Tonight my family supped at The Jones. Several friends, including Jen, have said the food at The Jones is pretty good, and we were looking to go someplace low key that we haven't tried yet, so we headed off to Maple Leaf.
Normally we try to find happy hours, and The Jones apparently has an excellent one, but we arrived about 7 minutes after it ended. Unlike other happy hours, once this one is over, the happy hour menu items (which did look very good) aren't available at all (meaning they're not available for a marked up price). We peruse the regular menu. It's a bit pricier than we anticipated, but fine, because we're not that hungry anyway.
I order the scallops in broth for $12 and the cheapest glass of red wine, my husband orders the flank steak sandwich (also $12) and a martini, and the kids get to split an order of chicken strips for $6 and they just requested water. Our food took over 20 minutes to arrive, but we were given 5 pieces of bread slightly in advance (these were devoured well before dinner arrived and never replenished). When our food arrived I was shocked. I had two scallops and about 1/4 cup of broth on my plate (but no spoon nor bread with which to consume the broth, so I never did get to consume it). I wasn't expecting a lot, but I must admit I've never been served less than 3 scallops as an appetizer. The boys got to split 3 chicken strips. Randy's sandwich was okay, but he had to supplement my meal and the boys' meals with his fries, so we all felt a little jilted.
The food was good, indeed, but not good enough to erase our chagrin at the portions. I don't think you should go home hungry from a casual neighborhood eatery when the tab has come close to $50--especially when we only had one cocktail each and the kids split a $6 plate. I *may* go back again, but it would have to be during happy hour, because the hour we spent there didn't leave any of us feeling very happy.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
What's a park to do?
My neighborhood park is Sandel Park. Sandel Park is a beautiful, full city block of green space that for some reason receives little funding as far as I can tell. I've done the Seattle City Park circuit, and other than the parks down south of the city, which I willingly admit I'm less familiar with, this park has got to be the saddest park inside the city limits.
For those of you unfamiliar with Sandel, it is located in the Greenwood neighborhood, at approximately 90th and 2nd NW. Most of the park is just sprawling green space, frequently occupied by youth soccer or adult volleyball groups, depending on the season. In addition, it boasts a few basketball courts, a rarely used wading pool (I think I've seen water in it three times--and all three times were during the summer of 2006), 6 swings and a "play area." It is the "play area" that offends me most. I pay as much in city taxes as my Queen Anne or Laurelhurst counterparts, yet this "play" equipment is not just outdated, it is dangerous. (Here she goes...) It is a roughly slapped together piece with 1 slide, some metal bars for flipping around on, and some boards. When I reported to the City that one of the boards came loose last summer, I showed up a few weeks later to find a sheet of 1/2" plywood slapped on the top. I kid you not. Oh yeah, that makes the structure safer.
So why hasn't this play equipment been replaced with something more appealing??? At one point I was so perturbed that I got involved--as if I didn't have enough to do. The amount of neighborhood fundraising and support that the City expected us to muster up to prove that we were worthy of new (safe) play equipment was, in my opinion, ridiculous. But they weren't just interested in replacing the play equipment that would be used by many a sibling or offspring that was awaiting a family member at an adjacent sports event, they have plans for a full park overhaul. I guess it's all or nothing in Greenwood. No right-minded resident would take on the task of motivating so many masses to get involved. As far as Seattle goes, we're working class, so who has the time? I'm willing to bet that the City charges groups who practice soccer and volleyball on yonder green, so this is probably one of the few parks that takes in money. I'd just like to see some of it returned.
For those of you unfamiliar with Sandel, it is located in the Greenwood neighborhood, at approximately 90th and 2nd NW. Most of the park is just sprawling green space, frequently occupied by youth soccer or adult volleyball groups, depending on the season. In addition, it boasts a few basketball courts, a rarely used wading pool (I think I've seen water in it three times--and all three times were during the summer of 2006), 6 swings and a "play area." It is the "play area" that offends me most. I pay as much in city taxes as my Queen Anne or Laurelhurst counterparts, yet this "play" equipment is not just outdated, it is dangerous. (Here she goes...) It is a roughly slapped together piece with 1 slide, some metal bars for flipping around on, and some boards. When I reported to the City that one of the boards came loose last summer, I showed up a few weeks later to find a sheet of 1/2" plywood slapped on the top. I kid you not. Oh yeah, that makes the structure safer.
So why hasn't this play equipment been replaced with something more appealing??? At one point I was so perturbed that I got involved--as if I didn't have enough to do. The amount of neighborhood fundraising and support that the City expected us to muster up to prove that we were worthy of new (safe) play equipment was, in my opinion, ridiculous. But they weren't just interested in replacing the play equipment that would be used by many a sibling or offspring that was awaiting a family member at an adjacent sports event, they have plans for a full park overhaul. I guess it's all or nothing in Greenwood. No right-minded resident would take on the task of motivating so many masses to get involved. As far as Seattle goes, we're working class, so who has the time? I'm willing to bet that the City charges groups who practice soccer and volleyball on yonder green, so this is probably one of the few parks that takes in money. I'd just like to see some of it returned.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Craving What?
Early last December, Jen and I were just starting to come out of our "working moms of two young kids" cacoons. We had been in there for awhile. So when an ad for Seattle's much-hyped Crave party caught my eye (actually, I believe it was an expensively-produced colored flier on cardstock), it sounded right up our alley. Food, drinks, pampering, and shopping at fabulous botique-style vendors was exactly the kind of thing we wanted to do. The more vendors the better, because we have little time to meander through all the upcoming burroughs trying on the latest kitten-heeled shoes. So, we bought tickets--an apparent bargain at $15/piece.
This is what we got for $15:
-20 minutes driving around Fremont looking for parking.
-The chance to enter multiple drawings that offer lame prizes but many years of e-mail spam.
-The opportunity to pay $7.95 for a taco by Baja Fresh (did I mention that we were in Fremont, where many more appealing options were blocks away for the same price).
-Two drink coupons that could be used in the VIP Lounge...wherever the heck that was?
Now, I might not be the most observant person, but Jen is, and neither of us could find the VIP Lounge, complete with margarita bar we were hoping to see, or a waitress wandering around with crystalline Cosmos. After asking multiple people (the person at the home made jewelry booth, the person at the home made scarf booth, the person at the spoon holder booth) we eventually learned that the "bar" was behind a curtained wall. We made our way past a tartan-clad woman who was hoola-hooping (this was the entertainment--did I mention the all-women crowd?) into the cavernous enclave where a few other lucky souls had managed to find their way. Firemen were circulating the place, and maybe this would excite some, but my wildest dreams are kept in check when I picture the firemen seeing me naked. I digress... Jen took our drink tickets and secured us two plastic cups of wine. Swanky. Now I'm feeling special. Granted, the conversation was good, but this is because I was talking to her, and not anyone else in the place. We decided that as soon as we were done using up our drink tickets we would make a run for it--and this was the right decision, I assure you. We ended up having a delightful time at the 35th Street Bistro (but this is another blog entry in waiting).
This is what we got for $15:
-20 minutes driving around Fremont looking for parking.
-The chance to enter multiple drawings that offer lame prizes but many years of e-mail spam.
-The opportunity to pay $7.95 for a taco by Baja Fresh (did I mention that we were in Fremont, where many more appealing options were blocks away for the same price).
-Two drink coupons that could be used in the VIP Lounge...wherever the heck that was?
Now, I might not be the most observant person, but Jen is, and neither of us could find the VIP Lounge, complete with margarita bar we were hoping to see, or a waitress wandering around with crystalline Cosmos. After asking multiple people (the person at the home made jewelry booth, the person at the home made scarf booth, the person at the spoon holder booth) we eventually learned that the "bar" was behind a curtained wall. We made our way past a tartan-clad woman who was hoola-hooping (this was the entertainment--did I mention the all-women crowd?) into the cavernous enclave where a few other lucky souls had managed to find their way. Firemen were circulating the place, and maybe this would excite some, but my wildest dreams are kept in check when I picture the firemen seeing me naked. I digress... Jen took our drink tickets and secured us two plastic cups of wine. Swanky. Now I'm feeling special. Granted, the conversation was good, but this is because I was talking to her, and not anyone else in the place. We decided that as soon as we were done using up our drink tickets we would make a run for it--and this was the right decision, I assure you. We ended up having a delightful time at the 35th Street Bistro (but this is another blog entry in waiting).
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Writing to Right Wrongs
Seattle is a city full of headstrong people with opinions on just about everything, and this is both what we love and hate about this city that we have chosen to call home.
Jen and I are busy moms who work full-time outside the home. We both have three-year-old and a five-year-old children, and we both have dogs. (I add this only because it exponentially adds to the amount of work necessary to keep the house clean.) We are both married (well, until George Clooney and Pierce Brosnan start reading our blog, anyway), and we both spend a lot of time vascillating between being grateful for all that we have and wishing that we had more--not necessarily more things, but more freedom to pursue the gazillion interests that we have.
All this is to say that because we are so busy cleaning, doing laundry, preparing nice meals that only our husbands will fully enjoy (mostly), walking (and picking up after) our neglected dogs, and cleaning up an endless stream of toys, puddles, bills, vomit, and whatever else befalls our house, we look to outside sources for ideas when it comes time to do something FUN! Our primary sources include ParentMap (Parentmap.com) and Red Tricycle (http://www.red-tricycle.com) for family-oriented events, and Seattle Magazine (http://www.seattlemagazine.com), Seattle Metropolitan magazine (http://www.seattlemet.com), NW Source (http://www.nwsource.com), and The Seattle Weekly (http://www.seattleweekly.com), for more adult-oriented things.
The purpose of this blog is to help set the record straight. With such limited free-time, Jen and I are particularly offended when we do our research before heading out the door and manage to come home disappointed.
Seattle is full of fabulous places and happenings, so perhaps this is why it is so upsetting to us when we put forth extra effort to coordinate an outing that is further afield or slightly more expensive than our typical budget might allow, only to have it fall short of our expectations. Our hope is that this blog will not just become one long rant, but that it will serve as a sort of insider's guide.
We'll try to refrain from being nasty if those who are moved to comment on our opinions agree to do the same. We'll also try to keep this from being a strictly "mommy-oriented" blog, because frankly, we tire of the mommy chat too. That said, here goes...
Jen and I are busy moms who work full-time outside the home. We both have three-year-old and a five-year-old children, and we both have dogs. (I add this only because it exponentially adds to the amount of work necessary to keep the house clean.) We are both married (well, until George Clooney and Pierce Brosnan start reading our blog, anyway), and we both spend a lot of time vascillating between being grateful for all that we have and wishing that we had more--not necessarily more things, but more freedom to pursue the gazillion interests that we have.
All this is to say that because we are so busy cleaning, doing laundry, preparing nice meals that only our husbands will fully enjoy (mostly), walking (and picking up after) our neglected dogs, and cleaning up an endless stream of toys, puddles, bills, vomit, and whatever else befalls our house, we look to outside sources for ideas when it comes time to do something FUN! Our primary sources include ParentMap (Parentmap.com) and Red Tricycle (http://www.red-tricycle.com) for family-oriented events, and Seattle Magazine (http://www.seattlemagazine.com), Seattle Metropolitan magazine (http://www.seattlemet.com), NW Source (http://www.nwsource.com), and The Seattle Weekly (http://www.seattleweekly.com), for more adult-oriented things.
The purpose of this blog is to help set the record straight. With such limited free-time, Jen and I are particularly offended when we do our research before heading out the door and manage to come home disappointed.
Seattle is full of fabulous places and happenings, so perhaps this is why it is so upsetting to us when we put forth extra effort to coordinate an outing that is further afield or slightly more expensive than our typical budget might allow, only to have it fall short of our expectations. Our hope is that this blog will not just become one long rant, but that it will serve as a sort of insider's guide.
We'll try to refrain from being nasty if those who are moved to comment on our opinions agree to do the same. We'll also try to keep this from being a strictly "mommy-oriented" blog, because frankly, we tire of the mommy chat too. That said, here goes...
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