International Food Bloggers Conference 2013, and the City of Seattle
IFBC Food Bloggers Conference, & My Trip to Seattle
Ninety-five percent of IFBC Attendees say it’s the Best Food Blogger Conference out there, and I certainly can’t argue! I Learned so much about Food, Writing, and Technology, Made some great Bloggy Friends, and got to know the City of Seattle.
Early last week, I returned from a four-day long extravaganza of food, travel, learning and schmoozing. I was in Seattle for the International Food Bloggers Conference!
Because Mr. Allie and I have always wanted to visit the Pacific Northwest, and because we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary, and because I am a complete chicken when it comes to travelling alone, I dragged him along.
It was a relaxing time for Mr. Allie
He provided me with tons of moral support! He’s not a chicken at all when it comes to being alone in a strange city, so it worked out well. He spent the afternoons exploring on foot, while I sat in sessions soaking up as much instruction as my newbie-blogger brain could hold.
While he indulged in local seafood, beer, and sporting events, I had the pleasure of gathering pearls of wisdom from the likes of Dorie Greenspan, Andrew Scrivani, Chef John of Food Wishes, and Sheri and Barnaby of Foodista.
I learned a ton, and I’ll be sharing specifics in a separate post, but for now, I just wanted to give a little recap of my time in Seattle, and also tease you a little with this cake:
I made it in my mom’s honor, and I’ll tell you all about it in my next post. You’re gonna love it!!!
For now, I just want to share some of the pics I took on the last day of the conference.
After the whole thing was wrapped up, I was dead on my feet (and completely jetlagged), but I sucked it up to go on a little sightseeing tour with Mr. Allie. We do not shy away from the tourist traps. It’s fun! I love to see all the things that a city is famous for.
Pike Place Market…
the Space Needle…
…and the Chihuly Gardens. Such a striking exhibit! You can’t help but marvel at the work of Dale Chihuly, a truly innovative artist who’s commitment to his own vision is unrivaled, IMHO. His art is otherwordly, yet somehow familiar at the same time. These blown glass installations look like they could have sprung from the sea, or grown from the earth…
Thanks for indulging me in the non-desserty post! It’s not often that I have such interesting subjects to photograph (besides the kiddos!). And stay tuned for that cake- it’s gonna be off the charts!
I’d also like to thank all of the sponsors of IFBC 2013 for putting together a fabulous weekend. Next year, IFBC 2014 will take place at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, and the registration is already open! This year’s event sold out quickly, so be sure to register early and secure a spot at this incredible event!
Allie, I’ve been living under a rock lately because I didn’t realize I missed so many posts from you. I love this one! Your photos are gorgeous. My fave is the one of you and your hubs under the Space Needle reflected in the water. Perfection. Isn’t Seattle a fabulous city? You have to come back and do your Pacific Northwest tour. Make sure to come up to Vancouver and I’ll take you guys to all the best restaurants my city has to offer. Mr. Allie was definitely a good sport over the weekend, especially sitting through brunch with a whole table of female bloggers yakking about food, photography and blog stuff 😉
He’s a good sport, right? I think he actually likes that. That brunch was phenomenal! Loved Seattle, and totally want to see Vancouver too! I’m definitely considering coming back next year. Do you think you’ll be there? I know it’s a ways off… but I’d love to see you again and hang out some more! <3
OMGoodness Allie what a sensational recap of IFBC. Such stunning photographic journey you took us on. Ir was so nice meeting you as well. I hope to see you in 2014? 🙂
I hope to see you too Shulie! Thank you so much for the kind words… beauty’s all around you in Seattle, it was a pleasure snapping pics! Take care and enjoy your weekend!
It’s a beautiful city. My favorite is the Chihuly Gardens 🙂
Stopping by from Show Stopper Saturday Link Party!
Mine too, Lea! Thanks for stopping by, dear!
OMG!!!! This sounds like an AMAZINGGGGG experience!!! I’m waiting eagerly to know all about it!!! The photos of the trip look wonderful!!!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks Samina! There was just so much at that conference, it was an embarrassment of bloggy riches, lol! It’s taking me so long just to process everything and organize my thoughts into a cohesive post. But don’t worry, I’m getting it all together and the post should go live on Friday. Lots to share and I’m hoping it will be helpful to all my bloggy friends who didn’t get to attend. Enjoy your weekend, dear!
I got scared by the fish 😉 omg, I didn’t know Dale Chihuly, what an amazing artist! Travelling by myself is a no for me too: I get too shy!
I know! Can you get over that fish? The first one, with the teeth, I was leaning in for a pic, and there was a guy hiding behind the counter who’d yank on the tail and make it jump! I about died! lol…
What a beautiful post Allie!! The pictures are amazing and especially the colors are fantastic!! Can’t wait for the upcoming recipe, the cake looks just divine!!
Have a great weekend dear!
xox Amy
You too Amy! And thanks so much for reading! xoxo
how fun!
and omg that cake, cannot wait for you to share the recipe! yum!
Can’t wait to share it, girlfriend! Thanks for reading 😉
What a great trip Allie!! So great that your man came along too. I’m looking forward to attending a conference one day and it sounds like this one is a great one I can add to my list to attend :). I cannot wait for that cake girl…all that caramel is making me sweat!!
Thanks sweetie! The caramel really takes it over the top. My mom and her coworkers loved it, so I’ll be getting that recipe up tomorrow. 😉 If you’re looking for a great conference I’d highly recommend IFBC. It was really affordable because the sponsors kicked in to keep the price low. Also the hotel gave us a reduced rate. And, lots of free meals 😉 Go! Next year! Maybe we’ll see each other there! 😉 We could even be travel buddies!
Yay, I’m so happy to see you both enjoyed your trip! I cannot wait to read more about it, Allie 😉
Thanks Consuelo! It was a fun time and I learned a lot too 😉 Hope you’re having a great week!
What a great opportunity and sounds like a great conference. Thanks for sharing all these lovely pictures, it looks like you and your husband had a great time 🙂 That cake looks incredible and can’t wait to read more about it 🙂
Hi Kelly! I truly was a fabulous experience and I’m so grateful to have had it. I had so much fun taking those pics! So happy you enjoyed, and look for that cake recipe first thing Friday morning 😉
Oh Allie, your so lucky to have had that experience, I can’t wait to read your follow up posts. That cake looks amazing!! Did you go into pike place market? I’d love to go there.
I know, I really do consider myself lucky. It was something I’d been wanting to do for a long time. IFBC made it easy, because all of those sponsors helped to keep the admission price extremely low. (That’s why I wanted to give them lots of props!) Also, with it being our anniversary, my father-in-law chipped in for the airfare as a gift to us. It was such an amazing opportunity and I’m so very grateful to everyone who helped make it happen!
We spent a lot of time at the Pike Place Market, and most of those photos were taken there. You can see the neon sign in that first pic! So iconic. And it was a photographer’s dream, photo ops everywhere!
That sounds lovely, I’m glad you had a nice anniversary. I can imagine, I’d be snapping away like crazy lol.
I love all the pictures! I’m glad that you and your husband got the opportunity to explore Seattle. I definitely want to return soon. And by the way…I can’t wait to hear more about that cake! It looks wonderful.
Thanks, Vane! We had so much fun. I heard you met up with your guy at the end of the trip too! So sweet… I dropped the cake off at my mom’s office yesterday, and it got rave reviews! They’re already begging for the recipe so that’ll be up first thing tomorrow morning. Take care and see you around, sweetie!