The birthday dinners began in 1971 to celebrate the July birthdays. Larry and Ruth have birthdays on July 13 and Craig's birthday is on July 12. Calvin's birthday isn't in July, but it's pretty close, June 21. Bisim has been at all of the dinners. Later years added Jan whose birthday is on July 1 and David.
Nearly every year we try and remember where we went previous years. As we got older it was impossible to remember so I decided to write them down. Listed below are all of the birthday restaurants not necessarily in order.
1. Golden Lion , 1971 At the old Olympic Hotel. A few years later the Olympic was remodeled and this restaurant was closed. At the time it was one of the finest restaurants in the city. I remember the classy singing wine steward. In fact I think he sung "We've Only Just Begun." Larry had a Seafair coupon. Somehow we were able to afford expensive restaurants when we didn't have any money. Perhaps we were trying to impress our dates.
2. Snoqualamie Falls Lodge , 1972 We had their famous breakfast. Now called Salish.
3. Chinese Restaurant, 1974 Can’t remember name. Restaurant was on second floor. This is the year that Calvin moved to California.
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| Edgewater |
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4 . Edgewater , 1975 We went to Longacres afterwards.
5. Gerrards , 1976 We had to decide who would get the only pheasant since there were only two left.
6 . Quenelle's , 1977 in West Seattle. Controversy over whether or not Dave attended. Dave was working in Richland at the time. Another unresolved controversy is who went to see the Exorcist.
7 . Henry’s Off Broadway , 1978 Craig and Larry's famous crab crackers and Calvin’s free dinner because of a hair in his dinner which was probably his own.
8 . Olympic Inn , 1979 In Poulsbo.
9 . Duncan’s , 1980 In Pioneer Square.
10. Lake Union Cafe, 1981
11. Brownies Rain City Grill Decorated with umbrellas on the ceiling. Calvin saw a guy trying to move a mailbox across the street & yelled at him to stop. Dave attended.
12. Lobster Shop One of my favorites. In Federal Way. Debbie joined us somewhere around this time. About this time some of us started having kids.
13. Daniel’s Broiler on Lake Washington.
14 . Triples on Lake Union.
15. Gracia’s , 1985 in Tacoma. Craig and Larry's nonalcoholic drinks made Craig sick and Larry act funny. Craig had to go sleep in the car. Larry talked the restaurant into giving Craig a free dinner.
16. Fisherman’s Warf
17. Benjamin's on Lake Union.
18. Ray’s Boathouse (The new one. The original burned down.)
19 Anthony’s Homeport in Kirkland
20. Chinooks at Fisherman's Terminal.
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Kasteels
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21. Kasteels, 1992 40th birthday trip to Whibey Island and Victoria. We ate at Harbor House in Victoria. Kiyonoga’s join the celebration.
22. Niko’s Westin Hotel, 1993 Combination dinner was too much to eat. Went to Craig & Debbie's afterwards w/ kids. Craig's mom passed away in January.
23. Ponti's, 1994, Calvin & Ruth's for dessert. (Talked about going on cruise for our 50th)
24. Kaspars, 1995, Craig & Debbies for dessert. Emily & Kristy start High School. Barry in senior year.
25. Anthony's , Pier 66. 1996 Just opened. Hata's for dessert. Barry graduates and is going to UW next year. Kristy get's drivers learner permit.
26. Asia Grille, 1997 Emily & Kristi get drivers license. Calvin's mom & Bisim's dad in nursing home.
27. Canlis, 1998, Most expensive dinner, but Dave got two steaks. Calvin's mom died in March. Kristi & Emily looking for colleges.
28. Ruth Chris Steak House, 1999 Bisim & Calvin shared a porterhouse. Half of it fell on the floor & they had to wait for another half to get cooked. Emily is going to Whitman & Kristi is going to the U. Bisims Dad passed away this year.
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| Sazerac |
29. Sazerac, 2000 Located in the new Monacco Hotel. New Orleans style food. Some people got gnocchi, which the waitress mistakenly pronounced “nookie”, probably on purpose. They were bland potato dumplins. Went to Lee’s for dessert, except Debbie, who stubbed her toe earlier in the day. With the exception of the Nomaguchi’s, we are going on a Carribean Cruise. The Nomaguchi’s had a major house remodel. The Locke’s & Lee’s 25th anniversary this year. Talked about going to Europe on when we hit 50.
30. The Waterfront 2001 On pier 70. Larry’s mom passed away this year.
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| Oceanairre |
31. Oceanaire 2002, The big 50. We had a big party @ Edgebrook & mini golf tournament @ Jefferson. Calvin & Ruth went to Europe.
32. Szmania’s Kirkland 2003 Emily & Kristi graduate from college. Hannah graduates from High school.
33. Dahlia Lounge 2004 Dave’s mom passed away. Jan retires from phone company. Hannah started college. Jacob got his license. Dessert @ Calvin & Ruths.
34. Shiros 2005 Calvin’s dad died. Dessert @ Larry & Bisim’s.
35. Crush 2006. Voted best new restaurant by Seattle Magazine. 100 yr old house @ 23rd & Madison. Dessert @ Craig & Debbies. Emily getting married in September.
36. Golden City 2007 Double nickel doesn’t seem as old as it used to. Peking duck, squab, crab, abolone, chicken, squid & vegetables, jelly fish, fish mah soup, all for $138. Must be the cheap labor. Dessert @ Dave & Jans. Dave retired & is happily playing golf & traveling. Kristi & Barry getting married (not to each other). Craig & Debbie about to become empty nesters.
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| Volterra |
37. Voltera, 2008 Brian starts college & David graduates. Dessert at Debbie & Craigs. Dave's dad passed away. The Lees, Lockes & Kiyonaga's go to Japan.
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| Spring Hill |
38. Spring Hill, 2009. Hannah graduates from School of Social Work. Calvin & Ruth about to become grandparents. Dessert at Calvin & Ruths.
39. Blueacre, 2010, Same location as Oceanaire (3rd picture), where we went in 2002. Hata's & Locke's are grandparents. Bisim's mom died. Jacob graduates from college. Dessert at Larry & Bisim's.
40. Palisades, 2011. $29 early (4:45) three course meal. Jan's mom recently passed away. Dessert at Larry & Bisim's. Next year we decided to go on a Carribean cruise to celebrate our 60th birthday.
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| Madison Park Conservatory |
41. Western Carribean Cruise on the Norwegian Spirit, 2012. See blog The Big Six Oh above. We also had a picnic at Beaver Lake and dinner at the Madison Park Conservatory, where the chef won an award for best new chef. Dessert was at the Hata's. Debbie's dad passed away this year. Calvin will soon join the Hata's and Larry in retirement. Calvin & Ruth are expecting their second grandchild in October.
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| Flat Iron Grill |
42. Flat Iron Grill, 2013. Calvin & Ruth had another grandchild, Mei Li, and Larry & Bisim had a grandson, Dylan. Calvin & Bisim are now retired. Ruth's dad passed away. Desert at Craig and Debbie's.
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| A la Bonne Franquett |
43. A la Bonne Franquette, 2014. The restaurant was in the neighborhood where Larry & Craig grew up, so after dinner we took a walk and tour of Craig's dads house which is for sale. Craig just retired. Ruth & Debbie are the only ones bring home a paycheck. The Hata's, Locke's & Lee's have non paying babysitting jobs. David Lee getting married this year. Emily(#3) & Barry (#2) are both expecting this November. Desert at Calvin & Ruth's. Conversations about when to collect social security, pension options and senior housing.
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| Poppy's |
44. Poppys, 2015. Barry has second child Allie. Emily has third, Teddy. Ruth retires. Ruth's mom moves into retirement home. Craig's dad passed away at age 93. Dessert at Larry & Bisim's.
Calcutta Grill at Newcastle
45. Calcutta Grill, 2016. Hannah & Nick getting married. Debbie retired. We forgot to take a group picture before everyone left. Dessert at the Hata's.
46. Andina (Portland) 2017. Kelly getting married. Hannah expecting. Lee's and Locke's travel to Central Europe. The big topic of conversation this year was what Medicare plan to get.
47. La Rustica, 2018. Hannah has baby Kaia. This is the first year we exchanged unsigned cards so they can be reused. Cars cost $5 and it seems a waste to use them for such a short time. Dessert at the Lockes.
48. I Love Sushi, 2019. David & Christine expecting in August. Decided no cards this year. Ideas for 70th birthday; European river cruise, 3 dinners at previous favorite restaurants (20 closed), Vancouver Island, Kelowna, Seabrook, short repositioning cruise from Seattle, train ride to Canadian Rockies, Richmond BC & night market, Japan, Sweden, Croatia,
49. Zoom Birthday. 2020. This was the year of the Coronavirus, so we didn't go out for our birthdays until it was safe. Instead we had a Zoom birthday. Craig & Debbie become grandparents, joining the rest of us. David Lee has child. Calvin & Ruth move into their new house next to Emily's.
50. Water's Table, 2021. Golden Anniversary. Wow! Hard to believe we have been celebrating for 50 years. The pandemic is still going strong. Hata's and Locke's buy electric cars. Our friends Chris Mizumoto and Deems passed away this year. Next year is the big 70. I hope we can celebrate in style.
51. Port Ludlow, 2022. 70th birthday, Pt Angeles Crab feed, Fireside Inn at Pt Ludlow, Stillwater Cafe, Pt Townsend, . David and Kelly have 2nd child. 50th Class reunion. Jacob got married. Calvin's brother Melvin, and Steve Nitta died.
52. That's Amore, 2023
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Salty's
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53. Salty's, 2024. This is the first year that we had lunch. Old folks can't eat much and don't like to stay out too late. Ruth's mom died the day before.
