Mount Rainier National Park Loop Ride

If you like blackberry pie, you really need to stop at Alexander's Country Inn in Ashford, Washington just outside the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. Some of my scooter friends and I had the opportunity to partake of this late summer delicacy today. Yum! Just look at the smiles on our faces!

Westender scooter club members (L-R) Stinky, Hairy, Nicky, Ms. Honey, Lloyd, Big Red, Mother Goose, Wile E Coyote and Click.

R2DQ5

Westender's Scooter Club gathers for their 5th Annual R2DQ (Ride to Dairy Queen) ride and BBQ. 

Julie Hill (left) and Bob Brown (right) try their luck at the scooter inner-tube ring toss.

Prime Minister Bob Brown savors a bacon-wrapped chili-dog ... and pronounces it "Fit for Royalty".

Bella Umbrella

Bella Umbrella is a wonderful cozy and colorful shop that carries new and vintage umbrellas. If you have need of the perfect umbrella to augment and complete your costume at any special occasion, contact Bella Umbrella ... rentals are quite affordable!

15th Avenue Coffee & Tea

Starbucks has, in my opinion, finally gotten it right by designing a real coffee house. Located on 15th Avenue East on Capitol Hill it has a welcoming ambiance that is unique, and not one of their ubiquitous cookie-cutter stores. Bravo, Starbucks ... the corporate giant has even given this shop a unique neighborhood name.

VIP Seating

d20100527-002f.jpg, originally uploaded by Vespaboy.

Seattle Mini invited Mini owners to partake of free refreshments while availing themselves of the dealership's offer of a complete inspection of their cars. Naturally, the goal of the dealership is to cement new service - sales relationships by providing exemplary service ... and finding pre-owned Minis to take in as trades for shiny new models.

They are definitely doing the customer service well with this promotional offering.

Mods & Rockers

Backfire Moto gathering at the 2Bit Saloon in Ballard, Seattle, Washington ... above are two Lambretta and one Vespa PX150 scooters.

Aermacchi Harley-Davidson, Turismo Veloce (I think) and likely from the late 60's or very early 1970's, manufactured in Varese, Italy.

A colorful mixed-bag ...
Ducati (Italian) and BMW (German) motorcycles ...

My Piaggio MP3-400 hob-knobbing with vintage motorcycles.

The New Elliott Bay Book Company

I thought it was really cool that a neighboring business made a special window display to welcome Elliott Bay Book Company to the Pike-Pine Neighborhood of Capitol Hill.
And today, April 15, 2010, is the Official Grand Opening of the new location!

but ... last night the store was open for business ... and frankly, I like the place very much. Similar ambiance to the old Pioneer Square location, but I felt like there were more people in the store. That was the goal ... more of a residential community resource and less reliant on tourists and professional sports patrons.


I'm wishing Elliott Bay Book Company many more years of life on Capitol Hill!