Bar Hopping and Xboxing

Today I scored some free tickets to the Tractor Tavern to see some live music. How exciting.

I think I was waiting to order the new Xbox Series X as a reward for accomplishing something of some importance... but I cannot recall what that thing was. I'm going to say it was a reward for keeping such a sunny demeanor in the face of the pain resulting from not owning an Xbox Series X.

I saw some Xbox decals in the Costco parking lot and I knew that the universe wanted me to have that Xbox Series X more than maybe I even wanted it myself.

I liked the opener a lot. Reposado had a fun latin sound and the front man was very fun and energetic.

The Tractor Tavern is much more cowboyish than you usually see in a Seattle bar. It's funny, a lot of Missouri things are so rare here that I actually appreciate them when in Missouri they would make me throw up a little bit in my mouth.

With the opener so good I was really excited for the main course: The True Loves.

So they start jamming, it sounds pretty good, they jam some more. I keep thinking at every pause that they are going to start laying down the lyrics. They do not. They are an instrumental only group. Lame! We didn't stay much longer.

I read an article about this fun new sort of spacey tiki bar concept that had just opened called Carnelian Bay.

The menu was very high concept, and was sort of a sci-fi journal of an explorer on another world. 

The drinks corresponded to the plot points in the story. I thought it was very very cool.

That bar had a sister bar that was supposed to have a similar story-driven vibe.

It did not really connect as well with me. The menu was similarly themed but it felt kind of like a yard sale board game that was missing some pieces.

The vibe of the place was still very fun so I'm glad we checked it out.

Irishy Bellevue

Today we met up with our new friends Shubra and Sumit for some Irish pub food at Paddy Coynes Irish Pub in the Lincoln Square North shopping mall.

Fittingly the bar had the NBA Finals on between the Warriors and the Boston Celtics. I don't know if they were behind on their cable bill or what but the tv was stuck on some Spanish language ESPN channel.

We walked by some of the fancy pants stores in Bellevue for our after dinner digestion stroll.

Sometimes I wonder if Washington is my reward for surviving so many years of St. Louis.

To Infinity

Today we went to one of our sneak peek free movie screenings, this time at the Regal Thornton Place theatre.

 

The movie on offer this time was Toy Story spin off Lightyear and the Buzzheads were out.

I heard some hate, especially from douchebags over a lesbian kiss between two old ladies, but I thought it was a decent movie. Pixar doesn't generally miss in my experience.

Crab Apples

I could not believe the scene at Peter Kirk Pool. First of all, it was 61 degrees outside and everyone on land was wearing coats. Second some of the swimmers were wearing covid masks! Some of my St. Louis friends were particularly triggered as masks fell out of use there some time ago. You'd think that wearing a mask that got wet would pretty much guarantee suffocation.

After my recent fun times eating on Jeff Bezos' dime, When I got an invite from Steve Apple to do the same thing I had no choice but to accept. 

mbar's is accurately described as an "artful rooftop space with a modern Middle Eastern–meets-Mediterranean menu, drinks & sweeping views."

While I was pretty excited to get a chance to talk with Apple's Media Products team, but the event was not very well structured like the Blue Origin events were. It was not super clear who even worked at Apple, and they weren't that outgoing so it was extra awkward.

I stayed for what felt like a socially acceptable amount of time then bounced. I was happy to get a chance to check out the bar and the amazing view of Lake Union, though.

I decided to be Lydia's hero today and brought her back some Mochinuts from the same building as the networking social.

This style of mochi donut was super popular in Japan and I don't think I've had it since I lived there, so it was very fun and nostalgic to have some again.

Funko!

We were up in Everett, WA for Sorticulture, "the premier festival for garden art, local plants and flowers and handmade outdoor products". 

While doing our usual walking past of bunch of junk I wouldn't take home were it free, we stumbled up something fun: Funko HQ.

The place was like a Funko Pop! figurine Mecca.

Tempted with this Seinfeld backpack. Not today Satan!

I was double tempted when Lydia built a custom figure of my favorite character of all time:

Me! While I do like money and laptops... I feel like this could pretty much be 50% of the dudes in Seattle.

We stopped at Brooklyn Bros. Pizzeria for a slice and they were having a graduation ceremony across the street at Angel of the Winds Arena.

That arena sponsorship deal worked on us immediately because we were compelled to go to Angel of the Winds Casino.