Picks and Pans – Seattle, WA

PICKS:
Gypsy Trader Coffee

I know it may come as a shock to our loyal readers, but our first stop in Seattle was a coffee shop….this coffee shop, in fact. They had good sandwiches, really friendly owners, tons of comfy chairs, free wi-fi, lots of outlets and apparently they often have live music at night. The ownership just changed, so the name may be changing soon as well, but if you’re in Fremont, stop in at 3510 Stone Way, say hi and buy some coffee.

Bedlam

Yes, it’s another coffee shop, but we were in Seattle. And this Belltown coffee shop is something kind of special because it not only serves up some smooth java, but it also regularly hosts art events and fosters an environment that encourages creativity.

Art/Not Terminal

Art/Not Terminal is an artist cooperative gallery located in an old bus terminal (thus the name) and staffed entirely by artist volunteers. They have an incredible amount of exhibition space and a very friendly staff. We saw a few interesting pieces, but, as with any artist cooperative, the exhibited works cut a wide swath across the talent spectrum.

Rock Band 2 with the Mayes family

We had the distinct privilege of spending a bit of time with our friends, the Mayes family, while we were in Seattle. They graciously let us park Arvin outside their apartment, have regular access to their shower, share many meals with them and generally have a bang-up time (especially while participating in the great ongoing car race with Benjamin). And special thanks for introducing us to two pop culture icons: Rock Band 2 and Mad Men (now we don’t have to smile and pretend to nod knowingly during discussions of guitar solos or ad agencies of the 1960s). Thanks Jared, Megan and Benjamin. You guys ROCK!!

Dick’s Drive-In

What happens when a fast food joint pays a living wage to all its employees, gives out scholarships, makes delectable burgers and fries and manages to keep their prices so low that you think the menu board must be incorrect? Well, if you’re in Seattle, said fast food joint will last for 45 years and will be considered a city institution. Thanks for the introduction, Megan.

Mama’s Mexican Kitchen

Right in the heart of Belltown, Mama’s Mexican Kitchen serves up all the Mexican classics you would expect…enchiladas, quesadillas, tamales and even menudo. Unfortunately, neither of us were hungry enough to sample Mama’s most famous offering, the Nolasco burrito, and ended up getting the taco salad, which was ok. I think the ideal time to try this place is when you have enough hunger for a big ol’ burrito washed down with any of their margarita varieties and when the weather is still nice enough to take advantage of their outdoor seating.

Patricia Rovzar Gallery

Our first day on the Seattle gallery scene was a little disappointing….lots of closed galleries, between exhibitions or simply on summer break…so when we saw some interesting work in the window of the Rovzar gallery we had a glimmer of hope that the our day might end with something more than just tired feet and hopes for better luck next time. The pieces that lured us in were by Morgan Brig, a mixed media artist whose whimsical and witty sculptures managed to be extremely intimate, but also quite entertaining. We also got the opportunity to talk to the gallery owner, who gave us excellent suggestions on other galleries to check out and greatly improved our cursory exploration of the Seattle arts scene.

Bainbridge Island and the Griffey clan

Although Sean and I had lived within easy subway distance of our Reedie friend Brian for the past (at least) 5 years, we didn’t discover it until we were all getting ready to leave the Big Apple. So it was pretty fortuitous that our paths crossed again this year while we were all in Seattle. Brian’s family lives out on Bainbridge Island and we were lucky enough to spend an evening chatting with his parents, eating some delicious food, and staring at the Seattle skyline through the smoke of a beach fire. Not a bad way to reconnect with an old friend.

Streamliner Diner

After a great night of conversation, beach fire and camaraderie, we decided to get some brunch with Brian before taking the ferry back to Seattle. Streamliner Diner was perfect…walking distance to the ferry, a porch, plenty of coffee, and biscuits with homemade strawberry jam.

Soil

We stopped into Soil based on Patricia Rovzar’s recommendation, and were delighted to have found an artist collective gallery with such interesting work exhibited. We also got the chance to talk to Chris Engman, one of the artists involved in the cooperative who gave us some really helpful suggestions for the rest of our gallery hopping days.

Greg Kucera Gallery

A remarkable gallery both its art and its exhibition space, which includes 2 floors and a large back balcony, the Greg Kucera gallery is worth visiting for the breadth of artists exhibiting at any given time. While there we saw large format sculpture, paintings, found object art and photography. I especially enjoyed Mark Calderon‘s cast bronze pieces which were remarkably fluid and organic, despite their static form.

Lawrimore Project

A recommendation from Chris at Soil, this gallery is the only one we’ve seen on our trip that is so dedicated to exhibiting new media, installation and interactive art. We got some interesting insights into the Seattle art world talking to the gallery owner and will definitely return to the gallery whenever we’re back in Seattle.

Olympic Sculpture Park

The Seattle Art Museum (with some help from the ubiquitous Gates Foundation) took an uninhabitable nine acres between the interstate, some railway lines and the sound and turned it into a haven filled with green space, art and incredible views. It is certainly a testament to Seattle’s commitment to the arts and improving the quality of urban life.

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