How I love thee, seat 1D.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
So long Seattle...
Had a great, if drunk, trip. Just the time away we needed after this hellish winter. Next trip in 26 days!! This time out east for 9 days!
From Portland, OR to Portland, ME, I'm going to guess we will love it almost as much.
Peace and safe skies!
XOXO
P & C
From Portland, OR to Portland, ME, I'm going to guess we will love it almost as much.
Peace and safe skies!
XOXO
P & C
Kerry Park
It's finally sunny today, but a breezy and brisk! I'll take it. No complaints.
When we were in Portland at Soter Vineyards, one of the guys told us to go to Kerry Park - it has amazing views of Seattle. It did not disappoint.
After lunch,we drove to Kerry Park and took a few pictures. Now back to the hotel to relax for about an hour before heading to the airport.
We really didn't have enough time in Seattle or great plans - next time we'll have to do more site seeing than we did.
When we were in Portland at Soter Vineyards, one of the guys told us to go to Kerry Park - it has amazing views of Seattle. It did not disappoint.
After lunch,we drove to Kerry Park and took a few pictures. Now back to the hotel to relax for about an hour before heading to the airport.
We really didn't have enough time in Seattle or great plans - next time we'll have to do more site seeing than we did.
Brunch at the 5-Spot
Had a fantastic brunch with M&J and their kids. Food was amazing. Thanks to KS at work for the recommendation!!
Chris got the slinger. Some monstrous concoction of hash browns covered in chili and cheese, two over easy eggs, a biscuit, and a sausage patty.
When the waiter came to clear our plates, he said..."now if you finish that, and I am not trying to persuade you one way or another, you will only be the sixth person to do it."
Then he made a joke about The Great Outdoors, and I said, "There's nothing on that plate but fat and gristle!!" We became immediate friends.
I then said, "Please don't eat the rest of that..."
This was all that was left:
Chris got the slinger. Some monstrous concoction of hash browns covered in chili and cheese, two over easy eggs, a biscuit, and a sausage patty.
When the waiter came to clear our plates, he said..."now if you finish that, and I am not trying to persuade you one way or another, you will only be the sixth person to do it."
Then he made a joke about The Great Outdoors, and I said, "There's nothing on that plate but fat and gristle!!" We became immediate friends.
I then said, "Please don't eat the rest of that..."
This was all that was left:
Saturday, March 29, 2014
OK, plans for tomorrow.
Having brunch with my friend MS who used to work at Target and moved out to Seattle in the fall. Really excited to see him, his wife, and kids (one of whom is only a few weeks old!).
Then...and I didn't realize this until today, our flight leaves at 5:30...not 3:00, like I thought.
WTF? Again, something is wrong with me.
Then...and I didn't realize this until today, our flight leaves at 5:30...not 3:00, like I thought.
WTF? Again, something is wrong with me.
Almost Forgot!!
Sampler contents.
Patty:
Patty:
- Boneyard RPM IPA - meh
- Beer Valley Leafer Madness IPA - OK
- Oskar Blues Deviant Double IPA - good!
- Laurelwood Green Mammoth Imperial IPA - AMAZING!!
Chris:
- 10 Barrel Apocalypse IPA - nice, not overpowering
- Black Diamond Moesaic Session IPA - way too caramel tasting...like an amber...not hoppy at all
- Ninkasi IPA - good, solid IPA
- Snoqualmie Imperial Red - meh.
Old standby...
Sitting at the Taphouse Grill, having a lovely Lauralwood Green Mammoth Imperial IPA.
Boring, plebeian food, but it works. And the beer is good.
But check out the ho-bag in the background. See? Bad taste has no geographical boundaries.
Boring, plebeian food, but it works. And the beer is good.
But check out the ho-bag in the background. See? Bad taste has no geographical boundaries.
Like a big glob of phlegm?
Subtitled...Why Patty didn't eat oysters in Seattle.
Ok, so the ONE thing I said I was going to do when we came out was eat oysters. After reading a great article in Bon Appetit, I thought, what the fuck? You only live once. Try a fucking oyster you wuss. And the name of the place, The Walrus and the Carpenter, named after a poem by Lewis Carroll, was just too good to be true.
So, I did some pre trip analysis. I posed the question...Oysters: friend or foe? to a number of people.
MS at work, who is generally squeamish, said boldly, "friend!!" I got all the info on how to eat one and not look like a complete and total amateur dipshit. A little Tabasco, a little lemon juice and slurp it down. "Like a big glob of phlegm?" I said. "Yeah...kind of," said he.
But I was not deterred, even when Chris got all weird and said, in his anxious new experience way, "I just don't think I'll like them." Well for fuck's sake! You get six. If we each eat one and become ill, we just leave four and go hurl.
I then asked CB at work...her response to my question was...WHY?? She was clearly in the "foe" camp. But I was still not deterred.
Not until I was standing in the parking lot or Reuben's brews (as mentioned in the last post), contemplating how to vomit without making a scene, and whether or not to leave my raincoat hood up - should I leave it on and save my hair from the rain, but maybe get barf on it? Should I put it down and ruin my hair for later pictures but stay clean? - that I decided.
When you tempt fate by almost barfing after a beet salad, the wrong answer is to go out and eat raw shellfish for the first time.
Alas, it was not meant to be. But in four weeks, when we are in Portland, Maine, by god, I will eat oysters!!!
And probably barf.
Ok, so the ONE thing I said I was going to do when we came out was eat oysters. After reading a great article in Bon Appetit, I thought, what the fuck? You only live once. Try a fucking oyster you wuss. And the name of the place, The Walrus and the Carpenter, named after a poem by Lewis Carroll, was just too good to be true.
So, I did some pre trip analysis. I posed the question...Oysters: friend or foe? to a number of people.
MS at work, who is generally squeamish, said boldly, "friend!!" I got all the info on how to eat one and not look like a complete and total amateur dipshit. A little Tabasco, a little lemon juice and slurp it down. "Like a big glob of phlegm?" I said. "Yeah...kind of," said he.
But I was not deterred, even when Chris got all weird and said, in his anxious new experience way, "I just don't think I'll like them." Well for fuck's sake! You get six. If we each eat one and become ill, we just leave four and go hurl.
I then asked CB at work...her response to my question was...WHY?? She was clearly in the "foe" camp. But I was still not deterred.
Not until I was standing in the parking lot or Reuben's brews (as mentioned in the last post), contemplating how to vomit without making a scene, and whether or not to leave my raincoat hood up - should I leave it on and save my hair from the rain, but maybe get barf on it? Should I put it down and ruin my hair for later pictures but stay clean? - that I decided.
When you tempt fate by almost barfing after a beet salad, the wrong answer is to go out and eat raw shellfish for the first time.
Alas, it was not meant to be. But in four weeks, when we are in Portland, Maine, by god, I will eat oysters!!!
And probably barf.
Elysian Brewing...and lunch thank god.
Had some good beers and lunch at Elysian Brewing. See pictures below.
I had the most wonderful beet salad, and I think it was like a shock to my system because after we ate, when we left and went to a little brewery called Reuben's, suddenly...let's just say it got the beet sweats (kind of like the meat sweats) and looked at Chris and said, "um...I have to go outside right now because I think I'm going to barf."
And I almost did, right there in the parking lot. I mean what in the holy hell?? I wasn't even drinking!!
This is an important footnote for my next post...subtitled, "Why Patty didn't eat oysters in Seattle."
I had the most wonderful beet salad, and I think it was like a shock to my system because after we ate, when we left and went to a little brewery called Reuben's, suddenly...let's just say it got the beet sweats (kind of like the meat sweats) and looked at Chris and said, "um...I have to go outside right now because I think I'm going to barf."
And I almost did, right there in the parking lot. I mean what in the holy hell?? I wasn't even drinking!!
This is an important footnote for my next post...subtitled, "Why Patty didn't eat oysters in Seattle."
Black Raven Brewery
Finally got to Seattle through hellish and torrential rain.
Checked into our hotel...quite nice.
First stop Black Raven - pretty good beers, bringing home some IPAs.
Checked into our hotel...quite nice.
First stop Black Raven - pretty good beers, bringing home some IPAs.
You thought there were bad potholes in Minnesota...
I forgot to post this picture of a street we almost turned onto in Portland...I believe the street sign said, "ROAD NOT IMPROVED."
No shit.
No shit.
Heading to Seattle...
And we're leaving Portland in a bit, heading back up to Seattle for the day, brunch with my friend MS and his family, and then heading home.
Ah...Portland. Love you.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
It just kept raining last night...until we left to go to dinner at Firehouse (it was fantastic, by the way), and this appeared!! Seriously, it was the brightest rainbow I have ever seen. Then the double one appeared.
After Firehouse (which was amazing...did I mention?) we walked across the street to Breakside Brewery. Chris had the sampler, which had some really good stuff on it. Bringing some home.
After Firehouse (which was amazing...did I mention?) we walked across the street to Breakside Brewery. Chris had the sampler, which had some really good stuff on it. Bringing some home.
Red Hills Market & Argyle Winery
Stopped for lunch at Red Hills Market - another amazing, amazing lunch. Had the ham and Gruyere sandwich, coppa and mozzarella pizza, and that yummy bread in warm oil. No vegetables, don't judge.
Bought some meats to bring home. It will be interesting when I bring them on the plane in my purse.
Then we went to Argyle, and they always treat us the best when we are here. They break out whatever you want since you are in the wine club, recommend stuff, and know how to treat you.
This was our last wine stop, then we headed out for a pit stop at Belmont Station to buys some beer, and back to Coalition to pick up Chris's credit card, and then back to the hotel.
And...I didn't drink again for the rest of the day.
Bought some meats to bring home. It will be interesting when I bring them on the plane in my purse.
Then we went to Argyle, and they always treat us the best when we are here. They break out whatever you want since you are in the wine club, recommend stuff, and know how to treat you.
This was our last wine stop, then we headed out for a pit stop at Belmont Station to buys some beer, and back to Coalition to pick up Chris's credit card, and then back to the hotel.
And...I didn't drink again for the rest of the day.
Archery Summit
Really good wines...recommended by the folks at Sotor Vineyards. Best trip to the bathroom all day...had to go through the cellars.
Sokol Blosser
Same same. Here's a pic.
Ok, here is the thing with Sokol Blosser... I need a little wining and dining. I am a wine club member. Don't treat me like the plebs in off the street. Don't make me ASK YOU what else you have off the tasting menu. Treat me like I spend a few hundred bucks a year here.
I need a little effort. Just sayin'.
Ok, here is the thing with Sokol Blosser... I need a little wining and dining. I am a wine club member. Don't treat me like the plebs in off the street. Don't make me ASK YOU what else you have off the tasting menu. Treat me like I spend a few hundred bucks a year here.
I need a little effort. Just sayin'.
Soter Vineyards
Was super great! Met some nice people from Portland and their friends from California, and another group from Kansas City. Wines were good, very down to earth. Heading now to Sokol Blosser.
Still rainy.
Still rainy.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Friday, Wine Day!
OK, we're off this morning...this rainy, rainy, rainy morning...to drink wine today.
Visiting four wineries, two oldies, two new ones. And having lunch at the Red Hills Market - our tradition.
This was a picture from last year October:
This is what it will look like today (OK that is a picture from Arizona last year, but this will be how it looks minus the hail).
Visiting four wineries, two oldies, two new ones. And having lunch at the Red Hills Market - our tradition.
This was a picture from last year October:
This is what it will look like today (OK that is a picture from Arizona last year, but this will be how it looks minus the hail).
Happy Belated Birthday CJB!
Ah...dammit. I forgot to wish C happy birthday yesterday. He turned 21. I celebrated by being drunk all day.
Here's a horrifying picture from 2010 to commemorate my shame at forgetting to call for his birthday.
Love you buddy!
Here's a horrifying picture from 2010 to commemorate my shame at forgetting to call for his birthday.
Love you buddy!
What happens when both of your cell phones die?
This happened yesterday...it's a very ominous feeling. You have 14%...then 8%...then 4% and you are just praying that you can get the bus route on the phone with the last few minutes of power you have.
Then they both die within a minute or two of one another, and you've nothing but your wits about you to rely on.
So you just walk until you hit the train red line. And you're fine.
Stop # Help Me: Belmont Station
I officially stopped drinking after Horse Brass yesterday. I mean I just couldn't do it anymore. Chris had a few beers at Belmont Station, which is an awesome liquor store/beer cafe. Played some cards, then left there for Coalition Brewing, where we hung out for another while, screwed around for an hour trying to get a cab (don't ask), and then finally just walked to the bus.
We probably covered 25 miles yesterday - all either on foot or using public transit. It was great!
Here's us by one of the bus stops. #happy
We probably covered 25 miles yesterday - all either on foot or using public transit. It was great!
Here's us by one of the bus stops. #happy
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Stop 25: Horse Brass Pub
Good beers and awesome lunch!!
Chris had the Terminal Gravity IPA, and I had Migration Luscious Lupulin IPA.
For lunch we had amazing halibut fish and chips and a chicken pit pie. I think it has sobered me up some.
We've been playing cribbage for a while and I almost fell asleep once.
Good lord...we are going to four more bars!!!!
Stop G: Cascade Barrel House
Honestly? I'm not sure what is happening anymore. There are a lot of texts going out from me that I am not sure I can be responsible for. Suffice it to say, had a few sour beers and the charcuterie and cheese plate. Then took the bus...where I was waving my hand around and my one of my rings went flying. We are now at the Horse Brass Pub getting a much needed lunch. God help me.
Stop #3, The Commons
Not open until five I guess...so we stopped at Lucky Lab on our way to Cascade. Having a snack (thank god) and a beer.
Apex, Round 2
Hmmmm...just realized that first one was 10.5%. Hoyoooooooooo.
Round 2 is a Stillwater Nebuchadnezzar Remix for Chris and mine is the...wait for.it...Agent Ned - Flanders Red from Ale Industries.
Oakily-doakily. It's fucking amazing.
Confidential to JH and KK
Ok, you were out here two weeks ago, we are out here now...why in the fuck aren't we out here together??
All I know is, there are two couples that we can think of that would love every minute of this and you are one of them (CBD that means you are the other one).
2015? Is that our year for a trip here? Come on...let's do it!!
Stop #2: Apex
So that sign was on the door, and come on, I loved this place before we even walked in. First round, Chris is having a Boneyard Hop Venom Imperial IPA, and I am having the Crux Half Hitch Mosaic Imperial IPA. Pretty aren't they?
LK - want to open a tap room/bar like this at home!! How do we make more money??? Probably by not doing this as much, huh? Argh. :0
Detour: Beer Mongers
Well we are early for Apex, our first stop, and the universe was kind enough to have us notice that kitty corner was this place...Beer Mongers. First beer of the day, and quite tasty.
I had a little sampler of the Stone Enjoy by 4/20/14 double IPA and Chris had the Agrarian Curiosity Biere de Mars.
This place just makes me happy.
Bus Stop
At.the bus stop waiting and.there us a kid with his family...the kid has his ukulele case with him.
Only on Portland...and how freaking cool?? The kid plays the ukulele!!
Day 1: Portland Beer
Below is a picture of our travel itinerary for the day. It's kind of hard to read, but it involves, a few trains, buses, and walking to cover:
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- Four bars
- Four breweries
- One restaurant
This might be my only lucid post of the day.
Now we are headed over to the shops at Cascade Station (right by our hotel) to buy a new GPS at Best Buy (ours won't hold the charge), an aluminum water bottle (forgot it), and a new Leatherman tool for Chris (forgot to take it out of our carry on and had to surrender it at security at the airport).
I will check in throughout our beer-venture day.
A Day of Firsts
First time in First Class.
First time having beers on a plane.
First time using an airplane bathroom.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
And we're off!
In a short ten hours, we'll be back in Portland for a few days - the place that makes me happy.
Thanks to my friend JL, we are going to see if we can upgrade to first class on the cheap when we get to the airport. Wouldn't that be nice??
Anyway - we'll start the fun tomorrow with beer day, followed by wine day on Friday. Then back to Seattle on Saturday and Sunday.
Can't wait to see my friend MS who moved out west six months ago!
Take care all - and think about smooth air currents that I'll be flying on...
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