Beer and Cupcakes

a.k.a. my trip to the emerald city for a blogger get together.

When Carrie of My Chocolate Covered To Do List invited me to a sprinkle party with other Seattle bloggers, I immediately said yes.

After weeks of comparing schedules and emailing back and forth, a date was finally set for this past Monday.

Since I don't actually live in the city and was probably going to fight traffic, I decided to invite a friend to come with me and head down a little early.

Of course, planning ahead meant there was no traffic to speak of.  Not that I'm complaining.

Just up the street from the cupcakery is Elysian Brewery, a place I had been before and just couldn't help stopping by again for dinner.

We tried an amazing pumpkin ale, The Great Pumpkin.

(Don't mind the amazing staging on the photo.)  I liked the beer so much I feel safe saying it was perhaps my favorite beer I've ever had.

For real.

I also had a delicious shepherd's pie.

From dinner, my friend and walked down to Cupcake Royale for the sprinkle party.  The shop had an awesome table set up for us.

Notice the amazing art that we gazed upon all night.  We got a coupon for free hot drinks and lots of cupcakes to decorate.  Plus, Carrie brought red wine to sip on.

Unfortunately, not everyone invited could make it.  That left a lot of cupcakes for the rest of us to decorate.

We managed to struggle through.

There were multiple colors of frosting and lots of sprinkle choices.  I had to a Halloween-inspired version as well.

Even better than the cupcakes was the chance to connect with area bloggers, especially in person.  I met the mastermind of Delishhh, Jeanna, and recent midwest transplant Sarah.  They were all fabulous.

Now we're hoping to make it a more regular event (getting together, not decorating cupcakes).

Not that I would ever say no to a cupcake.  In case you didn't notice, I have a thing for chocolate.