Friday, April 23, 2004
Seattle Stories
Just thought I would provide a rundown on my first week or so here:
-My whole move was admittedly timed around Grandaddy's arrival to Seattle. They had a night and a day before their show here, but my pal Aaron was pretty beat their first night here and the weather/timing didn't work out for me to take him and the band skateboarding the next day. So I just went to the show early, hung out with the band in their dressing room drinking beer, chatted with some guys from the Polyphonic Spree (who were also in town, opening for Bowie), enjoyed one of the best shows I've ever seen them play, then took Grandaddy and P. Spree and entourage to the Alibi Room for drinks. My head hurt a LOT the next day, but it was well worth it. Found out today that I was standing right next to a taper and he's sending me a cd.
-My friend Diana and I bought a 16 game series of Mariners tickets. I know, me at a baseball game... 16 of them! But Safeco Field is awesome and we have great seats in home run territory, on the aisle and close to the bars/exits. The women sitting next to us disappeared for three innings before returning to ask us, "Can you believe they don't sell Jagermesiter *anywhere* here?" The guys sitting in front of us accepted the nicknames "Pi" and "Hole" that we agreed on for them. I'm sure there will be more stories involving our seatmates as the season progresses.
-John Waters was in town doing one of his lecture/stand-up things, but he also appeared at a local gallery to talk about each piece in a show of his artwork culled from his current exhibit at the newmuseum in NYC.
http://www.gregkucera.com/waters.htm
I saw the show in NY and went to the gallery for his talk, which was both interesting and hysterical. He was like a funny little salesman, saying stuff like, "Anyone who has children needs this in their home, it will scare them into behaving" or "This is perfect for the office or prison cell" with a lot more detailed explanation of how each piece came about and what sources it was composed from. I bought a piece, had a book autographed, chatted with John a bit and wanted to take him to the Gay Wedding Expo (just to look and laugh-- it was a trade show!) at the Swedish Club (where I am also a member) but had to hit the road....
-... for Washougal, WA where my old friend Renee has moved her family, selling their place in the Portland 'burbs to buy an incredible 3.5 acre spread in the lush green mountains above the Columbia River gorge. In their backyard are two spring-fed pools, the larger heart-shaped one stocked with huge fish (sturgeon, kokanee and two kinds of trout) and the smaller one with koi and frogs. There's a dock on the large pond where I took a crack at fly fishing. To be continued. We spent the night by the fire pit outside, dancing and talking and laughing until after 3. Also, they're about 10 minutes away from some hot springs that are supposedly a renowned source for naturally-produced lithium that soaks right through your skin. Sounds relaxing, to say the least.
-One of my walking-distance neighborhood grocery stores has bread flown in from France every day.
-The weather reports are crap. They predict the worst and it rarely turns out that way. The warmest part of the day isn't until 3 or 4, but it stays that way for a while. That late afternoon/early evening time of night that feels like "happy hour" just lingers on and on.
-I was a major contributor the The Stranger's 101 Best Restrooms pullout section, a spoof of The Weekly's Best Restaurants pullout section that hit the streets the same day. My entries are generally the shorter ones, except for the Water Wheel Tavern.
http://www.thestranger.com/2004-04-22/ex.html
-I have driven up and back to Birch Bay twice (to set up a storage unit and later fill it up with stuff) but have yet to spend the night. It's a 90 minute drive.
In short: all is good.
Now, back to unpacking.
-My whole move was admittedly timed around Grandaddy's arrival to Seattle. They had a night and a day before their show here, but my pal Aaron was pretty beat their first night here and the weather/timing didn't work out for me to take him and the band skateboarding the next day. So I just went to the show early, hung out with the band in their dressing room drinking beer, chatted with some guys from the Polyphonic Spree (who were also in town, opening for Bowie), enjoyed one of the best shows I've ever seen them play, then took Grandaddy and P. Spree and entourage to the Alibi Room for drinks. My head hurt a LOT the next day, but it was well worth it. Found out today that I was standing right next to a taper and he's sending me a cd.
-My friend Diana and I bought a 16 game series of Mariners tickets. I know, me at a baseball game... 16 of them! But Safeco Field is awesome and we have great seats in home run territory, on the aisle and close to the bars/exits. The women sitting next to us disappeared for three innings before returning to ask us, "Can you believe they don't sell Jagermesiter *anywhere* here?" The guys sitting in front of us accepted the nicknames "Pi" and "Hole" that we agreed on for them. I'm sure there will be more stories involving our seatmates as the season progresses.
-John Waters was in town doing one of his lecture/stand-up things, but he also appeared at a local gallery to talk about each piece in a show of his artwork culled from his current exhibit at the newmuseum in NYC.
http://www.gregkucera.com/waters.htm
I saw the show in NY and went to the gallery for his talk, which was both interesting and hysterical. He was like a funny little salesman, saying stuff like, "Anyone who has children needs this in their home, it will scare them into behaving" or "This is perfect for the office or prison cell" with a lot more detailed explanation of how each piece came about and what sources it was composed from. I bought a piece, had a book autographed, chatted with John a bit and wanted to take him to the Gay Wedding Expo (just to look and laugh-- it was a trade show!) at the Swedish Club (where I am also a member) but had to hit the road....
-... for Washougal, WA where my old friend Renee has moved her family, selling their place in the Portland 'burbs to buy an incredible 3.5 acre spread in the lush green mountains above the Columbia River gorge. In their backyard are two spring-fed pools, the larger heart-shaped one stocked with huge fish (sturgeon, kokanee and two kinds of trout) and the smaller one with koi and frogs. There's a dock on the large pond where I took a crack at fly fishing. To be continued. We spent the night by the fire pit outside, dancing and talking and laughing until after 3. Also, they're about 10 minutes away from some hot springs that are supposedly a renowned source for naturally-produced lithium that soaks right through your skin. Sounds relaxing, to say the least.
-One of my walking-distance neighborhood grocery stores has bread flown in from France every day.
-The weather reports are crap. They predict the worst and it rarely turns out that way. The warmest part of the day isn't until 3 or 4, but it stays that way for a while. That late afternoon/early evening time of night that feels like "happy hour" just lingers on and on.
-I was a major contributor the The Stranger's 101 Best Restrooms pullout section, a spoof of The Weekly's Best Restaurants pullout section that hit the streets the same day. My entries are generally the shorter ones, except for the Water Wheel Tavern.
http://www.thestranger.com/2004-04-22/ex.html
-I have driven up and back to Birch Bay twice (to set up a storage unit and later fill it up with stuff) but have yet to spend the night. It's a 90 minute drive.
In short: all is good.
Now, back to unpacking.
