cars – thosecoolkims

KimTrippin: Pacific NorthWest — Day 7 (Seattle)

We spent most of the day en route to Seattle. Ed + I have been most excited about this leg of the trip because we have loved Seattle ever since being here 10 years ago in 2005. On that trip, we bought our wedding bands, we stayed at our most favorite hotel and we had several epic meals we still remember — how could this not be our city? Too bad the houses in Ballard we’d want to live in today are like $800k. (Yep, we already looked) It only took about 30 mins. and we’d decided that our feelings about this place hadn’t changed.

I asked the author of 100 Things to do in Seattle Before You Die if she’d be willing to send me a book and I’d document my #100ThingsSEA excursions in exchange. I got the book and we hit the ground running — we headed straight to Mr. Gyros for lunch to start checking things off the list. Mr. Gyros’ Falafel (and the hot sauce) were definitely list-worthy.

I happened to notice that Sonic Boom Records was across the street, so we checked it out to get it checked off the list as well.

However, the real magic happened across the street at Bop Street Records. We were looking around, and Ruby somehow managed to find the opera and orchestral section (!!!). She spotted a Don Giovanni record that was pulled out to the front of the rack. She started asking Ed lots of questions about it, and a guy working there overheard them talking. He was so surprised to see this little kid talking about the opera Don Giovanni that he started talking to Ruby and Ed! We found out that this record was a special “blue back” edition and is highly collectible. Each side of the record had a 1P on it too, which meant both sides were part of the 1st pressing and adds to its appeal for collectors. He wanted Ruby to have it though, so he discounted the record for us to make sure she’d end up with it. :) Ruby has the 1st album in her collection now and we swear — she picked this record out!

We had a cute dinner in Queen Anne and walked to the park to let Ruby blow off some steam in the playground. Sunset wasn’t until 9:11pm tonight — it stays light out so late here and she wants to stay up!

Wrapping up Week One, our trip computer in the car tells us that: We’ve driven 1737 miles (from Lakewood, CA to Seattle, WA) and we’ve spent 35h 23m in travel time. Fremont and Capital Hill in the city tomorrow.

p.s. I fixed the comments issue, so feel free to let us know if you’re reading!

Roadtrippin’ thru Utah – Bryce Canyon, Day 2

Today was Day 2 of Bryce Canyon and frankly, based on the epic majesty of what we saw on Day 1, we weren’t sure that we could be wowed more. We were…wrong.

We started off VERY early, getting up in time to haul our sleepy selves to Sunrise Point to watch the waking sun illuminate and highlight the thousands of breathtaking hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. This spot is legendary, and while cloud cover unfortunately prevented us from getting the full effect, we weren’t complaining. The view was spectacular and unlike anything we’d seen before.

After heading back to the Ruby Inn to get a little more shuteye, we decided to drive the main road through the park all the way to end, and stop at each of the thirteen viewpoints coming back. Each of these viewpoints, starting with Rainbow Point at the southern end, offered their own unique and unforgettable vistas.

One of the most impressive was Natural Bridge, which isn’t technically a bridge but rather an arch created by erosion over many millennia.

And here’s a little video clip at the Aqua Canyon viewpoint, elevation 8800 ft:

After heading back into town, I saw the last thing I expected to see. Many of you know my obsession with East German relics and artifacts, so you can only imagine the sound of my jaw dropping to the ground when I spotted a derelict Trabant 601, parked against an equally derelict looking Old West-style tourist trap. The Trabant is synonymous with East Germany, made famous to the world when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and thousands of these little smoky 2-stroke cars streamed westward, carrying countless dreams of a better life. Well, this Trabant certainly went westward too – far more westward than any Trabant could dare to dream!

After doing some research online, I found out that this car had been left here by a former East German who goes by the name of D-Rolf, who travels around the world in these cars. This particular car had been left behind by him in 2002, after the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. At the moment, he is traveling through Pakistan…in a Trabant, naturally.

Now, one thing that had been lacking over the last few days was decent food. Being on the road, we’d eaten a lot of mediocre garbage, and we’d had enough. So, we headed to the Lodge at Bryce Canyon for a decent meal.

It was just what we needed. Organic chicken, real vegetables, fresh ingredients, you know, the good stuff. And as you can see here, even Ruby was pleased.

Goodbye, Bryce Canyon. You are…beyond words.

Next stop: The Kims leave the wilderness behind and go back to city life. Salt Lake City, watch out!

Happy 4th, 2013!

Today we spent the 4th as a family — just the three of us. We also did three things we love to do: drive, eat and hang out in L.A. With a Fiat 500c convertible that was perfect to cruise in, we were everywhere from Huntington Beach to Artesia in the morning/early afternoon, and then we headed to the Grand Park in Downtown L.A. that evening for some quality time in the best splash pad ever and to catch a fireworks show!

Here are a few snaps from our day:

(more pics)

Fathers Day 2013

We had a great time celebrating the best dad in the world this weekend! Ed woke up and got to enjoy his very favorite Weisswurst sausages for breakfast — with sweet mustard, of course — straight from Bavaria, thanks to Andreas, who is visiting us from Germany. Ed couldn’t have been happier.

After breakfast, we headed out to the Concours d’Elegance in Beverly Hills. Each year, they close down Rodeo Drive, line it with expensive, unusual and exotic cars, and allow for some serious oohing and ahhhing for those of us not in the 1%! It was a blast.

Since we were right around the corner, we decided we had to take an ice cream break, and headed over to Ice Cream Lab. They make the ice cream right there in front of you. Since we couldn’t decide on one flavor, the four of us shared four different kinds. It was perfect!

Afterwards, we decided to head over to Amoeba to get a little record shopping in, and since Andreas mentioned he still hadn’t had an American burger yet on his visit (we’ve been filling him with Mexican food!), we decided he had to experience Umami Burger. As you’d expect, it went over very well!

Ed said it was a great day, so we consider our celebration of the world’s greatest dad a huge success!

The Kims rock the 2012 L.A. Auto Show

This was the second year that both Ed and I attended media days at the L.A. Auto Show. We had a great time, and enjoyed many perks!

It’s a busy day …

But we get the inside scoop at all the press conferences.

We decided we want to be a Fiat family after the unveil of the 500L!

All the hard work calls for refreshment. Audi always has the best food — traditional weisswurst sausage and bavarian pretzels. With beer, of course.

The biggest surprise of all was that Tenacious D played a very small show at the Hyundai After Party! Carrie got to high five Jack Black, and Kyle gave her the setlist and his guitar pick. It was incredible to be standing right in front of them!

If you’d like to see the actual work Carrie did, you can read my stories on the Fiat 500L, Family Crossovers and the Ford Transit Wagon Connect!

Bonus: a short video clip of Jack Black on the Saxaboom!