Pyramid Snowed In Party
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In the time that I have lived in Washington state, it has been a rare occasion that I have missed Pyramid Brewery's Get Snowed In Party. I love this event and I go every year because, aside from being just plain fun, it's a great way to rub elbows with people in the local ski industry. Patrons of this event include everyone from pro skiers and snowboarders, to reps from ski companies including local darlings K2, LibTech and Gnu, and across-the-boarder semi-local Option, just to name a few. You will see reps from local ski areas including my favorite, Crystal Mountain. Best of all, you will see your ski/snowboard buddies you love to ride with, and you can meet new friends to ride with this winter.Oh yeah, and you will see bands.
This year's headliners are Presidents of the United States of America on November 9 and The Dandy Warhols on November 10, with DJ RAD'EM playing both nights. I have seen the Dandy Warhols too many times to count, so I'm going on Friday night to see the Presidents of the US of A.
This year there are over $10,000 in prizes from the sponsors, and these sponsors do not mess around with cheesy prizes, so you actually have a chance to win some really great gear.
The Get Snowed In party is happening next weekend, Friday - Saturday Nov. 9-10, at the Pyramid Alehouse. You can order tickets for Friday or Saturday's show now, and this event can sell-out, so I suggest getting your ticket early.
Happy Halloween! Now What?
I saw a post on The Stranger's forum by someone who is new in town and is looking for something to do for Halloween and does anyone from Seattle know of any parties? The first response made me laugh:
Yes, that happens around here. But, I'm not from Seattle and I made friends despite not knowing one single person in the city, and I'm not any sort of super-awesome super-charmer. So, don't let the cliquey people scare you away. You don't want to be friends with them, anyway.
Back on track: what is happening tonight for Halloween? I'm going to see Henry Rollins, and then later, I might check out The Mercury. The Mercury is a member's only goth/industrial dance club, which means you have to be a member to get into most of their events, or be a guest of a member. What was I just saying about cliques in Seattle? Actually, the folks at The Mercury are really nice and if you're cool and are genuinely interested in events at the club (not just someone who wants to gawk at/harass the hot female patrons in corsets), then you won't have any trouble eventually becoming a member or getting in as a guest.
If I don't go to The Mercury tonight, I will go to The Funhouse. Local bands Millhous and Old Man Smithers are playing with a couple other bands. This show is a guaranteed good time if you like getting rowdy and having beer spilled on you while listening to live punk music. When I say it like that, it doesn't sound like fun, does it? Trust me, it's great.
If these suggestions are not your cup of tea, The Stranger created a list of what is happening for Halloween. My favorite picks of the list:
We'll just all go out and meet up with the same 10-16 friends we've known since Jr High and pretend that you're invisible. Welcome to Seattle!
Yes, that happens around here. But, I'm not from Seattle and I made friends despite not knowing one single person in the city, and I'm not any sort of super-awesome super-charmer. So, don't let the cliquey people scare you away. You don't want to be friends with them, anyway.
Back on track: what is happening tonight for Halloween? I'm going to see Henry Rollins, and then later, I might check out The Mercury. The Mercury is a member's only goth/industrial dance club, which means you have to be a member to get into most of their events, or be a guest of a member. What was I just saying about cliques in Seattle? Actually, the folks at The Mercury are really nice and if you're cool and are genuinely interested in events at the club (not just someone who wants to gawk at/harass the hot female patrons in corsets), then you won't have any trouble eventually becoming a member or getting in as a guest.
If I don't go to The Mercury tonight, I will go to The Funhouse. Local bands Millhous and Old Man Smithers are playing with a couple other bands. This show is a guaranteed good time if you like getting rowdy and having beer spilled on you while listening to live punk music. When I say it like that, it doesn't sound like fun, does it? Trust me, it's great.
If these suggestions are not your cup of tea, The Stranger created a list of what is happening for Halloween. My favorite picks of the list:
- Citizen Fish @ Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma - Members include Dick and Phil from the Subhumans. Yep, old punk rocker band, and it's all the way in Tacoma, but... I love this band!
- The Monsters of Electropop Tour @ Nectar in Fremont - Freezepop, Solvent, Novatron, and DJ Electrosect. Go dressed as a new waver!
Mess Man Messquerade Recap
I attended Mess Man's Messquerade, and, despite the very cold temperatures, I had a blast! I arrived at the meeting spot in Capitol Hill where over 100 costumed bicyclists were already gathered, and I was warmly greeted by The Mess Man himself, "Hi, welcome to my party! Did you get some beer? Here, grab a beer." I didn't have a team for the bicycle scavenger hunt, so I needed to find a team. I joined team Oz. Team Oz consisted of Dorothy (of course), pumpkin head guy, a vampire pirate, a Storm Trooper, and me as future girl with rocket pack. Some teams had coordinated themes: Team Alice in Wonderland, Team Cowboy, Team Awesome.
The scavenger hunt took us through Capitol Hill, Denny regrade, Downtown, Pioneer Square, and the end point was a party at a bar by Home Depot in Sodo. We were required to go trick-or-treating and solve riddles at various houses and businesses, sometimes involving confused residents who seemed like they were unaware of their role in the scavenger hunt. There was bicycle trivia (what is the newest bike shop in town? what is in the window at Reload?) and there was Seattle history trivia.
My team was one of the last teams to arrive at the finish point because we took a couple whiskey breaks at bars along the way. It was a cold night and we needed a warm-up. The best part of the scavenger hunt was riding bikes through Seattle in costume. People on the streets cheered and hollered when they saw us bicycling through the streets.
The party at the end of the race was packed wall-to-wall with people. Outside, there were a couple of people pacing along the fence next to the bar looking at all of the bicycles parked outside. "It's bicycle porn," on of them said. Inside, there was live music, and then the announcement of the winners. Team Cowboy won the scavenger hunt. Best group costume went to Zombie Unicorns on a Cloud, a couple on a tandem bike. My teammate won best individual costume after suffering through wearing a heavy pumpkin on his head all night. I got a guppy light and a bicycle pump in the extra prize free-for-all at the end of the awards announcements.
I was bad about taking pictures at this event, but, fortunately, there is flickr.
WaMu Theater: Why I Hate It When Bands Are Popular
I hate it when the bands I like get popular. I don't hate their success itself, but I do not enjoy seeing a band in a large venue, which is inevitably the only way to see a band once they have reached mainstream popularity. A review of the recent Interpol show re-established my opinion of the annoyance of going to a large arena show. In his review of the show, the author uses a phrase which can describe how I feel about the overall experience of seeing a band in a large venue:
These are the things I hate about large venues:
* I can handle annoying drunk people in smaller groups, especially if I am one of the drunk people. However, massive amounts of drunk people get on my nerves and no amount of whiskey can cure that.
I almost attended the Interpol show. They are a great band and I have seen them live before. I came to my senses a week before the show because I knew I would not have a good time at the show. I would ultimately have a lame to mediocre time, despite Interpol's performance, because the show was at the super-sized WaMu Theater.This is The Suck.
These are the things I hate about large venues:
- Unless you pay lots of money for front row seats, "general seating" means "generally crap seating"
- There is seating (it's hard to dance when there are a bunch of chairs in your way)
- Overpriced food and drinks
- Overpriced water
- Limited places where you can drink/eat (generally not in the vicinity of the stage)
- Always a long line for the ladies room
- No ins/outs so you cannot pee in the alley next to the venue when there is a line to the bathroom
- Too many* annoying drunk and sweaty people
- Event employees in headsets blocking off areas for "fire hazards"
- Expensive tickets
* I can handle annoying drunk people in smaller groups, especially if I am one of the drunk people. However, massive amounts of drunk people get on my nerves and no amount of whiskey can cure that.
Henry Rollins Spoken Word
Henry Rollins is doing his spoken word thing on Halloween at the Moore Theater.
Once upon a time in the 1980s, Henry Rollins was the lead singer of the hardcore punk band, Black Flag. One of the most famous of all of the hardcore scenesters of that era, Henry Rollins later formed his own band called Rollins Band and performed to huge audiences and had mainstream success. Remember the song, Liar?
I love that song. Boy, he sure is intense.
Aside from his music career, Henry Rollins has spent the past 3 decades writing books and performing spoken word, and he now hosts his own tv show on IFC. He has also been in several movies, including one of my favorite movies, The Chase. You can see his discography here.
Henry Rollins is intense, but his spoken word can actually be very light-hearted and funny. Although he is a big superstar now, he has humble beginnings and his spoken word includes stories about his life in a down-to-earth manner.
On a side note, I hear he has worn a halloween costume for his halloween performances in the past, and I'm hoping he wears one on Wednesday's show.
Once upon a time in the 1980s, Henry Rollins was the lead singer of the hardcore punk band, Black Flag. One of the most famous of all of the hardcore scenesters of that era, Henry Rollins later formed his own band called Rollins Band and performed to huge audiences and had mainstream success. Remember the song, Liar?
I love that song. Boy, he sure is intense.
Aside from his music career, Henry Rollins has spent the past 3 decades writing books and performing spoken word, and he now hosts his own tv show on IFC. He has also been in several movies, including one of my favorite movies, The Chase. You can see his discography here.
Henry Rollins is intense, but his spoken word can actually be very light-hearted and funny. Although he is a big superstar now, he has humble beginnings and his spoken word includes stories about his life in a down-to-earth manner.
On a side note, I hear he has worn a halloween costume for his halloween performances in the past, and I'm hoping he wears one on Wednesday's show.
Seattle Ski Show
There is so much going on this weekend that I feel like I just cannot possibly write about all of it, but, as a ski bum, I simply cannot overlook the fact that this weekend is the Seattle Ski Show. There are tons of retailers represented, and it is a good place to stock up on your winter gear for this year. They say you can get a great deal on gear at this ski show, but I worked at this ski show 3 years in a row and I did not see any super fantastic discounts. However, the great thing about this ski show is you have representatives from the companies who make the gear who are experts. Talk to one or several of those folks and they will set you up with exactly what you need. I found my perfect snowboard at this event by talking to different reps and getting the scoop on what would be the best board for me.
Also, this is a great opportunity to speak to representatives from different ski areas. You can find out information about the resorts, and several ski resorts are giving out 2-for-1 lift tickets for this winter. That's pretty good swag.
The ski show takes place starting today, Friday:
October 26, 27, 28, 2007
at the
QWEST FIELD EVENT CENTER
Also, this is a great opportunity to speak to representatives from different ski areas. You can find out information about the resorts, and several ski resorts are giving out 2-for-1 lift tickets for this winter. That's pretty good swag.
The ski show takes place starting today, Friday:
October 26, 27, 28, 2007
at the
QWEST FIELD EVENT CENTER
Hive-Mind Halloween Party
This Saturday marks the 13Th Annual Hive-Mind Halloween Party. The theme this year is Xavier's School for Mutant Youngster, so if you still haven't gotten your costume together, you can participate in the theme and dress as an X-Men character, or some sort of superhero. Just make sure you show up wearing a costume.The folks who put on this event are avid Burning Man enthusiasts who have been/are affiliated with the Seattle Burning Man camp called the Space Virgins, and they host several parties a year where they pull out all the stops to put on massive parties with theme rooms, deejays, art showcasing, and lots of dancing and socializing. Check out pictures of the 2006 Hive-Mind Halloween Party.
This party begins at 9pm and will continue into the wee hours, although they have to have the venue cleaned out on Sunday so I'm sure people will get kicked out at some point. More information on the website.
Halloween Costume Bicycle Scavenger Hunt and Party
In case you can't read the flier, I will recap. Saturday, Oct 27, 7pm: $20 ($30 with hoodie) provides you with the following entertainment:
- Bands
- Bikes
- Beer
- Zombies(!!)
- Costume Contest
- Cash Prizes
- Pumpkin Toss
- Team Scavenger Hunt
Be A Zombie In A Movie
I have zombie mania. Zombie is the new hip trend and I have caught zombie fever. Zombie is the new pirate. Zombie is the new black.
If you like zombies as much as I do (I even like Rob Zombie), then listen up; a new zombie movie is being filmed in Kitsap County called Zombies of Mass Destruction. Cool, eh? Well, they are looking for zombie extras to be in the movie! The movie is being filmed now through November 17 in Port Gamble, WA, and they need a bunch of zombies.
If you like zombies as much as I do (I even like Rob Zombie), then listen up; a new zombie movie is being filmed in Kitsap County called Zombies of Mass Destruction. Cool, eh? Well, they are looking for zombie extras to be in the movie! The movie is being filmed now through November 17 in Port Gamble, WA, and they need a bunch of zombies.
If you are interested in being a zombie in a feature film, please contact:
- Email: foregroundbackground@gmail.com
- Phone: 425.246.2725
Shooting Schedule and Other Zombie Details
Tammytown: DVD Release of Movie Made in Washington
The Northwest is a region without any major movie production companies, and it is always thrilling to hear about a movie that is made in Washington. Tammytown, made in Olympia, WA., was directed and produced by Phoebe Owens. This is her first full length movie.
Here is what the movie is about:
Check out the preview and remember and admire the bangs of 1989.
Oh man, I hated those bangs. Tammytown releases on DVD on October 23.
Here is what the movie is about:
An ensemble cast of hilarious teens embark on their final year at Hellgate High in 1989. Our lead heroines are two opposing Tammies focused on surviving senior year. They are flanked by the new girl who likes punk rock music and kissing girls, the rocker chick with long legs and hair, the motor-head dudes, and many more. A nerdy chorus is your guide through this comedy fun-ride packed full of cat-fights, bonfire parties, and souped-up cars.
Check out the preview and remember and admire the bangs of 1989.
Oh man, I hated those bangs. Tammytown releases on DVD on October 23.
Broken Disco
Today is the second Friday of the month, so that means it is time for Broken Disco. Each month, Broken Disco hosts different electronic musicians, usually of varying styles, in 2 rooms at one venue, Chop Suey. Tonight at Chop Suey, enjoy cutting edge electronic music your grandparents don't think is real music. It is, indeed, music; music of the FUTURE, and future music is very good.
Tonight's line-up includes:
You can sample tonight's music on most of the links provided above. Recess' music makes me want to play hop-scotch, four-square, and the-ground-is-hot-lava on the jungle gym. I have raved about Recess before, too.
I'm also very excited to see Modeselektor, who just released an album, Happy Birthday!. Jacob London has a style and sound that will surely make folks do a happy stomping dance, so I am excited about him, too. More information on the deejays here.
Chop Suey will open its doors tonight at 9pm, the show is $12 adv, 18+.
Tonight's line-up includes:
You can sample tonight's music on most of the links provided above. Recess' music makes me want to play hop-scotch, four-square, and the-ground-is-hot-lava on the jungle gym. I have raved about Recess before, too.
I'm also very excited to see Modeselektor, who just released an album, Happy Birthday!. Jacob London has a style and sound that will surely make folks do a happy stomping dance, so I am excited about him, too. More information on the deejays here.
Chop Suey will open its doors tonight at 9pm, the show is $12 adv, 18+.
Zombie Rally: What do we want? Braaaaaaains!
UPDATE: If you missed this event, you missed a good, disgusting, and fun time! I took a few photos. Continue Reading...
Seattle: Brace Yourself For Wind
Do y'all remember last December when Seattle nearly got blown away by those crazy wind storms? And then the power went out for days in parts of the city and people had to find their friends with power so they could take showers and eat hot food? Remember? Well, brace yourself for another windy adventure in Seattle tomorrow, Thursday, October 18.
So, what should you do if your power goes out? Seattle City Light has a hotline you can call to find out the status of your power outage. If you do not have heat in your house, head downtown or to an area you know has power and warm up and get a hot meal at a restaurant. Or, you can stay at home and sit on your front porch with a shotgun and tell looters to stay off your land. No, don't do that.
So, prepare yourself for a windstorm and a possible power outage and have the following items accessible:
So, what should you do if your power goes out? Seattle City Light has a hotline you can call to find out the status of your power outage. If you do not have heat in your house, head downtown or to an area you know has power and warm up and get a hot meal at a restaurant. Or, you can stay at home and sit on your front porch with a shotgun and tell looters to stay off your land. No, don't do that.
So, prepare yourself for a windstorm and a possible power outage and have the following items accessible:
- candles
- flashlights
- batteries
- battery powered radio
- firewood (if you have a fireplace)
- lots of blankets and warm clothes
- food
- water
Get Out, Go East
Seattle has great Fall weather, and Fall is especially beautiful on the east side of The Cascades. The vibrant colors of the leaves on deciduous trees are absolutely breathtaking, rivaling the fall colors of New England.
If you need an excuse to get out of town this weekend, here is my suggestion: drive east of Seattle on Highway 2. After a 2 hour scenic drive on a portion of the Cascade Loop, you can enjoy Oktoberfest this weekend in "Washington's Bavarian Village," Leavenworth. However, I must say that I am not a fan of Leavenworth's Oktoberfest, because I am not 70 years old, nor do I travel in an RV. If you do not understand what I mean, just go to Leavenworth and find out for yourself. I do not want to tell you to avoid the festival, because a lot of people like it. But, if you are like me and would like to avoid the Oktoberfest crowds, there is still plenty to do around Leavenworth in October.
DINING
SHOPPING
If you do not want to drive all the way to Leavenworth (or you want to make a stop on your way to or from Leavenworth), you can stay on the west side of The Cascades and go to a pumpkin patch and corn maze just outside of Monroe, WA, on Highway 2 (you will see the signs from the highway). My friends went to a pumpkin patch last year and they had a great time, so I am going with them this year. For a list of pumpkin patches, hay rides, and corn mazes in the surrounding Seattle area, click here.
If you need an excuse to get out of town this weekend, here is my suggestion: drive east of Seattle on Highway 2. After a 2 hour scenic drive on a portion of the Cascade Loop, you can enjoy Oktoberfest this weekend in "Washington's Bavarian Village," Leavenworth. However, I must say that I am not a fan of Leavenworth's Oktoberfest, because I am not 70 years old, nor do I travel in an RV. If you do not understand what I mean, just go to Leavenworth and find out for yourself. I do not want to tell you to avoid the festival, because a lot of people like it. But, if you are like me and would like to avoid the Oktoberfest crowds, there is still plenty to do around Leavenworth in October.
DINING
- My favorite breakfast spot in Leavenworth (which also serves lunch and dinner) is The Renaissance Cafe. This restaurant offers vegetarian options in a town full of bratwurst.
- Uncle Uli's is where the locals hang out. They offer a nice selection of beer, outside seating with heaters, and hearty food.
- If you are looking for a fun diner, stop at the 59er Diner at Cole's Corner on Highway 2 (about a 15 - 20 minute drive west of Leavenworth). They have THE BEST milkshakes, and they give you half a stick of gum with your bill. Yes, that is weird. They have fascinating bathrooms as well.
- If you want to go for a hike, there are many day and overnight hikes around Leavenworth. Again, this time of year the scenery is breathtakingly colorful and gorgeous.
- The area surrounding Leavenworth is also renowned for its excellent rock climbing, and if you grab a beer in the early evening at Uncle Uli's, you will probably be sitting with some really skilled rock climbers who are enjoying a beer and sharing stories after a day of climbing.
SHOPPING
- The Alps candy shop has great peanut brittles; my favorite is their hazelnut brittles. Downstairs they sell a wide variety of delicious mustard and sauces. The Alps is literally on the side of Highway 2 right on the Wenatchee River, so be careful when you pull off the highway and make sure you use your turn signal. You will find this shop just before you get into downtown Leavenworth. If you go to The Alps, don't forget to go downstairs. They usually offer free samples downstairs.
If you do not want to drive all the way to Leavenworth (or you want to make a stop on your way to or from Leavenworth), you can stay on the west side of The Cascades and go to a pumpkin patch and corn maze just outside of Monroe, WA, on Highway 2 (you will see the signs from the highway). My friends went to a pumpkin patch last year and they had a great time, so I am going with them this year. For a list of pumpkin patches, hay rides, and corn mazes in the surrounding Seattle area, click here.
Puppet Show For Adults of All Ages
During the season of Halloween, watch a dark tale about Dracula.... acted out with puppets! The same folks who bring you Drunk Puppet Night now bring you the harrowing tale of what happened to the most famous vampire's survivors in Dracula: A Case Study:
A handful of survivors from Bram Stoker's original tale have been locked up in Dr. John Seward's insane asylum, their minds having proved too fragile to withstand Dracula's terror. Dr. Seward has developed a fascinating new therapy to restore his tortured patients to sanity. They are using puppets to relive the events of the novel and to reach an understanding of what REALLY happened when they fell under Dracula's evil spell.
This show is produced by the professional puppeteers at Monkey Wrench Puppet Lab, who have:
made a reputation for themselves as Seattle’s most creative, most courageous and most disturbing puppeteers, dedicated to creating ridiculous, inappropriate and artistically excellent puppet plays and events.
Ridiculous and inappropriate puppet plays? The concept is so wonderfully bizarre that I cannot imagine why anyone would not want to experience it. Unless you are afraid of puppets. Then, probably, don't go see the scary vampire puppet show.
Dracula: A Case Study plays October 11 - November 3 at Theater off Jackson (in the International District), Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm. Halloween Show on Wednesday, October 31, at 8pm. Tickets are $15. Thursday, October 18 is Pay-What-You-Can Night.
Cyclo-Crossdress
I found this flier on the .83 bicycle club website:
Show up next Saturday, in drag, with your bicycle and enjoy the cyclo-cross race with other people in drag, then drink beer and eat lunch, in drag. NOTE: You must be comfortable looking ridiculous to enjoy this event.
Show up next Saturday, in drag, with your bicycle and enjoy the cyclo-cross race with other people in drag, then drink beer and eat lunch, in drag. NOTE: You must be comfortable looking ridiculous to enjoy this event.
Georgetown Liquor Company
Last Friday night, my first stop of a full evening included grabbing a beer in Georgetown at the Georgetown Liquor Company. Before I tell you about this wonderful restaurant/bar, I want to share a tidbit of information about myself:
I am the proud owner of an Atari 2600, and I am a skilled retro gamer. My stealth motor skills, vivid imagination (which is used to interpret pixilated graphics), and years of practice have made me one of the best retro gamers in the world.
If you would like to challenge me, meet me at the Georgetown Liquor Company and I DARE you to attempt to beat me at any one of the many retro games available to play. The Georgetown Liquor Company has two Atari 2600 consoles and over 70 Atari games. They also have Nintendo and Super Nintendo. Download the complete list of games. The restaurant/bar also has arcade games including Defender and Ms. Pac-Man.
Aside from retro games, the Georgetown Liquor Company has developed a reputation for its excellent food. The entire menu is 100% vegetarian, with many vegan options. Non-vegetarians, do not be scared-off by the vegetarian menu, as the menu items are hearty and filling.
The icing on the cake of the Georgetown Liquor Company experience is you can enjoy their food, ambiance, and beer or cocktail while watching a sci-fi movie every Sunday night, starting at 8pm. Give them a call to find out what is showing this week.
For your viewing pleasure, Human Space Invaders:
The Weakerthans Play Tonight! At Last!
After taking a four year hiatus, the The Weakerthans released a new album and are playing tonight at Neumo's. They will be the headlining band, following performances by The Last Town Chorus and Jeremy Fisher.
Wikipedia, my favorite source of information, describes the band:
The band was formed in 1997 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by John K. Samson, after he left the punk band Propagandhi to start a publishing company. Samson joined forces with bassist John P. Sutton and drummer Jason Tait, and created The Weakerthans as a vehicle for a more melodic and introspective brand of songwriting than that of Propagandhi.Click the links below to listen to a few songs by The Weakerthans. You can also download songs from their website. I love it when bands provide free music, by the way. It makes me want to buy their albums to pay them back for their generosity.
Tonight's show is all-ages, doors open at 8pm.
Seattle Juggling and Footbag Festival
Never heard of it? What is it? Is it real?
SJFF is a real festival of juggling and hacky sack, two hobbies united at last. I had no idea there was ever a need to unite the two. Perhaps there is a rivalry between jugglers and footbaggers, like the rivalry between skiers and snowboarders, skateboarders and rollerbladers, bloods and crypts, republicans and democrats, the French and everyone. SJFF organizers explain:
This event takes place next month, November 16-18, at the Ravenna Community Center. More details can be found on their myspace page. I'm guessing you should not attend this event if you have an aversion to getting beamed in the head with some sort of small ball.
SJFF is a real festival of juggling and hacky sack, two hobbies united at last. I had no idea there was ever a need to unite the two. Perhaps there is a rivalry between jugglers and footbaggers, like the rivalry between skiers and snowboarders, skateboarders and rollerbladers, bloods and crypts, republicans and democrats, the French and everyone. SJFF organizers explain:
SJFF was created to bridge the gap between jugglers and footbag players (hacky sack) and encourage everyone to use all four limbs. The Festival, which is open to the public, features games, workshops, contests, two live performances and in-depth access to top professionals in the juggling and footbag world.SJFF is in its 6th year. Past performers include Artis the Spoonman (famed by Soundgarden), and Nanda, an amazing dance troupe I saw perform earlier this year at the Moisture Festival.
This event takes place next month, November 16-18, at the Ravenna Community Center. More details can be found on their myspace page. I'm guessing you should not attend this event if you have an aversion to getting beamed in the head with some sort of small ball.
Rainy Day Activities
It's that time of year in Seattle. Time to hunker down and stay inside and try to keep warm and dry. The rainy season is upon us, yet it is still too warm to head to the mountains and play in the snow. Here are my rainy day activity suggestions:
- Take this time to catch up on work. Pretty soon it is going to be dark outside whether you leave the office at 4:30pm or 8:00pm. If you don't have kids, might as well stay at work later.
- Cook a nice meal for your friends and family. It's time to add that extra weight (I like to call it "winter weight") so you won't shiver like a chihuahua all winter. My favorite local grocery stores are PCC and Madison Market. Both are co-ops that feature local and organic produce.
- Pick up some good books to read. I generally go to Elliot Bay Book Co. This bookstore is one of Seattle's best independent bookstores, and is conveniently located near my work, which makes it even better. They have an amazing selection of books, including a well arranged corner of the store that features local authors. The coffee shop downstairs has good food, with a decent selection of vegetarian options served by a variety of Seattle hipsters.
- Dine out at a cozy restaurant. For breakfast, The Library Cafe has more than one fireplace to dine next to, books galore, and delicious comfort food. Bleu Bistro has to be my favorite fall/winter dining spots. It's perfect for a first date, but probably a depressing place to go alone as it seems to be designed for small groups and couples. I recommend any of their hot specialty drinks; they come with a cookie!
- Go for a steam at the spa. My favorite spa in Seattle is the affordable Hot House in Capitol Hill. Sorry guys, it is ladies only. It is a tiny place that makes great use of the space by providing the basics: a steam room, sauna, hot tub, massage room, shower room, and lounge area. The butch clientele generally scares off the bourgeois condo-living-yuppie-trash who have taken over most spas in Seattle, so Hot House is a safe haven for the down-to-earth lady who just wants to relax and warm-up.
