LoveFest Part 1 – Heads In the Clouds

Meet me at the top of the Space Needle on Valentine’s Day?

Okay. I just did. Where were you?

So Valentine’s dinner in the rotating restaurant atop the Space Needle will run you a flat $95 per person before tax and gratuity (A tip is what you pay at Denny’s.)

We thought this would be quite romantic but decided to go for lunch instead. Lunch is reasonable. At lunch, a burger only costs $24 dollars and it comes with free french fries and a bed of lettuce. I think they even throw in a tomato. Very doable. I’m surprised we don’t go there all the time.

Dan and I drove downtown, listening to Kelly Clarkson sing songs of teenage pop star angst and betrayal. Mucho romantico. We used the sweet Valet parking at the foot of the Needle and headed in to the front desk where we were given our “boarding passes” to the Sky City Restaurant (I know, very “George Jetson-esque” was this date.)

We then rode up 520 feet in the glass elevator with a be-purple-vested man who described himself as our 41-second tour guide.

Once we were seated, I started taking pictures like mad. The main problem I had was trying to get a good shot of the skyline. For the life of me, I could not find the Space Needle. It seriously took me a couple of seconds to realize I was in it.

Our waitress said she recognized me from somewhere and my immediate thought was….”She must read my BLOG!” Um….I’m glad now that I didn’t suggest that. I can just imagine it. “What’s a bl-og?” “Um…never mind.” I don’t know. Hundreds of people world-wide read this blog. There’s a chance that my waitress was randomly a reader…right? Okay, I’m a loser. Moving on.

What’s the deal with Ciabatta bread? It’s everywhere and I have no idea why. A year ago, I had never heard of the stuff and now it’s taking over the world. I don’t even think it’s all that great. Let’s put it this way – If Ciabatta bread were running for President, I’d probably vote for Ralph Nader.

Dan asked if the burger was anything special and the waitress said, “It’s made with premium GROUND beef.” Ooooo, the big sell. This burger is made with GROUND BEEF! Get OUT!

She then sealed the deal by saying, “Everyone’s gotta try a $24 hamburger once in their life, right?”

Yes, yes they do.

I chose the Rare Ahi with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Baby Bok Choy. Delicioso. Delicioso and Daring. This menu option had an asterisk that warned that eating it would increase my risk of foodborne illness.

It also had a Wasabi garnish around the outside which I took to be some sort of avocado paste but was actually a burning goo of torture and death. DO NOT EAT A LARGE FORKFULL OF WASABI – EVER.

The waitress brought us a small bowl of salt with a tiny spoon (I guess shakers are things you use at Denny’s).

During the course of the meal we rotated twice around the space needle. The lady at the table next to us was wearing the same red turtle neck I was planning on wearing but decided against last minute. Phew! That was close. Instead I went with a black ensemble with subtle pink highlights.

Later last night Karli came over to deliver a Valentine’s treat and medical supplies (see LoveFest Part 2), wearing THE SAME THING. No, this was not planned. Weird, huh?

During the meal, Dan noticed what looked like some WI-FI antennas so I tried to hack into the Space Needle secret death ray detonation system with my PDA. It was a no-go. Seattle is still intact.

I resisted the urge to make “that noise” on the rim of my crystal glass.

Dan and I discussed whether it was better to tip your valet before or after he takes your car. If you tip him before, he may take better care of it. When my parents lived in South America as spies for the Canadian government (Oops! Was I not supposed to mention that?) people used to always offer to “watch their car.” This meant, “if you don’t give me money, you will no longer have a car when you get back.”

If you tip him after, then I don’t know what, but I think you’re supposed to tip him after. Who knows? Is it you?

Dan gave me some chocolates and a card that made me cry in a good way.

We ordered the Exploding Fog Lunar Module Sundae desert which is ice cream with a whole lot of theatrics and a peppermint sprig.

I dropped him back at MegaCorp and headed home where I found lovely flowers waiting for me on the doorstep with a note that read, “I love my sweetheart!” Delivered flowers are just so uber-cool.