Inside Google's new office

The pictures below are from Google's open house Thursday night at its new Kirkland development office, where it seemed like at least half the people in attendance were current or past Microsoft employees. (Just welcoming their new neighbor, no doubt.) It was a good event, with lots of interesting people. Although part of the office was closed off to attendees, we did get to see some of the office perks, including ping-pong and foosball tables, movie room and espresso machine.

Click on the photos for larger versions, and see descriptions at the bottom.

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• 1) The Google sign as you step off the elevator.

• 2) The main lobby and reception desk.

• 3) Framed copies of some of the themed logos by Google's Dennis Hwang.

• 4) A special version of the Google logo featuring two Seattle icons -- Mt. Rainier and the Space Needle. Actually, make that three Seattle icons, if you count the clouds. (Attendees were given t-shirts with the same image.)

• 5) Microsoft legend Charles Simonyi, right, speaks with Alan Eustace, Google's vice president of engineering research and systems, left, as Microsoft's Robert Scoble, a.k.a. the Scobleizer, captures Simonyi's words via the recording mechanism on his mobile phone. (See Scoble's recap of the event.)

• 6) Decorating a conference room, enlarged versions of magazine covers featuring Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

• 7) The in-office espresso machine.

• 8) A special pen that flashes all the colors of the Google rainbow.