The Seattle Traveler

For many Seattle-ites, this is the best weekend of summer – SeaFair!
With its parades, Blue Angel performances, concert, fireworks, and hydroplane races, it’s the time of year when Seattle gets to strut its stuff.  Now let’s just hope that the weather cooperates!
Here’s the info you’ll need to decide if you’ll venture out for the activities, are just enjoy the show from the comfort of your own home.
My favorite of all the events is the air show featuring the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.  I was downtown on Thursday and saw a little of their practice.  They’re noisy, distracting, and fascinating …read more

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This weekend. . .
. . . enjoy the food, drink, and entertainment of the Taste of Tacoma!  And since the weather is supposed to be warm and sunny, it will be a great way to enjoy the weekend.
The Taste of Tacoma is one giant family picnic – without the annoying relatives!  There are plenty of food choices with over 28 restaurant booths and over 20 food companies represented.  You’ll find lots of choices on the grill, as well as a broad selection of ethnic food.  With nothing prices over $6, you can get your must-have favorite in addition …read more

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Cell phone users must put down their phones starting July 1st, 2008, or face stiff traffic fines.  That’s when Washington State’s new “hands free” law goes into effect, requiring all drivers to use a head set when talking on their cell phone while driving.
Although holding a cell phone to your ear isn’t grounds for the police to pull you over for a primary stop, it will result increase any other fraction imposed to the tune of $124.
You’ve got ten days to buy a head set and figure out how to use it.  It’s the law!
 
Image credit:  Amazon
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This weekend. . .
. . . look up in the Air – it’s a biplane, it’s a helicopter, it’s a fighter jet – all at the Olympic Air Show.
This annual Father’s Day weekend aviation gathering will feature 70 years of military aircraft, flying displays, a three hour of low-flying aerobatics show, lots of demonstrations and exhibits, and all sorts of cool stuff to look at it.
A few tips:  Wear comfortable shoes, leave the pets at home, and bring plenty of sunscreen.  A folding chair or blanket will make for more comfortable viewing.  Photography is allowed.
Smoking is not permitted, and …read more

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Interested Seattle citizens can provide feedback to the City of Seattle via a new website (Idea Scale) allowing users to post ideas on how things could be improved around here.
Then, in Digg fashion, you can “vote up” the ideas that you like the best.  It’s community building at its best — in a real community.
There’s also plenty of space for comments and discussion.
It looks like a relatively new site, with only a dozen ideas posted so far, but it has potential.
I’m not entirely sure that this is directly related to City of Seattle government, or is in any way sanctioned …read more

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Horse racing returns to Seattle this week with Opening Day at Emerald Down, along with accompanying festivities for the start of this season’s Sport of Kings.
To complement the excitement of the racing season, and to make it a family destination, Emerald Downs schedules a variety of special events throughout the season.  These include: 

Sound Transit Family Days (Sundays, starting June 17th, that offer free family activities)
Senior Days (those 55 and older receive general admission, an official program, reserved Grandstand or Clubhouse seat and coffee or regular soft drink, for only $3 on Thursdays starting June 1st)
Fabulous Fridays (Horseshoe Toss …read more

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Chateau Ste. Michelle announces another performance in their line up of entertainment for the 2008 Summer Concert Series. 
Steely Dan will appear for two performances at the winery, on July 30th and 31st. 
Steely Dan rose to prominence in the 1970’s with their blend of musical styles — a little jazz, a little rock, a little pop, with some funk and rhythm and blues thrown in for good measure.  You may recall some of their hits:  Reelin’ in the Years (from their 1972 debut album), My Old School, and Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.  The group toured for awhile before …read more

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It’s easy to just focus on the theater performances at the major venues downtown, but that would be a huge mistake.  The surrounding environs has some great theater as well, and this weekend kicks off a run that’s sure to have the audience laughing.
Centerstage Theater in Federal Way presents Nightmare of a Married Man, an original play penned by theater artistic director Alan Bryce.  The performance will be staged at Federal Way’s Knutzen Family Theater.
The story chronicles two couples, irreconcilable differences, and twists and turns along the way to the thrilling conclusions.  It’s billed as a marital thriller.
Location:  Knutzen …read more

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The Harvest Vine opened in 1998, originally as a gourmet take out and wine company.  Owners Joseba Jiménez, and his wife Carolin Messier de Jiménez originally started a catering business, and its success soon became a small little restaurant.
And it was a very small restaurant to start off — about 600 square feet, and seating about 22 — barely more than a convivial kitchen with a group of friends hanging around.  A few years ago, the restaurant expanded, and created a basement wine cellar and dining room.  With stone walls, floor to ceiling wine racks, and open beam construction, …read more

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