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Pretty Good Hat

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Josh Ritter on a low stage in a cathedral. A huge pillar rises beside the stage and the stone walls are lit with blue and purple light. Warmer golden color lights up the large window behind the stage. Josh is smiling and singing, with his eyes closed and chin raised. To his right is a grand piano, where Sam Kassirer sits, head down, playing.

Seven years since the last time, I saw Josh Ritter in concert last night. He played from a small stage in a cathedral, flanked by wood and stone and stained glass, giant pillars, and Sam Kassirer at a grand piano. It was a joyful show that made me feel like part of a community in this city where we now live.

Every heart is a package, tied up in knots someone else tied.

I walked a lot when I was back in Flagstaff a couple of weeks ago. Downtown Flag is perfect for the many photo walks I’ve taken there over the years, being full of alleys, shops and restaurants. On this night I had a solo dinner — a big bowl of ramen from Sosoba — and walked past a dozen familiar shopfronts, all busy and warm with people.

Teatro was previously a favorite place named Criollo, where we were regulars for breakfast. The last time we were there was a Valentine’s Day; we came in late, and they were absolutely packed, but the hostess recognized us, welcomed us and squeezed us in at the bar. We’re not yet regulars anywhere in our new hometown, and I miss the easy familiarity and routine of a favorite spot.

An alley leading into the distance, with a car crossing the frame midway. In the background are sunset-lit clouds, and otherwise the alley is dim.

A big bowl of ramen on a wooden outdoor counter

Railroad tracks lead toward a horizon lined by small buildings. Low cumulous clouds are bright on the horizon but shadows from behind the photographer are long, indicating evening. An oncoming engine’s headlight can just be seen in the far distance.

The front patio of Flagstaff’s Pay N Take. People mingle under blue umbrellas in low late evening light. The interior is lit and welcoming.

A restaurant photographed in low light from across the street. In the foreground is a bike locked to a dark green rack. A car is blurred in motion and obscures the restaurant, named Teatro.

I spent most of last week back in Flagstaff, my first trip there since we moved more than a year ago. I have so many thoughts and feelings about visiting that town — where I lived for nearly twenty years. I went for a lot of photo walks and revisited some favorite places, including this lovely corner that holds a lot of memories. Pizzicletta has expanded to a small empire but this original location is special (and next door to my favorite bike shop, too).

A low white building on a street corner at dusk. It is lit by small pools of warm light in which diners can be seen on patio tables.

A low white brick building with shades over patio tables and windows. A narrow window has a sign reading “gelato”.

A nighttime photo showing a small paper cup with two big scoops of gelato stacked in it, one probably chocolate and one a lighter color (it’s olive oil, and delicious). Behind the steel counter where the cup sits is a stylish vertical sign announcing gelato. Further behind is a window revealing a cozy dining room.

My family was skeptical of my breakfast plan, but steel cut oats with mango, chunks of Canadian bacon, some dots of habanero sauce and a sprinkle of chunky sea salt was really delicious.

A white porcelain bowl of steel cut oats, topped with bright orange chunks of mango and cubes of pink ham. A bit of bright green basil pokes into the frame of the photo.

I’ve been trying to clean up and organize my old catalogs of photo files from across a couple of iPhoto and Lightroom catalogs, and every time I begin, I just get absolutely stranded in memory.

Six years ago I saw Darlingside at the Music Instrument Museum. In the time since, many of their songs have become lifelong favorites, and last night I saw them again at this cozy neighborhood venue, captivated once again.1

Three men on a stage singing and playing guitars and mandolin.

Musicians near the back entrance of an auditorium, standing and preparing instruments

They played a couple of songs un-amplified from places in the audience. It was a fun and particularly human few minutes, part of a special and memorable night.

  1. And not just because of Don’s youthful vigor.2 ↩︎

  2. A little IYKYK humor from the show. ↩︎