This weekend, you can be a wizard, a sailor, a seafoodie, and a French person. That's a pretty good weekend in our book. more ›

WRITERS GROUP: It's a daylight meetup of the Seattle Writers Group. They're gathering at Greenlake's Revolutions Espresso (across the street from Gregg's Greenlake Cycle) for 45 minutes of writing followed by 15 of discussion. Here is the thing that will help set your writing career on the path: "onsite bakery." It's sort of an insider's thing but behind every great writer is a choice pastry. Joyce=scone with currants and orange peel. True story. more ›

Alerted via email to Coastal Kitchen's new Brittany-inspired menu (that's Brittany as in Bretagne, as in savory crepes and cider), we stopped in last night to see what looked good. We ended up ordering a ratatouille crepe for $14.50. We're not vegetarian but we wanted a crepe, and the smoked salmon crepes only come with the "platter for deux," which runs $42.50. This ratatouille did not taste like the spicier ratatouille we've had in the south of France or even this side of the puddle in Québec. It tasted mainly like the lightly sautéed vegetables in it, with a hint of sweetness from the otherwise bland, steamed cider curry cream sauce. (As we've mentioned, Chow Foods doesn't strive so much for authenticity as for a "romantic notion" of coastal cuisines.) We'll be back at brunchtime for their sweet and savory crepe, but we have a hunch Coastal isn't going to be stealing much crepe business from 611 Supreme. more ›

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Seattle's Alliance Française--cheese-eating commies, the lot of them, but what would we do without those fabulous sauces?--is celebrating the graphic novel (or "bande dessinée") this week. Things kick off Wednesday at the Alliance Française with an introduction to 20 giants of the genre by Fantagraphics's Kim Thompson. (Not for kids! they say.) Then Thursday is a screening of the documentary Tintin et moi at the Northwest Film Forum. This will disabuse you of the notion that Europeans aren't racist, imperialist pigs just like us. Friday it's down to Fantagraphics to Meet David B. and his art, then Saturday it's David B. again giving at talk at the Seattle Central Library. Sunday David B. joins Jim Woodring and Peter Bagge at the Henry Art Gallery, for a talk moderated by Kim Thompson. Ça y est! more ›

As has been reported elsewhere, and in this morning's Neighborhood News Roundup, Capitol Hill's Cafe Presse has a new sidewalk deck. While we applaud outdoor seating long and often, this deck takes a big bite of the available sidewalk. What with curb parking (and car doors opening suddenly) and Presse's curb signs, you now have to curve all the way to the curb and pass single file. more ›

We have no idea why there isn't an exclamation mark after new restaurant Olivar's name. It just seems natural. But there isn't, even though they must be excited to be open. We didn't go to the grand opening last night, but we could smell the kitchen and it made us very hungry. more ›

FREE BOOTY: Scion is desperate to be cool, and the latest result of that pathological drive is a CD sampler of work from IHEARTCOMIX, the LA-based label/lifestyle company. The CD is available at Scion dealerships, but the real cool news is that IHEARTCOMIX is sending dj Franki Chan (with Radiocl*t and Drop the Lime) on a limited and exclusive tour to support the release that comes to the War Room tonight. The show's free, but you have to RSVP here first. more ›

Last night the Northwest Film Forum had a line out the door with moviegoers eager for some classic European cinema. As previously mentioned, the Italian sex comedy Divorce--Italian Style (and its follow-up, Seduced and Abandoned) are showing in the small theater through tomorrow, leaving the big one to hold the main event, the NWFF's latest film series, Duel of the Cool. more ›

We laughed ourselves silly during the buoyant slapstick farce that is The Miser (through April 6, tickets $20-$34), which was not really our plan. We'd meant to be stern with the Seattle Shakespeare Company--Moliere isn't Shakespeare. It's an obvious bait and switch. more ›