The Ballard Annex - Oyster House

The Ballard Annex Oyster House was recommended to us by several friends, so we thought we had better check it out on our annual Pacific Northwest trip this summer. We've been to the Walrus and Carpenter (also in Ballard) a few times, but it's always so crowded and the wait is pretty long.  We were glad to find one more unique place to go for fresh local oysters and seafood!  (Walrus and Carpenter story)

Right on Ballard Ave. in the middle of unique shops and fun trendy restaurants, you can't miss it.

Especially with their cleverly worded sign-board outside!

Allison leading the way...looking a little "crabby"  (She just loves her picture taken; NOT)

Tom is in Heaven! The Ballard Annex had (s) a complete selection of locally sourced Pacific Northwest oysters; Hamma Hammas, Quilcene's, tiny Olympias...

I loved the artwork, and cool nautical rope decor throughout the restaurant. So much fun!   Can you see the snow-capped Olympic Mountains in the background behind the octopus tentacles and "captured" ships?  Love the school house lighting fixtures too!

I am thinking that this taught rope look would make fabulous "pickets" on a stairwell - 

Did I mention that Tom was in Oyster Heaven? $1.50 Happy Hour Oysters!  Not to mention the really delish cocktails...  (It was 92 degrees in the shade and we were more than ready for cold drinks) As you all know, I don't eat the oysters, but Allison and  I did order the "bubbles"!

Allison was quite the trooper and did try a few oysters - (way more than me!)

 From the look on her face, I don't think she's decided if she's oyster fan or not. Tom is still trying to convince her...

Trying to remember, but I think this was only Tom's first round Hamma Hammas (Hood Canal Oysters) and the Maritime IPA.  He was a happy boyfriend.  It was the least that I could do after  dragging him to the Fremont Flea Market on a 90 degree plus Sunday in Seattle. (more on that later!)

Yep, I know that we will be back.  Any of our Seattle friends want to join us?

Lunch at Duke's - Alki Beach Seattle

Another great day to live in Seattle! Tom and I took the the Southworth - Fauntleroy ferry over to West Seattle for a lazy sunny afternoon on Alki Beach. (Will have to post some photos from the ferry one day..) Starving for lunch before we even got there! So many choices for dining on Alki, but Duke's on Alki is always a favorite and can be counted on for yummy seafood and great views.

Tom started out with a bloody mary, it was really an appetizer in a drink! Gorgeous prawns, asparagus and of course green olives - he was a happy man. (Can you tell from the picture?) I ordered my favorite - blueberry lemondrop...yum. For our appetizer; salmon wrapped in phyllo dough with a Dijon mustard dip, then the seafood chop-chop salad. Had so much fun eating, drinking and watching everyone play on Alki beach! Duke's deck also has aweseome views of ferries and all of the marine traffic flowing into Seattle, I never get tired of that.

Beach walk after lunch, part of the way on the paved walk and then down to the beach for sea glass hunting. Fun to see all the little kids running on the sand and building sandcastles. (MUST watch out for bicycles and roller-bladers!) So romantic...holding hands while waves crash on the shore, seashells to pick up and of course sea glass to hunt for. Tom is such a good sport and happily indulges me on these journeys.

Found some small pieces of really worn glass on Alki to add to my collection...