Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving was great this year. I experienced so much of Seattle, and had a great time with friends. Here's the story:

On Wednesday night Jana's cousin Riana came up from Portland. Then Thursday afternoon I picked Holger, Antje, and their baby Lara up at the airport. They were visiting from CA; it was the first time we'd seen them since we moved away. We laid low the rest of the day, just hung around home and Magnuson Park.

We waited until Friday for our Thanksgiving meal, which worked out great. My friend and running partner Mark arrived from CA around lunch time, and we started cooking. Massive meal. Turkey, phyllo stuffed with artichoke hearts and onions, spicy green beans, sweet potatoes, salad, and stuffing. We ate until late afternoon and then headed downtown. Antje and I dropped off Jana's cousin at the train station and then wandered around Pioneer Square and the waterfront with Lara. We even saw a fireworks show. That night we played Apples to Apples, had pie (pumpkin and apple), and drank tea and apple cider. Hooray for apples.

The next morning we made blackberry pancakes with the berries we picked behind our apartment when we first moved in. Yummy. Then we went downtown to pick up our marathon race packets. Mark and I would run the Seattle Marathon the next day.

We spent the rest of the day downtown. It was all decorated for Christmas, and we gave ourselves a nice tour: Pike Place Market, the first Starbucks, best spice store I've ever seen (World Spice Merchants, the waterfront, another Starbucks (lots of coffee for others this weekend), Pioneer Square, Magic Mouse Toy Store, Elliott Bay Book Company, the new library, Seattle Art Museum, a gelato shop, Pike Brewery, and a view of the market at night. Then we went home for some sleep to get ready for the marathon the next day.

Mark and I barely got to the marathon in time -- we got there after they sang the national anthem. It was cold (sub-40 degrees), but it would warm up. We planned to run slow because Mark was sick and had a marathon next weekend. I wanted a 3:30 pace. Mark wanted 4:00. (His PR is 3:09 and mine is 3:04.) We started at the 3:30 pace, but Mark was coughing and struggling, so we slowed down in the second half. I didn't mind at all because it was sunny and mid-40s by then. Most of the run was right along Lake Washington -- very beautiful. Most of the people running near us were just about dead, but I felt great and relaxed as I smiled and took in the views. We finished in 3:47, which wasn't bad considering how sick Mark was.

After the marathon we went to Hale's Ales in Fremont/Ballard. Pretty good beer, although I forgot to order the sampler and just got an IPA. After Hale's we went to Gasworks Park to take in the view and then checked out the Fremont statues: Troll, Interurban, Lenin (we had East Germans with us!), and the rocket. I really love Fremont. We also checked out the Google office and the drawbridge.

Then it was time to tour the Theo chocolate factory. (Yes, beer and chocolate are great post-marathon rewards.) They have a great tour, with lots and lots of samples. I loved their coconut curry chocolate. Seriously good stuff. After the tour we did more Fremont wandering and eventually made our way to Jai Thai, right at the Center of the Universe. We sat in the front window and really enjoyed the meal. It might have been a mistake to sit cross-legged at a traditional low table after a marathon, though. My legs were killing me when I stood up.

The next morning we did a tour of UW. Mt. Rainier was visible from Red Square. After the tour I brought our friends to the airport and took a long hot bath to soak my sore muscles and read The Golden Compass. Perfect weekend.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. And some more pictures.

Emma Pollock and the Hungry Pines

The Delgados were one of the best indie bands of the last decade, but I never got to see them live before they disbanded. They played the Crocodile after releasing their best album, Peloton, but I got sick and missed the show. I've always regretted missing it, and last Thursday's Emma Pollock show at the Crocodile was my best chance to remedy that.

Before Pollock took the stage, The Hungry Pines had their chance. They haven't released an album yet, but I thought they were exceptional. Their lead singer, the quite adorable Irene Barber, hid on the side of the stage and behind her bangs, but her confidence grew throughout the night. She has a surprising voice that allows the band to move from shoegaze to more indie pop sounds.

I found myself bobbing my head happily, getting into the songs in a way I rarely do for openers that I don't know. The rhythm section, center stage like the backbone of the band, was really solid -- and lead guitarist Chrysti Harrison added interest with some great licks. I think The Hungry Pines might become the hot new Seattle band over the next few months. Have a listen.

On to the headliner...

I had high expectations for Emma Pollock based on Watch the Fireworks, her stellar debut as a solo artist. She didn't quite live up to those expectations, but I think it had more to do with the crowd than her performance. The Crocodile is a small venue, but it felt empty as she took the stage. Noticeably empty, feel bad for the performer empty.

I might have started to feel bad for her, but she shook it off and came out rocking. The first couple songs were all glittery guitar goodness. Her voice was angelic -- It has always sounded great on record and it was a revelation live. Her band was solid. I thought I was about to be treated to one of those tiny shows that years later thousands of people claimed to have attended.

But then she slowed things down and the small crowd started to affect her. She did her best to deal with a couple rude drunks and the general lack of energy from the crowd, but I think she wasn't used to the small crowds after playing with the Delgados and then opening for New Pornographers. Despite some good onstage chatter about the Glasgow music scene and filming a video, she had lost her momentum.

I think Pollock's problem was that she didn't have enough songs to overcome the awkwardness of a small crowd. With just one album under her belt, she has only 5 really solid, rocking live songs that work in any situation: "Paper and Glue" (her best song live), "Acid Test", "If Silence Means That Much to You","Adrenaline," and "Hear Comes the Heartbreak." Those songs were great, but it might have been a more dynamic concert if she filled in the gaps with some Delgados songs -- they are partly hers after all. I know that would have helped me enjoy the show more and would have made up for my missing that Delgados show years ago.

It was a still a good show, and I'm still a fan of Watch the Fireworks. I guess my expectations just didn't match the audience.

Upcoming concerts:
Dec 4: Voxtrot, Tullycraft, and Math and Physics Club at Neumos
Dec 7: Scotland Yard Gospel Choir at the High Dive

Hold Steady and Art Brut at the HUB

Time to do some catching up...

A bit over a week ago I saw the Hold Steady and Art Brut at the HUB Ballroom on the UW campus. The HUB Ballroom is more like a high school cafeteria than a real concert venue -- never attend a concert there unless you must. The whole night would be a battle between the high quality of the bands and the terrible venue.

I showed up a song or two into Art Brut's set, apparently after Eddie Argos had a bit of a piss over the lack of booze and early start time at the HUB. He and his band were busy making it up to the still small but growing crowd. He'd ask, "Ready Art Brut?" and they'd bang their way through another song.

Argos's voice is an acquired taste, but he's in on it, which makes Art Brut all the more entertaining. After a couple songs he asked the sound guys to turn off his monitor, noting that he didn't actually sing, that he was fine with being off key, and that his bandmates really didn't want to hear him. The crowd did, though, and he got them going by jumping off stage and pogo-ing around the with crowd for a song.

As Art Brut ended their set, Argos apologized for his earlier negativity, but apologies were no longer necessary. He was already back in the crowd's good graces.

I expected Art Brut to be a good opening act, but with songs like "Emily Kane" and "Good Weekend" they made it more of a twin bill than I expected.

Next up was the headliner, The Hold Steady, one of my favorite, most literate bands. I'd seen the Hold Steady before, so I mostly knew what to expect, especially Craig Finn's hyperkinetic stage presence and twitchy white boy dancing.

I stood at the back of the room last time, so this time I got right up from -- close enough to see the Finn's spit fly, Franz Nicolay's tooth pick dance around his mouth, and Tad Kubler's fingers all over his guitar. Before forming the Hold Steady Kubler and Finn played together in Lifter Puller, and I noticed a camaraderie between them that I was surprised to have missed before.

They played a good mix of their albums, focusing less on Boys and Girls than they did on the last tour, and even trying out a couple new songs. They were particularly on for "Southtown Girls," which has become one of my favorites, in no small part because I grew up a few miles from Southtown Mall and because Nicollet, Lyndale, and Penn were the extent of my geography at a young age.

Unfortunately the sound was a mess for most of the night. "Massive Nights" sounded awful, the sing-along chorus turning into a muddled yell. And there were more stage problems, like the lights causing one of the monitors to start smoking.

The band dwelled on the lack of drinks at the HUB, which was understandable but almost sad as stage banter. The Hold Steady are a bar band, the kind of group you want to see with a drink in your hand, but they're also one of the best live bands around and have at least one of the best albums of the decade. If you can't enjoy them sober, drunk, or high, there's something wrong with you.

I guess that's a good way to summarize the night for me: Despite all the problems with the venue, it was still a good show by really good performers. I left with a T-shirt featuring the Hold Steady's take on the old Twins logo, firmly identifying with my fellow former Minneapolitans and quite content that I'd seen two bands in their prime.

Last Minute Seattle Voters Guide

The election is tomorrow, so I spent a good chunk of the weekend researching the initiatives, resolutions, and candidates on the ballot. Below you'll find a summary of how I plan to vote.

Initiative 960: Require supermajority for budget
Vote no.

This is a Tim Eyman initiative. If you are still reading and not running to vote against it, here's more reason to do so. California requires a supermajority to pass the budget. It always gets stalled, always hurts the state, and always ends up a compromised mess. This initiative relates to raising taxes, but will have a similar effect on legislative effectiveness, leaving us subject to the whims of the minority. To make this initiative even worse, it would cost over a million dollars in unnecessary paperwork.

Measure 67: Insurance Fairness
Vote yes.

If insurance companies wrongly deny claims, they pay a stiff penalty. This type of law exists in almost all states, and it makes good sense. Insurance coverage should not be a guessing game.

Resolution 8206: Rainy Day Fund
Vote yes.

Puts 1% of state revenues in a fund for bad times. While a constitutional amendment to make it happen seems like a bit much, the management of the fund and the rules for how it can be accessed make good sense.

Resolution 8212: Inmate Labor
Vote yes.

Letting inmates work at real jobs (inside prison) helps to pay the cost of the prison system and makes prisoners more likely to contribute to society when they get out.

Resolution 4204: School Levies by Simple Majority
Vote yes.

I don't have any kids, but I always vote for tax increases for public schools. Always. And I'm always disappointed when levies get a simple majority, but not the required supermajority to pass. This resolution fixes that problem and keeps the minority from denying our kids a quality education based on an aversion to taxes.

Resolution 4215: Higher Ed Investment Plan
Vote yes.

They want to invest higher education funds in more lucrative markets. This idea concerned me a bit at first because I don't want universities to lose their money, but state investors have successfully done the same thing with other funds for a long time. I trust them, and I like the idea of universities getting more money.

King County Prosecutor
Vote Bill Sherman.

Both candidates seem reasonably qualified here, but Scatterberg, who claims to be a nonpartisan Republican, was involved in some vote-counting funny business in the last election.

King County Assessor
Vote Scott Noble.

The only tricky thing about this choice is that the opponent's name is Jim Nobles. The guy without the "s" has been doing this job very well for a while. When part of government isn't broken, we should celebrate and vote in favor of that good work.

King County Council District 2
Vote Larry Gossett.

Unopposed.

King County Council District 4
Vote Larry Phillips.

Unopposed.

King County Council District 2
Vote Dow Constantine.

From what I read, Dow's been doing a good job. His opponent, John Potter, doesn't seem to be a serious candidate.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Position 2
Vote Gael Tarleton.

These Port positions are officially nonpartisan, but Gael is the pro-environment Democrat and her opponent is a faux-environmentalist Republican.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Position 5
Vote Alec Fisken.

Same as the other port position, just more so. Fisken eliminated much of the corruption on the port commission in his first term, and we need him to keep doing that.

Seattle City Council Position 1
Vote Jean Godden.

I usually lean away from incumbents and almost always lean toward the more liberal candidate. This is an exception. Godden is just a more complete candidate than Szwaja.

Seattle City Council Position 3
Vote Bruce Harrell.

This was a tight race until Velaquez's racist YouTube video and her drunk driving escapades. Harrell appears well qualified and obviously more responsible.

Seattle City Council Position 5
Vote Tom Rasmussen.

Unopposed.

Seattle City Council Position 7
Vote David J. Della.

This was a tough choice, at least at first. Della has been on the council for one term, and he didn't seem to do much. Burgess has endorsements from all the environmental groups. Based on that data I was leaning toward Burgess. But then I read way too much substantial evidence that Burgess is anti-gay and anti-women. Even if those views don't frequently impact city planning, I just don't want a leader with those views. Let's give Della a chance to show more initiative in his second term.

Seattle City Council Position 9
Vote Sally Clark.

This one is easy. Clark is one of Seattle's most effective city councilors. Her opponent, Judy Fenton, is running on a platform of removing a piece of public art that shows nudity.

Seattle Charter Amendment 17: Preamble
Vote yes.

The city council wants to add an innocuous preamble to the city charter. Doesn't do much for me either way, but blocking it seems stupid.

Seattle Charter Amendment 18: State of the City
Vote yes.

The mayor traditionally gives an address at the beginning of the year. For some reason that city charter says that he should give it at a less logical time. This is just a bookkeeping fix.

Seattle School District Director 1
Vote Peter Maier.

Both candidates are viable, I just don't like a couple of black spots on the incumbent's record. Soriana cost the district much trouble and money when she took her opposition to necessary and prudent school closures outside of the school board and to a legal venue. She also was against a bond to raise money for schools. Maier offers a fresh perspective and a long history of supporting public schools.

Seattle School District Director 2
Vote Sherry Carr.

I've read the the Seattle school board was dysfunctional, and now I've read that much of the blame could be placed on Darlene Flynn's shoulders. Her opponent, Sherry Carr has served as the president of the PTSA and is running specifically to make the board work again. I like the sound of that.

Seattle School District Director 3
Vote Harium Martin-Morris.

The other guy is a complete nut job.

Seattle School District Director 6
Vote Maria Ramirez.

Both candidates are reasonably well-qualified. The difference for me is that Sundquist has a history of helping students that don't need that much help. (Sending his daughter to private school and starting an IB program at his kids' school.) Ramirez has a history of helping disadvantaged students and working in the trenches. While I think that Sundquist might get more done on the job, I think that Ramirez's voice is invaluable for the board.

King County Initiative 25: Make Elections Director elected office
Vote no.

This position is nonpartisan because it is not an elected position. That is a good thing. The operations of an election should not be partisan.

King County Proposition 1: Medic One
Vote yes.

Medic One saves lives and costs little money. No one is against this proposition.

Sound Transit Proposition 1: Roads and Transit
Vote yes.

The proposal is expensive and imperfect, but it deals directly with the single biggest regional problem: transportation. Commuting here is a disaster. I'm excited by the prospect of all that rail transport and I think the money for roads actually makes sense. I'm willing to pay high sales tax for a better quality of life.

Spamalot at the Paramount

On Saturday night Jana and I headed downtown to the Paramount to see Spamalot. When we were in New York a couple years ago Spamalot was the big buzz show, but it had sold out long before we tried to get tickets. After missing out on the show in New York, we were happy that the touring company came to Seattle and that we were finally able to go.

And that's what Spamalot is, one big happy time. Lots of goofiness, lots of looking on the bright side, lots of what you'd expect from a Monty Python musical. As advertised, Spamalot "loving" rips off classic Monty Python movies, mostly The Holy Grail and The Life of Brian. The most effective bits ("It's only a flesh wound," "I'm not dead yet," Knights who say "ni," Taunting French castle guards) are taken directly from the movies, and are still completely hilarious. Sometimes even more hilarious because they are even more over the top. The less effective bits parody other musicals, but they are still a good time.

You might notice, though, that I'm writing about bits instead of the whole musical. That's because Spamalot doesn't really hold together as a story with characters that you really care about. It's just a bunch of stuff that happens. Funny and charming stuff, but more like a comedic variety show than a classic musical.

So, there you have it. Spamalot is definitely a fun time out, especially for Monty Python fans, but it is far from the greatest musical of all time. Just lots and lots of fun.

In case you're wondering, here are my five favorite musicals:

1. Avenue Q
   
2. Les Miserables
   
3. Rent
   
4. Wicked
   
5. Fiddler on the Roof
   

Cold Morning

Because of the soul-crashing, life-destroying commute from Seattle to the Eastside, I've split my week into early days and late days. On early days, I get up at 6:00, drive across the bridge before traffic, go for a run in Kirkland, and then grab breakfast. The good part of early days is that I leave by 3:00 in the afternoon to beat the worst of the traffic back to Seattle.

This morning was an early morning -- and a damn cold morning. I hadn't scraped frost off my car for a long time, but I did in the still-dark parking lot this morning. As I drove to Kirkland, I heard the calm voice of KUOW tell me that is was 38 degrees out. Now, I'm loving the change of seasons that I missed in California. And as a Minnesota native, I shouldn't blink at above freezing temperatures. The thing is, though, that I never thought about chilly pre-dawn runs when I lived in Minnesota.

I pulled into work wearing my running gear (including warm hat and gloves) and stretched briefly before I realized that I just couldn't go for a run. It was too damn cold and too damn early. Instead of running, I went into the office, took a hot shower, and grabbed a bowl of oatmeal. Perfect.

Now the sun is up and melting the frost for what should be a beautiful fall day. I'll take my run this afternoon back in Seattle. With reasonable temperatures, thank you.

Once at the Crest

One small reason that I'm happy to be back in Seattle is the Crest Cinema. The Crest is a second-run theater in North Seattle that charges my kind of prices ($3) and shows my kind of movies (it is run by Landmark Theatres). Last weekend Jana and I went to the Crest to see Once, an Irish film that I'd wanted to see for months.

Once is set in Dublin and stars Glen Hansard of the seminal Irish band The Frames. In the film he plays a much less famous musician (Guy) who plays guitar on Grafton Street between shifts at his dad's vacuum repair shop. After the opening credits he meets a beautiful pianist (Girl) and they start collaborating. The narrative follows the amazing music that they make together and the more amazing relationship that they develop.

Once has some superbly subtle scenes: When the old vacuum repair man pauses after hearing his son's music and then lets him know its "fuckin' brilliant." When Guy and Girl first play together in the music shop. When Girl walks down the street late at night listening to a demo and singing lyrics as she writes them in her head. The list of great scenes goes on, and most of the songs are equally great. The performances feel honest, especially Hansard's deeply likable Guy. While Once might feel like a small movie, it is a great small movie. Well worth the $3 price of admission.

Small Seattle Stories

A bunch of disconnected little Seattle stories:

A couple weekends ago Jana and I walked to the Seattle Public Library book sale in Magnuson Park. They had a warehouse full of books at ridiculously cheap prices. I could have spent hours there, but we don't have much room for even more books. With due deference to our limited shelf space, we left after about an hour with just one grocery bag of books -- $12 worth of classics, cookbooks, and local guides. So very awesome to be within walking distance of that sale. And we've already made a few recipes out of Fields of Greens.

The head chef and manager of Cafe Flora came to the office last week to talk about the venerable vegetarian restaurant and its cookbook. They had some good stories and made me like the restaurant even more. Plus, I got myself a free copy of the cookbook. Of course that didn't stop me from eating at rival restaurant Carmelita the next night.

Last weekend Jana and I went to the Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse to see Halcyon Days. It is a political satire that criticizes the Bush Reagan administration's invasion of Iraq Grenada and maybe even more strongly criticizes the rise of spin and disingenuous rhetoric (lies) as political justification. It ocasscionally felt like the small play that it was, but it was very smart and well-done. Conservatives might have gotten worked up when a character tackled the cardboard Reagan cutout that loomed over some scenes, but I just took it was a cathartic commentary on our past and present government failings. Read the Seattle PI Review.

Last weekend we also hiked to the top of Mt. Si. The mountain is only about 4000 feet at the peak, but it towers over North Bend, the town where Twin Peaks was filmed. We went with some friends and brought our dog Lyra. It was a steep hike, but Lyra did well. We got to the top in time to have a great view of the area. Then the sky opened up and we walked down in the rain. Rain or no rain, it felt great to be surrounded by all those trees and all that green.

I... Heart... Winnipeg

As I was getting ready for Friday night's Weakerthans show, I joked with Jana that they were the third best Canadian band to play in Seattle in the short time since we'd moved back. While I still lament missing the New Pornographers and the Arcade Fire, the Weakerthans might have outdone the rest of the north-of-the-border contingent this weekend.

The show was at Neumos in Capitol Hill, and it started with a burst of energy. By the time they finished their third song, "Over Retired Explorer," I thought that John K. Sampson and company had spent all their energy and best songs. But they were just getting started.

They played non-stop, racing through their catalog with energy and precision. They would pause just long enough between songs to smile at each other and take in the applause. Then they'd start back up, the crowd would jump and cheer when they recognized the first couple chords, and I'd find myself singing along to yet another song. I didn't realize how completely their albums had lodged themselves in my head, but seeing the Weakerthans live was like a joyous session of recovered memory therapy. Such wonderful lyrics.

And I've rarely seen a band having so much fun. The good times just jumped off the stage. They did guitar hero poses, danced awkwardly to their music, and, with a wry smile or a knowing head bob, shared the best moments of their songs with the crowd. In a great moment of showmanship, they dipped and raised their guitars in unison to the start-stop beat. On some songs, they stood at the front of the stage, four guitars across, seeming to say, Yeah we're gonna rock and its gonna be a good time.

I definitely had a good time. As they closed by singing together the horn part to "(Manifest)" I realized something significant had happened. I had gone to see a concert by a good band and left having seen one of my favorite, most literate bands. Not bad for a bunch of Canadians.

The National at the Showbox

On Tuesday night I went to the Showbox to see The National, a band that grew into one of my favorites as the dark songs on Alligator crept into my consciousness during late night listens. Like the many fans they gathered on Alligator, I was happily rewarded when I turned my ears to the even more subtle sounds of Boxer. I was looking forward to a seriously intense concert.

And the National delivered. When they took the stage, I finally sorted out who were brothers (because it is so damn obvious in person) and I got used to the idea that it was gonna be a loud show. The Showbox has bright lights and shiny streamers as a backdrop to the stage. Between that, Beringer not playing an instrument, and the serious volume they put out, it didn't feel like the dark, smoky bar setting that I picture when I hear their music on album. That was okay, though, because the live show wasn't nearly as understated as the albums -- it really rocked.

They stuck mostly to Alligator and Boxer, moving deftly between loud rockers and mellower tunes that were still loud and rocking. All that volume made me particularly appreciative when they slowed down for "Daughters of the Soho Riots," one of my favorite songs. They kept the intensity of the louder songs, but channeled it to the hushed room. If people still held up lighters at shows, they might have during that song. Beringer and company eventually built to a crescendo when they closed with "Mr. November," an explosion of energy and angst, and the best song of the night.

It was a great show for me. It made a couple grower albums grow on me even more. And it gave me a new context for hearing the albums. It's not just for late night drives and writing on a rainy day. The National are some serious rock music.

Upcoming concerts:

Oct 5: The Weakerthans at Neumos
Nov 8: Emma Pollock at the Crocodile

Working in Fremont

I'm working in the Fremont office today. It is across from the The Red Door, down the street from Waiting for the Interurban, along the Ship Canal, and right along the Burke-Gilman trail.

Throw in Sonic Boom Records, the Fremont Troll, the rocket, and Mr. Lenin, and you've got the best possible office location.

Even better, I biked to work on the Burke-Gilman today. The commute is about 5.5 miles from my place, and incredibly scenic: Lake Washington, UW, Gasworks Park, Lake Union, and the Space Needle. It was an awesome ride. Here's the approximate route (roads that follow near the trail).

Cedars restaurant in the U District

Jana and I went to Cedars in the U District for lunch today. It has a reputation as one of the better Indian restaurants in Seattle. After moving away from some of the best Indian food in the US, we wanted to see what Seattle had to offer. Here's what we found:

• The chai is really good. I don't like tea, but I actually liked the sweet sip of chai I took from Jana. And Jana was very happy that they kept filling her glass with yummy tea.
  
• The service was attentive, especially with water and chai refills.
  
• Almost all of the dishes were available vegetarian, which made us happy. It's nice to have so many choices.
  
• The food was average. We would definitely not repeat the mistake of ordering medium spicy if we went back, because medium might as well have meant bland. I had the Navratan Korma, which showed off the vegetables well, but wasn't at all memorable. Jana had the equally forgettable Vegetable Kofta (seemingly without vegetables). The rice was plentiful and the garlic naan was good, but mostly we were unimpressed.
  
• The bill was mysteriously wrong in their favor. The difference was small enough that I didn't say anything. But between that and rumors that the owner takes the tips from the waiters, I felt suspicious about their financial dealings.
  

So, Cedars was okay, but nothing special. Hopefully it isn't really one of the best Indian restaurants in Seattle because we're still looking.

From the nonspecific Northwest

Last night all the cool kids in Seattle were at the Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem concert. But all the really cool kids were at Croc for the Lucksmiths, Math and Physics Club, and Fred Astereo.

Fred Astereo opened the show to an almost empty room. I hadn't heard him before, but he proved a charming and tuneful performer, a bit like Jonathan Richman and Stephin Merritt. I might have even seen some indie sweethearts swooning.

Next were Math and Physics Club, in a hometown show. I'm a big fan of their EPs and album, but unfortunately they lacked energy and were a bit rusty, forgetting lyrics and making false starts on many of their songs. They performed a new song, "Do you keep a diary," that bodes well for their soon-to-be-released EP, though. And they won the crowd with their self-effacing good humor.

The Lucksmiths were the main draw. They were touring in support of B-sides and rarities double CD Spring a Leak, so they did the smart thing and put together a greatest hits setlist. They played everything from their most fun and peppy song "T-shirt Weather" to their very best song, "Fiction." It was one great song after another. The momentum of the set was slowed, though, by a series of broken strings and charming but uncharacteristically uninteresting storytelling that filled the gaps.

Still, it was a fun night out, a good night for music, and my first concert back in Seattle, at my favorite venue, the Crocodile. It was strange to see how small the place was and think about going to Death Cab shows there back in the We Have the Facts... and Photo Album days.

Upcoming concerts:

Oct 2: The National and St. Vincent at the Showbox
Oct 5: The Weakerthans at Neumos
Nov 8: Emma Pollock at the Crocodile

Seattle novelist Matt Ruff

Seattle novelist Matt Ruff came into the office today for a book reading. I haven't read any of his books, but he was on the Stranger's shortlist of literary geniuses. It's not every day that you get a chance to see a bonafide genius, so I was there.

He read a chapter from his latest book, Bad Monkeys. It chugged along with urgency and humor; I didn't want him to stop reading. Really good stuff.

When he finished reading, we got to ask questions. Here's some interesting bits:

• He tends to choose titles first and then write a book to fit the title. The title of this book happens to be a Cartman quote from an episode of South Park. Seriously. If you get the book, check the acknowledgements.
  
• Matt changes genre with almost every novel. This time he realized that he was entering Philip K. Dick territory, so he considered naming his protagonist Phil. Then he found out that Dick had a sister named Jane Charlotte, who died as a baby, and he switched to a female protagonist.
  
• He likes living in Seattle because he can go on long hikes and think about what to write. He tends to polish his novels as he writes—and he doesn't share them until they are in nearly finished form. With this novel, he shared all but the final chapter with his wife. She really wanted to know how it ended, but he hadn't written it yet. When he was finally finished, he had to go out while she read it.
  

I'm very much looking forward to reading Bad Monkeys, and I have his previous novel Set This House in Order (which is set in Seattle) on hold at the library.

First week back in Seattle

Jana and I drove into Seattle a week ago. It was a sunny afternoon. As we made our way North on 5 we could see Mount Rainier, which just built up the anticipation. A short while later, we had our first glimpse of the skyline. It was like a vision. I was smiling ear-to-ear. Jana mentioned that it had been a long drive up. I thought, yeah, it took us over five years.

After signing our lease and checking out the new apartment, we took Lyra out for a walk. The entrance to Magnuson Park is right out the back door of our apartment, which is great. We made our way through a hilly green trail and down to Lake Washington. The sun was setting behind us as we looked across the lake at Mount Rainier, regally reflecting the sunset. I was home.

The next morning was my first commute to Kirkland. I decided to try going north around the top of Lake Washington on city streets and then back down to Kirkland. That way I could avoid the 520 bridge. It was a gorgeous drive, but it took about 40 minutes. On subsequent commutes I tried the 520 Bridge (very slow during rush hour, not bad early in the morning) and biking around the north end of Lake Washington (not too bad, but a serious one-hour workout each way). After a few tries I found what might be the best solution: Driving across 520 at 7:00AM, going for a run in Kirkland, and showering at work. Still, I'll be a happy man when the Fremont office opens.

Thai Tom. Those two words make my mouth water and yen for peanut sauce. I've yet to find another Thai place to match the hole-in-the wall dive on the Ave that is Thai Tom. As Jana and I took our seats at the counter, Nirvana was blasting on the stereo and the chefs were just returning from their break. We ordered from the painted slab-of-wood menu and watched the chefs hustle their way through the backlog of orders. It was like a dance with fire and pans going everywhere. The food was spectacular, almost living up to the expectations of a five-year absence.

One of the great things about where we live is that we're about two blocks from the Burke-Gilman trail. On Saturday Jana and I rode the trail into campus. She wanted to see where her academic buildings were and we both wanted to enjoy the weather. The trail was busy with runners and bikers, and as we approached campus, it was full of football fans. UW was playing Ohio State that afternoon; we were biking right through the pre-game. The band was warming up along the side of the trail and everyone was wearing purple. I felt a bit sheepish in my red biking jacket, but when someone asked us for directions, he said that he knew it wasn't Ohio State red. Nothing like an early autumn day on a college campus.

The next day was rainy, but I was back out on the Burke-Gilman. This time I ran north to Matthews Beach. The beach was vacant and covered in a misty shroud; the partial views across the lake were surreal, like a poem about the beauty of loneliness. As I made my way back home, surrounded by trees and the misty rain, I felt right at home. This was Seattle, and I was happy. Not bad for a first week.