Seattle, WA

I’m not sure where February disappeared to but it seems that March is upon us. February was crazy weather month, wasn’t it? While Seattle was getting snowed upon, here in Austin, Tx, we hit a record high of 92F this week. Yes, I said 92F! That’s just not right!

For those of you just tuning in and wondering why someone from Austin, Texas is writing for Seattle well that’s because the Seattle writer moved on to bigger and better things and I offered to take over short term because I’m familiar with Seattle. This blog would love a permanent Seattle based writer and if you’re interested please write to us.

There are a few fun things happening around Seattle this weekend. One of those things is the I Heart Rummage sale. What’s more fun than a rummage sale? A rummage sale with 35 of the of the best indie crafters in the NW! Admission is free and there will even be a live DJ. I’m just jealous I can’t attend!

When: Sunday, March 2nd 2008, 12pm - 4pm
Where: Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison, Seattle, Wa 98122
$$$: FREE

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Also up this weekend is the Seattle Erotic Film Festival. Founded in 2002 by the nonprofit Foundation for Sex Positive Culture, this event is a fundraiser to present a full Seattle Erotic Art Festival to enthusiasts in the Spring of 2009. With their audience continuing to grow, they have moved to the Exhibition Hall of Seattle Center, the regional epicenter for arts and culture. Special guest artists include Midori, David Steinberg, and Michele Serchuk. Performers include Arnaldo!, Seattle’s premiere drag chanteuse; world-class aerialist artists; live psychoclassical music by EQlateral Ensemble; daring bondage suspension; seductive world-class tango; a selection of Seattle’s finest burlesque stars; erotic spoken word and more. Participate in interactive installations: have your photo taken at Barb Penoyar’s popular Photo Booth, or if you prefer, The Virgin Project will sketch your portrait. Feel like making some art yourself? Dr. Sketchy will be there to lead you through a tantalizing life-drawing session that you’ll never forget.

When: Sat, March 1 2008, 6:00pm - Sun, March 2 2008, 1:00am
Where: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA, (206) 216-0877
$$$: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

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For you wine lovers out there, check out the Poverty Bay Wine Festival in Des Moines. Taste wines from 15 Northwest wineries, sample gourmet foods, and listen to live jazz. Held in a historic mansion with panoramic views of Puget Sound.

When: Mar 01, 2008 (Sat)-Mar 02, 2008 (Sun), 12:00PM - 6:00PM
Where: Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Drive South, Des Moines, WA 98198
$$$: $20 advance, $25 at the door

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For those of you who are addicted to those bitter beans at Starbucks you should be aware that they will be closing all 7,100 stores for 3 hours in order to re-educate their baristas.

This seems to be the realization of the new CEO, Howard Schultz’s, desire to revitalize the company “by getting back to the essence of what drove Starbucks’ past success.” There was a time in the earlier days of Starbucks’ expansion when the company sent new baristas for a weeks training. As they expanded further and further they moved away from that and instead got smarter machines so they could save on costly training. That move assured them consistency but also served to turn the job of barista into “just another job.” My coffee-snob brother still laments the day when Starbucks’ switched to automated machines and had high hopes when he heard Mr. Schultz talk about getting back to basics.

Perhaps that day has come. Since returning as Starbucks’ CEO, Schultz has stopped stores from carrying hot breakfasts, which interfered with the aroma of the coffee. Starbucks’ has done a great job of upgrading the palette of the average coffee consumer. Possibly too good. In response fast food joints like MacDonald’s have upgraded their own coffee. In a survey a year ago, consumers declared MacDonald’s Premium Roast to be superior to Starbucks with tasters finding finding the coffee giants offering to be “burnt and bitter.” Go figure. I could have told them that myself.

The re-education of Starbucks employee’s will once again find them acting as “real” baristas, leaning to pull the perfect shot, steam the milk to order and forgo the push of the automatic button. This move follows last weeks lay off of 600 Starbucks employees. With stock prices dwindling the company has no choice but to figure out where they’ve gone wrong and try their best to fix the problems.

The beans, however, will remain the same over-roasted burnt offering. If you want Starbucks that tastes good, might I suggest Seattle’s Best?

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What: Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show
When: February 23 - February 24, 2008
Where: Western Washington Fairgrounds, Puyallup
$$$: $5.00 for entire weekend… tickets available at the Gate… free parking - kids 17 and under FREE.
Open to public: SATURDAY 9-5:30, SUNDAY 10 - 4 PM
Each February over 12,000 aviation enthusiasts gather in Western Washington to check out what’s new in the aviation industry!

What: Northwest Flower & Garden Show
When: February 20 - February 24, 2008, Wed-Sat 9:00am-9:00pm, Sun. 9:00am-6:00 pm
Where: Corner of 7th and Pike Streets in Seattle, WA.
$$$: $19
An entertaining floral funfest for you and your friends. Thousands upon thousands of flowers and plants with all their rich colors, fragrances and textures. Six acres of inspiring gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 350 exhibits all strictly related to gardening, outdoor living and gardeners. Special Guest Star: Sally Fields

What: Wintergrass Bluegrass Music Festival
When: February 21 - February 24, 2008
Where: Sheraton Tacoma Hotel and Convention Center
$$$: Weekend Pass $95 Kiddo Weeknd Pass $25 (kids are ages 6-17 - kids under 6 are free) Family Weekend Pass $250 (Families are 2 adults and up to 4 children 6-17)
performances are spread over a couple of hotels and a nearby church. Friday and Saturday mornings are workshops galore on everything from overcoming stage fright to mastering Old Time fiddle. The hotel lobbies are replete with impromptu jams. This is a Bluegrass music festival, but there is a lot of appreciation for Old Time Music. A lot of the jam sessions include people playing Old Time tunes. Many of the performers are old school bluegrass, though there are occasionally some Old Time bands and some contemporary country/folk singer/songwriters. Performers include well-known legends as well as local and regional newcomers including The BlueBirds w/Linda Ronstadt, Laurie Lewis, & Maria Muldaur (Sun only).

What: Festival Sundiata Art Show 2008
When: 2/19 - 2/24/08
Where: Seattle Center Pavilion A
$$$: noon -5PM Daily
With the help of over 150 volunteers, Sundiata showcases local and regional Entertainment, Art and Photography Exhibits, Retail and Food Merchants and a dynamic Children’s Place.

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It was with sadness that I read today about the closure of Adams TV in Fremont. Adams TV was founded in 1952 by the current owner’s father, a former radio repairman. The owner, according to the PI, said, “”We live in a throwaway society. It got to where I just couldn’t fight that anymore.”

The sad thing is that he’s right, we do live in a throwaway society. I know many people, for example, who throw out their old printer rather than purchase a new toner cartridge and who can blame them? After all, it’s usually cheaper to buy a new printer than it is to replace the toner cartridge.

There was a time when you could easily find a shoe repair shop but these days you’re lucky if you can find one in any given city. I can remember buying good quality shoes and taking them into the shoe shop to have heel and toe protectors put on. I can even remember taking shoes in to have the soles replaced. With the advent of shoe stores such as Payless people just toss their shoes these days and buy new ones instead. These are obviously not people who’ve ever gone without shoes. Not that I have, either, but my mother brought me up to appreciate quality. My mother, whom I lovingly refer to as “the Toucan Sam of the shopping world.” Honestly, the woman who can sniff out a bargain one hundred miles away. Mother taught me to shop at “good stores” like Macy’s and Dillard’s and Nordstrom’s. She introduced me to quality and she showed me how to shop the bargains. My mother wasn’t afraid to shop at the thrift store when money was tight. She knew that wealthy women and “good stores” often gave them new or gently worn items. No matter your means there are ways to dress well.

I have a lovely pair of black leather Cole Hahn shoes. Each winter I take them out and lovingly polish them. They were expensive shoes. I’ve owned them for a good 10 years and they still look fantastic. I’m not anal about them I just polish them at the beginning of each winter season, giving them a coat of Neatsfoot oil to protect them from the rain. If I paid $100 for them new then they’ve cost me about $10 a year. I’d say they’ve been worth the money, wouldn’t you?

Here in my little town of Pflugerville, Tx, there is an old lawn mower repair shop off of main street. The old fellow who works there reminds me of my granddad. He’s gruff and growly voiced and there isn’t a lawn gadget he can’t repair. Sadly, he’s one of a dying breed, the master craftsman. Sometimes I look at antiques and think about how well they must have been made and maintained to still be around. Then I wonder about what we are teaching our kids about the value of things. Not just in terms of price but also what it took to make those things, how to care for them and what they mean to us.

My mother is the buyer of forsaken treasures. She loves a good garage sale and can’t stop herself from buying the thrown-away possessions of little old grandmas who once spent many an hour painstakingly crocheting tiny little children to bestow upon family members as Christmas ornaments. Mother will wander into a garage sale and listen as grandchildren tell her how their granny had crocheted this or knitted that item. How this china had been their grandparents or that fishing rod had belonged to their great-grandfather and yet there they stood selling these items for a few dollars. Tossed aside for something new and shiny.

There was a time when people who couldn’t afford to go to college would apprentice with a master craftsmen, thereby learning a trade. These days if you don’t go to college your only option appears to be a lifetime of minimum wage or a whole lot of luck. There is a severe lack of pride in every day work. Remember when you could layaway big items and pay on them monthly? Now we just throw it on a credit card and bury ourselves in debt.

In the old days you bought “heirloom” quality pieces of furniture that would be passed down from generation to generation. These days a piece of furniture is lucky to last a few years.

There are times when I have to ask myself if we’re really advancing as a society or if we’re only kidding ourselves. What’s next? Disposable people? Perhaps that’s why a person can just walk in and shoot up a school? They’re failing to see the value.

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What: HEART: A benefit for Anna’s Ride Home
When: Valentine’s Day - Thursday, February 14th, cocktails at 5:30
Where: The Baltic Room, 1207 Pine Street, Seattle
$$$: $10 Cover - 21 and over only
The Baltic Room will host HEART, a raffle and silent auction for Anna’s Ride Home on Valentine’s Day - Thursday, February 14th.

Doors open for appetizers and cocktails at 5:30 p.m., and attendees will have the chance to bid on donated items from local artists, crafters, and business until 8:00 p.m. Anna’s Ride Home has kept almost 4,000 intoxicated individuals from getting behind the wheel since 2003 through our unique partnership with local bars, restaurants, special events - and Safeco Field. Over the last year and a half Anna’s Ride Home has grown from eight partners to over thirty, and we need the financial support of the Puget Sound community to keep expanding. Donations off all kinds are also welcome. Please visit our website for more information on how you can donate to HEART.

What: “Cupid Goes Berserk”
When: 2/14: 8 p.m.
Where: TPS Theatre 4, 4th Floor Center House, Seattle Center
$$$: $10
See what just a tiny prick, can do. “Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s another one of WARP’s zany takes on love, sex, romance, relationships and everything in between. This festival of original short plays and skits by local writers ranges from fantasy, romance and drama through comedy, slapstick, and just plain silliness.”

What: David Crowe’s Laugh Lovers Ball
When: 2/14: 8 p.m.
Where: The Paramount Theater
$$$: $30-40
Laugh Lover’s Ball is proud to present: Caroline Rhea, along with David Crowe, Costaki Economopoulos, Greg Hahn and The Sympathy Cards, in an uproarious yet oh so classy alternative to the traditional ho-hum show on Valentine’s Day. Caroline Rhea (Sabrina the Teenage Witch - WB Network, The Biggest Loser - NBC, Curb Your Enthusiasm – HBO) has had a host of stand-up comedy special on HBO, Comedy Central, Bravo and promises to bring her own unique brand of matronly sass to this year’s show. She’ll be joined by comic philosopher Costaki, frenetically enthusiastic retired Marine Corps Captain Greg Hahn, the comedy a-cappella of The Sympathy Cards, and Laugh Lovers Ball founder and supreme mirth master David Crowe. Presented by Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler and The New B97.3, Laugh Lover’s Ball is the #1 fundraiser for Sound Experience and youth programs onboard the historic schooner Adventuress. Thanks to your help, this event has donated over $100,000.00 to this small, local organization, and sent over 3000 kids on the most memorable field-trip of their life, all the while helping to preserve the Puget Sound for generations to come. Laugh Lover’s Ball - It’s the second best thing to do on Valentine’s Day.

What: SINATRA AT THE SANDS w/ JIM KERL’S SWING SESSION BIG BAND
When: Thursday 02/14/2008, 7PM (All Ages) & 9:30PM (21+)
Where: Mainstage, The Triple Door
$$$: 7pm show: $80 inc. cover, appetizer, entree, dessert, glass of champagne, tax and gratuity; 9:30pm show: $45 inc. cover, dessert, glass of champagne, tax and gratuity. Please call our box office at 206.838.4333 to book your reservation
If you missed Sinatra with Count Basie in their legendary appearance at the Las Vegas Sands Hotel in 1966, now is your chance to experience this incredible show.

Jim Kerl’s Swing Session big band and Joey Jewell will take you back to the heyday of Las Vegas and the reigning king of the strip, Frank Sinatra. Joey is recognized as a wonderful vocal stylist and entertainer in the tradition of the great shows of the Rat-Pack era. Swing Session will play the music of the Count Basie Orchestra as originally arranged by Quincy Jones, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of swinging big band music.

Last Valentine’s Day, both shows sold out, so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible! If you are looking for a swinging evening, look no further than Sinatra at the Sands. Joey Jewell and Jim Kerl’s Swing Session big band will entertain folks of all ages with this incredible Sinatra tribute.

What: The Stranger’s 11th Annual Valentine’s Day Bash
When: 2/14: 8 p.m.
Where: Neumo’s Crystal Ball Reading Room, 925 E. Pike St., Capitol Hill
$$$: Free, (206) 709-9442
With your host Dan Savage. The Stranger’s yearly purge for all your love stories gone horribly awry. Bring a memento from a failed relationship, and we’ll destroy it on stage in a sick, twisted, satisfying way. You’ll heal. You’ll feel better. You’ll move on. Bring something to break or just come and gawk. It’s a truly unforgettable way to spend Valentine’s Day.”

What: Burning Hearts Burlesque Presents: Sex & Chocolate
When: Valentine’s Day 2008, 9pm
Where: Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Ranier Ave. S Seattle
$$$: 21+ $15
Burlesque, Comedy, Variety Show with A Tease! Includes Complimentary Decedent Desserts

Hosted by: Drag Sensation Anita Goodmann
Starring: Iva Handful, Sugar Magnolia, Lucky Lucy O Rebel, Luna Nocturna, Miss Cassie O Hara, The Scandal From Bohemia, The Lovely Burning Hearts Stage Kittens, Uncle Bling, & More! Reserved Seating with Advance Ticket Sales

What: Columbia City Cabaret’s Valentine’s Day
When: 2/15/08, Doors open at 7pm, Show starts at 8pm
Where: Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Ranier Ave. S Seattle
$$$: $20 in Advance, $25 at the door
Nan Clifford, Cathy Sorbo, Hacki Ginda, Miss Trixie Land & Fernanda!

What: Theo Chocolate & Circus Contraption’s ‘Belle Debauche’ a Supersexy Valentine’s Party
When: Valentine’s Day, 2008
Where: Theo’s Chocolate, 3400 Phinney Ave, Seattle, WA, (206) 632-5100
$$$: $65 in Advance, $75 at the Door, 21 & Over
A feast for the senses featuring luscious oysters, mouth-watering chocolate concoctions, tantalizing aerial and acrobatic performance, live music, dancing, and secret erotic surprises that will delight your imagination and ignite your passion. Bring your sweetie or find one here!

What: Valentine’s Day Aftermath Happy Hour @ Showbox Sodo
When: Friday, February 15 2008, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Showbox SoDo, 1700 1st Ave S, Seattle
$$$:
Valentine’s Day got ya down? Come in to Showbox Sodo for a little pick-me up. Happy Hour is back at Showbox Sodo. $2 off beer, wine and well and HALF OFF our Happy Hour menu. Enjoy pizzas, a burger or some polenta fries with a tasty beverage and hang out with me for a few hours before the night begins! Good music and good friends!! Bring everyone ya know. Parking EVERYWHERE!!!

What: Red Wine & Chocolate
When: February 16 - February 17, 2008, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Where: Various Wineries, Yakima Valley
$$$: $20 in Advance, $25 at the door
Chocolate lovers, this weekend is for you! Each participating winery pairs sumptuous chocolate desserts with their very own remarkable red wines. Sample some of the Yakima Valley’s finest red wines and enjoy chocolate confections. Purchase a Reserve Ticket for $20 which includes a signature 15 oz. Wine Yakima Valley wine glass and enjoy exclusive benefits available only during this weekend. Reserve ticket holders will be able to experience a variety of specialty Red Wine and Chocolate pairings, library tastings, and tours not available to the public. Visit the more than 52 wineries in the Yakima Valley Wine Country during this Presidents’ Day weekend.

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I apologize for neglecting you. My father-in-law passed away a week or so ago and I had to travel to Eastern Washington for the funeral. Since we were making the journey with no notice we decided to try our luck with priceline.com rather than pay the exorbitant rates we would otherwise have to pay. I know, I know, “but what about grievance fares?” Well, you’d think that would be the way to go, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, the way grievance fares work is that the airlines will generally give you 50% off of a full fare price. The full fare price is generally twice what you’d pay even for a last minute purchase and therefore I’ve never seen that price be cheaper than you can get through any search online. Sad, isn’t it?

So, I took a look at what my lowest fare would be if I were to book 14 days in advance and I bid $20 under that on priceline. As luck would have it, my bid was accepted which enable both of us to travel to Seattle and rent a car for the drive up to the Yakima Valley. What we weren’t aware of when we booked the flight was just how bad the pass was going to be to traverse. Once we realized the situation and that Snoqualmie Pass was likely to be closed we looked into upgrading to a 4-wheel drive. Luckily we were able to get a Toyota RAV-4. It was a very nice SUV and we felt very safe in it. It was really cool to have my iPhone with me on this trip as it allowed me to get much more up to date pass reports via the internet than the radio station was giving.

Since Snoqualmie Pass was closed we ended up taking White Pass to Yakima. It made for a long drive of about 7.5 hours as opposed to the usual 3-4 hours on a good day taking Snoqualmie Pass. Snow fell throughout the journey but the snow on the roads was compact and didn’t feel slippery. It was single lane traffic and we never got much above 40mph. I snapped pictures as we went through and they are all rather eerie with one in particular reminding us of the game, Silent Hill.

Eerie, isn’t it?

Returning to Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass was closed to Westbound traffic for avalanche repairs with hints that it might re-open but with no time posted. Avalanche repairs. Doesn’t that make you feel secure? The woman at the car rental told us that the avalanche that occurred a day or so before we landed had taken a car with it. Yikes! Knowing that it would be a much shorter journey we decided to take our chances and pointed the car in that direction. We got lucky and Westbound traffic opened up just in time for us to pass through. We fueled up and got a latte, a decision I would come to regret about half way through the pass. My bladder was screaming by the time we reached the summit. It was a long, slow drive through the pass with snow falling heavily the entire way. The snow in the median was taller than our SUV!

With one day left to spend in Seattle, we headed downtown to partake of oysters at Elliott’s Oyster House. Sadly, our luck had dried up. Elliott’s was closed for renovations. We were heartbroken but we managed to console ourselves with a bowl of Gulf of Siam curry at Typhoon. It wasn’t on their lunchtime menu but they very kindly made it for us anyway. It was as wonderful as we remembered and our despair over Elliott’s dwindled with each bite.

We needed to walk off the weight of our food so we headed to Pike’s Place Market and browsed the stalls. We purchased some fresh smoked salmon from the Pike’s Place Fish Market to take home with us and oh baby, was that a good decision. It is, without a doubt, the best smoked salmon I’ve ever had.

Eventually we wandered over to Crêpe de France for our favorite nutella and banana crêpe. Mmmm…. it was sooo good.

We are now safely home in Austin, Texas, already missing our favorite city. Happily, we will be back in May to settle the estate and we’ll definitely be spending a couple of days hitting the wineries and our favorite restaurants. Perhaps we’ll even discover a few new ones.

It’s nice to be home!

This blog would love a local writer. If you’re interested, please write us!

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