With a heavy heart I write to inform you that this will be our last blog entry for the foreseeable future.
We’ve had a lot of fun sharing with you, to the best of our ability, our local date ideas and tips and have learned a lot along the way. Hopefully you share the sentiment and have found as much value in reading as we found in writing.
Should we ever return to blogging we will surely let you know.
Best of luck in your future dating adventures,
Wesley & Jocelyn
With the downpour I endured during my walk to work this morning I’m guessing there’s going to be some good powder in the mountains this weekend. If you haven’t yet made it up to the mountains, now is probably a good time to get into gear as our winter has begun to fade away. To cut costs, StrangerMart offers half off on trips to Snoqualmie Pass.
If being in the cold snow doesn’t sound like fun, there are numerous other activities available this weekend (including a number of pre-St. Patrick’s Day celebrations). Below are just a few we thought you’d enjoy. As always, let us know about your exiting plans too!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday 12:30 to 1:30pm
Starting at 4th Ave and Jefferson St. downtown
I’ve never been much of a parade person, but with the number of shamrocks in this parade it has to be lucky!
Mobile Chowdown III: Seattle vs Portland
Saturday 10:00 to 3:00pm
Safeco Field
Come have one of the strangest lunch dates you’ll ever have…but also the greatest variety. Who says food from an RV isn’t as good?
4th Annual Exbeerience Beer Festival
Saturday 12:00 to 4:00pm
Redhook Ale Brewery
Great beers offered by your favorite micro brewer and, possibly, your next door neighbor. All the hop heads will be out for this one.
We’re almost to the weekend, but I do recognize that, for some, the weekend really starts on Thursday. If that’s the case for you, then I’d recommend the First Thursday Art Walk(s) going on in and around Seattle. I always seem to forget about this great opportunity to get a taste of Seattle’s local art scene, but, as luck would have it, I was reading through The New Pioneer Square recently and they provided a great rundown of all the excitement to expect this month. It’s also a great site if you happen to have an interest in Seattle’s oldest (and somewhat controversial) neighborhood.
Now down to the real business of this post: the weekend! This is supposed to be a good weather weekend, so take advantage of that if you can. In addition, this is also Oscar weekend, so keep your Sunday open (if you’re into that kind of thing). Per the usual, here are three events that seemed like they’d be worth a try. Whatever you do, have a great weekend and let us know how it goes.
Rat City Roller Girls – Bout 2
Saturday 5:30 to 8:30pm
Key Arena
If you have yet to experience the pageantry and excitement that is roller derby, it’s time you check it out for yourself. If you don’t know what it is, then checkout this great rundown of how it all works. You’ll want to get your tickets soon as these matches tend to be pretty popular, not to mention the fact that the movie Whip It with Ellen Page has brought in a whole new fan base. Come check out these ladies as they roll, crash, and elbow their way through the competition. Tickets run from about $18 to $35.
Spokespeople
Saturday starting at 2:00pm
Wallingford Playfield (start)
Get that bike out of storage and take it for a test drive around town with a few other local spinners. It’s a great way to enjoy the sun and get a little exercise all at the same time. This group actually meets the first Saturday of every month, so, if you miss your chance this time around, there’s always next month!
Big Oscar Bash
Sunday 4:00pm to close
Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub
It’s that time of year and the Oscar’s are so much better when you watch them in a group…and win prizes while doing it. If that isn’t enough for you, the event also benefits St. Joseph’s Baby Corner.
While being a bit of a throwback date, it’s hard to disagree with a fresh cup of coffee, a gourmet cupcake, and a state of the art movie experience with that old school touch. At the center of Market St. in Ballard you’ll find Cupcake Royale (a growing Seattle institution) and right next door (only separated by La Tienda Folk Art Gallery), Majestic Bay Theatre.
Sometimes you’re not looking for a stiff drink or a big dinner when you go out on a date, particularly first dates. Cupcake Royale, and many other cupcake/coffee places, provides the perfect alternative for a date much more like the one you would have had when you were 16. Actually, this is much better than most of the dates I had at 16.
While I’m not sure when the cupcake craze started in Seattle, it seems to be going strong (and in parallel with the bacon craze. Have you tried a bacon maple bar?!). If you doubt that there is a cupcake out there made for you, it’s time you start looking. The cupcake purveyor options have become so abundant in Seattle that a friend of mine has decided to hold a cupcake tasting to see who has the best Red Velvet cupcake in Seattle. Check out his blog for the results in (probably late March), but I digress.
Cupcake Royale offers a plethora of tasty treats to satisfy anyone with a tongue for the sweet. While their menu seems to be ever-changing with the seasons, like my personal favorite, the Salted Caramel, they do provide a list of staple cupcakes you can count on from the Peppermint Party to the Royale with Cheese, there seems to be a sugary option to bring out the kid in everyone. In addition to the cupcakes, Royale also carries Verite coffee (I believe Royale and Verite are synonymous). While not providing decor outside of the “coffee shop box” the cafe does create a playful atmosphere including their range of quirky t-shirts (I like the “These Cupcakes Are Taken” women’s shirt) and an entire rack of “decorate your own cupcake” supplies. While the former provides for a great souvenir, the latter can make for great discussion (are you a race car or an American flag type of person?). If you’re lucky, you just might pick a night that their tasting out a new cupcake.
Once you’ve obtained the nirvana of sugar highs it’s time to head to the movies…luckily, it’s right next door. While Majestic Bay Theatre still suffers from being subject to whatever Hollywood is pumping out this month, they always do it in style. From the plush seats to the nautically themed lobby to the red curtain raising to start the show, no detail is left unpolished. I personally like their throw back style “buy popcorn and be courteous” short film prior to the start of the movie. Complete with grainy black and white film a Leave It to Beaver like character will walk you through the do’s and don’ts of the movie going experience.
TIP If you go later in the evening, it’s worth it to sneak upstairs to get a nice view of Ballard…and a bit of alone time underneath the Dale Chihuly like ceiling decor. Also, when you’re at Cupcake Royale always keep in mind that sharing is caring (suddenly I sound like a kindergarten teacher!).
As with our post about Volterra, your best bet for parking in this part of Ballard is on the side streets as Market St. tends to fill up pretty quickly. Otherwise, this is one of our most logistically easy dates concocted to date…and light on the wallet. Between the movie, cupcakes, and coffee, it should run you around $15.00 per person. Enjoy and, if you’re feeling generous, save one for me!
Who else is ready for the weekend?! I know I am. This time around we thought we’d provide a narrower list of activities, but with a broad variety. Check out a few of our recommendations below. Let us know if you try any of them out this weekend and, as always, please share in the comments section below if you know of some great date activity going on this weekend. Enjoy!
Vince Mira’s Third Annual Johnny Cash Spectacular
Saturday 8:00pm
Neumos
The kid who used to perform for quarters down in Pike Place Market sure has come a long way. Now you can check out Seattle’s own version of a Johnny Cash vocal doppelgänger. His show get rave reviews, so it may be time you check him out…not to mention the fact that Neumos is one of our favorite music venues.
SAM Remix
Friday 8:00 to 12:00am
Seattle Art Museum
If you’ve been meaning to take a visit to Seattle’s famous art museum, but haven’t had the time, then this is your opportunity. Four Friday’s a year SAM turns into a nightclub complete with flowing alcohol and DJ’d (and live) music. This evening will feature Kinetic sculpture installations by Lingo Dance Company, music by DJ Freddy King of Pants and Sun Tzu Sound and readings by poets Daemond Arrindell and Storme Webber. The first 100 guests get in for free!
Tulip Festival/Roozengaarde
Daily 9:00 to 6:00pm
Mount Vernon, WA
For those of you that would prefer a day out instead of a night out give the tulip festival a try. It’s a bit of a drive, but, from what I’m told, it’s more than worth it. With more than 1,000 acres of tulip, daffodil and iris fields and a display garden with 88 tulip varieties and other flowers you’ll be kept busy. All blooming info can be found on the website.
If you’re in the mood for an intimate night out and have the taste buds for Italian food, look no further then Volterra, a quaint Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of downtown Ballard. From the dark corner bar to the low light dining area, this restaurant provides an ideal romantic setting to connect on the 3rd or 4th date.
The dining area primarily consists of small two person tables, which are situated close together. Although this may seem to potentially cramp your style, it does provide a good opportunity to check out another couple’s dish to see what looks good. But no worries there…..the food is spectacular! With most ingredients made locally, all except the cheese we were told, Volterra serves fresh tasting dishes with adequate portions that will not disappoint. We split an appetizer and each had an entrée, which was satisfying without being too much. In addition, Volterra offers an extensive wine list. Not exactly a wine connoisseur? No problem, a wine steward is on hand to assist you in finding the perfect vino to pair with your meal.
TIP Guys, if you do happen to possess some knowledge on the subject, this would be a great opportunity to shine! If not, you can at least sound like you know something by visiting a quick guide site. I’d recommend the pairing section to get the most out of your time spent.
The staff at Volterra also deserve mentioning as they are known for their “take your time” approach to serving. This was very refreshing to see at a restaurant…especially when you want to relax and enjoy time with your date. We tend to take forever to order and often find waiters can get a little irritated. In addition, as this is one of the more popular Italian restaurants in town, you will want to take advantage of their online reservation site. Your best bet for parking is to aim for neighbourhood streets. Usually you can get a decent spot 1 or 2 blocks off Market Street.
If you’re not ready to end the evening, Ballard has a decent selection of places to hang out after dinner. We recommend Hazelwood, a small bar/lounge a short walk away. There are a few aspects which make this bar unique. For one thing, you don’t have the hassle of waiting in a long line or being reduced to standing at a table. Even late on a Friday night, there was no crowd to compete with. This is mainly due to it’s “blend into the background” facade. Secondly, and most notably, this bar has a very interesting atmosphere and layout. There are no tables or chairs in the immediate bar area (it’s actually a very small space), so you’ll want to head up to the loft above the bar. In this dark nook you will find comfortable lounge chairs and sofas which serve as a great place to cozy up together. Just a FYI, if you find your conversation lacking at some point, take a look through the peep-hole on the back wall…it sounds sketchy, I know, but trust me on this one.
It’s that time of the week again (thank goodness!), which means it’s time to throw out a few ideas for the weekend. It looks as if we’re actually going to have a bright and sunny couple of days (but also a bit cold), so it may be a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the Northwest.
One way to get yourself outside is to take part in one of the many neighborhood farmers markets the Seattle area has to offer. Here‘s another link for a few additional markets. I must admit that I’ve never been much of a “farmers market guy”, but it’s a great opportunity to experience a rare appearance by the sun and, maybe, find a few ingredients for an evening in.
If the market really isn’t your thing, then here are a couple of “getting to know your city” activities you can try while also enjoying a bit of indulgence:
Savor Seattle Chocolate Indulgence Tour
Saturday 11:00 to 1:00pm
Starts at 4th and Olive in downtown
This tour includes a lot of free chocolate…need I say more?!
Seattle By Foot Pub Crawl
Friday 7:00 to 9:30pm
Starts at the Pike Brewing Co. in the Pike Place Market
Lots of beer sprinkled with a little bit of culture. It seems like a great way to kick-off a night on the town.
Lastly, if you didn’t get a chance to celebrate Mardi Gras during the week, you still have a chance! Here are a couple of parties in the spirit of our New Orleans friends:
Venice is Sinking: A Masked Venetian Ball
Saturday 6:00 to 1:00am
Georgetown Ballroom
If you’ve ever wanted to wear a mask like Zorro and dance late into the night, this is your party.
Brazilian Carnaval
Saturday 9:00 to 1:00am
Nectar Lounge
This is the more laid back version of a Mardi Gras party and looks to be a bit more focused on the music, but should be fun nonetheless. Not to mention the fact that you can always combine it with a little Thai food before starting the night, but a Brazilian grill may be more appropriate for the evening’s theme.
Whatever you end-up doing, please share. Whether you’ve tried one of our ideas or did your own thing, we’re always on the look out for more great date ideas!
We just wanted to give a quick shout out to all of our readers and wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day! Our weekend has been filled with gifts (including snickerdoodles, yum), friends (happy birthday, Jody!), eating in (I can’t get enough Thai food), going out (Cafe Paloma, which will most likely be a post later) and going nautical!
Below are our pictures from the Argosy Valentine’s brunch cruise we took this morning. The food was really good. Between the eggs, sausage, Bailey’s coffee, and Red Velvet cake we ate I don’t think we’ll need to eat for a few days. We hope you enjoy the pictures and look forward to hearing your V-Day stories!
For our regulars, you may have noticed that we didn’t post a Work Weekender yesterday for the upcoming weekend. This is not out of lack of love for our readers, but an acknowledgment of the planning headache that is this year’s Valentine’s Day weekend. Instead of easing your burden by providing our regular list of weekend ideas (we’ve already listed a few of the best V-Day ideas for those that planned ahead), in this post we’ll focus on those of you that woke of this morning and said “oh yeah, Sunday is Valentine’s Day!” (my co-worker actually did this).
The following are a few ideas for those that may have missed the bus when it comes to reservations:
Remember there’s nothing wrong with a romantic night at home, just make sure you make the effort to set the mood.
I’m no Holy Grail when it comes to last-minute date ideas, so please share any thoughts you might have by commenting below. Best of luck!
Given that Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year many people stumped as to what day to celebrate: “Do I go traditional and celebrate on the actual day?” “Do I take advantage of the option to celebrate on Saturday in order to have a later night?” “Is this the year to make a whole weekend out of it?”
We thought we’d get your take on the situation in the poll below. Additionally, feel free to comment as to why you picked what you did. I’d tell you what I’m thinking, but it would ruin the surprise for someone. In any case, I think we’ll all benefit from people considering options other than “day of”, as restaurants and hotels will be less likely to be booked up.
We’re just a week away, so hopefully you’ve already started to think about what you’re going to do for Valentine’s Day. If you’re still stuck on what to do for that special someone, you can find a few ideas here.
