nudle

Game day.

Usually I couldn't care less about football (and I'm the only one in my entire family who feels that way, which makes me feel that way even more) but I couldn't help but get caught up in this year's Seahawks saga. The rivalry, the stories, and going with Ewan to the playoff game for his birthday--being part of the whole scene made me appreciate this game that most Americans spend so much time and energy watching and talking about. Obsessing over. Then there was the sudden superstardom of Richard Sherman. Drama!

We saw friends at the game (and they're in New Jersey now, lucky fans).

Han and his friend, J., demonstrating the Seahawks' fierceness.

Our Superbowl party (for four) will include meat and beer and, probably, folding clothes.

How will it all play out?

There is a cafe close to school that we visit on our way home sometimes. Usually it's when Iona's had a bad day, so we can get her a chocolate chip cookie. Han gets something, too, and sometimes I even get a scone or biscotti. They are nice. It's an old house with an aura of friendliness and neighborhoodiness. The people smile and recognize us. All these are good when you weren't asked to play soccer at lunch recess and even if you hate soccer, it would have been nice to be asked, and you would have even played, had you been asked. So when we found ourselves standing outside the glass front yesterday, I realized that my wallet was sitting uselessly at home and all I had was my checkbook. We went in anyway. I hate asking for favors which is a weakness of mine but I am able to overcome it in a lunch-recess-no-soccer-invitation emergency, which is a strength. So I asked if they'd take a check. The woman said, "How about if you just bring the money in tomorrow and take the cookies now. Would that be okay?" It was okay. So today maybe we'll go back, take money, and buy more cookies.

My mom and sisters make the best pies. I don't eat leftover pie. But I guess that story's about to change, because I just downed a piece of leftover Mom's pecan next to one of Kathy's pumpkin with day-old whipped cream spread all over the top and it was pretty much like heaven.

Monstruo!

Dinner Redux by Art Olsen.

Saturday evening, August 14, almost two weeks ago, fifteen friends sat down to dinner. Art Olsen cooked, with help from sous-chefs and servers and friends, and I was lucky to be included. Thank you to Art, Tonnie, Tessa, Hannah, Nick, Kerri, Angie, Jarrett, Brian and probably someone else I am forgetting, for an unforgettable time.

Art Olsen 

Tessa, Hannah, Tonnie

The amount of training, practice, planning, procuring, cooking and eating that went into this dinner was mind-blowing. It deserves a proper story; that's why this post is long. (Read all the way to the end for more photos.)

Art's little black book

Terror at Blue C.

At our local conveyor-belt sushi joint, imagine Han's horror when he saw, projected on the wall behind him, this!

 

Then along came a dreadful, green, you-can-see-what-shape-it-is-so-I-need-not-tell-you, thing:

These made him scrabble his way into my lap and cling to me for the duration of our meal.

  

Art Olsen Gala Dinner

One night, ten friends, eight hours, sixteen courses, fourteen wines.

One week ago, Ewan and I sat with our friends in a house in Sammamish, having taken a cab there from Seattle, and had an eight-hour meal prepared by Arthur Olsen.

Art graduated at the top of his class from California Culinary Academy. He works as an IT consultant in a small company he co-founded with his wife, Audrey.

 

The Chef

Egg story.

Poor breakfast egg. He sits here still, uneaten. The end.

Salmon Story, by Iona, age 6 and almost a half.

Dear Bella,
The salmon called Coho is from a native language. We went to the Locks today there is kind of an elevator in the water. The salmon dies where they were born. Bears eat salmon, sharks eat salmon, eagles eat salmon, people eat salmon, seals eat salmon. I am learning salmon at school. What do you know about salmon? I hope you had a good day. Read this two times a day or three times and when they're red they are close to dying and they also have a hooked nose.

My Seattle.

Restaurants

Salumi (meat, meat, meat and go early and still stand in line but the sandwiches are worth it; only open Tues-Fri 11-4; you can buy cured meat online!)

Matt's in the Market (get a table that looks out over Market; pork sandwich is great)

Other Coast Cafe (east coast style sandwiches; Ballard and downtown)

Bakeman's (122 Cherry St near Pioneer Square; unfancy; classic sandwich cafeteria; cheap)

Mee Sum Pastry (in the Market; are humbow Chinese sandwiches? Good take-with-you food; cheap; get the baked ones)

13 Coins (overpriced and frequently surreal, but quintessential counter chic; there's one downtown off Denny and one across the street from the airport; open 24 hours)

El Puerco Lloron (Market Hillclimb; eat outside on a sunny day)

Canlis (fancy; from their web site: "At Canlis, you cannot be overdressed." Queen Anne)

Cafe Campagne (Market)

Etta's (Market)

Pink Door (good bar; we hung out here in college)

I hear Le Pichet on First near the Market is good

Lockspot (good if you're visiting Ballard Locks; old Ballard ambiance, if you can use that word for a place like this)

Added: Since I eat there so frequently, Shiro's; what a genius with fish he was until he retired; the place is still open and still serving good sushi and I'm still there once or twice a month; and Shiro sometimes shows up still on Friday nights (Belltown)

Bars

Comet Tavern (we used to drink Pilsner Urquel and smoke Lucky Strikes here in college; Capitol Hill)

Pink Door (we used to drink red wine and pick up boys here in college; Post Alley above Market)

Cyclops (funky bar that used to be a cafe on another street called Free Mars and I used to go there in college; I met the owner at Iona's pottery camp a couple weeks ago which made me reflect on how things have changed since college; Belltown)

The Local Vine (high design and great wine plus tiny delicious food; Belltown)

Music

I don't go to clubs any more but this is from my friend Ron, who is an expert on the subject. He made me go to shows back in the day. Most of the great music I've seen is because of him and my sister's fake ID.

These are the pages to bookmark:
KEXP events

KEXP calendar

Ballard is the most fun right now. The Tractor is the same as always (maybe a bit more diverse) and the Sunset is great for unbroken local bands. (Added by me: High Dive in Ballard too.)

The Comet has some good random shows lately too and good energy when there is a band playing. I also like the Rendezvous (but hate Belltown now). Both these places are unpredictable which gets them a star in my book.

Chop Suey will inevitably get the B-level bands that the Croc used to get. If you are into the newest thing and read popmatters or pitchfork you have to keep an eye on Chop Suey.

Neumos and The Showbox get the A-level people. Lots of sellouts.

Triple Door gets the has-beens and the occasional hipster show.

Thanks, Ron.

Movie theaters

Central Cinema (movies with drinks)

The Big Picture (cheesy but I love movie theaters that serve drinks)

I haven't to these theaters to since we moved back, but I used to love them:
Harvard Exit (Capitol Hill)

Egyptian (Capitol Hill)

Seven Gables Theater (University District)

Neptune (U District)

Attractions

Pike Place Market (touristy but I will always love it)

Seattle Center Fun Forest for kitschy rides (you might need kids to enjoy this; give the roller coaster a miss -- it hurts; available for a limited time only because they're gonna take it all away)

Central Library (Rem Koolhaas)

Parks

Waterfall Garden Park (this is really one of my favorite places; I should go there more often; 219 Second Avenue South)

Sound Garden (it was a park before it was a band; a trek from downtown and very limited hours; next to Warren G. Magnuson Park on Sand Point Way)

Seward Park (south of us on Lake Washington)

Discovery Park (sometimes my sister makes me run here and it's big; between Ballard and Magnolia; Ballard Locks are close by and worth seeing when the fish run and you can eat at the Lock Spot)

Arboretum (git your dose of dappled sunlight here; I have great memories of driving too fast through here to get to a college boyfriend's house)

Book stores

Elliott Bay Book Company (for ambiance and recommendations; Pioneer Square)

University Bookstore in the U District (has everything including art supplies)

Speaking of art supplies, Daniel Smith in SODO (south of downtown)

...and, OT but speaking of SODO, visit Urban Hardwoods (on Colorado Street; we bought our table there)

Seattle Mystery Bookshop (close to Pioneer Square and Bakeman's so go for lunch then buy a page turner)

Peter Miller Books for design and architecture books (First Avenue; it's full of itself but what can you do? Go buy books you'll never actually read anyway)

Fantagraphic Books in Georgetown (Georgetown is great but Fantagraphics is really great)

Shops

REI downtown (go for the retail experience but get your ski gear used at Alpine on Leary)

Archie McPhee (visit this geeks' paradise for all your novelties; Ballard)

The shop at SAM (for gifts; Second Ave)

...if you're at SAM visit DeMedici Ming if you like paper and there's this cool Asian store nearby that has beautiful, expensive things