Looking to the south
Lake Union and the city
These brilliant lights
One of my favorite views of the city. Something about the sparkling lights reaches into the deepest recesses of my mind.
Category: Seattle and Beyond
Back on My Bike
The past week I’ve finally had time to ride. It’s been a zany summer without much time for my favorite things. My, I feel the lack of miles! But I am feeling a recommitment to riding. Plus, my son has the riding bug and pushes me to be on my bike more. So much goodness.
One thing we did this weekend: rode to a local donut place. Lynnwood’s Donut Factory delights us so very much. Since they don’t have a bike rack, I showed my son some bicyclist hacks (like locking the bikes together, in opposite directions,).
That got me thinking about bike security. Besides simply enjoying riding, I spent a number of years with my bike as my sole, owned transportation (biking, my feet and the bus were the main modes of transportation). It’s rather important, as an avid and not wealthy cyclist, to maintain possession of my wheels. With that in mind, check out “How to prevent your bike from being stolen“. Good advice about both preventing the theft, but also what to do if it’s stolen and ways to ensure it’ll get back to you if it is.
I hope you have great two-wheeled fun and also remain safe and secure.
Happy riding!
Compline at St. Marks Cathedral
Every Sunday night at 9:30, Seattle’s St. Marks Cathedral hosts compline. For those not versed in Anglican church history, compline is sung evening prayer, harkening back to monastic traditions. They’ve been performing this weekly for decades.
It was compline that attracted me to the Episcopal church. After attending the service for several months, a friend of mine and I tried regular worship. And I became a member there, staying for several years. Met several of my dearest friends there, and it’s s key piece of my faith journey.
Many years ago, KING FM started broadcasting the service live. At one point, they shifted to playing a recording of the week prior. I’m listening to that right now.
I’m flooded with memories. Of this massively diverse array of humanity and it’s conditions. There are millionaires sitting eith street people. All are welcome, and all hold the moment holy
Someday soon I hope to introduce my son. Such a deep, powerful and rich part of my life, and Seattle’s. I want it to be part of his experience, too.
It’s Labor Day Weekend: Time For Bumbershoot And Prepping For AutumnÂ
For many folks Labor Day weekend with temps in the mid to upper 80s is glorious. Week, not for me. This Seattleite find such temperatures abhorrent.
Now, I like the sun. Though the brown grass saddens me. Seattle is the Emerald City, not the Kinda Brown City. Our famous misty rains are what keep our fair city laden with green.
So, it’ll be a great weekend to either be outdoors, or right next to an AC. A decent weekend for our great music festival: Bumbershoot. For the uninitiated, the Seattle Center is taken over by musicians, comedians, and other artistic types. Along with hordes of humanity, in all its array of states and conditions. It’s quite the spectacle.
If you aren’t familiar with Bumbershoot, it’s not a weird fringe thing (Seatttle had those, too, much to my delight) . This one is well regarded and brings in top-billed talent. Check out this year’s line up. For me, more importantly, you’ll also find many up-and-coming acts, so you’ll have great opportunities to find your next favorite artist.
A very different vibe than Folklife. Not bad, but Folklife is much mite “hippie” where Bumbershoot is a polished, commercial event.
With any major event at the Seattle Center, expect traffic to horrible. When I lived in the Downtown Core, I’d bike down there. I delighted in riding all around the city, and working my way through crowds and heavy traffic was even better. If you’re not interested in cycling, here’s a pro-tip: drive to an outlying park and ride, bus down to Westlake Center, then grab the Monorail to the Seattle Center. During major events like this, they’ll be running until 11:30. Do plan ahead and make sure your bus/park-and-ride convo soul work for the time you’ll want to leave. Getting stranded in the City sucks worse than traffic or inflated parking prices.
Enjoy Bembershoot if you’re going. It’s ironic that the best use of the event’s namesake will be to keep the sun off. Me? I’m gong to try to do some biking (nowhere near downtown). Probably just up here in Lynnwood and Edmonds. And otherwise just relax. Write and read, and look forward to autumn finally arriving. I guess I could get my wearer’s out and give them a good washing. Their time is coming.
Spent This Past Weekend At Gwinwood Christian Center In Lacey
Discussing Coffee
Coffee came up several times for me today. Ok, well that sounds like a case of indigestion. Coffee came up in discussion several times today. Which got me thinking…
Coffee holds a special place in my life, and my heart. First: well, coffee goes back to childhood. I adored smelling coffee brewing growing up. Loved the feel of the old Starbucks in Pike Place, back when there were spices and stuff. That very first espresso. The sophisticated feeling of sitting in cafes. Oh, so very much delight in the old, old feels.
Being a broke college student post-Navy, the cafes on Capitol Hill, Queen Anne and the U-District were important haunts. Places to study, to read, meet friends; so very critical at that point of my life. Low cost style and elegance.
For just over 5 years, I worked on the Corporate Social Responsibility team at Starbucks. For a year before that, I was part of the Public Affairs team, within the Global Communications group. I lived and breathed coffee during that time. That’s where I learned about roast curves, growing regions, different flavor profiles, the agricultural impacts upon the coffee, as well as the “processing method” and the instrumental way that impacts flavor.
I got to gently counter disparagement to my former employer. Even though I was laid off from there, nor is it my favorite coffee (that honor is tied between Ladro and Tony’s right now). (Fun fact: Tony’s was roasting Ladro’s beans until very recently). Yet I think highly of Starbucks, both in the coffee quality as well as the quality of the company. Several of my dearest friends came out of that experience.
Also, I went by Narrative Coffee’s space again, and saw Cafe Wylde. Both are places I want, well, need to try out. And I think I should write more about coffee here. Kinda fits a “Not Just Seattle” theme, don’t you think?
Care to recommend other coffee establishments for me to try? I’ll need to craft a list of my explorations to-date soon.
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An Updated Look At Seattle Area Real Estate, Development And Construction
As you may know, I took on a new role at the beginning of the year: managing feasibility and permitting for a builder. What a journey it’s been!
I don’t know how clear the title is, but “feasibility” is critical to our company. Can we build at a profit? To state the obvious, in our culture, profitability equals survival.
The Northwest Multiple Listing Service provides a form specifically for this. I’ve been asked a lot about it lately: most agents never use it. And they don’t understand what it’s for.
The purpose: time to explore the components of build-ability. For some projects, say a custom home, we’re exploring whether the costs fit into your budget. Will state, county or municipal rules let you build at all? If so, can you afford it?
Construction is cleaner but more complicated. Can what you are able to build sell for for a profit?
In Snohomish County, well, the whole state, we have challenges related to growth management. Important concerns, for the good of the community, and the ecosystem we draw our life from. I’ll get to that soon.
The Season TransformsÂ
Sun flows into through glass
Counting days for routine’s return
Crisp mornings, sunlight hidden
Shall transform into damp,
Gray tranquility
Travelling to Oregon for the #eclipse?
Thinking of heading to Oregon for good viewing of the upcoming eclipse? Well, you’re running behind. Hotels are booked, and traffic is expected to horrible down there. It’s important to note: this kind of traffic would be incredibly hard to predict. It’s far outside normal, so the area infrastructure isn’t set up to handle it. So, no reservations and firmed up plans? You have a serious challenge before you. I never say never, but you best be ready for compromise.
With that, the Washington Department Of Transportation has activated their AM radio network. That’s the yellow signs you see in the freeway, with flashing yellow lights, directing you to turn your radio to 510, or 1610 AM, where you can listen to a mumbling voice (good ol AM distortion). This morning we were directed to expect heavy traffic in Oregon, and to avoid trying to observe the eclipse from your car or stopping on the side of the road. Oh, and turn your headlights on when it’s dark.
I came across a couple articles about the eclipse and how it’s impacting the region:
- Eclipse 2017: Miles-long traffic jams, wildfires in worst-case scenarios
- Oregon Department of Forestry, 2017 Solar Eclipse Site
The first looks at the expected traffic issues for Oregon (including the region’s fires right now). And the second is more good science nerdware. Which delights me but, really, isn’t too nerdy for the general population.
I’ll keep digging around to see what other info I can dig up. There’s got to be some other great science articles being created right now. I’ll keep my eyes peeled, as the adage goes.
A Lovely Afternoon Along The Edmonds Waterfront
My wife and I spent the afternoon in one of our favorite places, the waterfront in Edmonds. Ran into many friends, had a quick lunch, popped into the ranger station at Olympic Beach. Fyi, there’s a touch there that’s stocked with local wildlife. A great place to getvsine insights into our marine life. One of their volunteers, Ryan, hosts a podcast: Aquacast; go check him out!
Also made it up to the library. Lots of good flowers along the way. Lots blooming right now.
I adore this region so much. Makes my heart soar.