The day was heavy with humidity as we gathered to begin our ride to California.  Oh no, RAIN...but as with any day in Arizona we began driving and soon left the raindrops behind.  A long ride to get to the Angeles Crest highway, but well worth the wait.  We pulled over and dropped the tops on the cars as the light clouds overhead let the sun shine down on us.  We found a beautiful pull out for a photo op and were soon on our way enjoying the twisy ride to find NewComb's Ranch Inn for lunch.  Soon we had finished our lunch and were once again on our way toward Lompoc to hook up with friends we had not seen since last summer.  An exciting ride through Los Angeles during rush hour could not dampen our spirits as we finally found our way to the hotel.  We checked in and headed right over to La Botte (a delightful Italian restaurant) to have supper.  Dinner was filled with laughter, good conversation, and friendly faces.  Before we knew it, the day was over and we were back at the hotel saying our good nights and getting ready for the next day.  Hmmmmmm  will I go to the beach or to Solvang and the wineries???  

07/04 (Sun) - This month's events kick off with a 4th of July Dive In and Potluck.  Bring your swimsuit and favorite dish to go with the burgers provided by Bob and Gail.  The festivities start at 5:00 PM and end after the fireworks.  Their address is 1077 E. Carob Drive Chandler, AZ 85286.

07/11 (Sun) - East Enders "It's just coffee" is at the ever popular P.Croissant on the NW corner of Elliott and Rural in Tempe.  Arrive by 9:00 AM so we can stand around and admire our cars before it gets too hot. Details for the CA Coastal Run will be handed out. 

07/13 (Tues) Kappa Koffee will also provide CA Coastal Run details...you need to attend one coffee or the other. KK is at Lola's at 4700 N. Central and begins at 6:30 PM.  

07/15-07/19 (Thurs-Sun) California Coastal Run starts off from Phoenix on Thursday at 7:00 AM but to get final details, come to either East Enders or Kappa Koffee. 

07/31 (Sat)  Sea You There: Visit the newest Arizona attraction - SEA LIFE Arizona at the Arizona Mills Mall - and enjoy this undersea world phenomenon, the company of fellow club members and a good meal all at the same time.  We will meet for lunch (at a place yet to be decided) at 12:00 noon to finish in plenty of time to make our SEA LIFE tour at 2:00 p.m.  Normal admission to the attraction is $17.50 for adults but our very special cost is only $9.00 per person if 20 of us attend!  Be sure to sign up fast as we are limited to those 20 tickets. 

Advanced Notice for August and September

08/14 (Sat) - Canyon Lake Boating and Lunch:  Calling all boat owners in the Club. The heat of the summer calls for water sports and activities so we are heading out to Canyon Lake.  The goal is to recruit several boat owners to bring their craft to the lake and for other, underpriviledged club members to enjoy their largesse.  Meet at 10:00 AM at the Cracker Barrel 202 and Dobson.

08/17 (Tues) - August Dinner: Come prepared to be amazed at the White Chocolate Grill.  Located in Scottsdale about a mile north of Kierland Commons, the restaurant offers a wide range of foods - from salads, sandwiches, full dinners and, of course, amazing desserts. The ambience is plush, the bar is well stocked, and the prices are pretty good (for Scottsdale).  Join the group by 6:30 for a Monday evening infusion of "Let's drive somewhere and eat something" philosophy.

09/17-19 (Fri-Sun) - Navajo Weekend Drive:  Plan for an afternoon departure for a quick weekend packed with unique experiences.  Visit the historic Hubbell Trading Post for their semi-annual art auction, dine on Navajo tacos in Chinle, and experience the amazing Canyon de Chelly on a truck tour with a Navajo guide. 

The weekend was about as good as it gets for top down cruising.  We had a nice leisurely drive from the valley through Wickenburg, where we stopped for some Mexican food, and then on to Kingman.  We arrived early so we decided to drive part of Sunday's route to see what it was like.  Near the beginning of some nice twisties, we stopped at a restored '20's filling station in Cool Springs.  The manager was very nice and like to talk.  From there we continued on to the summit, enjoyed the view, and then returned to Kingman.

Many of you have seen and tried them, they are now bottled and ready for you! We only did a small first run so they will be sold first come first serve...

This very easy drinking white wine was crafted by the Phoenix Chapter Events Committee. The Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz, and in French it is written Gewurztraminer. 

$20per bottle

 Click the lable to purchase yours today!

What's Up For May? Our usual "Let's drive somewhere and eat something" routine with a small dash of "I'm not hungry, but I could eat" thrown in.

July CA Coastal Run Update:  If you haven't made your reservations in Lompoc or Asilomar, it's time to do so.  This will be a must-do event with clubs from all over the west joining the group for a free-style driving event (Free-style means we don't try to caravan as a large group and you have multiple options for non-drivetime entertainment). The Phoenix club still has three unclaimed reservations at Asilomar.  Call Lynn at 480 814-0544 to grab one before she cancels them. Be sure to RSVP  to get all of the details.

05/02 (Sun) East Enders Coffee - Come join the group at 9:00 am for our ever popular and growing East Enders Coffee.  This month we will be meeting at Einstein Bros. Bagels at 1447 E. Williams Fields Road.  It is located in the shopping center on the southwest corner of Williams Field Drive and Val Vista Drive in Gilbert.  Remember...It's Just Coffee.

05/08 (Sat) May Dinner - Floyd's Kitchen (www.floydskitchen.com ),which promises a great meal, is nestled between Sprouts and Coldstone Creamery on the northeast corner of Tatum and Cactus in Phoenix.  This small but delightful restaurant was recently voted the best new neighborhood restaurant by Best of Greater Phoenix.com  The food is made from scratch and the prices are very reasonable.  There is plenty of parking and we will meet in the parking lot at 5:30 PM. The will do separate checks and you won't be disappointed!

05/11 (Tues) Kappa Koffee - This month we will be meeting at 6:00 PM at Hava Java for Koffee on the northwest corner of Camelback and 32nd Street.  Molina's Jewelers is out on the corner.  Dinner afterwards will be at Keegan's Restaurant if you are able to join us.  We can walk over, or drive the cars and park near the restaurant.  They have a delightful outdoor patio and plenty of room inside in case the weather is getting too hot.

05/15 (Sat) May's Drive - Always one of the best, we will be heading to Flagstaff via the fun and beautiful back way.  Meet us at Jolta Java located at 14418 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 185, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 at 10:00AM on Saturday morning for brunch.  Our ride will take us out Route 87 (the Beeline Highway) and north into Payson.  We will continue our north bound journey towards cooler weather as we travel up through Pine and on to Lake Mary/Mormon Lake.  We will be proceeding to Flagstaff for an early dinner at a place to be determined. Spend the night at your favorite spot in Flag or drive back to Phoenix - as you wish. For those staying in Flag, we will meet at 9:00 at the Crown Railroad Cafe, 2700 S. Woodlands Village Blvd. for breakfast to begin our journey back home. 

05/21-05/24 (Fri-Mon) Kappa Kruise - It's not too late to join the Kappa Kruise Krewe for a fun filled 3-Day Baja Mexico Cruise, departing the Los Angeles port of Long Beach, on board Carnival Cruise Line’s Fun Ship ”Paradise”. This is a 3-day Cruise that travels to Ensenada Mexico and back to the port of Long Beach. Cabins Starting at only $340.11/pp!  By this late date, you have to book directly with Carnival but there are still cabins available.  This 2009 cruise was the origin of our club's secondary motto..."I could eat."

05/30 (Sun) Memorial Day Wine Tasting - Usually our wine tasting parties are more like "wine drinking" than "wine tasting" but we will try to be more organized this time!  The evening will feature three different food stations with three wines paired with each dish. Ergo, you get a light dinner as well as the wine experience.  One dish will feature whites, another both whites and reds, and the third only reds. The party is at John and Lynn Busenbark's, 1333 N. Laveen Drive, Chandler. The tasting gets underway at 6:00 and ends when the last person leaves the building - excluding John and Lynn, of course.  Not too worry, Monday is a holiday!