Yesterday was realtively low-key. We went back to Hillside Quickies for brunch, and it was good. Then it was off to our new couchsurfing home in Greenlake. We met our new friends and then headed off to the University District to check out Ravenna Park, which is right next to the University of Washington campus and tons of shops and restaurants, inclduing the only strip mall we’ve seen so far (Barnes and Noble, etc).
After the park, we walked to Zoka coffee shop in the University District, which looked more like a library with a coffee bar in it. Packed with students. Matt ran off to check out a tattoo place, then he and Kim (our previous couchsurfing friend) met me at Pizza Pi for dinner. Pizza Pi is an all-vegan pizzeria, and, well, non-vegans don’t tend to enjoy vegan pizza. Thanks Matt for enduring. Soy cheese just can’t replace regular cheese in my opinion. We had some white coffee at Sureshot (where I’m writing from now) and made the “trek” back to our new couchsurfing house. It took us about an hour to get back, and we realized this morning it’s only about a mile away.
We’re back in the University District now, going to check out Kobe Terrace, another Asian-themed garden. Then we’ll probably head back to our new house as they’ve invited us to a barbecue this afternoon. Not bad, eh?
The weather has been fantastic for the weekend, it hasn’t rained since Thursday. Kim picked us up from Remedy after my last post and took us to Volunteer Park where there is a great view of the city from a water tower, the Asian Art Museum, and the “Black Sun” sculpture by Isamu Noguchi, which is rumored to be the inspiration for Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun. We ended up visiting the following day to get a look in the daylight. Great view of downtown and the Space Needle.
On Thursday night we went to the University District and had some pretty good falafel, after which we decided we were both too tired to do anything else. To bed.
Yesterday we went to Hillside Quickies for breakfast. Best vegan breakfast I’ve had. They had probably twelve different completely vegan brunch options. Matt had pancakes, and I’d like to go back today to have them myself.
In the afternoon we went back to the University District and checked out some stores. I got a copy of The Stranger by Albert Camus on Matt’s recommendation (insistince?) and hung out at…yep, a coffee shop. We picked up some pretty good Chinese from Teapot to take back to zhouse for our hosts. They approved. Then I put dish soap in the dishwasher and flooded the ktchen with soap suds. Oops.
Last night we hung out at Zhouse for a bit, then headed out to the Elysian Brewery on Jeremy’s recommendation. I had a field roast sandwich that was incredible. Good beer too. Then we went to a couple of other bars in the area, but weren’t too impressed. So we headed back and hung out with Jeremy and Kim, who are awesome. We couldn’t have asked for a better couchsurfing experience.
Today we’ve done quite a bit of walking. We checked out the Washington Park where there is a Japanese Garden. Hung out there for a bit as it was nice and warm. Oh, almost forgot, on the way there I managed to slip and cover one side of myself with mud. It was rather funny.
So after the gardens we walked to Broadway where there are lots of shops, including a thrift store where I bought some new pants. On to Vivace where we had some great coffee. Then, logically back to Remedy Teas for a great meal and some computer time. Yesss. Not sure about tonight, I’m sure you’re waiting with bad breath.
Our couchsurfing hosts are really awesome. They’ve made us feel right at home, though I made it easy with some wine and Corona. They’re walking distance from a bunch of cool places, including Remedy Tea and B&O Espresso, which is where I’m writing this.
Today we did a fair amount of walking…walking up and down hills. We went to Cherry Street Coffe House for some…yup, coffee, and “lunch” (we didn’t get up too early). Then it was off to the Seattle Art Museum, where they have free admission on the first Thursday of the month. I’m not particularly an art person, but there was some great stuff to see. I liked the landscapes by Frederic Church and Albert Bierstadt, and the “Paintings Undone” by Titus Kaphar. They also had a neat exhibit in the lobby of the museum of cars spinning through the air. Perhaps Dan’s Taurus does have a future.
After the museum we checked out the Pike Market. Fresh seafood, produce, and pasta. There was a great bookstore nearby called Left Bank Books. Then a decent walk to “lunch two” at In The Bowl which is an all-vegan “noodle bistro”. They ahd mock chicken, beef, duck, and prawns. I wasn’t a big fan because most of it was pretty heavy, but it was a good meal. They do get points for great service and LCD fish tanks in teh bathroom. And now, camping out at B&O.
