I started the day with my lovely breakfast taco from Linda's. Emil recommended the vegetarian version which he said just tastes better (he isn't a vegi either). I don't know if it tastes better since I haven't experienced the alternative apple chicken sausage, but it was pretty amazing. I couldn't help finishing it despite the size.
They play their background music in themes, so we heard a whole lot of Michael Jackson. Though I can't say I was a die-hard Michael fan through and through, I enjoyed listening to it. After the CD ran it's course, we got a bit of punk rock... it was the perfect joint for it- part dive, part diner, interesting mix of grunge and bizarre decor. I can see why it was so crowded.
Then to the public market... Pikes! I loved it. I've been told by several Seattle natives that it is a place that isn't just touristy, but a truly integral, working part of the city. I can see why. We had a beautiful, sunny day, and all kinds of people were leaving with some pretty amazing bouquets of flowers. For just $10 dollars, you got a really lovely and colorful assortment. The fruit, vege, and fish assortment was pretty incredible. I didn't get to see them throw the fish (they were all there, but not throwing for whatever reason), but it was still an experience.
After we turned the corner, I saw signs for bisque and crab rolls. Having spent a good part of my life in New England eating things like lobster rolls, I acknowledged the potential for goodness in Dungeness Crab rolls and had to get one. Fortunately, since I was still a bit full from breakfast, Kirsten agreed to share one with me. We also saw a sign for a seafood bisque that had won some award. I had to try it, and I wasn't disappointed. It was thick and yummy.
After walking down the street by the market area, eating our chowder, buying fresh cheese curds (squeeky cheese!!!), and eating $2 caramels (yes these chocolates were $2 for one chocolate, but serious quality and soooo good!), we headed down to the park which, on the 2nd beautiful day of the year, was filled with people. Everyone was really enjoying the outdoors. There were painters, jugglers, and these frightening political fanatics (Nazi-Obama signs) that I must admit affected my mood just a bit. People can be so ignorant, and it drives me crazy. Fortunately, we were about to enter the market itself and enjoy the produce, handmade jewelery and artist tables, and flowers. It didn't take much for me to forget about them.
Here are the flowers I was talking about. Kirsten bought a bouquet, and I would have also had I not been jumping in a car the next day. Somehow I don't think the lifesavers wrapper would have worked for something this size.
We both purchased rings at the booth of this really neat artist who bends silver and gold wire free form to make jewelery. He's really good at what he does. Emil was joking with us about how we got married... I didn't realize how much this photo looks like one of those wedding pictures with the soft light, flowers and both the rings. Ha. :-)
Next, we headed into Market Spice to find the tea Kirsten was looking for. There are these blossoms that open up in boiling water to make white tea. They are really cool to look at too. I purchased some, but not at this shop. It was a bit pricier.
The spice wall at Market Spice.
These are the tea blossoms that I was just talking about. Isn't that fun? This was at the shop outside the market where we did tea tasting. Pictures from that coming up...
My favorite tea was from the Lycee plant. It was naturally sweet and just really good. I purchased the $10 bag after we sat having tastes. The tasting was free, but I can see why they do it. It's an experience and many people end up purchasing something. Me too. It was really fun.
The wall of tea at the tasting place...
Our little cups for tasting...
After all the tea, we decided it was time for a cocktail and Kirsten had never been to the cafe at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). She had a super refreshing lemon ginger drink.
Mine was good and gingery too, but had Maker's Mark. Really tasty and very smooth.
I was surprised by the number of scummy sex shops in Seattle, but this one was pretty interesting. Kirsten told me it's a Seattle institution that's been around forever and is known for clever show titles. I thought it deserved a photo for comedic purposes. I took it on the way out of SAM heading towards Chapel to meet Emil.
Here is the exterior sign at Chapel. Chapel is a bar with really great daily happy hour specials (5 dollar martinis, 4 dollar wells- yummy), and an interesting location. The building apparently used to house a mortuary. We sat outside for the lovely day, and I noticed a sign that said "flower deliveries here" and posted a time. The interior was really cool.
Notice the Moroccan star lamp hanging high above the door?
Kirsten and Emil decided to have some people over for a potluck party at 8:00, so we hurried back to their house to get ready. I was going to grab some clothes from my car when I realized I couldn't get in. My car was dead! At least I wasn't in a pay parking spot, but I did discover something about my Passat. When the battery dies, you can only get in through the drivers side front door (the rest of the locks are electric including the trunk). I found something to wear fortunately in the bag that I had taken inside, but I didn't feel nearly as ready to go out dancing after the potluck as I would have liked.
We didn't end up going out though... we had too much fun just chatting and catching up with old friends. My high school friend Mike came to hang out, and he fit in well with the mix of Peace Corps people, and Kirsten and Emil's friends. We didn't end up contributing dishes, but instead all chipped in $10 to order Indian food. Yum. It was a very satisfactory evening indeed.
Next- Day 3 and the drive to Portland...
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