On way up, we stop in Redding for lunch, and DB remembers why we should be here… and then we see the top of a Calatrava bridge. We’ve seen several Calatrava buildings and spans, most recently the winged Milwaukee Art Museum. The bridge in Redding (see pics) is amazingly good, and there are a lot of people around. The weather may have something to do with it, it is a glorious (and for Redding, not too hot) spring day.
On the second day, with a local tip, we stop for lunch in Portland at “the trucks,” a permanent set of trailers hawking a wide and diverse set of choices. We opt for sandwiches and fries at Lardo’s (see pic), definitely a good choice for the quality and oddness of the sandwiches. And, not to miss a chance, THB finds his way to the Pearl Bakery for bread. Another top 10 bakery…highly recommended (see pic…heel missing!),
Our exchange site is about halfway between Green Lake and UW, near Ravenna Park. The house (see pics) is on a cute little street, just off two main thoroughfares in this part of town. Green Lake is about the same size as Lake Merritt, and our first day we decide to walk over and around. It is gorgeous out, a great stroll. The place is popular enough that they have divided lanes for walkers and those on wheels. And, if you are biking or rollerblading around, you are supposed to go counter-clockwise only! Tons of strollers, even a new-moms exercise class with the babes in strollers placed in a large circle with the moms on the outside.
For lunch, we walk south of the house, through Ravenna Park (really an urban forest on both sides of a ravine), though a very cute residential neighborhood. Many trees and shrubs are in bloom, this is about as good as the place can look. Also see a number of houses soon to be on the market. The housing season is about to open! We revisit the Henry Museum to see the Turrell skyscape, one of his better works.
In the evening, with tickets provided by our exchangers, we attend the World Series. Much to THB’s surprise, it turns out to be the ballet (how could a guy be that confused, it said very clearly it was ballet!). A group from Spain, the main guy danced for ABT for 20 years and then returned to his homeland to start a company. He and his sister dance the best number of the night, set to flamenco-ish music.
On day 4, it is raining, gosh what a surprise. We spend most of the day with friends in the Seattle art world, mostly gallery hopping. Lunch at Wild Ginger, not as good as we remember ($35), dinner at Vietnamese spot, Longs, with a family of four. Fortunately, we all survive past the point of Rapture, not sure the restaurant has recovered from the 3 and 5 year old…at one point, THB thought maybe we had descended to hell and maybe this is what it will be, eating endlessly with cheerful children switching seats to be the parent of the moment when not so cheerful. The good news: our waiter clearly had a great sense of humor and ability to overlook much mayhem, may he be in hell with us!
Note: we run into one and half wedding parties today, the first two went together! See pics…
And, a stop at the Dahlia Bakery (right next door to the Dahlia Lounge and around the corner from Serious (pizza) Pie and across the street from Lola’s, all owned by the same guy) for a loaf of bread that also somehow is missing the heel.
Day 5: Lay in with the Sunday NYT, then visit the Bellevue Art Museum, now back to rest up some more before watching The Wire and drinking our gimlets…ravioli from the farmer’s market and some of that heel-less Dahlia bread.
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