Our 2006 trip to Seattle and more:

Tuesday August 29, 2006 -
Road trip! We meant to get out early but it ended up being around 9:30 before we got everything done and got out of town. Oh, well. The Internet says it's about 8 - 8 1/2 hours to Portland, our destination today. I think that is optimistic but here we go! Anyway, we drove and drove and then stopped in Yreka, at the northern edge of California, for some lunch. We found a little independent cafe in a suburban strip mall, of all place. It was the Soup Cafe, though they had plenty of foods besides soup. We knew it was a good sign because first of all it was not a chain and second of all they had a big white board for the separate 'vegetarian menu' with plenty of meat-free options. I had a very good been and rice enchilada lunch and salad. Tasty. Too bad we're not in Yreka more often. And then we were off again. We refueled around Medford and it was time to head north north north. Through a lot of Oregon we were hoping to find a freeway friendly Starbucks, but there were none! What is up with that? They seem to be everywhere in California.

Well, we finally made it to Portland and to the hotel, without the help of our good friend Mr. Caffeine. We checked in and as usual we were hungry. there was a BJs brewpub and restaurant nearby so we had some comfort food. Fried onion strings, a deep-dish spinach artichoke pizza, and a couple pints of stout (or Merlot in Petra's case). And then some much-needed rest after a long day on the road.

Wednesday August 30, 2006 -
The road trip continues. Today we check out Portland, Oregon, home of the Trailblazers and lots of bridges. Our first stop is at the Bullseye Glass Resource Center. As you may recall from a while back, Petra has taken some classes in glass fusion. Well, this is the headquarters of the glass company. Lots of stuff for sale and some completed glass works on display. It is also a working glass studio with artists renting studio and kiln time. Interesting place and they leet us explore the whole place. Next we headed to the nearby Belmont area for a date with some local record stores. We checked one out and chatted with the owner for a while about the pleasures and pains of running a record store. It brought back some memories of our store (1993-2000, RIP).

Lunch time, one of my favorite times. We popped into the nearby Bangkok Kitchen, a small and rickety (but clean) place down the street. We both had the Pad Thai (Petra's mild, mine medium) and it was great! Really tasty and authentic. And thus refreshed we perused a few more record stores in the nearby blocks. One was a large store with different areas for different owners. Another specialized more in newer music, lots of new vinyl, mostly indie and alterative. Then we headed downtown. First stop in that area was the gallery for the aforementioned Bullseye Glass. Two floors of glass art, blown, fused, slumped, and otherwise made into art pieces. Expensive art pieces, up to about $18k. The second floor was really amazing, with huge pieces, some hanging, with small glass 'cubes' (but only the edges, not filled) all fused together to create large pieces.

Then we headed over about five or six block for a couple more record stores, the best of which was Everyday Records, a small northwest chain. This place was huge, tons of CDs and vinyl, both new and used. Needless to say we spent a while and found some cool stuff that we hadn't been able to find in Sacramento, mostly used and at reasonable prices. Next stop was Powell's Books, billed as possibly the country's largest book store. It is a complete city block, and three stories. It is so massive it is divided into 'rooms' such as the blue room, the purple room, the pearl room, etc for the different genres. Of course we found some books we needed (!), mostly used here too. And good prices once again. Then we went to visit the Ira Keller (sp?) fountain a mile or so away. It was more a large series of modern waterfall flows as opposed to a 'shoot into the sky' fountain. Very cool piece of public art and very relaxiing to sit by for a little while. Then we headed back to a Mexican restaurant near the hotel, Who Song and Larry's. It had been recommend by the woman at the hotel as 'totally awesome food'. Well, Petra's quesadilla was good and so were the margaritas, and they were very nice to us. My dinner was ok but I remarked to the Petra that it reminded me of El Torito, which is certainly not the best mexican food. OK, but not great. Anyway, when the bill came it was in an 'El Torito' holder! I asked and the waiter told me that the place was, indeed, owned by the same company that owns them and Chevy's too. I guess to get really great Mexican food (or authentic) I may need to go back to California. ;-) Then back to the hotel to get some rest before the next day's journey to Renton and Seattle.

Thursday August 31, 2006 -
On to the north. We got back on I-5 and headed up, at least that's what the map people call it. Into Washington and on to Renton, home to Wanda, Petra's friend and fellow breast cancer survivor (one of her survivin' sistas). She lives on a six-acre spread in the country near Renton, a nice area with lots of trees (which describes much of Washington state). After chatting and greeting for a few minutes, Wanda gave us a tour of her place and her garden, which consisted of various plants and trees all over outside the house. Then Petra, Wanda, Kensie (Wanda's daughter), and I headed into Renton for some lunch at an all-you-can-eat Indian food buffet at Pabla Indian Cuisine. It was delicious, and thanks Wanda. Then she took us on a scenic drive along Lake Washington (I think it was) and on to Archie McPhees, a famous Seattle store selling all kinds of kitschy items, from evil clown nesting dolls, to Mr. T in a hand, to devil ducks, to snow globes, to all kinds of weird and wacky stuff. Really, DO check out their web site if you can't get to the store.

Then it was back to Wanda's place. We visited with her husband and her for a bit and then we said goodbye and Petra and I headed into Seattle. We found our hotel (the Mediterranean Inn, in the Queen Anne district), and checked in. Our friends Larry and Robin had gotten there earlier in the day and they greeted us from their adjoining room. The Queen Anne area is our favorite in Seattle, a block or two from the Seattle Center which is home to the annual Bumbershoot Festival, which we would be attending very very soon. The area is great in other ways too, lots of restaurants, record and book stores, other shopping, cafes, etc. Anyway, our hotel was very nice and there was an observation deck on the roof which provided a beatiful view of much of Seattle, including the nearby downtown area dnd the waterfront. We visited with Larry and Robin for a bit and then got some sleep before the next day's adventures.

Friday September 1, 2006 -
After we all got up and got moving, we wandered down the street to Cafe Mecca (reviews) and had a big old breakfast. Cheddar cheese, artichoke, and onion omelet with salsa on top, side of hashbrowns and toast, in case you were or weren't wondering. Lots of food and pretty good too. It was a funky place (in a good way), checkerboard black and white floor and gruff but friendly waitresses. Then we took the short walk to the Seattle Center grounds. Semi-local musician Reggie Watts, a favorite of Petra's, was being given an arts award by the mayor of Seattle. After that a local rockabily band, the Dusty 45s, played a free set. We watched some of that and then wandered into the Bumbershoot art exhibits. We got to see them a day early when they were MUCH less crowded. Some of it is very avant-garde stuff and other areas are more traditional art. Imagine our surprise when Larry and Robin called us into the photography exhibit to see a really nice, large photo on the wall, of Petra, Mama O, and Theresa from last year's Bumberhshoot visit! Wow!

We spent a while there and then walked around the rest of the grounds to see them setting up for the festival, which starts tomorrow. One of the T-shirt and souvenir booths had opened up a day early, so we were able to get our stuff early and ahead of the throngs of people that would be there the next three days. We got a coffee and watched Petra devour a caramel apple with great delight. We took a bus up Queen Anne hill and walked around up there for a while. There was a great view, Kirby Park, and also some nice shops etc. Then we walked back down the hill and had some tasty dinner at Racha Thai. We took a brief trip up to the roof to see Seattle at night and then went back to the room to all look over the schedule for tomorrow, the first day of Bumbershoot. There are always so many different things happening at once there, it is best to plan some things in advance.

Saturday September 2, 2006 -
Finally! The Bumbershoot Festival is here! I am serious, I wait all year for this. It may be the best three days of the year. We got ready and headed over to the entrance. We had bought the platinum passes this year and our friends Larry and Robin and Mama O had bought the gold, so we were all entitled to some extra perks. We headed first to the special platinum/gold hospitality area and sampled the free food and beverages while we plotted out what acts to see, on what stages, etc. First up, we saw a Northwest band called Derby. The were prety good and we ended up buying their CD. As an aside, as I recap these Bumbershoot activities, keep in mind that we sampled lots of different food at the festival. Think 'fair food' but a lot better. Anyway, we hooked back up with Larry and Robin at a different stage where the Dub Championz were playing. After a song or two, we headed to the main stage to catch the second half of Blondie's set. We had seen them earlier in the year and they rocked then so we saw them again today. And they rocked again. For a band from the 70s/80s, they still sound good. They have a few newer songs mixed with classic hits.

Ooh, almost forgot to mention, earlier in the day we watched an hour of a one-woman show by female comedian Vijai Nathan. She combined comedy and drama (mostly comedy) in her tale of her Hindu family and their life in America. Anyway, next we split up for a bit. I headed into a small theater to see a 45 mnute excerpt from a new play about the last interview that John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave before he was murdered. It was well done and moving. Petra, on the other hand, watched a comedy presesntation called Swivel. I headed next to see a four or five songs by Rogue Wave and a few by Alejandro Escovedo. Both acts were ok but not much more than that so I wandered on again. I watched almost all of the set by Of Montreal, and they were very good. Smart and catchy pop-rock. I stayed until they were done. Then at the same sage I started watching Badly Drawn Boy but it was pretty routine so I moved on. Meanwhile, Petra had checked out some of the Rollergirl indoor Roller Derby action, which she said was a lot of fun. Then she watched, with Larry and Robin, the Rubberband Dance group. We both ended the day watching most of the set by A.F.I., a loud and heavy rock band that was actually good and entertaining. It was a long day but a great day.

Sunday September 3, 2006 -
Happy birthday to our daughter Andrea!

Day 2 of Bumbershoot. We had some food and then I headed over to watch a band called Mon Frere. They were very good and I bought their CD. While I saw them, Petra was making a mosaic tile at a nearby booth. We met up and watch four or five songs by Spoon. They were ok, but we wandered on and watched Sonya Kitchell for a bit. She has a great voice but mostly average songs. Still good though. Then it was time for some comedy. We saw Meghan Hounshell, Hari Kondabolu, and Cathy Sorbo. The first two were really funny!

Then we took a short dinner break from the festival and walked a couple blocks to the Bamboo Garden restaurant. They have hundreds of items available and are COMPLETELY vegetarian. Too cool! Then, full and refreshed, we headed back to Bumbershoot to see Synthclub, an electronic trio that had Reggie Watts (see 9/1 blog entry) sitting in to do some electronically sampled vocals. One song, over an hour long, and a driving techno beat but still kind of cool and interesting. Then the other three headed out to see rapper Kanye West. They all found him very disappointing, which, frankly, I had predicted. I watch some of the set by Zero 7 and then headed out to see what else was happening. Ivan Neville was playing and I watch some of his set, where I met back up with first Larry and Robin and then Petra too. Another day with tons of great music! Then we headed back to hotel and visited until it was very late.

Monday September 4, 2006 -
Day 3 of Bumbershoot. Yow! I love it! And it will be over much too soon. Today we had a snack at the hospitality area and then checked out the Film Festival going on within the main festival. We saw three short films with the general subject of Tales From The Cubicle. Afterwards, Petra headed to the main stage to watch the Steve Miller Band. I headed out for some less nostalgic and newer music. I watched Particle for a while, but lost interest, then checked out alt-country singer Sera Calhoun for a couple songs. A bit too country but not bad. Then we hooked back up for a comedy show, with Nick thune, Mary Lou Rajskub, and Doug Benson. They were all clever and funny, especially Doug.

Back when we were in the hospitality area earlier in the day, the hostess told us that today only they were letting the platinum pass folks into some 'secret shows'. These half hour shows would also be broadcast live on KEXP radio. So, we took advantage of one and saw Novelle Vogue in a small room that held about 75-100 people. We were in the center, about 8-10 feet from the stage! Anyway, this band's gimmick is that they take classic songs of the 70s and 80s by new wave and cult bands and do them with female singers and a sort-of bossa nova feel. It's hard to describe. The songs were by The Smiths, Billy Idol, Bauhaus, etc and on CD they cover XTC, The Cure, and lots of others too. It was a blast and before the trip was over we bought two of their CDs. Then it was time for the Reggie Watts comedy show. He was very funny, off the wall, and fairly rude. Not for the squeemish but funny. After that we went to another stage to watch Metric, who we had not heard of but who were really good. Modern energetic electronic rock with a forceful woman vocalist. And of course we ended up buying their latest CD too. Then we headed back to meet up with Larry and Robin and caught the end of a set by The English Beat. And that was Bumbershoot 2006. If any of those acts is at all interesting to you, I encourage you to google them and find out more, or write me here.

Tuesday September 5, 2006 -
Today is the day that Larry and Robin and also Mama O go back to California. Luckily, Petra and I still have a few days left on our trip! They checked out of their rooms but had some time to kill in Seattle so we stowed their luggage in our room and had a few last adventures with them for the trip. We drove to the Belltown area of Seattle and had a good Mexican food lunch at Mama's Mexican Kitchen. Sadly, the Elvis Room was taken so we couldn't eat in that room. Then it was off to Bedrock Industries. No, this is not where the Flintsontes live. It is a large place selling and working with recycled glass and glass art and other products. Check out their web site. We bought a small glass wind chime for the daughter and a couple other things, including a lollipop for the back yard.

We went back to the hotel but still had a little time before they had to leave so we strolled around the Seattle Center grounds and dropped into the Space Needle gift shop. Then it was time to bid farewell to our friends for now. After they left, we decided to take a drive up to the U-District (U for University) and checked out Half Price Books and a record store, Cellophane Square, where we always seem to find current alternative music used for a good price. After that, we were getting tired and hungry, so we headed back to the hotel area and went to dinner at a nice 'gourmet' Italian food restaurant we have been to a number of times before, Perche No, just two blocks from the hotel. It was relaxing and delicious. And on the way back, what were we near? You guessed it. Easy Street Records. So we shopped for a few minutes there, then headed back to the hotel. Another great vacation day.

Wednesday September 6, 2006 -
Sigh. Today is the day we must leave Seattle. It is a wonderful, beautiful city and always a pleasure to spend time in. But we checked out of the hotel anyway. Before we left the city, we renewed our membership at one of the world's coolest museums, the Experience Music Project. We had a quick lunch at Kidd Valley, a regional burger chain that makes a pretty good garden burger and very good onion rings. Then we hit the road, I-5, heading south. We stopped in Tacoma for a visit to the Museum of Glass and a viewing of the Chihuly Bridge Of Glass. You need to see this bridge if you are in the area, it is very cool indeed. Check out the web site at least!

Then we were on the road again, as Willie says, and passing through Portland, then Salem, then into Eugene, our stop for the night. By that time is was mid-evening and by the time we checked in and got our bearings it was 8:30 or so. Luckily, two doors down was a pizza place, Track Town Pizza, that had about six or seven different vegetarian pizzas on their menu (not counting build your own). How cool. We had a pizza and a drink and then back to the room to get some rest for the next day.

Thursday September 7, 2006 -
After sampling (at least) the continental breakfast provided by the hotel, we left Eugene heading due west this time. Our first destination was the coast, to drive down it and see the awesome views of the Pacific Ocean. Parts of the drive down I-101 veered inland a bit but plenty of it provided great views of the ocean. I love seeing the ocean. It is so immense and powerful, yet at the same time so peaceful. We stopped at one of the small coastal towns and had a sub sandwich and then continued driving south. On a whim, once into California, we pulled into the parking lot for the Trees Of Mystery. Well, too late, the walk through the giant coast redwoods was closed for the day. We've been there before and it wasn't in the plans this time anyway, so we were ok with it. If you have never seen the redwoods then you are past due. We pulled into Arcata, our hotel destination for the night, kind of late in the day. Not too late, though, to check out two small record stores in downtown Arcata and also a quick meal at Luzmilla's, a local mexican food chain. I'll tell you, nowhere up north did we find great mexican food. Good but not great. We will solve that issue when we get back to Sacramento. Anyway, it was time to crash and that is just what we did.

Friday September 8, 2006 -
Last day of the trip. Argh! We got up and had some of the 'expanded' continental breakfast, then headed south once again. We took I-101 until it met up with California Highway 1 and then took that down the coast to Fort Bragg. There we had a great meal at Eggheads, a must-eat-at breakfast and omelet place with a Wizard Of Oz theme. Then we headed to nearby Glass Beach. If you have not seen this you need to. The beach has more worn (not sharp) glass than it does sand. Very unique. Then it was eastward toward our home in Sacramento. We stopped briefly at a Taco Bell (how boring) for a snack on the way home and finally arrived home. Home sweet home? Of course, though the trip was too short, as usual!