GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND
Lowell Observatory astronomer Clyde Tombaugh ate lunch at Karma Sushi Bar Grill on the day that he discovered Pluto. Well, it wasn’t really Karma Sushi in 1930. Back then, Black Cat Café operated in the space where the hip Japanese grill now resides. With such connections to space exploration, it’s only natural that Chef Tony Strupeck would craft the Giant Leap Sushi Roll to celebrate Flagstaff’s role in putting humans on the moon. Named for Neil Armstrong’s famous words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” the roll is filled with snow crab, mango and avocado then topped with scallops and spicy sauce. Yummy tobiko (flying fish roe) lends a crunch and touch of red color. Ask your server for this giant delicacy as it’s not on the menu. Call 928-774-6100 or visit karmaflagstaff.com.
MOONSTRUCK
Glass artist George Averbeck is creating commemorative moon globes for the Flagstaff Lunar Legacy celebration. Flagstaff’s beloved artisan rolls thin slices of gray glass tubing onto molten white glass. The delicate rings of darker material become “craters” of the moon as he blows into the hot glass orb. Available at Arizona Handmade Gallery. Call 928-779-3790 or visit azhandmade.com.
RAISE A GLASS TO THE AMBITIOUS ACHIEVEMENT
What could be cockier than the ambitious 1961 space plan and declaration by President John F. Kennedy to land Americans on the moon within the decade? So Nick Williams, co-owner and chief spirits officer of the Annex Cocktail Lounge, uses an Italian aperitif, Cocchi Americano, (pronounced almost like “cocky”) for his Earthrise Cocktail. The mixologist believes that every cocktail should tell a story. “The first thing they ate in space was bacon, so that’s why I wanted to incorporate that into it,” explains Nick, who uses a process called “fat washing” to infuse Aviation American Gin with smoky bacon flavors and impart a smooth mouthfeel. To commemorate Tang, the drink that astronauts took to the moon, he adds Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters. He pours the mixture over the coup de grâce of this killer cocktail, a sphere of blue ice that neatly fits in a rocks glass. Nick’s inspiration for Butterfly Pea Flower Tea came from the “Earthrise” photo taken by William “Bill” Anders in 1968 during the Apollo 8 mission. This libation is frozen and then shaped into the blue globe in an ice ball maker. Cocktail enthusiasts can imagine themselves on the moon and looking back at Earth to toast the historic achievement with this martini-like concoction. Call 928-226-8400 or visit annexcocktaillounge.com.
LEAPIN’ AND HOPPIN’ ON MOON SHADOWS
For those who can’t decide between chocolate and vanilla, there is The Dark and Light Side of The Moon, which is almost two desserts in one. La Vetta Ristorante Italiano plates together a cocoa-infused shortbread biscuit and a vanilla biscuit − each filled with macerated strawberries − and served with colorful strawberry coulis and sweetened whipped cream. Hop on over soon as there is limited availability for this Lunar Legacy special. Call 928-440-5280 or visit lavettaitaliano.com.
Still craving more? Additional moon-inspirations include Sweet Shoppe Candy Store’s Dark Side of the Moon Apple Treat, Tourist Home All Day Cafe’s Moon Pie and Lunar Lattes at Late for the Train and Single Speed Coffee Café. Flagstaff Lunar Legacy events continue through the end of the year. For more information, visit flagstaffarizona.org/lunarlegacy.
THIS SEASON IN FLAGSTAFF
JULY 7 AND 14: Horizons Concert Summer Series; NAU Kitt Recital Hall; nau.edu/music
JULY 14 AND AUG. 18: Mountain Man Feature Triathlons; Lake Mary; mountainmanevents.com
JULY 20: 50th Anniversary of the First Moonwalk; Heritage Square; Lunar Legacy video precedes “Movies on the Square” pick “Smallfoot”; flagstaffarizona.org/lunarlegacy
Stacey Wittig is an award-winning travel writer and author located in Flagstaff, Arizona. For more travel & world-wide adventures visit Stacey’s website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
