First was demolition derby at the Lake County County Fair and now let's add Pho to this list. Two things that have skyrockted to the top of my favorites list. Pho, how good is this stuff? Why did I wait so long to enjoy this peasant delicasy? Why have YOU waited so long to try this? Oh, you've already tried it smartass, why didn't you tell me it was so good!
We've already been introduced to Seattle Thai and Chinese food (both were pretty teriffic) so on Friday we decided to have our first Seattle (and first Lipsky) Vietnamese dinner. As it turns out there is a place (Pho Cyclo (****/*****)) across from Julie's office that is rated as one of the finest Vietnamese restaurants in the city. As the viaduct was shutting down on Friday, we decided to eat at this place and wait out the ensuing traffic. Unless you're a local you probably won't understand but the Alaskan Way Viaduct and its subsequent closure has become a huge deal for Seattle (West Seattle folks (that's us!) especially) residents. Now I did the Chicago > Deerfield commute for four years so no mere lane closure is going to intimidate me but this viaduct thing is all anyone has been talking about since we've been here. So let's eat SoDo (now South of Downtown, formerly South of Kingdome) and get home when traffic eases.
I'll contend that the steak Pho soup was the best bowl of soup that I've ever had. It seems simple as there's steak, noodles, veggies, and broth. But holy moly do they come together (right now) in a perfect fashion. Julie had the chicken and she said that it was good but not as good as Thai tom yum noodle soup. I think had she gotten the steak she'd be in agreement as the best soup ever.
clean plate (bowl) club for me!
Samson left his mark on the dinner and enjoyed the noodles and steak too. His favorite was the strawberry bubble tea. But here's where the restaurant lost a star. The restaurant had bubble teas on the menu and the boy (and dad) has always enjoyed one as we wait for our food to come. Was pretty surprised (and subsequently disappointed) when the bubble tea came pre-made and with a plastic seal on top. I didn't even know they offered premade bubble teas. And why was this restaurant serving it? The place felt totally authentic so maybe that's how they do it in Vietnam but it tasted fake. It tasted like strawberry Quik made with water and then slushied. Just not good.
obviously, the boy didn't have issue with it.
Saturday found us at the Seattle Children's Museum. This being Samson's third differnt children's museum (Seattle, Glenview, Chicago (can't put Milwaukee on this list)) I can say that he was the most into the Seattle one. I think some of that has to do with his age and he's now age/size appropriate for everything at these places. But for the two hours we were at the museum he was non-stop. No mega, you-gotta-see-this activities just a bunch of great different areas that the boy (and us) had a great time at.
what's wrong with these binoculars?
Saturday night after dinner (Mexican, on Alki Beach) was our first family night in the hot tub. Our house has a mega above ground hot tub with a view of the Sound behind us. With a kind-of-chilly Saturday night it made for a perfect night for hot tubing. The boy loves it and at this rate I predict he'll be a self-taught swimmer in the next 2-3 months. He's close now, he is only sort of drowning.
no, the water isn't that blue, it's just one of its light settings
Sunday we got out of the city and headed to Kirlkland to check out Dr. Maze's Pumpkin Patch. Great 20 mile drive to get there. On bridges, up and down hills, through Bellevue and surrounded by Evergreens the entire way. Loving the Pacific Northwest!
Dr. Maze's was a good time, as we got to pick out our own pumpkins, try one of their mazes, and go on a tractor hay ride. There was a pretty huge corn maze that we didn't do, which I kind of regret. Next time. We left there with three pumpkins (a large, small and mini) and grass stains on both mine and the boy's jeans. Big thumbs up to Dr. Maze's, we'll be back next year.
Still some weekend left, Sunday afternoon we went downtown West Seattle and to Easy Street Records for the John Doe (that's his real name) in-store performance. He's a singer-songwriter and had a girl singing with him and they were pretty good.
Easy Street is a pretty great record store. Not a ton of tchotchkes (like many record stores have these days) but huge selections of new and used cds and records. Also had a huge listening station, which Samson and Julie both enjoyed. In the space where most places would be selling tchotchkes, Easy Street has a dedicated restaurant space. Pretty huge menu and the place serves breakfast and lunch. We didn't eat but we will someday soon. Easy Street breakfast is at the top of our list!
So a great weekend bolstered by even more progress with the unpack. We're closing in on having most non-basement things out of boxes and this house is starting to feel more and more like a home. And the magnets are on the fridge!
For more on the Alaskan Way Viaduct: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/
Speak soon . . .
- JLips
I love Pho! Had it often at a funny neighborhood joint in, of all places, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Julie definitely should have had the steak.
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