March 30, 2013

Seattle Aquarium part 3 - octopus!

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

Giant Pacfiic Octopus - Seattle Aquarium

The Seattle Aquarium had multiple giant Pacific octopi on exhibit the weekend we visited (as part of Octopus Week, of course). They live here in Puget Sound, so the aquarium can trap them, mate them, keep them for a while and release them directly back to the sound. They were getting fed by the staff while we were there and exploring around their tanks quite a lot. I'd never seen this creature so close up before and so active, it was really awesome.

March 17, 2013

Seattle Aquarium part 2

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle waterfront

Market Street Gum Wall

Market Street Gum Wall

Metsker Maps

Metsker Maps

More pictures from the Seattle Aquarium, including the LED-lit/color changing jellyfish, as well as our trip that same day to the totally gross and fascinating Market Street Gum Wall and the amazing Metsker Maps near Pike Place Market (Maps of All Kinds!). I love that there is a store here devoted solely to maps (of all kinds).

March 16, 2013

Saturday outings

the whale wins

the whale wins

the whale wins

Myrtle Edwards Park

Myrtle Edwards Park

Myrtle Edwards Park

Myrtle Edwards Park

Myrtle Edwards Park

Today we had lunch at The Whale Wins in Fremont. Dustin is wearing contacts now and, as you can see, has recently acquired some aviator sunglasses that are too cool for school.

Afterward we drove down to Belltown to check out an antiques shop that ended up being more or less a hoarder's den -- interesting but far too cluttered and cramped to really move around in. It was very windy out but still sunny, so we walked to the waterfront to see Myrtle Edwards Park. Lots of pebble beach area with driftwood, barnacles and seaweed growing on the back of rocks that are kept just moist enough by the wave spray.

March 10, 2013

Emerald City Comicon

ECCC

ECCC

waiting for Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart at ECCC

Patrick Stewart at ECCC

Patrick Stewart at ECCC

Downtown Seattle - indigo trees

light fixtures at Lola

A week ago we went to Emerald City Comicon to wander around a bit (but mainly to see Patrick Stewart's panel). The panel before Sir Patrick's was Dirk Benedict (of the A-Team and the original Battlestar Galactica). He rambled like crazy, rarely answering the original questions and making controversial and hilarious statements about liberals, women, raising kids, his luck (or lack of luck) in relationships, etc. He even prepositioned a woman in the audience. It was pretty amazing.

Afterward we walked around downtown a bit and went to the always awesome Lola restaurant for dinner.

March 3, 2013

Seattle Aquarium part 1

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium

We recently became members of the Seattle Aquarium. I'm excited to finally live somewhere where it makes sense to actually buy an aquarium membership. The Seattle Aquarium doesn't really match the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for size or majesty, but it has some unique exhibits and events the Shedd doesn't and makes pretty good use of its more limited space.

Here are a first set of pictures from our visit last week; it was a photographic wonderland.

March 2, 2013

Seattle beaches

Alki Beach Park

Alki Beach Park

Apartment [Not] Available
Apartment [Not] Available

Lincoln Park, Seattle

Lincoln Park, Seattle

Lincoln Park, Seattle

Dustin at Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park, Seattle

Last weekend we visited a few beach-y areas in West Seattle, Alki Beach Park and Lincoln Park. The weather is in the lower 50s here now so it makes for good outdoor exploring. I am trying to finally fully heal my left hip, which I injured in the Grand Canyon in 2011, so for a couple of weeks I need to take it easy. Hopefully it does heal and I can hike more this spring/summer with gusto.
My x-ray from this Thursday:

left hip by carissapod on Instagram