Adventures in B-Town 2.0

Well it has been awhile since my last post and there are several reasons for that. The main one being the fact that we have moved. Thus the Chapter 2 in the title of this post. We have left our idyllic hideaway on Three Tree Point and moved to a cozy bungalow in Olde Burien. Only four doors down from the heart of Burien and situated on a street of 1940's storybook clapboard houses with neatly mown lawns and flower gardens, sits the new Vandenbroek estate.

It is a darling house with a big yard that is totally fenced with chain link.  Charlie is ecstatic with his new home.  Being a runner, he has never been allowed to roam free off the leash. (You may recall our failed experiment on Vashon Island with allowing him to roam free.)  Now he is the King of the Yard! You can actually see him smiling as he runs from one corner of his domain to the other.

The new yard contains 3 apple trees, yum and a chicken coop.  There will be alot more about the coop in the future as we are going to fix it up and get some chickens. Our plan is to get some baby chicks so that we can get Charlie used to them gradually.  I can see some humorous postings coming up as we raise both species to co-exist as free range animals. More on that in the near future.

Being in the center of town has been a totally different experience than living in a more secluded home on 3TP.  We certainly don't have the spectacular view, but we probably have met more neighbors in our first weeks here than we did in the first year out there. And how convenient to just stroll a half block to grab a bite at our favorite watering hole, The Tin Room.  Or any of the other great restaurants within walking distance.

We spent the 4th of July in town starting with Bloody Marys on the sidewalk outside The Mark, as it was a nice sunny day.  Most of the businesses were open that day because of all of the downtown festivities. It started with a cycling race in the morning and the 91st annual Burien 4th of July Parade. It remained a beautiful warm and sunny day, yay!!!

Bloody Mary time at the Mark!

Olde Burien main street

Ready, Set.....

The "PRO" category of the cycling race.

We waited for the parade to start from inside Mick Kellys Irish Pub, great food and great view.

The sidewalks really filled up. And a glorious afternoon it was for a parade.

Both of the candidates for Governor marched in our little B-Town Parade.

The Miss Burien hydro, seated in the boat is our friend Scott Schaefer publisher of the award winning B-Town Blog

These little girls were adorable.

The Seafair Clowns were in attendance, a Seattle tradition.

A perfect day that ended with some grilled steaks at home and the fireworks over Lake Burien that we had a great view of from our back porch with a glass of wine.  I think we will enjoy being "townies" in Olde Burien. So starts Chapter 2 of our B-town adventures. Til next time!

The Boy has a Girl- Part One

We were blessed a couple of weeks ago with a visit from Peter and  his new Fiancee Emily to the dreaded Meet the Parents vacation. I really like her and they were a breath of fresh air for us to have for a week. They are planning to get married sometime next year. I have to say that they are an adorable couple.

Peter and Emily are living in Boerne, Texas outside of San Antonio, which is the last place on earth that I would ever guess that you would find my left wing tree-hugging son, so she must be pretty special. I am surprised that the state of Texas really let him across the border! But they seem really happy and in love.

We had a great time with them in spite of the fact that The Boy came down with a cold and sore throat for most of the week. He was a trooper though as we took them on a whirlwind tour of Seattle. Emily had never been to the Pacific Northwest before and we wanted to show them the sights. I was lucky enough to get a few days off to spend with them.  The morning of their arrival was one of the prettiest picture postcard days that we have seen in ages.

This ain't Texas, Baby!!!





Nice view of Mt Ranier

After an evening of catching up and visiting with the kids, they were ready to hit the road and see some of the scenery and local attractions. Since Roger and I both had to work on their second day here, they trekked to West Seattle on their own for the day. That's The Boys favorite place to hang out when he is visiting us. It's a couple of minutes north of us and a very trendy, hipster area. Coffee houses, indie rock. etc.
They strolled around for the day and after I got off work, I met them back in B-Town at Elliot Bay Brewing Co  for a beer and a nosh before heading back to Three Tree Point for the night.

Emily in West Seattle

We got up early the next morning, since I was now off for five days!!! Yeah!! But Rog had to work, Boo.
We decided to head into town for breakfast. My favorite  for a great and leisurely morning is 909 Coffee and Wine in Olde Burien.  After a great breakfast we hit the road to check out some of the local scenery. I decided to go east on this trip and we headed toward the Cascades and out to Snoqualmie Falls. A truly breathtaking sight that really makes you appreciate natures glory.

Me and my baby boy!

Pete and Emily

There is so much beautiful scenery around that area it is always on our out of towners tour list. Overlooking the Falls is the Salish Lodge and Spa, which is owned by the Muckleshoot Tribe that I am employed by.
A very romantic hotel in an idyllic setting. You may recognize it as the setting for the TV show Twin Peaks.

We hiked around the falls a while and then continued our adventure on to the Snoqualmie Casino! Talk about a change in scenery!  A little gambling in a vast array of flashing lights and ringing bells and crowds of people is just the thing to balance out a morning of natures beauty. So a couple of hours there until the kids lost five dollars a penny at a time, high rollers those two, and it was off for the long drive back to B-town to meet Roger for dinner. You guessed it, we went to our favorite place, the Tin Room. 

And this was only the second day! The following day was Saturday and we had plans to go to the Poverty Bay Blues and Wine Festival just down the road in Des Moines. Perched on a bluff overlooking the marina is the Landmark Event Center where the festival is held every year.

We sipped and strolled, bought 6 bottles of great local wines, and headed home for a nap and dinner in. A quiet night to catch up and visit some more. As we had a big day planned for Sunday. An early start and it was off to Seattle for a day in the city. A very full and action packed day, so I will leave off here for now and save that for Part 2 of this blog post. Til then--Denise



B-Town on the Radio

It is a cold and blustery day in B-Town. The trees are bending over in the wind and it is howling. Since I have the day off, Charlie and I decided to have an indoor day. Doing chores and laundry. And writing a blog post! The fire is raging as are the sounds of SoKing Radio! I have some Prime Rib Eyes from B&E Meats and a bottle of great Cabernet ready for our Fat Tuesday dinner. (Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, fantastic) 

This past week our friend and neighbor, Scott Schaefer the publisher of the award winning The B-Town Blog as well as five other local blogs in the south King County area,  went live with the first internet radio station tied to a local blog.  SoKing Internet Radio went live last Wednesday at 6PM from a launch party at the Tin Room Theater in Olde Burien. Unfortunately due to my work schedule, Rog and I missed the party. I have however been listening to the station for about a month as a beta tester and I have to tell you they have done a phenomenal job of showcasing local artists!  Bands like Treehouse Dreamers that include the King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg who helped kick off the station at the launch party. I seem to miss the best parties!  Anyway... they are playing the best tunes. Whether you are a fan of the music of the Pacific Northwest or just want to discover some new bands and tunes, give it a listen.  You may even hear my voice giving a station ID!

One of the things that the Seattle area is known for is its music.  The parts of musical history that have roots in the Pacific Northwest are legendary. As soon as I say Seattle Music, I am guessing that you immediately thought of Jimi Hendricks or Nirvana, and these native sons have left a giant imprint on the world to be sure. But let me tell you about some others. Some you know and others you may not....

Did you know that one of the first inventors of the electric guitar was Seattle musician Paul Tutmarc who experimented with amplifying all sorts of instruments in the 1930's. He developed a number of variant types of stringed musical instruments, such as electrically amplified double basses, electric basses, and lap steel guitars.

World War 2 brought many changes to Seattle, including a flourishing vice scene downtown, where booze, gambling and prostitution were unchecked by paid-off cops. The Showbox Ballroom was a major center for these activities, and was open twenty-four hours a day, geared towards active members of the military, featuring popular performers like the racy Gypsy Rose Lee. In addition to the Showbox, Washington Hall, Parker's, Odd Fellows Temple and Trianon were also major big band ballrooms, all of which eventually became major rock venues. Police officers also tolerated an after-hours jazz scene, based in Chinatown, Seattle and including most famously the Black and Tan Club. This period produced a few local performers of note, including Hollywood star Ray Charles, who recorded his first single and made his first TV and radio appearances in Seattle, and Bumps Blackwell. Blackwell was a bandleader whose band's members included the instrumentalist Quincy Jones, later to become a major record company executive, producer and composer. Harry Smith was a college student in the 1940s when he found a number of recordings of folk music about to be recycled at a Salvation Army depot. He rescued the recordings, which became hot commodities when released by Folkways on the landmark Anthology of American Folk Music.



The 60s brought about a vibrant dance scene and bands like the Wailers. the Fleetwoods and the Ventures.
The city's black music scene include Ron Holden, a soul singer whose "Love You So" was a Top Ten hit, vocal group The Gallahads and  instrumentalist Dave Lewis, who had several hits like "Dave's Mood" and "Little Green Thing". Perhaps Seattle's most famous black musical export is Jimi Hendrix, who began performing in the city but didn't gain a major national or regional reputation until moving to England. Though Hendrix had to move to England to start his recording career, the reverse also became true for the musicologist Ian Whitcomb, who performed in the city in the 1960s. He recorded "This Sporting Life" with Gerry Rosalie of The Sonics, and the song became a major hit, and an early anthem for the gay community.

The later years brought us Queensryche and the Dead Kennedys and a great underground and punk scene.
The earliest local alternative music scene was based around a gay glam theater group called Ze Whiz Kids, one of whose members, Tomata du Plenty, became a fixture in New York before returning in 1976 as part of The Tupperwares  with long-time boyfriend Gorilla Rose ; Blush described this as the first punk rock in the area.

Prior to the mid-1980s, the local hardcore and metal scenes were often violently confrontational with each other. The opening of the Gorilla Gardens venue changed that by offering two separate shows at the same time; as a result, both hardcore and metal were frequently played on the same nights. The softening of relations between the two groups helped inspire the look and sound of grunge, a term allegedly coined by Mark McLaughlin of the brief joke band Mr Epp and the Calculations who gained some local notoriety. This movement gave birth to bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Faith and Disease and Sky Cries Mary to name just a few.  Yes the music of the Pacific Northwest has influenced most genres and continues to bring some of the top acts to the world.  Like Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. The more notable current acts that you may be familiar with from the Seattle area,,,,

Death Cab For Cutie
Modest Mouse
Fleet Foxes

Seattle has recently been noted as the new face of (underground) Hip-Hop. From the beginnings with Sir Mix-A-Lot to now being known by Hip-Hop artists such as the Blue Scholars, Common Market, Oldominion, Jake One and Macklemore.

If you make a trip to the Seattle area, you must visit the Experience Music Project. EMP is a leading-edge, non-profit museum, dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary popular culture. With its roots in rock and roll, EMP serves as a gateway museum, reaching multigenerational audiences through our collections, exhibitions and educational programs, using interactive technologies to engage and empower our visitors. At EMP, artists, audiences and ideas converge, bringing understanding, interpretation and scholarship to the popular culture of our time. They currently have exhibits on Avatar, Nirvana and Battlestar Galactica as well as live performances pretty regularly.  A haven for music lovers of any genre...SEATTLE!

Til next time, Denise in B-Town

The Great Seattle Snowstorm/Ice-storm of 2012

It has been awhile since I have blogged. The main reason being a lack of interesting things going on in my day to day life. Roger and I are on different work schedules right now and we have unfortunately drifted into a ships in the night existence.  He works days and I work nights with different days off, so that means that we don't get out and do anything together. You tend to fall into the day-to-day rut of your routine existence. It happens to us all every now and again. So how do you make time for that quality companionship, a blizzard and ice storm!

It started out nicely enough, fluffy snowflakes falling through the pines. Starting to coat the branches. A pretty winter wonderland worthy of a Currier and Ives print.

Then it kept snowing. The roads iced up and we were stuck at home. No problem, quality time!! We lit a fire and got ready for a nice cuddly snowcation.

Charlie loved it, we took him for a walk in the snow and he met some friends out playing in it too.

Then it snowed some more!!!

And some more.......

At this point, walking the dog was not so much fun.

But we are still having fun at this point. Can't go to work, so we're gonna watch some movies and snuggle and watch it snow. Great couple of days. Then the Ice Storm hit.  I have never experienced the dreaded ice storm before and do not want to again. A freezing rain fell as the temperature plummeted over night and left us with a half inch if ice coating the six or so inches of snow that we had already. Everything became encased in ice.

The weight of the ice and the existing snow in the trees caused the branches to start breaking off, even entire trees came crashing down and what that means is .......no power!  The lines came down beneath the trees. So we had no power for some time and again had to huddle in front of the fire place wrapped in blankets to keep warm.  Thank goodness we truly enjoy spending time together, snowed in with no electricity, heat or hot food for a couple of days. No showers either, phew. So we read alot. Talked. Played Scrabble on my Kindle Fire. And tried to keep each other warm while convincing Charlie that he really didn't need to go out to pee.  That was tricky on the very slick and icy road. In the silence all you could hear was the wind and the loud cracking of the tree limbs. Very scary sound.

A huge branch broke off of this tree in our backyard.

This one fell and blocked the street and was drug to the side.

  So we ended up trapped in the house from Tuesday night until Saturday morning, a great little vacation. And that quality alone time I was wishing for with my dear husband. This week we are back to work and normal life, the sun is actually shining and all is right with the world again. But I actually will miss the dinners of cold cereal by candle light evenings that we shared during the Great Seattle Ice Storm of 2012.

As Winter Creeps In.......

December 22nd brought us the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. The official start of winter. I am not thrilled by the thought of the coldest and wettest months that lie ahead, but am heartened by the fact that the days will start getting longer from here on out! And truth be told, we have been having a rather pleasant winter. Many more bright sunny days than is the norm for the Pacific Northwest.

Although we have had some really cold sub freezing days and nights, they have been relatively dry.  Somehow the clear and crisp winter air is much clearer on a sunny day than the hazy days of summer, making for a spectacular view. But all of that is about to change! We are waiting for our first snow of the season this weekend. It is all the buzz and everyone is talking about it. I would say that 90% of those folks are excited about it. Unfortunately, Roger and I are not among them. I love the beauty of the snow out the window blanketing the pine trees, however the reality of the cold that comes with it while trudging along walking Charlie is not quite so romantic. Charlie however, loves to romp in the snow and it appears that there is alot more sniffing to be done.  As well as a bunch of Pee-Mail to catch up on. I call it doggy Facebook along our street. If you have visited us, you can understand our transportation dilemma on an icy day.  We live on a little dead-end lane that runs down the hillside, so if the roads are icy, nobody gets out of the street. We were iced in last November, the week leading up to Thanksgiving and watched several people give it a try. One brave soul (spelled i-d-i-o-t) in a big 4-wheel drive truck tried to make the top and slid sideways down the neighbors driveway. He was stuck there for a couple of days.




The snowy sky is forming and you can smell the changes in the air!


So, I am planning on a grocery run in the morning so that we can snuggle in for a few days and watch it snow. Hooray for 3 day weekends!!!! 
As long as we don't lose power, it will be cozy and romantic....
hot cocoa by the fire and movies and football.......

until Charlie needs to poop!

Christmas in B-Town

It's a holly jolly Christmas!! Christmas in B-Town is a very old fashioned and romantic place to be. It has all of the old world charm of a Norman Rockwell painting.  Although we have no snow this year and the weather is relatively pleasant. Meaning it is above freezing and pretty much dry!  It still has the "Christmas Feeling" around town.  I think that this is because of the small town feeling that Burien has.  The quaint main street that traverses Olde Burien and the small businesses that comprise our business district.  They are all dressed up for the holidays:

The window display at Poggi Bonsi the greatest kitchen store ever!

Burien Books- Some of us still like the smell of ink and paper and the feel of a real book in your hands.

So, I did my "Shop Local" business today in Olde Burien. Shopped at Poggi Bonsi, a truly gourmet store with products from around the world. Harold and Marge,Clothing, Accessories & Gifts



A hip boutique destination for Guys, Gals and Youngsters alike.

Also Poggi Bonsi!

And as you stroll around town, it really gives you a way back when Christmas feeling.  And the people are in that spirit as well. Merry Christmas shouts a passer by.  The shopkeepers as well, wish you a happy holiday and you have not purchased anything from them. It's a very neighborly way of life here in B-Town.
It reminds me of the old movies that I so love on TMC.  Complete strangers wishing you well, for no reason at all. Thats Burien and why we love it so much!  Only 10 miles from downtown Seattle and a million miles away.  I keep waiting for Jimmy Stewart to run by saying "Merry Christmas Tin Room, Merry Christmas SkinPerfect, Merry Christmas Key Bank!"  This is the time of year that living in a small town makes the most sense. And speaking of the greatest movie of all time...... the Tin Theater is playing it right now.
The Tin Theater:

Enjoy 2nd-run movies at The Tin Theater, classics and foreign films and offering your favorite beverage while sitting in a intimate 48-seat theater.
The theater lobby is open and features another
bar and wine shop, The Tin Cellars, which is open
Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 5pm.
Thats right!! A bar at the Theater!!! And if you speak to the bartender beforehand, Jeremy will bring you a refill to your seat! Just tip him very well!!!!

Thats Right, on the big screen!



IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!!!!!!

My children will tell you of the torture of sitting through the mandatory screening of this movie throughout their entire childhood.  There would be signals at the dinner table, Mom is making us watch "The Movie" tonight.  Gee Mom, I have homework I have to do, a Scout meeting, Water Polo practice, Diarrhea, narcolepsy, anything they could think of to not have to watch this 20 hour long old black and white movie starring nobody they had ever heard of.  It became a joke in our family, stay away...THE MOVIE is on tonight! Thank goodness the movie came out on DVD. Now I can pop it in when everyone is at home! 

They think the coast is clear and all of a sudden-it's on!

Then they grew up. Alex joined the Marines. And his first Christmas away they had a showing on base of "THE MOVIE"

He cried like a baby and called to say that he wished he was with his family watching the movie with us. Even though he was in a very different place, watching It's a Wonderful Life made him feel closer to us. And made him feel connected to the family even though he was miles away.

Peter went away to school.  Similar situation to his brother, loved watching "THE MOVIE" at Christmastime. Made him feel connected to us at the holidays.

So Last Christmas, I bought them a copy of the movie and sent it to them. We all watched it at the same time while talking on the phone. Me in B-Town, Alex in Arizona and Peter in North Carolina.  It is one of the closest family experiences we have ever had. And they no longer dread the time they are forced to watch "THE MOVIE", it is a time to cherish the experience of holidays past and future. A time of shared tradition. Special time we spent together.

So I now look forward to terrorizing my future grandchildren with "THE MOVIE"

"We're going to Grandmas kids. Is she going to make us watch that old movie Dad? Gee, I hope so son."

So if you have a tradition at the holidays that the younger generation is trying to shrug off.......

DON"T LET THEM!!!!!!

They are the ones that will be on the losing end of that proposition and will lament it in the future.

And if you are a young person that feels that your old fashioned parents are forcing you to partake in some antiquated Christmas tradition, hang onto that, someday you will be trying to relive that quaint tradition and recreating that for your own family!

The ties that bind are no stronger than Holiday ties and traditions!

I will lasso you the moon!

Happy Holidays from me... Denise in B-Town and my family......

Roger, Alex, Peter and Charlie

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