Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Shiskaberries and Top Pot Doughnuts in Seattle

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I know, I know. I was just at the Space Needle yesterday. But I love this place. And I knew that I was going to try a treat that I purposely avoided yesterday.

Chocolate-covered strawberries have some redeeming healthy factor, so I actually don’t even feel all that bad.

These monorail tracks lead right to the Seattle Center, where the Space Needle calls home.

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There is a car repair shop on the corner near the Space Needle. The entire surface is painted depicting men busily working on imported vehicles.

But this one cracked me up!

I would not want the guy holding the Porsche sign to be anywhere near me or my car! And the guy sitting on the swing with the air gun? Sheesh, hide your daughters!

I’m sure that this shop does nice work…just avoid the wall art to be safe.

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I do believe that we are getting closer. That big round thing up there certainly looks closer.

Follow the monorail!

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Ah, monorails.

Disneyland has one, you know. And my next trip will be showing that monorail to you from being there in-person! Eek!

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This is the base of the Space Needle. Inside is a cute souvenir shop and fudge. But you didn’t hear it from me.

They hold all sorts of special events in the top of the Space Needle. I’ve never been up there, but it would sure be fun sometime!

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Yep, I’m talking about way up there!

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While standing at the Space Needle entrance, you can look north towards the Pacific Science Center (on the left), and the Chihuly Glass Museum (on the right). Just past it is an entrance to a nice grassy area near the Armory.

One of my treats is there today. Let’s go get it!

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Here is a peek into the glass center!

Wow, he does amazing work!

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This is a grassy meadow between the Armory and the Pacific Science Center. I discovered all of this for the first time yesterday, and I wanted to come back again today to enjoy it even more.

That’s the Armory in the far distance.

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But you know my real reason for coming back today…

So let’s play Where’s Waldo with the Shiskaberries hut, shall we?

Can you see it hiding in this photo?

True, it’s trying to be invisible behind a tree and a man.

Thankfully, I will not be outsmarted. “We can see you, Carl.” “We can totally see you, Carl.”

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So, here it is. No, I didn’t get fresh whipped cream on top. I’m on a diet.

And yes, I did add bananas to the order, which was just OK. I don’t like bananas that aren’t green, and there were “ripe” bananas.

But hey. Anything covered in chocolate is instantly elevated. So I was fine with everything here.

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Especially when compared in size to the Space Needle. This was a large treat indeed!

I got my $5-worth, that’s for dang sure.

Was it worth the splurge? No. More on that later.

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I had seen from afar yesterday that there was even more to explore back in this park area. So I headed that way and could hear lots of kids laughing.

This should be good.

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Even though it was barely seventy degrees, kids were playing in this giant fountain water ball.

Like a creeper, I sat down to watch and enjoy the gorgeous sun.

And a gorgeous rainbow!

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It looks like a space machine spurting out water. This thing was pretty cool!

And cool had many definitions today. I kept getting sprayed with some misty water. It felt nice, but it was a little too cold for that, still.

Man, do I live in Phoenix or what?!

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I walked behind some other buildings to see what I could find, and the entrance to the Armory introduced itself.

Sheesh, what country is this? These eagles look like something straight out of Germany in 1938!

And they also kinda look like they’re made of Legos. Just sayin’…

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This was a different entrance to the EMP Museum, which is a sci-fi classic here at the Seattle Center.

I can never get over how beautiful (and shocking…how did they do that?) buildings that make up the museum.

Aren’t these pretty?

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The monorail goes right through them. Nice touch, guys.

I wonder if you see the Grand Canyon when you ride through?

Walt Disney thought of everything.

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Sunbursty action of one of my favorite landmarks in Seattle.

Someday, I think that I’ll go to the top!

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Every time that I’ve been here, this little band has been playing (what I think is) Mayan music. They have flutes and pipes and guitars. It is beautiful music.

I usually sit on the cement wall to listen for a few minutes. It was a nice rest for my feet, and also a wonderful chance to watch people.

Which never gets old!

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You can really get anything your little heart desires here in Seattle.

Honestly, why would you ever leave?

Those lemonade drinks look yummy, huh?

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I just loved this old-school sign.

Luckily, I didn’t have to follow its advice today. Car-free in Seattle!

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I didn’t stop to read more about this statue because of people nearby taking pictures. I just grabbed a quick shot and was on my way.

But I love how old it looks. It probably is old.

Check out the (bear? wolf? pig?) head coming out of the stone on the base of the statue. I love stuff like this.

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So I know this sounds terrible, especially because we just had a treat at Shiskaberries, but my next destination is actually for my real treat of the day.

Because I’m counting chocolate-covered berries as a healthy snack. Man, I’m bad!

I could be perfectly happy living on a flower-lined street next to the monorail. Doesn’t this look so peaceful? And clean!

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There were lots of little shops and eateries in this neck of the woods as well. They were all closed today, but I hope that’s just because it was Saturday. They are located downtown with lots of businesses that are also closed today.

I love deli sandwiches!

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So this still puzzles me but also makes me laugh.

OK, I get it. It’s a school for girls.

But how on earth do they explain the multiple rubber chickens hanging from the window?!

Would you want your daughter to attend a school like this?!

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My phone did not lead me astray…we have arrived.

In case you can’t read all of the sign, it says, “Top Pot Doughnuts.” But the "doughnuts” part is visible, and that’s all you really need to know. It’s what matters.

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I had read multiple reviews about this place and had high expectations. Inside was cute and quaint.

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And the bookshelves were very inviting and inspire people to stay for hours, I’m sure!

By the way, I would love a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf built-in like this someday. But with white wood instead. With one of those cool rolling ladders.

Can you imagine?!

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Anyway, back to the most important topic at hand.

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if you peek through a window into heaven?

I imagine that this is pretty close.

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I won’t even be able to describe the incredible smells to you. Let’s just say that they make from-scratch doughnuts here and leave it at that.

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Have you ever wondered what it would look like to peek through a pastry bag window into heaven?

I imagine that this is pretty close, too.

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I got a glazed old-fashioned cake doughnut, because those are by-far my favorite.

And I must say this…

I’ve been eating healthy and working out very hard for about eleven weeks now. I’ve occasionally had a splurge on eating a treat, but I’ve always come back to the thought that “Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels.”

It has never been worth it.

Well, this doughnut changed that. So I’m very fortunate that it is so far from me most of the time.

This doughnut may very well be one of the best things that I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. It was certainly worth the splurge.

But I’m not kidding when I say it has been the only one worth it!

I don’t have very good odds, apparently.

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I guess what I’m saying is that…I would go back.

If you are in Seattle, please try a fresh, hand-forged doughnut. Then you can know for yourself.

Just look for the sign.

More exploring Seattle is coming up! Are you enjoying these posts?

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Back to Seattle and The Bang Bang Cafe

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Good morning, Bremerton! When I returned last night, you were dark and helped me sleep really well.

After a day exploring my favorite city in the world, it felt just fine with my feet to be in a warm, soft, comfy bed in Bremerton.

This was my gorgeous view when I woke up refreshed the next morning.

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As you can see, I’m going to have to deal with awful weather yet again today. It’s going to be seventy degrees, and I have all day to spend in Seattle yet again.

Darn.

After a nice workout in the hotel gym and a careful breakfast in the lobby, I headed back towards the ferry terminal to hitch a ride over the Puget Sound.

I think that I skipped because I was so happy.

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Man, if feels like I was just here!

I know that I’ve said it before, but I sure do love this font on the ferry terminal building. It’s old-school straight out of the art deco period, and I sure wish I knew what it was called!

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As you can see, lots of people decided to head to the city on a gorgeous Saturday morning! We waited patiently for the arriving ferry to disembark, and then it was our turn to get onboard.

I’m already excited thinking about what a fun day this is going to be!

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While we were waiting, this old car tried to start after picking up an arriving passenger. Unfortunately, after several attempts and a few minutes, the engine still couldn’t turn over.

This is why I think people are generally still good, even though I’m sure that we all wonder sometimes!

About five guys started to push the car to help the driver with a push-start. After about eighty feet, the car finally fired up and drove away, with the driver’s thankful hand waving out the window.

All of us watching started to clap for those who had helped. It felt good.

Cool car, too, huh? Too bad it doesn’t work.

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Let’s all board the Kaleetan! All of the ferries are named after things from the local Native American tribes.

Pretty nifty, though I can’t pronounce half of them.

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You can see a few boats peeking out of the Bremerton harbor. Soon, we will be winding our way through the Sound to arrive in Seattle just an hour later.

The ferry is already moving! Let’s settle in for a nice ride!

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And, before you can wiggle your nose, we’re in Seattle once again! Here is the pier with lots of action going on all day and night.

Just for the record, I would be perfectly fine with having this short of a trip to visit Seattle any time that I wanted. I’m just sayin’…

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I decided to take a different route into the city today, just so I could see new and exciting things. I walked ground-level along the harbor for a few blocks before crossing over towards the city.

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This ended up being a wonderful decision, since I got to see many new and exciting things!

Like this sign! Hello, fishies!

Should someone tell them that they are headed the wrong way?

You would think that they would want to swim away from Pike Place Market, which is famous for its fish stands. They should swim to their freedom behind them instead.

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I’ve never seen Pike Place Market from this angle, but it’s the back of the famous “Public Market” sign, which I love so much. This is too cool!

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I guess we should follow the crowds large green signs directing us towards the Market, huh?

Being the rebel that I am, I decided to walk past this to arrive on the other end of Pike Place near the park from yesterday.

Aren’t those old hand rails on the stairs cool?

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Well, we’re getting higher already. Which improves the view drastically.

Way on the other side of the ferris wheel, you can see the shipping port of Seattle.

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And now we are looking at the north entrance to Pike Place Market!

Wow, really. It feels like I was just here! But I’m pretty sure that I could never get tired of this place!

Besides, I’m just walking through today on my way to grab a little lunch.

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I should have gotten a closer view of the parking prices, since they were out of this world. I would much rather be on-foot if I lived here.

With so many wonderful public transportation options, and my two little feet ready for another fun day, why on earth would anyone drive?!

It’s a neat-looking sign, though. Apparently, I love neon. Who knew?

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After walking past the park and waving at Pike Place, I continued my walk along Western Avenue a little farther north.

It’s always fun to see this folded-up umbrella sculpture, since it always reminds me of one of my favorite Disney movies.

Jolly holiday, eh?

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Underneath the freeway, they’ve made yet another tribute to the local orca whales.

Man, these people really love their giant ocean mammals, huh?

I thought that these looked neat, but I wonder if they fenced them off because they had to keep homeless people from sleeping here. Or maybe to keep out graffiti artists?

Either way, the chain link fence definitely made an appearance in this photo today.

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So I had done a little research before my lunchtime arrival today. I thought that a late breakfast would tide me over well, and this place was known online for its delicious breakfast burritos.

There was another place up by the Space Needle that also had awesome reviews, but it was another half a mile. By the time I had walked the 1.8 miles to get to the Bang Bang Café, I was ready to eat!

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The inside was adorable. The reviews online had warned me that the breakfast burritos here were top-notch, so the the cute interior of the café was just a bonus.

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I love homemade menus like this. And this little place has quite the offerings, too! Bagel sandwiches, breakfast burritos, paninis, and sandwiches.

Unfortunately, I was told after I ordered that they were out of flour tortillas (wha?). So my breakfast burrito ended up being just a breakfast bowl.

Wop wop.

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This is not a visual illusion! Seattle is a very vertical city in spots! Coming up from the harbor to the more-level 1st Avenue area means that you have to climb some pretty steep sidewalks to get there!

You can see the angle of the car outside. He’s just waiting at the light to head closer to the pier.

Crazy, huh?

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Their display case was filled with all sorts of homemade goodies. One of the things in here was their apparently-famous Shawn’s Vegan Mac.

I usually steer clear of things that say Vegan, for my own personal reasons.

Have I shown you my bacon tattoo?

(This statement is an attempt for comedic relief only. No ink has ever touched this skin!)

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My breakfast burrito bowl arrived. It looked yummy, but it wasn’t massive.

Another wop wop.

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But with potatoes (that tasted like they had been on the flattop all morning) and turkey sausage to accompany the scrambled eggs and cheese, this had potential.

Unfortunately, it didn’t taste all that great to me. I probably would skip this place on my next visit.

I’m just being honest here, folks. Maybe I just caught them on a bad day?

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Now I regret not waiting for the Skillet Counter breakfast burrito just half a mile away.

Hey, live and learn. You can’t win them all, and that goes for breakfast, too.

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As I walked up towards Seattle Center once again, I passed the beautiful trees with some spring blossoms in full swing.

I could easily live on a street that looks like this.

In Seattle.

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Why do I want to head back towards Seattle Center?

Well, you can see one of the reasons peeking over the buildings in this shot.

Today is going to be awesome!

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