If you plan on being here longer than the festivities, we’ve assembled some top hits on places you should pay a visit to. Full warning, these are places we love or have been a part of our story, so apologies in advance that fish throwing, bridge trolls and gum walls are not on the list.  

 

FOOD & DRINK

​

Sit-down:  

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

• Woods Coffee – as in, “it began with coffee” coffee. Where it all began, and where it almost didn’t happen (ask Michael for that story). Thousands of hours talked, dollars spent, and people met happened here.

• Tavern Hall – Tavern hall is that go-to pair of jeans that you pull out when you don’t want to make a decision. Solid choice when you have a lot of preferences to accommodate.  

• Chicken wraps, pretzel and/or chips & guac are solid for the appetizer. 

• Is there anything else on the menu?? We only ever get the Moroccan chicken bowls.  

• Castilla – Another date night hall of fame spot. Spanish tapas, paella, olives…it’s easy to order too much here. 

• JOEY Bellevue – Think black & fancy attire. Throw in MAC makeup, lash extensions, high ponytails and you’ve nailed the image of the waitstaff. They have fun signature cocktails but their fries, burgers and pasta dishes are responsible choices.

 

Happy Hour: 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• Ascend Prime Steak and Sushi – Our engagement! Yes, we got engaged here, but we have also marked many other moments here. The ambiance is as romantic as it gets. 

• Make sure to make a reservation at the bar and not the restaurant 

• The truffle fries are the only decent food items worth getting 

• The views on a clear day are breathtaking 

• We go here for the drinks that make us feel extra fancy: 1921 and the Nightrider 

• Barrell Thief – This is where we learned our chemistry was explosive. We had a flight of mezcal. This is also where we learned to stick with just Tequila going forward. 

 

Quick Bites: 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• Tacos El Guero – Life talks and tacos. Before we had therapists, we had El Guero. Get the Chupacabra and watch your life goals come to fruition. 

• Sirena Gelato – Walk to the waterfront and your gelato will taste better.  

• Pagliacci – pronounced (Pa-YEE-ah-chi) and Gina WILL tell you to be a better human if you dare pronounce that “GL”. Listen, it’s not NY pizza, but rather incredible combinations that you should stay on the daring side to experience something unexpected. We used to live within walking distance and Michael was able to live his lifelong dream of being able to ask “Wanna get a slice?” 

 

DoorDash or Pickup: 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• Teriyaki & More – Trust us when we tell you the “More” is stacked! Thai, Chinese, Korean…it’s really all under that loose category of “More”. Their kitchen is also fortunate enough to be equipped with a time machine. Your food will always be ready by the time you pick up. I don’t care if you order from the parking lot. Think it, and it’s ready.  

• Best Wok – as close as you can get to East Coast fake Chinese food… it’s only missing that pencil in a cup of rice. 

• Ezell’s Chicken – Oprah gets this chicken flown in to her home in Chicago. We get it. We often get it driven to us. Same same. Get the strips. Gina gets spicy (obvi), Michael try’s spicy once every year and regrets it, then goes back to regular. Also get plenty of rolls.  

• AA Sushi – When in Rome…, When in the PNW you eat fish. AA Sushi has an enormous selection of rolls to give you decision fatigue, or you can taste the freshness of their selection by choosing nigiri or sashimi.  

 

FUN PLACES: 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• T-Mobile Park – Rumor has it Michael first told Gina he loved her while at a Mariner’s game. It wasn’t the first time he said it, just the first time he said it with his words and not just his heart. 

• Kirkland Waterfront – Our special place to see water, talk, feel small and yet important at the same time. 

• Dave & Busters – Chuck E Cheese for adults. The food is surprisingly higher quality (take that Chuck!) and it’s one of the best places to catch a game with their massive tvs everywhere.  

• Canvas Paint & Sip – Date night hall of fame! Art, love, wine…are we in Paris? 

• Swan Trail Farms – Hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkins for days. It’s what we do. 

• MOX Boarding House  – For all the nerds in attendance, this is where the board gamers make their holy pilgrimage. Michael has dragged Gina here a few times.  

• Woodland Park Zoo –The gorillas impress and the Komodo dragons will look into your soul. Before we leave, Gina needs to see penguins and Michael can’t leave without talking to the monkeys. 

 

PLANNING FOR THE TRIP:  

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Packing the suitcase: October is impossible to predict. We can only safely say there won’t be a heat wave or snow. Everything else is fair game. Here are a few tips: 

• Leave the heavy coats at home. Even at 40 degrees, a jacket works well given the low humidity. 

• You can bring an umbrella, but no one uses them. You know when the produce section turns on those misters for the cabbage and cilantro? Yeah, that’s basically our winter rain. It’s not heavy. 

• Hiking boots – If you’re into that kind of thing, this is the place to do it.  

 

Rent a car?: Yes. Public transportation is good, but not great. Might be a good time to rent a Tesla with Turo 😉 or stick with Uber/Lyft.