Hello! Three Gal Pals Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty + Best Fried Chicken and Waffles in Seattle

Who knew there was a Hello Kitty juicer, coffee maker, waffle iron, water cooler, toaster oven... ?

The amount of advertising done for the Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty exhibit at Seattle's EMP was extensive, and it worked.

So, three twenty-somethings hopped the Seattle Monorail to Seattle Center and the EMP.

Nothing had drawn me to the EMP before. To me, it was the awkward-looking blob building downtown. After working at a children's museum for the past two years, I'm more interested in visiting museums of all types. Plus, I definitely remember my days writing notes in Sanrio friendship books in middle school. There was no way I was missing Hello Kitty.

Here is a quick rundown of highlights and lowlights from the exhibit. Here for the fried chicken? See below. I'll get there!

Into the blob!

Getting There
SOOO easy! I loved Jen's idea to take the monorail in. It was a bit stinky on the monorail that warm day, but worth it for the views. It drops you right at the EMP in Seattle Center. Lines were short in ticketing at the EMP. Museum tickets are $25 for adults and they don't offer a AAA discount.

Favorites
I LOVED: learning about the papa of Hello Kitty and all of the artists, reading that Hello Kitty doesn't have a mouth so she can take on whatever emotion the artist wants, learning more about Japanese culture through the Hello Kitty products on display and seeing products from when I was a little girl and exclaiming "I had one of those!"

Least Favorites
I wish they would change: make part of the exhibit hands on and engaging (a lot of it was toys and accessories after all) and there wasn't anything old or original, (real artifacts) to look at. The oldest coin purse representing the first Hello Kitty product was a replica from the 90s.

Check out this dress Lady Gaga wore during a photo shoot.

Nevertheless, the Hello Kitty exhibit makes for a couple of hours of girly fun. See it in Seattle before it closes May 15, 2016.

We went to a few of the other exhibits in the EMP, including Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film and Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. The Fantasy exhibit had costumes from the movie "The Princess Bride."

Hello Kitty jewelry worn by celebrities.

Now, for that Fried Chicken and Waffles....

Local 360 Cafe & Bar
Before the three of us went to the EMP, we needed some food. We waited about 30 minutes for a table at Local 360 Cafe & Bar in Belltown. I'm so glad we did. We were treated to the best fried chicken and waffles I have ever eaten. The other lovelies had biscuits and gravy with fried chicken. The chicken wasn't greasy. The breading was thick and seasoned and the chicken was tender. I poured maple syrup over it and the huge Belgian-style waffles.

We also shared a pitcher of grapefruit mimosa that wasn't too bad.

Verdict: Go see Hello Kitty in Seattle before May 15 and the fried chicken and waffles in Belltown are definitely worth a 30-minute wait!

I'm 13 apples tall!

Review: Boeing Future of Flight Tour - Mukilteo, Wash.

Photo courtesy of Puget Exposure.

My Darling Husband picked this week's adventure! And it was a great one.

The Boeing Future of Flight tour in Mukilteo, Wash., was selected by Darling Husband as our before-cruise adventure. 

We totally recommend this tour that is $16 per person. We learned a lot and felt like exclusive VIPs. 

Get lost

The Google maps on my phone did not take us to the right location. They recommend you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled tour and I think this rule is because people like us get lost in the huge airport and Boeing complex. Thankfully, I called the tour's phone number and the gal was able to get us to the right spot on time.

No cameras

The tour starts with a quick 6-minute video and an introduction from the tour guide. Our guide was Amanda and she was very serious about cell phones and cameras. Purses, phones, cameras and other bags must all be left in the car. They won't turn a blind eye if they see these. They will take them. Next, you hop a bus to see the facility where they build the Boeing 747.

Tunnels

Off the bus and through the doors, the tour takes you underneath the facility in a long concrete tunnel. Your guide leads you about one third of a mile and into a large service elevator that feels like a Star Wars scene. The doors open and you get to see the huge facility and all of the shiny planes in progress. The Boeing building is the largest in the world. Those planes are huge!

Photo courtesy of Northwestmilitary.com

Mostly dudes

As we headed to the next area, again by bus, I realized that there were a lot of dudes on the tour. No little kids, as you must be 4 feet tall to participate. I think this is because the railings are really tall and kids wouldn't be able to safely see what was happening on the floor below. 

New shinys

We next got to see where they manufacture the 777s. They have a new Dreamliner and a plane large enough to hold completed plane parts flown from all over the world. They make plane parts in Japan, Italy, Russia and and South Carolina and fly them to the Washington facility for completion.

Favorite parts

My favorite parts: the moving assembly line, the clouds that used to form and rain in these buildings because they are so big, learning about the different engines and our tour guide. I'm an anxious flier and this tour actually made me feel a little bit safer - a little. Don't miss going up to the roof of the Future of Flight building to watch the planes take off and land.

Verdict: Plane enthusiast? Don't miss this! Curious? You won't regret it. A unique, fun  couple adventure.