Jen: Wichitawesome Part 4

Meeting with the Ents!

Jen: Wichitawesome Part 3

Chinese Night Market at Botanica

"Beautiful Blossom" performed by the Chinese Dance group

Thai Iced Tea for Justin and Taro Milk Tea for me. But no Boba - ick!

Jen: Wichitawesome Part 2

Botanica (the botanical gardens) of Wichita.  We strolled around the grounds until we felt at home. Here some of the fun flora & fauna of Wichita!

Jen: Wichitawesome Part 1

As my last post suggested, I am going to be traveling quite a bit.  So my posts for the next two months will feature all the places I will go.

First stop: Wichita, Kansas, USA

Jen: Call me Carmen

GFK > PIT > ICT > PIT > eastern PA > PIT > SEA > western OR > SEA > PIT > SEA

ICT is Witchita where Justin is working.

You had me...

While I was on my way back to Seattle last week, the flight attendant handed these out to everyone on the plane. A passenger wanted us to be a part of his story. I thought it was a sweet idea.

It's Everything They Say It Is, Portland Part 3

We went to Portland last weekend and this is what happened.

Overall our visit to Portland was lovely. We had a relaxing time but weren't bored. We hit Hawthorne district for thrift and vintage shopping. Visited the Saturday Market. Walked along the waterfront. Won hipster bingo immediately on arrival. Explored an ethnic drum and percussion shop. Stuffed ourselves with amazing food. Found some new books. And played games at a nickel arcade.

It was exactly as I expected it to be and I'm glad it didn't disappoint. We felt at home there as it truly seemed like a slightly larger Pittsburgh, completely different from the feel of Seattle. I'm looking forward to our next visit, maybe I'll make it to the second floor at Powell's and there's always more food to experience.

Waiting in line at Voodoo

Magic Made Them Disappear, Portland Part 2

We visited Portland this weekend and this is what happened.

We spent pretty much the whole weekend eating. Seriously. Hit a lot of the major spots including Voodoo Doughnuts. It's a must do as far as experiencing Portland and I'm glad we went though we probably won't go back again. Well maybe for another Memphis Mafia, but I'll have to ration calories for three days.

This box contains a dozen doughnuts.

Demolished in less than 24 hours.

Other places we ate in Portland: 

Brunch at Screen Door - order the Chicken & Waffles (best fried chicken I've ever had) and the Praline Bacon (from Jen "I don't even like nuts or bacon and this is delicious!" <-- blatant misuse of quotations)

Drinks at The Mash Tun - great patio atmosphere (kid-friendly)

Dinner at Grain & Gristle - order the Kale Salad (even if you don't like kale) 

Bruinner at Kenny & Zuke's Deli - (only Justin was hungry) order the pickle assortment and the weirdest latkes I've ever tasted, they were like huge hush puppies

Dinner at The HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewery) - Order everything! or especially the Pulled Pork sliders and the Pint o' Pretzels. There was much discussion on the brews so order at your own discretion

I got VD in Portland

Voodoo Donuts that is. Justin's digging in the the raspberry filled Voodoo man. Yum

Powell's, Portland Part 1

We went to Portland for the weekend and this is what happened.

You might not know this about me, but I love bookstores. Like really love them. When Ben and I have nothing to do we often find ourselves wondering around one. The best part is that we don't really buy books, because they're a pain to move. But I imagine one day when we've settled down having a massive library. Instead I take pictures of covers and add them to my Shelfari shelf. We spent a good hour in Powell's and I didn't even make through two full sections. I should have just had them drop me off there for the weekend.

The sections, I stayed mostly in Rose

Us being super hipster outside of Powell's, I bought my first Moleskin (knock off, but it was recycled)

Climbing + Running = Climning?

I love getting to know a new place by running. I take a different route every time I run and get to see hidden treasures and secret gardens. But I also get lost and go for 10 miles when I meant to only go 6.

Solution - just map it ahead of time. Brilliant!

How could that possibly go wrong?

It's not like massive construction won't still get me lost or that the map could somehow be deceiving. Maps can't lie. Map would never lead me astray. Map loves me. Map keeps me on straight and level roads...

The Link

I Love Public Transportation. It costs $2.75 to ride the light rail 15 miles from Seatac to downtown. Oh how I wish we'd appreciate it as much as we value the individual's motor vehicle.