In May 2000, a pair of 24-year-old newlyweds set forth on their honeymoon, a trip that included a scant 24 hours in Seattle Washington. Recently, those not-so-newlyweds, decided to celebrate their 15th anniversary with a dirty weekend in the city that they didn’t get to fully experience the first time around. This is their tale.
While we may be a bit more grey, and have a few (dozen) more responsibilities, enjoying everything a vibrant city like Seattle has to offer is an excellent way to celebrate a milestone. On the anniversary agenda: sightseeing, great food and dancing!
But first – Drop your bags!
Just as I always peruse dessert menus before I choose my entrée, I must always check into my hotel and establish my home base before I venture out for exploring. The Alexis Hotel is a boutique hotel located steps from Seattle landmarks such as the waterfront, Pike Place Market, and Pioneer Square. The Alexis is also a Kimpton property so I knew that I’d be going to a chic hotel that caters to people who love good sleep, good times, good wine, and friendly dogs. Yes, I said dogs, because the Alexis lays out the welcome mat for pets too!
Your pup is not the only one that is welcomed with open arms; Kimpton also caters to critters of the two-legged variety by providing child safety kits, welcome gifts and will even loan the kids a resident fish to care for during their stay! And wine lovers are definitely not left out in the cold! Alexis hosts a nightly wine hour where guests can mingle with a great glass of wine, some nibbles and chat amongst themselves and the ultra-friendly staff.
Be sure to join Kimpton Karma, the rewards program before you stay at one of these properties – you’ll get free Wi-Fi and a mini bar credit! An excellent perk even for infrequent travelers!
It was tough to leave the elegant and spacious room, (and they make it harder by providing complementary yoga mats and leopard print terry robes!) but Seattle wasn’t going to wait for us!
An Army (of 2) can’t march on an empty stomach!
Unencumbered by impatient and hangry children, we could choose restaurants to please our whims. The Bookstore Bar & Café, conveniently located in the Alexis, was a charming spot with an extensive menu of scotch and whiskey (an hundred and thirty-plus varieties in fact!) and an absolutely scrumptious menu put together by executive chef Caprial Pence, winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest.
The charming interior of the Bookstore Cafe (Photo Copyright Nader Khouri 2014)
The Seafood steamer plate was chock full of luscious halibut, clams and prawns in a light broth that I eagerly soaked up with grilled bread topped with a smoky garlic puree.
Fans of Iron Chef may recall Chef Tom Douglas, who has a number of different restaurants in Seattle. We stopped for breakfast at his original digs, Dahlia Lounge where I was intrigued by the breakfast cocktail menu but resisted the siren call of the Downton Abbey!
If you’re looking for something a little risqué, try The Pink Door. Tucked away in Post Alley, it boasts a Boho atmosphere, with more than a dollop of sauciness (thanks to the weekly burlesque shows), potent libations, impressive views (from the spacious deck) and lovely food with an Italian American flare! A romantic spot to celebrate 15 years!
Touristy Time!
I’ve long had a fascination for Expositions, which are often city defining events. The 1962 World Fair in Seattle left an enduring and instantly recognizable legacy for the city; the Space Needle. While enormous lines discouraged me from going to the top (the NorthWest Folklife Festival was on), even standing underneath the 600-foot structure was mesmerizing.
Pop culture is the name of the game at the EMP museum, another Seattle Centre attraction. We were hit with a mega dose of pop culture touring the EMP including getting our grunge on with Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses (Nirvana + Seattle = must be done!), seeing the impressive magic of costumes in the Star Wars saga (squee!) and encountering the Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction.
Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume – Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: A behind-the-scenes look at some of the most iconic costumes in film history. Exhibit is open January 31-October 4, 2015.
Outside the Frank. O. Gehry designed building (which was designed around the monorail track) is an epic playground for kids. We admired it from afar, but any child would be thrilled to explore it thoroughly!
To get to Seattle Centre where the Space Needle and EMP are located, you must take that other legacy from 1962, the Monorail!
Credit -Seattle Monorail- Megan Ching
The Westlake Monorail station, located at the Westlake Centre, is a short walk from the Alexis. Take a few minutes to check out Marbles the Brain Store in the mall before you ride! It’s chock full of hilarious brain teasing books & games. From Westlake it only takes a few minutes to travel the mile-long route to Seattle Central.
And now, we dance!
As the sun set, we set our minds to dancing ’til we dropped. There is no shortage of clubs, bars, lounges and nightclubs in the area, and Trinity Nightclub was our choice for the night. With 3 defined spaces; a lounge, a Top 40 room and an EDM room, there is something for every taste, and our tastes enjoyed the electronic dance music! A bonus? We didn’t feel like the oldest ones in the room!
And so, on our round two in Seattle, we slept soundly, ate well, touristed happily and danced our feet off. Honeymoon revisited, honeymoon re-done very well!
