daytrip

Spent the day yesterday in Seattle with J & K as part of work-related "research." Our first stop was the Apple Store at University Village, where we completely geeked out and oogled the pretty machines inside. J showed us the Genius Bar where way-to-smart-for-their-own-good techies go to ask questions. And if the Apple guys get stumped, there's a red phone with a direct link to Apple headquarters in California. The complete geeks that we are, we ooh'ed and ahh'ed over the magic bat phone. After test driving various Macs and asking a bunch of questions, both K and I figured out what was on our respective shopping lists for when we came back across the border. Then, to complete the dorkification, we took digital photos of ourselves outside the Apple Store.

We had planned on eating at Zao's Noodle House, but seeing the long wait outside, we decided to try Burrito Loco instead. Freshly baked tortilla chips with tomato salsa and salsa verde for dipping, Chicken enchiladas with rice and beans, along with hibiscus juice at an authentic Mexican restaurant hit the spot and fueled us for a few more hours of retail resarch at Crate & Barrel and a few other stores.

Leaving UVillage, we drove toward Renton to visit the folks at the Seattle office, where we probably ended up staying way too long. It's always interesting to see how other branches of the same company work, and sometimes it helps us to appreciate the people and politics at our own offices even more.

After hightailing it out of the office, the three of us headed downtown to find someplace to have dinner. First though, we drove to REI to check out their use of graphics and just to be amazed by the fabulous space that they occupy. Then, we drove to the EMP to check out the unparalleled work of Frank Ghery. We had only meant to drive by so that I could see it, but when I laid eyes on it, I knew that we had to go down and explore a little. Seeing the building, with its curved metal walls reaching out all over the place and in various colours was almost surreal. It was like something out of a child's imagination translated onto the streets of downtown Seattle.

So, after wandering around for a little while, we decided that instead of finding somewhere else to eat, that we should just stay at the EMP and soak in the fabulous architecture. Luckily, we arrived at the Liquid Lounge a few minutes before Happy Hour ended, so we were able to take advantage of cheap eats and cheap drinks. Our playfully abusive waitress brought out some buffalo chicken wings with celery and blue cheese, oven-roasted greek olives with Mediterraean Sea salt and shredded Parmesan cheese, served with focaccia bread, Hummus with crisp, hearth-baked flatbread, and Caesar salad with crisp focaccia croutons, which we pretty much devoured. Good food, good conversation, and good music made for a great evening...or so we thought...

When we got back to the car, after joking taht we probably got a ticket for parking so long there, we discovered a boot on the car tire instead, along with a fine for $75. Luckily, the parking guy was still there, so we didn't have to get the impound guys to come down. At the same time all of this was happening, we were practically being accosted by a street thug harassing us for money so her could grab some dinner. After the fine was forked over and the boot removed, we all ducked into the car and drove home, kicking ourselves for not noticing the parking regulations signs prohibiting us from parking there.

The late night drive home consisted of a trip to Krispy Kreme for dessert, being amused by a seemingly stoned Krispy Kreme employee, the purchase of the perfect travel mug by J, listening to the most ecclectic mix of music on J's iPod/iTrip combo, and chatting about everything under the sun. I was dead tired by the time I finally got home, but in one of those satisfyingly tired kind of ways. The day was a blast and I couln't have had more fun with J & K. It makes me think that I don't really want to leave them to go off to Philly or Boston because I'll miss them way too much.