Seattlest's Favorite Things
Without Oprah to tell us what to like and buy, the Seattlest Staffers were feeling a little lost. So we've polled each other and come up with the stuff that we can't get enough of this week, from places to go and things to do, to the little tidbits that make our life better on the daily. Here's what we've got this week:
The Seattle Public Library Book Sale: When I moved across the country a decade ago I gifted, donated and left behind a mini laundry room library full of over 1000 books (I stopped counting.) I've got a bit of a problem in the acquisition of printed matter department so I frequently don't allow myself to do my favorite thing but you should.
Grab a reusable bag or 6 or a couple of sturdy boxes and head to Magnuson Park today through Sunday for the mother of all book sales held by the Friends of the Seattle Public Library. You'll be in good company with thousands of other Seattlites (who have a bit of a fetish for the printed word) standing elbow to elbow searching the tables chock full of an estimated 250,000 volumes priced from just $1. I double dare you to buy just 1 book.
-Jenise
Autumn: In case you haven't not yet, it's Fall baby. That means warm balmy nights, wearing coats and boots, drinking hot toddys and rocking dark lipsticks. Most excitingly, Fall symbolizes the return of our regularly scheduled arts programming. All the major institutions have fired up their schedules and Seattle is once again full of incredible options for lovers of theater, ballet, dance, classical music, the opera, solid films and other things where dressing for the occasion doesn't translate to sandals and tank tops. Good riddance Summer, no one who's from here really likes you anyway. And welcome Autumn, I sing the praises of your grey skies and legitimate excuses to stay indoors to enjoy the things I like without having to deal with the "wasting a beautiful day" mafia.
-Alex H.
Self-serve frozen yogurt: I can't get enough of this stuff. Every time I walk by one of the many spots that has it now, I'm tempted by the possibilities. Cookies! Fruit! Mochi! I've never had so many brain freezes in my life. Is it going to kill me? Probably. But damned if I won't go down with a big, yogurt-covered smile.
-Hanna
Seeing those beautiful lil acorn squashes at the grocery store: I see them and I just want to roast them and make so many soups and burritos and other kinds of soup that go inside the squash and stir-fries and pies. Everyone's all stoked on pumpkin season, but pumpkin is basically the most inferior of the fall/winter squashes (and pumpkin lattes/muffins are disgusting). Long live the almighty acorn squash.
-Sarah L.
Le Frenchword: If the Sunday night block of Adult Swim is any indication, appreciation for all things absurd does exist. Only problem is that a lot of that stuff is that it's aggressively absurd just for the sake of being aggressively absurd, it often feels like there hasn't been any thought put into what they're doing. It's the difference between Wonder Showzen and Xavier: Renegade Angel. Le Frenchword is a gentler form of absurdism, but no less incisive. As John Allis said, "I haven't seen anything this deeply, unapologetically off-the-wall..." I'd continue pimping it, but no one gives a shit about my bunny anymore.
-Jose
Sartori's salsa asiago cheese from MetMarket: It's asiago cheese (kinder, gentler Parmesan) rubbed with sun-dried tomato salsa on the outside. It sounds insane. It is expensive, yes, but SO good. You can make it a savory sandwich (perfect counterpoint to an avocado), or a savory-sweet sandwich (great with something like plum preserves).
Also, strikes being over.
-Tamiko
