And bam…just like that, summer is happening in Seattle. Without fail it starts here legitimately around July 4th. I mean look at this fabulousness (though to update this it was actually near 90 on Sunday and Monday is supposed to be the same!):
You cannot beat that, you can’t, especially since there are still never any bugs or humidity to come with that. And on top of the weather, events are happening like no other time a year. There are seriously three festivals every weekend, dinners, happy hours, parades, and picnics all around. It’s glorious. And how did I greet Seattle summertime?
Friday:
RockCreek Casual Happy Hour – The brand new RockCreek restaurant in Fremont hosted what they called a “casual happy hour” on their deck from 5-8pm. They were grilling some oysters along with oysters on the half shell, grilling some steaks with heirloom tomatoes and salsa verde, and pouring rose and a keg of Red Hook. All for free and all outside on their glorious new deck in the 80 degree sunshine. They are not even open yet and the restaurant isn’t even finished (they just got their deck in last weekend!) and this was just an awesome party on a fantastically sunny Friday evening with my girls (Mikayla, Tina, and Kierstin). The food just kept coming and the keg and wine bottles were just up for grabs. This was my first time trying oysters (except for once trying them fried) and I LOVED them. Well, I didn’t like them raw but the huge Pacific oysters they grilled (one had a buttery bacon topping and the other had a buttery herby topping) were so delicious. The steak was perfectly seared and delicious with the tomatoes, basil, and chimichurri sauce. Win!
Saturday:
Tackled the To-Do List:
- Weeded the lettuce bed
- Replanted kale and beets in the sunnier bed (because I really want them to grow and know they can in WA)
- Made an egg sandwich (lately have had huge cravings for these with turkey bacon, egg, cheese or aioli, english muffin or bagel, deli mustard YUM) and an iced coffee Hit.The.Spot!
- Cleaned the fridge and kitchen space in preparation for new roommate moving in next week while I am gone
- Read and sunned on the balcony (shh, don’t tell Bryan, it just felt so relaxing)
- Switched out my winter clothes for my summer clothes
- Started packing said summer clothes
- Made a decent pile of clothes that don’t fit (gulp) or no longer like anymore to take to Goodwill
- Roasted cauliflower and eggplant and tossed with leftover tahini dressing to finish off before leaving for home
- Made an entire box of pistachio pudding because it sounded really good and cooling on such a hot day
Saturday night was the first Salmon Enchanted Dinner of Tom Douglas’. At Victor Steinbreuck Park on a gorgeous night in Seattle I helped volunteer for his dinner of $20 that consisted of all of the below:
- Grilled salmon with fennel aioli
- Toasted hazelnut and rice salad
- Green beans
- Watermelon and feta salad
- Washington blueberry crisp with whipped cream
The man working his magic. 
Wearing a Tigers shirt I was asked a few times if the D stood for “Douglas”…oh Seattle 
Blurry but delicious plate of all of the above. All eaten! 
View from the park looking south.
It was all so delicious, I licked my plate clean seriously, but the cause and the atmosphere is definitely the best. The dinners he holds throughout the summer usually sell 500 plates at each one, he is even there grilling and says a few words throughout the night (I even got to shake his hand and thank him, and all of the funds go to the park. This park is right next to Pike Market and is coincidentally nicknamed “Hobo Park”. Tom Douglas’ mission is to raise funds to staff city employees to keep this park safe, clean, and welcoming to citizens and tourists alike. Apparently, the dinners raise enough funds to actually staff two full-time positions. Amazing!
Sunday:
Tina and I took to our yoga mats outside in more Seattle sun in Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill. We had a great 1hr class that got us both all stretched out and loose…and hot.
Sunday night Bryan and I walked to South Lake Union to dine at Tutta Bella for their Sunday night live bands and awesome pizza. We shared a pizza, salad, and glass of wine and it was absolute perfection! Walked along the harbor in South Lake Union before heading home to eat ice cream, watch Master Chef, and wait for Wednesday to get here!!
Next stop Michigan!!
Chelsea
Evolving in the Emerald City 