Tag Archives: view

Dear Daughter Got Hitched at Queen Elizabeth Park

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So on Thursday, June 29th, Dear Daughter married her long time Canadian Beau (now know as Dear SIL). It was a simple and beautiful ceremony with the couple and the immediate families. As you can see  the Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver BC has stunning landscaping, amazing views and an ethereal beauty. The happy couple was married by the water with a wooden bridge in the background. Part way through the ceremony several visitors on the bridge figured out what was happening and soon there was a small crowd respectfully watching. At some point I hope to return to Queen Elizabeth Park to wander the trails and explore the arboretum.


 

 

Dear Daughter Got Hitched: Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium and Totem Poles

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By Wednesday, our small family group expanded to include Dear SIL’s parents and brother and we all went off to the Vancouver Aquarium because dear daughter wanted to touch the stingrays. That is an odd goal that she has … to visit stingray tanks in as many zoos and aquariums as possible. So far she has Vancouver, Tacoma, Chicago, LA and Galveston, TX. The Vancouver Aquarium is justifiably  internationally famous and some of our visit highlights included the jellyfish, the otters and seals (so playful), the educational shows, the frogs and that I got to be there when the penguins were delivered back to their habitat.

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Afterwards we went to see the Totem Poles, which are also in Stanley Park. Interesting facts about totem poles can be found here.

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Dear Daughter got hitched: Deer Lake Park, Burnaby

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Dear daughter and her fella needed a marriage license, so much of Monday, June 26, was devoted to paperwork, but we still took some time to check out Deer Lake Park in Burnaby. I had it in my head that I would see large topiary in the shape of animals, but we never did find the large bird I was expecting. For the record, that was my fault for not being ready with a map and not having wifi. We did get a glimpse of a topiary carousal horse and found this great insect.  The joy of the park was the stunning view of part of a city skyline over the lake and the lush greenery. While strolling around we also we enjoyed the very friendly Canada geese with their gawky teenagers (in geese years). And there was some delightful art and unusual plants.

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Dear daughter got hitched: The World’s Largest Tin Soldier

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The Google Maps review said “If you’re looking for a large tin man or a fan of roadside attractions then this won’t disappoint“. I mean, really… there are people that wouldn’t go out of their way to see the World’s Largest Tin Soldier? Dear husband and I found the art piece in New Westminster, Canada along a quayside walk. The soldier is about 32′ in height and was constructed by the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. It holds the Guiness World Records Book title for the largest tin soldier. As important as the soldier is the lovely boardwalk area, restaurant and stores surrounding it.

There are also some photos of the surrounding area in the lovely evening light. We also stopped at the Mid Century Modern Home (mid-century modern furniture and other items) and had a delectable meal at The Boathouse.


 

The lunch view at Marketplace Grille in Gig Harbor

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The Marketplace Grille at 8825 North Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor has been in place for 16 years, but dear husband and I just discovered it and we are glad we did. The reasonably priced restaurant has a quirky layout with seating on either side of an open air hallway. We arrive at about 2:30 for a late lunch and were seated at a table for two with an impressive view of the harbor (see photo). Marketplace Grille is known for its clam chowder, made without bacon, and it was indeed delectable. We each had our own chowder and then we shared the three piece halibut and chips. There was enough left over that we got a to go box. Our server, Carline, was professional, warm and upbeat. I felt like I made a friend! Afterward dear husband drove off to a bookstore and I took a chilly, but stunning, walk into town. As you can see with the last photo, the mountain (Mt. Rainer) was out.

More information, including a menu, can be found here.

 

Pecchenino Garden in Gig Harbor

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17843868769_feeeff42ca_kSmithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens has the Pecchenino Garden in Gig Harbor registered as a Horticultural Services Division Garden and today it was open to the public for a small donation which was contributed to a charity. The two acre garden surrounds a private house and is amazing. The garden features a stupendous view of Henderson Bay and Cutts Island, a waterfall, a vegetable garden and, of course, flowers.

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505 Broadway

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viewI was lucky enough to attend a meeting today in the Skyroom of the 505 Broadway Building in Tacoma. It is a lovely condominium building constructed in 2009. At the building’s entrance are two stone lions. And there is a model of the building in the lobby.

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Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse and Year Three

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9594209995_74f9a40b1c_b(2)It’s been three years since I’ve started this new place of the day project and as last year I wanted to pick an extra nice new place.  The first anniversary I picked the Pagoda in the Chinese Reconciliation Park and last year I picked the Legislative Building in Olympia. This year dear husband and I went to Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse. Now I know that another coffeehouse doesn’t seem all to impressive, but this is my all time favorite coffeehouse. It was comfy seats, great coffee and food, an upbeat staff and a tremendous view.  I ordered my iced Americano and happily sat in a comfy stuff chair facing the window. Life was good.

Looking back at the third year of this project, I have some new observations:

  • This year I’ve added a new continent, Australia, as well as a return trip to Texas and a hop, skip and jump over into Idaho.
  • My most popular type tags are Tacoma, WA, Lakewood, Art, Coffee and Restaurant.
  • My most popular posts for the year have been FedEx (really?!), Time to Stop U Betcha, Haunted Tacoma — Children’s Industrial Home Site, Loews Movie Theater, Casablanca Apartments, St. Rita of Cascia Italian Catholic Church, Marcato Condominiums, the Umbrella Mural on the Storage Box, Five Guys, the Flower House on Vassault and the Snohomish River Trail.
  • Some of the places I checked out alone, but I often brought my husband, daughter and occasionally dogs along for company. They are good sports about the whole thing. Especially the dogs. Since dear daughter is now in college (college!), we’ll be seeing a little less of her.
  • I did miss a couple of days. There were a few days that I was sick and the weather was bad and a couple of days that things just got away from me. It’s OK.
  • Several of this year’s places have gone out of business including TOP Foods (in progress), Movies to Go, Van Lierop Bulb Farm, Park Avenue (I think), the admin office for Tacoma’s School of the Arts and the Norman Bates Motel.
  • I went to some unusual places including a Davy Crocket’s Wife’s grave, the Roslyn Cemetery, Ginkgo Petrified Forest, Washington State University, Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Wild Dolphin Resort, Sydney Opera House), Tacoma Elf Storage, Underground Seattle, Bonsai Gardens, Hiram Chittenden Locks, the Olympic Sculpture Garden, the Buddhist Meditation Center, the Fremont Troll and a park with the top of my dad’s submarine.
  • I have over 900 blog entries.
  • I plan to continue until it isn’t fun anymore or I run out of places, whichever comes first 😀

The encouragement that I’ve received along the way has meant the world to me! Thank you.

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Update April 2016: Happily the coffeehouse is still doing well and I managed to snag the same chair as before!

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Spooner Farm

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9084627337_99701f6757_b(1)So, I went to the Proctor Farmer’s Market to buy so delicious strawberries from the Spooner Farm booth and they were sold out. Fine. I understand. So, I swung by the house and grabbed dear daughter to go visit Spooner Farm at 9622 State Route 162 East, Puyallup, WA 98374-1812. It was worth the trip. They have a gift store with all kinds of quality farm related items. Dear daughter fell in love with a darling apron (which we’ll get next time) and we purchased a 1/2 flat of strawberries, a jar of raspberry jam, scone mix, some fudge and some cold drinks. Dear daughter went home and made fair scones and strawberry shortcake. Dear husband declared the strawberries the best he had eaten since his childhood.

Spooner Farms has a variety of crops and is sounds like they have a great harvest festival. When we drove away from the store, I noticed this really big chair with a view of the fields and Mt. Rainier.

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Boathouse 19 Bar & Grill

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BoathouseA while back a friend suggested that I stop at Boathouse 19 Bar and Grill at 9001 South 19th Street, Tacoma for a root beer float. Dear daughter and I had spent Saturday afternoon checking out the University Place Garden Tours Gardens and actually met a long time Flickr friend by fortuitous accident. I offered to take dear daughter out for the float and of course once we got there and smelled all the good food we ended up having lunch. We shared the Pike Place Fish Fry (fish & chips) and each got dessert and it was wonderful. Though ironically we never did get the root beer floats! It was very wonderful to set on the deck, visiting, eating good good and enjoying the water & Narrows Bridge View. Their website is here.