feast!

Once again my Facebook friends came through with a great late night dinner suggestion: 

Tavolàta (2323 2nd Ave Seattle, WA)  I forgot that they serve food until 11 pm.  Tavolàta, who participated in my Dine Out Seattle for Haiti earlier this year, has a great dinner menu.

Last night's selection consisted of -

Warm Baguette served with Arbequina Olives in an olive oil & balsamic vinegar dip.  They are serious about the warm bit.  It took them a little bit of time to get it to the table so make sure you ask for it right away so that you have it with your meal.  

The Stone Fruit Salad was a tasty antipasti that mixed savory and sweet.  It had naturally sweet fresh juicy peaches, plums and cherries tossed with fennel, olive oil and balsamic and was topped with a thinly sliced juniper flavored ham (that one was described to this non-meat eater).  This salad was the definitely the highlight!

I followed this up with the Grilled Summer Beans.  This was a fried egg atop the edge of a bundle of grilled wax and green beans wrapped in slices of cured capicola (you guessed it, I passed this on).  Dessert was the Affogato - a sweetly caffeinated way of ending a meal - for some reason caffeine doesn't keep me from blissful sleep.  I was excited about this dessert, but it wasn't what I was expecting.  Something was up with the ice cream - it just wasn't creamy.  I like Via Tribunali's much better.

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I recently shared a little fact that Seattle was the first city in the U.S. to play a Beatles song on the radio.  I have been told that song was "I Want To Hold Your Hand."  That would make sense since it was their first #1 Hit on the Billboard Top 100, but I'm not 100% sure if that was really the song played on air in Seattle.  I'm still looking for the best way to confirm this little fact.

I never grow tired of the Beatles.  My dad was the one who got me hooked as a child and so many Beatles songs take me back to memories of my dad playing his Beatles records and me and my brothers singing along with a hairbrush mic.  Picking a favorite song would be really tough, but  I think the song "Things We Said Today" is in my top 10 for sure.

Isn't it so cool how memories are triggered by music?  It makes me think of an experiment with sound and memory that I read about a while ago; something called The Memory Machine that was installed at the British Museum back in 2003.  Cathy Lane and Nye Parry, two composers, built an interactive sound installation into which visitors spoke memories via a telephone and those memories were spun into a mix of constantly changing musical sounds.  It was described as an " aural metaphor for the workings of human memory." Beautiful!

"Someday when we're dreaming,

  Deep in love, not a lot to say.

Then we will remember

Things we said today........"

My coffee addiction can resume now that I am back in Seattle.  I have tried a few things on the Vivace menu from a simple shot of espresso to the more complex Caffe Nico.  My favorite is the Caffe Caramel that is subtly sweet and topped with a creamy, hand-designed foam.  Now that I've been spoiled by these espresso drinks, it's hard for me to find equivalents when I'm out of town.

Espresso Vivace, started up by David Schomer and Geneva Sullivan, has an interesting story that involves 15 years of research and scientific precision!  They definitely have lived up to their motto at everyone of my many visits - I always get "una bella tazza di cafe."

Schomer's book is also a good read.  It's a book that's pretty well known by many pro baristas.

WARNING: Visit the Vivace closest to you and you might just hooked!

Vivace Espresso Bar at Brix 
532 Broadway Ave East 
Seattle WA 98102 
Telephone 206.860.2722 
Open 6am until 11pm daily 

Espresso Vivace Alley 24 
227 Yale Ave N 
Seattle, WA 98109 
Telephone 206.388.5164 
Open daily 6 am until 11 pm.

Espresso Vivace Sidewalk Bar 
321 Broadway Avenue East 
Seattle, WA 98102

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The 36th Annual Seattle International Film Festival 2010 came to a successful and record-breaking end last night.  My travel schedule was a bit hectic and I was only able to make it to two SIFF movies, but it's so great to hear that there was high attendance overall this year.  It is so awesome having the nation's largest film festival right in our backyard and although my presence this year was low, I do have fond memories of last year's.  

Two of My SIFF 2009 Highlights from SIFF 2009 -

• I caught a tremendously moving Phillipe Lioret film called Welcome at SIFF 2009.  It's tale of a 17 year old love-driven Kurdish refugee who's determination to be reunited with his sweetheart takes him on a heart-wrenching journey.
• I was invited to a wonderful tribute dinner hosted at Cafe Vita's "Green Bean Warehouse" on Tuesday May 26th and had the chance to meet Spike Lee.  Spike was presented with the 2009 Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Directing to recognize his noteworthy film-making career.  I honestly didn't know what to expect.  I am a fan of some of Spike's work and had seen him in a number of televised interviews.  He comes across as very focused and pensive in his interviews.  That evening was no different, but his demeanor had hints of impatience.  Spike wasn't very conversational, but the NBA Playoffs were also in full force that week and perhaps that was distracting him a bit.  Spike was often on his Blackberry and I'm sure he was checking the scores, but he did loosen up a bit after having some of the great food and wine that was served that evening.

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What has Spike been up to since his visit to Seattle for SIFF 2009?  It looks like he's worked with Absolut on a limited edition Brooklyn Heights ginger and red apple flavored vodka in a bottle that looks quite sharp.  You can find it at Michael Towne Wines & Spirits at 73 Clark Street in NY.

Their bottles and ads are always so clever. ABSOLUT: BIOGRAPHY OF A BOTTLE  was a good read.

I did get a peek at the gift bags handed out at the Opening Gala this year and they looked awesome!  A number of SIFF volunteers worked very hard on stuffing those Le Sport bags full of goodies!

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Now it's your turn to join the conversation!  What were your SIFF 2010 highlights?  Can't wait to hear from you!

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Breaking News: Ken Griffey Jr Retires: http://ow.ly/1TlRY

I caught it on the news just now and I love these images of a Seattle reporter working hard to get the scoop :)

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Spent my morning on the East side today - Bellevue/Redmond/Woodinville area - nothing but rain.

It was so nice to be warmly welcomed to the West side - sunshine and no rain!

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Seattle gets a gold star!

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Highly addictive, or so I hear.  I believe this may actually be affecting a lot of women in Seattle; young and old alike.  Studies do suggest that it affects our brains differently than men.  I hear once you try it, you're hooked.  Women sneaking out of work early or even doing it on their lunch break.  There is potential for a widespread addiction.  Some women are not shy about it either, they will offer up details without being asked, even recommending it to their very best girlfriends.  Others are quite closed lip about it and confront them about it and they will deny it despite the effects being so obvious.  You can't even imagine the parties that these ladies go to.  They make it seem so glamorous, I'm even thinking of trying it.  I mean, why not, it could be fun.  I think I could keep from getting addicted, but from the sound of it, maybe a few times a month wouldn't be so bad.  Could be quite the thrill actually.

You should try it with me.  Who's in???  Why do looked so shocked???  Umm, wait, what exactly did you think I was talking about.  Oh!  I get it.  Leave it to this little Bolivian to cast a shadow of suspicion and cause a few raised eyebrows.  Seriously, I stick strictly to coca tea and not it's more refined cousin.  

What I am talking about is a BLOW OUT!  There was a time when ladies would gather at the hairdressing salon to exchange the latest juicy gossip while they all got their hair styled in the latest fashion.  The ponytail and the French plait were the latest trend, but there was also the bouffant, the poodle cut, the beehive or just long loose curled tresses.

Fast forward from the 1950's and today you have blow dry salons.  Not a single hair is cut in these salons.  It's all about the styling.  Seattle has recently jumped on this trend that has already been gaining popularity in New York and London.  It's genius really.  How many times have you had a long day at work and your rushing home to make it out to that party your friends are having or that hot date with the future Mr. Right and wish you could do something amazing with your hair?

There's an ap...salon for that!  Swink Style Bar downtown at 611 Stewart Street. They have a menu of do's that you can pick from and it starts at $30.  This would be a great way to start a girls night out!  What a great gift for the women in your life too! *hint, hint*  

Here's a little vid of  Swink recreating Blake Lively's glam hair:

http://bit.ly/bSVJZg

I have yet to try it myself, but I already picked up an amazing deal and I will be stopping in soon!  Get your amazing deal - 50% off - HERE today only.  (Deal ended)

Please share your stories if you end up checking it out!

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