20120725 Seattle (scroll to end)
Up and prepare - today is cousin Fran’s husband Duane’s birthday. Much celebrating to be done.
Fran had a workout and then a business call to handle, so we walked (elevatored) up to the Pike Place Market. We toured one level of two of the 19 buildings that make up the public market. Stands selling everything you can think of in a market - foods, flowers, cheeses, tee-shirts, spices, wines, and all sorts of vegetables. There are a number of restaurants and delis and what is reputed to be the first Starbucks (it’s not).
After walking around for an hour or so, we bought a bouquet for the table and headed back to F&D’s. Not a cat in sight - they take their mornings in nap. Gradually we got ready and headed to Woodinville. There, we went to Purple Cafe & Wine Bar for lunch. D had turkey & havarti with the spicy sausage soup, while I had the farmer’s plate (meats & cheeses, gherkins, bread) with the spicy soup. Very good, with local wines.
Then we were off to the tasting rooms of Chateau Ste Michelle. This site is their white wine making and bottling location; they do the reds in the Columbia River Valley areas where it is much drier. We had an interesting tour of the production line, where they were cranking out about a case every ten seconds. They work two ten-hour shifts. You can do the math to determine the total output over whatever period.
We went onward to Woodhouse Wineries and walked into the tasting room. I started to explain how we had met Bijal Shah, one of the owners. Then Bijal came out of the office and we said “hi”. We recalled the Hanna family house-warming in PCB, where Bijal furnished about six cases of wines which we all consumed that night. We chatted about family and what’s up. He’s opening a new winery in Napa which is keeping him quite busy - no time for golf recently. Bijal told his person to give us a good wine tasting and he did. We tasted, then bought a few bottles which we’ll probably leave with F&D. Bijal had to leave but told us to send his greetings to everyone.
We returned to the house in an unconventional way just to show us around the Space Needle complex including the tram that runs out there from downtown. Then we returned to the condos to rest and relax.
Later.. Around 5pm we headed north to Elliott Bay Marina and the restaurant in it called Palisades. Palisades has a huge room with tremendous picture windows so you get a fantastic view of downtown Seattle. We had lobster-and-crab dip on breads with wine for appetizer at the bar, then moved to a window-front table for dinner. Duane had brought along a very good Meritage from Napa. D had crabcakes and I had the halibut, both very nice. A very enjoyable event.
We returned to the condo for more conversation and a glass of port. Then we separated, agreeing to come together at mid-afternoon tomorrow to arrange the transfer of them to a hotel at the airport and us into their condo.
Picture Link D20120726 Seattle Another beautiful day
Up at a leisurely time, leisurely breakfast, doing computer chores while washing sheets.
More later - after we’ve done something. Later:
We had lunch at the Fisherman while F&D did things. Great view, modest food, high price. D had another crab, I had fish & chips with Alaska Amber ale. The place is next to the new attraction - the Great Wheel, which is something like a downscaled London Eye.
We put our used condo back into the condition in which we found it. Washed dishes, made the bed, packed everything then did all the counters and tables. Looks ok.
When F&D came back, we moved our stuff into the corners of their place. They finished more details. They were angry they couldn’t get their seats in an earlier flight on UA. Now they have a very short turnaround time at IAD for their flight to Dublin. We hope they make out ok.
We took them and baggage to their motel at the airport. The temperature in their room must have been 50*, so they set higher. Then we went back down International Blvd to 13 Coins to eat. This is an all-night eatery across from the airport with a long counter looking over the cooking surfaces and cooks. The cooks sling hash and sling diner-language and look to be having fun doing it. But the seats, booths, and counter stools are all very upscale.
The food is anything from burgers to filet mignon, with a good wine list and lots of beers. Really interesting place. None of us could finish the food, so we brought home leftover boxes of Spicy Joe, Norwegian Joe, and chicken marsala. The waitress (Kelly) gave us ground pepper from a battery-powered pepper mill that did all sorts of tricks. We asked her for her card - she’s a distributor for them. Might make a good Christmas gift.
Then we went back to the motel with them. We shook hands and hugged, They turned over the keys to the CRV and away we went back to the condo. We made that just fine.
Then we fed the cats. They got tuna from last night at Palisades for a treat, plus their regular quarter-can of food (which they haven’t touched yet). We were their friends as long as we were passing out food. Then they went back to being shy. Oh, well - he who controls the food controls the cat, in the long run.
D stretched out on the couch for the TV and I’m doing this with a Henry Weinhard’s IPA in range. The cats have settled for the night (I hope) and we’re relaxing.
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