January 2008
15 Ways to Stay Fit (While Staying Inside)
A stir-crazy urban athlete’s guide to indoor sports in Seattle.
If the cold, wet weather and shorter days are putting a damper on your outdoor workout, head inside and try something new. Here are a few cool ways to feel the burn—without catching a chill. Climb the walls Perhaps it’s no surprise that the world’s first indoor climbing gym opened its doors in rainy Seattle…
Quinton Morris Takes on Carnegie Hall
A local concert violinist is making beautiful music, pioneering a new music education program—and ga
Just as this issue hits the stands, a young concert violinist who went to high school in Renton and now lives in Seattle’s International District is making his solo debut at Carnegie Hall. On January 21, Dr. Quinton Morris—director of chamber and instrumental music and assistant professor of music at Seattle University (SU)—plays a program…
Sun Liquor Distillery
Nestled midblock on Pike Street, Sun Liquor Distillery is the second outpost of Sun Liquor. Here, th
The Gin’s the Thing Sitting on a stool at the long wooden bar—and I strongly suggest it—is a singular experience. While sipping, you can gaze through a glass wall into the backroom distillery and see the 200-year-old Scottish still that Sun Liquor’s Hedge Trimmer gin is made in. When creating Hedge Trimmer gin, distiller and…
Michael McCafferty Brings Gauguin into the SAM Dollhouse
This month's Essential Seattleite explains how SAM's big shows get onto the gallery walls.
“The choreography is tricky,” says Michael McCafferty, and his position at Seattle Art Museum is indeed a dance of sorts. As director of exhibition design, he works with SAM curators to figure out which artworks and artifacts go where for every show. The new Gauguin exhibit (which opens 2/9) is particularly complicated, since the pieces…
Cooking with Fenugreek
Lorna yee crafts a kicky lamb curry with Indian fenugreek leaves.
What it is: Fenugreek is a plant widely cultivated in Asia (predominantly in India) and Europe. Both its leaves and seeds are used in cooking, commonly in curries. How I discovered it: My first encounter with fenugreek was years ago when I dined at Vij’s back in my hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia. To this…
A Taste of Botswana Made on Whidbey Island
These traditional African sauces are perfect for salads, wraps and meats.
When Dorcas Young moved from rural Botswana to Whidbey Island in 1996, one of her greatest challenges was finding the foods she had eaten as a child growing up on her family’s 500-acre produce and livestock farm. After searching high and low, she decided to grow her own. But the Kalahari Desert is a far…
Croque Monsieur
Melted cheese and smoky ham: Local eateries take the classic croque monsieur sandwich to indulgent n
Café Presse Presse’s croque monsieur is baked in a convection oven, guaranteeing that the sandwich is browned on all sides. A pallone white bread from Grand Central Bakery encloses Madrange ham, Comté cheese and mustard. $6. Capitol Hill, 1117 12th Ave.; 206.709.7674; cafepresseseattle.com Belle Epicurean Inspired by the classic French style, Belle’s croque monsieur features…
5th Ave Theater Gives ‘Oklahoma!’ an Update
Armed with a fresh take on the story's historical context and Donald Byrd's choreography, this produ
The title song from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1943 musical Oklahoma! conjures up images of cowboy hats, chaps and ruffled prairie skirts sweeping down the plain. That’s because, over time and countless community theater productions, the classic musical comedy has warped into a caricature of itself, with broad characters and hokey sets. But for its new…
DIY Kombucha Kit
A Seattle company helps you brew your own fermented tea touted for toxin-elminating properties.
So you say you brew your own beer. Big whoop. Do you brew your own kombucha? Embraced by Seattleites for its purported health properties (eliminating toxins, increasing energy), the fermented tea beverage known as kombucha has long been sold prebottled in local stores. But in 2010, Seattle company Goldfinch Kombucha (goldfinchkombucha.com) seized hold of our…
Visit Long Beach, Washington
Trek south to see the Asian New Year Celebration at the World Kite Museum.
WHERE: Long Beach, Washington. WHY: For the Asian New Year Celebration at the World Kite Museum (303 Sid Snyder Drive; 360.642.4020; kitefestival.com). This year’s event centers on the vibrant culture of Bali, with colorful handmade kites and other exhibits from the Indonesian island. BYO KITE: Walk down to the blustery beach for dramatic scenery and…
Christopher Boffoli’s Strange Little Worlds
The West Seattle-based photographer is getting a big response to his funny miniature series.
Christopher Boffoli won’t stop playing with his food, and we couldn’t be happier about it. The West Seattle-based photographer and writer has gained acclaim for his “Disparity” photo series, which comically pairs teeny human figurines with real-life foods in extreme close-up. Now he’s bringing the photo series to greeting cards, pairing his macro food photography…
The Royal Room: Columbia City’s New Live Music Spot
A new music venue, restaurant, bar and “project room” offers live music every night of the week.
Seattle keyboardist, composer and experimental jazz fixture Wayne Horvitz has never shied away from mixing things up—and now he’s bringing a fresh idea to the local music scene. Partnering with restaurateurs Steve Freeborn and Tia Matthies (owners of OK Hotel and Rendezvous, among others) he’s created The Royal Room, a new music venue, restaurant, bar…