Apr 18, 2009
Apr 10, 2009
I'm too white for this...
So last night, we went over to FareStart for dinner (it's a Thursday night, we go to Farestart!) for a delicious meal, and then off to the show! We walked into The Paramount to see that there were NO SEATS! It was nuts! We knew the show was GA, but didn't realize that meant no sitting. So, we heard the opening band, Pacific Division. They were pretty good, and one of the guys had this shirt that I really want.
So that was cool. And then The Roots came out! I'm now in love with Tuba Gooding Jr., who knew the Sousaphone was such a bad ass instrument? Probably my mom...The show was great, and it wasn't that full. It was also the most eclectic group of people I've ever seen at a show. Lots of people who looked like maybe they go/went to Whitworth, a large African American crows, and Asian/pacific islander crowd. And the socio-economic status was also pretty surprising. Cassie & I commented on the drive home that it was one of the most diverse crowds we've seen.
The show was AMAZING, the sampling that was done was incredible, and it wasn't that packed, so we were about 4 rows back, it was awesome! It was a great show, and people were even smoking weed next to us! I felt very hip. Mostly because I'm watching WAY too much TV lately where people smoke weed. I kind of think Jeremiah was jealous he wasn't near ACTUAL weed. We are way too white...
Feb 18, 2009
Best Meal, Best Cause, EVER
But, before the show, we went to the COOLEST restaurant in Seattle, and possibly anywhere on earth. FareStart is a restaurant in downtown Seattle that is also a nonprofit that teaches homeless and disadvantaged folks culinary skills so they can work in a kitchen and get a job. They are open week days for lunch, and only on Thursday nights for dinner. BUT, for dinner, they have Guest Chef Night, where a local celebrity chef comes into the kitchen and puts the meal together.
When Becky and I went it was Sabrina Tinsley of Osteria la Spiga. The food was FABULOUS. If the name Sabrina Tinsley sounds familiar, you watch too much Iron Chef America, because she was on last month. She's tiny and adorable and LOVES FareStart. The food was ridiculous, I cleared all 3 courses. It's always a 3 course pre-fix menu, with a vegetarian option. We had this yummy fresh salad with fava beans (but no Chianti on the menu...) and gnocchi with sausage in a cream sauce (amazing, so much better than it sounds), and these awesome cookies for dessert.
And also for dessert...a graduation ceremony. The folks who have gone through and completed the program get to graduate in front of the diners. It is one of the NEATEST experiences I've ever seen. One woman graduated on our night, and one of the staff chefs talked about how great she is, and then they give her a book, and a really nice set of chef's knives, which is an amazing gift.
AND, with all the famous restaurateurs coming into the restaurant, they know the quality of the work and usually look to Fare Start for their hiring. So there you have it, a new date night, and the most "feel good meal" you can eat in Seattle.
Feb 12, 2009
WHAT WAS HE ON?
But the weirdest part...when he put the gum under Dave's desk...and then pulled it back and put it back in his mouth! He's lost it!
Well, CBS took it off You Tube, but the Wahoo Gazette has a pretty great round up...
Feb 1, 2009
This Year's Oscar Winner
LOST has me hooked on the beauty of Flash backs, so this movie was right up my alley. The Oscars are always a fun time, and this year the list of movies to go see is really short...
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Doubt
- The Wrestler (if time)
- Tropic Thunder
I saw Tropic Thunder on Friday night. It was not the best movie ever, it was a Ben Stiller movie, so take that for what it's worth. Sure, the idea of Robert Downey Jr.'s character was very funny, but what was NOT recognized and should have been, was Tom Cruise! I think Ben Stiller single handedly resurrected Tom Cruise's career. He plays a angry Studio Head and he's PERFECT for it. It's lots of makeup, and a fat suit, but there's also dancing, which is great! Tom Cruise was robbed. And I think the best supporting actor is a lock in for Heath Ledger, so the other 4 nominees don't really matter this year...
But, if I were to add a best actor nom, it would go to Robert Downey Jr. for Ironman. I don't know why I loved that movie so much, but I did!
Green Faeries
But, that's not the story to tell today. The story today is about LAST Sunday. Jeffrey mentioned when I saw him that there was going to be an Absinthe Tasting and seminar. I've had absinthe once with dad, and I'm not really an anise fan, so I figured maybe if I learn more about it, I'll find a way to like it.
Well, I find out the seminar is a part of the Washington State Bartenders Guild. A newly formed organization. You may be wondering if I'm a bartender, and you'd be right...I only make gin & tonics and pour a pint. So, I walk into the room, and realize we're in this couple's really cool loft over by Safeco Field, but we've got tables for 50 people crammed into this room. Anyway, I find a seat, and the seminar begins. It's two of the world's leading experts on Absinthe, and they both live in Seattle. Sweet! As the seminar begins, they start passing around a few different cocktails. I only drank one full "taster" and it was the Monkey Gland. Oh delicious Monkey Gland...so good! Here's a little about how it got it's name...
So, everything I could find said that Absinthe has been illegal since 1912. So, when I was at the event, the absinthe expert guys kept talking about how it was illegal, and why, (which was really lame reasoning) and now it's not. But they weren't explaining WHY it's legal again. So, during the Q&A I asked, how did it magically become legal again. Honestly, I didn't get the most exciting answer, but I guess what happened is that the outlawing of Absinthe was from an agriculture law, and way before the FDA. So when all these different organizations came under the government, the law outlawing absinthe never made it through the cracks. So, we've been missing out on this unique cocktail for years when we could have been drinking it.
While I was in WAY over my head, and tasted about 6 different brands of Absinthe, I learned that while I'm not a fan of it, Absinthe has it's place, and hopefully the novelty will wear off and distilleries will tout it's usefulness in cocktailing and beyond...
Jan 24, 2009
TAKE WITH FOOD!
So, I checked with my naturopath friend who said it seems pretty legit and I could take it. Hooray, a natural medication that isn't as expensive and doesn't make me feel trampy, YAY! I take the medication, twice a day, and it's recommended to take with food. I don't take my medications with food usually, and never have a problem. So I don't take the meds with food...
I take it Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, Wednesday night, no problem. I take it Thursday morning...pop the pill, drinking coffee, getting ready, all of a sudden...over heating...then I barf. oops, evidently he wasn't kidding when he said to TAKE WITH FOOD.
While it was nice to have a day off, I had a seminar to teach for 50 people I had to cancel the morning of. And by cancel, I mean call the office and inconvenience 4 of my co-workers to do grunt work. Blarg, what a crap day. I watched Season 3 of Weeds (yay!) and got caught up on my dvr which was GREAT however. Hank enjoyed a day to hangout at home with mom too which was good!