area in the center

Dining room at the entrance

Dining room past the bar

Moveable booths in The River Room

Outdoor sculpture that goes up to the sky

Go try Acqua. It will be your new home!




ACQUA
71-800 Hwy 111
Rancho Mirage, Ca
92270
760-862-9800
acquaranchomirage.com
Prices moderate

THE BUCKET LIST ITALY TRIP

I LOVE ROME AND VENICE, AND I FELT IT WAS TIME TO SEE FLORENCE, TUSCANY AND THE ITALIAN RIVERA

FLORENCE: It is as majestic and historic as you would imagine. Everywhere you look is some incredible part of history. In July, it is also filled with smoke, tourists, car fumes, and high temperatures.

This made it worth everything

Church across the street my my Hotel De Ville

I enjoyed the "all mass, all the time" presence. Even that cardinal of Florence came by for a visit.

Hotel De Ville--very well run

Dinner at Cantinetta Antinori, run by the Antinori Family, using all food from their farms. Best meal in Florence.

Frescoes, frescoes

TUSCANY:  IT WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU. IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE EVERY PHOTO OR PAINTING YOU'VE EVER SEEN. IT IS STILL......STILL......STILL. LIFE MOVES AT ONE MPH. No matter how beautiful, it was not for me. I checked it off my list and was happy I saw it.

See what I mean? A painting/photo.

My bedroom at Villa Curina, a breathtaking villa in Chianti. I urge everyone to stay there.

My living room

Villa Curina main building

Drink and dream

Villa Curina pool

SIENNA: Also in Tuscany. It's totally worth seeing. Per usual, everything is around the center square, and the church and duomo are beautiful.

My favorite photo

This is a tiny, picturesque restaurant in Castelnuovo

Needless to say, I drove to almost every Tuscan town there was.



SANTA MARGHERITA/PORTOFINO: Now THIS I liked. Even though it wasn't Venice, thoughts of DEATH IN VENICE poured through my head as I checked into Grand Hotel Miramare in Santa Margherita. There was enough marble and gold to turn me into Dirk Bogard. I loved this town.

View from my room

Lunch or cocktails

Rear gardens

Breakfast

Sidetrip to Portofino for drinks at Hotel Splendido. A glass of wine coast $80

Splendido pool

GOT OUT OF ITALY AND ESCAPED TO NICE. I LOVE FRANCE MORE THAN ANYTHING. THANK YOU, NICE, AND HOTEL NEGRESCO.

SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK---AMAZING, SURPRISING

THIS PARK IS FAMOUS FOR HAVING YOU GO AROUND IN TRAMS AND TRUCKS, RIGHT INTO ANIMAL NATURAL HABITATS AND HAVING THE FREE-ROAMING ANIMALS SAY HELLO TO YOU.

BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

I was privileged to go as a guest with Lucie Arnaz to celebrate her birthday. We had our own private truck (think hayride) and guide, and even a trustee to give us information. We thought we were going to go on an animal parade, which we did end up doing, but we learned so much more.

The park has 1800 acres, and the public only sees half of it. What the public sees is all the beautiful species roaming around. We were lucky enough to go behind the scenes to see their work. The other 900 acres are used for training, medical treatments, breeding, and general top-notch welfare for the animals.

Also what the public doesn't know, is that the animals are rotated into the public areas on a schedule to give them private rest on the off times. No animals stay out for days and days. For instance, the tigers and big cats are kept in an air-conditioned building (think hotel) in gigantic air-conditioned rooms with furniture for them and air-conditioning. The truth is that the cats like being in air-conditioning more than they like being outside. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park takes care of their animals better than we take care of humans.

Here is their Mission Statement:

To save species of wildlife by uniting our expertise in animal and plant care and conservation science with a dedication to inspiring passion for nature. Using our family of brands to differentiate our campuses, projects, and conservationists, we strive to be at the forefront of wildlife conservation and education.

To that end, we saw their huge White Rhino Project where they are flying in animals from all over to breed to they won't become extinct. Their Institute of Conservation Research has 200 researchers and 100 projects in 35 countries. They have educational labs, and global field stations as well. They work on genetics, reproduction, diseases, plant conservation, ecology, and global partnership.

In short, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is one of the most important animal conservation institutes in the world. THEY ONLY TRAIN ANIMALS THROUGH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. And, they are totally non-profit.

Chuck Yates, myself, and a buddy