Coffee shops in Seattle?  Look here. 

Beer Share

We have a weekly happening at our office called, Beer Share.

It's when we drink beer, and someone shares something awesome with the group.  This week, one of the principals is introducing all the newbies to the office.  So myself, and all the others who were hired in the last 4 months were asked to send in a picture along with a caption.

I figure this is my best chance to get the message out there.

The next big deal in the Seattle coffee world is opening their shop on my street.  Quite literally.  Since the little local coffee shop on the corner of 8th &NW Market shut its doors last Fall, I've been eyeing the scene with vested interest.  While not great in production, the previous owners had served my favorite beans (Stumptown) and I'd been willing to settle occasionally on my morning walk to the bus.  Now each day I walk by and peak past the plastic-wrapped windows.  "Coming Soon - Slate Coffee Roasters" has been pinned to the front door for months and months (and months!).  I finally decided to do a bit of research.  I read through all the articles I could find on them - friended their facebook - and eventually shot them an email.  But no response.

A few weekends back, John, Mallory and I decided to support our good friend Michael Ryan at the Northwest Barista Regionals.  When a friend of Mallory's (I recognized as a fellow volunteer at the Special Hope Benefit) began to walk past us, I gave her a big smile.  She walked over and introduced the friend with her -  the owner of Slate.  Their barista, Brandon Weaver won first place in the Brewers competition and the stir continues to grow.  I asked a few barista competitors if I should be excited about Slate or not - after glances and pauses, they said most likely, yes.  They explained that if Slate can pull off what they aim, they will be worth all the fuss.  The team they have collected looks every bit as though they just might.  Within a few days of the competition, my Facebook reply arrived. It seems, after the preliminary quiet stages of building a business, they are ready to engage the neighborhood. 

Some of you might recognize another of the barista's their team boasts:  Nik Virrey.  John and I have laughed for months over this man's mysterious appearances at every coffee event we stumble in, or out of.  We didn't know his name, but we seemed to see his face all over the city, be it the One Year Party for Milstead, the NW Barista Regionals, or outside of the Unicorn.  He also bar tends from time to time at one of John's favorite Capitol Hill bars.  But those of you from the east side will be wondering why it is you recognize his face (and long dreads).  I'll solve your mental turmoil:  Zoka. 

I've decided I'm excited.  And now, the wait continues...    

Portland

Remember how last month, or the month before last, we went to Portland?  

Well, I'm ready to talk about it now. 

In all truthfulness, I'm just finally in possession of my iPhoto again, and a few moments to upload them. 

We took off early from work and caught a train.  My first train.  (One of my 25 Goals for 25 no less.)

Union Station

I am honestly having a difficult time remembering the order of events.  I know we stayed with his friend the first night, Bryan.  I've had the opportunity to meet him before, but we were hoping to get time with his wife and daughter too.  No luck.  They had friends in from out of town.  John & Bryan had recently gone to Sweden together and this provided the first opportunity for us to scan through all of Bryan's photos.  I also believe that Friday night we drove first to a Creole Restraurant famous for it's Mac 'n Cheese.... and we wandered around some.... freeway underpasses?  I wasn't yet impressed by Portland.  (Minus the mac n' cheese.  It was darn good!)

The next morning, after breakfast and and goodbyes, we headed down to the Pearl District.  We sipped some of the best coffee in Portland at Barista, wandered shops and boutiques and then headed off for a hike.

That is water.
John thought it funny to pour water all over himself...
 he's regretted it since he realized he looks like he was drooling in all the photos.  ;) 

Saturday night we got rooms at a cool hotel downtown, where we showered and cleaned up for the rest of our adventure - and the main part of my surprise.  (If you remember - I basically knew nothing about the weekend.)  He'd told me to dress somewhat nice, but comfortable.  I knew we'd be outside for part.

We got ready, and drove to Powells, where he told me to pick out a book.  In the end, we each walked out with a small pile.  

First time to Powells. I get it now. 

 So the surprise.  I'd been trying to figure it out all month.  Whatever it was, it only happened during the month of September.  John had insisted we go in September to see it.  I thought perhaps it was a big play in a park our some kind of show or group experience.

It was in a park.  But even after we'd picked up our bag of picnic goodies and bottle of wine.  I had no ideas.  Even upon strolling up to the elementary school yard and finding the hillside covered with hundreds of people... sitting down on our own blanket and looking around.  I still had no clue what we were all there for.  I let him tell me.  It was for the Swifts.  The tiny little birds you might notice all over in the sky below.  Thousands of them gather around dusk every day in September, swirl around, and eventually after a very impressive show, they all dive into that chimney.... like a giant syphon.

 After the swifts had packed in for the night, we packed up our blanket, cheese, and wine and headed off to the next place.  The nickel arcade - home of John's favorite game ever.  He doesn't even know the name, or any of the directions, because it's all in Japanese... but he knows how to win at it.  I've got to admit, it had a special thrill.  So did running around an arcade with my favorite fellow-sometimes-five-year-old.  We ended the night with more drinks - Spanish Coffees at the oldest restaurant in Portland.  The bartender comes to your table and tosses and drops and throws and lights until a delicious caramelized drink sits before you - no longer in flames, but still warming your throat as it smoothly goes down.

The next day we explored the city in daylight - of course tried some more coffee, took plenty of photos, and wandered the Sunday market.  Before too long, it was time to hop back in the car and drive to our last scene.

You might not know it, but I am dating THE Mr. Corrado.  The very first.  We took a few hours and wandered John's campus (beautiful!), ate at one of his favorite Mexican dives (delicious!), saw his old church... and he even did a little re-enactment of how he became the first ever, Mr. Corrado.  Those hips do not tell lies.

 Lunch at St. John's Bridge (Is that right, Beau?) 

 We finished it all with a train ride home, watching the sun set, sipping hot cocoa and taking turns reading out of our new books.  We couldn't believe how beautiful the timing was -  I must have taken 20 photos.  Don't waste time on the "dinner train" - just catch a train to Portland at dusk.

I'm pretty sure I have the timing all wrong, because I can't imagine how we fit all these things in to one weekend - with a train both ways. :/  There were plenty of other coffee stops and restaurants and little happenings I left out too.   And yet, it felt perfectly relaxing.  With time to wander, breathe, taste and hold hands.  Time to talk and grow past things together.  

I'm so lucky to get these moments, and with a man who is so kind and thoughtful to plan out all the little important parts of a surprise weekend. 

I stared at my boots for a long while before getting dressed this morning.  It feels like fall is right around the corner, and I'm starting to get butterflies. 

Dinner at Arabica Lounge last Thursday night was a well-rounded culinary treat. Loved the entire experience: colors, flavors and community. Thank you Southern Nomad for introducing me.  

Esther and I shared the lime vinaigrette and coriander salad (you see in the bottom corner of the menu) and the most delicious homemade pasta.  For dessert she ordered the rice pudding (which was so picturesque it took her 5 minutes to even take a bite of - no lie), and I finished my meal with a pepper and lime, cardamom and chocolate cake.  Esther may have to correct me on some of these details, or supplement, because I largely let her take hold of the ordering, it being one of her favorite Capitol Hill retreats.  


Though the food was beautiful and delicious, it was the atmosphere tailored by the artisan who owns and runs the store.  It was the bikes that strolled in with their owners, the hugs issued at the door, meals shared at the large wooden table, the community that was evidently central to the business that captured my attention as it had captured Esther's appreciation.  Let us taste authenticity - let us feast on beauty and community - and as artists we will come alive.  And we'll come back again, and again. 

.

Morning Tuesday.  

Apparently today, getting dressed is just not a priority.  Instead it's coffee, laundry, breakfast, back in the warm bed.  This is nice.  But I see my time to get ready has already sprung to a minimum and yet... I just keep sipping coffee.

My current first-world problem is this: when to go to the gym?  If I go when I first get home, I'm starving and don't get nearly as good of a workout.  If I eat dinner, wait a bit and go, I end up wired and not falling asleep until some unHoly hour.  Last night it was somewhere in the middle (kind of a weak work out, plus apparently got my blood going enough to keep me awake for hours). And still too late.... I'm realizing as I sit in bed... still....sipping my coffee.  Under 30 minutes until I really should leave. 

Mmmm.  Coffee.

One reason I love working downtown. :) 

After crepes, LBL took kristin and I to La Panier for coffee and treats. I enjoyed a pistachio macaroon and a delicious vanilla latte.

Makes me miss campus so very terribly.

Those of you in school - soak it up.

Quiet Time.

I learned today that longboarding in the fall is a bit difficult.  Wet leaves and sticks can make it slippery, slow or suddenly send you flying from your board.  Still fun. :)