Amigos

My awesome weekend started with a trip to Ballard Ave with Dave. This historic strip, once referred to as Old Ballard, used to be inhabited by the longshoremen who bellied up for a pint after fishing salmon all day. These days, it's tough to find an true salty dog on Ballard Ave. If you are between 21 and 45, this is The Place to Be. I've actually spent the last three Friday nights on Ballard Ave, going to dinner and seeing shows at the Tractor. I feel the urge to maximize our time out, especially to see live music, since I got a bun in the oven.

We didn't see music this time, we just met up with our friends Jeff and Caycee, Yoshiko and Joe at the Matador, a standard after work Mexican joint with sexy waitresses. They serve Kalibur, which is Guiness' non-alcoholic brew. It's actually pretty good and wins hands down over O'Douls, which I had the misfortune of drinking at Christmas. It's kinda tough to pass on the margaritas while everyone is licking the salt off theirs, but it's for the greater good.

Saturday morning, Dave joined me for his first Crossfit class and collected the $10 that I bet he wouldn't actually go (especially considering that minor hangover). Crossfit is honestly one of my favorite things in life right now. I'm trying to justify increasing my membership (in addition to my gym). Dave also goes to a gym so between us, we are members of three gyms. Oddly enough, we use them all.

For some reason, we haven't gone to brunch together in ages. It's probably because we go out to dinner on Saturdays, then I feel guilty the next morning and eat cottage cheese for breakfast. Not this weekend! We got Americanos from Lighthouse and then gourmet breakfast sandwiches from Homegrown, my favorite sandwich spot in Fremont. Dave had to be all high-fallutin and order a crabcake, egg, bacon and cheese. I just got the regular egg, bacon and cheese on a brioche and savored every bite.


Last night involved a Mexican-themed dinner party with more friends. Dave's faux mustache was a hit, as were Brent's veggie and chipotle chicken enchiladas. I think I ate too much. Okay, I realize that I'm "eating for two", but it's important to keep in mind I'm not eating for two adults. And we all know, it's a slippery slope to sweatpants.

Today I ran at Green Lake, got a Mexican hot chocolate with a girlfriend, and finally learned how to Skype! I Skyped with my friend Jess in Amsterdam and my parents back east. Now I want to Skype with everyone.

The good news is I saw a lot of friends this weekend, even friends in Europe. The bad news is I really need to lay off the Mexican food.

you look like a good time

Last weekend was my "coming out" as a wedding invitation designer. Me and my artwork were featured at a super sweet, non-cheesy wedding event. The party was held at a renovated old movie theater in Georgetown. Vendors included aerialistas, letterpress designers, a mobile brick oven pizzeria, a paealla-centric caterer, cupcake bakeries, Adam Smith (my favorite wedding photographer and all-around nice guy), DJs with envieable taste, mixologists... You know the usual suspects, but with way better lighting and way fewer handouts mass printed on neon-colored Kinkos paper (yeah, I'm looking at you Wedding Expo 2010).


I had a great time, and I'm not just saying that to be a good sport. The thought of standing up and shmoozing for 7 hours was frankly daunting. And I haven't featured my art like this since college. Although my assistant Dave totally helped set up, delivered emergency hot chocolate, and hung around for emotional support (or was it the free food and booze?), I didn't know if I'd be twiddling my thumbs after hour 3. I wasn't. The vendors were free to roam around, snack, drink, refresh in the "green room" (really just a storage room with hot pizza and other provisions..but it was my first green room encounter, and therefore utterly cool). There was some sweet band action, too, which made the time fly by.


My day job has helped groom my scmoozing skills. I'm sure working in customer service from '96-'03 doesn't hurt. I like talking to people and I feel good about my work, so interacting with potential clients is no biggie. We'll see what shakes out and even if nothing does, it was nice to get my feet wet.


And for anyone who hasn't planned a wedding, there is an untapped circuit of free parties out there that cater to betrothed couples. Caterers, pastry chefs, and bartenders who want to work your wedding practically throw crostini, bellinis, and macaroons in your face. Dave and I ate like royalty when we were casually "doing research" for our wedding, and this event reminded me of the treasure trove of complimentary food and drink out there for anyone planning an "event".

You Are Here: 2009 in Places

According to the Chinese, 2009 was the year of the ox. For me it was the year of the kettlebell, vodka gimlets, and marrying my wonderful husband. Although the year was pretty good to me, and my regrets are limited, I'm pretty excited to close the door on the aughts and move on the the teens (tweens?? 10-12 aren't really teens yet). Here's the top five places of 2009.

Greenwood
Okay, so our 'hood was terrorized by a serial arsonist this fall, but this same community is responsible for delights such as the Oroweat discount bread store, Labels consignment shop, and an expanded, overpriced, yet utterly convenient Ken's Market. One
of my small pleasures in life is watching the high school employees change the specials and messages on the store's marquee. In an era of stupidly fast technology, it's nice to see someone manually change old-timey letters, one by one.

By the way, the arsonist was caught and two local artists recently unveiled a mural to support the notion that good (public art) prevails over evil (fire).


Astoria, OR
A perk about being a planner for a consulting firm means we get to travel around the Pacific Northwest for jobs. This year brought me to Astoria, OR, to help develop the Port's strategic plan. You may be aware that I used to live in Astoria, NY. Whereas an authentic Greek bakery in Astoria, NY provided the cake from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", Astoria, OR is where Goonies, Free Willy, and Kindergarten Cop were filmed. True fact. It's a super cute seaside town that has recently been restored from oblivion, with the downtown shops still in tact from days of yore. My favorite restaurant is Gunderson's Cannery Cafe, where you can eat a damn good salmon sandwich while perched over the massive Columbia River.

Rancho Bravo Taco Truck
If 2008 was the year of El Chupacabra (a local Mexican joint staffed by the semi-rude and totally-tattoo'd), 2009 was the year of Rancho Bravo Taco Truck (run by Mexican grandmas). Sure, we had to give up some of the luxuries of El Chupa- jukebox, roof, margaritas that practically flowed from the tap- but what we got in return is worth it. Delicious, authentic, and WARM carne asada burritos, equally delicious chicken quesadillas, quacamole, tamales, where two people can eat happily for under $10. It's totally recession- and stomach-friendly. So what if you have to eat in your car?

Crossfit
Crossfit is not only a place, it is a state of mind...or I'm sure that's what the founder believes. Maybe not, but I do love the class workouts and the camaraderie. I'd been flirting with the idea of doing Crossfit since my Astoria days, was put off by the price and inconvenience of going to two gyms, but I joined in 2009 and it's totally worth it. I mean, you don't get this hard body by just eating burritos, right?

My bathtub
"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them". I have totally embraced baths as a way to decompress after a long day. It's a daily habit that I picked up from my mom. They warm me up, chill me out. I often read magazines (my other great mindless pleasure) and think about my dream bathtub, which has a place for my beverage and is ceramic, not some plastic "bath-fitter" crap like the one in our rental condo.

Apparently I'm not a girl of luxurious needs. Change the marquee sign, feed me cart food, draw me a hot bath and I'm good. Here's to more pleasurable moments and places in Twenty-ten!