Some Positive Belltown News! 8/14-15

Belltown is a great neighborhood, it just gets a bad rap sometimes because of certain individuals who come in to party on the weekends, and others. Well, this weekend is the first Founders Day Festival in Belltown. Come on down and get a look at what makes Belltown unique and get a taste of the community spirit that is rapidly rising and bringing folks together down here. 2nd Avenue will be shut down for the fun in certain areas, you won't want to miss this!

Great bands, artists, and many surprises!

Hidden Patio in Ballard

If you're strolling around Ballard Avenue and are looking to wet your whistle on a lovely summer day or evening maybe you'll step into the Lock & Keel Tavern. If you do, order your drink and head straight back out the back door to the cutest, most charming patio I have seen in a while. Distressed teak furniture, plenty of room, old wooden boat signs, a fountain and actually observed no smoking signs make for a charming spot to relax. Huzzah! (I didn't have my camera with me so you'll have to trust me on this one.)

Urban Craft Uprising

What are you doing this weekend? Ballard Seafood Fest? Ya, sure ya betcha.

West Seattle Summer Fest? (They have a killer music line up, all free.)

How about this: Urban Craft Uprising. This event is awesome. Don't miss it!

A new Seattle Steakhouse

Another Steakhouse in Seattle? Why not?

Sullivan's is the latest contender in the Seattle Steakhouse scene. In the former space of Union Square Grill (and some other places after that), comes Sullivan's Steakhouse.

I'm excited to see what they're all about! They'll have live jazz nightly and they are a national chain that bills itself as "Chicago-style" we'll see how it does soon enough...it opens Saturday June 19th, just in time to take your Dad out for a steak for Father's Day.

Sullivan's Steakhouse, 621 Union Street, Downtown 206.494.4442

If you're looking for music while in Seattle...

then look no further than KEXP! Turn that radio dial (or push the tuning button) to 90.3 FM. It's the greatest independent, listener-power radio station on the planet. In my humble opinion.

The great news is you can listen to it anywhere you have an internet connection by streaming online. They now have an "app for that" too so you can listen on your iPhone/touch/what-have-you.

You can also subscribe to their podcasts on iTunes. My favorite is the Song of the Day podcast. A new song every day! I have learned about many new artists from them.

Enjoy the tunes!

They also put on a great concert series in August at the Seattle Center's Mural Amphitheater which is free. I can't wait for this year's lineup!

Artopia & Georgetown Music Fest 6/25-26

If you only get to Georgetown once a year, this is the weekend to be there! On Friday & Saturday June 25th & 26th Georgetown is hustling and bustling with more activities than you can shake a stick at!

Artopia Website Saturday from 2pm to 10pm

Georgetown Music Fest Website Friday & Saturday, many great bands are performing...I recommend catching Black Whales, The Pica Beats & Webelos (I like their name). You may discover a new favorite band too!

There are many different venues. Hop a bus down to Airport Way & Lucile and start wandering around. You won't be disappointed!

I will be up in Fairbanks, AK while this is going on. Excited for the trip, sad to miss one of the quintessential summer events in Seattle. So please go and enjoy, I'll live vicariously through you!

A little 60's Glitter and Shimmer...

EMP (Experience Music Project) has a fabulous exhibition on right now that includes dresses worn by the Supremes...check it out. This lover of all things 60's hopes to for sure!

Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection

June 11-September 6, 2010

EMP|SFM is proud to present Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection, organized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Forty-six years after the Supremes first topped the record charts on their way to worldwide fame, many of the distinctive gowns that became nearly as famous will be on display at EMP|SFM, in partnership with original Supreme, Mary Wilson.

The Supremes are the quintessential rags-to-riches story. They rose out of Detroit's housing projects to scale the heights of fame and embodied elegance for an era and beyond. The vestiges of their allure are evidenced here in Mary Wilson's stunning collection of gowns. Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collectionfeatures more than 50 Supremes costumes and rare memorabilia.

The collection includes the first gowns purchased by Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard when they were still known as the Primettes; a set of black velvet Bob Mackie gowns worn on the GIT on Broadway television special in 1969; outfits worn on the Supremes' television specials and featured on album covers; and those from their 1977 Farewell Performance. One set of dresses includes a loose-fitting maternity outfit worn by Wilson while she was pregnant.

Make no mistake, though -- despite the sequins, these are work clothes, in which the Supremes led the charge for Motown's domination of the American music scene. EMP's presentation of the exhibition will incorporate a soundtrack specific to the collection, featuring highlights from the trio's chart-topping hits to rarely heard alternate and live performances. EMP will also screen performances from the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show from 1964-1970, appearances that feature gowns included in the exhibit. By doing so, EMP strives to demonstrate the connection between these iconic fashion images with the Supremes' music, their influence on society in a bygone era, and how their style continues to resonate in American culture today.

Glassybaby! (Seconds Sale Saturday June 19)

I am dying that I will be in Yakima while this sale is going on. I really want a Glassybaby. (Well, my birthday is coming up.)

These hand blown glass votives/vases/whatevers come in tons of gorgeous colors and are favorites of Martha and many others.

The "Seconds Sale" is your chance to buy a Glassybaby that is slightly imperfect for $26 each (usually $40).

Madrona location only...here's the details: 3406 E. Union St., Seattle, WA 98122 Saturday June 19th, 10am to 6pm.

World Cup Mania!

Is about to engulf us. The World Cup kicks off this weekend and lasts a month. It's hard to believe that 4 years have gone by so quickly. Seems like yesterday my team won. USA won, you ask? No, Italia won! Who will win this year? And where are you watching the matches? Here's some suggestions:

The Market Arms (the people that own George & Dragon) just opened in Ballard, right before the big match (USA vs. ENGLAND, this Saturday at 11:30 a.m.)

Kells - I watched the World Cup here last year, at 7am before work one morning actually, just to experience it. The place was packed and it was fun!

Here's an additional list of places showing the matches: Seattle Weekly's List

And here's everything you need to know about the World Cup itself!

I'll be down in Portland for the big match on Saturday at Blitz Sports Bar in SE. Should be fun!

Now, start practicing your soccer chant...USA! USA!

Columbia City Extended Stay Hotel

In case you or someone you know needs an extended stay hotel, this one just opened in Columbia City. It only has 4 rooms but it looks so lovely and charming. Columbia City seems like a great place to stay for a month or longer.

The Shirley Marvin Hotel

The owners also have a link to a loft in Columbia City that they rent out as well, on a nightly basis.

I really need to get to Columbia City to explore, especially since the LINK Light Rail runs right through there now, no more excuses!

New Local Fundraiser

UPDATE! My goal of $1,000 was met in under a week. Thank you everyone for your support! Let's see how much more we can raise by August 14th.

An exciting new fundraising event for the Special Olympics is coming to Seattle. I've done a 5k, a walk and other fundraising events in the past but check out this exciting new event...

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are doing well, I have some quick news to share. I am raising money for Special Olympics Washington in a whole new way. I am going to go "Over the Edge" if I can raise $1,000 by July 29th.

Any donation is greatly appreciated towards reaching the goal. You can donate here. (http://www.firstgiving.com/picatti) Thank you so much for your support!

Over the Edge is the opportunity to rappel down Rainier Tower in Downtown Seattle. It is 41 stories (514 feet) tall and this safe, controlled rappel starts from the roof. I'm hoping to meet my goal and help Special Olympians while doing something that may be scary for some, but for me it sounds amazing!

Rainier Tower, yeah, that funny looking building.

Special Olympics of Washington is an amazing organization that has brought much joy and fun to the life of my sister Janine, check out what they are all about here: http://www.sowa.org/

Thanks for your support!

Jodi

1st & 3rd Thursdays!

If you're looking for something unique to do on a 1st or 3rd Thursday of the month I can highly recommend Frances Farmer Organ Karaoke at Vermillion Gallery on Capitol Hill. This is no ordinary karaoke. You are backed by a live organ and you can sing with a microphone or megaphone or both, or neither, anything goes here!

I tried it out last night and was impressed! The organ even broke down but some random person went home and brought back their Casio keyboards and the night continued!

Check out their website or Facebook page for more information!

SAM Remix Friday June 4th

Experience SAM Downtown bursting at the seams with art, performances, talks, dancing and more at this late-night creative explosion!

• Artist talk and book signing with Roy McMakin (9 pm)
• Rare screenings of Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes,shown on MTV in the 1980s (9 pm and 11 pm)
• Variety performances by the effervescent Sylvia O’Stayformore with special guests OtterPop, an exhibitionist aquatic mammal, and Eva Androgyny, Seattle's premiere androgynous drag queen. (9:30 pm)
• "Pop Culture Fashion" runway show presented by the New York Fashion Academy (10:30 pm)
• Fascinating tours with members of Seattle's arts and music communities, Seth Aaron Henderson ofProject Runway, and more (every 15 minutes from 8:30 to 11 pm)
• Get down with DJ Riz spinning in the Brotman Forum
• Muscian Sean Nelson performing live in the galleries
• SAMtrax playlist curated by Kevin Cole of KEXP
• Factory T-shirt silkscreening
• Make your own cover for The Stranger
• And much, much more!

SAM members enjoy priority access at Remix through the members-only entrance and a special lounge featuring a bar, a Pernod Absinthe fountain, opportunities to mingle with local artists and Remix performers, and more.

Not a member? Join SAM today.

SAM is proud to have SAM ReGroup, ACT Theatre, Artist Trust, EMP|SFM, GSBA's Young Professionals with Pride (YPP), Henry Art Gallery,NetIP Seattle, NW NOMA—National Organization of Minority Architects, Out for Sustainability, New York Fashion Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet Backstage Pass, Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP), Sustainable Belltown, Sustainable Seattle, Three Dollar Bill Cinema and Wolfgang: Seattle Symphony's Young Patrons Group as our June SAM Remix cohosts.

Members: $5
Adults: $10
Students: $8
Seniors: $8

Channel your inner celebrity. First 100 people wearing wigs get in free.

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.

Biscuit Bitch!

Downtown is about to get some more late night dining! Starting February 12th, at 10pm until 2:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, Caffe Lieto (which is already great, Guido loves going there) will be serving biscuits and gravy. You can get pork sausage or vegetarian mushroom gravy. Sounds yummy. And it's only $5!

http://kimshomemade.com/page9.php Caffe Lieto is located at 1909 1st Avenue, and it's pooch friendly if you are out late walking the dog and need a snack!

Late late night Seattle dining gets another contender.

The Night Kitchen

Open 6pm-9am, closed Mon/Tues; 216 Stewart St; Downtown; 206.448.8810 Just opened in the former Entre Nous spot, Seattle's only only-open-at-night diner's owned/managed/chef'd by three Art Institute grads serving up ridiculously resolution unfriendly comfort foods in a brown wainscoted/deep red walled main dining room dominated by a square black bar; there's also a geektastic back lounge featuring a bookshelf stocked w/ graphic novels and table games like UNO and others. The new-every-night menu serves up "late night snacks" like Mac & Cheese w/ Carlton Farms pit roasted ham, fries w/ house made ketchup/mustard/mayo, and a Beecher's Cheese curds/herbed Veloute Poutine; only till midnight dinner items include starters (grilled sticky rice balls/soy sauce/pickled Matsutake mushroom Yaki Onigiri) and entrees like the 8oz Carlton Farms Pork/Maple Leaf Duck burger w/ pickled red onion & sunny side egg on brioche, and a Supreme Sauce Chicken Pot Pie lovingly crafted by the Not Cocky About It Head Chef. Breakfast dopery ranges from starches like Cheese Grits w/ red eye gravy, and Orange-chocolate Brioche French Toast w/ vanilla syrup, to daily carnivore or veggie omelets, split crumpet/Bearnaise sauce Lox Benedict, and crispy white potato/maple sausage w/ two eggs any style. Beverages are currently limited to soda, lemonade, and a full coffee menu, but as soon as their permit comes through, they'll be serving alcohol till two. You can peep a sample menu and get directions day or night at the NightKitchenSeattle.com info via: Thrillist Seattle.