Tidepooler: Culture, Travel, Weddings, Home

My day would start on a Saturday night on a weekend my partner Toby doesn’t have to work. We’d start the night out over cocktails with friends at Sun Liquor, a small bar in our neighborhood, Capitol Hill. I would order a “Dark and Stormy” and Toby would order his favorite, a “Greyhound.” We’d both watch Erik the bartender flex his muscles working the last drop of freshly squeezed grapefruit from the manual juicer. The tiny bar is constantly filled with the palpable aroma of citrus. No pre-made mixers for this bunch! The bartenders are always nice and informative. They really know their stuff.

From there we’d retreat to my favorite bar, The Bus Stop and hunker down for a few drinks. The patrons come and go in this small neighborhood bar. It ebbs and flows constantly creating an interesting mix of people. It’s gay. It’s straight. It’s lesbian. It’s trans. It’s random. It’s hipster. It’s plain Jane. I love it. The original bar was razed to make way for condos but the owners Gary and Rodney found an almost identical space a few short blocks from it’s original location to recreate the scene of many crimes. The music here is always spot on whether it’s being blasted from an iPod or being carefully selected by the DJ. On this particular night the speakers are pumping out The Smiths, Junior Senior, Le Tigre, Pixies, and Stereolab. Fueled by the strong drinks and creative energy the bar breaks out into an impromptu dance party. Strangers and friends alike cram the small bar and shake what their momma gave them.

All that dancing inspires me to stroll down to The Baltic Room and dance the night away at my friend Gene’s monthly gay soul club Talcum. It’s a spin-off of the Emerald City Soul Club’s popular monthly dance night. The music is a mix of Northern Soul music, the crowd is friendly and interesting, and the talcum powder fills the air.

The next morning we’d rally the brunch crew. Sunday brunch at Linda’s has been a weekly tradition since I moved to town six years ago. It’s a dive bar/greasy spoon with good food at good prices. This particular day we’d score a table on the back patio which would be full of sunshine (one of the last places Kurt Cobain was said to be seen alive). Moque, our favorite waitress would deliver a pitcher of mimosas to our table – on the house. I’d order the steak and eggs. Medium rare, scrambled, English muffin, please. The jukebox spins a delightful mix of Michael Jackson, The Mamas and the Papas, David Bowie, Pixies, and The Delta 5. We’d sit back, take in the sun, throw back the mimosas, and enjoy the scenery and each other’s company.

{Photo: Wheelo50411}

To work off my mimosas and steak and eggs I take a short bike ride down the hill through the downtown core to Pike Place Market for the perfect breakfast dessert – donuts! The Daily Dozen serves them up in a small stall at the market. Mesmerized by watching the entire donut making process unfold right before my eyes, I order a dozen assorted donuts and dig in. I reach in to the brown paper bag already becoming stained with grease and I pop a fresh hot donut into my pie hole. I continue to devour the bag as I stroll through the stalls of fresh produce, fish, and fruit mixed in with artists’ and craftsmen’s wares.

The ride would continue through Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood full of boutiques, bars and cafes over to Myrtle Edwards Park, via the Olympic Sculpture Park. The Olympic Sculpture Park was a superfund site until the Seattle Art Museum stepped in and cleaned up the area and turned it into a magnificent park. The park and natural views of Elliot Bay and snow capped Olympic Mountains captures my heart more so than the artwork. I’d ride my bike along the waterfront taking in the salt air and views of the mountains, container ships, ferries, and sailboats.

{Photo: Jeff Wilcox}

After biking up Seattle’s hilly terrain to Capitol Hill, I’d reconnect with Toby and a bunch of friends to spend the remainder of the afternoon people watching in Cal Anderson Park. It’s a few short blocks from our place, making it a regular place to relax. Once an open reservoir, it was capped a few years ago creating several new acres of park space on top of the active reservoir below. It’s a great place for lounging, kite flying, bocce, or croquet. You can watch little kids frolicking in the wading pool while people juggle swords, practice yoga, toss the frisbee or picnic.

My perfect day would wrap up over sushi at HaNa, located on the neighborhood’s eclectic strip of Broadway, smack dab between Cal Anderson Park and our home. We’d order a boat load of sushi and sashimi, savoring each bite. The ambiance is nothing to note, but the service and food is excellent. Happy and full, we’d shuffle home after a long, wonderful, fun-filled day spent with friends.

Daniel has lived in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood with his partner Toby for nearly six years. By day he works for non-profit Community Voice Mail providing communication services to homeless and low-income people across the country. By night he scampers about town getting into all sorts of capers.

{My Perfect Day is a weekly Tidepooler series that reveals the most wonderful and interesting places in cities and towns around the world, as shared by the people who live there}