Friday, June 24, 2005

Party in the Park


Party in the Park
Originally uploaded by jseattle.
Thursday night's Party in the Park to kick off construction (yay!) of the Olympic Sculpture Park was a sunny good time that felt a little like a county fair had broken out in the middle of Seattle. With gravel and hay spread about to cover up the muddy lot between Western and Elliot, the mix of Seattle hipsters and "I'll watch anything for free" folks wandered about looking for ways to piece together their Target-schwag rain ponchos into suitable seating areas. Low-cut jeans just don't work out that well when you gots to sit on the ground. I got a few gravel bits kicked down my crack, too, so I joined the community. In addition to the many rear-ends on partial display, there was a summer-time skin look to the packed beer garden crowd that seemed to be entertained just by being able to drink beer while pressed against other bodies. We didn't sample any of the chow and mostly just sat and listened to the tunes and people watched. The gravel was tough on the ass despite the corporate-sponsorship material we used for padding, but it was nice to imagine what will be here next year. It's going to be just as sunny, with a gorgeous view -- and, by then, we'll have grass instead of gravel!

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

And the biggest party we all missed...

Apparently - though I never heard or a peep or saw a red balloon myself - there was a block party in Belltown this weekend. Oh well. Sometimes a link on CL just isn't enough!

Gnomedex comes to Seattle


burning the gnome more
Originally uploaded by AChocolateOrange.
Notice a longer line at Ivars Acres of Clams? A sudden surge in the Seattle tag at flickr? A proliferation of Timbuk2 messenger bags on the waterfront? Blog and 'social computing' geeks from all parts descend this week on the Bell Harbor Conference Center for Gnomdex 5.0.

I'm pretty tired of the whole garden gnome thing myself. But this joke apparently ain't dying so I should probably just ignore it the way I've learned to ignore 'cheesey poof' and 'you killed kenny.' Still, if anybody is listening, maybe consider a shift in brand? In the meantime, Seattle has Gnomedex 5.0.

We here at Uptown won't be attending Gnomedex -- we don't really know which panel would be right for us since there seems to be very little attention devoted to our interests. Nope, no panels like these at all:
* Use your blog to score free drinks
* Community, closing crappy restaurants down and you!
* How to turn 3 readers into 4

But we do expect to run into a few gnomedexers or two as we try to live life in our fair little 'hood. So, in the interest of welcoming the horde of RSS-ing freaks, here's our list of recommended eating establishments within waddling distance of Bell Harbor (arranged in geek-true order by distance from front door of the conference center)

Pike Place Market - First, for all things non-dinner, go to the market or Macrina Bakery on 1st Ave. Belltown and the waterfront don't support many other recommendable non-splurge lunch options.

Now, on to dinner and drinks...

Frontier Room - gorgeous waitstaff. has wi-fi. i dare you to bust out your laptop.
2203 1st Ave
.1 Mi

Buffalo Deli - only double plus deli in Belltown. lunch only.
2123 1st Ave
.1 Mi

Apartment Bistro - NYC cool done Seattle proletariat style (ie, IKEA flatware). classy still. intimate. cool.
2226 1st Ave
.2 Mi

Flying Fish - your one dinner splurge could be here. NW seafood emphasis with lots of organic goodness.
2234 1st Ave
.2 Mi

Cafe Casbah - coffee without Macrina's lines or SBUX guilt
2219 2nd Ave
.2 Mi

Barocho! - good place to share and not be part of the herd on 1st
2801 Western Ave
.2 Mi

Waterfront Grill - another dinner splurge possibility. I'd rather just have drinks, appetizers and the view.
2815 Alaskan Way
.3 Mi

For more on Gnomedex, here's the PI's recent article about conference host, Chris Pirillo.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

The biggest free party in Seattle this week


Calder and Sky 2
Originally uploaded by lopolis.
Boys and girls, we're throwing a party here in Uptown on Thursday night to celebrate the start of construction (finally!) on the Olympic Sculpture Park. Naturally, we're biased as this one is happening in our own backyard but it really should be a good time and gorgeous if we're lucky and the sun sticks around.

Party in the Park
Thursday, June 23 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

-snip-
Local musical sensations Reggie Watts, Yerbabuena, Luke Temple and a Garfield High School jazz combo will perform, along with breakdancers, On the Double-Dutch and Fankick!, a dynamic ‘80s dance duo. The event will also feature an interactive exhibit from Seattle Aquarium, mural-painting with Artworks, REI bike doctors, a raffle and secure valet bike parking from Transportation Choices.

- un-snip -