Brady Brunch House

Samuel, tourist, in front of the iconic Brady Brunch house.

It's Thanksgiving in North Hollywood, and the day isn't complete without a trip to see the Brady Bunch house.  Persons of a certain age cut their teeth on this fluff TV show set in the L.A. burbs.

We happen to be staying at the Garland Hotel on Vineland, near Universal Studios.  Built in 1972, it has that retro orange and brown decor that already makes a person nostalgic, but add on the close proximity to *the* Brady Bunch house, and it's enough to make a grown woman cry.  Armed with our handy hotel map, we spent a pleasant nine minutes walking to the house, which backs up to the Los Angeles "river" (a culvert with a three foot wide stream) and the rest of Hollywood Hills.  The home, now valued at $1.7 million according to Zillow, looks pretty faithful to the original, but with the addition of a fence to keep out the crazy tourists.

So this was who's house?  Brady bunch who? 

Aunt Nina's 88th Birthday

Our last day in Tacoma we took a side trip to Shelton, WA.  Shelton, population 9,800, is the westernmost city on Puget Sound.  Shelton contains Little Creek Casino Resort and a pretty nice buffet.  We went there for the buffet and to celebrate my mom's sister's 88th birthday.  I swear, Aunt Nina doesn't look a day over 65.  We also had a chance to visit with all five of Nina's children, who had flown in from Chicago and Michigan to spend a week with their mom.  We hadn't seen the cousins in many years, so it was a very nice treat.

Cousin Robin and Aunt Nina.  Secret to her longevity? Aunt Nina did not eat her cake. 

The family's all here.  Buffet at Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton. 

King siblings - Alyce, Cindy, Betsy, Adam

Hutchinson and King siblings together after many years. 

University of Puget Sound Homecoming 2015- Coffee Makes Everything Better

Just because you're visiting the Pacific Northwest doesn't mean you have to go to Starbuck's. Benjamin has found several local coffee shops with superior brew right next to University of Puget Sound.  We visited two of his hangouts in our short weekend.

Valhalla Coffee Company on 6th Avenue in Tacoma has a sign on their door suggesting only nice people enter. But I'll let you read it yourself.

Once inside, you are overwhelmed with the smell of fresh ground coffee, the perfect antidote to Tacoma weather in October, which is wet and gray.  Your barista will invariably have a nose ring and a woolen cap and be super chill.  Your latte will have a beautiful swirl and taste way better than name brands.  And you will go from unhappy to happy.  See pictures below for proof.

Swirled latte and smartphone.  Two life essentials. 

Steven and Benjamin before Valhalla coffee

Steven and Benjamin after Valhalla coffee

But wait, there's more! Before we caught our plane back to San Diego that Sunday, I decided we should take a walk.  Benjamin suggested a stroll to Metronome Coffee.  The stroll included pelting rain, but we kept going. Outdoor seating next to the fireplace were taken up by students and dogs, so we settled in for caffeine and scones inside.  I should add that the outdoor seating is under a huge awning, so you can enjoy the bracing air without the moisture.  Northwest Nice at its best. 

Metronome Coffee. Outdoor lounge area is behind and to the right of Benjamin. 

Benjamin, coffee connoiseur.