Mmmm, delicious ambiguity
Karen on 07 19, 2007
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It’s official: I have lived in Seattle for more than a month, and wow, what an ineffable month it has been — one of discovery, excitement, elation, apprehension, awe and excess dosages of espresso-enhanced java! My life has never been less insipid. And as I become more taken with Seattle and grapple with learning the area, the haze of moving to a new land is paving way to perspicuity.
Considering how briefly I’ve lived here, it’s intriguing that I’ve seen and reveled in more poignant experiences this past month than in my entire life. But that’s what a move across the country will do for you. I’ve been, and still am, stoked to go down a road I’ve never whirred down before — and I could not say that when I lived in that plush Chicago suburb. It’s ironic that before I actually endured moving from Chicago to Seattle, all I had ever associated moving with was frayed nerves; my experience was quite the contrary. Any nightmare moving scenarios I conjured up in my head prior to moving never materialized. Now, if I had been moving a boisterous family, there would be no eschewing relentless anxiety, but that was not the case.
Perhaps in another month, the freshness of the Emerald City will dissipate, but in the meantime I’m putting myself out on thin limbs as I increase my involvement within the city. As a single, I’ve never fit in better, and it’s been utterly refreshing to go grocery shopping and not have to nearly get barreled over by wide-eyed Soccer Moms in the meat aisle. And I’m not taking a jab at Seattle moms, only the ones in my former city who regularly zoomed through the cold-cut aisles in a mad dash to get their kids to activities.
As a new resident and ex-Midwesterner, it’s important to note that Starbucks’s prime nemesis here, Tully’s, is a colossal improvement over Minnesota-based Caribou Coffee — which boasts a formidable number of stores in Chicagoland. Love both Caribou & Tully’s, but I like Tully’s java and the ambiance of their stores a smidge more. Coffee chains are generally great, but I’m looking to evade them from time to time being that Seattle is the coffee king. Please, if you can recommend any feel-good, nonchain, java joints around Greenwood, Capitol Hill or Ballard, comment away. And while I’m sure any and all are fabulous, I’d appreciate your input. When the gloomy winter winds around, you can bet I’ll be holed up in more than a few of them, book in hand, punctiliously nursing an espresso.
As you can imagine, I’ve been swamped as I plow through my work for grad school, get acquainted with others and simply discover my new surroundings; but I have found time to frequent some quaint watering holes, catch some bands at the West Seattle Festival and indulge in Washington’s fine wines. And as wine connoisseurs, I anticipate my roommate and I will be hitting some Woodinville wineries before the summer expires.
Lots of mystery cloaks the journey ahead, but sampling new things and diving into the unknown are obligatory — the rest will unravel in its own time. Recently, I clipped the rubber band tethering my “going-away” cards given to me by friends and family at my party, and examined them again. One slight, run-of-the-mill card (that is now tucked in my wall mirror) from one of my great friends still stood out because of its powerful message. Rich black block text paints the front of the white card and whenever my eyes fall across it I smile:
some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. delicious ambiguity . . .
– gilda radner
About the Author: Karen Kirr
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25 Responses to “Mmmm, delicious ambiguity”
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Nicely written, Karen.
You are the quite the wordsmith
I am sitting here eschewing my breakfast at this very moment.
Good local coffee places that are not “big chains” A lot of our local coffee places have more than one location, but they are also locally owned small businesses.
Victrola in Capitol Hill– I know many people in Seattle who think this is the best coffee around
Caffe Verite in Ballard and Madrona (also home to Cupcake Royale)
Fuel (Capitol Hill, Montlake and Wallingford)
And while it has nothing really to do with coffee, but how can you not equate coffee and doughnuts, you need to go by Top Pot Doughnuts (Capitol Hill, Belltown, and Wedgewood). Best. Doughnuts. Ever.
Hi Karen,
This weekend is the annual “Bite of Seattle” at the Seattle Center
[ http://www.biteofseattle.com/home/default.aspx ] which features many Seattle restaurants, bands, and a Washington Wine tasting section [ http://www.biteofseattle.com/ent/piano/ ].
The website has lots of info, you can even check out which restaurants will be there and what they are serving so you can plan your eating adventure. Overall the “Bite” is an exciting swirl of sensory fun!
I don’t drink coffee, myself (such an oddity here, I know), but my husband swears by Espresso Vivace on Capitol Hill (they roast their own beans there and the smell in there is amazing)!
Verite in Madrona also gets high marks among my posse (and I like to go there too, for the cupcakes).
Oh! And if you’re a wine lover, you might want to head over the mountains and spend a weekend touring the tastings at wineries around Lake Chelan. Lots of great little wineries there that make you feel like you’re finding a hidden treasure.
Karen, I can’t comment on the coffee houses up there, but as far as wine goes be sure to hit Chateau Ste. Michelle which I believe is in Woodinville. T and I went there during our visit last year.
Also, consider adding a glossary to your column so I can look up all the words that I don’t know. haha. Take care.
No kidding about the high-falutin’ words! I thought I was the only moron who didn’t know them all – glad to know I’m not!
As for local coffee, if you’re ever in Maple Leaf or Wedgewood, check out Cafe Javasti. Friends of mine, I admit, but they do make outstanding beverages AND bake all their own pastry treats AND crepes that are to die for. Worth the trek from Ballard.
Adrianna,
Perpiscuity got me
and I don’t get sent to the dictionary very often.
In Greenwood, Diva Espresso is good. Looks like they’re over by Wallingford/Greenlake as well. In Tangletown (Greenlake) I highly recommend Zoka Coffee.
If you’re ever in Belltown, stop by Uptown, they have pretty good chai.
As a Minnesotan who’s spent time in Seattle, I’m right with you on the Tully’s scene. They are a bit more polished and have better snacks than Caribou.
Thanks for the coffee shop suggestions/wineries, everyone! I definitely have to check them all out because I’m going to be spending lots of time studying in them. I’m really excited to check out Ray’s Boathouse & Café too, have heard it’s amazing.
A journalism degree will get you words, but they are a dime a dozen, let me assure you.
Ed,
I’m glad to know someone else who is familiar with Caribou agrees with me on the Tully’s/Caribou comparison. For some reason, Tully’s seems to exude more sophistication, and that may be because Caribou sort of aims to be rustic, but classy. Not sure. More polished is definitely the best way to describe Tully’s. Love their mugs too!
I definitely second the recommendations for the local shops. Victrola, Fuel, Caffe Ladro and Vivace are leaps and bounds above Tully’s, Peets & Starbucks. I’d say that at least within Seattle city limits, the small shops are the main competition for the big guys (as much as the big guys compete with each other).
I can specifically recommend Fuel as a great place to hang out too. We live near a Fuel and have spent plenty of time there drinking coffee and just lounging…
Top Pot is also great. The coffee there is fine, but the donuts are good enough to make you actually think of donuts as more than just a “filler” item
I vote for a delete on Marcus’ post
Karen’s an innocent bystander. Seems way off topic for this post to me.
Yeah, I’m not sure what Marcus was alluding to, maybe he was drinking kool-aid?!
LOL Karen,
Not sure who deleted it. Was that you? Wasn’t me. Sometimes people wrongly assume that everyone who writes here is a Realtor. “Drinking the Kool-Aid” refers to being a member of the National Association of Realtors, more or less. It didn’t belong on your post. Glad someone removed it.
On the coffee issue, people seem to celebrate “the little guy” more than chains in Seattle, moreso than anyplace else I’ve ever been. I like that about Seattle.
I deleted it, LOL. Drinking the Kool-Aid I know can mean a lot of different things outside of the real estate industry, but it never has a positive connotation, that’s for sure. I’m excited to check out more coffee places, are you going to the Bite at all this weekend? I’m sure you probably have a lot on your mind. Not sure if I’m going to make it. That was sweet of you to pay for Andrea’s insurance. I bet she appreciates it immensely. She’s so young to be going through so much.
Karen, July’s issue of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine just happens to have “Seattle’s Best of” listed. I don’t see one for Greenwood listed, however they recommend:
Ballard – Cafe Besalu at 5909 24th Ave NW and
Capitol Hill – Victrola Coffee & Art at 411 15th Ave E.
Awesome, thanks Rhonda. I’ll have to check out the magazine. I did check out Diva Espresso today, very cute & quaint. I’m so excited about all the little coffee places here! Didn’t make it to the Bite, but thanks Deborah for the link. It’s disappointing, to say the least, that Starbucks is again hiking its prices. I typically take my coffee black so I don’t buy the ‘whole dairy expenses rising.’ What really is unfortunate is that the price jump means all the other coffee joints will follow suit. What a shame!
You were in “my neck of the woods”! I haven’t been to Diva Espresso yet, but that was the recommendation for West Seattle from the mag.
Sounds delicious.Gourmet coffee at coffeebreakusa(dot)com adds to coffee and gifts
Nice blog Karen – quite the wordsmith indeed! Must have been either journalism or law school.
Enjoyed meeting you the other night and hope your transition continues to go smoothly…
Late to the party, but my suggestions as I am a fan of Seattle coffee:
1. Cafe Diablo (Top of Queen Anne Hill is the only location I know of).
2. Caffe Ladro (sadly, quickly expanding into a chain with some negative effect on quality…one in Capitol Hill)
3. Caffe Vita (3 or 4 locations – one in Capitol Hill)
4. Peet’s ( 3 locations in the area – one Greenlake)
4. Just about any mom and pop coffee establishment in the city…they usually treat you right
My humble opinion – Starbuck’s and the other big chains are good for finding a decent reliable cup of coffee quickly when traveling to unknown or less coffee-centric locations or when held captive (as in an airport). There are many better options when home in Seattle. I remember Caribou – not a bad cup of coffee and definitely before their time in the midwest.
Cheers
Thanks CZB, I def. agree with you on the Starbucks point. I still hit it quite a bit, especially since one is plopped in front of my work and they are just about everywhere. I’ve seen the Caffe Vita, but haven’t hit it yet. Will def. have to check it out, thanks!
Karen,
This morning I went out for a walk around the neighborhood to get some fresh air and to clear my head.
I just love Seattle right after it rains, in the late summer and early fall. There’s a crisp bite in the breeze and everything smells clean. Everything is still green….for a few more weeks, and then the fall colors will start to show up in the trees while we still end up with mild and warm afternoons.
Fall is my favorite season here. I can’t wait to see what you think. Nothing is better than a great cup of coffee or tea, relaxing outside a cafe in the fall.