Every year the musical “Wicked” enjoys a short stint at the Paramount Theater in Seattle.  Every year I hear how good it is. Every year I think, “You know, someday I should go see ‘Wicked'”.  That day finally arrived yesterday.  My aunt, my cousin, my cousin’s wife and I headed to Seattle for a chick’s overnighter.  We stayed at the Paramount Hotel, which is just down the street from the theater (imagine that).  We paid an exorbitant amount of money to stay in a hotel in downtown Seattle in the height of summer.  There’s a reason the husband and I don’t stay downtown in the summer.  Rates more than double. It’s really quite ridiculous.

Anyways, we arrived late afternoon, had a cocktail in the room and then mosied up the street to a little gem on the edge of Capitol Hill:  Rumba.  The interior picture is…well…a bit blurry.  But, it gives you the idea.  It’s described as, “Caribbean dining with 200+ rums & a sophisticated, ’50s island vibe with a bar & Hemingway books.”  Yeah.  It’s cool.  Rum punch, fish tacos, guacamole with mango served with plantains, rum punch, empanadas (I love empanadas), daiquiries.  Service was…Seattle Capitol Hill.  Not quite attentive, not quite rude, but I was left with the feeling that we might be bothering her. Shrug.  It’s Seattle.  I was intrigued by the fact that the restaurant next door was named, “Tango.”  Another time…

After leisurely cocktails and appetizers we headed to the theater.  The Paramount Theater opened in 1928 and is one of those classically beautiful venues.  The interior is dripping with chandeliers, cathedral ceilings, crown moldings and art.  It’s a stunner.

The show started at 8 pm.  I was a little concerned because, let’s face it, 8 pm isn’t too far from my bedtime.  However, from the minute it started I was captivated.  Wicked is the pre-cursor to the Wizard of Oz.  It tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and casts her in very different light than that portrayed in the Wizard of Oz. She’s a likeable character who stirs sympathy.  And, frankly, Glenda the Good Witch is annoying as all get out.  The costumes were stunning, the sets awe-inspiring, the performance spot-on.  I clapped wildly and I may have teared up a time or two.  Sigh. It was really, really good.

After the show we returned to the room.  Plans to go out for a final cocktail fell to the wayside as the lure of our beds was strong.

I woke up at about 7:30 this morning.  My cousin was awake, too, so we pulled on clothes and went out for a little walk.  I love the streets of Seattle in the morning.  It’s quiet, there’s hardly any people out.  Actually, morning is my favorite time in Las Vegas, too.  The light of the desert is beautiful, things are quiet…I can breath.  We wandered down to Pike’s Place and, what to you know, there was no line at Piroshky Piroshky (unheard of!!).  We shared an apple cinnamon roll and wandered around looking at flowers and the view.

I did pick up a famous Pike’s Place bouquet (I can never resist) and some figs.  Figs!  I’ve never cooked with figs, but this month’s edition of Cooking Light magazine has an entire spread on figs.  And, there they were, at the market, begging me to purchase them.  So, purchase them I did.  I’m excited to try them out.  I suspect the husband may not be as enthusiast.

We went back to the room, met up with my cousin’s wife and aunt and headed down the street to Dahlia’s for brunch.  I love their biscuits.  And their potatoes.  Tom Douglas!  Dinner invite still stands!!  And I have figs!!

After brunch we headed home.  And here I am.  Reporting in, reporting back.  Preparing to download Wicked to my Kindle and contemplating my figs.