Old Naked Man Replaced by Ole Nekkity Man

A lot of readers asked to be kept up to speed on the saga of Old Naked Man. I'm sorry to report that only a few weeks after my last ONM post, he began to slowly stack boxes in front of his kitchen window until my view into the kitchen was completely blocked! I feared he was packing to move and it appears I was correct. For the past several weeks the apartment has been empty, windows open, no lights...

Not to worry though, a different "Ole Nekkity Man" has moved into the building across the alley. There's a full view of his room from our dining room window during the day. He's not as sweet and innocent as the former Old Naked Man. In fact, he's a little creepy. His room is small and contains a sheetless mattress with a black ashtray sitting atop, a small chair, a television and a phone with a curly attached cord. We have never seen him doing anything other than sitting in his chair smoking while talking on his phone. He appears to be wearing a shirt but no pants...and he will occasionally give himself a scratch (a visiting friend insisted that what I think is a phone cord is actually a tube from an oxygen machine and that the occasional scratching was more than occasional and perhaps not scratching, ew!)

Whatever the case, this new Ole Nekkity Man is certainly an interesting character. We've been wondering if he'll ever get some sheets for his bed...and some pants.

A map for every occasion

From the fresh produce and meats to the incredible cornucopia of restaurants, food is the very best thing about living at Pike Place Market, hands-down. That being said, there are many other treasures to be found within the Market, and Metsker Maps is one of them.

There are too many maps to adequately describe in this short writeup - general navigation maps, marine navigations maps, sky maps, street maps, satellite images. There are maps that are purely fanciful, like the world map prominently displayed in a front window: instead of simple linework, the shapes are created with musical notations (and yes, "The World" is a playable composition).

Stop in here for new ways of looking at the world (upside-down map, pacific-centered map) and new ways of understanding issues (world population map) or history (world history timeline). Or get ready for your next adventure with hiking maps, wine maps, and travel maps. Explore faraway places, discover hidden local gems - all these things and more have been committed to maps.


Here is a small portion of one of my favorite maps: "Seattle Central Business District" by Kroll Map Company. Don't let my cell-phone photo fool you - this detail-packed map is highly readable and utterly lacking in clutter or any overwrought graphic flourishes.

In fact, many of my favorites are local maps: the shaded relief maps of the Puget Sound are beautiful, historic maps of Seattle and the Market area are fascinating, and of course there's an embarrassment of wealth if you're seeking maps for a hike or backpacking trip in the northwest.

Globes of all sizes fill one corner of this spacious shop. Rows of shelves carry travel guides covering places around the world. Compasses and travel gear round out the offerings.

Metsker Maps of Seattle
1511 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 623-8747
www.metskers.com

Steelhead Slacker

It's been over two months since we last visited Steelhead Diner. I'm not certain why I didn't write a review soon after our last visit with friends because now the menu has changed (as it often does) and I can't recall the dishes we ordered that are not on the current menu. Not that the food wasn't memorable...our first visit there I ordered the best cod I had ever tasted in my life! No worries though because what I do remember is that almost everything we ate was top notch and we'll definitely be returning.

Steelhead is located on 95 Pine Street on the steep hill in the last block before you get to Pike Place Market. You can't miss the neon sign. In fact, it's the sign on the left on my blog photo. It's more of an upscale food, casual feel restaurant than a diner, but there is a "diner" counter you can sit at if you fancy watching the chefs do the "galley dance". This is your best bet to get seated on a weekend evening if you don't have a reservation. Unless you're set on watching the sunset over Elliot Bay through the floor to ceiling windows, the counter is great entertainment.

Here is what Chef/Partner Kevin Davis and General Manager/Partner Teresa Davis have to say about Steelhead on their website: "Our diner is a place of no pretensions where locals hang out, chat with others, watch the kitchen fun and have a great meal. It’s the perfect place to bring out-of-town visitors. They’ll get a real Seattle experience—great local food in the historic Pike Place Market setting with a view of the Market, Elliott Bay and the Olympic mountains." It's true! On our first visit, our neighbor at the counter was an instructor at the local culinary institute who had trained the head chef. He gave us the lowdown on the menu and informed us that deep fried capers in the asparaus dish were "so yesterday," even though we had never heard of them.

Despite the unhip "yesterday" factor, we ordered the pan roasted asparagus with battered deep fried capers and hazelnuts and it instantly became one of our favorite dishes. Whaddya gonna do? We just like what we like.

Here's a rating on a scale of 1-10 on the food we have tried at Steelhead that is currently on the menu:

JUMBO LUMP DUNGENESS CRAB CAKE [I've had better once, but not by far] *9.5*
With Crispy Parsley & Sauce Louis
$15.95

CHICKEN & ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE GUMBO [Smoky, rich, right on] *8*
With Hempler’s Smoked Andouille Sausage
$9.95/$7.95 Cup

KASU MARINATED CANADIAN BLACK COD [Recommended by the culinary instructor] *10*
With Baby Bok Choy, Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot ~ Ginger Salad
$28.95/$21.95 8oz/5oz

WHOLE GRILLED IDAHO STREAM RAISED RAINBOW TROUT [A little bland for me] *8*
With Roasted Chestnuts & Cracked Sage Brown Butter
$26.95

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH [The other half said it was just OK] *6*
With Tangy Cole Slaw Dressing
$11.95

THEO’S CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE [Cue the chorus of heavenly hosts: The dark chocolate "crust" layer and cocoa nibs!! put it over the top] *10* *10* *10* *10* *10*
With Cocoa Nibs & Bourbon Chantilly Crème
$7.95

SPICED STOUT POUND CAKE [Num num num but, problem is, we had the Pecan Pie too] *8*
With Poached Pears, Vanilla Pastry Cream & Snoqualmie Farms Fireweed Honey
$8.95

Steelhead also has an extensive menu of local wines. I highly recommend visiting Steelhead Diner if you're near the market.

Ooh, Ooh that Smell

You know that fresh clean scent that comes after a nice summer rain? Well after over a month of no rain in Seattle it finally rained downtown today for about an hour. Not a downpour, just a nice little misty sprinkle. Just enough to awaken the putrid scent of dog and human urine from the alleys, crevices of the sidewalks and planters around the trees. Nice when expertly blended with the funky fish aroma wafting from the market when the wind blows over Elliot Bay and up Stewart Street. Mmmmmm Seattle. Take a deep breath, this is city livin' at its finest!

SEAFOOD FOR REAMA

Summer is crazy with tourists at Pike Place Market. We could hardly make our way down the aisles last Sunday, let alone take photos of crabs that I promised to post for my friend Reama back in Tampa who is craving some Seattle Seafood.





Reama, I hope you and Frank had a very Happy Anniversary. Sorry it took me so long to get these photos up! XOXO

SEAFOOD, FLOWERS AND... GARLIC SPEARS?

We spent a nice afternoon at Pike Place Market last Sunday. After I photographed some seafood for my friend Reama (see the next post), we did some shopping.

The variety of fresh cut flowers for sale is overwhelming, and the bargains are just too good to pass up. Bouquets that would cost $65 minimum at a florist cost between $10 and $15. We picked up a $10 bouquet of small branches with fragrant white flowers labeled "False Orange Blossoms". They made the apartment smell like Florida in January.



Next stop was some honey from Snoqualmie Valley Honey Farm and some of the other half's special soap from "Soap Girl"(a nickname coined by our friend Rick who had a short-lived but passionate crush on her during one of his visits) at Moon Valley Organics.


The fruit and veggie stands change every week depending on what's in season and I just can't help but take photos like a tourist. We picked up some "Garlic Spears" (see photo at right) for dinner...a new veggie to us, they are actually the flower stem of Elephant Garlic. You eat both the stem and the flower. I sauteed them in a little olive oil and sprinkled them with a little fresh lemon juice and Himalayan Pink Sea Salt (from Market Spice). They were absolutely delicious and tasted like a combo of lightly garlicky asparagus and artichokes. The vendor explained that they are only in season for a few short weeks a year...we will definitely be looking for them next summer.





Lastly we stopped at the Pike Place Market Creamery located in Sanitary Market Building, behind Jacks Fish Spot. This is where we buy our local free range and organic chicken eggs. They also have duck eggs, quail eggs and others. We buy their half and half and milk (unhomogenized from a local dairy) that comes in glass, returnable bottles. They also stock the best fake chicken product on the market: Quorn. We had never heard of this weirdly named product until our friends Karl & Lisa pointed it out to us when they were visiting. Now we're hooked.

What a great Sunday!

Punk Rock Flea Market, Oi, Oi, Oi!

The Punk Rock Flea Market held in the Belltown Underground Building on June 6, would be there year-round if it was up to me.


Here's a sampling of what we saw: Grafitti covered walls, offbeat and super hip flea markety stuff, tons of local crafts, local art, baked goods and music including DJ's inside in the afternoon and a brass band outside. We missed the evening bands that played until 10pm.


Our take: An "up-cycled" granny pillow with felt embroidery saying "Fuck You Very Much"(a gift for a friend), record albums including Charlie Parker, Jackie Wilson, Beethoven, vintage fabrics, lots of $1 shirts, a local comic book and a card featuring a photo of the neon sign of our favorite dive bar, the NiteLite. I could have stayed all day but we had plans for the afternoon. Can't wait til next time.

Nitelite review or rantings of a madman? You make the call!

I told Kimmie I'd guest-post on her blog, but haven't found any time to write. I did, however, find this odd little missive that might pass as a review of The Nitelite. It was tucked into a seldom-used corner of my hard drive. Hmmm...

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Typical Seattle! The maelstrom at 2nd and Pine caused my Up-Armored Urban Assault Umbrella (AUAUAU) to flip-flop, becoming a giant black tulip. Piece of junk.

Bob’s crappy spy gear store is, well, just a waste of my money. In fact, if his sure-fire Eavesdropping Countermeasures had actually worked, I wouldn’t even be in this predicament. But that’s a whole ‘nother story – back to the umbrella!

As you know, I can’t bear to be without one downtown. Nanty Glo, my arch-nemesis, will stop at nothing to have paint dumped on me from above. Paint, or even viler stuff. I NEED the umbrella, clearly.

I continue north, tossing the remnants of the AUAUAU into the construction pit. This is my favorite block in town right now, no paint-dumping here! I stop for a brief moment and savor the sense of peace and quiet a simple hole in the ground engenders in me.

Halfway up the next block, though, and the buildings are becoming menacing. Spies everywhere! Cursed Nanty Glo!

I spot the sign: Nitelite. Half a glance reveals dive bar. Good. A dive bar is perhaps the last remaining place where being a pretentious ass won’t get you anything. Lawyers and politicians, among others, are turds in the punchbowl here. Which means I’m safe.

And surprised! Good food, good drinks poured strong, and good prices. I’d never noticed this place before, but it’s my second home now. Well, until someone finds this and Nanty’s minions come looking…


FOOD: decent to very good, inexpensive. The tamale dinner was delicious.
DRINKS: inexpensive and well-poured cocktails, several beers on tap
PEOPLE: mix of ages, backgrounds, conversations… quite a few regulars, some real characters (includes staff), and best of all, none of Nanty Glo’s minions are about.
BATHROOMS: (pool side only, haven’t been to the bathrooms on the main bar side) Unisex. Can smell of urine (guys can’t aim). Air dryer, no paper towels.
JUKEBOX: pretty much what you’d expect: classic rock, Bob Marley, Motown, Johnny Cash… the dive bar standards.
NOTES: Cash only. Outdoor seating available. Additional room with pool tables and darts is open Wed-Sun.

Pabla Indian Cuisine

You would expect almost any restaurant downtown to be busy at 7:30pm last Friday. Not so for Pabla Indian Cuisine. The other half and I had enjoyed the lunch buffet months ago and we thought we'd give it a try for dinner. People who looked like they were from India were seated at two of the three occupied tables so we took that as a good sign.

Pabla is located at 1516 2nd Ave and it's the closest Indian restaurant to Pike Place Market. The decor is a kooky mix of country kitchen and leopard print wallpaper borders, safari animal print chairs, fake flowers, framed Indian prints and statuary and 1980's lighting fixtures. It is very clean, but it will probably make you laugh.

Service was super slow...it took about 45 minutes for any food to arrive at our table.

The food was good and extremely affordable. We ordered #6 Mixed Appetizers: Samosa, Pakora and Chicken Tikka- $5.99. The fried goodies were yummy but the Chicken Tikka stood out for it's perfect Tandoori cooked flavor and moistness.

#20 Daal Soup- $3.99 was light, delicious and infused with cilantro, like drinking an herbal broth.

#27 Chicken Korma- $14.99 was a little strange looking. The boneless breast of chicken had been cut into large cubes that just didn't look like real chicken. It was of course and the buttery Korma sauce was decadent and rich, with cashews and raisins and that great curry flavor. We asked for medium/hot spice but it was more like medium.

For me the best part of the meal, #81 Garlic Nan- $3.50. Big chunks of garlic on pillowy bread with crispy toasted bubbles, sprinkled with fresh cilantro.mmmmmmmmm.

I had a Taj Mahal beer, a lager with notes of honey that paired well with the spicy, rich food. All in all, Pabla is worth the trip if you've got a jones for Indian. They also have a huge selection of vegetarian dishes.

Banh Mi? Yes, Please!

When I first moved to Seattle I was looking for a place to get cheap, delicious, cheap, authentic, cheap, ethnic food. I read about Saigon Deli in a local paper and decided to check them out. The Vietnamese restaurant is located in the Little Saigon section of the International District at 12th and Jackson. The paper recommended I try the Banh Mi sandwich. It cost $2.00. I was hooked.

The delectable sandwich comes on an 8 inch crusty fresh French roll and has julienned cucumber, carrot and pickled daikon, cilantro, thin slices of jalapeno, yummy mayonnaise dressing with black pepper, and the meat or tofu filling of your choice. I have tried the red pork (which is amazing and tastes like a combo of barbequed pork, jerky and bacon) and the tofu (equally as good but saucier). They offer other meats but I have had no need to try them. I have found my fave and I made a vow to eat a Red Pork Banh Mi from Saigon Deli every time I'm near the neighborhood, which is not often enough now that I live downtown.


They have lots of other delicious looking Vietnamese food in hot trays at Saigon Deli, and the prices are fantastic. But I can't bring myself to try them because the Banh Mi has a spell on me. DO NOT CONFUSE THIS SAIGON DELI WITH OTHERS NEARBY...they are not as good, in my opinion.

Step into the Future: Seattle's "KOOL" Library

The Seattle Central Library located downtown at 1000 4th Ave. is one of, if not the most, amazing architectural sites in the city. Designed by architect Rem Koolhaas, the building’s exterior walls and ceiling are made almost entirely of a honeycomb metal mesh that encases angular glass with views of city streets and surrounding buildings and glimpses of Elliott Bay and Mt. Rainier.



The interior is futuristic with the main feature being the “Books Spiral”. Four of the eleven stories of the building are arranged in a gently sloping spiral, allowing people to move from one level to the next without taking the stairs or elevator. I prefer riding the neon lit escalators through the open spaces and checking out the various viewpoints within the building.

Another futuristic feature is the book return tube that carries materials through a clear tube via conveyor belt to the computer automated sorting area. Oh yeah, the library has books too... and lots of free computers (400) for you to check your email, update your Facebook status, write your blog, etc. And the coffee shop is a great place to meet a friend for a quick cup.

Best People Watching in Seattle

Due to visiting family and a west coast road trip, I haven't posted in awhile so I have some catching up to do to get current!

Wanna take a load off, grab a snack and do some "real people" watching? Look no further than the Golden Arches corner of 3rd and Pine across from Macy's.

This place is a veritable Cirque de Seattle so be prepared: downtown workers in "Seattle Suits"*, street kids with neon-colored hair and their dogs with neon-colored hair, non-street kids with neon-colored hair, old ladies with neon-colored hair, tourists with loaded shopping bags, locals with flower bouquets in hand coming from Pike Place Market, cross dressers, hipsters, homeless...

Try to get a seat by the window. This corner has major department stores, social service centers and bus stops so there's lots of pedestrian, loiterer, cyclist, bus & cab action/interaction.

People here are friendly. My counter guy was having the time of his life gossiping and joking with his female co-workers in Spanish. He had pink cheeks and lipstick, thick black eyeliner and mascara and he handed me my change with a dramatic flourish and a wink. I turned down a "free" hot fudge sundae being offered me by a homeless man sitting at the adjacent table. Even the dude with the dreads hanging to the floor talking to his imaginary friend was in pleasant conversation. On my way out, the street kid with blue hair asked for a dollar, I searched my pocket and realized I only had a twenty so I said sorry, no. He said that's OK, have a nice day!

Where else can you have all this fun for under $5?


*"Seattle Suit" is a term I coined for what most professionals wear in Seattle in Fall, Winter and early Spring. The outfit consists of slacks (Dockers or something similar in black or grey or jeans), a blouse or sport shirt and a North Face type jacket, preferably in black. Black shoes or boots. This is the same outfit for men and women. Anyone choosing to wear a "real suit" will be looked upon as an uptight freak.

Kenny G-Spotting! :-)

No, seriously, I was walking to the ATM at the market and there he was
getting some bread at 3 Girls Bakery! Kenny G! My first star sighting.
This is his butt or lack thereof.

Old Naked Man Update

It's 10:52pm. I just came up for a smoke after having a few beers at the Nite Lite with the other half. Old Naked Man was just
pulling his red blanket over his naked self. His light is on. All is right with the
world! :-)
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Sent from my iPhone

Michou- A Love Letter

My Darling Michou,

Thank you so much for lifting my spirits this afternoon with your delectable ham, raspberry and brie panini with a side of beluga lentil, corn and tomato salad. My heart is overflowing with love for you. I already miss you desperately.

Michou, I crave you with all my appetite and soul. I have cherished and adored your long glass case filled with gourmet delights since I moved into your hood. All that you have shared with me, the gentle caress of your market fresh fennel salad, the touch of goat cheese on your $3.99 ratatouille baked potato, your warm layer cake-sized slice of macaroni and cheese, your loving and sensual roasted brussel sprouts, the feel of your luscious hot soups on my tongue, the thrill of holding my sandwich in your gingham-checked paper container wrapped in plastic wrap. I am amazed at what you do to my taste buds.

Michou, I long for you. I long to understand what you really are. Are you a sandwich shop, a bakery, a cafeteria, a gourmet market? Yes, yes, you are all these and more. I beg of you, why do you give yourself so affordably to be devoured by the masses who adore you? Why do you suffer me to endure your long lines stretching to the sidewalk at lunchtime just to get a glimpse of your salmon with dilled mayonnaise? I long to feel the comfort and peace of your half sandwich and soup for $5.50. I long to feel the sensual passion of a 75-cent shrimp artichoke tart. I long to swim in the warm, gentle sea of your tomato bisque, to be surrounded by it, to be enveloped in it, to draw strength from it. I long to be lucky enough to score a seat at your intimate lunch counter overlooking your sexy storage area, but if not, I will happily carry your treasures across the street to Victor Steinbreuck Park for a romantic picnic with a glorious view of Elliot Bay and entrancing homeless people…if it’s not raining.



With all the love of a hungry heart,

Kimmie