18 posts tagged “seattle”
What's your favorite appetizer to order at a restaurant?
I always like to try the calamari at various places.
After you have been to enough restaurants, you start to learn just how different each calamari can possibly be. One of the most tasty and different calamari appetizers I have had can be found @
It is officially described on the menu as
Crispy Gingered Calamari with Pepperoncini Aoili
And it is served on an elongated plate - something that looks more like a gigantic white knife that has a bowl type thing the size of the blade. Or maybe the platewise equivalent of a white peapod - if the peas were the size of superballs.
If you are ever in the Seattle area (Smash is in Wallingford), I suggest checking out this place. If not for the Calamari, then for the Wine and Cheese Flights. I also prefer its size to Purple (between its overly heavy doors chairs and napkin holders, and it misproportioned use of space ... makes me feel very uncomfortable).
Yep thats right. If you dont like it in Seattle ... move away.
I think it is sad that the real estate market out here is indicative of a city perched on the verge of class-based turmoil. This either cannot continue, or will result in the following:
- People spreading all over the Seattle-land area, causing even greater traffic and ecological woes
- A rearrangement of the way the "middle class" considers their dwellings
As it stands, the median family income simply *cannot* afford the median cost home. Not even close (I think via bank calculators, the figure is off by over 100K on a mortgage). Also note that the median cost home has increased by about 200k in the last 6 years. Salaries just aint going up that fast - so what gives?
That same median family income could buy a home in other large cities, with ease. And it wouldnt be that far above the actual median income for the other city.
To put the point differently. Lets look.
Example: Me.
I could buy a home in the major cities of Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburg, Cinncinnati
For $80/month less than I pay for rent right now.
And my place is dirt cheap for what it is.
Meh.
I still need to write about Macklemore.
But today has turned out to be Photo Day!!!
Here are my favorite pictures snapped yesterday:
This photo makes me laugh. His expression is just so awesomely confuddled. I definitely lucked out with this one :)
I really like this one because it hints at a battlin vibe. Although they werent. Really wish I could have gotten a better angle on Macklemore though.
Xperience was so much fun to shoot. He busts out a lot of good facial expressions. This is probably why I snapped more of him than Macklemore. I like the posture here.
For some reason, the semi-bashful face here really makes me enjoy the picture. Im not quite sure why. I just cant help but smile when I see this pic. It makes me feel happy.
I really like this shot because I can tell exactly what song this was just from the pic. Its a really good song, where Xperience goes a bit Jamaican style on the mic. I got a little angle crazy tho, so I had to correct for it post-process.
This was my favorite picture of the day. Its Funk Love from Marmalade. I was totally digging his 'do. And his clothing style. Not to mention, they totally tore up the place with some awesome music. Honestly though, this pic makes me want to *really* draw this cat.
You can catch the other snapshots on my Flickr, if you are interested.
Well. Lakefest was every bit I was expecting and more.
Earlier today, I was walking back from the Corner Store. I'm minding my own business, as usual ;). And from around the corner, appears this dude walking a dog. But not just any dude. He is a guy dressed up in a wrestler's costume - sportin the shirt that gives you fake muscles. He also has a mask on, almost Strongbad-ish.
I smile. Thinking that this is totally The Weird. And then I was wrong. Cause around the corner comes a whole friggin brigade of people walking dogs. Strongbad guy is barking instructions at them. There are pooches all over the place. Big, small, ugly, cute, and all in between.
I took in the moment as something to make me laugh. And carried about on my business - I had to make it back in time to catch some shows and be all Lakefesty.
When I finally made it on to the festival, I explored the booths. (there arent that many - maybe 10). I stopped to interact with an artist. He seemed friendly, and I never turn down a friendly person. Our interaction went basically like this:
ME: "Hey man, hows it goin?"
HIM: "Good. How bout you?"
ME: "Always good. Thanks. I see you have an artist's mission statement here. Thats not something you see too much."
HIM: "Nope. But it was important."
ME: "So what inspired you to write it anyway?"
HIM: "Well ... just read it! Most people dont."
ME: "You know, its kinda long. Too many words for most people. Bah, reading!" (smiles)
HIM: "Will you be the first to finish?"
So I read it. All of it. And it didnt answer my question at all. However - it did detail his inspiration for creating art. Which was interesting. So we conversed about that for a little bit.
And then I had to bust out of there for some music.
First up: Root Beer Barrels
This band was totally not my style. But ...
They were great entertainers! The lead singer would bust out of the stage area, and interact with the crowd a bit. Occasionally, she would just fall down, mic in hand, and keep singing. The lead guitarist would also talk to people walking past, with things like "Hey! None of your politicking around here!" in time with the music.
But the absolute best moment was completely a surprise.
The lead singer is out in the small crowd. She is standing on a large plant island. And she is trying to get a cute lil boy to play the tamborine (I desperately wanted a pic of this). I am smiling. The boy's ungodly attractive mother is smiling. Everybody is having a moment of tenderness. And then ...
BOOM!
A jarring noise echos out of the mic. I turn my head to the set. And I see a guitar laying on the ground - emptyhanded. Off in the distance, the guitarist is riding a 50's style bike away through the booths. And standing right by the stage is a man in a bike helmet, looking around with the canonical "WTF" face.
I laughed out loud.
A few minutes pass, and the lead guitarist comes riding past the would-be-biker and set. He keeps on going with a "Rocker" hand raised. The music is still playing. Everyone is curious about what is going on (did that guitarist just abandon his set and totally steal some dude's bike?). But the music is still going, dead guitar and all, so everyone thinks its normal.
Another minute passes. And guitarist comes riding back. Instead of goin past this time, he purposefully wipes out. And then he transitions this into a rolling fall. Its a perfectly placed move. And leads him right in position to pick up the guitar again.
He plays a few chords on his back, and the song ends.
(how effing awesome is that?!)
Next up: Marmalade.
Simply put ... Marmalade has progressed a lot since I saw them a year ago. They are best experienced live, as nothing else can do them justice. (Phish heads should be able to identify with this).
So the funk Jam Band that plays @ Tost, visited my hood. And they threw down with some massive momentum. Somehow they managed to get the soulless. I was totally digging their vibe, even down to their oddly dressed stage presence (dreads n 'fros in seattle - does that even make sense?)
They played about 3 songs that lasted almost an hour - and spanned several generations and styles. The lead singer would equally bust out in low tones as well as get all James Brownish.
If I could sum it up - Marmalade is a prime example of what Seattle needs more of. I have known for a while that I live in the wrong town, musically ... and Marmalade just goes to further prove how much Seattle is lacking in real soul (sorry that emo and metal crap just doesnt cut it for soul!).
Lets see - a turntablist, a duo of horns, a funky bassline, and an attitude to get the party started and peeps on the dance floor ? How can this *ever* go wrong?!
I need to go see them again.
And next up: Macklemore.
This cat deserves his own effin post. So you will just have to wait. Nuff said.
And now, I am finding it hard to go back, even though Lakefest ends @ 10 pm. I saw everything I wanted to see, and then some. So I think I am just going to lounge around for bit, listening to music. Since I am feeling silly,content, and people cancelled on me.
Although they have been up for weeks, I just peeped some Lakefest posters.
Lakefest is my meighborhood's summer block party. It actually happens right across the street from my place. So I can always just jam back and forth between the two and I do not have to worry about parking.
This year's Lakefest lineup is damn hot. I am definitely excited. Some highlights:
Optimus Rhyme.
Totally not my style. Totally not my thing. But I am hoping that this Geek Rap will help me coax some of my more reserved friends into attending the festival.
Marmalade
Funk Jam band. Usually seen @ Tost on thursdays (in Fremont). Although they tend to show up late for their gigs, it is usually worth the wait. Have a definite sense of energy and ambling on stage.
Last time I saw them I also got to witness some shenanigans. There was this oddly dressed woman who appeared to be carrying a pink bow. Lo and behold, she slung the bow off of her shoulder and used it to piece together a Hula Hoop. She began hula hooping to the music, dancing with the grooves.
Macklemore
Seattle based whiteboy rapper with a hint of conscious rap style. Have never seen him live but have digged some song snippets I heard of his. Cant wait to get a real peek.
So at least 2 sets I definitely want to see. Much better than last year, which had almost all no-namers. Well unless you count Jon Auer (of the Posies) performing solo. Which I dont really because I never was much of a Posies fan.
Truth be told, I have never really been in to much of Seattle's music. PJ is okay. Nirvana was best on Unplugged. Soundgarden - onesie twosies. Deathcab and Harvey Danger ... occasionally. And everything else ... whatever, not my style.
Too bad I cant perform a musical lobotomy, and bring some SF or New York goodness into Seattle. That would rock.
But until then, I have to celebrate what little I can. So hell ya to best Lakefest lineup since I moved there!
I was standing outside on my balcony, taking in the morning air. I do this every morning for a bit - its like my own personal version of "morning coffee" (cause I dont drink coffee).
I heard an ambulance zooming down the street towards my place, sirens wailing. And just as it approached Eastlake and Roanoke, it honked.
But not just any old honk. It honked:
Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits!
Love the Random. What a way to start the day :)
On top of various errands, I was on a mission today to find Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Obviously, not as easy of a task as I had first imagined. So I kept looking.
And then I started to notice something ... odd.
Everyone had blank looks on their faces. And I mean *everyone*. At first, I passed this off as just a few people having a tough day. But when I saw this all over, I couldnt help but feel like I was in the middle of a Zombie movie. As if overnight, everyone had risen from the graves and joined the undead. And started shopping.
There were no moans or groans. Nobody was holding their arms outstretched. Nobody completely lurched when they walked. I did not even hear one plea for "Brains". So I can only conclude that these particular zombies had acclimated to Seattle quite welll in one day - and become passive-aggressively undead.
Now, as any intellectual, rational being can tell you ... when you suddenly find yourself smack dab in the middle of a Zombie attack, there is only one thing that comes to mind.
"Bullocks!" (*cause said intellect would also think in Britishy sounding slang, given the situation. This is a no brainer.)
Then, one of three things would happen, depending on the person:
1) They would find themselves inextricably craving a pint. (aka acceptance)
2) They would run around screaming like a li'l guhl. (aka non-acceptance + panic)
3) They would break out their preferred weapon and smack the dang zombies in the friggin head (aka non-acceptance + determination)
I chose the third option.
My weapon of choice, you ask? A screwdriver? No, too pun-laden. A shotgun? No, too video gamey. A shovel? No, too practical. A baseball bat? Nope, been done before.
My weapon was : happiness.
And I swung it with force. Smacking zombies left and right, as I saw them. Bludgeoning them with smiles. Poking them with Jokes. Shooting them with Positive Vibes. Take that, deadguys.
The end result? I managed to make quite a few strangers laugh. I managed to make a bunch smile. I even helped an old lady understand the electronic receipt at the cash register.
And now people. Now that you are free of your undeadness. That your unlife has been put to rest, and you can get back to whatever it is you were doing before the great Zombie Attack of 07. Go out and do the same for other zombies.
Lets take Seattle back for the living.
Tonight I went to Marqsmen, a Men's Fashion store in Bellevue.
They were having a party to celebrate the release of new Men's bags by a local designer "Rian". In general, I like to go to these types of events for a few reasons. First - I know Marques, he is totally cool, and I love to support local cool people I know. Second, I like fashion (admittedly on my own terms though). Third, I am almost always down with social gatherings.
What makes these events so amazing is that Marqsmen is on the Eastside. And everyone in Seattle knows that the Eastside is Devoid of Soul. Well, not anymore folks - people like Marques are putting a little kick into those burbs.
That aside, I am going to tell you straight up like I told Rian...
Those bags are damn awesome. The material is top notch - it feels sexy to the touch. Which always makes me smile. The attention to detail is unfathomable. He even went so far as to insert medium-grade magnets in the outer cover. (This means no more of that awkward fumbling around trying to open your bag while doing 15 other things). And they just have ... STYLE.
Honestly - if I were a bag person, I would have bought one right then and there. I loved them THAT MUCH. Everything about them. But lets be honest here - I have tried to be a bag person and it never works. So I stood in the store, with a cup of wine, at odds with myself thinking,
"These bags are absolutely phenomenal. I should buy one cost-be-damned! But no man, you would never use it. You always forget the bag! But they are so beautiful... ARGH."
Dont believe me? Peep the pic:
And this barely does the bag justice. You really have to go out and feel it yourself. Admire it, and baske in its subtleties. Then you will totally know what I am talking about.
If I havent pushed you over the edge yet, I have one last detail to seal the deal. The designer is a great person. I chatted with him briefly. Stellar dude. Very personable, warm and receptive.
Support people like this.
While there, I also got to chatting with one of Marques' employees. I believe her name is Stacy, but dont quote me on that because I am absolutely dreadful with names. Anyways ...
She is opening a store in Leavenworth that will showcase some Women's Fashions. So anyone in the area should be on the lookout for this to happen. Why do I say this?
Well. Again, great person. And you can bet that I have snuck a peek or two at her personal fashion style. Well dressed, not too girly, a little playful in style. Interesting, and definitely not too stuffy or "highbrow". All the right subtleties to tease your fashion eye. Just the way I like it!
Finally, what would a trip to Marqsmen be without me making a purchase?
I usually get my fix of John Allen's Smoothe from Marqsmen. (It is my all-time favorite leave-in conditioner/styling product). But I am currently well stocked. So tonight I got the following:
The G Love Cardholder.
I have been looking for a thin wallet for a while. Mostly because I hate the obnoxious bulge in the back pocket. It always makes me feel like I am sitting lopsided.
The one I purchased was Fiery Auburn in color (for lack of better terms). I would have went black, but I dont think they make one.
Oddly enough, I didnt know the name of it until after I bought it. Kinda makes me wonder if it has any relation to my favorite Philly Funkster.
Who knows.
And
John Allen's Bodywash.
I have been using bar soap for a month now. Which makes me feel dreadful - it always leaves this horrible after shower feeling that I just deplore.
So when I came upon bodywash liquid soap by John Allen, I figured I would give it a shot. I like his other products, and anything has to be better than the bar. Anything.
Cant wait to find out how this feels tomorrow morning!
So ...
I saw some people I havent seen in a while. Met some new people. Drank some wine. Saw some great fashion stuff. And I bought some killer things with potential.
All in all ... Im calling that a Good Night.
I was driving in to work today, crossing the 520 bridge over Lake Washington.
Usually, I like to appreciate the differences in the waves on each side of the bridge - how calm it can be on the North side, while whitecaps crash over the bridge on the South side. But today I was admiring the velvety sky.
And CRACK - I saw a near vertical bolt of lighting sever the sky.
It was phenomenal. Unlike the places I grew up, Seattle rarely gets lightning or thunder. So whenever I see this awesome force of nature, I cannot help but appreciate it. Sometimes I even miss the feeling of experiencing a lightning storm, when I havent seen one for a long time.
My mood changed instantly - I was excited and happy.
But somehow I missed the voice of impending DOOM. 3 minutes later, the sky opened up. It was raining so hard that I couldnt see 20 feet in front of my car - even with my wipers on at full boar. I secretly hoped that my windshield could withstand the beating ... but it sounded like it could give way at any moment.
Hard rain isnt something that Seattle sees often. Most people dont realize this, but Seattle rain is usually more like a constant drizzle. So when it "rains" for umpteen days straight - its probably not what you think.
The downpour started to give way as I approached work. It was mostly like a sweeping wall of rain. And when I got out of my car, it was back to a mere drizzle. That is when I smelled the wonderful aroma of rain. There is something really interesting about rain after a bout of dryness - it has a very particular smell. And I find it ungodly pleasant.
All in all - this week reminded me a lot of being back in Phoenix. The heat. The frustration. The rain. The release. The smell. The appreciation.
And although I appreciate it the few times it comes around - I like it to stay infrequent. It makes it all the more special.
I was grabbing something from my car, and in the distance I heard a voice on a megaphone. Who knows what it was saying ... it was a voice *on a megaphone*. The amplified version of bad drive through boxes.
I thought to myself, "Huh. That is odd!" I went inside.
I opened the patio door. Nothing. I left it open - I was spraying my house with frebreeze. You know, to tidy up the scent of stale air. Freshy!
And then ...
pop pop
whoomph
BOOM!
My floor vibrated. I turned my head quickly to see a flash of light by the window. "What the ..."
BOOM
BOOM BOOM!
More flashes of light. More vibrations. My brain poked me, "Oh great, now your city is getting fucking bombed!" and I raced to the balcony.
Off in the distance, behind the trees I saw it. A barge of some sorts, on the water. People were on the balconys staring in confusion. Running outside on the street to look up in the sky. Everyone had their phones out. Mini-mayhem.
And for the next 15 minutes or so ... I watched a tremendous fireworks display.
No one knew the reasons for this celebration. No clue. I do not think today is any kind of holiday. So who knows what this nonsense is all about.
All I do know is this: my weekend is filled with weird wonder. And at least this time it really *was* just fireworks.
What next, pray tell?!
