Hey Allecia: We're going to miss you!

As you may have just read, our fearless leader Allecia Vermillion is leaving the Seattlest for an incredible new gig. We are all sworn to secrecy as to what that is but we can say this, it may or may not be the CIA. Allecia has filled our inboxes for quite some time here, has helped the site move in some incredible new directions and has been an editor writers dream of having. In celebration and in mourning of her new venture in life, the Seattlest gang has all chimed in to what her tenure has meant to us. She didn't know we were doing this, so Allecia, we hope you like it! It's a love-fest, and a well deserved one at that.

Alex Hudson
"For someone I have only ever met once, Allecia and I have sure spent a lot of time together in bed. I wake up every morning, and like the tech-savvy twenty something I am, I check my email before I plant my feet on the floor. And without fail, there’s Allecia. She’s got a snappy way to make sure we fill our site with relevant, funny, useful content. She cajoles like the best older sister I never had. I’m a stick person, not a carrot person and Allecia had no problem meeting me there. She always had encouraging praise for my writing and passions, LOLed at my jokes (even when they are not really that good) and forgave my exclamation point love affair. Oh, and that one time we did meet, she bought me two martinis. She’s a lady after my own heart and I’m going to miss her something tough. Best of luck, not that you’ll need it."

Amy Mikel
“Ever since she came on board as EIC, Allecia and I hit it off like that dog and that duck that you can watch on the internet. Allecia has helped grow this site into something totally rad, and if you're reading this, you probably agree. Allecia is funny, smart, has mad RSS and Google Alert skills, and only sometimes yells. Appearance-wise, I'd give her a 8.4. I've had a lot of fun working with her, and I think Seattlest's contributors would all agree: we will miss her.”

Cameron Levin
“Allecia was the kind of editor who always encouraged, inspired and appreciated her staff. She also always referred to me as "dude" and has excellent taste in beer, which is an all-around winner, in my book."

Gina Corsiglia
“Allecia, you were a great and really supportive editor. I really appreciate your willingness to answer all of my millions of questions when I was a major n00b. Thank you! Good luck at your new gig! (Sorry for the exclamation points. I just couldn't contain myself.)“

Hanna Brooks Olsen
“Aside from having what is possibly one of the coolest names of all time, Allecia Vermillion is brimming with awesomeness. She's an eagle-eyed editor, a smart writer, and a gracious, kind person. She also has fantastic taste in wine. While she herself is not at all large, the editorial shoes she's leaving behind are behemoth. I hope and wish and secularly pray to be even a fraction as incredible as she is, and am jealous of anyone who gets to work with her in the future.”

Jen Betterley
“Allecia's done an excellent job, not only in running the site, but in making Seattlest a home for both the writers and the readers. Her wit, charm, ongoing great ideas and clever humor have made the experience of writing and reading Seattlest a serious must. Her gig is lucky to have her, and she'll be greatly missed!”

Jennifer Trott
“Allecia is the only person I would let stick a giant camera in my food before I eat it. She is always willing to take a chance on a crazypants idea, and she will be missed!”

Jose Amador
“What's most striking about Allecia isn't her taste in food, or her foul taste in language and humor. No, it's her journalistic instinct and her ability to nurture the same in those who come to the field through non-traditional venues. Early in my tenure as a contributor here at Seattlest, I made what could kindly be called a "journalistic fuck up" concerning an arts organization that has been near and dear to me. In the long run, it was more of a speed bump than cause for derailment, but it affected me greatly -- it was the first, and hopefully last of these kinds of mistakes I'd made (I realize how unrealistic that is, but I gotta hope). After a delicate hand smacking, Allecia provided a friendly ear and much needed advice while I nursed the wound. Our friendship has only strengthened since. Godspeed, Allecia, you are already missed.”

Kimberly Dixon
“Allecia is amazing. From her impeccable writing and editing abilities to her hilarious wit. I've truly enjoyed her reign as Editor and will think fondly of her every time I see a pair of saddle shoes. Good luck at the new site, Allecia!”

Kimberly Jeffries
“Allecia may haved moved to Seattle only a few months before I did last year, but she might as well have been a native for how tuned into the local culture she was. I owe much of my awesome introduction to the city and to Seattlest to her, and I'm eternally grateful that she saw fit to take me under her wing as a writer and editor. She is the perfect person for her new gig, and they are beyond lucky to have her stellar taste, impeccable news judgment and mad editorial skills. We'll miss her!”

Laura Brewer
ODE TO ALLECIA
We wake to Allecia’s name every morning
She makes sure our posts are never boring
The lady’s a foodie and a smarty
She always throws a fab party
Allecia is also very slim
(Always going to the gym!)
Seattlest loves this girl
Wouldn’t trade her quips for the world
We’re so saddened to see her leave
Not even Amanda Knox news can help us grieve

Lily Kerson
“I appreciate Allecia's kindness, sincerity, and sauciness, and I will forever cherish the memory of discussing Brazilian bikini waxes and other similar subject matter in a dark corner during Seattlest's holiday party. I also appreciate that she taught me that numbers under ten should always be spelled out. I'm extremely excited and happy for her, and take comfort in the fact that we now own the same pair of boots. Thanks for being such a patient and funny editor, you will be missed!”

Lorraine Goldberg
“Dear Allecia: This octopi is for you. Particularly, your dedication, patience, quick wit and love for all things food related. Thanks for geeking out and the slew of food related tidbits. If Humping Sheehan was a band they'd be playing a set at sexy feast just for you. “

Morgen Schuler
“I tend to be the gushy sort when it comes to sentimentality and this will be no exception. When I volunteered for the Seattlest music editor gig, I was pretty nervous about overworking myself, overworking the people that wanted to write for the section and most importantly just plain ol' sucking at the job. The second I started in on "my plans for world domination" Allecia was there pushing me forward and telling me how awesome I was. Fooled her, but I digress! Without Allecia I wouldn't be nearly as successful with Seattlest Music and more importantly, I'd feel a little more lost in the world. She's a great drinkin' buddy and a great friend. In the immortal words of Trey Parker and Matt Stone: Allecia, Fuck Yeah!”

Omar Willey
“I've worked for a lot of editors in twenty-five years of writing. Some of them have even come from Portland, and some have been incorrigible foodies. But none of them has ever been as wonderful or lovely as Allecia, and definitely none have ever been so astute about the proper use of the ellipsis. She is the only editor who has ever actually told me how deeply affected she was by something I wrote, at a time when I was wondering whether I should keep writing at all. Thank you, Allecia, for the all-too-short time we've shared together.”

Rich Coffey
“Hi Alex, I would say I owe a debt of gratitude to Allecia, who first sought me out because of her interest in the Cicerone program, and then later allowed me the opportunity to show off my writing chops at Seattlest. I owe her, at the very least, a tall pint of cream ale as a thank you!”

Ronald Holden
“Allecia, we're all sad to see you leave Seattlest for a fuller, better-fed life. Eat your heart out!”

Sarah Johnston
“I will gravely miss Allecia looking to me any time the Seattlest is in need of Husky Football input (more in the way of drunk shenanigans than statistical analysis). Or sandwiches...anything to do with sandwiches. She will be missed!”

Sarah Lloyd
“When I first hopped aboard the Seattlest train, I got a drink with Allecia at the 5 Point, where I realized that she is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She's not just the kind of editor that is good to work with -- she's the kind of editor that you just want to do right by. We've been lucky to have her at Seattlest, and I still feel lucky, as a citizen of Seattle, to have her in my city (take that, Chicago!). One day, she will rule our city.”

Tyson Lynn
“Allecia and I have never met. We've only corresponded. This job is funny like that. And despite the fact that our entire relationship has been mediated by technology, her humor, intelligence, and basic humanity sparkles throughout. I can only imagine that to experience it first-hand would braise one's skin with cleansing purity. But I digress. During her tenure here at Seattlest, she's encouraged us writers to step up, follow our instincts, and be kind. Temper it with snark, but be kind. As a result, us fickle solitary writers (am I projecting? I hope not) have become much closer in service to a City and broader community we love. Thanks Allecia”

Survey Says? We adore and will you Allecia. Bon voyage!