scarlettina: (DrWho: Swanning off)
[personal profile] scarlettina
E arrived on time and without a hitch yesterday around 12:30. One of the things I love about her is her enthusiasm. We started gabbing right away and it barely stopped the whole time we were together yesterday. I imagine that this is what having an older sister is like.

We drove up at a fairly leisurely pace since there was some traffic at midday. It was so much fun to watch her just sort of marvel about the area as we drove; everything impressed her, and she notices little things, like how different the vegetation is here. Our original plan for yesterday after lunch (at the Elysian Brewery) was to spend the afternoon at the Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. When we got there, though, she was completely entranced by the Conservatory. Her decision was for us to go there instead and take our time because she's been to other Asian art museums, but no other city has a Conservatory like ours, so we ended up going there instead, and then walking around the park a bit. She loved the view of the Space Needle out across the reservoir, and seemed to really enjoy all the pretty plantings all over the park. Apparently she's a tulip enthusiast (which I didn't know) and kvelled over the enormous tulips everywhere. Ultimately, she needed to crash for a while, so I dropped her at her hotel around 4ish.

She's staying in a hotel near Seattle Center so, since I'd planned dinner there, I parked by the hotel at 6:30 and we walked all over Seattle Center (with me giving her my amateur tour guide spiel about it) toward our dinner destination: the Space Needle. Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] ironymaiden's suggestion, I made the reservations for shortly before sunset, so even though it was pretty overcast, the view was still spectacular as the sun went down and the city lights came up. E was most impressed by the mountains all around (though Rainier wasn't out). She couldn't stop looking at them. Where we come from is comparatively flat, so I got to watch her go through the landscape shock I went through when I moved here--fun. Despite the Needle's reputation for high prices and lousy food, I thought my meal was delicious: lamb chops with potatoes au gratin and vegetables, creme brulee for dessert. E said her meal was tasty, too. Overall, the evening was a great success. I dropped her at her hotel at 9:45 and departed for home.

I'm to meet her at her hotel at 9:30 this AM and we'll take off for today's adventures from there. I'm so looking forward to today!

Date: Wed, Apr. 23rd, 2008 03:37 pm (UTC)
herself_nyc: (Default)
From: [personal profile] herself_nyc
Sounds great! Enjoy your visiting.

Date: Wed, Apr. 23rd, 2008 05:50 pm (UTC)
ironymaiden: (AB)
From: [personal profile] ironymaiden
oh yay! i think people bitch about the food a bit much - they're wrapping the elevator fee into the cost of your entree. subtract it and it's another white tablecloth restaurant in Seattle.

Conservatories

Date: Wed, Apr. 23rd, 2008 06:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyjestocost.livejournal.com
Vancouver B.C. actually has a nice one in a huge geodesic dome - Bloedel conservatory.

I like our Victorian one too.

I think I've been in others - my mother likes to visit gardens/conservatories when on vacation and I'm getting nudges in my brain, but I can't place any of them.

I love them in the winter. Warm and full of flowers.

Date: Wed, Apr. 23rd, 2008 07:39 pm (UTC)
ext_15108: (Default)
From: [identity profile] varina8.livejournal.com
Sounds like you're hitting the high points (no pun intended). Have a terrific time together.

Date: Wed, Apr. 23rd, 2008 09:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] garyomaha.livejournal.com
If our tour of Fremont with you was any indication, E is in for a delightful time!

Date: Thu, Apr. 24th, 2008 05:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scarlettina.livejournal.com
She seems to have had a fine time indeed. Will report more fully anon.

And I'm glad the memory of our day together is a good one; I enjoyed it hugely.
Edited Date: Thu, Apr. 24th, 2008 05:24 am (UTC)

Date: Wed, Apr. 23rd, 2008 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robespierrette.livejournal.com
Ya know, the Tulip Festival (http://www.tulipfestival.org/) is on right now in Mount Vernon. :)

Date: Thu, Apr. 24th, 2008 04:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scarlettina.livejournal.com
I thought about that, but she's not here long enough for us to do that day trip and still see the stuff she wanted to see. It'll have to wait for another time.

Date: Thu, Apr. 24th, 2008 12:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] steve98052.livejournal.com
I've had dinner (late night) at Elysian Brewery once or twice, and was not impressed. Did I just pick a bad night or two, or choose the wrong stuff on the menu? Or is it a place to go for the brew (which was good) where the food is incidental?

As for Space Needle food, in my recent experience of recent years, it's very good, but equally very good can be found for quite a bit less if the view is not an issue. But when you're taking out-of-town visitors out for dinner, the view is the main point. I'd say it's even good enough to go without out-of-town guests, since you don't have to be a tourist to enjoy the view.

Date: Thu, Apr. 24th, 2008 02:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scarlettina.livejournal.com
At the Elysian, we shared appetizers for lunch, the crab cakes and the hummus platter. We loved the crab cakes and, frankly, it's hard to screw up hummus unless you're trying. E's not a beer drinker and I rarely do it when I'm driving, so neither of us indulged but the beers there are good.

I chose the Space Needle for a number of reasons: 1) the view, of course, 2) its historic connection to the city, which I knew would interest E, 3) curiosity about whether or not the menu had changed or improved. I just knew E would get a kick out of it. A coworker had suggested Palisade in Magnolia on the assumption that I'd get a good view and better food at a similar price, but that sort of missed the point, frankly, for someone from a family that are mild World's Fair enthusiasts.

So, all in all, the Needle was the right choice and a great success.

Date: Sat, Apr. 26th, 2008 09:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] steve98052.livejournal.com
Thanks for the Eylsian pointer. I'll try to remember that next time we're looking for dinner near that end of Capitol Hill.

I meant to say that I agreed that the Space Needle was a good choice. The food is very good, the view is outstanding, and the view-adjusted prices are reasonable. The historic connection is a bonus, given E's interest in the World's Fair.

Palisade has fantastic food, and the view, while very nice (see pictures from this message (http://steve98052.livejournal.com/271784.html) about my mother's birthday there), is nothing compared to the Space Needle.

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