Wish me luck!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Futbol fun in Seattle!
So, three nights ago, a dream came true:
I went to a soccer game in America, and the stadium was packed! My dad and I had season tickets to the Kansas City Wizards (the "Wiz", as they were, back in the day) for a few years in the late 90s, and I've sorely missed the excitement of watching live soccer since then. Watching on TV just isn't the same; you can't see all the movement on the field. You miss out on so much strategy-ogling. And the crowd rowdiness...the bands! The cheering! Those obnoxious long noise-stick-things!
...the waaaaaaaaave!
I had an opportunity to watch Croatia play Israel when I was in Zagreb a few years ago...I still don't remember why I let that opportunity pass me by (money, probably?), but it was silly. So to have a big soccer game planted in my front yard is a huge deal! And I mean that front-yard bit almost literally; my doorstep is in within walking distance of Qwest Field = no pesky $30 parking fees for me! Although apparently there wouldn't have been any anyway; VW is a sponsor of the MLS and offers VW's complimentary parking at games...what?! Awesome!
But anyway. The point is that Michael and I got $25 tickets (!!!) to the Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy game on Sunday. For those who don't know, the MLS Cup is the Super Bowl of real futbol. The Seattle's MLS-debuting Sounders FC had a great first season, but didn't make it all the way to the Cup - but Seattle won hostmanship (?) of the final game months back. I can't think of a better city, as Seattleites have shown an unbelievable amount of enthusiasm for the sport. Average attendance at Sounders' matches trumps average attendance for both the Kansas City Royals' and the Cleveland Indians' 2009 seasons. Soccer, more popular than baseball, in a US city?
= Reason 23498235 I love this city. As though I needed any more...
The excitement began with the official March to the Match - swarms of screaming soccer fans, all decked out in jerseys and team scarves and painted faces, and a marching band that played renditions of contemporary radio hits. A seriously awesome, and proud, experience to march through Seattle with a bunch of like-minded futbol hooligans!
For our money, the Cup gave us the absolute maximum amount of soccer we could have asked for. The teams had tied the last four times they'd played each other, and this time was no different; after 90 minutes of regulation play, the score was 1-1. After 30 more minutes of over time, the scoreboard hadn't budged. They even managed to tie their first set of shootouts. Finally on sudden death shootouts, Salt Lake proved triumphant. (I won't try to recreate the match itself in writing; I am not a sports writer. Maybe I'll work on it. But not on Thanksgiving Eve.)
Yup, we had a blast. Sure, it was cold, but...the March to the Match warmed us up, and the couple pre-game beers across the street at the local Pyramid Brewery kept us toasty, and the crowd energy was awesome...a few especially rowdy RSL fans behind us swearing their heads off at David Beckham ("God hates you, David Beckham!" - Is that the way Utahn's call it? Ah, I won't let a few bad eggs ruin my entire opinion of a state I otherwise love, but man do I hate bad sportsmanship...)
Otherwise, the game was absolutely fantastic - all I'd dreamed it would be. I can't wait to become a serious Sounders fan in the coming years. Lucky for me, albeit entirely unknowingly, I bought a rain jacket I at Dick's back in Ohio the day I decided officially to move to Seattle, and it is totally in Sounders colors. I was clearly destined to be a Sounders fan.
Michael pulls his hood up to shield himself from the celebratory confetti blasted out in jet streams periodically throughout the game.
My new boots are certainly covering a lot of ground! Michael, in addition to modeling the snazzy Arc'teryx jacket pictured above, is also sporting some of the most awesome hiking boots ever created: the Zamberlan Vioz. Available at REI. Just sayin'.
Also: Qwest Field offers a fantastic view of the skyline:
I'm learning it's hard to go anywhere in Seattle and not have a fantastic view in at least one direction. Which is probably Reason 23498236 I love this city.
I went to a soccer game in America, and the stadium was packed! My dad and I had season tickets to the Kansas City Wizards (the "Wiz", as they were, back in the day) for a few years in the late 90s, and I've sorely missed the excitement of watching live soccer since then. Watching on TV just isn't the same; you can't see all the movement on the field. You miss out on so much strategy-ogling. And the crowd rowdiness...the bands! The cheering! Those obnoxious long noise-stick-things!
I had an opportunity to watch Croatia play Israel when I was in Zagreb a few years ago...I still don't remember why I let that opportunity pass me by (money, probably?), but it was silly. So to have a big soccer game planted in my front yard is a huge deal! And I mean that front-yard bit almost literally; my doorstep is in within walking distance of Qwest Field = no pesky $30 parking fees for me! Although apparently there wouldn't have been any anyway; VW is a sponsor of the MLS and offers VW's complimentary parking at games...what?! Awesome!
But anyway. The point is that Michael and I got $25 tickets (!!!) to the Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy game on Sunday. For those who don't know, the MLS Cup is the Super Bowl of real futbol. The Seattle's MLS-debuting Sounders FC had a great first season, but didn't make it all the way to the Cup - but Seattle won hostmanship (?) of the final game months back. I can't think of a better city, as Seattleites have shown an unbelievable amount of enthusiasm for the sport. Average attendance at Sounders' matches trumps average attendance for both the Kansas City Royals' and the Cleveland Indians' 2009 seasons. Soccer, more popular than baseball, in a US city?
= Reason 23498235 I love this city. As though I needed any more...
The excitement began with the official March to the Match - swarms of screaming soccer fans, all decked out in jerseys and team scarves and painted faces, and a marching band that played renditions of contemporary radio hits. A seriously awesome, and proud, experience to march through Seattle with a bunch of like-minded futbol hooligans!
For our money, the Cup gave us the absolute maximum amount of soccer we could have asked for. The teams had tied the last four times they'd played each other, and this time was no different; after 90 minutes of regulation play, the score was 1-1. After 30 more minutes of over time, the scoreboard hadn't budged. They even managed to tie their first set of shootouts. Finally on sudden death shootouts, Salt Lake proved triumphant. (I won't try to recreate the match itself in writing; I am not a sports writer. Maybe I'll work on it. But not on Thanksgiving Eve.)
Yup, we had a blast. Sure, it was cold, but...the March to the Match warmed us up, and the couple pre-game beers across the street at the local Pyramid Brewery kept us toasty, and the crowd energy was awesome...a few especially rowdy RSL fans behind us swearing their heads off at David Beckham ("God hates you, David Beckham!" - Is that the way Utahn's call it? Ah, I won't let a few bad eggs ruin my entire opinion of a state I otherwise love, but man do I hate bad sportsmanship...)
Otherwise, the game was absolutely fantastic - all I'd dreamed it would be. I can't wait to become a serious Sounders fan in the coming years. Lucky for me, albeit entirely unknowingly, I bought a rain jacket I at Dick's back in Ohio the day I decided officially to move to Seattle, and it is totally in Sounders colors. I was clearly destined to be a Sounders fan.
Michael pulls his hood up to shield himself from the celebratory confetti blasted out in jet streams periodically throughout the game.
My new boots are certainly covering a lot of ground! Michael, in addition to modeling the snazzy Arc'teryx jacket pictured above, is also sporting some of the most awesome hiking boots ever created: the Zamberlan Vioz. Available at REI. Just sayin'.
Also: Qwest Field offers a fantastic view of the skyline:
I'm learning it's hard to go anywhere in Seattle and not have a fantastic view in at least one direction. Which is probably Reason 23498236 I love this city.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Cup o' Joe Monday: Installment XII
Hot cocoa, Watertown Coffee
All right folks: true to my word, this week I will not be claiming I've discovered a new favorite. This place is intriguing, though, so it's certainly worth some musing. Watertown Coffee is the place I shied away from two weeks ago due to some dubious Yelp reviews - but Carolyn got me out here for morning coffee this past week, and I figured I wouldn't be a very good coffeeshop-reviewing-blogger if I didn't make up my own mind about places. So I returned this evening for this week's Cup o' Joe Monday.
Going to a coffeeshop at night is a different experience entirely. One, ordering an espresso beverage is absolutely out of the question; anyone who knows me knows I don't have caffeine after 2 p.m. or, without fail, I'll stay wide-eyed and regretfully up all night long. And two, the nighttime cafe vibe is a lot sleepier. Currently, as I'm writing this, I have the entire place to myself. And have for about half an hour. I wonder if it's busier on weekend nights?
Watertown does seem to offer something unique: not only a coffeeshop, but a multi-purpose space that doubles as a cafe by day, a bar by night, and is complete with amenities like an X-Box playing station, a ping pong table, tons of board games, a record collection for browsing, and a wide variety of seating options, ranging from couches to cozy chairs to small tables to barstools.
It feels like a nice, comfy place to just come chill out. You can pretend you have a cool, hip art school friend, who lets you come over and hang out in his retro studio apartment, complete with high ceilings, dilapidated couches, eclectic art on the walls, and grungy music on the stereo. There's also a fun little terrace garden in front. And lots of ivy-like plants on the building that give its warehouse/garage structure a tasteful edge to them.
Drawbacks:
(1) The place is freaking cold. The windows don't appear to be insulated at all, and lead the place to have a very drafty, chilly feel. Having grown up with a Dutch mother, and now keeping my apartment at a somewhat brisk 60 degrees around the clock, I honestly don't mind the cold too much. It's an excuse to wear fleece and drink warm beverages and generally be cozy. But still - it's close to the point of discomfort.
(2) My hot chocolate = meh. Not bad...but also nothing special. Comparable a packet of Nestle's instant cocoa mix.
(3) The music...definite meh. Who knows if this was a one-time deal or not, but loud, screamy 80s music is a hard sell for relaxing coffeeshop atmostphere.
With all that said, I'll probably be back to this place - if for nothing else but to kick Alan's butt in ping-pong when he's in town for my marathon this coming weekend. Stay tuned. In the meantime, I'm backed up with non-coffee-related things (MLS Cup! My participation as a jump-roper in REI's Winter Olympics Pentathlon! Exploring live music in other Seattle neighborhoods with new friends!) that I need/want to blog about as well - so this week, despite my crazy Thanksgiving-sale work schedule, will probably see a few blog entries. Enjoy!
Thanks, as always, for reading; y'all are the best. My blog's site stats seem to have picked up some steadier readership in the last week or two, which is awesome. I promise to do a good job posting more regularly.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Long-Overdue Cup o' Joe
Countdown to the Seattle Marathon: 12 Days
Okay. I know that every week, I announce that the coffeeshop of choice is my new favorite. But it's really, really, really true this week. Seyeon and I hit up Kaladi Brothers Coffee (Alaskan coffee!) on Pike Street for afternoon chai and a long catch-up session after too much time apart.
A note, again, on Yelp: Its reviews of everything are phenomenally accurate. I know so many people out there are skeptical of the internet's ability to offer honest, accurate information, but bear with me. Last week, Alan and I explored a bar/pub/cafe/restaurant called McMenamin's Six Arms. The Yelp consensus seemed to be: "Awesome food, fun atmosphere, but horrendous service." While one such review could easily be a fluke occurrence - one bitter, never-satisfied customer's onetime experience - the sheer volume of reviews takes care of the potential "selection bias" issue, and honestly, paints a very on-target portrait of a place. In the same way that reading reviews of hosts on CouchSurfing.com can give a realistic portrait of a stranger on the internet in what otherwise could be a sketchy situation, Yelp allows me to gauge ahead of time what kind of experience I can expect from a business.
Six Arms, for the record, was exactly as Yelp told me it would be. Alan and I shared a blue cheese burger and a pesto/mozzarella sandwich and tater tots, all of which were phenomenal. (*Almost* on par with good old Feve grub from Oberlin...) Our drinks, all interesting microbrews, were tasty. Our waitress, though? Easily the most stressed out human being I'd seen in years. She was the only one, evidently, working on the entire upper level, running back and forth with beady, darting eyes as she frantically scribbled orders, bussed tables, apologized to everybody, and then promptly disappeared altogether for twenty minutes at a time.
So, does reading reviews ahead of time invite a self-fulfilling prophecy then? Perhaps. But I feel I still manage to enter most of my Cup o' Joe venues with an open mind and as objective eyes as possible...I just don't like to waste my time (or money!)
So, Yelp prevailed again today. The reviews on Kaladi Brothers raved about their one-dollar rice krispie treats which, indeed, were fantastic.
The cafe is located beneath the Gay City offices, and the vibe of Kaladi lends itself to quirkiness, a laidback atmosphere, and acceptance. I felt a strong throwback to Oberlin upon walking in!
Other +s:
+ fantastic music choices (Seyeon would like me to note that this is her new #1 coffeeshop in all of Seattle, for many reasons, but above all, for its musical taste)
+ tons and tons of coffee-flavor options
+ really friendly baristas
+ meeting room space for nonprofits
+ fun eavesdropping opportunities
+ THREE varieties of chai (including a decaf option!)
+ laptop-friendly wi-fi, outlets, & public computer
+ gay-friendly/fabulous environment
+ interesting artwork, including a big digital collage of kaladi-frequenters' photos
+ good mood lighting
But, one big negative (an isolated occurrence, I hope?):
- unbelievably loud, obnoxious middle/high-schoolers in the after-school hour, dropping f-bombs and talking way too loudly about pot, their sex lives, and the homecoming dance.
I've never been so close to feeling markedly violent toward strangers. Note to self: Avoid "cool" public "hang-out" spots during after-school hours. I feel old :( but really, I just want to be able to go about my day and enjoy my life in peace and quiet!
Speaking of peace and quiet, I have two days off in a row from work, which is becoming increasingly rare. Today was good for: catching up with people, putting in my last long-ish (15 miler) run before the marathon, enjoying the sunshine (also becoming increasingly rare), and beginning to tackle a to-do list for the rest of November that's gotten out of control. Oof...
Okay. I know that every week, I announce that the coffeeshop of choice is my new favorite. But it's really, really, really true this week. Seyeon and I hit up Kaladi Brothers Coffee (Alaskan coffee!) on Pike Street for afternoon chai and a long catch-up session after too much time apart.
A note, again, on Yelp: Its reviews of everything are phenomenally accurate. I know so many people out there are skeptical of the internet's ability to offer honest, accurate information, but bear with me. Last week, Alan and I explored a bar/pub/cafe/restaurant called McMenamin's Six Arms. The Yelp consensus seemed to be: "Awesome food, fun atmosphere, but horrendous service." While one such review could easily be a fluke occurrence - one bitter, never-satisfied customer's onetime experience - the sheer volume of reviews takes care of the potential "selection bias" issue, and honestly, paints a very on-target portrait of a place. In the same way that reading reviews of hosts on CouchSurfing.com can give a realistic portrait of a stranger on the internet in what otherwise could be a sketchy situation, Yelp allows me to gauge ahead of time what kind of experience I can expect from a business.
Six Arms, for the record, was exactly as Yelp told me it would be. Alan and I shared a blue cheese burger and a pesto/mozzarella sandwich and tater tots, all of which were phenomenal. (*Almost* on par with good old Feve grub from Oberlin...) Our drinks, all interesting microbrews, were tasty. Our waitress, though? Easily the most stressed out human being I'd seen in years. She was the only one, evidently, working on the entire upper level, running back and forth with beady, darting eyes as she frantically scribbled orders, bussed tables, apologized to everybody, and then promptly disappeared altogether for twenty minutes at a time.
So, does reading reviews ahead of time invite a self-fulfilling prophecy then? Perhaps. But I feel I still manage to enter most of my Cup o' Joe venues with an open mind and as objective eyes as possible...I just don't like to waste my time (or money!)
So, Yelp prevailed again today. The reviews on Kaladi Brothers raved about their one-dollar rice krispie treats which, indeed, were fantastic.
The cafe is located beneath the Gay City offices, and the vibe of Kaladi lends itself to quirkiness, a laidback atmosphere, and acceptance. I felt a strong throwback to Oberlin upon walking in!
Other +s:
+ fantastic music choices (Seyeon would like me to note that this is her new #1 coffeeshop in all of Seattle, for many reasons, but above all, for its musical taste)
+ tons and tons of coffee-flavor options
+ really friendly baristas
+ meeting room space for nonprofits
+ fun eavesdropping opportunities
+ THREE varieties of chai (including a decaf option!)
+ laptop-friendly wi-fi, outlets, & public computer
+ gay-friendly/fabulous environment
+ interesting artwork, including a big digital collage of kaladi-frequenters' photos
+ good mood lighting
But, one big negative (an isolated occurrence, I hope?):
- unbelievably loud, obnoxious middle/high-schoolers in the after-school hour, dropping f-bombs and talking way too loudly about pot, their sex lives, and the homecoming dance.
I've never been so close to feeling markedly violent toward strangers. Note to self: Avoid "cool" public "hang-out" spots during after-school hours. I feel old :( but really, I just want to be able to go about my day and enjoy my life in peace and quiet!
Speaking of peace and quiet, I have two days off in a row from work, which is becoming increasingly rare. Today was good for: catching up with people, putting in my last long-ish (15 miler) run before the marathon, enjoying the sunshine (also becoming increasingly rare), and beginning to tackle a to-do list for the rest of November that's gotten out of control. Oof...
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
It started to rain
Cup o' Joe Mondays are taking this week off :/ My excuses:
Alan in town + U-hauling the rest of my junk out of my storage unit + bookcase shopping + getting furniture moved into the apartment + my last big marathon training run (21 miles in 3 hours of pouring rain) + a couple seriously long work shifts
=
No time for lounging in coffeeshops. Just a caffeinated GU energy gel on my run yesterday..."Orange Burst" flavor. (Not recommended.) Since then, I've been basically inhaling food like it's nobody's business. 19 days until race day!
There will be a more substantial entry soon, hopefully complete with photos as Alan and I get things more organized, arranged, decorated, etc. Meanwhile, the skies continue to pour and pour and pour. I had enough foresight to take along my rain jacket when I went to work this morning, but it wasn't enough to keep my jeans and shoes from getting absolutely soaked on the walk home at night. I've learned at least one particular sidewalk corner to dodge, though, to avoid getting drenched in a ten-foot tidal wave of puddle-water when cars come plowing through. An important skill, undoubtedly...
Anyway. I guess they weren't kidding about the rain.
Alan in town + U-hauling the rest of my junk out of my storage unit + bookcase shopping + getting furniture moved into the apartment + my last big marathon training run (21 miles in 3 hours of pouring rain) + a couple seriously long work shifts
=
No time for lounging in coffeeshops. Just a caffeinated GU energy gel on my run yesterday..."Orange Burst" flavor. (Not recommended.) Since then, I've been basically inhaling food like it's nobody's business. 19 days until race day!
There will be a more substantial entry soon, hopefully complete with photos as Alan and I get things more organized, arranged, decorated, etc. Meanwhile, the skies continue to pour and pour and pour. I had enough foresight to take along my rain jacket when I went to work this morning, but it wasn't enough to keep my jeans and shoes from getting absolutely soaked on the walk home at night. I've learned at least one particular sidewalk corner to dodge, though, to avoid getting drenched in a ten-foot tidal wave of puddle-water when cars come plowing through. An important skill, undoubtedly...
Anyway. I guess they weren't kidding about the rain.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Lost in Seattle: A Photo Diary
A photo diary of my whimsical autumn day:
63 degrees & sunny in Seattle. My coworker and friend Jess drove up to Seattle for the afternoon with three of her classmates from her instrument repair program at Renton Technical College, and the five of us had ourselves a grand adventure wandering aimlessly around the city for several hours.
I wore my new boots. And a skirt.
Our first stop was a glassblowers' studio downtown.
Next: Top Pot Doughnuts. Hailed the best doughnuts in all of Seattle. My gi-normous and tasty maple bar met all expectations.
Next: Wandering around the Space Needle.
Next: Experience Music Project and the Sci-Fi Museum of Seattle.
Let's be honest; I thought the Sci-Fi Museum was going to be a dorky compendium of Trekkie memorabilia. BUT I walked through the doors and what was the first thing I saw? An Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind poster! I'd never really conceived of my favorite movie of all time as sci-fi, so it was cool to read about the museum's take on its sci-fi elements. Among other fun personal pop culture favorites addressed in the museum: The Matrix, The Jetsons, Logan's Run, and many more works of literature than I expected. Good stuff.
Guitar display at the Seattle EMP.
The EMP was a blast, too, mostly because I got to experience it with some serious music geeks who knew how to rock out on all the various play-it-yourself music stations and jam rooms throughout the place. We created virtual drumming circles and I learned some guitar chords and Jess and her friend Greg had an impromptu dual piano jam session.
Good fun. Made me miss being surrounded with all the musical talent at Oberlin.
Throwback to my days at Stanford: fountain-hopping by night! In this case, at the Seattle Center...
e.e. cummings etched in granite in a Seattle park, or
A perfect summary of November 4, 2009 in Yitka's life
We finished up with some super-tasty Thai food at a place called "Phuket" in Lower Queen Anne. Yum.
So, despite today being a goofy tourist adventure (I even pulled the classic unfolding-the-giant-city-map-while-walking-downtown move, AWESOME), I did get to walk back to my new home at the end of all this. Yes, that's right - all of the above are within walking distance of my doorstep. And tomorrow, I will wake up, hopefully do what I like to call "10 Before 10" (10 miles before 10 a.m...an idea borrowed from someone who does "6 before 6", which is, yes, less running, but nevertheless far more ambitious than what I aim to tackle), and walk to work; I'll toast to that.
Also, just discovered that on a clear day, there's a spectacular view of Rainier just a couple blocks away from the apartment, too.
So yup, this place is beginning to feel like...
63 degrees & sunny in Seattle. My coworker and friend Jess drove up to Seattle for the afternoon with three of her classmates from her instrument repair program at Renton Technical College, and the five of us had ourselves a grand adventure wandering aimlessly around the city for several hours.
I wore my new boots. And a skirt.
Our first stop was a glassblowers' studio downtown.
Next: Top Pot Doughnuts. Hailed the best doughnuts in all of Seattle. My gi-normous and tasty maple bar met all expectations.
Next: Wandering around the Space Needle.
Next: Experience Music Project and the Sci-Fi Museum of Seattle.
Let's be honest; I thought the Sci-Fi Museum was going to be a dorky compendium of Trekkie memorabilia. BUT I walked through the doors and what was the first thing I saw? An Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind poster! I'd never really conceived of my favorite movie of all time as sci-fi, so it was cool to read about the museum's take on its sci-fi elements. Among other fun personal pop culture favorites addressed in the museum: The Matrix, The Jetsons, Logan's Run, and many more works of literature than I expected. Good stuff.
Guitar display at the Seattle EMP.
The EMP was a blast, too, mostly because I got to experience it with some serious music geeks who knew how to rock out on all the various play-it-yourself music stations and jam rooms throughout the place. We created virtual drumming circles and I learned some guitar chords and Jess and her friend Greg had an impromptu dual piano jam session.
Good fun. Made me miss being surrounded with all the musical talent at Oberlin.
Throwback to my days at Stanford: fountain-hopping by night! In this case, at the Seattle Center...
e.e. cummings etched in granite in a Seattle park, or
A perfect summary of November 4, 2009 in Yitka's life
We finished up with some super-tasty Thai food at a place called "Phuket" in Lower Queen Anne. Yum.
So, despite today being a goofy tourist adventure (I even pulled the classic unfolding-the-giant-city-map-while-walking-downtown move, AWESOME), I did get to walk back to my new home at the end of all this. Yes, that's right - all of the above are within walking distance of my doorstep. And tomorrow, I will wake up, hopefully do what I like to call "10 Before 10" (10 miles before 10 a.m...an idea borrowed from someone who does "6 before 6", which is, yes, less running, but nevertheless far more ambitious than what I aim to tackle), and walk to work; I'll toast to that.
Also, just discovered that on a clear day, there's a spectacular view of Rainier just a couple blocks away from the apartment, too.
So yup, this place is beginning to feel like...
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