WSF is still dead to us, but Governor Gregoire could make our "holiday card" list if she keeps it up. First the viaduct course correction, now she's scrounged up $100 million to pay for three new ferries. Budget, schmudget! She's all action! Plus, the Port Townsenders, come January, will be reunited with their cars on ferry trips, says the P-I:

Pierce County has agreed to loan one of its boats to the Washington State Ferries, beginning in January, to resume car service between Keystone and Port Townsend.

Were we a closeted German lesbian, we’d totally bring Jens Lekman home to Daddy. The fair-haired, fey-mannered 26-year-old Swedish songsmith could definitely play the part of doting boyfriend, while his self-deprecating shy charm and boyish good looks would overwhelm any parental attempts to suss out the real nature of our relationship. To that end, during last night’s sold-out show at Nectar, Jens introduced "A Postcard to Nina" with the true story behind the song, in which his gay penpal in Berlin ambushed him into being her beard (or merkin, if you prefer) for the sake of pleasing her Catholic father. It was pitch-perfect Jens Lekman—walking the fine line between precious and twee, somehow managing to be sweet without giving you a toothache. That’s essential for a singer-songwriter who has deadpan lyrics about asthma inhalers and slicing avocados, and (just once) rhymes "number two" with "coochie-coo," all without inducing groans or eyerolls. more ›

After kittens yawning and cross-species friendship, dear sweet Jens Lekman may be the most precious thing found in all of nature. The Gothenberg Swede makes orchestral pop songs in the vein of Morrissey or the Magnetic Fields without even being gay (just European). To promote Night Falls Over Kortedala, one of the best reviewed albums of the year, Jens has been touring around the States with his almost-all-girl backing band: more ›

Not that we care anymore ( crushes will be in Tacoma tonight strutting their stuff for the girlies. We can hardly contain our amusement that this tour is being sponsored by Pop Tarts. That's just brilliant. more ›

Great comedy minds regulary rave about sketch comedy group Kasper Hauser so we felt we were in good hands going in to Thursday's night's show at Re-bar. more ›

25 days, over 160,000 attendees, 198 narrative films, 60 documentaries, 15 archival films, 4 mystery screenings, and 141 shorts later, the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival is finally over. Seattlest, for one, is relieved. Don't get us wrong: we love the festival life. But after nearly a month of showing up early to films, saving seats for friends, and contending with irascible movie-goers, we are ready for a break from the cinema. See you next year, SIFF! more ›

Joseph Campbell once pointed out that your real midlife crisis happens between the ages of 30 and 35, living past 70 being a relatively recent event. At 35 you have the accoutrements of home and family, community standing, and realize with a sudden sickening shock there's no way out of it: you've become your parents. (Okay, in theory. In reality, you're probably doing less well than your parents, comparatively.) more ›

Monday Nov. 28 more ›

As previously alluded to, Seattlest is unabashed in our love for television. We tend to gravitate toward the good stuff, but we are by no means too highbrow to watch reality TV. Case(s) in point: the gloriously addictive trainwrecks known as Surreal Life 5 and Being Bobby Brown. For us, the viewing of such apocalypse-heralding fare is merely a spectator sport; that is to say, we've got no aspirations to be the castmember who actively works to alienate everyone in the house. While Seattlest is certainly not sociopathic enough to vie for a spot on a reality show, we cannot assume the same is true of our readership. For that reason, we feel the need to announce that America's Next Top Model will be holding auditions in Seattle next week. more ›

Whether you are from New York and moved to Seattle, or live in Seattle and have dispelled thoughts of moving to New York, we at Seattlest want to assure you: you made the Right Decision. As evidence, here is another installment of: Great Things You Can Get in Seattle but Not in New York vs. Great Things in New York You Can Also Get in Seattle. more ›

Seattlest is continually amazed at how many transplanted New Yorkers live here in the Northwest. Their numbers are matched only by the number of Northwesterners who dream of someday moving to the Big Apple. To sate the desires of both groups, and to point out some of the benefits of living in Seattle, we are launching this new feature: more ›