Do you like concerts? I do.

Do you like going to concerts? It's one of my favorite hobbies. I am getting older and have certain requirements that I did not used to have.

Jodi's Concert Goals:

1. Small Venue. (I don't care who you are, nobody sounds good in the Tacoma Dome.) My exception to this rule is the Gorge at George, beautiful.
2. No weeknight shows. (I have broken this rule lately to see some groups I couldn't pass up. I pay for it the next day.)
3. 21+ Please. (If at all possible I like to avoid all ages shows. No offense kiddos, you just don't have good concert etiquette yet.)

Jodi's Top 3 Seattle venues:

1. Showbox at the Market (do not confuse with SODO which is near the bottom of my list.) - They have been putting on concerts for a long time and they have it down.
2. Tractor Tavern - A nice diesel place to hear music. I love the Tractor, usually a good crowd and the acoustics are pretty good.
3. The Crocodile (formerly knows as the Crocodile Cafe. Please drop the Cafe when you speak of it now, thanks.) - The Croc needs a better ticketing system and they need to open their doors earlier than the time on the ticket that is supposed to be the showtime. Other than that the remodel was very well done and they are figuring things out for the most part.

Jodi's Favorite Concert Poster site: www.thesmallstakes.com I think I want every single one of the posters on this site. I love concert posters. I need more walls. If you haven't been to Flatstock at Bumbershoot, check it out sometime, maybe you'll see what I mean.

Concerts I have been to so far in 2010: (In order of most amazing to not quite as amazing as I had hoped...)

1. Florence & The Machine (Holy Hail opener) Wow. Go see Florence & the Machine if you have the chance. It was an experience, not just a concert. Really amazing.
2. Woodrush (They are a local Bob Schneider cover band with original music too. They are really good!)
3. Spoon (Deerhunter & Micachu openers). OK, so Spoon was very good, but the sound system at the Moore Theatre is not good. Go see comedians at the Moore, not musical acts. Sorry Spoon.

Wait? I have only been to 4 shows (Woodrush x2) this year? Something needs to be done about this.

Seattle Restaurant Week(s) Now through end of April

First of all, I'm not sure who chose the name "Seattle Restaurant Week" when it runs for 11 days, but moving on...this isn't that new, it's almost identical to 3 for $30 which is a biannual event already in Seattle, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt...more than 100 area restaurants are serving 3-course dinners for $25, and some are doing lunch for $15. This runs Sunday-Thursday. So if there is a fancy schmancy place you've been meaning to try but are budget minded these days check out the list:

Things I would try: The Georgian, Salish Lodge and Spa Dining Room (lovely night for a drive tonight), How to Cook a Wolf, or Mistral Kitchen (recently reopened and moved). Get out there and support your local restaurant already!

More information and list of participating restaurants here.

p.s. the logo they're using makes me miss Crave (Robin Leventhal's old restaurant), *sigh.