Day 1: Pacific Northwest

Day 1: E-ville to San Juan Island


Weather: Gorgeous in E-ville, clear and cool in Seattle and SJI

We're on a 5 day jaunt to the Northwest, pairing up with K&E.

Today was an unusual travel day, almost equal parts flying, driving and on the ferry.

Without coordinating that much, after Uber-ing to the airport we end up in the TSA security line a few folks behind K&E (they came in from San Ramon).

Southwest is suberb: a new plane and 20 minutes early to SeaTac.

E has reserved a pick-your-own car at National. There are only giant cars in the category EM selected, so they upgrade up us to the next category (which strangely is made up of slightly smaller vans and jeeps). How many cars did it take to get us out on the road?

This one is missing a seat belt and head rest 

This one has captain seats in second row

Ahhhhhhh, just right!

There is a very reasonable time gap before we catch the ferry in Anacortes, about 2 hours north of the airport, so we lunch in Fremont, a neighborhood near downtown Seattle. It is known for two famous landmarks: Lenin and the Troll. Seems appropriate given the current election cycle, right?

The Fremont District

Putin predecessor 

Who let the dogs out, who?

Lunch at Red Star, it's Tuesday Taco day, and we order a lot of what the house has to offer, along with a brewski, ice tea and an Arnie Palmer, $55.

Snow-capped mountains on the road to Anacortes:

Mt Rainer

Maybe 20 miles north of Seattle: Mt Baker?

From Highway 5: Mt Baker?

From Anacortes: Mt. Baker?

At a rest stop south of Anacortes:

We've reserved our space on the ferry and pre-paid (did THB pre-pay for a round-trip? We'll find out on Thursday, two days from now).

It's cool on the fore-deck (THB is inside)

Takes around 1.5 hours, with a stop, and we're in the San Juan Island town (in the San Juans) of Friday Harbor, at the Friday Harbor House. It's very nice, great rooms. 

The view from our deck

The bathroom is separated from bedroom by sliding "door"

Here the curtains shut off the bathroom from bedroom

And the dinner in their small dining room is excellent.

Lots of appetizers: oysters, fries, fried Brussel sprouts, clam chowder, arugula salad

Four mains: burger, salmon, fish curry, and jerk chicken

Drink: cocktails, beer and wine, $240 for four.

The patio overlooking the harbor

Day 2: LA

Day 2: Los Angeles, AJF tour

Weather: Hot in LA, just not as hot

QOTD: What’s a symposium?

 

Three people avoiding talking about the Boardman collection?

MP, vivacious Seattle jewelry artist...we made plans for a meet-up in her hood later in October

THB and DB sleep in after a large meal last night - much appreciated; breakfast same-same except this time we’re late enough that the bleach washing of the deck has dissipated.

A smaller group today, maybe 15, we gather in the lobby at 9:30 for a group stroll to LACMA to hear a symposium on the topic of … topic of … Beyond Bling, Jewelry Matters. The curators kick off with some words about the Boardman collection, followed by two academics (one delivers a talk about jewelry and Hollywood, the other the meaning of diamonds), and a panel discussion. The panel of three (an independent scholar, an assistant prof of jewelry and metalsmithing, and an editor of a ceramics e-newsletter) banter around for a while. They are then joined by the two academics, and take a few questions from the audience.

Time for lunch at Ray’s, the LACMA restaurant. It’s informal, part outside (in the main plaza) and part inside (the doors are wide open), and the food is very good. THB has kale salad, a hunk of branzino, good warm bread, and a strange (fortunately) version of tiramisu: dry cake with choc chips topped with very whipped and fluffy cream, served in an 8oz glass.

Jasmine ice tea

It's a dessert

Tiramisu, not bad...

Back to the hall for the keynote by Gijs Bakker, a Dutch jewelry artist and designer. We’ve heard him speak before, and he’s as entertaining and forthright as ever. One or two questions, and it is back to the Beyond Bling show for one last viewing. THB is still struck by how powerful the show is and wondering what else LACMA is thinking of displaying in the future from the Boardman “accumulation”.

 

They're lined up to get into Beyond Bling

Bay Area artist  has a nice show at Crafts Museum

Pop-up show poster

High butt brush factor in small room at The Wilshire

The short walk to The Wilshire, a bit of blogging, a visit to a pop-up show on the second floor (crowded, not much of interest), and back to the room to do some more blogging.

Dinner is at Terrine and the entire menu here is terrific. How would THB know that? Because our group is trying everything on the menu; even though we are given a pre-printed menu of what we’re having, by the time the meal is over we’ve tried everything they serve (or so THB strongly believes) other than just (“just”) one dessert.

What they were wearing at my table: 

 

real beetles

MacArthur award winner beaded necklace

Glass beads

What did we have (wait, it would be shorter to list what we didn’t have): olives, home made potato chips with a huge cup of mayonnaise, a charcuterie plate loaded with all sorts of pig done various ways (oh, and few pickled veggies for balance), baby gem salad, sweet corn ravioli (very sweet), roast chicken, veal, trout, roasted potatoes, toasted broccolini, and “birthday” cake (which was a very odd concoction and very sweet and it was nobody’s birthday).

Doesn't quite capture what was to come

French wines

Every restaurant was serving little gems

Veggie side came with lots of cheese

Veal

Post-game wrap-up

We're not quite done...

Unpacked