Summer in the City @ 1st Thursday Artwalk

Snow and I ventured down to Pioneer Square for July's First Thursday Artwalk. Neither of us had been in quite some time.

We felt fortunate the weather held out. It's always a crap shoot prior to the 4th of July. People were out en masse, dressed for warmer weather. We started our tour by attempting to find parking, which we finally did after lapping around many blocks and shelling out $12. Of course on our way wandering on foot down 1st Ave we passed by a couple garages for half the amount we paid. Now we know better.

We started our tour in the pedestrian alley of Occidental where white trade show tents housed painters and jewelers selling their artwork and crafts. Snow remarked how nerve wracking it must be for these artists to have people candidly walk by, commenting and critiquing their work.

Both Snow and I were slightly intoxicated by the creative energy and buzz all around us. Not to mention the myriad of beautiful folks strolling from gallery to gallery, some dressed as artfully as the fine pieces on display.

Inside the second formal gallery we ventured into, where we saw some of the most spectacular pieces, both our eyes also ran across an incredibly gorgeous gentleman. He wasn't wearing a ring. Yes, that's the first thing I look at. But he wasn't alone either, and he wasn't with a man. Still, he was fun to admire from afar nonetheless.

We then found ourselves across the walkway at Cafe Umbrio where we lounged at a sidewalk cafe table for a spell. That's when we noticed Arien, a fellow I dated for several weeks this spring. He was with another fellow, but from what we could tell they weren't together in the romantic sense.

Snow and I remained incognito. We watched them walk into a gallery on a perpendicular street, then walk out and toward the waterfront. Suddenly they appeared again a half block closer from where we spotted them out front of the gallery at the end of Occidental, but didn't see them walk back the same way. We deducted they must have walked all the way back around the block. They were standing out in front of a Starbucks, not hard to do in Seattle as there's practically two on every block. Then they started coming our way.

It's not that I have a big problem with Arien. He's a very sweet guy, but also another one of those deaf guys who wasn't able to hear the fact I thought he and I were better off as friends. I extended a lunch invite not too long ago, which he made a production out of. So, I'd rather not engage him if he can't just be a cool cat and chat me up casually.

Arien and his friend walked right in front of our table. I had my head turned slightly and didn't notice. That was acting. Thank you. Snow remarked that he looked right at us, but he too didn't notice us either. Bravo. Encore.

We then got up and toured one more gallery space right at closing time. Shortly after we headed back toward the car and to grab a bite along the way. We stumbled upon the best Thai place I've been to in a while. It was very tastefully minimalist, they played classic jazz tunes and the joint was adjacent to where we parked. We dined on the most delicious little spring rolls and chicken phad thai, which was more than enough for two. We got out of there for $17 including tax and tip. What a bargain! That more than made up for being extorted on parking.

Snow and I had such a wonderful time we vowed to do artwalk every month from now on.