All I Ever Wanted (Summer 2010): Part 3 (Seattle)

• I neglected to mention that on both Saturday and Sunday, figuring that we would be doing a fair amount of eating and lounging on this trip, Beck and I hit the hotel gym. So yes - having stayed up until the wee hours dancing like maniacs, we went to the gym *before* brunch on Sunday. We are heroes..
• The brunch was good, with everyone bleary-eyed and recounting the wedding as expected. Favorite exchange: "Elliot, your Tufts friends are very serious." "What do you mean, older relative?" "They are quite serious about their partying." Cha-ching!
• Beck and I caught a cab with Matt to the airport, but not until after we had another run to Pinkberry. Tap that vein!

• Flew up to Seattle sans incident, then drove from the airport out to Tad's & Katy's (Beck's former vet colleague) & *James's* place out in Orting, WA. Beautiful countryside home in the heart of berry country and with a nice view of Mt. Rainier:

• Had a delicious steak and spicy squash dinner, then took a nice walk with the fam and dogs down a local river:

• and came home for banana splits. The evening drifted to vet talk, and we eventually hit the hay to get ready for a touristy day in Seattle.
• Great early breakfast at T & K's, the hit up touristy sites in downtown Seattle. The EMP (Experience Music Project) featured an instrument sculpture and Supremes gowns:

• On Ariel's rec, made our way to Pike's Place and Beecher's for lunch, followed by the usual touristy spectating of fish-tossing and such:

• And while walking in the market, we were floored by a delicious cinnamonomy smell wafting through the air. We took a direct left and discovered the must-visit pastry shot of downtown Seattle - if you are ever in the Seattle area, you MUST stop by Piroshky Piroshky, a Russian bakery featuring de-friggin'-licious sweet and savory piroshkis (big as your face Russian hot pockets, more or less - soooooo good).

• We when-in-Romed and hit up a non-Starbucks's Seattle coffee house on the way back to the car, giving us time to hit up the iPhones:

• Headed back to Tad's and Katy's, grabbed some fresh-picked berries from a farmstand, and drove from there to Tacoma for a portside fish meal. Fish and chips for me, Mussels - again! - for Beck, a great Microbrew on Tad's rec called "Mack & Jack's" and a great time hanging out with friends:

• Back to Orting, We packed up for an early AM departure and said byes to everybody. On to Canada the next day - in another post - but we capped the evening by sharing James's first experience of the sourness of a strawberry popsicle. He was, shall we say, subpleased: