Posts Tagged ‘Seattle’
15 Things You Need To Know Before You Move to Seattle
[This post, originally published in 2010, has been updated on July 19, 2013. Enjoy!]
Whether you are relocating for the first time to Seattle, or you are moving into the more urban parts of Seattle from a suburb of the Seattle metro area, I am about to give you a Seattle single girl’s guide* of fifteen things you need know before you move to Seattle.
Although I was born and raised primarily in Seattle, I have travelled and lived in its suburbs, in other countries, and in other states. I have a pretty good idea of the considerations the typical person needs to know to make the adjustments to become a happy urban Seattle dweller. It is no secret that I am partial to creature comforts that women like. If you are a man reading this, but there’s a special woman in your life, this short list can be still be helpful.
Fifteen Things You Need To Know Before You Move To Seattle
Parking is expensive in Seattle. Consider living near a bus line or light rail, and purchase covered parking to store a car during the week. You will save more money by taking public transit after purchasing a bus pass than parking your car downtown. [Yes, this is still true even after the price increase of a transit fare. I can now commute from one end of Seattle to Redmond on the same fare as going down the street from the originating bus stop].
When you use GPS and online maps, make sure you enter the correct directions, such as NE, S, SW, N, W. One time, the police came to my home and insisted there was a domestic violence call they received for my address. When I asked them to repeat the address, it was for the exact same number and street name, but not the correct neighborhood because of the directional designations. [BTW, I just inadvertently conducted a test on both Google maps and Apple Maps turn-for-turn GPS, and for a little while, both were entirely wrong in getting me to a destination. Argh. Never drive on a low tank of gas].
There is no really good Chinese food in Seattle. Plan on using your passport and going to Vancouver, BC to get your Chinese food fixe. Still, brush up on using chopsticks, because sushi rules this city even more than pho cafes. [And there are plenty of "bad" sushi places, so do a little research before you head out. One of my current favs is Japonessa Sushi Cocina on 1st and Union].
Purchase three mini umbrellas to prepare for the weather. Place one in your car, your messenger bag, and your office from Fall to Spring (October through July. Really). The rainy season ends typically after the first week of July. Don’t freak out. From mid-July until the first weeks of October, you will likely experience the most beautiful weather without major humidity or the skin-searing factor. Everyone and their grandmother will eat outside in little sidewalk cafes, walk their dogs on the Waterfront, and purchase one bajillion pairs of sunglasses that were lost the previous season.
Count on walking. A lot. If you like wearing boots, consider one with low heels, or a pair of Uggs in the winter. While stilettos are still hot in NYC and LA, it won’t make it up or down one of Seattle’s many brick-and-mortar streets. Someone in an REI jacket will likely laugh at you if you trip. [I was just gifted with a fine pair of durable Keane snow and rain boots. While I sacrifice a bit of fashion chic, I can stomp away through snow, ice, and rain puddles and keep my feet dry on the way to the office, where a nice pair of dress shoes await].
Find out where all the the green spots are within walking distance of your concrete jungle. Looking at green makes people feel more relaxed. If you have the room for it, purchase flowering plants and greenery for your home. [My neighbor just installed a mini greenhouse in his home. It is cooler than cool. If I had one, there would be catnip in it for the kittehs.] Seattle’s Pike Place Market has introduced neighborhood “express” farmer’s markets in Pioneer Square this summer, which includes a stall of fresh cut flowers. Love!
Live near a grocery store and a farmer’s market, if at all possible. If you don’t, you’ll either spend ginormous amounts of money on parking, or you’ll pollute the environment to get your organic greens. [You might want to scope out where the nearest Whole Foods, PCC Market, and Trader Joe's are to get your fruits and veggies during the winter months when some farmer's markets are closed].
If you go to the Eastside, you will run into people who do not know where the major neighborhoods of Ballard, Fremont, Queen Anne, Maple Leaf, or Wallingford are in relationship to each other or downtown Seattle. You might as well tell them these are in France. Some people will never get to know Seattle like you do. [This is still true. If you plan a party and invite co-workers, be aware that some of them will not attend simply because you live across one of Seattle's bridges, even if the distance is less than 30 minutes by car].
There can be traffic at all times of the day, for no reason, or for a sporting event in SODO. The two bridges linking Seattle to the Eastside can become floating parking lots. Carry a copy of the Mariner’s and Seahawks season games, and plan accordingly. Do your best not to whine publicly about the fan mania, because people defend these sports teams like they love their dogs.[Go Sounders! Woot!]
There are more registered dogs per Seattle household than there are children. For some reason, there doesn’t seem to be enough pet services to express the glands of those dogs when you need one. Book ahead.[We're also the home of the ICanHasCheezburger lol cats people, and the Oatmeal, with a book on cats that will leave you crying with laughter. So start liking cats, ok?]
I have spent more time standing on my feet on a bus ride than in any other city in America. On only a couple of occasions have men offered me their seat. More likely, they will look up from their mobile phone after checking in on Foursquare for “Metro bus”, and then ignore you. [I recently wore a spandex unitard under my clothing for New Year's Eve. Turned out this was a very good choice, as some random hand kept trying to make its way up my skirt while riding home on a crowded bus. The hand got nothing but synthetic fiber.]
For all the talk about Seattle being one of the best city’s for online dating, it’s still a small city. Attend a few Social Media events or mixers, and eventually you’ll see all the same people. Break free by joining other groups with eclectic interests outside your normal crowd. [I have since discovered OK Cupid to be a single girl's friend in this city. It is greatly responsible for why I am not single. I am currently engaged. :)].
If you’re prone to the blues because of the rainy weather, plan your winter getaway early. Purchase a light box, or try short sessions at a tanning salon that has higher UVB settings. Talk to your doctor about Vitamin D deficiency. [Phillips has designed a blue light box that contains no UV, and some people are finding that it gives them a nice little "bling" at the beginning of the day].
Seattle has plenty of arts and entertainment to choose from, with small and large theaters, film festivals, concerts, and dancing. If you’re under 40, check out tickets with the Bravo Club of the Seattle Opera. Go online for websites advertising day and evening events, such as Seattle Night Out. We’re home to SubPop for a reason. Oh, and if you have sensitive ears, invest in a pair of custom-fitted musician’s ear plugs, which allow you to hear the music without destroying your ear drums. You can thank me later.
Seattle is a city close to water and mountains. Not an outdoorsy type? I suggest you join a club to become one. There are stores with gently used gear so you can try your hand at it without breaking the bank. Always wanted to try snowboarding? Local ski and boarding resorts have winter deals to fit your budget, including lift ticket and rentals. If you buy your own equipment, you can also purchase wall mounts to show off your equipment like works of art in your home. [Always wanted to try running, biking, or swimming? Seattle boasts all three through triathlete clubs for amateurs to professionals at all distances. I ran my first half marathon in Feb 2013, thanks great trails, running partners, and really supportive people on Social Media who are doing the same. I'll be racing in my first Sprint Triathlon in August 2013].
Got your own suggestions? Send in your comments, and tell us about your Seattle relocation experience.
[BTW, if anyone is interested in a student edition of the above, i.e. you're moving to Seattle to attend one of our universities, community colleges, or advanced degree programs, please email me offline about creating a post just for you. Edited Jan 11, 2013]
*I wrote this post when I was single. That is no longer true. I have grown by one cat (Loomi) and one Man-Geek.
Ringing in 2013 with Art and More Art
It’s become a tradition for me. I love, love, LOVE welcoming the New Year with art in the form of costuming, dance, music, and theater. NYE 2011, I was in Las Vegas watching pole dancers in the Hard Rock Hotel before kicking up my heels. While I’ve never been a huge fan of Vegas as a city, I have great respect that it curates some of the best concerts, theatric shows, modern dance, and art in the nation. So you all wouldn’t be surprised how NYE 2012 went down, would you? I’ll never get tired of ringing in the New Year with art.
BREAK IT DOWN
Beats Antique dancers in hot pants and horse heads canter about the stage with drill team flags at Seattle’s Paramount Theater on NYE.Break It Down
8:00 AM Pancake breakfast with the Man-Geek (and NYE day strategy time)
10:30 AM – 12:00 noon Costume strategy time. I worked up a devilish unitard get-up with a slinky dress that made the best of the best of what it means to have a backless outfit. But sorry folks. If you didn’t see it and take a picture, there is none for you. Some moments are meant to be taken in with the brain and archived off the server, you dig?
12:30 PM Lunch at Thai Ginger, aka “what part of no peanuts do you not understand? [Man-Geek caught the peanuts in the dipping sauce and sent it back to the kitchen before I could finish checking-in on Facebook].
1:45 PM Life of Pi in 3D. This is only my second attempt at watching 3D film. Some of you might remember I experienced nausea and dizziness during the film Avatar in 3D. While the unnatural eye movements 3D movies demand do not cause nausea in everyone, I have figured out how to diminish this unhappy side effect: blink faster than the normal rate, and watch the edges of the film screen to provide a frame and ground for eye movements. No nausea, just images of animals swimming in the raging ocean.
4:00 PM Standing in the window dressing area of Williams-Sonoma, pretending to be happy cooks while people passed by and laughed. Naturally, I was using all Le Creuset cookware.
5:00PM Frans Chocolate on 1st Avenue. Because you know you are going to want some choco bon bon noms after dinner, with a little caffeine to get you through the night.
5:15 PM Japonessa Sushi Cocina for din-din, omikase style. The colors on the plate are artful, the sashimi was fresh and satisfying, and the sparkling sake made for a wonderful photo on my iPhone (check out the unexpected reflections in the glass).
8:15 PM The Paramount Theater. Who doesn’t like being greeted at the door by circus people on stilts and Circus Contraption playing happy music that makes you feel like you’re in a French movie?
8:30 PM Lynx takes the stage. She gave us the unexpected pleasure of particularly DJ-perfect beat boxing that left the small but growing crowd scream for more. The link is from an SF duet performance several years ago she gave that will astound you. Check it.
9:15 PM Y La Bamba takes the stage. Again, I had the feeling I was in a movie, with world tunes that between the houses of some backcountry South, South America, and CoCo Rosie. Loved it.
[To the people who keep smoking pot in indoor public venues: you suck. After helping you decriminalize marijuana smoking, I wish to help create legislation that fines you TRIPLE for smoking that same pot in an indoor space with people who are allergic to your smoke, you selfish little pigs].
10:15 Beats Antique takes the stage. Zoe Jakes comes out in costume #1, channeling one of India’s 300 million Hindu gods. I realize that this is one of those times I must make an artistic decision to turn the phone camera off and just enjoy the show. We’re pressed up against some completely wasted revelers, one of whom is large enough to break my toe if he were to stumble backwards. As soon as one of the triad looks like she’s going to yak, a few of us eagerly take their place, and we’re one deep in from the stage.
Beats Antique has been a band and performance group I’ve followed since the early days when Zoe Jakes, choreographer, bellydancer, and music director was still performing with Miles Copland’s Bellydance Superstars. Her intense gaze matches her equally intense focus on every movement she makes, allowing her to complete multiple fast turns while removing and placing a mask on her face, to moving in sync with two other dancers with sharp isolations and flirtatious glances at the audience. The band consistently composes and performs electro-acoustic sounds borrowed from the far ends of the earth, giving a little something to everyone.
How Beats Antique moved from India goddess opening number through tribal bellydance trio into cantering horse head drill team flag dancing and even an Animal Farm-like production, no less an encore involving a giant air squid fighting dancers who were minutes ago Mayan worshippers whilst alien robots raised their arms in victory is just a journey that you really can’t experience from in front of a screen. I felt like I was in a high school play, watching people walk cardboard trees onto stage, hold screens to project shadows, and skitter on stage with a variety of props, costumes, and other things that close up reveal all the things you don’t see in a KeyArena show — bras, undie lines, Go-Go girls vulgarly shaking bottoms like dogs, circus performers hopping out to the audience and pouring champagne into the throats of the lucky in the first two rows [I was two people away from getting a sip of bubbly from Zoe, dammit!].
While I’m waiting for reviews to show up online about the show, I’ll say that Beats Antique did not disappoint. Every show I’ve seen of theirs is different, and while the energy of the musicians was perhaps a bit subdued for NYE (they have had a grueling tour around the world), they still delivered a massive show that left the stage full of confetti, a air-squid, balloons, cables and bellydance costume pieces, feathers, an audience crying out for more. When the stilt walkers and animal-head performers took the stage, I felt like I was at Burning Man. Welcome home, they say.
12:30 AM Spilling out into the streets with the rest of the New Year’s Day revelers. Apparently, they all congregate at the 3rd and Pike bus stop, waiting to go to Tukwila. This was my least artful moment of the entire evening. Being too short to comfortable grab the overhead bar on this standing-room only bus back to the Old Rainier Brewery in SODO (where my comfy bed and two even more comfortable kittehs await me), I spent half the trip feeling like it might actually be normal to stand at a 45 degree angle.
[To the person who's hand kept trying to creep up my dress: I was wearing a f*cking unitard. Ha ha! You get nothin' but spandex].
2:00 AM In bed and wearing the musician’s earplugs to ensure a good night of sound sleep.
8:30 AM Pancakes and chocolate for breakfast. Oh yes. And happy kittehs, who cuddle like the little masters of the universe that they are.
11:30 AM Make a resolution to take down the LED Christmas tree hanging from the fire extinguisher water pipes before Jan. 9 [when wicked bellydance stuff begins]
PUTTING IT BACK UP
So we break it down, and then we put it back up again. More art! More art! MORE ART!
What I have in store:
1. More instructional time, both learning and teaching.
2. More costuming: innovative and non-traditional dance costuming with one-of-a-kind construction
3. More short choreographed pieces with bellydance, bollywood, and butoh/modern.
4. More video. Like the one here, performed live at the Beasts show at Tin Can Studio Dec. 1, 2012.
5. More photography, including a hosted photo walk with Jacob Lucas through the Old Rainier Brewery (more on this soon).
6. A return to playing and creating music (I’ve had to take a break until I finish writing my book).
Oh yes, there will be a whole hot mess of art in 2013. It’s what I do. It’s what I love. Keep following me here and on Hips for Hire on FB, even though my posts are fewer than I would like (writing the book, I am). You’ll hear about more stuff, including my new launching page, The Veil Whisperer. <— you can click here for a teeny tiny peek at this project.
Artful Weekend Getaways
When the economy tanked in 2009, many people began trading in their expensive vacations for closer-to-home weekend getaways. When the job has less PTO available, or your boss needs you to say on the line when it’s your time to take a vacation, there are some negative consequences to putting off the necessary R and R time too long: exhaustion, resentment, poorer performance, to name a few. After coming back from a restful weekend away, here’s some great ways to have an artful weekend getaway you can capitalize on anytime.
Snow-capped mountains, water, and green. San Juan Islands are my happy place.
My weekend getaway was to my “happy place” on this planet, the San Juan Islands. Just because it is only a 1.5 hour car drive away and a ferry ride away does not mean it isn’t a beautiful destination worthy of weddings, camping, jogging, bicycling, nature viewing, and photography. I have made over a half-dozen trips to the San Juans in the past ten years, and I have never had a bad experience. To top things off, the San Juans also have a small but thriving artist’s community, with practitioners of Yoga, culinary arts, pottery, jewelry making, music, and painting.
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE
We started the weekend off with dinner and the ballet in Seattle on a Friday evening (taking advantage of HH pricing for appetizers and wine), and planned to be up early in the morning to catch the last morning ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. That ended up being a good plan, since any laziness on our part would force us to wait three hours until the next ferry. Therefore, there would be no late night cavorting, movie-watching, or socializing. Ah, the sacrifices we make for art appreciation!
Packing for a weekend is as tough as packing for a week if you don’t have a general idea of what you want to do with 48 hours on an island. I keep a couple of packing lists for travel handy, but my general rule of thumb is to pack as light as possible for the most amount of general fun. For a weekend, I include the following:
- two pairs of shoes: one for walking/running, and one for going out
- fitness clothing that can play double duty, and layers for changing weather
- one iDevice for entertainment, GPS/maps
- a pen and paper to write with (I keep a small notepad in my bag)
- a decent camera (I had one on loan)
- sunscreen
You might not agree with this next part, but whether you’re traveling by yourself or with your main squeeze, an artful weekend getaway includes a limit on how much time to spend with your face in a screen. My personal tendency is to keep iDevices off or set aside, or you’ll miss the best moments. That included some moments where the camera needed to be set aside as well. A lazy lounge session on a park bench yields restful rejuvenation well beyond what any iDevice can give me. Plus, it’s free (unless you count the brain cell energy consumed).
FOLLOW THE NATIVES
The woman at reception at the Outlook Inn told us about a very special wine pairing dinner at their New Leaf Cafe, with Gonzalez Byass (Spanish wines) and Chef Gordon Terry as a part of their “Outlook University” [here's where I say I don't mind going back to school!]. She said one of the wines she tried was so good, “…it was like my mouth said, ‘Welcome, come on in.’” Whenever someone who lives there recommends something with that kind of enthusiasm and unfettered joy, you should ALWAYS pay attention to see if that’s something you’d like to try. And so we did.
Before the dinner, I asked permission to take photos before and throughout the dinner, and the hostess approved. Taking pictures during a meal with a flash made me feel like Press, but I was pleased to see out of a corner of my eye another young diner taking pictures with his phone camera. Food presentation is art!
On a weekend getaway, this is my version of "group therapy".
Om nom nom! Welcome to my mouth!
The weather was extraordinary for Spring in the Puget Sound, a warm and lovely 72 Fahrenheit. I watched for when others who lived on the island were running outside, or where they were gravitating towards for after-dinner fraternizing. While we never did make it to the Odd Fellow’s Building (where Hejira World Band was playing!), a good amount of locals did recommend going there for a good time. You’d get your dance and world music fix, all at once.
I also noticed about seven book clubs were registered at the Danville Book Store in East Sound. Forgot a good book to read? Most of your local town getaway destinations will have a book store, complete with a discount table if you want a cheaper read. Some of the B&B’s will happily take your finished books for recycling to other happy weekenders.
A THING OF THE EYES
In the movie, “Sabrina” starring Julia Ormand and Harrison Ford, Sabrina says to Linus that she’s been taking photos all her life, only recently with a camera. It’s a quote that I feel has been true for me. I’ve always been framing scenes, imagining the finished photo well before the shutter has been pressed.
We took the camera everywhere except on the morning run. What I saw on the run anyways would likely not have been captured easily: three does crossing a road quickly, and an eagle flying overhead. Everywhere else — Mt. Constitution, Olga Harbor, and a variety of stops along the way — the camera had enough memory and battery life for the afternoon.
Pop go the colors, if you can see them post production
SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS
What would an artful weekend getaway be without supporting local artists? Well, for starters, it would be dull. Because local artists take the time and care to share their lovely environment with you as a visitor, these places can thrive with continued art. In a time when art programs are being cancelled from schools because of budget issues, it’s that much more important to spend some of your dollars investing in the arts.
Art entrepreneurs Scarlett and Tyra took advantage of the fine weather by displaying their matted prints in a makeshift booth by the road. I think they had a pretty good gig going, including a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows. We think is an excellent alternative to the lemonade stand.
Scarlett and guest artist Tyra in their art booth. Photo taken by permission.
Teresa Greenway, mother to one of the young artists pictured above, has an eBook pdf out on Amazon, available through your Kindle reader. including tasty recipes for sourdough bread. I do have to mention that these girls were quite the little businesswomen. One of them kindly reminded us to please stand to side of her booth after making our purchase, since our bodies were blocking the view of the sign from the road! However, I do want to also mention that the little boy who chased after us for the dollar bill he felt he lost when we paid with a $5 bill for a $4 piece of art might need a little help with math.
Ever grateful for the new friends, venues, and destinations that have come from starting a Twitter feed back in 2009 that has grown to 1600+, our final stop on the artful weekend getaway was to Allium, a culinary gem on the island. I learned of Allium through my connection on Twitter to the restaurant, but my companion for the weekend had already vetted this gem on a previous visit. Its quiet view of the water, and Chef Lisa Nakamura’s tasty masterpieces made from fresh ingredients, Aloha, and an unpretentious setting made this meal feel like you were eating in her home (and in fact, she says that on her website). Her meals are works of art, including that chocolate pudding creme brulee with a candle for my birthday. [Super yum, and the eight paw salute from two sets of human hands and front paws from the kittehs!]
I can never say no to scallops, and when they look and taste this good from Allium, why should I? [Scallops, I must have you now
All good things come to an end. I sacked out on the ferry ride back to Anacortes, my mind and heart full of music, art, sunshine, and images. When I see a lot of beauty in a short period of time, my mind needs more sleep to start processing it all! After putting couple of sample photos post-editing on my FB page, I think I have a pretty good idea that people liked the photos. As always, I’m reminded that photography really is an art form, since it requires one to change the way s/he sees the world in order to render even the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Granted, in past trips to the San Juans, I’ve also camped alone, pitching a tent in Moran State Park, bicycling everywhere, and cooking my meals over a campfire instead of dining in a white-tablecloth restaurant [usually accompanied by a good bottle of Scotch]. An artful weekend getaway does not have to be expensive or fancy. And I can tell you, no one paid anything for the view of two eagles flying below the outlook on top of Mt. Constitution. Nor could we have ever paid enough to have selected the best weather weekend of April to travel. I’ve always said that some of the best and most beautiful experiences in life are the ones that cost little nothing, but transform us forever.
Want to plan your own artful weekend? What do you think need to do in order to make it happen? Share your best ideas for weekend getaways that put art in the center of your experience.
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