Countdown to 2011: 10 Things Sarah J. Did For the First Time in 2010
Seattlest will be counting down to 2011 with a series of posts on our highlights of this year and what we're looking forward to in the next. Got a list to suggest? Send it our way. See the entire series here.
This post would be a lot more poetic had I been born a year earlier, what with this being my ninth year in Seattle rather than a more fitting and fulfilling tenth. Alas, I like to make things awkward...the point is, I've been here for a spell. But one trick dogs can learn new ponies, or so the saying goes. Here are 10 brand spanking new things I did this year.
10. Took the Edmonds to Kingston Ferry. I've taken ferries to Bainbridge for the day, to Bremerton, to the San Juans out of Anacortes...it's one of the first things newbies are told to do. But for some reason I always kind of forgot about Edmonds. Luckily I had friends get married in Poulsbo this summer and had probably the most beautiful ferry experience of my life. Recommended: timing your return trip for dusk. Not recommended: not looking at Google map directions closely and not even realizing there was a ferry involved, waiting late and nervously in your car in line at the terminal and resorting to eating almost an entire bag of Tootsie Roll Midgees that were part of a gift you hadn't given away yet.
Edmonds Terminal
199 Sunset Ave. S.
Edmonds WA 98020 USA
9. Learned to crochet. I tried knitting once my junior year in college buying supplies funded by money I couldn't acquire without the services of Coinstar, and even then the needles ended up in the garbage. Now that I don't have things like Tetris and frozen pizza to distract me, I dipped my toes back in the yarn art world. Crocheting is much more my style and buckets of fun! And it's even more fun when you learn on vacation then practice on a road trip back through the Redwoods and can show off your progress to passing elk. Recommended: Books and videos are a great resource, but having people to ask questions is best. Preferably not friends you vacation with so that when they're gone you don't ask questions aloud to yourself with no answer. Not recommended: going cheap on yarn, you'll just end up yelling at it.
Stitches
711 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122
8. Finally ate at Marination Mobile. Mobile food is so hot and you have to eat at x, y and z and blah blah blah. I grew up with Taco Trucks and have had moderate luck finding some decent spots around here. A few of the great praises for Marination Mobile got through my hullabaloo filter, but I still only gave it a chance because it's parked near my office on Fridays. But ohmygawwwwwwwd, marry me pork sliders and pork tacos, or at least marry each other in my stomach. Recommended: Pork tacos, pork sliders, lots of saucy goodness. Spam and miso ginger are good too, but porkyporkporkpork wins. Not Recommended: Trying to eat three tacos, a slider, and a kimchi rice bowl in about seven minutes. Oops.
Marination Mobile.
Monday: 11-2 South Lake Union - Cascade People’s Center (309 Pontius Ave N.)
Tuesday: 11-2 Belltown - Keybank Belltown Branch (2500 First Ave, across from El Gaucho)
Wednesday: 11-2 Fremont - Indoor Sun Shoppe (160 N. Canal St.)
Thursday: 11-2 Beacon Hill - Pacific Medical Center Qtrs 10 Building (1122 12th Ave S., across from Jose Rizal Park, upstairs near crosswalk)
Friday: 11-2 SODO - Safeco Field (Edgar Martinez Dr S. & Occidental Ave S.)
7. Went to a traveling exhibit. Aside from art exhibits, I've never been to any quasi-big traveling thingy. Remember when everyone was crapping their britches about BODIES? No thanks. But the draw of the sorting hat was apparently too strong and I ended up checking out the Harry Potter Exhibit. It was a little pricey, and the attendant that gave me a dirty look for trying to put Hermione's gown from Goblet of Fire in my purse was a little bitchy, but overall it was pretty cute and fun. Recommended: watch this before you go so it's stuck in your head the entire duration and beyond. Not recommended: going on a weekend. People are obnoxiously abundant on Saturday afternoons.
Pacific Science Center
200 Second Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
6. Saw the Blue Angels from the water. I've been to the Captain's Club for Seafair, seen the Angels from the shores, went down near Boeing to watch them takeoff and land; I'm a fan of needing speed. This year's Seafair weather was atrocious, but it's the first time I ever saw the airshow from the middle of the lake and there's no going back now. I'm pretty sure I reached up and touched one. Recommended: BOAT. Top Gun Music. Flag. Not Recommended: Tecate + bad weather and no swimsuit to get in the water for relief.
Seafair
Lake Washington
5. Got wisdom teeth out, braces. After a long dental drought, I found a new dentist (nicest woman alive) and started taking care of business. As a result, I stimulated the milkshakes and pudding economy a lot. Now that I've got problem teeth removed and braces, I just have to convince a boy to touch my boobs and I'll finally be caught up with the rest of you 15-year-olds. Recommended: Drugs, wax, and Burgermaster malts. Not recommended: talking to the little kids in your orthodontist waiting room...you end up getting jealous that they're getting theirs off so much sooner.
Dr. Amy Winston, Seattle Special Care Dentistry
4915 25th Avenue NE Suit 205
Seattle, WA 98105
Dr. Shapiro, Northcut Orthodontics
4915 25th Ave. NE Suite 203
Seattle, WA 98105
4. Got a facial. Not having much experience in the pampering world started out as a financial obstacle but slowly just became a "I don't know what to expect and don't want to look stupid" thing. With a gift certificate for a facial in tow, I quickly followed through on the looking stupid thing by accidentally putting the little cotton dress on as a cape and cracking up my esthetician (Susan Grace, the owner, whom is awesome). Once that was out of the way, it was time for pure bliss. Recommended: be prepared that the extraction part is about on par pain-wise with getting a face tattoo. Not recommended: burping.
Suite 300 Skin Care
5424 Ballard Avenue NW Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98107
3. Took a cooking class. As I already mentioned, I took a pie making class at Cook's World and liked it as more than a friend. I've been trying to beef up (food joke!) my cooking skills as of late, and this was a great springboard to keep my momentum going. Next up: rustic bread making and winning over the world with my charming food skills. Recommended: tools, books and supplies are 20% off the day of class! Not Recommended: Sitting in the seat right next to the refrigerator...you have to get up to let people in and out the whole class.
Cook's World
2900 N.E. Blakeley Street
Seattle, WA 98105
2. Got a massage. All the same reasons I'd never got a facial apply to a lot of things, massage included. Another gift certificate, another life changing epiphagasm. After an hour with Olivier D’hose (I wish I made that name up) I finally got it. It's not just pampery, your muscles really do get cluster-F'ed and a massage really can offer relief. Already been back. Recommended: granny panties. Not recommended: farting.
The Massage Sanctuary
705 Broadway East
Seattle, WA 98102
1. Gone to a College Football Bowl Game. Okay, so this one hasn't happened quite yet. But it's going to! With just a few hours to spare in 2010, I'll be at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego barking for Sark until I pass out. GO DAWGS!!!! Recommended: GOING. Not recommended: losing.
May 2011 bring everyone many new and joyous experiences!
