Belles of the Sound

Sunday is going to be a busy day for group athletic adventures and fun. With the 17th riding of the Haul Ash Redhook Tour De Brew there’s no doubt the Burke Gilman Trail is going to a freeway of bikers and an occasional traffic jam of strollers, skateboards and joggers. Well, tack on to that the 30th annual Beat the Bridge 8K run taking place in the University/Montlake area and you have a recipe for biker runner soup.

The event consists of an 8k run and wheelchair race, 4-mile walk, 1-mile fun run, and diaper derby for toddlers.  The event is called Beat the Bridge because the University Bridge is raised during the race and the goal is to BEAT the raising of the bridge.  Have no fear, if you don’t beat the bridge, there is a band and prizes for those who get caught.  After a few minutes, the bridge goes back down, allowing everyone to finish.

Although online registration has closed, you can still register for Beat the Bridge in person on Saturday, May 19 from noon 5:00 p.m. or on Sunday, May 20 starting at 6:45 a.m. The registration area is in parking lot E18, located off Montlake Blvd just north of the Alaska Airlines Arena.Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes is a fundraiser for JDRF, the largest nongovernmental contributor of research to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Hope to see you out at one of these events this weekend – or at least dodging riders on the Burke.

I am going to apologize a little in advance for this post being more about me than about Seattle, but I promise it will be Seattle-themed.  So, this is my wedding themed post of the month (of which I promised there would only be one per month so bear with me because I’ll make it brief.    I just wanted to say a little bit about the process of getting engagement photos taken.  It is an odd process.  You feel a little like an idiot posing in public places while strangers look on as you generally make fools of yourself.  This general feeling of weirdness is why if you are getting photographed for any reason, the best thing you can do is find a photographer who you are really comfortable with.  We took our pictures on the ferry to Bainbridge Island, partially because it is a very Seattle location which we both love.  We also reconnected on the ferry so it has a special, more sentimental place in our hearts.

We spent a day posing, dancing, and even lying down on the ferry.  Definitely wear something comfortable and relatively covered up.  You don’t want to spend the better part of your shoot readjusting your clothing.  Some people are unsure of whether to get engagement photos taken.  For us it was great since we don’t have that many pictures together and it’s a really good way to get to know you photographer. (more…)

Cascadian Edible Landscapes will help you eat your yard. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Since we’ve been having such lovely weekend weather the past few weeks (and for the weekends coming up!!), I’ve been on a HUGE farmer’s market kick. I usually try to go during the winter, but it’s so much more pleasant when I can wander around and take in the entire experience.

Therefore, I’m giving a shoutout to my local farmer’s market, the Ballard Farmers’ Market! I love you and all your flowers, fresh veggies and excellent people-watching opportunities. Whenever I get there, I always make an initial pass around the market to see who’s there. I’m keeping an eye out for the veggies I need to pick up, and what types of flowers I want for the week. The selection can change almost weekly, so I love getting a feel for what’s in season. [Take for example, there are TONS of starter veggie plants out right now. I picked up a gorgeous lettuce start just last week, and it is so, so, so happy in my garden right now. If you've ever thought about starting your own edible garden, visit your nearest farmers' market now to get going.] (more…)

So, this is my second cat themed post in as many weeks and I worry that it may put me on my way to getting a bit of a crazy cat lady reputation.  However, I think it is important to point out at this time that I have exactly ZERO cats and that it is impossible to really be a crazy cat lady without any cats.  (Of course that is only because my apartment building doesn’t allow them, but that’s not the point)

Anyway, I’m not talking about house cats this time. Well, unless you own a tiger and in that case you are a crazy person and you should know that no matter how much your tiger  “loves” you it will only end with someone getting mauled.  Don’t keep tigers as pets.  So, if you like tigers, but don’t like being mauled, I have a better and much safer way for you to help. (more…)

Another great post in our “Belles’ Man on the Street series” by local Seattleite, Henry Fitzgerald.

Over the years, I’ve developed a taste for healthy foods I never thought possible, including brown rice, squash and raw vegetable juices. I make a mean eggplant dish that even my momma loves. But after a long day, I’m just not interested in making it, or anything else, myself. I can’t manage the effort to find the olive oil, marinara sauce and cheese. Sad, huh? On my nights, with a craving for pizza and no pizza equipment in sight, I seek out the best eco-friendly establishments I can find. My local favorites never let me down.

My Favorites:

• Z Pizza (Capitol Hill, 1620 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122, (206) 432-9158)

The Z Pizza menu offers fantastic gluten-free and vegan options. Their roasted eggplant is made fresh in-house. My friends and I appreciate that they use select ingredients including certified organic tomato sauce and fresh produce. This inexpensive option makes a great lunch or dinner when you really need it fast and you can even order on-line. Go in to enjoy their happy hour pricing on beer and wine.

• TASTE Café at the Olympic Sculpture Park (2901 Western Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, (206) 332-1376)

During the summer, when I want a seasonal soup, I know where to go. The TASTE Café serves their soups with fresh baked focaccia bread. If you’re looking for packaged local and organic snacks, this is a great quick stop. It’s awesome that all of the packaging is biodegradable. Their commitment to composting helps us all sustain the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, investing in local farms helps promote the environment and build the community.

• Stumbling Goat Bistro (6722 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, (206) 784-3535)

When I’m looking for something a little fancier, I head over to the Stumbling Goat Bistro with a group of friends. The menu changes seasonally. And, I like that the menu changes according to what is regionally available. For me, coming here is a treat, giving me a chance to support my local community and sustainable businesses. Their pan-roasted organic chicken with roasted oyster mushrooms and garlic confit is a crowd pleaser. For dessert, try the blackberry pear tart.

Other Options
Other places I frequent include the Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club, a waterfront restaurant featuring eco-friendly Mexican dishes, promoting good health and sustainable resources. I also enjoy the Chaco Canyon Organic Café, when I dine with friends with food allergies. They offer raw and vegan menu options. Molly’s Salads provides a great lunch option. They too support local farmers by purchasing their products nearby. The great part is that these places help promote the farms that provide their produce so when I have the time, I can go myself and can buy my own vegetables and cook. That’s the plan anyway!

My Pledge

My commitment to visit restaurants that serve environmentally-friendly foods is easy in Seattle because so many restaurants are dedicated to providing their customers with healthy options that also allow them to invest in local and sustainable food sources. Supporting these businesses on a regular basis keeps prices down for everyone. When you patronize local establishments, you enable them to participate in outreach programs, including school and community events to promote awareness about the importance of sustainable farming. I like knowing where my food comes from, don’t you? Get out and try some of the best sustainable local restaurants in Seattle and you won’t regret it!

First off, contrary to what that title may have you believe I am not a hoarder or an animal hoarder.  I just really enjoy both books and cats.  Though I am not much interested in books about cats.  Though, they would be better than books about horses.  I don’t understand some peoples’ horse obsessions.  I am not a horse person.  Anyway…I’m getting off topic.

Seattle is a city that loves to read.  We are one of the top ten cities with the most bookstores and one of the most literate cities in the country as well.  Seattle has also been on multiple lists as one of America’s most pet friendly cities.  It is no surprise then that sometimes these two things collide.  There are many bookstores in town with their own feline mascots to help you pick something out.  I am particular to the two cats that live at Ophelia’s Books in Fremont. (more…)

Hey everybody!  Happy Saturday!  I’ll make this really quick but I just wanted to pass on a little information and do a little personal plug.  My very talented cousin, Jessica Lechner, is going to be performing TONIGHT, April 28, at Shadowland in West Seattle.  The bar holds an open mike every Tuesday and then brings some of their best performers together for a full show on some Saturday nights.  This Saturday she will be playing with Patrick Smail (who I also saw perform this last Tuesday, well past my bedtime, and he was quite good).  There is no cost for the show and it starts at 10:00 so all you have to do is show up!

And…if all of that is not enticing enough, they have battered and fried pickles.  You know you want to try that. (For the records they are salty and delicious.)

Thirty locations. One map. One Compass (yes the real kind). And 90 minutes to scramble.

The Columbia City Street Scramble begins at 10am on Saturday, April 28 at the Southside Commons, 3518 S Edmunds Street, Seattle, WA.

Score points by visiting up to 30 checkpoints in any order, and answer a simple question to prove you were there. Those who visit the most are the winners! Be competitive or casual. Go in a team or solo.

Fun for families, runners, cyclists, and anyone who likes to explore. Awards and refreshments at the finish.

This is your chance to be an “Amazing Race” super star in your own city.

Here’s the dish on the full Street Scramble experience.

Be sure to register in advance for you and your team.

The Space Needle all dressed up for its birthday!

If you have been in Seattle and anywhere near a radio, or a television, or a newspaper, or a little thing called the internet you probably already know that this year is the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle which included the construction of our now iconic Space Needle.  It’s  hard to imagine, especially for any of us who were born well after 1962 the Seattle skyline without its extraterrestrial-looking anchor.   In commemoration of the construction of the Space Needle and all of Seattle Center there are a variety of events taking place from this past Saturday April 21 through October 21st.  Check out the Seattle Center website (http://www.seattlecenter.com/thenextfifty/home.aspx) for more info on upcoming events.

In addition to a number of ongoing exhibits and planned lectures, they have also given the top of the needle a little 60′s makeover.  They call the color Galaxy Gold even though we can all plainly see that it is a very loud shade of bright orange.  Apparently, the original paint job also consisted of legs of Astronaut White and a core of Orbital Olive.  (You see, it’s outer space themed.)    Thankfully they did not resurrect all of those colors.

In celebration of this momentous time in Seattle history I would like to present these “Fun Facts” about the Space Needle (which I learned here): (more…)

First, two sort of disclaimers: One: I am not really a music reviewer.  By that I mean that I love music (it’s like saying that you love breathing or sleeping), but really lack the appropriate vocabulary and vast musical knowledge to review anything with any authority.  Although the internet seems to be a place where people with no background in anything can spout their opinions as if they were fact with little to no consequences I will not do that.  It’s not that I have no opinions.  It seems to me that there is still a difference between opinion and fact and we all might be well advised to remember that.  Two: I am what you would call a casual Radiohead fan.  I also lack the broad knowledge of their catalog and prior concerts to do this any justice.

With that, I present to you my “review” of Radiohead at Key Arena last Monday night.  (more…)