The rain dissipated as soon as we pulled out of the dock at Bainbridge on our way to Seattle. When we arrived in the city, we walked to the Seattle Art Museum to check out the “Japan Envisions The West” exhibit before it leaves town later this month. After that we grabbed coffees and walked up University Street. Brian purchased a fancy camera/phone/misc case for me. We walked through the wind to Westlake, and I used a giftcard on some warm and waterproof boots, which will be welcome during Washington’s wet season. Tee hee.

Then it was off to dinner at the Metropolitan Grill. The bar was completely packed with celebrating Seahawks fans, which led me to correctly assume our team had been victorious. As Brian and I waited to be seated, Mike Holmgren, the head coach of the team, pulled up to the valet stand in his old Subaru Outback. He was with his family. The maitre’d rushed toward him, saying “Good evening Coach! Congratulations! Great game!” heh.

There was at least one other player at the restaurant, Josh Brown? Not sure who that is. Anyway needless to say, when the coach entered the restaurant, an enormous cheer rippled through the crowd.

We had a great dinner which was topped off by a lovely and complimentary creme brulee with a candle stuck in it. The table next to ours ordered huge amounts of everything, including a $225 “Million Dollar Martini”. Holy shit. The edge of the glass was frosted with real gold shavings.

It seemed like one out of every four dudes in this rather upscale joint were wearing Seahawks jerseys. That’s what it’s like in this town. Dress is always casual, and they LOVE their football team. The streets were pretty empty today while the game was actually being played. It made me wonder if SF is really the football town it claims to be, because I never saw anything like that there. But then I grew up here in Seattle and even when the team were perennial losers, they still sold out every seat.

Anyway I am home now, with my new camera case, waterproof boots, mint Frangos, and a very rad Ajax book Brian got me. Husband is goofing around on his laptop, soon to be interrupted by me. Cats are dozing, bellies full of kibble. The house is quiet and my birthday is nearly over.