Results tagged “pikeplace”

Seattlest Pix: 09Sept17

"Collins Orchards" by Chris Blakeley, from our Flickr pool

Flash mobs dancing to "Beat It" in honor of Michael Jackson's August 29 birthday. Jackson would have been 51. At Kerry Park, Pioneer Square, and Pike Place Market:

It cannot be easy, being green, shade-grown and responsible. It cannot be easy, being the butt of endless Dunkin Donuts commercials. It cannot be easy, watching McDonalds roll out espresso machines. It cannot be easy, being Starbucks.


After Seattlest arrived at the office today, saw all of these big white trailers across the street, and had our little "Well, this is unusual" moment of tilted equilibrium, we got curious. Is this another episode of our friendly German invasion of last August?

We’ve been watching the price of Cascadia’s happy hour hamburgers climb steadily. They were the best bargain at a buck each, but then doubled to two and are now, what, like ten bucks each? (Sadness obscures sanity.)

The 4th Annual Care for the Market luncheon, held yesterday at The Paramount Theatre, was a wake-up call for us. When we think of Pike Place Market, we picture ourselves gorging on Beecher's macaroni and cheese. We envision ourselves carrying bundles of ginormous dahlias, sampling oh-my-god-these-are-good peaches, and listening to the funky sounds of street musicians. We don't necessarily think of meals and housing for low-income senior citizens, childcare for those who can't otherwise afford it, and a food bank that gives a quarter of a million bags of groceries to neighbors in need each year. But yesterday, were asked to think of the historical and social importance of the market.

When Seattlest worked closer to Pike Place Market, the obvious lunchtime choice was between crumbly, delectable tamales or hearty gyros. Now that we find ourselves in Sodo 40 hours a week, we've had to venture out and blaze a new lunch hour trail. Our heart, mind, and friend's recommendations led us to Smarty Pants, only five minutes away (plus a few, due to an inconveniently placed train)...

Still lamenting Seattle’s lack of quality xiao long bao, Seattlest picked up a copy of A World of Dumplings and decided we’d start making them on our own. (Refining the recipe will take time, so don’t hold your breath on a restaurant opening anytime soon.). While thumbing through the book, we stumbled upon a recipe for our old pal, pelmeni.

M. Coy Books on Pine is closing, and, because we spent hours and hours there as a teenager without buying anything, we're feeling a bit jerk-ish for not having patronized the place more in adulthood.

While the city goes about with itself, Seattlest spends countless hours in an ivory tower somewhere between Pike Place Market and the Lusty Lady. We pace the floor with a hunched back, wringing our hands, wrinkling our nose and whispering, "what, what, what... is the meaning of this?"

Lunch today, walked down to a nearby grocery/deli for the best sandwich in the world (Pike Place Special).

Braiden Rex-Johnson's new book, Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining, is a fine complement to Kurt Dammeier's Pure Flavor (reviewed by Seattlest back in August). Affectionate portraits of leading players: wine makers Bob Betz Kay Simon, Harry McWatters; unique restaurants, cooking techniques, recipes. Rex-Johnson, a familiar name whose previous books include the iconic Pike Place Market Cookbook, writes a food & wine column for Wine Press Northwest and served as food editor at Seattle Homes & Lifestyles.

Did you know that there's only one credible real-estate industry voice in Seattle? It's a marketing firm in town that works with real estate developers. We've learned this from reading Aubrey Cohen's real estate reporting in the Seattle P-I. Here's a search on articles containing the exact phrase "Williams Marketing" -- they're quoted in at least one article per month since last November. (Who are the schmoes paying the P-I for ads when there's so much free ink available?)

Seattle condo, or Baltimore project? "Through the wire" by Seattlest Flickr pool contributor onejen adds a grittier perspective to Pike Place residences. (Fans of the Wire might want to check out this profile of David Simon in the most recent New Yorker...)

Our country is in restaurant danger. In many parts of America, pizza is Pizza Hut, Mexican food is Taco Bell, and chicken is Kentucky-fried. YUM. That’s not praise, but the stock symbol of Tricon Global Restaurants, which represents that trio and is trying to reintroduce Taco Bell into Mexico after failure the first time. (Will renaming the tacos “tacostadas” and adding French fries to the menu add to the Americana appeal?)

It’s so great, they had to name it twice. Before you start belting out “New York, New York,” think again. We’re in Seattle, and we’re talking about one of New Yorker Anthony Bourdain’s favorite local eateries: Piroshky, Piroshky.

Are full of passionate intensity. The Dems betray us with wimpishness while the radio rethugs rush to attack phony soldiers.

This past Friday, Steinbrueck Park was the site of a free, four-hour concert that punctuated Pike Place Market’s Centennial Celebration. It was a great time to be a proud, passionate Seattleite. A wonderful time to be a frugal tourist. And, despite a tiny bit of Pearl Jam-overpromising by Party promoters, a perfect time to be Seattlest.

Our land, this inlet on the western coast of the North American continent, is a fortunate one, endowed with natural riches and settled by people who do not confuse prosperity with moral superiority. Modesty becomes us; we do not flaunt our advantages.

There's a film crew all set up and shooting some kind of car/shoot 'em up scene right now at 1st and Stewart. We noticed them from our office perched high above the director's chair and ran down to get some shots of our own.

Yesterday we were down at Pike Place Market feasting on a Three Girls Bakery sandwich and on the way out we spotted the Seafair Pirates making their rounds. "Pardon us, pirates coming through!" they said, making their way through the molasses-like flow of tourists which we thought was probably not authentic pirate behavior. (We wouldn't be completely outraged if a pirate lopped off a head or two of the sidewalk-gawking variety of tourist who's astonished to see, you know, peaches! and bread! for sale in a public market and has to stop in their tracks to verify the observation.) The pirates landed at Alki on July 7, and from the looks of their site's photo albums, they've made their way from there to Mercer Island, Kent, Chinatown, and up to Greenwood since.

Oh, how we hates them! Alright, we don't hate Greenpeace. Especially not the organization as a whole. When they're not out foolishly trying to save fierce man-eating whales, Greenpeace does a lot of good in the world. Happy happy joy joy. We do, however, hate their "street team" or whatever you might call them. May we suggest "clipboard toting nuisance squad"?

According to the rental car's dashboard digits, it's 11:11 on 07 07 07, the temperature is 22.2 degrees and we've driven 333.3 kilometers since leaving Paris. What does it all mean? That would be the coincidence of crossing paths with Seattle chef Kerry Sear at the bustling Saturday market in Beaune, of all places.

-- Seattle's got one. Where else can you find a Starbucks with a La Marzocco espresso machine?
-- Ironically, he was flying into town for a Goldfinger reenactment event.
-- Let's move more of our commute to the water, suggests West Seattle Blog.
-- Turns out it's crowded at the Pike Place Market. Plan your produce trips accordingly.
-- Seattle's home to a half restaurant? And you have to try it, along with 10 more?
-- Portland may be the home of half the names you hear on The Simpsons, but they still don't get a Kwik-E-Mart. What does that Nelson kid say all the time?

Photo: He is iamdonte. He takes pictures. And coins terms like AtlasGate.

You know the concept: local artists create fiberglass scultpures based on Ur-piggy Rachel, eventually sold to raise money for the Pike Place Market Foundation. One such sculptor is Colin Reedy, an Oregon furniture designer whose previous contributions include a couple of ride-em "Pork Choppers." This particular creation, titled "Prosciutto and Melon Pig," ought to be positioned at a deli counter like DeLaurenti, not on the sidewalk in Belltown next to, gulp, the pork-free Tandoori Hut.

Yes, we're Folklife enthusiasts. Where else can you get a funnel cake, a hip-hop spitfest, a latin dance party, and a contest for liars, all in one place? We quoted Prince in the headline because we wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at Folklife this year. There is so much shit going on this weekend, and you don't have to drive all the way to the silly Gorge and pay through your nose to enjoy the music, yall.

Seattlest expects another round of the ever-fascinating debate on Seattle identity: Greater Seattle vs. Lesser Seattle, mossback vs. booster, REI vs. Macy's, McQ vs. Singles. Lusty Lady vs. Four Seasons (oh wait -- they struck a balance). Pick your thesis and antithesis.

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