Belles of the Sound

If you’re craving vitamin D this post won’t help you. But if you’re craving the delicious smells and tastes of authentic Hawaiian cuisine, read on! Two events that will get your hips hula-ing to the tropical sensations of the islands of Hawaii. Take part in the Flavors of Hawaii all month long, starting with tonight!

Hawaiian Happy Hours

Leading up to the finale event of Flavors of Hawaii, you can take part in four happy hour tastings at local hot spots every Thursday for the next four weeks. During the month of January, Spring Hill (tonight), Wild Ginger (January 13), Dahlia Lounge (January 20), and Joey Lake Union (January 27) are competing for the Best Hawaiian Pupu Platter and you’re invited to attend, enjoy and vote.

Finale Hawaiian Dinner

Now this is where it’s at!

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Seattle Met are hosting an exclusive four-course tasting dinner featuring the flavors and traditions of Hawaii. Prepared by Tom Douglas, this dinner, celebrating the uniqueness of Hawaii fare, serves as the finale event for the pupu platter competition. Tom is servicing up kalua pig, wine pairings, Hawaii entertainment, and your very own flower lei. You can even win a five-day trip to Maui!

Tickets are $100 and well worth it if you’re the winner of that Hawaiian vacation.

I think I can feel the 85 degree sun already… Aloha!

You want a chance at the best seafood in Seattle? It’s hard, I know.  Seattle is a veritable font of amazing seafood.

But, in my esteemed opinion, if you want the best of the best, in the chowder category, you head to Duke’s Chowder House.

Not only is the place award winning, but there are six convenient locations to try. Personally, Green Lake Duke’s is my favorite. I love being able to sit outside on a nice day. Those days are so few and far between, that it’s great to appreciate them fully. It’s right across from the wading pool, so if it rained during the day, but cleared up in time for dinner, you can see all the kiddies and dogs playing around.

While I have tried other items on the menu (and they were good), the chowder is the reason for heading over there. They make five different kinds, and if you’ve never been, I highly recommend the sampler so you can try them all at once.  While a couple of them turned out to be beyond my liking, it was great to try something different.

Two of the chowders – the Lobster Pernod and the Award Winning – are simply the best. The lobster is sweet, and I didn’t think I liked it after the first bite, but each bite I took made it more and more addicting. The Award Winning chowder is undefeated in the Seattle chowder cook-off. It’s more than simply addicting. It’s a revelation. Get it in a bread bowl, and I promise you’ll never want to order another thing on the menu.

If you’re in the mood for a place to enjoy an interesting cocktail (or “Duketail”), Duke’s has you covered there, too. Either of the lemon drops are fantastic, but I love the Pom Kazi, and have heard good things about the cucumber mojito. A local favorite also includes an Alki Julep.

Whether you’d like a cocktail out on the deck, or chowder so amazing you’ll never forget it (and always be comparing it to other, lesser chowders), head over to any of Duke’s locations (but you should hit up my preferred restaurant) and prepare to enjoy yourself immensely.

For the record, I’m not crazy about heat (if you notice, I never complained about the prolonged cool weather). Throw your eggs at me later… I do, however, love happy hour, and more specifically, happy hour outside! It’s finally that time of year where everyone flocks to the best patios in the city to soak up their daily allotment of vitamin D and suck down delicious libations. In honor of this glorious time of year, I put together a quick and dirty list of my favorite outdoor patios in Seattle.

• Ivar’s Salmon House in lower Wallingford – Best sunset view of Seattle EVER! Love this place. $3.50 draft beers & discounted food. 3:30-6:30pm & 9:00pm-close
• Ballard Loft – Gotta give some love to the awesome pub faire. Not too greasy and amazingly delicious. $5.50 appetizers, $3 well drinks, $1 off draft beer. 4:00-6:00pm
• Duke’s Chowder House in Alki – Second favorite sunset view of Seattle! $4.99 appetizers, $2.99 well drinks & drafts. 4:00-6:00pm
• Emmer & Rye on Queen Anne – This place is normally a little pricey, so happy hour is the perfect time to check out this localvore’s haven! $5 appetizers, $4 wine. 3:00-6:00pm
• Barking Dog Alehouse – What a hidden gem! Tucked away in northeastern Ballard. $3-4 appetizers, $3 well drinks & drafts + wonderful service. 4:00-6:00pm

There are also a few outdoor happy hour’s I’m dying to try: Black Bottle, Cellars Belltown, The Local Vine, Duke’s Lake Union, HardRock Seattle’s rooftop deck, El Gaucho (Bellevue), Bastille. If you’ve been to any of these, help me out! Which should I prioritize? Anything I’m missing?

If you need other suggestions, check out GoTime Seattle.

Shhh….

In honor of a dark time in American history (prohibition), a host of trendy speakeasy-esque bars have popped up all over the country. Seattle has a few of its own, and in the spirit of celebration of spring and new beginnings and trying new things, get out there and experience, you flat tire.

‘Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world,’ a good place to start would be Belltown’s Bathtub Gin & Co. They (quite rightfully) don’t have a Web site to let one canvass the place beforehand, and although the style is somewhat current and casual, it manages to have the feel of a true ‘juice joint.’ It’s located in the basement of Humphrey Apartments, and is only recognizable by the small brass plaque next to its alley entrance.

Next is Tavern Law on Capitol Hill. The bar itself isn’t the secret. It’s actually a charming place that serves classic cocktails, and fare described as “as good products prepared simply.” Seattle Magazine recently honored Tavern Law as Reader’s Choice for the Best New Bar of the year! And, bar manager David Nelson has earned his fair share of press due to his passion for recreating long-forgotten cocktails.  The hidden speakeasy element of Tavern Law is called Needle & Thread. Look for the telephone, and you’ll get access. I don’t want to get whacked, so I dare not reveal more at this time.

Last on the silent tour of places you didn’t hear about from me is Knee High Stocking Co. (also on Capitol Hill). A nondescript little place that doesn’t have the outward appearance of a bar, Knee High has embraced technology to regulate entrance. Send a text message to 206-979-7049 and they’ll text you back with your wait time or reservation confirmation. Your seating will be held for 15 minutes, and you need to retext a reservation if you’re running late. The house rules are simple:

1. Please Speak-Easy
2. Keep your seat & no standing at the bar
3. Moderate consumption makes for merriment
4. We may ask for your table 1-hour after your last drink is served
5. Don’t bring anyone here you wouldn’t take to your Grandmother’s house for dinner
6. No cell phones or cameras
7. Please exit briskly & quietly

If you want to embrace the fun and secretive aspects of the Roaring ’20s, you must try any of these underground gems. The era of blazing tommy guns and bawdy broads is a gas to commemorate, so get a wiggle on and enjoy some giggle water – just don’t tell ‘em who sent ya!

Are you smiling?  I am not.  No lie.

Just a quick rundown for you today, since I need to channel my energy towards owning the spelling bee that Ceci and I will be attending Monday evening.  Join us!  I mean, if you want to get owned.

First:  Twist (and shout)!  A lovely little place in Belltown – first and Bell to be exact.  You might call it remarkable for its hospitable happy hour, which runs late and gives  you a wide variety of fare that runs the gamut, from crab mac and cheese to pomegranate ribs.  I call it remarkable because not only was the hostess clever at seating us and attentive to our water and beer glasses, there was also a huge, golden, rotating mirror-ball pig not far from where we sat.

I'm calling her Jayne. I don't actually know what her name is.

If you’re on good terms with meat, make sure you get a plate of the chicken potstickers.  Actually, get two.  Even if you go by yourself.  Trust me.

Second:  Jared Diamond is coming to town! He is one in a series of National Geographic speakers being featured at Benaroya Hall – please do check out there schedule here.  Regardless of whether you attend, you should pick up Guns, Germs, and Steel.  The book is clearly and engagingly written, appealing in the same way you might find Vegan chocolate cake to be appealing.  It’s dense, and not as sweet as you might be used to.  But it’s about how our world came to be what it is today, and I think that’s important.  You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re from.    

Finally:  How on earth did Denzel Washington get to be so badass?  No, I mean really.  Did he go to school for it?  Because I went to school and all I got was this lousy bachelor’s degree.

I watched Man on Fire this past Sunday, under the advice of my very smart friend, Drew.  It was only a few weeks after watching Book of Eli and so I had an inkling of the badassery that was going to ensue, but I underestimated Senor Washington, oh, did I ever.  The man is gifted.  With a 9 millimeter.  With a double-barreled shotgun.  With C-4.  With creativity in how those weapons get used.

Now I know what you’re thinking.  Man on Fire is an action flick for sure, but it’s not run-of-the-mill.  There are explosions and gunfire and blood but there are also poignant moments that made me cry.  The movie follows former counter-insurgency officer John W. Creasy (Denzel Washington), as he takes a job as bodyguard for the young girl Pita (Dakoa Fanning), whose parents are quite wealthy.  Mexico City is experiencing a nasty rash of kidnappings, and he’s there to keep her safe.  John is rough-hewn, sharp around the edges.  Pita, with her childish curiosity and humor smooths out those edges a little – enough to make him smile, very occasionally.

Naturally, the unthinkable happens.  And John deals with it in his own special, fear-inducing, adrenaline-spiking way.

Now maybe action isn’t your thing.  I respect that.  But if it is, pick up Man on Fire.  Pick up a matinee showing to Book of Eli.  Denzel will catch you up, make you believe, and then knock your socks off.  He might even touch your heart.  And once it’s over, you’ll probably be racking your brain on how to be quite that badass.

Tune in next week.  I’m sure I’ll have it figured out by then.  I think it has something to do with rocket launchers.

As much as I love the great state from which I hail, one of the numerous things that improved after I moved to the lush greenery of Washington was the quality of the seafood. Now, I am by no means a fish-lover. Oh, I’ll chow on some fish ‘n’ chips like a native Scotsman, and can kill a basket of fried calamari, but for the most part, keep your cursed fish away from me.

Sushi in the AZ isn’t as terrifying as most people may assume it is (you know what they say about people who assume…), but it’s also one of those things where ignorance plays into the equation. I hesitatingly tried sushi for the first time in high school because I was always up for a dare, and one of my more gastronomically-inclined friends goaded me into it. I liked the easy-peasy stuff she threw my way – California Rolls and other assorted items that were in no way raw. I was fine with my sushi that way for years.

Then I moved to Washington.

I’m sad to say that the first time I actually ate sushi up here was more than a year after I moved. My brother came to visit for 4th of July weekend, and we asked his friend (who LOVES to eat, and is extremely knowledgeable in the ways of raw fish) where we should go for sushi. My brother is a sushi fanatic, and we ended up eating it three times in his short visit. The first place we went – on his friend’s recommendation – was Umi Sake House.

Since that fateful day, I’ve eaten tons of raw fish, and other things I used to turn up my nose at – mainly under the careful tutelage of my brother’s (and now my) good friend. However, I still frequent Umi more than any other place in Seattle. Someone’s coming to visit? Go to Umi. Celebrating an event? Go to Umi. There’s always a good reason to suggest this prince among paupers.

The happy hour is pretty brilliant, although the food is fairly affordable at all times, especially considering how excellent it is. There is an extreme list of sake, and I am no connoisseur, but everything I’ve tried has tasted well enough for ignorant me.

Some of my personal favorites off the menu include the Seattle Roll (which is exactly like a California, but with salmon instead of crab), the Casino Royale or the 007 (which are BIG and hilarious to watch people try to eat), and the Blondie Roll (the aioli some of these are served with is OUT OF THIS WORLD).

So, if you want to have an amazing night out, head to Umi for dinner, walk a few blocks down the road for drinks and a movie at The Big Picture, then walk a few more blocks and hit some bars. Ok, maybe that’s just my perfect night out, but you have to admit, it does sound pretty fantastic. Am I right?

O Hai! My name is Jeanine and I’m the resident news addict/social media enthusiast of this little ‘ol website. ‘Tis true, I’m completely and utterly attached to my daily Internet routine: Sift through Google RSS reader, check Facebook, open Tweetdeck and read the many Twitter lists I’ve compiled, open my four email addresses, check WordPress for comments (that’s where you all come in), read the Seattle P-I (yes, I remain loyal), and repeat throughout the day… obsessively. I’m one of those people that doesn’t leave work with unread emails laying around!

One thing I haven’t gotten into, yet, is Foursquare. I’m opening  this up to you all. Should I join or should I avoid?

Phew. Despite all the time I dedicate to Internet reading, I really am an interesting person. I ride the bus everyday and read tons and tons of books to avoid talking to the weirdos that also ride (currently, I’m burning through Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series). You’ll never find me at the grocery store without my reusable bags, or advocating for this simple way to reduce your carbon footprint. I love, love, love red wine. Once I purchased a bottle in Italy for $20 only to return to find out it was worth nearly $500 in the U.S. And no, I did not sell it. I happily drank it with two of my closest friends. Not bad for a beginning wine connoisseur, right? I guess it was similar to how gamblers become addicted, I was instantly hooked! Latest favorite is Shingleback’s Black Bubbles Sparkling Shiraz ($18). Give it a try! I also love happy hours… if you know of any good ones, please share!

Because of my social media addiction, I’m painfully aware of all the amazing, fun events happening in Seattle. Many of which, to my dismay, I simply do not have the time to attend. I’ll show up at as many tweet-ups, fundraisers, etc. as humanly possible. My goal is to impart the knowledge of these events upon you, so I may live vicariously. Check back on Wednesdays for my weekly list, or watch Twitter for my real-time findings.

I’m also a mega sports enthusiast. My boyfriend and I have season tickets to the Mariners and I am no fairweather fan. I’m proud to say that I reupped my tickets BEFORE Jack Z. spent the off-season making some killer trades for players such as Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins, resigning Felix to a multi-year deal, and on and on. Don’t make me sports geek out on you! Ok, I can’t promise to avoid the sports subject on here, and in the interest of full disclosure, you should know I’m a rabid Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball fan! If you are a hater, Wednesday probably isn’t your day to read this blog.

Finally, you should know I’m a huge animal lover. I am the proud mama of two ornery cats, Jack & China. They keep me busy beyond my wildest dreams. However, I love that they don’t mind (or pee in the house) if I don’t get home late due to my spontaneous happy hour shenanigans, or when I run off on an overnight adventure. Take that dog lovers! How long can you leave your dog without a mess? Booyah!

So let’s see… social media, wine, sports, books, tweet-ups, happy hours, animals… yep, that’s about it! Strap in and enjoy the ride.