LolaGetz

Nervous Nellie’s Coffee & Toast is CASH OR CHECK ONLY. As someone who doesn’t regularly carry cash nor regularly write checks for a two-dollar piece of toast, I make sure to always have a few bucks in my pocket when I head there on Saturday mornings.

I also recommend trying the Swedish Toast, which sounds bizarre, but is a delightful savory treat with your mocha.

Also also, wear layers—the upstairs seating area gets VERY warm.

Easily our favorite of the three cities we visited in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona as well), Valencia is beautiful, open and easy to navigate. I wish we had spent a few more days here.

If you’re into architecture and/or design, Barcelona is a great place to visit with eyes wide open.

...And your big butt, if you have one-this store is SMALL. I visited Purl Soho with my good friend Heather in April, when Jeff and I were in New York for the weekend. Purl was a short subway ride from our Midtown hotel, and it was definitely worth a visit. When I’m traveling, I only bring home yarn/knitting accessories that I can’t get at home (as Seattle is fairly well-endowed when it comes to yarn stores). I was tempted to buy some of the Purl-only colorway of sock yarn (maybe it was Koigu? I can’t remember now) but instead purchased a single $40 skein of Tilli Tomas Disco Lights and two tiny (6” and 8”) plastic circular needles. Wonderful souvenirs of the trip. We also stopped by the new Purl fabric store two doors down, and it didn’t disappoint, either-gorgeous fabrics, helpful staff. Just be aware that these stores are tiny, and do not lend well to carrying shopping bags and/or layers of outerwear (stupid April weather).

I think so! After TWO visits to PB&Co. during our four-day trip to New York, we came home with two jars of the dark chocolate and one jar of the cinnamon raisin swirl peanut butter. Last night, I found myself eating the chocolate peanut butter STRAIGHT FRON THE JAR.

I have a problem, I know this. You will, too—if you visit PB&Co.

Despite the drenching rain, our trip last week to NYC was terrific. We had some wonderful meals (Otto, Home, Peanut Butter & Co., to name a few) and saw some great friends (Heather, Vik & Lacey, Steve), shopped and visited MOMA. Did I mention that I took the subway BY MYSELF?? True. We also visited Jeff’s old neighborhood in Sheepshead Bay.

Four and a half days was just the right amount of time to spend in the city-we didn’t feel pressured to see EVERYTHING the city has to offer, and fit in all of the people and things that we wanted to see/do. (take that as you will…;)

We spent two glorious weeks exploring the country-all the way from Tuscany to Sicily, with many stops in between. I’m hard-pressed to pick a favorite city or area-probably either Florence or the Amalfi Coast.

Because for serious, eating doesn’t get much better than:

-goat cheese fondue
-butternut squash fritters
-gigantic garlic crouton with lettuce
-pear martinis
and so on. Almost every time I’m there, I see Tom Douglas himself-eating, meeting, cooking—and if that’s not a good sign, I don’t know what is.

I particularly appreciate the small-dog off-leash area, as my pup is easily intimidated by larger dogs. For non-dog-related activities, check out the Rat City Rollergirls’ monthly bruisers, the Sound Garden, or stroll along the lake. In the summer, it’s a great place to take your monkeys for a swim—free, less crowded than public beaches or Greenlake, and parking is ample.

For serious—Josh P., we owe you one for this recommendation. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect hotel stay.