The Night Market

On Saturday, September 13, I set off to Seattle's International District to checkout the Night Market and Autumn Moon Festival. I arrived via the light rail at the International District Station around 5:45 p.m. I left relatively early hoping to catch the 6 p.m. break dancing competition that was scheduled. Fortunately, or unfortunately the competition didn't actually start until closer to 7 p.m., so I had a little wait. The competition itself was pretty interesting. It was an invitational between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. b-boys. If I recall right Vancouver ended up winning the overall competition. I don't know if you can tell from my video below, just cool the backdrop of the city was that night, or how just athletic these dancers really are, but it was definitely worth checking out.

After the competition, I went off to walk the streets the of the International District, to checkout of the street vendors. There were food trucks, people selling clothing, jewelry, and whatever you can think of. Between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., after the sun had set, the market had completely filled up with people. I felt much like a spawning salmon trying to go up stream. Every direction I went, I constantly felt like I was going against traffic.

Poke to the Max

After fighting the crowds, I finally found a food truck that I couldn't wait to try. I queued up in the long line for Sam Choy's Poke to the Max food truck. The line moved surprisingly quickly. I ordered the Ahi Poke Rice Bowl. I had poke for the first this last February, while in Kauai, and fell in love with it. I was very excited try their food. The wait for the food, after ordering, was probably 3 times as long as the line to order. Everyone waiting seemed in genuinely good spirits, joking while they waited. Once my order was up, I got away from the crowds as quickly as possible. When I did crack open my to-go box of good, I was very happy to discover the smell of fresh fish, and what ended up being a delicious little bowl of food.

Overall, I feel like this was a worthwhile experience. I will definitely attend next year, but I will try to do a few things different. The number one thing though is I will try to go a little later to avoid the family crowds. I think that walking through the market between 8 - 9 p.m. was probably the most family-friendly time to hit the market, and it was huge hassle for trying to see everything. Other that it was good fun.

Seafair Weekend Fleet Week Ship Tours

For about the last 5 years, my friends and I have toured the visiting ships on Seafair weekend. We walk the approx. .3 mile strip of the Seattle waterfront (between Pier 66 and Pier 69) touring the visiting Navy ships. Last year's Seafair celebration didn't include ship tours, so we were very excited to see they were back for 2014.

We generally end up making a full day of it. We take that Friday off work, meet for breakfast, and then hit the ships. It's good clean fun, and you get to see a little of what it's like for the soldiers who have to live aboard these ships. 

If you do want to tour the ships, the few things I've learned over the years are: bring, and reapply sunscreen; be prepared for long lines (the lines move as fast as they can, but there are lot of people who come to tour the ships, so be patient); and you do have to go through security with metal-detectors in order to get on to each ship so I find it easiest to travel light (keys, wallet, phone, and maybe a belt). It's also worth noting that if you intend on seeing all of ships it helps to have a vehicle to get from the ships on pier 69 to the ships on Pier 90. Pier 90 is about 2.5 miles from Pier 69. It's not necessarily a long walk (one I might make on my own, without friends in tow), but really after a long day of standing on concrete and metal, in the sun, I wouldn't recommend it.

Ship tours start at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 31st. Tours go from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday (7/31 - 8/2), and from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Sunday (8/3). 

For more information checkout the Seafair Fan Guide.

U-District Famers Market

One of the things I look forward to on Saturdays in Seattle is the U-District Farmers Market. Seattle actually has two farmers market associations, as well as a couple of independently run neighborhood farmers markets. The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFMA) includes: U-District, West Seattle, Capital Hill, Columbia City, Phinney Ridge, Lake City and Magnolia. The Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA) includes: Ballard, Madrona, and Wallingford. Other farmers markets include: Queen Anne, and Pike Place.

I am generally either heading out from my apartment around 11 a.m. (after morning coffee at Revolutions Espresso and Bakery) and walking about 2 miles (roundtrip) to the farmers market, or I am walking the 2.5 miles home from the University of Washington's IMA (Intramural Activity building), and stopping at the farmers market in between. During the beautiful Seattle summers, these walks are quite enjoyable. During the wet Seattle autumns, winters, and springs it can sometimes feel a little more like a chore.

I tend to restock up on the things I love from specific vendors, but I also try to try new vendors each time as well. My regular vendors include Samish Bay Cheese, Stokesberry Sustainable Farm, and Skagit River Ranch.

If you're not lactose intolerant, I highly recommend Samish Bay Cheese. I really enjoy their fresh mozzarella. It's pretty much my favorite thing they make. The last time I stopped by their booth I also purchased a small container of their European-style kefir. It's much more enjoyable than my experience buying store-bought kefir from major brands, but also not something I would buy every week. I also like how great Samish is about offering samples of their cheeses. They have an herb cheese that I've sampled in the past, that is really very good.

I generally buy a half dozen large organic chicken eggs, and a half dozen duck eggs from Stokesberry Sustainable Farm. The weekends I can't make it to the farmers market are very disappointing, because I'm left to buy my eggs from the grocery store. The duck eggs started out as an experiment. I saw the sign, and was curious, but also a little intimidated. For anybody who has never tried duck eggs, they are have a bigger yoke, and have a creamier taste. I will often saute yellow onions and spinach, and then scramble up a couple of duck eggs to go with. I encourage everyone to try duck eggs once. The Stokesberry booth is operated by Jerry and Janelle Stokesberry, and both come across as the two nicest people in the world.

My last must-have is bacon from Skagit River Ranch. Skagit River sells humanely raised, chemical free, organic meat. I've found it to far surpass any store bought bacon brand that I've tasted. 

Pickled Oysters

A few of my experimental purchases have included pickled oysters from Hama Hama Shellfish, and Hard apple cider from Rockridge Orchards & Cidery. Both purchases were a little on the spendier side, though both are really good products. I've found myself continuously harassing the woman that works the Hama Hama stand about when she'll have more pickled oysters. On my last visit this weekend, she told me they probably wouldn't have more until September. That made me a little sad.

Outside the Box

Back in June, there was a food truck called Outside the Box, that serves paleo food. It was the first time that I had seen this food truck at the U-District Farmers Market, so I tried their pork belly. I found myself satisfied by the food, but I unfortunately haven't seen this food truck back since then. Since then, I continually hope that I will see Out of the Box again. They had a brisket on the menu that I'm now desperate to taste.

The Wobbly Stringband

The Farmers Market is a great place to people watch, and to see and experience things that you might not otherwise get to in your everyday life. Buskers play music, families wander up and down the street, and a young man has even started showing up with a typewriter to sell poetry he creates on the spot for his costumers.

I've found my weekly trips to the farmers market an enjoyable way to get some walking in.

You Can Run with the Bulls in Seattle, Just like You can in Pamplona... Almost

This  year the 5th Annual Running of the Bulls in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood is Saturday, July 12th. In classic Pamplona tradition, runners dressed in white pants, white shirts, and red scarves run while being chased by homemade bulls.

The race begins at approx. 1 p.m. in front of the Paragon on Queen Anne Ave. N., and runners will be chased a short fun .07 miles to Kerry Park.

If you haven't found an excuse to witness the view of Seattle from Kerry Park, then this is the perfect opportunity to check out panoramic Downtown Seattle the way it was meant seen.

This was going to be the first year that I ran with bulls, after discovering the race last year (on the exact day I was moving from Queen Anne to Greenlake. I was incredibly bummed to find out that this year's race coincided with my trip to Portland for the World Domination Summit. So it looks like I'll have to wait one more year before I can run with the bulls. I highly encourage everyone else to have some fun, and turn out for this unique little run.

Right now, weather.com shows that the weather in Seattle is going to be in the 80's with 57% humidity. So, what better way to spend a hot sticky day than running with the bulls?