FRIDAY SEPT.2
OUR FIRST VISIT TO SEATTLE-a minute by minute diary
me freezing on airplane to seattle
Flew in,
Hot croissant sandwich
Muffin
Coffee
No magazines
Rentable movie player
Watched the interpreter
Rented hertz at airport
Subaru wagon outback
Drove into W hotel
Parked in wrong garage
Moved car to right garage, surprise free!
Walked to pikes market
Ate at emmet watson’s oyster bar ciopolino was stinky and gumbo was soup with rice in it and too much tarragon, beer was maritime pacific islander dry hop ale, good
walking around downtown
Espresso at French bakery
We went to buy underwear, toothbrush and other things
Then we went to shopping downtown to macy’s, urban, banana, walking
Then we came back to hotel to rest
Pay for internet, view is the modern skyline of seattle and construction workers
Weather began as cloudy but turned hot and sunny by noon
We had vodka martinis in the hotel bar, also 12 oysters, some too briny and bitter but stony creek were great.
The drinks were on the house, as a hotel policy (2 FREE DRINK TICKETS)
Asked the young male concierge where to go eat seafood on the water.
He recommends Anthonys, a great walk down by the water
Turns out Anthony’s has a great view of the Seattle Elliott Bay ship port
seattle waterfront
Food is overpriced, bland and disappointing, poor wine selection, nice waiter
Walked back past Fish Club/Todd English’s Marriott restaurant, looks great
Walked up the stairs right next to it up to Belltown
Tried to find Axis, found it tacky, loud
Went to BADA, a few blocks away, great bartenders, recommended restaurant The Waterfront, Harvest vine, Lark, Flying Fish
Went to Black Bottle, met friend, he ordered great sausages and baby spinach
Took taxi back, flag down on street, 5 minute ride
SATURDAY
Got 3 hours of sleep, ordered pot of Starbucks and cream for room service
Shower has weak pressure
Beautiful morning, clouds arriving however, but stays gorgeous, high 80 something
Had breakfast in the W restaurant downstairs
Ordered, food took long time, came cold, fresh squeezed orange juice and Starbucks coffee were good, they charged us half the bill for the cold food, frankly it should have been free, on the house, since we are staying here
Drove around all the in-Seattle neighborhoods
Saw the locks, Gas works park
gasworks park
Had lunch at the Ray’s boathouse…great view…huge crab, undercooked potatoes, overripe tomatoes
crab galore at Ray's Boathouse
Met Ben at Peet’s Coffee, in FREMONT
Almost saw the foundry…was closed
Drove to Mount Rainier…took forever, do not take route 7, strip malls and lights
Mount Rainier was amazing, clouds coming in though, hardly any people,
Ate at some local Mexican chain restaurant on hwy 410 on the way back, horrible, mushy beans and rice
SUNDAY
Starbucks coffee and 2 croissants, room service, no coffee spoons, no communication
Cloudy day
Note to self: always bring 2 outfits a day, a coat or large sweater, belt and walking shoes and purse and your own nail clipper
We went to Pioneer Square and ate breakfast at McCoy’s firehouse café
downtown
We also had espresso at a café –Zeitgeist café…there-amazing!!!!
All of Pioneer Square has been redone into great spaces!
Went to visit John’s family in Edmonds, or near there.
Suburbia, boring!!!!
Came back in evening, John tired, I meet Erin, the Advertising Director of Utne Magazine and her girlfriend in the W bar.
Space Place House 