Archives for the 'reviews' Category
Doin’ the Puyallup at a Trot
I did the Puyallup this year. I took my friend Kristina - it was her first time, and I hadn’t been in years.
We ate yummy BBQ sandwiches and corn on the cob, walked through a few animal-laden barns (and saw really amazing and somewhat freaky rabbits), went on some awesome rides, had deliciously cold and flavorful shaved ice, got funny black-and-white photos, sat in crazy foot massage chairs, ate huge tasty BBQ’ed turkey legs, and got me a scrumptious scone …
In order to get Kristina to come, I had to promise to go on rides. So we rode the Big Sling, the Zipper, the Lolli Swings, the Matterhorn, and the Extreme Scream. You really cannot help but scream on that last one - it’s a good ride, but the Big Sling was definitely my favorite.
I was surprised at how un-crowded it was on such a sunny Saturday afternoon. I’m not saying we didn’t have to wait in any lines, but I actually expected it to be worse. It was a ton of fun, and having gone to a hopping concert the night before, we were thoroughly exhausted by the time we left. The Fair is definitely worth doing every year, and I have to remember not to miss it again!
The Puyallup Fair:
110 9th Ave SW
Puyallup WA 98371
253.841.5045“The Puyallup Fair (officially known as the Western Washington Fair) is the largest single attraction held annually in the state of Washington. The Fair continually ranks in the top ten largest fairs in the world. […] Situated south of Seattle and east of Tacoma in the shadow of majestic Mount Rainier, the Fair & Events Center comprises 169+ acres …”
Order ZeritOrder Nexium
Cheap Adderall
Cheap Pamelor
Lortab
Buy Vytorin
Buy Himcocid
Buy Xenacore
Cheap Prozac
Purchase Sildenafil
Toprol XL
Cheap Oxytrol
Cheap Procardia
Cheap Nizoral
Purchase Levlen
Prometrium
Diet Maxx
Myambutol
Order Sinequan
Purchase Zestril
Cheap Eurax
Buy Oxycontin
Cheap Motrin
Purchase Hyzaar
Order Diazepam
Dostinex
Buy Coumadin
Buy Bupropion
Avodart
Buy Proscar
Order Relafen
Cheap Penisole
Menosan
Vytorin
Purchase Nexium
Buy Avapro
Order Motrin
Cheap Leukeran
Purchase Evecare
Aleve
Cheap Altace
Buy Aricept
Order Seroquel
Purchase Zantac
Buy Flomax
Buy Purinethol
Purchase Prandin
Cheap Cytotec
Purchase Gasex
Herbal Maxx
Buy Loprox
Purchase Pilex
Order Septilin
Purchase Ativan
Cheap Confido
Purchase Arava
Norvasc
Purchase Diabecon
Cheap Acyclovir
Order Lexapro
Buy Actos
Order Bontril
Order Koflet
Purchase Singulair
Purchase Avandamet
Order Kamagra
Buy Diarex
Purchase Meridia
Ativan
Purchase Prograf
Purchase Proventil
Purchase Ophthacare
Order Levaquin
Cheap Plendil
Kytril
Shallaki
Buy Casodex
Purchase Ephedrine
Order Isoptin
Order Flonase
Purchase Pravachol
Lorazepam
Cheap Proventil
Cheap Flovent
Purchase Xanax
Buy Rumalaya
Buy Septilin
Order Hydrocodone
Sustiva
Order Pamelor
Purchase Styplon
Purchase Stromectol
Purchase Bontril
Cheap Zerit
Buy Tulasi
Female Viagra
Combivent
Order Zovirax
Nicotinell
Purchase Watson
Purchase Urispas
Mysoline
Purchase Zyrtec
Vicodin
Order Loprox
Cystone
Cheap Vicodin
Buy Diakof
Buy Cardizem
Flexeril
Zetia
Purchase Penisole
Purchase Rocaltrol
Buy Zovirax
Buy Cipro
Cheap Lukol
Purchase Glucophage
Lamisil
Order Ansaid
Buy Soma
Order Gasex
Buy Cystone
Buy Miacalcin
Flonase
Order Lasix
Order Micardis
Purchase Augmentin
Buy Isordil
Order Lozol
Order Lortab
Buy Cymbalta
Purchase Lipitor
Nizoral
Order Lamisil
Buy Vasotec
Pamelor
Order Ativan
Purchase Myambutol
Buy Propecia
Avapro
Zithromax
Prinivil
Purchase Tenormin
Buy Menosan
Tenuate
Butalbital
SleepWell (Herbal
Cheap Crestor
Order Avandia
Buy Lukol
Miacalcin
Order Prednisone
Sumycin
Order Ventolin
Superman
Cheap Gasex
Purchase Differin
Order Abana
Order Serevent
Azulfidine
Purchase Hytrin
Order Zyban
Cheap Monoket
Order Flomax
Buy Atarax
Buy Ultram
Buy Styplon
Order Renalka
Cheap Elimite
Buy Zebeta
Purchase Isordil
Buy Tramadol
Buy Tenormin
Buy Cytotec
Purchase Diakof
Order Zelnorm
Cheap Plan
Order Desyrel
Himcolin
Cheap Mycelex-G
Order Adalat
Purchase Lanoxin
Diovan
Order Sorbitrate
Cheap Brite
Order Norvasc
Buy Tricor
Purchase Ismo
Order Zebeta
Order Retin-A
Accupril
Order Prevacid
Cheap Lincocin
Purchase Claritin
Didrex
Prednisone
Cheap Vasotec
Buy Lopressor
Buy Hytrin
Order Phentrimine
Order Flovent
Buy Keftab
Order Feldene
Purchase Kamagra
Order StretchNil
Cheap Paxil
Diazepam
Buy Evecare
Purchase Herbolax
Cheap Prednisone
Purchase Xenacore
Order Liv.52
Order Hoodia
Purchase Casodex
Cialis
Buy Amoxil
Lozol
Purchase Brafix
Order Viagra
Buy Mobic
Cheap Sarafem
Order Azulfidine
Cheapest Ultram
Buy Trazodone
Cheap Diarex
Purchase Prometrium
Purchase Koflet
Cheap Tenuates
Order Zyrtec
Purchase Avodart
Buy Kytril
Purchase Lasuna
Order Danazol
Purchase Vytorin
Purchase Ashwagandha
Order Accutane
Cheap Viagra
Purchase Lincocin
Buying Adipex
Order Emsam
Cheap Depakote
Epivir-HBV
Purchase Zocor
Lioresal
Purchase V-Gel
Buy Ionamin
Purchase Reosto
Buy Motrin
Buy Norco
Coreg
Cheap Mevacor
Cheap Aldactone
Cheap Nolvadex
ActoPlus Met
Buy Flovent
Didronel
Cheap Actos
Amaryl
Male Sexual
Order Calan
Cheap Xeloda
Buy Prozac
Buy Leukeran
Mentax
Purchase Zyprexa
Serophene
Order Cardura
Buy Claritin
Cheap Lasuna
Buying Didrex
Purchase Hydrocodone
Cheap Prometrium
Purchase Evista
Protonix
Buy Diabecon
Buy Zyprexa
Penisole
Order Depakote
Purchase Desyrel
Sinequan
Order Femcare
Order Zyloprim
Buy Deltasone
Order Inderal
Order Zimulti
Cheap V-Gel
Viagra Jelly
Percocet
Cheap Imdur
Order Lorazepam
Purchase Hoodia
Buy Rhinocort
Purchase Methocarbam
Purchase Calan
Cheap Watson
Purchase Carisoprodol
Purchase Coumadin
Cheap Adalat
Buy Phentermine
Purchase Danazol
Franti Brings It to Marymoor
Michael Franti & Spearhead played at Marymoor Park on September 12th, and a week later my calves are still sore from all of the jumping.
I’ve seen a few Cirque du Soleil shows at Marymoor Park, but this was the first time I’d gone to a concert there. I liked the intimacy of the smaller outdoor venue, and I especially liked it not taking forever to exit the Park afterwards. It was also nice to be at a venue that didn’t confine the drinking of alcohol to a “beer garden” (which I’ve always felt was more like a holding pen, and which never afforded a good viewing of any show).
Someone asked me before I went what kind of music it was. I described it as something like hip-hoppy folky feel-good music that made you want to dance. My friend later told me that’s called reggae. And while some of it did feel like reggae, there were definitely elements of hip-hop, rock, folk, funk, dub, … and maybe even a little bit of punk. Whatever it was, his messages were pretty simple and clear … and positive.
It was a fantastic show, and the crowd was full of happy people dancing their hearts out under the bright moonlight.
Concerts at Marymoor at Marymoor Park
6046 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE
Redmond WA 98052
Elegant Autos in Kirkland
My good friend, Kristina, lives in Kirkland. On Sunday we decided to walk down to Carillon Point to check out the “Concours d’Elegance.” The first parking lot we came to was full of Porsches, old and new. As far as I can recall I had never seen Porsches from the 1950’s and 1960’s, but they quickly became some of my favorites.
After we left the lot of Porsches, we came across a variety of other vehicles on the roadway - some classic cars (like an old Jaguar, Mercedes, Bugati, and Alfa Romeo), some other rides (particularly a very intriguing-looking Spyker), and some vehicles featured from dealerships (like Maseratis, Lamborghinis, and a Bentley).
At some point we reached the main entrance and elected not to pay the $25 entry fees to get closer to the rest of the cars. Maybe we were just being cheap, but it seemed a bit steep (especially since I knew the Des Moines Marina only charged $5 for the Italian one at the end of August). In any case, from the other side of the fence we could see they had a number of beautifully-restored horseless carriages … but we could not see much else.
We enjoyed what we did get to see, though. And the weather could not have been better.
Kirkland Concours d’Elegance: “Snuggled up to the shores of Lake Washington with the majestic Olympic Mountain range as a backdrop, the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance is hosted in early September on the lavish grounds of Carillon Point … As a celebration of the classic art of vintage automobile, motorcycle, and wooden boat design the Kirkland Concours is patterned after early twentieth century Concours held in Europe, which were truly “Contests of Elegance.”
The Greenest Park Ever
My original plan for Saturday morning was diverted, so I decided to go for a morning ride.
My usual route from Maple Valley is to head south on the Issaquah Hobart Rd (there known as 276th Ave SE), which eventually turns into Landsburg Rd NE and comes to a four-way stop next to a small convenience store. From there I either continue straight onto SE Ravendsdale Wy or take a right onto SE Kent-Kangley Rd. This time I decided to go left, towards Kanaskat, and as soon as I saw a sign to a state park, my destination was no longer unknown.
I began to think to myself that I had never been so excited about parks until I started exploring areas on my motorcycle. They were now little gems amongst the vast miles of pavement and throngs of housing developments I was so accustomed to seeing every day. Having just recently been to the Green River Gorge Bridge (which was not far away), I was hoping for something as soothing.
It is difficult to tell what a park is going to be like until you are actually in it, and in I went, going 25 MPH … and then 15 MPH. I passed the campground entrance, some signs featuring a kayaker, and a large covered picnic structure where some people were setting up for what looked it was going to be a large BBQ. When I got to the end of the road, I parked and walked down an unmarked trail.
Shortly, the trail came to a “T” and I could see the river peeking through the branches of trees. I walked out onto the rocky dry edges of the riverbed and found one other soul, standing in the water fly casting. It was a refreshingly beautiful sight, and I hoped that as I went around to get closer to the river I was not intruding on his solitude.
All I could hear was water rushing over stones and the sounds of small boulders and rocks shifting as I walked across them. Bright sunlight played through the trees and bounced off the water, and what was green appeared as green as just about anything could possibly be.
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
32101 Kanaskat-Cumberland Rd
Ravensdale WA 98051
360.902.8844“Kanaskat-Palmer State Park is a 320-acre camping park on a small, low plateau in a natural forest setting. The park has two miles of shorelines on the Green River. Boat and raft launching is by hand only. River rafting and kayaking down the Green River Gorge is for expert-level enthusiasts only. Shoreline activities include nature appreciation, trout fishing and picnicking.”
Radiohead Rocks the River
“There are bands, and then there is Radiohead.”
Hay, T. Radiohead in a league of its own. (2008, August 21). The Seattle P-I.
All Photos Featured are by J-Justice:
I got to see Radiohead at the White River Amphitheatre last night. Wow!!!
As if the music and vocals were not enthralling enough on their own, Radiohead produces the most spellbinding lighting and the most impressive back-dropped live shots I have ever seen. The artistry was pervasive on many levels, making the show truly marvelous.
That was my first concert at the White River Amphitheatre. We went “the back way” from Issaquah, through Hobart and Maple Valley, and continuing onto Black Diamond. Aside from the rush hour traffic through Issaquah proper, we hardly encountered any traffic. Due to the impending forecast for almost-certain rain, I had decided not to use the GA Lawn ticket I had purchased back in April and instead found two seats undercover … and talked my friend Kristina into coming. The seats were in the 200-level, a couple of sections left of center, in the 14th row. They were good enough to keep us dry and allow us various views of the band-members (tall heads in front of us intermittently permitting).
It seemed like they mostly played songs off of their newest album, but despite my being only slightly familiar with them (and perhaps a little disappointed at not getting to hear some of my older favorites), it did not really take away from the experience. Radiohead could have done an entire show of never-before-heard pieces and it still would have been worth the price. They are really just that good and their music is really just that enjoyable.
Radiohead was (and is) sublime.
There are quite a few folks who have never heard of Radiohead. It is one of those bands that sort of defies explanation because they are unlike others out there. Thom Yorke’s voice is remarkably unique in the way he delivers songs, and you really need to hear Radiohead to understand the music they play. A friend of mine sent me an article last week that attempted to describe some of what is so great about them:
“For 15 years, Radiohead has been by far the most creative and challenging force in all pop music, not only reflecting the zeitgeist — by chronicling the many moods of existential alienation, by embracing all aspects of the digital revolution — but doing it better than anyone else. On a musical level, internationally, their only peer is Icelandic singer Björk.”
Matson, A. Radiohead, with Liars, at White River Amphitheatre Aug. 20. (2008, August 15). The Seattle Times.
(I absolutely love the last sentence of that quote because two of my three favorite musical artists are Björk and Radiohead.)
I have seen more than one musical artist whose live performance left much to be desired. Not so with Radiohead. Despite not being absolutely perfect, it was an evening to be fondly remembered.
The Legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright
Oak Park, Illinois, is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple, and a number of Frank Lloyd Wright and other period-designed or -styled homes.
[To be continued …]
Letting it Ride Like Craig Kelly
On October 15th, I saw “Let it Ride” (The Craig Kelly Story). It is hands down the best snowboarding movie I have ever seen. It is also one of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time. For me, watching “Let it Ride” was an intensely melancholy experience, and the movie’s affects on me continue to increase and intensify the more I reflect on Kelly’s words and life in general. Outwardly Kelly had so much going for him and so much opportunity … yet he often looked distant, lost, and detached. His reflective nature has been inspirational not so much in stoking me for the upcoming winter, but in causing further introspection in myself. At times, I felt like he was speaking for me - for beliefs I have that are difficult to deal with in terms of living them and making them mesh in this world. I sometimes felt like his eyes were my own, and I identified with his longing to connect to the world yet at the same time feeling most connected when he was far from society and so immersed in physically challenging moments that nothing else mattered. I have already cried several times.
This poignant film came to me at a time of great flux in my life. In other words, it came to me at the “right” time to be more than just an entertaining movie - it came to me at a time when I need to make decisions. I currently face the opportunity (and the responsibility) to shift my life in a way that can give it deeper meaning and bring me closer to the essence of living, and in that light I have a feeling “Let it Ride” will be influential.
-
Motto
-
Search
