December 2009
13 posts
Twin Peaks
Twede’s in North Bend is the “home of the Twin Peaks cherry pie”, where FBI agent Dale B. Cooper used to have his “damn fine cup of coffee” (although it was called Double R Diner in the show).
They have a map of all Twin Peaks landmarks in the neighborhood, except for the big log where Laura Palmer was found and the reception of the Great Northern Hotel, which were...
Zoka Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie Falls is one of my favorite spots. It was a hint from a Duck Captain when I arrived in Seattle and it was featured in Twin Peaks, one of my favorite TV series. I show it to every visitor and stop there whenever I can, so I was glad when I learned there was a Zoka in the neighborhood.
I wanted to go there before it became a doughnut shop but it was already taken over “a couple...
Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs
Tractor, December 26 2009
Pufferfish was not the looped acoustic fingerpicking that I remembered from last time, they were a four piece rock band enhanced by accordion and banjo. The presence of Levi Fuller certainly contributed to the innovative character that made the rest of the rock solos of the night sound so conventional. Apparently everybody came to watch them, there were four...
My Coffee Year Part 2
Back to work, my office had moved and I started looking for coffee shops on the Eastside that I could go to on my commute or during lunch break. That included also drive throughs. Although I’ve had more nice conversations at drive throughs than in actual coffee shops and I like to support these hard working small businesses with cheesy names, I eventually quit stopping there because:
the...
My Coffee Year Part 1
This year I wrote down in the calender every time I went to a coffee shop. This wasn’t my intention when I started, but now I can do an analysis of the different phases I went through.
I started the year going to Starbucks about three times a week. I loved those 20 minute walks from the office, the staff and the first sip of the peppermint mocha. These were moments of the day I reserved...
Ground Up
This novel by Michael Idov is based on his own coffeehouse nightmare. I always wonder how much of their private lives - in this case his feelings for his wife - authors disclose in their books and how much is fiction.
Here are my favorite parts of the book.
“Americans don’t like to drink coffee. […] They hate the taste of it. What they like to drink is warm milk. Except they...
Colton Harris-Moore
Add this one to my list of favorite pop stars.
It is not right to idolize criminals, just interesting to analyze why he fascinates the people so much. I think it is the Tom & Jerry principle: children relate to the small mouse outsmarting the strong authority.
How long does he think he can live like that?
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Double Album Show
Tractor, December 19 2009
The Double Album Christmas Benefit Show series started with The Beatles (White Album) and The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street. Then came:
Sunset Double Album Series #3: Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti, December 17th, 2005
4th Annual Sunset Double-Album series: London Calling by The Clash, December 16th, 2006
5th Annual Double Album Christmas Show: Bob...
Dubsea
Instead of going to the Sunday Coffee Meetup, this week I went to the small Coffee Explorer group. After all, explore is what I like to do and this was the reason why I joined the Coffee Club of Seattle.
Dubsea is located in a brand new neighborhood of colorful houses that still appears as a white spot on Google maps. The whole neighborhood is very community centered.
The coffee shop is very...
Shane Tutmarc
Electric Tea Garden, December 16 2009
The Electric Tea Garden is a door without sign between the American Artificial Limb Co. and the Royal Cleaners. If it wasn’t listed on Foursquare I would say it was one of these best kept secrets.
For his last show before leaving to Nashville, I thought it would be sold out and overcrowded. Although well promoted by KEXP, it seems that only his...
Bar Tabac
Molly Maguires, December 12 2009
I’m glad I went to the Dick Dale show first, otherwise I would have spent too much time in this irish pub. I realized that places where people go to drink beer are definitely not my style.
I usually think it is a lack of respect if the audience talks loudly and doesn’t pay attention when the band plays (unless the band is really annoying and...
Dick Dale
Triple Door, December 12 2009
I was so touched by his interview on KEXP that I had to go to the show, which was obviously excellent.
Only guitar, bass and drums on a wide open stage. I didn’t know that he played a left-handed guitar with the high string on top. He didn’t play only instrumental surf music, there were also some heavy metal solos, he sang, made imitations, told...
Amanda and the Cartwheels
I don’t want Amanda Knox to be in jail. She is sweet and pretty, smart and silly, strong and determined.
The more I read, the less I know whether she is innocent or guilty.
So I pray for her.
(Photo by Madison Paxton)
Updade June 18 2010: I always wanted to write a song about her like Bob Dylan’s Hurricane. I’m sure some indie rock band will discover her as cult in...