July 4th 2006

By the 4th of July, we had been here a couple of weeks. And just getting to know the place. We had, of course, visited Pike Place market, and it had already become our ritualistic Saturday haunt. We had temporary housing in Kirkland.

Our usual feelings on July 4th can best be described, depending on how energetic we feel on the day, as either completely indifferent and "couldn't care less", or something that provokes a bevy of philosophical questions - about the concept of a (ANY) nation state, and the acts that were committed in different parts of the world to make ordinary people believe in an artificial notion of allegiance and shared destinies, while really getting pushed into a homogenized and controlled version of their real communities and culture.

Not surprisingly, we were unsure about what to do that weekend. We finally decided to take in the atmosphere, since this was our first fourth of July here. So we headed to the Kirkland Marina, where there was going to be a parade. The only really interesting performance was by the Seahawks band, which was pretty good. The rest of the program was lacklustre. The sidewalks were filled with mostly very affluent-looking women of all ethnicities, wearing huge diamond rings and thick gold bands, clothing from the GAP, and pushing strollers with babies who were equally expensively outfitted, and who clutched tiny American flags in their fists.

In the evening, as we looked out the large windows of our apartment, we realized suddenly that we had a virtually undisturbed, though distant, view of the Kirkland Marina, Washington lake and the other side, Seattle city. Unbelievable! We were able to see the entire fireworks display on both the Eastside and in Seattle. And it was spectacular. That was unadulterated joy.

Lo Priore Brothers Pasta Bar

We were wandering aimlessly around Pike Place on one of these delicious, lazy Saturday mornings in late summer. Walking on Post Alley, and looking at the lunch crowd, we realized we were hungry, and walked inside the building. Immediately indoors is this unassuming little place called simply "Pasta Bar".

Never shy, we scanned the plates of the other customers, and everything looked appetizing. We ordered a ravioli and a fettuccine in alfredo and pesto, and joined the hungry summer throngs in tucking away the pasta. The flavors were so earthy and satisfying. We walked away with a lovely, warm sensation inside our tummies. We know we will keep coming back here.

So-Called Moderate Summers of Seattle

So one of the first things Seattle locals told us on our weeklong apartment-hunting trip in early June was about the Puget Sound summers. They raved about the glorious summer months of the Seattle area, when the sun always shines, and the long days are mild under azure skies.

Well, they were certainly right about the sun always shining, but I am not so sure about the 'mild' part. We moved here in mid-June, and several of the days here reminded us of the dog days of summer where we lived earlier. Seattle and the Eastside are having sweltering days of 95-100 degrees - and guess what, folks, the apartments here do not have airconditioning! Maybe I should applaud this as a much-needed act (on the part of us consumption-crazy Americans) of energy conservation.

Most of the locals have assured us that what just ended was a very unusual summer. We fervently hope they are right.

Welcome to Seattle(-Schmeattle)!

In the spring of this year, we found out that we will be relocating to the Seattle area from another state. When we announced this to our friends and family, we got a lot of excited reactions. Yes, a lot of them were about the rain. (A friend 'kindly' reminded us more than once: "Don't forget your umbrellas!".) But, mostly, the reactions were positive. Many of our friends thought Seattle was a cool and hip place to move to. One mentioned that Seattleites "were totally the pioneers in the urban environmental movement". Another mentioned the famed natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. And several were thrilled (really) to hear that we were moving to "Frazier-land".

We were quite excited ourselves about moving to the Seattle area. Despite our excitement, though, we could not avoid the transition phase the first couple of months, during which one gets some unexpected (and not very pleasing) surprises from the new place. We found ourselves experiencing such moments not so infrequently...and then often we would end it by exclaiming: Seattle-Schmeattle!

At the same time, we were enjoying and beginning to love so many of the new things we were discovering about this place. The natural beauty is breathtaking, and has to be seen to be believed. Mount Rainier unfailingly sends a thrill of exhilaration down my spine everytime I look up at it on a clear day. The people at the local PCC organic store make us feel like family.

On one of the late and bright summer evenings, we looked at each other and said, "hey, why not capture this experience...in all of its contrast." And this blog was born.

This is a space for our comunity to capture experiences and perceptions about Seattle and the Eastside. We hope that the locals reading this blog will enjoy looking at their neighborhood through new eyes, will educate us about the neighborhood, and help us have a continued rich experience of this place - the place that we are looking to make our home for years to come.

Alongside, the blog may also make interesting reading for people who want to know about the Seattle area, want to visit the area or are considering relocating here.

Let's see how it goes. Stay tuned!