My Date with Seattle

Lately, I've been craving some serious me time, in both little and grand ways.  Little as in taking a perfect temperature bath in the morning, complete with a white mug filled with purple berry tea.  Little ways as in painting my toes a Summery coral shade. Or walking around the backyard, barefoot at dusk, inspecting tender pea seedlings, wrapping them around handmade trellis branches, while breathing in the sweet, cool, Washington air.  All. By. Myself.

And when those little ways just don't cut it, its important to venture out and plan a grand day.  Especially when you're starting a new job the next day and you know its going to seriously cut into your venturing out time. 

So, keep crossing off the Spring List, because sista had a date with her city on Friday. 

I didn't exactly have a plan, except for where I would have lunch and which ferry to catch.  But, then I decided to catch the next ferry, and then the next one, until I found myself once again rushing and praying to catch the one about to leave.  At 10:24, I set foot on the 10:25 ferry.  That, my friends, is a Washington miracle. 

You think I would have gotten better at that by now. 

It was a glorious of glorious days.  Which by the way, happens most often around here.  Beautiful, thick clouds in the blue sky.  Glittery water which I cannot seem to fully capture on my expensive camera.  Canon should have a glittery water function.  The ferry was hoppin too, and I soon discovered that tourist season is in full force in the city.  I didn't mind though, I had my cowboy boots on, sunglasses in my purse, and me.  That's all I wanted.


If you haven't noticed, there is a new addition to the waterfront.  A ferris wheel, that's right.  Something I snickered at when it was first mentioned, but now I'm kinda growing fond of it.  After all, its a Seattle ferris wheel, so what's not to love. 

Not finished yet, but pretty spectacular.  Anything that points to the mountains is okay in my book. 

I walked the Waterfront, cut across the Aquarium, took the Pike Place elevator through the Market, and walked the cobble stone street to my lunch destination.

Are you ready for this?


I think its official.  Seatown Seabar is my favorite Tom Douglas establishment.  True, I have not dined on the potstickers at Ting Momo, nor the divine pasta at Cuoco.  I haven't even had a Bravehorse pretzel.  For shame, I know.  I just moved back.  I'm working on it.  He opened a lot up while I was gone. 

Still, Seatown has a special place in my heart.   

Sure, the restaurant is beautiful.  But, its more than that.  There's an atmosphere there that fully captures the electricity of the city.  It feels like an extension of Pike Place.  The place where true Seattle lovers go to get their taste of the city.  A restaurant that showcases the seafood, from the waters that make this place our home.  Simple and laid-back, but extravagant in warmth and flavor. 

Some of the restaurants focus on the region, others far away locations; Seatown is just as its name.  It's the Seattle restaurant of the Tom Douglas kingdom. 

There was just something about ordering a hard apple cider with a bowl of mussels and clams, and sitting at the bar with the buzz of the market around me. A group of out-of-towners came in, unsure of what to order, and unaware of the gem that they happened to stumble upon.  Finally, they loosened up, ordering coffee and crab.  Which, I only now realize is kind of stereotypical.  I gave an encouraging nod their way.  "Because, I'm from here," I thought, "I live here and I know whats good." 

It was the perfect lunch, and maybe on my next date with the city, I'll just stay there for a little while longer. 

After, I walked up the hill, to Westlake and did some recreational shopping. And, I'm not going to lie, an hour later I walked down the hill and bought a rotisserie chicken from the Tom Douglas Rub with Love Shack, next door to Seatown.  I needed to come home with the goods, it was only right.  I have a family to consider. 

At this point, I had shopping bags, chicken, bread from Three Girls, and produce from the market. 

Flowers, I thought.  You can't have a date without flowers. 

Plus, I wanted to be that girl, walking off the ferry, who everyone envies. 

Shopping bags, chicken, bread, produce, flowers. 

I bought these beauts.  Complete with rhododendrons.  There's nothing that comes close to a Pike Place bouquet.  Part of me was tempted to visit the market the day before my wedding and pick eight bouquets for our flowers.  This, like all of their bouquets, was ten bucks.  And, it will last over a week. 

I got a lot of "oohs" and "aahs" walking the Waterfront on the way back.  And my arms really hurt. 


By the time I got to the ferry terminal, I had ten minutes before the next one would leave.  Another Washington miracle, only a littler one. 

Coming back to Washington is a full blown reality now.  I savor the days.  I literally count the blessings from this land.  While I no longer live in the city, I consider myself from Seattle.  Its the city where I experienced heartbreak, renewed love, a sense of self, and an understanding of roots.  (And learned how to be a really amazing urban driver).  I feel the life of the city the next county over, even though I don't have a delightful Market bar to sit at while I drink cider. 

Its nice to spend a day with yourself once and awhile.  Whether its across the water, living the high life, or running barefoot on a large backyard, it doesn't matter because its all in front of me now.