Spring Time In Columbia City

Got my Spring Cleaning done and this afternoon Happy and I answered the call of the sun and went for a walk. 

I had to cash a check so I decided we'd do that then come back and walk around Columbia City.

It's Spring and so my attention was drawn to the flowers. And there were plenty of them along my little walk. Happy was jumping around like crazy....he hasn't been on a walk for a while.

I'm practicing being retired so I paid no attention to the time. 

Time?  What's that?

One store had some fresh cut roses set out for sale.

Then there's the street art, aka posters.

And of course the beautiful old architecture.

I've always enjoyed looking at this old beauty. Here she is from the other side.

This old theater used to be a Masonic Lodge. They renovated it and divided the building into three small theaters. When I first went there it was really rough as they were just starting the remodeling.

Speaking of architecture, here's another old beauty. A Starbucks downstairs and apartments upstairs. Looks inviting, doesn't it?

Oh, yeah, it's Springtime!! They've set up the tables on the sidewalk and people are eating their fancy food and drinking their expensive drinks outdoors...al fresco, ya'll!!

Hey!! See!! There's some blue skies!!

Hooah!!

Saw this mural depicting the history of Columbia City, Incorporated 1898, up to the present.

I didn't get them all, I think this is the Psychedelic Phase...

Then, along the same wall was this interesting tableau...

No apparent reason for taking it other than I thought it looked interesting.

Then some flowers in the neighborhood...

Love Spring. In fact, my favorite seasons are the transitional seasons; Spring and Autumn.

El Puerco Lioran

Lunch downtown on another beautiful (almost) Spring day in Seattle. If I'm heading downtown then that means....The Link!! 

I was heading to El Puerco Lioran....another restaurant that Michelle and Matt sent me a Christmas gift coupon for. 

Woo, woo!!

From the Westlake Link Terminal, I crossed over on 3rd Ave to Pike Street and then went West on Pike. 

Along the way I got to stop and appreciate the juxtaposition of old and new along the streets. 

And, then, there it was....The Public Market. I appreciate how they've kept the original architecture, the lay out of the market.

The restaurant I was heading for was behind the Market on Western.

But I couldn't resist taking a short walk through and seeing the colors and sights....don't get the wrong impression that the Market wasn't busy by this picture. It was a rare moment when no one was at the counter is all. What a riot of color, eh?

Coming out the back of the Market, and several floors lower, I ran into one of Seattle's Famous Pigs. Since I was headed to El Puerco Lioran (The Pig Lioran), I thought it appropriate to get a picture of one of them in its natural habitat.

After some confusion and walking around looking for a street number, I figured out where the restaurant was....somewhere down there!!

A couple flights down and, viola!! There it was...

El Puerco Lioran!!

I haven't figured out why he's crying...

 

This was the best part of the restaurant...the decorations, the tables, the whole thing together. Here's what you see when you walk in through the screen door.

A long shot of the restaurant. You order and then pick up your food at the counter on the right. It's not fancy and they let you bus your own table at the end...ain't that special!?!

When Mike arrived, we went to the menu board and batted around some thoughts of what to order. I got the #1, Taquitos Asada with a side of tamales and Mike got the #8, Carne Asada. I sorta wish I'd gotten that one, too. It was a large chunk of beef!

We ate over near the windows looking out onto the steps. Kinda cool, eh?

Genuine Mexican Metal Card Tables!! And they put the silverware in a can on the table along with the napkins and hot sauce.

Here's my Taquitos Asada con tamales...

The food was good and we both enjoyed our meals.

But for me, I enjoyed the chairs, tables and the way the restaurant was decorated much more.

Mike waiting whilst I got me some pictures.

They had a lot of odd things hanging from the ceiling...

And on the walls...

Plus these two characters...former waiters, I think.

  

Wouldn't be Seattle without a large beer selection...this one seemed more Mexican than Northwest.

And, since it was The Pig Lioran and this is Seattle, they had their own collection of Pigs on display on the counter.

 After a good lunch, we took a walk through the Market.

Some things never change, do they? And, y'know, sometimes it is for the better.

Fresh fruit...

and flowers...

 

Along with some fish.

 

It's a winning combination.

Then, as we walked down we saw some.....blue skies!!!

It's another beautiful Seattle sunshiny day.

Walking back to the Link, I was thinking of all the restaurants I'd seen and how I'd like to try them all. I was struck by this one, it was in a series of three food wagons. Interesting idea for selling subs.

Street scene as the weather switches back to cloudy and overcast.

But the Ol' Sun pulled out when I was heading back home. The Link Station at Othello.

Again, another good day. Thanks Michelle and Matt. I'd never have found this place on my own.

Muchas gracias.