Happy Pi Day!

Today is Pi Day -- 3.14! If you're thinking "We never had Pi Day when I was a kid," you're right, because it was created in 1988 by a San Francisco Exploratorium physicist and was recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives as a holiday in 2009. Last year, Oscar's 5th grade class celebrated by eating a bunch of parent-supplied pies.

I'm gonna take this opportunity to mention my favorite Wallingford cafe, Irwin's, which has couches and armchairs to curl up on on this cold, rainy day, as well as great sandwiches, pizza, and quiche, but above all else, amazing pie. Specifically, marionberry pie, served warm with fresh whipped cream. It's heavenly. There are three Irwin's locations in Seattle, so if you live near one, I suggest you celebrate Pi Day there.

Bakery Nouveau

You might be getting the idea that all I do is eat croissants, but I have to tell you about yet another great French bakery, Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle. It has the best baguettes I've tasted since moving here! But as the saying goes, man does not live by bread alone: Lunch options include quiche, sandwiches such as veggie (kalamata olives, pickles, carrots, cucumber, cream cheese, Italian herbs and provolone cheese on a chibatta roll); turkey and havarti on a croissant; roasted duck on baguette; or a BLT on baguette. Our friend Karen, who first recommended Bakery Nouveau to us, said her favorite is the ham and cheese croissant. I love the Sicilian pizza. Today Chris and Oscar opted for stromboli; it had just come out of the oven when we arrived.

There is a vast array of handmade chocolates on display, and dozens -- maybe hundreds! -- of beautiful tarts, cakes, eclairs, and pastries, and the requisite colorful macarons. Alas, I didn't try any of those, but we did share a twice-baked almond croissant, because many of the tips on foursquare recommended them. It was yummy, but I could've done without all the powdered sugar on top. I saw so many things I'd love to taste! I'll probably never go to West Seattle without stopping here.

My funny valentines

Happy Valentine's Day! I couldn't pick just one, so I thought I'd share a bunch of my favorite Internet valentine cards this year. Enjoy!

Sock monsters at Sock Monster

I don't normally shop for novelty socks, but these Christmas stockings in the window of The Sock Monster caught my eye! Do you think they would scare Santa away?

Do you know anyone who might want to find these under the tree?

I saw three ships

Every December for the past 62 years, Argosy Cruises sails Christmas ships, adorned with lights and carrying choirs, on Puget Sound lakes. You can pay anywhere from $25 (to ride a parade boat that follows the boat carrying the carolers) to $99 (for the weekend caroling boat dinner cruise) to join in this tradition, or you can head to one of 45 stops to listen for free.

Last night, the inaugural night of the festival, the ship stopped at nearby Gas Works Park on Lake Union, so we bundled up and headed to the bonfires provided by the Seattle Parks & Rec department. It was about 40 degrees, so I really appreciated the heat source. Gas Works Park has a beautiful view of downtown Seattle -- including the iconic Space Needle which currently is topped with a Christmas tree. (It's worth going to Gas Works for the view alone!) Chris thought the caroling by the Con Brio Women’s Choir was a little too highbrow, but I notice on the schedule that most nights the carols are sung by the Dickens Choir so that might have more of the "drunk guys singing Christmas songs" sound he was hoping for. The Christmas ship is going to be at Gas Works again on the finale night, December 23, at 9:45 p.m. with the Seattle Girls’ Choir, so maybe we'll check it out again.