The Signature Seattle Landmark

I know it’s been a while since I have updated this thing so I’ll just attribute it to my move to the west coast and leave it at that.

So, I’ve been living in Seattle for nearly 2 months now, and I’ve noticed a lot of things unique to this American City. I absolutely love it here, but I’m going to keep this list as impartial as possible.

1. Seattle is NOT the rainiest city in the U.S. You might be surprised to know that cities such as New York and Greensboro are near the top of the list. It is, however, gray quite often and showers frequently but for short periods of time.

2. On that note, no one here carries an umbrella. If you do see someone with an umbrella, they are probably a transplant. I use an umbrella because it seems stupid not to, and the “somewhat damp” look doesn’t suit me very well. In fact, it doesn’t suit many people, but they just don’t seem to mind out here.

3. There is a whole lot of homelessness. But this isn’t NYC style “put on your blinders,” “turn the other cheek” kind of homelessness. When I catch the bus at 3rd and pine, I know Patsy and Shorty will most likely be there, and Tricks (Trix?) may get a little sharp with them, and she better watch out man, you best believe it.

4. Even though this city is on the water and next to the mountains, I wouldn’t call it a nautical or mountain city for a second. Seattle has its own sort of vibe, which falters between being cool-tempered yuppie/eco-conscious to gritty/noisy/hipster ridden. You may find a native-american, a fisherman from “The Most Dangerous Catch,” an artist, or Dave Matthews on any given street.

5. Seattle has some pretty impressive work opportunities. Boeing, Nordstrom, Amazon, Starbucks, Getty Images, REI, and Microsoft are all based out of Seattle. Google also has a huge presence in the city, and yes, I can see the rumored game rooms through the windows.

6. Seattle is made up of many neighborhoods that act as micro-cities with their own sort of  vibe and culture. My favorites are: Ballard (almost like a mini-Cambridge, very New England-y, old, brick streets, fishermen, great pubs, neighborhood dogs and guitar stores), Fremont (artsy, good shopping, pretty, lots to eat), Queen Anne (cute, small town feel) Belltown (not the safest, but good for venues, bars, and food).

7. Though predominantly buses, Seattle has great public transportation. It runs early, late, frequently, and gets you anywhere. I don’t have a car, and I’m managing just fine.

8. Each neighborhood has a farmer’s market, which is a claim that even savvy New York cannot make. The farmer markets are great for fresh produce, but you’ll also find amazing bouquets (flower trade = bad; $5 = yay!), antiques, crafts, and food stands.

9. Some say Seattle is expensive, but maybe I’ve spent too much time living in New York. I think this city is incredibly well priced. Check out Boka, the restaurant/bar at the expensive Hotel 1000. Their happy hour special (which is all night on Sundays and Mondays, late evening every other night) cuts the prices on their dinner menu in half, as well as wines by the bottle and glass. They boast grass-fed-beef burgers, charcuterie, incredible mussels, an oyster bar, and some of the best fries in the city.

10. I’ll end with this: No one talks about how beautiful Seattle is. With water views or mountain views virtually every direction you look, there isn’t much to disappoint. Never thought I’d visit, let alone live here, but what a tragedy that would have been.

Welcome to my daydream: misquito netted beds that are more for allure than necessity, draped linen walls, rugs, throws, pillows. A tea set. A small library. Lanterns, gas lamps. A clothes chest. My vision probably comes from my reading too many history inspired novels of cartographers, conquistadors, and imperialist voyagers.

But, let me get to the point. Such camping does exist, and it’s called “glamping.” You can participate in this chic camping experience as far as aboriginal Australia, or in between safaris in South Africa, but you may want to do some research into what your own state has to offer. The new camping fad has grown in popularity in the past couple of years, and there is almost certainly a site within driving distance from most cities.

With Montana’s recent travel ad campaign, you may have found yourself wanting to go to “big sky country” without any idea of what to do. Tent City within the Resort at Paws Up is a luxurious solution to camping woes. The beatifully decorated rustic tents also include 3 meals daily and a spa oprion. For a far less expensive option, consider Falling Waters Adventure Resort in western North Carolina, where the 4 person yurts start at less than $100/night.

For more on glamping, read the New York Times article on the subject.

It’s been a while since I’ve written a restaurant review, so I want to quickly tout this noteworthy dinner spot. Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Park Slope, Brooklyn, Palo Santo is literally steps from the Union St. stop on the R line.  The first time I came upon this restaurant I actually thought it was an especially extravagant home. I say this because Palo Santo is the first floor of a brownstone on a completely residential street. Two small wrought iron garden tables sit innocently on the cobblestone front, and an inconspicuous sign hangs above windows to the dimly lit interior.

I’m trying to keep my posts more brief, so let me get straight to the heart of this entry, which is that the food is very, very, good. It’s South American inspired, and the menu changes daily. Ingredients are fresh, local and organic when possible, and chef Jacques Gautier is not afraid of spice and flavor.

I recommend going for the fish, which is always done right, and not as heavy as the meats tend to be (though for people that love big flavor, they’ll be more than pleased). Ask for a wine pairing recommendation and take advantage of the selection; I learned that the chef often visits Argentina and Chile to hand pick the wines that appear on his menu. The servers understand the matches well, and if you are like me, and like to pair seafood with red wine, their advice may keep you from making an unsavory choice.

Similarly, Chef Gautier understands who supplies his food in addition to his wine, and makes regular visits to his meat suppliers and to local farmers markets. One of my favorite memories of Palo Santo is a visit I made there with my mother, and as we were about to step into the restaurant Chef and one of his line cooks intercepted us while carrying a whole goat, which they were going to dress and serve for dinner that night.

I also love eating outside on their front patio (they have one in the back as well) and pretending that I’m enjoying a home cooked meal, outside of my apartment, watching the passerbys who may assume that is precisely the case!

www.gvi.co.uk

Most recently she’s joined a group of “boat punks” which I’m guessing is a sort of menagerie of artist, musician, tattooed, organic, vegan, creators, thinkers, and adventurers. The boats are beautiful, they remind me of the crooked home in James and the Giant Peach, in a rabbit hole, broke-down carnival, sort of way. And, the big idea is that these Floating Cities (they are being called) are going to float from Slovenia to Venice, putting on small productions and creating and adding to the things along the way. While this is not the first time they’ve gone on such a mission (they completed voyages on the Hudson and Mississippi), this is the most ambitious. Here is an excerpt from the “about” section of the website, since I do not think I could put it better myself.

Photo courtesy of Tod Seelie

“The vessels are imagined as a hybrid between boats and bits of land broken off and headed out to sea. Watching them approach the shore is like seeing a floating city in the distance, as improbable as Venice itself. To the real life crew, the boats are a place of refuge – both a home and a way of moving through the world. To those who encounter the boats for the first time, they are a reminder that anything that can be imagined can be built.”

I encourage you to visit the website yourself, look at the photos, read the rest of their mission, and fantasize what it must be like to join their voyage, or even sit in on one of their curious productions amongst the already existing mystique of Venice. Sigh.

http://www.swimmingcities.org/

I have edited this post in lieu of the comment attached. I aggree, Trinity Certification in TESOL and Cambridge CELTA are the two most reputable, and trusted, programs. But there are COUNTLESS international and national programs which warrant suspicion.

Why is it Americans reserve this sort of travel for a mere semester, if that? Well, that isn’t what this blog is about so I wont even try answering the question.

For those who are aware of the gap year, work does not have to be the doom of the wanderlusting man or woman. Who says we have to settle down once we’ve been deemed “stable?” Isn’t that the best time to lose ourselves again?

Well, maybe not, but I like to think so. I read a fantastic article about this thought, dated 2007, by Brook Silva-Braga for Budget Travel. He details leaving his 9-5, his friends, and his life behind in Manhattan after being out of school for three years, to traverse the globe.

Read his story here, inspire yourself to go:

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900558.html

Bike & Build is a not-for-profit organization that supports the building efforts of Habitat for Humanity while raising money and awareness. The big idea: college students or what they refer to as “young people” cycle cross country to California from various points on the east coast while being sponsored to complete the journey. A few days of rest and days for building are preset along the way, but most days are spend cycling in teams of 3 or 4 (though groups of 20 or more leave leave from each starting point). I think this is such an amazing way to experience the country we live in, which is so big and feels so unconquerable. And, of course, it is an opportunity to give back in a big way.

Some key facts:

• You must raise at least 4k before leaving on the trip
• You are given, and may keep, a new bike
• 3 meals a day and accommodation at night are provided, though it may be in the form of tents and community centers
• You do not need to be an experienced cyclist before you embark (I imagine you may finish as one)

Check out the link below to read more about this phenomenal organization.

http://bikeandbuild.org/cms/

After several days of partying in Greek fashion (including a 5 am 4 mile walk back from the center of town with Ted back to the Inn while screaming out the lyrics to Tom Waits songs), I found myself alone on Mykonos. This was planned, but what was unplanned was the fact that I didn’t have a place to stay because I booked the room for less time than I was to be on the Island. The German innkeeper was kind, let me have a room for 20 Euro a night the was literally the size of a walk in closet, but it worked. Ted was already on his way back to the States, and I had successfully burned the hell out of one side of my face after falling asleep on the beach. With one side of my mouth a little puffier, one eye a little smaller, and the left side quite redder, I was content to just take things easy. I ate crepes on the roof of a beautiful snack bar, which had a pool that a gorgeous Parisian woman swam in with one of those teeny bathing suit bottoms, sufficiently distracting all the men from my eerily accurate impression of two-face.  Or quasi-modo. Which ever.

Anyway, I read a ton, enjoyed the sun as much as possible, and took myself out to dinner at the restaurant my innkeepers Greek husband’s aunt and uncle own. The name is written in Greek so I don’t know what it’s called, but the food was super tasty. The Mama and Papa of the inn were there, and they speak virtually no English except to say “naughty Mama” and “bad papa” to each other and giggle, and swat at each other with the fly swatter.

Anyway, my Greek waiter made me finish my entire dinner, which was horrifying and impossible because there was so much food.  After he deemed I ate enough he gave me a free desert (thanks?) and asked where my husband was, and why I was alone on the island, and was I safe, and was I crazy, and then, unsatisfied with my answers, just told me to be careful.

I returned to the Inn around 1 am, and then I found a huge cockroach, screamed, woke up the inn keeper and her husband, he ransacked my closet-room, killed it, and then patted my shoulder and left.

I cocooned myself in the covers and did not sleep. The end.