Does anybody know where I can find a recent list of karaoke venues in Seattle and the days that they have them? The Stranger has one but it's from 2001. If there's no list, can people just mention their favorite karaoke venue? Thanks!
grimm foible
They paved Sam Goody and put up a Starbucks.
Ok, so it doesn't have quite the same ring as that Joni Mitchell song, but it's true. Where that junky old Sam Goody on 3rd used to be, there is now a gutted out building. And from the illustration of the projected finished project, it looks like the sole purpose of doing that was to put up ANOTHER Starbucks. Now, it may sound like I'm annoyed about Starbucks specifically. That's not entirely accurate. While I do think it RIDICULOUS that there is quite literally (at least) one Starbucks in any given 2 block radius downtown, I am more annoyed by the pointlessness of gutting the building. Apparently, they are trying to make 3rd and Pine/Pike look less like the tramp haven that it is and more like a swanky metropolitan area, what-with the new Johnny Rockets and the re-faced McDonalds and the silly little coffee/sandwich bar called “Cosi” that they installed in the soon to be Macy's. But it's not gonna work. It's not.
But the real issue here is this: It seems like there is no sacred architecture in Seattle. I'm not saying that the Sam Goody building was a beautiful example of historical architecture. But I see this kind of thing ALL the time around town. I come from a city (Richmond, VA) in which most of the buildings in their metropolitan area are hundreds of years old. If not the whole building, then significant sections of it. It's history. People live and work in history and there are whole societies dedicated to preserving it. (It's probably the only cool thing ABOUT that city).
Since Seattle is a young city, most of the buildings are pretty new, and therefore they don't give a second thought to tearing something down and starting over. The only “living history” we have here is the Underground Tour and those guys had to fight like hornets to preserve that. As neat as it is, it's also pretty crappy down there. It looks like a college student's basement.
Most of the standing buildings in Seattle aren't more than 50-60 years old. My old apartment building was built in the 1970's and yes it was a shithole but that's only because the owners didn't take care of it. Oh, the toilet in your unit is broken? No, we don't need to fix it. We'll just tear down the whole effing structure and build luxury condos instead. In fact, I think if The Man had his druthers, everyone in Seattle would live and work in a Starbucks-like environment.
In summary, Seattle will never have historical buildings are ANY living history because we will just keep building a “young Seattle” on top of it. One day, in the not so distant future, people will be heading underground to see scraps from the Seattle of 2005. Maybe we'll even find part of the Sam Goody sign buried under some coffee grounds.
only alarm, but even
A word of warning:
On my way to work downtown this morning, I passed no less than 2 motorcycle cops in 3 blocks giving out tickets to jaywalkers. They are on the warpath. Be careful. Especially my friends from New York to whom jaywalking is second nature.
shouted about his total
The Stranger is doing their annual Sexiest in Seattle spread. It's pretty clear that every year, it's just a bunch of people they know who win. (As is everything they ever write about or promote). Regardless, there is a nominations page on The Stranger website. Their only criteria is that the person has to be underpaid for what they do. And hell, that's pretty much everyone I know. You are even able to create your own category. So go forth and vote and maybe we'll see our names in that fascist rag someday, even if it's not for filmmaking.
42805
Something is in the air today. Something baaaaad.
When I went to the post office, the cashier told me that a man was hit by a car outside our building. The driver sped off and later ditched his/her car by the waterfont. The man who was hit died a short while later. For some reason, the cops still have the street blocked off even though the man was taken away a while ago. There is police tape everywhere. It looks like C.S.I.
I walked up to Pike Place Market to pick up a fundraiser donation from Golden Age Collectibles. There were TONS of transients around moving their big carts and handtrucks full of bags. I've never seen so many at one time “moving”. Do they know something we don't?
The smell of the donut shop inside the market overtook everything with a sickly sweet fried scent.
Walking back to the office, the wind whipped my hair and clothes around violently. It seemed to have changed direction so that I was against it going and coming. The rain was light enough but felt colder than usual because of the wind. Everyone walked with their heads down and therefore I had to be careful not to bump into anyone. People were huddling their entire bodies into their coats rather than let their faces emerge and pay attention to where they were going.
Back in the office, everyone is working quietly and subdued in their offices. This is unusual, at least for the guys.
I was recently informed that Rossi took Washington State by 42 votes. That means there are at least 42 more literate fundies in Washington than there are normal people.
It's a holiday tomorrow but it today doesn't feel like it.
injurious revenge bracket
I just witnessed a blind guy jaywalk right in front of a bus!!! The bus stopped, of course. But maybe jaywalking isn't such a good idea when you're BLIND. Sure, you're probably thinking “Maybe he just thought the light was green”. Well, I don't know how he usually judges green lights when they aren't making those noises, but no one around him had started to walk or anything. I just think he thought he couldn't hear any traffic and decided to go. But there was a BUS!! Jesus Christ!
Re: On the mosaic floor
I VOTED TODAY!!!
I got my absentee ballot yesterday. I eagerly ripped open the envelope and bubbled right next to John F. Kerry (interesting middle initial, eh). There was a LOT of stuff to vote for on that thing, including a bill to ban monorail construction (which I voted AGAINST. Stupid SUV driving arseholes, stop trying to block the monorail!!!). I mailed in my ballot today. I shall track the number at this website to make sure it gets there ok. Now all I can do is sit back and hold my breath…
Happy Friday, everybody. It's still pretty up in the air about what I'm doing tonight. There are several parties about. I will definitely stop in at the Canterbury to say goodbye to Katie. I might hit up the Danwarming party. I'm not sure what else.
Tomorrow, however, is the Night of the Dawn of the Dead at Faye's house. We are going to watch Dawn of the Dead (ORIGINAL, fank you very much) and revel in it's stupendousness. After that, we will let the booze guide us.
Earlier in the day, (2-6pm) 1 or several of mine/Dom/Faye's films will be showing at The Market Theatre in Post Alley. It's some on-the-fly festival to benefit kids. Admission is $10. For the children. Think of the children. For god's sake.
I need a new little mood icon. My punk rock dragon is cute but all his expressions look the same.
PS: I NEED to see Team America at some point!!
other things. And so
This morning, I was riding the bus here, late as usual, and not very pleased to be heading here. I was reading my book through sleepy eyes and then I heard the bus driver announce the next stop.
“Downtown. Ottoman Empire. Byzantine Empire. Greyhound Bus Station. Badgers.”
Not a terrible way to start a Friday.
You Might Be Bored If…
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You Know You're From Seattle When… |
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You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian All I care about it that it's not Starbucks and doesn't taste like ass You feel guilty throwing an aluminum can in the trash. true You use the words “sun break” and know what it means. who doesn't know what that means? You know more than 10 words to describe a cup of coffee. This is just like the general Washington one, apparently. You know what a dry cappuccino is. How is this different from the last one? You obey all traffic laws EXCEPT “keep right except to pass.” Leave that up to the bus driver. You know at least eight people who work for either Microsoft or Boeing. Not anymore. But I WISH I knew 8 people from Microsoft who wanted to invest in a movie You invite twice as many people as you really want to a party since only half will actually show up. Not exactly. I invite as many people as I want at a party AND only half of them show up You know what Lutefiske is.It's fish, right? You personally know someone from Alaska. I've MET people from Alaska but I don't hang out with any of them You consider floating bridges a pain in the butt, not an engineering marvel. ANY bridge has traffic problems You know how to pronounce “Sequim”, “Puyallup” and “Issaquah.” Yes You have roots in Oregon, Idaho or Montana, but wanted a high paying job. I bet I would be getting paid the same in those places since I don't get paid much You've tried to get a job in Alaska, especially a summer job only. Not in the least You think skiing always means being covered from head to toe, on snow or water. Eh? You know at least three Microsoft burnouts, of which two are millionaires. Again, I wish You use more than 5 words to order a cup of coffee. “I want to order an unleaded, double, short, skinny, wet cappuccino with a shot of Amaretto please.” De Ja Vous A “designer” wardrobe comes from REI, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, and Birkenstock. Ew You consider it a sunny day if the sun is visible at some point of the day. Ha ha. Laugh it up, fuzzball You've been “snow” skiing in the RAIN more than in the snow. I hate skiing When you're discussing rainforests and volcanoes, you're NOT talking about Hawaii. Aight You Remember the Kingdome Yes…sniff You have tried to forget about WTO Not at all. It was a great demonstration of democracy! It's not our fault the fuzz got happy with their night sticks You know how BLUE the skies are here compared to Eastern Washington. ok The guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like Phyllis Diller is really a trans named Eva Destruction that used to play with Hole. Sure Your car insurance costs more because your neighbors don't have any! N/A Your mayor is straight, 1/2 your friends are gay, the man who delivers your mail has a bumper sticker that reads “when they pry it from my cold dead fingers….”, and your Burger World drive thru order taker was a computer millionaire last week. Weak You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Seattle. |
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Smoke My Grudge, Beyotch!
So tonight a few of us (so far DZ, Meep and Sherwood) are going to see Ju-on which looks pretty rad. Scary Japanese movies about ghosties are cool. After that (or before, or both) we are going to the Blue Moon tavern in the U district to hang out with beatniks and drink in a place Tom Robbins once described as “a frenzy of distorted joy spinning just outside the reach of bourgeois horrors”. Sounds aight to me. If anyone else feels like joining up, let me know! The movie is at 9:35 at the Varsity.
Also: IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!
Effed by the Wind 