The three things in Seattle I wish I had seen at some point...

I lived in Seattle for three years, and it was wonderful the whole time.  The horrible ex, the money issues, and the occasional issues with work had their part in the experience, but over-all, it was a wonderful experience.  The only thing I regret is being so busy that I wasn't able to experience everything.

So here is my list of things I wish I had seen.  Starting with the most obnoxious one...



Link to photo

The house Kurt Cobain killed himself in...
I lived at 6th and Yesler for a year and a half and had about three different people ask me for directions to this house.  It's a sort of pilgrimage site, but only for those (a) over the age of 30, and (b) willing to admit they love Grunge in a town that desperately wants to forget that part of its past.  It's one of the few places I never got around to, and it seems like something I shouldn't have missed.

The f****** Space Needle...
I never saw the space needle.  Paying $18 to go to the top of something that was very high just didn't really appeal to me.  I also have a fear of heights.  That being said, having lived there 3 years, this is probably the biggest thing to have missed.

BUT!  I did go to the tattoo convention that was hosted there in 2009! I think that's even better!



link to the image here.

The Fremont Troll...

This is just something I feel like I should have seen.  EVERYONE I knew who may not have gone to the space needle had at least jogged past this!

Link to photo.

I blame school for not posting sooner...

School ended up kicking my butt.  Let me tell you a little about it...

I came back from Seattle to SoCal to go back to school (while mooching off of my parents as little as possible).  I finished my last semester at a community college (despite having an AA) and made it into Cal State Fullerton!  I am now in the process of earning my BA in Comparative Religious Studies with a double minor in Islamic and Jewish studies.  I don't know what my plan as soon as I get my BA is, but I'm working with either (a) attempting a scholarship to a decent school, or (b) moving back to Seattle and trying to get a job out there.

Needless to say, 1 major, 2 minors, part time work, club activity, volunteer working, and maintaining a 3.94 GP (yep, I'm proud) has kept me busy...also, I forgot the URL for this page.

But I'm back and will be annoying the heck out of anyone who cares to read these posts.

The overly-green Seattlite

While you're in Seattle...and I hope it is for a long period...you'll inevitably come across that not-so-nearly-as-rare-as-they-should-be overly Green Satellite.

Not that there is anything wrong with being overly green.  There is nothing wrong with pre-packing lunch in your reusable self-made-upcycled lunch bag to cut back on waste and cost. 

There's nothing wrong with carrying your clean coffee mug with you everywhere and making sure the coffee you drink is organic-shade-grow-fair-trade-arabica-bean-and-song-bird-friendly by asking the Barista before you pay. 

There's nothing wrong with walking or taking the bus everywhere. 

There's nothing wrong with only shopping at fair-trade or made-in-America ma and pop stores for everything you can.

There is, however, a problem when you not only live this life but advertise it to the utmost.  And here is where the overly green satellite comes in.



Now, how can I stop and ID an OGS so easily?  I used to be one.  And I'm trying to be one again...



Now, I'm a big advocate of green living and immersing yourself into the local culture as much as possible when traveling or living in a new area.  With this in mind, I'm going to give you some tips on how to be as obnoxious as I was when I was an OGS to truly experience Seattle from a perspective even most Satellites won't approach.




1) Reusable everything!  Reusable bags, cups, mugs, lunch bags, sandwich bags, bread bags, produce bags, water bottles, and to-go containers are a must.  If you can replace something non-reusable with something reusable, do.  If you find something that can't be recycled or reused, don't get it. 

2) Avoid plastics and aluminum at all costs, in favor of glass, cloth, and stainless steel.  Apart from the massive amount of pollution that comes from the production of plastics and aluminum, there are a ton of chemicals leeched from plastics, and aluminum has been linked to several different disease (including Alzheimer's, which is hereditary in my family) and is a known neurotoxin.  Plastic is also more difficult to recycle and eventually has to be down-cycled.  Glass, on the other hand, is easier to recycle and uses fewer resources in general and, usually, doesn't leech chemicals.  Cloth can be grown organically and recycled and upcycled easily.  Stainless steel doesn't leech weird chemicals (as far as I know, please correct me if I'm wrong).

3) Go Vegan or Freegan and advertise the benefits to ANYONE who will list, and most who won't. 

4) Refuse to eat at restaurants that serve on non-reusable plates; this means that all taco-trucks, fast-food restaurants, and many sit-downs with disposable plates and cups are off limits.  Good luck!

5) Shop exclusively used, American-Made, and fair trade.  Good luck finding a professional suit that looks half-way descent.  Good luck finding electronics that don't suck-up electricity and that work properly.  And good luck with underwear...

6) Share your lifestyle as much as possible.  Tell anyone who will listen about it, no matter how irrelevant it is to the current conversation topic...

7) Champion local businesses.  I'd personally like to promote Elliot Bay Book Company, Twice Sold Tales, Value Village, Cafe Vita, Cherry Street Coffee House, Red Light, The Feed Bag, and Travelers tea shop.


There is more, but I'm falling asleep...night!

Little Pig Book: Pacific Supply Hardware Store

Welcome to another addition of my Little Pig Book series...Today's special is the Pacific Supply Hardware store on Capitol Hill along 12th Ave.

This photo retrieved from here.

In short:
     Pacific Supply
     1417 12th Ave, Seattle Capitol Hill
     (206) 322-1717
     Monday-Friday: 8-6
     Saturday: 9-5
     Sunday: 10-5

And more stuff...

    My first association with Pacific Supply (PS) was when I started riding my bike from 6th and Yesler to my work at Seattle University, and school as Seattle Central Community College.  First the breaks were broken, so I nipped into Velo Bikes for the brakes, and then into PS for actual wrenches and such.  Then the seat needed to be adjusted.  Then the lights added.  Then the chain changed. 

Every time I could come to PS and know that a) they would be really helpful and patient with me while I explained the issue, b) they would take a look at the bike with me and help me figure it out, and c) that the trip would be affordable. 

What struck me each time I went in there was how friendly and helpful everyone was.  I wish I had taken down names because I want to thank them individually, but there wasn't a single unhelpful store associate there, and since I went there about 30 times over the last 3 month period I lived in Seattle, I'll assume I met at least most of them.

The greatest thing for me, however, was knowing this was a small, independent store.  The store associates were working for their bread and butter, rather than a meager paycheck from a corporate middle-man, and they knew their store inside out.

Anywho, point; if you ever need hardware supplies or such in Seattle, Pacific Supply is the place to go. 




Rules of Seattle: Pacific Supply Hardware Store

Rule #1: Be polite
These are Store associates that love their job and work their butts of.  They know what they're doing, they know what they're talking about, and deserve respect.

Rule #2: know as much about the product you need as possible
It will just make things easier for everyone.

Rule #3: don't gawk at the prices
The prices are pretty good in general, but if you find that one product that is a little more expensive than Ace or Walmart, don't give them grief; it's an independent store that needs all the support it can get.

Rule #4: ask for personal suggestions and advice regarding the product or issue
If you're looking for a specific set of wrenches (is it obvious by now that I don't know much about tools?), ask the associate if they recommend one over the other.  If price is an issue, state that first.  Usually, they'll work within your limits.

Etiquette in Seattle

Depending on where you go in the world, there will be different rules of etiquette for different situations.  For example, in the US, it's perfectly acceptable to tell a homeless person to f**k off (unfortunately), but try to pull that in England and you'll get mugged (so I've heard from my grandfather living in England who tried to tell a homeless man to f**k off).

The point is, social etiquette varies from one place to another, and frankly, it varies in how frequently it is actually employed by the general public. 

Unfortunately, social etiquette in Seattle seems to only take place in situations where it is absolutely necessary, where as in comparison, in So Cal, people in general are polite and friendly all of the time.

I'm going to provide some examples so someone can get an idea.

Person "X" walks back into a store to return something:
CA: "Good morning, "X", how can I help you.
WA:   *ignore you for a few minutes while the coffee kicks in.  "...Yes???"


Person "X" orders an espresso from a cafe:
CA: "Good morning, "X", what can I get for you?" (X enters order) "Would you like soy milk/ low sugar syrup instead?  Can I get you anything else?"
WA: "What can I get 'cha?" (Put in order) "OK, we'll call you when it's ready" *Never hear anything...retrieve your coffee when it's already starting to cool*


Person "X" passes by someone walking their dog while jogging/walking:
CA: "Morning"
WA: *Desperately tries to avoid eye contact*


Person "Y" walks out of the washroom with toilet paper trailing from the bottom of their shoe, and person "X"...:
CA: *Quickly pulls the individual aside to a discrete place and says* "Pardon me, but you have something on your shoe."
WA:
X:"Excuse me"...*Person Y avoids eye contact*
X: ..."Excuse me"...*Person Y avoids eye contact even more so, tries to walk on other side of road if possible.  By now person X chases Y down. 
X: "EXCUSE ME.  You have toilet paper on the bottom of your shoe..." *Person Y no longer paranoid that the person is trying to mug them.*
Y: "Oooohhh....Thank you..." *walks away quickly o save face*


I know these are stereotypes and hasty generalizations, but the fact of the matter is that during the 3 years I lived in Seattle, I noticed customer service was almost non-existent, an 'aggressive aloofness' was very popular, and people's unwillingness to recognize other people were around them were very rampant.

That isn't to say, however, that most or everyone in Seattle is like this, but a great deal of them are. 

I found the only time people really employed standards of social etiquette that was popular elsewhere was during times that were pre-established social events.  For example, parties, suppers, dinner parties, and so on were always a time when people were on their best behaviour. 

When you go to Seattle, just remember that if ever you come upon someone who isn't right-out polite, it's not you, it is almost certainly them.

My little Pig Book: Seattle Art Museum

This is the second part to my many-part series of "Little pig book".  The little pig book was a book I put together while I lived in Seattle that had a list of my favorite places in Seattle for work, school work, coffee, food, and shopping. 

Today's focus is the ever-wonderful, ever-engaging, ever stocked Seattle Art Museum.  Call it SAM.

In short: 1300 1st Ave
       Seattle, WA, 98101
       206. 654. 3100.
       Monday-Tuesday: closed
       Wednesday and Sunday: 10-5
       Thursday, Friday, Saturday (maybe Saturday): 10-9.
       $15 adult, $9 student
       Camera: No Flash, Tripods, or Movie/Video Camera's.       

There are actually two main parts to the museum: the actual outdoor garden along the Seattle Waterfront...

photo from here.

And the SAM proper, along 1st Ave, just down the hill from Pike Place Market.

Photo from Here.

The Seattle Art Museum has unusual hours (see above in the "in short" section), but as it is a small museum, it's easy to become acquainted with the museum in an hour or so. 

Among the more memorable displays at the museum are the Dog-Tag Chain-Mail (for the record, I've been told by several curators that these are not official dog tags, as in they were not taken from soldiers).

Photo from here.

The museum is just as much about actual art (mostly modern) as well as culture.  There are Egyptian, Native American, Pacific Islander, African, and other cultures with examples in the museum.  And there are examples of art from several different eras in the US and Europe. 

One of the cultural displays I was partial to was the fine china room; a room filled top to bottom with extremely fine examples of fine china. 

Photo from Here.

However, my favorite room is one that's a little hidden.  It literally took me 3 visits to find it, and it's by far and away the best jewel in the museum.  It is...the Italian Room...

Photo from Here.

Photo from Here.

The room, if I remember correctly, was actually cut out from a renaissance Italian Mansion and rebuilt board for board in the little nook of the SAM, including the original window, and features examples of Italian pottery and art in it.  It's tiny but you can spend hours in it.

So!  The RULES part.

Rule #1: Do bring a CAMERA (not a camcorder or such) without flash!  You will find an art piece that you want to remember, or inspiration for a tattoo, and there's nothing worse in these scenarios than being without a Camera.

Rule #2: Do pack light.  I don't know why people feel the need to bring tons of stuff to the SAM.  Luckily, there is a bag-check area on the first floor, make good use of it.

Rule #3: everyone there is a volunteer.  Be nice: if I remember correctly, the Sam is run by the Seattle Gov. Everyone there is a volunteer, and they're there out of the kindness of their heart.  Be good to them. 

 Rule #4: DO NOT CHEW GUM!!! It's a disgusting habit anyway.  Unless you're trying to quit smoking and you're going to explode unless you smoke, do NOT chew gum; it distracts from the atmosphere of the museum.

Rule #5: Do keep your voice down.  Unless you're teaching a class, there is no reason why your moment of euphoria should affect anyone else's.

Rule #6: DO NOT answer your cell phone:  Do not want to hear your conversation.  Just...do not.  It's the biggest sign of poor breeding or rearing to talk on your phone in museum, restaurant, or any other place were the contents of the area should demand your attention over the phone.

Rule #7: Do eat at the SAM: It's catered by my old employer in Seattle, Bon Apatite Management Company.  The food is sustainable, organic, flavorful, healthy, and excellent.  You won't regret it.

Seattle and you're internet addiction...

photo from Here.

Everyone has a couple of addictions; shopping; food; alcohol; the media; Internet in particular...  I know that almost everyone can sympathize with that last addiction.

The Internet is the go-to source for everything; amature car mechanics trying to learn their chops from YouTube; Community College students working last minute on their 10 page essay; and those of us just desperate to look at the latest kitten photos.

In Seattle, in general, there isn't too much of an Internet problem; it's usually pretty reliable.  However, on certain days when the weather is just way too bad, the Internet tends to fail, and you'll be required to seek out an alternate source (usually an Internet cafe...their Internet is always good, and it's a damn conspiracy, I tell you!).

So, when you go to Seattle, unless you'll be there for longer than a month or it's an obvious business trip, I have some obvious tips that people tend to over-look.

Rule #1: Do locate the closest Internet cafes near your hotel.  Most hotels in Seattle have free wifi now, but even their Internet connects can fail, and when this happens, I can guarantee you the cafe down the street will still be fully functioning.

Rule #2: Do leave your laptop at home: If you're spending your vacation hours surfing the net for cute kitten photos, you're either taking a well deserved break from an 18-hour day of adventure, excitement, and discovery in the heart of Seattle...or you're doing it wrong.  There should be no need for your laptop.  This is also another good excuse to go to the Internet cafe and grab a good cup of coffee and use one of their computers.

Rule #3: Do set up a drop-box account: On the distant possibility that you may actually take photos or such, you want to secure in an email or a file.  Drop box is excellent for storing documents, articles, and photos that you take on vacation and want to be able to save to a computer back at home.

Rule #4: Do avoid facebook for a few days: This has nothing to do with visiting Seattle, I just want people to spend less time on facebook...