Fremont Oktoberfest

Last night Carly, my mom and I headed to Fremont to partake in their Oktoberfest.  I have to say this was one of the better tasting festivals I've been to.  It was so spacious and spread out that you didn't feel overcrowded.  No lines, clean port-o-potties (which is just insane) and lots of BEER options!  We each had 10 tasting tokens.  The search began for the beers that tooted our horns.

Momsky's taste:  hefeweizens and ciders
Carly's taste: anything that resembles Bud Light (yeah right!), it was a challenge
Alicia's taste:  anything at all minus porters and stouts

I'm getting ahead of myself.  First we had to make our pretzel necklaces.  Every time I go to a tasting event and I see people with these necklaces, I think "dang, I forgot again!"  I was not going to make that mistake again.

Pretzel bin ready!

Momsky, actively threading her necklace, inches of sobering power!

Carly, thinking that I'm a bit crazy but she'll go along anyway.

The Deschutes traveling taste-mobile, all the way up from Oregon.

I love me a good grilled cheese.  Early on I had to eat, since I didn't eat all day.  I knew what I was having.  The classic with some A (avocado).

The Grilled Cheese Experience truck.

Final product:  sandwich with a shot of soup, tomato basil.

We had to get in a good cuddle with the chicken, duh!

They had their image projected all over buildings; it was pretty fantastic.

We did some pretty amazing other things last night, but it was too dark to take pics with my phone.  They had this Ford contest where you kick this virtual soccer ball and try to get 50 goals in 30 seconds.  You look like a spaz, cause you're just rocking your leg back and forth as fast as you can.  I only got 23:(

After we spent Carly's tokens (because as mentioned before it was challenging to find beers she likes) we headed to Puyallup to meet up with an old friend in town from Portland, Kari.  The rest of the night was laughing, rude talk, nachos, pitchers and trying to make this one guy really uncomfortable.  He loved it, you could tell.  

I'm dreading summer being over, because the festivals go away, but I really do need to start saving money and learning to relax.

What cool festivals have you gone to this summer?

What's your favorite beer variety?

Weekend Wanderings -- September 21st-23rd

The weekly post that provides my readers with all the cool happenings around Seattle for the upcoming weekend.  You will have no excuse to not get out and make memories.

Friday to Sunday, September 21st - 23rd

Fremont Oktoberfest – Beer, beer, beer.

Details:

• Friday, 5pm-12 midnight, Saturday, 11am-12 midnight, Sunday, 11am-6pm 
• Located in the streets of Fremont between Phinney Ave N and 1st Ave NW and N 35th St and N Canal St
• The main area is free but to go in the beer garden there is a fee; which if you went to Oktoberfest and didn't go in the beer garden we wouldn't be able to continue our friendship.
• In Advance:  $25 gets you a souvenir mug and 5 tastes, $30 gets you 5 more tastes, and if you're the DD then it's $15 and you get 4 water tickets, yippee
• Day of:  add $5 bucks to the above prices
• There is a tasting garden with over 40 breweries pouring their best fall brews.  When you are done with your tastes you can then head to the Buxom Beer Garden, within the tasting garden.  Once in you can enjoy a 16 oz brew, 1/2 liter stein or a 1-liter stein.  Go big or go home.
• There is music playing all night.  And please don't forget your pretzel necklace, although I think you can pick one up in the Seattle Weekly lounge.

Saturday, September 22nd

Redhook's Sausage Fest – Sausage Fest is back for an afternoon in the grassy bowl.  What you can expect is an amazing afternoon with great music, great beer and plenty of meat.

Details:

• 2pm-11pm @ The Redhook Brewery
• Tickets are $25 if purchased in advance and $35 at the door
• This is a 21+ event, no little kiddies
• Cold War Kids are the headliner band
• The food to look forward to:
• Hand Dipped Jalapeno Corn Dogs with Hot Links
• Spiral Sausages on a Stick
• Mexican Corn
• Footlong Pretzels
• And of course they'll be pouring all of their delicious brews
• No Equal Amber Lager
• Long Hammer IPA
• Blondage
• Pilsner 
• ESB

Saturday and Sunday, September 22nd-23rd

NW Bookfest – Okay, now after you've drank your face off at the above events, it's time to settle down with some mellow activities.  Bookfest is there to bring together readers, writers and publishers together for a variety of panels, workshops and networking events.

Details:

• 10am-6pm downtown Kirkland
• That's all I have to say about that.

I will be checking out the Oktoberfest with my friend Carly; honestly I can't believe I've never been before.  I'd love to go to the Sausage Fest but I'm attending a swanky 90's party Saturday.

Have a great weekend!

Organic Chocolate and Cider Festival - Theo Chocolate Factory

I was joined by Tyler, Daylon, Jesse, and Bridget for a night of chocolate, cider and beer.  It was a $20  event put on by Tilth Producers and was held at the Theo Chocolate location.

It was really cool because with each cider or beer they gave you personalized recommendations of what chocolate to try.  I had two vegans with me so they could only eat the dark chocolate, but that's fine with me more milk chocolate for me to gobble up.

We arrived a bit early so we stopped across the street at Brouwers Cafe.  And I met this little boy and decided I was thirsty.

Daylon always makes new friends.  He met this gem and had to have a pic with her.  Her tattoos are heavenly.

The coolest part about the tasting event was that we got to drink out of mason jars!  You can tell Bridget loves that fact as well.  I'm going to make redneck wine glasses with the ones that made it into my purse.

One of the lovely cider ladies.  She was not conservative with the pours which is much appreciated especially after you are low on tickets.

We ended the evening at The Dubliner, and Daylon and I decided to try to recreate the Britney face from the X-Factor.  We didn't do that great, but funny nonetheless.

The festival was a little crowded but it's a good excuse to have dudes junk and ladies boobs all rubbed up on you.  Ha ha.  It was fun, mostly due to the company.