Tag: spring

Seattle Crab Pot

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If you can’t remember the last time you wore a bib, then it’s time. There’s nothing more exhilarating than whacking away on your dinner with a mallet, bib tied close around your neck, burning those unwanted calories while you eat. I had the opportunity to do just that when I was at the Seattle Crab Pot. There are a number of things you can order on the menu but their specialty is a huge pot of steamed seafood, grilled corn, potatoes and spicy sausage served with melted butter and lemon (and of course an ice cold beer). After you order sit back and relax. Soon you’ll see your waitress weaving her way over to your table holding a huge overflowing bowl of goodness which is dumped right on your table.

There are four different choices to pick from:

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So was it really that good?  Check it out for yourself.  My sister was able to join me for dinner so you can see the damage two women can do.

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The Crab Pot is at Pier 57 and the restaurant literally floats on the bay.  http://www.thecrabpotseattle.com/  And after dinner (or before) you can even steal a kiss if you want.

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The Edgewater – Seattle’s Only Waterfront Hotel

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I had no idea when I was planning my trip to Seattle, but there is only ONE waterfront hotel in Seattle and it’s The Edgewater Hotel. I’m a beach girl so of course I decided that was the place to stay. CNBC and Best of Citysearch rated it best hotel in Seattle. It’s also rated as one of the world’s best places to stay by Conde Nest Traveler. So how could I not check it out? Below are some photos of this beautiful hotel.

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Let’s start at the beginning…when you arrive. As you pull up to the entry the first thing you’ll see is a huge stone fireplace that burns 24/7.  It truly starts your stay off right.

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When you enter the lobby you’ll find the decor is quite unique and beautiful.  You’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a mountain resort.  Note the chairs made with faux antlers, the stone fireplace and coffee table made from a huge log.

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The rooms are also quaint with gas fireplaces and log styled 4 poster beds.

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Because the hotel literally sits over the water, the views are beautiful! Make sure you enjoy the sunset, either in your room, or down in the bar and / or restaurant where you can sit outside.

Photogirltravels_Edgewater 20 copy            Photogirltravels_Edgewater 2I did stop by the hotel’s Six Seven bar for happy hour before heading to dinner.  I had the mussles and they were divine!  You may also want to stay at the hotel for dinner (or lunch).  Again, it’s one of the few bars/restaurants in the city that has a waterfront view.

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For more information on this beautiful hotel: http://www.edgewaterhotel.com/

In my next Seattle blog, I’ll take you to one of the most popular seafood restaurants where you’ll need to wear a bib and use a mallet.  That combined with an ice cold beer makes the perfect dinner! Click the Follow button over on the right and join me on out next adventure!

Would you like to purchase a print? Please click on “Contact”. My photography is printed on aluminum. Utilizing an advanced process which infuses dyes directly into the metal, the colors and saturation are really amazing. In addition, your print will be displayed using mount blocks which float the image ½ inch off the wall.

©2013 Shelley D Spray – No content on this site (including all photography) may be reused in any fashion without written permission from the author.

Daffodil Daydreams at Filoli Gardens – 2013

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Presentation1On Saturday I had the opportunity to attend Daffodil Daydreams with my amazing girlfriends. After a quick stop at Starbucks, we carpooled up highway 280 toward Filoli Gardens. What a gorgeous day. I took a number of photos and hopefully they will give you a feel for the types of flowers you can see at Filoli during the month of February and March. Although there are a few photos of tulips, most were still tight little buds which will explode into a mass of color over the next few weeks. If you missed the event this weekend, don’t worry – pick a day and head on over. You won’t be disappointed. Also, I can’t stress how wonderful an Annual Pass is. They cost $60 and for $15 extra ($85 total) you can also get a second pass so you can always bring a friend for free. Lilacs are next and you won’t to miss them!

Over the next 9 months I will be posting the flowers that are in bloom at Filoli – I’ve you’d like to receive email updates of these posts please click the “Follow” button over on the right. Enjoy!

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Would you like to purchase a print? Please click on “Contact”. My photography is printed on aluminum. Utilizing an advanced process which infuses dyes directly into the metal, the colors and saturation are really amazing. In addition, your print will be displayed using mount blocks which float the image ½ inch off the wall.

©2013 Shelley D Spray – No content on this site (including all photography) may be reused in any fashion without written permission from the author.

Capay Almond Festival and Blossom Trail Scenic Tour

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Now this looks like a fun event. I’ve never been but I’m considering it for this year.  The Capay Valley Almond Festival is a self-guided, 21-mile route along Highway 16, passing through the Yolo County  farm communities of Rumsey, Guinda, Brooks, Capay and Esparto. Each town offers blossoming trees, almond treats, harvesting demonstrations,  barbecues, a car show, a diaper derby (not really sure what that it but it could be fun) and other down-home events. For those of you wine lovers, there will be wine tasting, live music and dancing.

The event started in 1915 and is a Northern California tradition. The Blossom Trail Scenic Tour should be quite amazing as you’ll have the opportunity to drive along a highway lined with almond blossoms. Click here to download the Blossom trail map: http://www.espartoregionalchamber.com/uploads/BlossomTrail%20map%202013.2.pdf

Start at either end of  the valley with a homemade breakfast and have fun!

Key information: Feb. 24. Free. See website for schedule.  (530) 787-3242, www.capayvalleyalmondfestival.com.

Seattle Space Needle

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It all started on a placemat.  The Space Needle is a “must see” in Seattle and was created to be a dominant central structure for the 1962 World’s Fair.  But what I found really interesting is that the original design was apparently drawn on a placemat in a coffee house in 1959. (The penciled shape you see below)

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I chuckled when I saw this drawing for the first time and I’m even chuckling now – I mean, this is the first drawing of the Space Needle? It almost looks like the front of an elephant and its trunk. After this very important first scribble, the design underwent a lot of changes (Well….I should think so) and following some location and finance hurdles a plot of land was sold to the investors for $75,000 in 1961, just 13 months before the World’s Fair opening. It did open on time and from that day forward has been one of the central icons in this beautiful city. The photo below shows the Seattle Space Needle and the Great Wheel from the ferry. (Way way over on the left)

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Here are a few factoids for you to know before you head over to the needle.

  • The Space Needle is approximately 605 strips of bacon tall (foot long strips). The original fact I found used a Milky Way bar but I figure bacon’s about double the length, so I took the liberty to tweak that fact just a bit.
  • There are 848 steps from the bottom of the basement to the top of the Observation Deck if you are interested in buns of steel…try the climb just once.
  • The Space Needle is fastened to its foundation with 72 bolts, each 30 feet in length. I guess that seems ok but 72 just doesn’t seem like  a lot.
  • The Needle is built to withstand a wind velocity of 200 miles per hour.
  • The elevators travel 10 mph, 14 feet per second, 800 feet per minute, or as fast as a raindrop falls to earth. In fact, a snowflake falls at 3 mph, so in an elevator during a snowstorm it appears to be snowing up.
  • On a hot day the Space Needle expands about one inch. (If you throw in the humidity, I’d say the same thing happens to my hair on hot days)
  • There are 25 lightning rods (24 actual rods plus the tower) on the roof of the Needle to withstand lightning strikes.

In my next Seattle blog I want to show you the ONLY hotel that sits on the water, the beautiful Edgewater Hotel.

Would you like a print? Please click on “Contact”. My photography is printed on aluminum. Utilizing an advanced process which infuses dyes directly into the metal, the colors and saturation are really amazing. In addition, your print will be displayed using mount blocks which float the image ½ inch off the wall.

©2013 Shelley D Spray – No content on this site (including all photography) may be reused in any fashion without written permission from the author.

Speed

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PhotoGirlTravels_Cats Hill2I know the east coast and midwest are getting hammered with snow but here in California it’s almost spring-like. On my walk yesterday I struggled my way up “Cat’s Hill” which is located in Los Gatos, California.  On my slow assent (it’s a very steep hill) a few bikers passed me and I thought of posting a couple of my sports photos.  During the Cat’s Hill Classic Race, thousands of bikers race through the neighborhoods and then fly around a corner and up this hill.  It’s a photographer’s dream as it’s a huge loop that they follow over and over again. Hence you have a lot of opportunities to get a decent shot. The trick to photographing something that is moving is to pan and take a lot of photos.  I’m sure there is some science behind it but that’s essentially what I do. I’ll share a few as we get closer to the event which is held in May.

Cat’s Hill Information:

Date: May 4, 2013

website: http://www.catshill.org/

Would you like a print? Please click on “Contact”. My photography is printed on aluminum. Utilizing an advanced process which infuses dyes directly into the metal, the colors and saturation are really amazing. In addition, your print will be displayed using mount blocks which float the image ½ inch off the wall.

©2013 Shelley D Spray – No content on this site (including all photography) may be reused in any fashion without written permission from the author.