2010.

Screw resolutions. Make a treasure troll wish.
Also, 'Treasure Trolls: Search for the Wishstones Game' is really fun.

Dutch on a Mish Mosh

The Dutch on a Mish Mosh

Bagel Chateau
(9.5/10 on my bangin' scale.)

The Dutch (~$3.50), a favorite amongst exceedingly hung-over teens as well as Fatty McFattersons like myself, is a sandwich available at one of Westfield's most popular breakfast places. Eggs, potatoes, cheese, onions, and peppers on top of a toasted bagel of choice. Here, the sandwich is served on a "mish mosh" bagel, also known as an everything.

Get this delicious meal at Bagel Chateau, also known as "The Chat" (pronounced like the past tense of sh*t), on South Ave. While you're there, buy some more nom-alicious treats for your family (since it's so cheap), and eavesdrop on every person in the whole town. No need for high school reunions; you'll see that special someone you were too lazy to call and/or never wanted to see again.

Revelation.

Yesterday my sister sang Sublime's "What I got," while my mom thought she was attempting to sing the Beatles' "Lady Madonna." Then I realized they do sound almost exactly the same. So did Wikipedia, apparently.

Isaiah Thomas.

Tonight I went to my first ever UW men's basketball game. They played Portland University. UW crushed them 89-54.

The best part of the game is that they have Isaiah Thomas. No, not this guy:



The one who lost last week to Georgetown:

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=765139c0-4098-454a-9846-dc7f979d8162&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="Highlights: (15) G&#39;town - (17) UW">Video: Highlights: (15) G&#39;town - (17) UW</a>

And if you were wondering, his player bio says, he was "named after the former Indiana and NBA all-star guard Isiah Thomas when his father, James, lost a friendly wager on a Lakers vs. Pistons playoff game in 1989 ... the name was approved by his mother since she desired a biblical name."

happy thanksgiving

From Tommy, Dick, and Harry. And Sally. This one's shorter.

Things to do when your mom comes to visit: Volunteer Park

Making Pennies, trying to solve life's conundrums one at a time: (this time, what do I do in Seattle when my mom comes to visit?)

1. Start off at the SAAM. If your mom is the museum type (as many are) go on in and have some fun. Otherwise, take a walk to see the water tower, explore the koi ponds, and take obligatory corny photos of the space needle, through the gaping circle (above).


2. Visit the conservatory. It's free, but only open til 4pm, so get there early. Cactus room (above) and chrysanthemums the size of my head (below) were highlights. I'm not sure if these things are here all the time, or if they rotate. You can also see carnivorous plants, if you're into that.


3. Walk over to Lakeview Cemetery, and visit Bruce Lee's grave. Did you know? Bruce could have made it onto this year's ANTM cycle, because he was only 5'7" (ish).

4. Take the 10 bus for a super short trip down to Coastal Kitchen on 15th in Capitol Hill for a delicious meal. Here, brunch is pictured. Try their coffee cake. So good, it's bad.

TV Commercial Fail.

If you watched ANTM last night (which I hope you did, my fave two are in the final two!), you prolly saw this hella shitty commercial. The maker of it probably said to himself, I have an idea, why don't we repeat portions of one audio clip NINE TIMES in a thirty second commercial?



I will NOT be watching this shit. If anyone does, let me know if they say, "I have an idea, why don't we have a seance" as many times as they are advertising.

SAM Remix

Y'all know I was a huge fan of Hirshorn After Hours, so, after the stars aligned to give me enough time to do something fun this weekend, I decided to head on over to the quarterly SAM Remix. Now, my first After Hours may have changed my life forever, but... Friday November 6th's Remix at Seattle Art Musem was off tha hook.

Remix featured, among other things, "Highly Opinionated Tours" led by art fanatics like Jen Graves of The Stranger fame, yodeling Dominatrix Manuela Horn (from this year's America's Got Talent), a stilt dancer, and a hella sweet Alexander Calder exhibit (featuring lots of mobiles and his puh-sycho crazy-man circus video).

Need I mention this shit was super gay? Come here if you need a place to show off your latest drag ensemble... Now that I look at the program, it was co-sponsored by Outlaws (for queer law students at UW), Out for Sustainability (fuckin no clue what that means but it sounds gay), Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Seattle Out and Proud.

Some other activities of the night, in pictures:

Michelangelo's David-inspired temporary tattoos. (There was a Michelangelo exhibit in the galleries.)

A modeling/drawing station.

Crafts 101 for adults: Paper bag luminaria for Dia de los Muertos.

Two different dance floors w/ two different DJ's. This particular DJ, mixed super dancy versions of classic motown and 90's rap.

All in all, hella fun. Def's worth the $8 student admission.

I'm down with Op(p)

Yeah you know me. (In response to yesterday's post.)

I think I was literally assigned 99 problems

I know this is old, but I never looked at all of them. Recordings are available for most of the songs.

So we have to make a "99 problems" song in response. I nominate Karen. (Please, relay this message to Karen.)

PS. Can you tell I am doing everything to avoid studying for midterms?
PPS. They clearly use STATA. Losers.

Fun in Fall

It is a long standing tradition in my hometown of Westfield, NJ (the town where they filmed most of that old show Ed about the lawyer/bowler or something) for this one house on Dudley Avenue to put up awesome decorations on Christmas and Halloween. Behold:Unfortunately, there is a sign this year that informs visitors that this will be their last year decorating. Does anyone know why? Is it because of the electric bills in this economy? Is it because the family is downsizing from their ginormous house, also because of the economy? Have they lost all Halloween spirit??? Westfielders, let me know!

Also, what are you for Halloween this year?

Keep those Pichets coming

Le Pichet
(8/10 on my bangin' scale)
1933 1st Avenue, Downtown

Besides the fact that you are surrounded by Northwesterners, that the waiter says "demi pichet" like an American, and that the service is pretty fast, you might think you're actually in a Parisian bistro. From the way they serve the butter to the setup of the counter and bar, you almost feel authenticity at Le Pichet in downtown Seattle.

Don't expect anything too fancy (at lunch, anyway... Note: dinner prices are cheaper than at most good French restaurants, but are still above a grad student's everyday range). Just expect some tasty, French, snacky meals that are pretty darn inexpensive for a French place just 2 blocks from Pike Place Market.


I tried the taboule ($8). I'd been missing taboule since my days of buying lunch at the Monoprix near the Alesia Metro stop. Their version, topped with a merguez sausage, was def's better than the Monoprix version. Nommy, some might say. You can also get other simple things like broiled eggs with ham and gruyere ($8), or a sandwich jambon-fromage ($6.50). Oh, yeah, the baguettes are pretty dece, too. Don't forget the dozens of wines available in pichets (not sure of price), demi pichets (starting at $9) , and glasses (starting at $5).

The portions aren't proper American portions, but remember, you're at a French restaurant. By the time you have the cheese platter ($12) or dessert ($6, things like chocolate mousse), you'll be too full to care about the size of your entree, anyway.

Aquaria are always cool.

Seattle Aquarium. I'll cut down on words, since all you really wanna see in a post about an aquarium is pictures anyway.

Sea Horse, possibly a male carrying babies

A friggin cool fish.

Giant Octopus HEYYY!

They have cool touch pools. Look at the spiky orange thing!

Circular water tank. Yes, the current makes the jellyfish go in circles for the entirety of their lifetimes

Remember the '90s?

K-CI & JOJO - All My Life

But I bet you guys have never watched the video. Mother & child, straight couples, lesbian couple, and hobo + lady giving sandwich (2:13). How sweet?

(Via Beth... thanks.)

GW, bizarro UW

WRGW:

UW Libraries Media Center:

The GW one is def's more ghetto.

Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?

I know this T-Mobile commercial is old, but.... WHOOPULA!!!!


I Googled Whoopula for your enjoyment:

Re: Edward Cullen is the greatest vampire of all time
The best vampire is Whoopula.

Come on now, am I really the only one who cries from laughter at this shit?

Seattle Storm in playoffs, that is so gay.

Sunday at 2pm, they take on a gimp and a preggers in the deciding game of the western conference semifinals. Big whoop.

Gay, gay, gay.

Portland in photos

Clay head sculptures in 10 minutes (only $9) at the Saturday market. (You get what you wait/pay for)

Bacon maple doughnut at Voodoo Doughnuts. Cock-n-balls doughnut partially visible in the background.

Voodoo Jelly Doughnut at Voodoo Doughnut
Country music and dancing at the Laurelthirst Pub

Delicious scrambled egg concoctions at Utopia Cafe.
MC Escher exhibit and Tattoos at Portland Art Museum.

Football is stupid

Today in UW crime:

On September 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., a female UW student was on her way to the UW vs. LSU football game walking alone in parking area E-9 on the north side of Husky Stadium. She was pushed to the ground by two unknown males in their 20's, who then took the victim's football ticket from her rear pocket. Both suspects fled toward the North Plaza entrance to Husky Stadium and entered the facility. Responding Officers were unable to locate the suspects among the crowd. Fortunately, the victim did not sustain serious injury.

They won zero games last season. Why the hell would you want a ticket so bad? Are you fucking kidding me.

Seattle Rap @ UW

Aside from Sir Mix-A-Lot, Seattle rap doesn't have a particularly strong history.

Now that indie/white rap is hip, Seattle's got some 'hop going on.

Common Market:


Blue Scholars:


So, the point is, UW has some freshman concert thingy at the beginning of the year (too bad I didn't know about it last year...), and they're both performing.

Monday, Sept 28, 2:00-7:00 pm. Who's coming with?

Cafe Koinonia: "FroYo" Seattle-style.

Cafe Koinonia
41st St and Eastlake Ave, U-district.
(7/10 on my bangin' scale)

Perhaps best known for its slightly ambiguous "YOGURT SANDWICHES" signs and occasional Bible study meetings, Cafe Koinonia is a perfect example of what frozen yogurt should be.

Cafe Koinonia sign, photo courtesy of Google Maps.

As its signage insinuates, the cafe sells a variety of coffee, sandwiches, yogurt, and snacks. I can't say much for their other food (although I've been told they have unpretentious/reasonably priced sandwiches), but their yogurt is quite delicious.

Their two flavors of yogurt--Original and Husky (blueberry yogurt)--are surprisingly flavorful, as non-fat yogurt goes. The toppings, as usu, are where it's at. You prolly know the deal by now: fruit, candy, some nuts. But Cafe Koinonia's fruit is always super ripe and sweet and colorful. As the friendly owner/yogurt man assures me, "mango is good". Let me tell you, having grown up on discount fruits and vegetables (what? my dad is cheap), in general, mango may not be good. At Cafe Koinonia, it most definitely is.

Presenting Goodspaceguy

I know we're not supposed to give these people press, but... what the fuck. This guy is listed in this month's primary election for King County Executive as "Goodspaceguy". I encourage you to visit his website at http://colonizespace.blogspot.com/. I know he's joking. I know he's making a mockery of our political system. But I also know... CRAZIES.

I'm a bit let down, however. His website doesn't even list his positions on improving space.

Part of his entry in the King County Local Voters' Pamphlet.

In other news, I kinda want to vote for the former NBA player running for mayor.

Under the Bridge

Seattle likes putting things under bridges. (See this awesome (?) cover.) For example, I-5 park, the wall of death, the oh-so-famous troll (pictured below).
This troll is by far the most famous of the Seattle under-the-bridge constructions, and supposedly was put there to stop all the drug dealing and prostitution in the area. The troll is pretty big. He's pretty emo. He was featured in "10 Things I Hate About You". When I met him for the first time over a year ago, I was pretty overwhelmed with hilarity. I kind of love the City of Seattle's public art.

So I want your verdict. Overwhelmed, underwhelmed, or just whelmed?

Seattle is ill-equipped for every type of weather

Weather.com screen shot. It had never been above 100 degrees here before. People are melting. Now all we need are some snow plows. And maybe a fan or two.

Capitol Hill Block Party: Noisettes

I was at the Capitol Hill Block Party Saturday. Was my favorite act the Thermals? No. Was it Sonic Youth? Nope. Was it that shitty rapper SOL? Oh HELL no. Without a doubt my favorite act was the Noisettes.

The Noisettes were the only band in the Stranger's block party guide with only a two sentence review. They apparently were a "late addition to the Block Party lineup". And the lead singer is "supposed to be very charismatic in a Karen O sort of way." It was strange that I read this after the Block Party, because I had just made the same comparison. Because she really IS crazy like Karen O, only she can actually sing as well as do Karen O's screaming. Sometimes they also throw some 50's style pizzazz here and there.

Shingai Shoniwa, main singer and bassist. Screaming.

She decides to climb the 10 foot, shaky speakers

Shingai Shoniwa, getting her dress taped together after the first song. It broke during her antics.

Please watch some of their videos. Supposedly they're quite popular in the UK, since they're Londoners or something. Uhh. watch this. And the one below.

Noisettes Don't Give Up
Uploaded by Noisettes. - Explore more music videos.

Capitol Hill Block Party, anyone?

I'm going to this tomorrow (Saturday). Anyone wanna go with? Anyone have suggestions for who I should see?

Make Tiny Laura a Legend.

The Post Alley Gum Wall in Seattle is pretty durn amazing. Gum everywherez. For my birthday on Friday, we added THE TINEST PHOTO EVER (of me) to the wall. Let's get this to urban legend status. Start telling your friends crazy stories about the "history" of the tiny photo. Post yours here.

U! S! A!!!! U! S! A!!!!

My love for I-5 park was validated last night. Great view of Gas Works Park's fireworks. We got there 25 minutes before the show and got great seats. How was your 4th?

Your Mom's an Ugly Mug

Ugly Mug Cafe
(9/10 on my bangin' scale)

The first time I noticed the Ugly Mug Cafe (in the U on 43rd, right off the Ave), it was because of the ugly, wincing, gargoyle-y face on the side of the adjacent apartment building. Then, walking a few steps further and summoning up all my girly, I was like, "OMGzZzZ! That coffeeshop is, like, SO CUUUUTE!" Too bad I don't drink coffee. But please, hear me out.

Upon returning to the establishment (... four, five times now?), I was able to confirm that the Mug is, in fact, as cute as I had made it out to be. In addition to puppy dog eyes cute, it turns out the food ain't nothin' to f*%^ with, either. Try the Gobbler sandwich: Turkey, lettuce, some lip-smackingly delicious sauce, and cranberry-ness on generous slices of Italian bread. And that's all in the "half" sandwich at only $4. While you're munchin', read some French poetry written especially for The Ugly. Love notes and rhymes abound for this place, as you'll find by sitting at several of the decorated tables along the walls. For dessert, since I'm not much of a coffee drinker, I usually get a sensationally sweet chai tea. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

Other plusses: Real people frequent this coffeeshop (aka not just students), there's always an agreeable music selection playing, BAKED GOODS!!!, and the people who work there are super nice.

Possibly bad: They don't have weefee (aka interwebz)... but I usually get more work done if I don't play around on the 'net all the time, anyway.

The Ugly Mug is da bomb.

Seattle Pride

There was a parade, then a festival at the Space Needle.

More naked bikers

Gaywatch

Pride Festival, fountain, and steering clear of sketchy men

My life goal is complete.

We've made it onto the Movin' 92.5 web site.



More on Seattle Pride to follow.

Question:

Is skateboarding in again, or is Seattle just in a time warp?

"gosh, i like our department a lot. except for the classes."


TRUTH.

Exams.

This song embodies my mood. Well the part where he groans for seconds at a time. I've found myself forgetting to breathe, so now I sigh involuntarily???

CHACARRON.

I-5 park

I-5 park is my favorite park in Seattle.

Gasp all you want, but that's not going to change the fact that I like it better than Gasworks or Volunteer Park or Olympic Sculpture Park or... you get the idea.

Seattle has a somewhat eclectic and often hilarious park scene. I-5 Park (aka North Passage Point Park) is no exception. Nestled under the roaring Interstate 5, this unassuming park has a fairly dece view of the Space Needle over Lake Union. It also is in close proximity to Voula's.

Feel free to sit near the water. Benches (2), concrete, and picnic tables (2) are provided for that purpose. Lay in the grass near a homeless woman, watch boats go by with young children and their parents, or listen to the joyous shrieks of teenagers dry humping in the bushes.


But all joking aside, this is where Portage Bay meets Lake Union, or where a small park touches my heart.

Yummy Cafe.

Yes.

7/10 on the bangin' scale.


I'll keep it brief since their name basically says it all. On the 30 bus route towards Sand Point. Family style, take out or eat in. Mushu pork was delish (and great service!!), pan fried noodles were not what I was expecting (I thought it might be the HK style crispy ones), but quite good. Their wonton soup is great... the broth actually has flavor! Hanging icicle outdoor lighting gives you the joy of Christmas at all times of the year.