Vancouver Happenings

When you travel as much as I do, you learn there are some things you can never be prepared for....like a riot in Vancouver.  Lucky for me I wasn't there the night it happened, but when I arrived the next day you could see the upsetting aftermath.  Although it was a quick 36 hour trip, I managed to try out one of the hottest new restaurants in Chinatown, Bao Bei.  For more info visit Vancouver magazine Scout, which shows some amazing pictures and also gives a great glimpse into this restaurants amazing cuisine. 

Travel brought me to Vancouver.  Lucky for me I missed the riot by a day.... 

A picture of the bridge leading into Chinatown

 Bao Bei means  "precious" in Mandarin 

 Trixie the "mixologist" has inspired me to learn how to make a creative cocktail  

I love the vintage flea market feel of the restaurant

My pretty dinner, which looked to good to eat (but was mighty tasty) 

Vancouver Happenings

When you travel as much as I do, you learn there are some things you can never be prepared for....like a riot in Vancouver.  Lucky for me I wasn't there the night it happened, but when I arrived the next day you could see the upsetting aftermath.  Although it was a quick 36 hour trip, I managed to try out one of the hottest new restaurants in Chinatown, Bao Bei.  For more info visit Vancouver magazine Scout, which shows some amazing pictures and also gives a great glimpse into this restaurants amazing cuisine. 

Travel brought me to Vancouver.  Lucky for me I missed the riot by a day.... 

A picture of the bridge leading into Chinatown

 Bao Bei means  "precious" in Mandarin 

 Trixie the "mixologist" has inspired me to learn how to make a creative cocktail  

I love the vintage flea market feel of the restaurant

My pretty dinner, which looked to good to eat (but was mighty tasty) 

Pancakes & Martinis

We were lazy on Saturday.  I think I took a 2 hour nap (which is rare) and my mom who normally has dinner on the table by 6:30 had nothing cooking. It's become a family tradition to go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday.  Apparently Mass is faster and there is a smaller crowd (after all it is Saturday night). Imagine our surprise when the Easter Vigil Mass was 90 minutes instead of the normal speedy 50 minutes! Arriving home at 10:15 at night, the Spiteri Family unanimously voted breakfast for dinner!  

Cooking an egg on the griddle 

Pumpkin Pancakes on the grill 

(not only are we having breakfast for dinner but we are also celebrating Halloween instead of Easter!)

Stephanie and Stella thinking about pancakes.

Stephanie with her Bailey Coffee and Bill with his Dirty Martini.  I think martinis go with anything. Don't you agree? 

Pancakes & Martinis

We were lazy on Saturday.  I think I took a 2 hour nap (which is rare) and my mom who normally has dinner on the table by 6:30 had nothing cooking. It's become a family tradition to go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday.  Apparently Mass is faster and there is a smaller crowd (after all it is Saturday night). Imagine our surprise when the Easter Vigil Mass was 90 minutes instead of the normal speedy 50 minutes! Arriving home at 10:15 at night, the Spiteri Family unanimously voted breakfast for dinner!  

Cooking an egg on the griddle 

Pumpkin Pancakes on the grill 

(not only are we having breakfast for dinner but we are also celebrating Halloween instead of Easter!)

Stephanie and Stella thinking about pancakes.

Stephanie with her Bailey Coffee and Bill with his Dirty Martini.  I think martinis go with anything. Don't you agree? 

Piroshky & Daffodils

Alone in Seattle...
Here are a few pictures I snapped while in route to the airport.

My view of the Seattle Space Needle during a taxi ride. I'm kind of liking the abstract photo of the space needle.



Despite the cold temperature, spring was making it's debut at the Pike Place Market.

Daffodils for sale at the Pike Place Market.

The original Starbucks.

The Pike Place Market sign.  It's hard to see in this picture, but there are flower boxes on the roof with tulip and daffodil bulbs.  The flowers will start to bloom in the next month. 

 Piroshky, Piroshky.  When you see a line wrapped along a building, you know the food must be good!   

Piroshky & Daffodils

Alone in Seattle...
Here are a few pictures I snapped while in route to the airport.

My view of the Seattle Space Needle during a taxi ride. I'm kind of liking the abstract photo of the space needle.



Despite the cold temperature, spring was making it's debut at the Pike Place Market.

Daffodils for sale at the Pike Place Market.

The original Starbucks.

The Pike Place Market sign.  It's hard to see in this picture, but there are flower boxes on the roof with tulip and daffodil bulbs.  The flowers will start to bloom in the next month. 

 Piroshky, Piroshky.  When you see a line wrapped along a building, you know the food must be good!   

Dangerous Dynamo

Place: Dynamo Donut & Coffee
Neighborhood: Mission
Price: $2 - 3 per donut
Outstanding Flavor: Maple Glazed Bacon Apple (need I say more!)
Fun Factor:  The sitting area is comfy and cute and has plenty of story books to read about donuts!
Future Concern: The donuts are tasty and are as light as air.  I could have easily ate a dozen myself !  At least my morning walk canceled out the calories I consumed.

 Today's flavors

Pretty glass stands waiting to be filled 

Fresh donuts

Breakfast of champions (me eating a donut after my walk!)

Dangerous Dynamo

Place: Dynamo Donut & Coffee
Neighborhood: Mission
Price: $2 - 3 per donut
Outstanding Flavor: Maple Glazed Bacon Apple (need I say more!)
Fun Factor:  The sitting area is comfy and cute and has plenty of story books to read about donuts!
Future Concern: The donuts are tasty and are as light as air.  I could have easily ate a dozen myself !  At least my morning walk canceled out the calories I consumed.

 Today's flavors

Pretty glass stands waiting to be filled 

Fresh donuts

Breakfast of champions (me eating a donut after my walk!)

Two Words: Brass Band

Photo Credit

Venue: The Independent
Band: Rebirth Brass Band and the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars
Drinks: Tasty and Cheap
Seats: Standing room only = not a bad view in the house (except if you're 5'2 and under).
Cool fact: Sustainability; The Independent promotes positive change by proactively reducing the our venue’s environmental footprint. By making their internal operations more sustainable, they seek to educate and inspire our employees, patrons and bands to become more environmentally conscious. Our environmental objectives are focused on three key areas: waste diversion, conservation, education and outreach. source

Thanks guys for a fun evening.  Can't wait for the next concert.

Two Words: Brass Band

Photo Credit

Venue: The Independent
Band: Rebirth Brass Band and the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars
Drinks: Tasty and Cheap
Seats: Standing room only = not a bad view in the house (except if you're 5'2 and under).
Cool fact: Sustainability; The Independent promotes positive change by proactively reducing the our venue’s environmental footprint. By making their internal operations more sustainable, they seek to educate and inspire our employees, patrons and bands to become more environmentally conscious. Our environmental objectives are focused on three key areas: waste diversion, conservation, education and outreach. source

Thanks guys for a fun evening.  Can't wait for the next concert.

Carrillo Turkey Trot

Although it's my parent tradition to host Thanksgiving, Nick and I started a new tradition this year and organized the first annual Carrillo Turkey Trot Bar Crawl.  We may have been stuffed from the previous night but we're still thirsty!

So who's in for next year?

First stop: The Hydeout. Think Three's Company Regal Beagle. This place had red walls and black leather chairs. Drinks were dangerously good and very reasonable.

 

Me, Marge, Andi and Stephanie

Second stop: The Bigfoot Lounge. Decorated like a log cabin, this is a fun place to grab a drink with a group.

The swanky wine bar.  I'm in love with the red lights!

Third stop: Amelie. Swanky wine bar located on Polk, this was the perfect stop to get a refreshing glass of wine and lite bites.   

Mr. Nick

(Ian, Lena, Paul and Andi)

Final Stop: BeldenTaverna.  This Italian restaurant has a great selection of sea food.