39th Anniversary

Since our 39th wedding anniversary conveniently fell on a Friday, we decided to spend the weekend in Seattle.

One of our favorites places is the MarQueen Hotel.

When we mentioned to the desk clerk that it was our anniversary, we were upgraded to a beautiful suite.

The view from the room was pretty good.

We had both had a long work week, so drinks were in order.

Across the street from the MarQueen is T.S. McHugh's. They boast 21 fresh draughts and 32 single malt scotches.

They managed to serve Lydia the single worst margarita we've had for a while, but redeemed themselves with fantastic peeled shrimp.

Urban Hipsters that we are, one bar is not enough for us so up to Capitol Hill we went.

We had dinner reservations at Lark, Johnathan Sundstrom's fabulous restaurant. We were early so we went next door is Lark's sister lounge Licorous.

The place is very cool and became instantly cooler as soon as we arrived.

After drinks, a memorable dinner at Lark.

The wild nettle soup was a wonderful surprise and the foie gras was superb.

Our server was perfect, especially after she brought us complimentary champagne when we announced our anniversary.

She took our picture and I honestly cannot see any difference between her photo and our wedding photo.

(The wedding photo is the one on the bottom.)

Of course, we were hungry again the next morning.

Toulouse Petit has been named One of the Ten Best New Restaurants in the Nation.

By whom, we do not know, but we are buying it. It was packed and lively and bright and fun.

That is a photo from the restaurant - not our honeymoon.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation just moved to a new campus last week and their open house was Saturday. It was within walking distance and the day was glorious so we wanted to take it in.

The green area is the roof of the parking garage, which cover 1.4 acres - a living roof.

Nice view from inside.

We walked around a lot and somebody got tired.

So we needed a place to go rest.

Lydia decided that Seattle Center was the place for that, but I didn't want to walk that far.

Too bad.

An aborted trip to the horrific Experience Music Project ended with a full refund.

So there is justice.

But the best part of the day (and maybe the weekend) was sitting (best parts always involve sitting) at the Seattle Center fountain and watching the kids play. We were there quite a while.

Photos can't do it justice.

The kids revel in the cool water, but don't get too close.

Then the water stops and draws them in........

Then the water comes back in full force and they run like hell.

After that long respite, we needed drinks. Man it was hot.

Well, Seattle hot.

We wanted to be near the water and what better place than The Edgewater Hotel.

Specifically, the Six Seven restaurant outdoor seating at the Edgewater.

That's what I'm talking about.

The Edgewater is famous around here for being where the Beatles stayed when they played in concert here in 1964. No other hotel would accept them, but The Edgewater welcomed them. They hung out of the window from their suite to fish, resulting in this iconic photo.

They stayed in suite 272 and it can be rented today for about $1,050 a night. It's been refurbished, of course.

Anyway, back to 67 and our drinks.

I'm always with the prettiest girl in the place.

And the Olympic Mountains were right behind me.

And yes, we did get sunburned.

Shut up.

The restaurant is named 67 since it would be Pier 67 if a pier existed there.

Next to us was a cruise ship docked at Pier 66.

It was freaking enormous.

That's Qwest Field in the background, home of the Sounders and Seahawks.

But it didn't stay docked for long.

It passed right by us.

And so we sat and enjoyed our drinks and the incredible view of which we never grow tired.

We took a ferry from Seattle over to Bainbridge Island. We didn't stay long - the main purpose was the ferry ride itself.

I love this view of the city from the ferry.

And Mount Rainier as another ferry passes in front.

On Sunday we slept late, (well, I did) and went to the Farmer's Market on Capitol Hill, tragically unphotographed.

It was a great weekend.