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BELLEVUE SQUARE
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is giving me the “Bastyr tools to build a career that balances research and seeing patients.
”
Joshua Goldenberg, ND (2013)
THE GREATEST GIFT ... 4 Two buddies provide a guided tour of Seattle’s parks, complete with boobs and butts.
WISH LIST ... 4 One of the minds behind Timbrrr! Fest
tells us what he wants, including a disaster kit and a Mariners playoff berth.
BUY LOCAL ... 6 Between Ballard and Fremont, you will find a full holiday’s worth of gifts.
BUY NEARBY ... 7 Head north for some culture and
character in the shops of Victoria, B.C.
GIFT PICKS ... 9 Presents for all, including booze, home
CECILIA CORSANO-LEOPIZZI
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9 COVER ILLUSTRATION AND LETTERING BY CHRISTINE HERRIN
WE WRITE A LOT ABOUT HOMELESSNESS in Seattle
Degre Degrees r es Include: re • Ayurveda • Maternal-Child Health • Naturopathic Medicine • Nutrition • Public Health
Weekly. In the past few months alone, we have written about encampments buried deep in the woods surrounding our suburbs (“Into the Wild,” Sept. 24); a group of homeless citizens overcoming the greatest of odds to summit Mount Rainier (“One Foot in Front of the Other,” Aug. 6); and, just a few weeks ago, we invited a writer who spends his night on the streets to share his story of insecurity with our readers (“Stealing From the Homeless,” Nov. 12). There has been more in the past, and, unfortunately, there will certainly be more in the future. We are lucky enough to work near Pioneer Square, which has seen an uptick in development, with new restaurants and businesses moving in every week. It is also still where much of the city’s population of indigent transients can be found. For the most part, the homeless do not benefit from the neighborhood’s progress. If anything, the new businesses and businesspeople flooding in complete a tableau that illustrates the striking gulf between wealth and poverty in our city, where at least 2,000 people sleep on the streets each night. During the holidays, when rain and cold bear down, the contrast is even starker. Because of our location, it is impossible for us to ignore the challenges of homelessness that face Seattle. That’s likely why it’s a topic that we, as a staff, are eager to explore. It is also why I’m taking the opportunity at the outset of this, the third of Seattle Weekly’s Holiday Gift Guides, to encourage you to give to the organizations that help Seattle’s less fortunate. They are myriad, from food banks to shelters to transitional and job-training programs. I’m not going to tell you which to donate to—we consider it our job to write about these organizations with a semblance of objectivity, and to advocate one above another, even here, would be irresponsible. Instead I’ll leave it up to you. Think about how you want to help—donating food, an old interview suit, money—do a quick Internet search, reach out, and give. And then go ahead and buy a few of the great gifts from local businesses and makers found in these pages.
Mark Baumgarten Editor-in-Chief
Learn more: Info.BastyrUniversity.edu • 425-602-3330 Kenmore, WA • San Diego
ROARING BACK TO THE TACOMA DOME!
DECEMBER 17-21 TACOMA DOME Ticketmaster.com • 800.745.3000 Tacoma Dome Box Office • Ticketmaster Outlets
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
decor, and tools for artists.
GIVING AND RELIEVING
Create a Healthier World
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‘MY gOD, YOu’LL LaugH’ METRO
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‘I aLMOST aSPHYxIaTED MYSELf wITH LaugHTER’ THE DAILY EXPRESS
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SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT THREE
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The wife and I have talked it over, and it’s time. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is locked up tight. We’re feeling pretty safe down here in the Rainier Valley, but it’s time to get ready for what could come our way. It’s also time for us to get serious about our garden, learn more about permaculture, and to get good at canning foods. Or maybe we just need to form a more strategic alliance with our friendly neighbors and their giant garden. Less Controversy, More Conversation
I want to hear less of people’s (and my own) selfproclaimed wisdom and hear more questions. I want to spend less time on the Internet reading opinions and more time reading about perspectives. Maybe I feel especially overwhelmed by tone and attitude this holiday season given the intensity and frequency of horrible events, but I get the sense that we’re all tired. Maybe I just need a hug. Sleater-Kinney Box Set
Two buddies went on a four-year adventure to every park in Seattle. They put it all in a book so you can tag along. BY PATRICK HUTCHISON In 2010, two born-and-bred Seattle boys came up with an idea. It happened while James Mitchell and Jackson Quall were sitting on Quall’s porch drinking beers. “We thought it would be a good idea to smoke a spliff in every Seattle park,” Quall remembers. And so, a journey began. “Somewhere along the way, we realized that we needed proof, so we started taking pictures next to the rainbow signs.” Quall is speaking, of course, of the signs found in every Seattle park highlighting the park’s name and amenities. But once Quall and Mitchell started to run out of parks they knew, they decided to keep going into the unknown, employing a checklist of all the city’s parks—a long checklist. With so much formality now in place (the list, the photographs, the plan), they eventually put down the spliffs and came up with the idea to make a book. Almost four years, 334 parks, and one very successful Kickstarter campaign later, Quall and Mitchell have realized their goal, aptly titled Reasons to Go Outside—a beautifully designed catalogue of their experience, with most of the pho-
tography by Quall himself and the design by a friend, local artist Lola Migas. Though the book starts with a brief history of our parks’ key historical proponents, like the legendary John C. Olmsted, and a few other facts and figures, it’s not necessarily meant as a guide. “The book is basically three parts. Yes, it can be used as a resource because it lists all the parks, but it’s also a personal narrative and a piece of art—something beautiful you can put on your coffee table,” says Quall. Each park visited gets its own page, with a picture of Quall, Mitchell, and whatever friends decided to tag along. Icons let the reader know the weather during their visit, the temperature, and what method of transportation they used to get there (usually bikes). Captions on each page include “anything we want to say about the park. It could be an anecdote of what we did that
day, or it could just be a rambling story that we were talking about at that time.” In this way, Reasons to Go Outside is just the tale of two friends having fun. Quall and Mitchell have known each other since both were 13, the year their parents started dating. Quall tells me, “They split up after about 10 years, but James and I, we’ll be friends forever. You can’t split us up.” Reasons to Go Outside is a time capsule of what it’s like to be in your 20s, riding bikes and spending time with friends in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, if not the world. “This book is a very accurate portrait of who we are. It’s not apologetic. There’s boobs and butts and drugs and drinking. It’s not a family book. It’s an accurate representation of what we, and young people in general, do in parks.” E $55. reasonstogooutside.com.
The First Hill Streetcar
I’m ready for a carless commute from the south side of town to Capitol Hill that doesn’t take a full hour or cost a small fortune. With Bertha dead 100 feet under the city and the viaduct wobbling ever more with each gust of wind, I’m not feeling superconfident that it’s going to get any easier to make our way across town anytime soon. We need little victories on the way to a functional transit system. Let’s open up that streetcar early for Christmas! Mariners Playoff Berth
It’s time. It’s been fun to watch Seattle explode as a football town. I loved watching Boeing fly a 747 with a Seahawks livery over downtown Seattle. But I’ve simultaneously loathed the personality-driven blather of football. We don’t need Richard Sherman yapping or Marshawn Lynch keeping us guessing. We need to gradually fall back in love with the Mariners during a slow-paced, methodical, 162-game all-American baseball season. Let’s have a good one. Let’s watch a team build momentum and get there. Also, if it’s not too much trouble, it’d be great if we could get Michael Saunders back. E In addition to singing songs sweetly, O’Sullivan is responsible for the business operations of Artist Home, which will stage its second annual Timbrrr! Winter Music Festival, Jan. 9–10 in Leavenworth. See timbermusicfest.com for tickets and info.
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
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PEOPLE IN GLASSHOUSES SHOULD THROW PARTIES.
BALMONT BONANZA
Ring in 2015 under Seattle’s most iconic fireworks display as Chihuly Garden and Glass transforms into the ultimate New Year’s Eve celebration.
Let Leary lead the way to your holiday pick-ups. BY ABBY SEARIGHT Lumping Fremont and Ballard together
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package of herbs and check her off the list. Next head to Trouvaille (5335 Ballard Ave. N.W., 829-8539) and The Palm Room (5336 Rod Mar Photography Ballard Ave. N.W., 782-7256). At Trouvaille, you’re bound to come across many a trinket to complete a coffee-table spread, while The Palm Room offers varieties of succulents you never knew existed. While rather pricy, a purchase from either will surely garner oohs and ahs when the ribbons come off. Cap your shopping day by heading to Northwest 70th Street. If you need a lift before heading to yet another holiday party, get an espresso and croissant at Honoré (1413 N.W. 70th St.,706-4035), or if dinner is in order after a long day of shopping, head to Delancey (1415 N.W. 70th St., 838-1960), Brandon Pettit and Molly Wizenberg’s renowned pizzeria. But note that both are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Plan accordingly. E
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SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
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might offend some proud locals, but when it comes to holiday shopping, efficiency dictates that you traverse Leary Way between these two bustling Seattle ’hoods. In just one afternoon you’ll be able to scoop up items you’re unlikely to find further south, east, or north for that matter. Within the two neighborhoods are enough cafes and restaurants, specialty stores and gift shops that you’re sure to complete your holiday shopping in a single trip. Start in Fremont. Essenza (615 N. 35th St., 547-4895) and Les Amis (3420 Evanston Ave. N., 632-2877) are can’t-miss stops. Both owned by Becky Buford, the sister stores offer just what you’d hope of a boutique—intimate, inviting, and chock-full of luxury items you can’t help but admire. Shop for fine jewelry and fragrances at Essenza and designer apparel at Les Amis. Head up Fremont Avenue for happy hour at Vif Wine and Coffee (4401 Fremont Ave. N., 5577357). Enjoy a glass and browse the bottle selection. But hold it there, you’ve got driving to do. Take Leary west to Ballard. On Ballard Avenue, you must check out neighbors Lucky Dry Goods (5424 Ballard Ave. N.W., 7898191) and Dandelion Botanical Company (5424 Ballard Ave. N.W. #103, 545-8892). Lucky carries perfectly worn flannels and team Ts—the perfect place for a gift your husband won’t simply shove to the back of his closet. If your crazy aunt who swears by spoonfuls of vinegar could call a store home, that store could quite possibly be Dandelion. Pick up a
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Parliament lit up.
OH, CANADA
In Victoria’s shops, the art is local and the culture British. BY JEANNY RHEE
SARAH MACNEILL/CARTE STUDIO
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SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
Forget Vancouver. The right spot for your Canadian spending spree is Victoria, B.C.: cozier, not to mention closer, and as near London as you’re likely to get without having to book a flight. In fact, you can ride Amtrak, the Victoria Clipper, or the ferry from downtown Seattle, or drive four hours north on I-5. As British Columbia’s capital, Victoria has a strong British background, with majestic buildings and architecture—and as a bonus, the Parliament Buildings are adorned with tens of thousands of lights during the holiday season, making your shopping experience all the jollier. Apart from the appeal of the town’s historical buildings, which make for some whimsical cafes and a snug atmosphere, the shopping alone is a cultural experience. Locals recommend going downtown to Lower Johnson Street, or “LowJo,” between Wharf and Douglas for a wide range of independent and noteworthy shops, including Violette Boutique (1223 Government St., +1 250-388-7752). This chic store, with interiors that replicate the shops
of Paris’ Île Saint-Louis, carries jewelry and accessories made primarily by Canadian designers from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. But if one shop itself is worth the trip, it’s Smoking Lily (569 Johnson St., +1 250-3825459). This tiny alcove in the front section of a 120-year-old heritage building lobby is only a few feet larger than your average closet (4 by 11 feet). Smoking Lily collaborates with local artists to produce specially designed silk-screened clothing, made in-house. They also offer customized orders and a selection of printed T-shirts, bags, scarves, jackets, and more. For the serious action figure and comic book collector, there’s Curious Comics (631 Johnson St., +1 250-384-1656) and Cherry Bomb Toys (1410 Broad St., +1 250385-8697), both at the corner of Johnson and Broad Streets. They buy exclusively from local collections, and have an expansive and ever-changing inventory that stands out from other toy shops in town. Among their most popular and treasured collectables are Star Wars figurines, the original G.I. Joe, LEGOs, and more. And what’s a town with a strong British background without English confectioneries? The English Sweet Shop (736 Douglas St., +1 250-382-3325) carries foodstuffs usually found only in England, like “boiled sweets,” bonbons, toffees, and (as they spell it) liquorice. They also sell familiar grocery items like marmalades and traditional English biscuits, as well as “distinctive British groceries” like Marmite, malt loaf, and spotted dick. Surely you won’t find the latter anywhere in Seattle. P.S. Don’t forget your passport. E
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For $20 you get a growler and a gift card to fill it up. It’s the perfect gift to put under the tree. 2014 Small Brewery of the Year
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SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT THREE
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By Geoff Kaiser
f a bottle of beer doesn’t fit into the stocking you have hanging on the mantle, then you might want to get a bigger stocking. Giving beer for the holidays is a surefire way to make a beer geek happy. But you can do better than just grabbing a six-pack from the grocery store. If you put some thought into it, you can find some gifts that are sure to please that special beer drinker in your life.
Seattle Bottle Shops
Start a Beer “Cellar”
While the majority of beer is best drunk as fresh as possible, there is a small percentage that ages with grace. Over a year or two, or even more, the flavors in certain beers can develop and change. One gift idea for the holidays is to get someone started on their own beer “cellar.” It doesn’t take much, other than buying them a bunch of bottles of a beer styles that have the potential to age well. Other than the beer selections, a cool, dark place to store the beer (a basement is perfect) is all you need. Beers that are bottle-fermented and high in alcohol are the best bets for aging. Barleywines, imperial stouts, and beers with wild yeast, such as sours and saisons, are perfect examples. Barleywines are my favorite style to age. These beers often have alcohol content higher than 10 percent ABV and have loads of hops and malt packed into the profile. Over a couple of years, the alcohol and hop bitterness mellow, while the malt flavors develop and integrate with the rest of the beer. What
Relax, Have a Homebrew
If you know someone that loves beer and has played around with the idea of homebrewing, the holidays are the perfect time to make that choice for them. A visit to one of the area homebrew shops, like Cellar Homebrew, Bob’s Homebrew Supply, Mountain Homebrew or Sound Homebrew Supply will give you what you need to make a homebrewing dream come true. You should be able to find starter kits at these shops, as well as ingredients and expert advice. Start off with a basic kit, or have a shop put together some customselected equipment that will keep your new homebrewer happy for years. If your potential homebrewer is excited about creating recipes to fit their tastes, but they aren’t enamored with the laborious process involved, you might think about opening your wallet for the high-end PicoBrew Zymatic. This machine is the size of a large microwave and automates much of the process of making all-grain beer. The retail price for a base model is $1,699, but you’ll save yourself space and money on the usual homebrewing equipment, and you’ll save an incredible amount of time and effort. Happy holidays to all you beer drinkers out there, and may your stocking be enormous and full of beer! Geoff Kaiser enjoys writing about and drinking beer in Seattle. Check out his website at seattlebeernews.com.
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
One of my favorite things about the Seattle beer scene is the selection of locallyowned small bottle shops we have. Beer Junction (West Seattle), Full Throttle Bottles (Georgetown), Bottleworks (Wallingford) and Chuck’s Hop Shop (Greenwood & Central District) are my favorites of the bunch in Seattle, with Malt & Vine (Redmond) being a very worthy visit on the Eastside. But you risk being overwhelmed if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for. Luckily, these shops are all staffed by bonafide beer geeks. There are many seasonal releases that come out this time of year, from barrelaged rarities to annual favorites like Anchor Christmas Ale. Winter seasonal beers are typically heartier and heavier than your average beer, and something to sip on by the fire after opening presents would surely be welcome.
might have been a harsh beer to drink when first released can turn into a perfect sipping beer to enjoy by the fireplace. Smoked beers are another style that tend to age well, specifically the Alaskan Smoked Porter. While the beer is only 6.5 percent ABV, the smoked malt in the beer is a natural preservative that will allow you to cellar these for several years. The smoke flavor can diminish over time, while flavors of sherry, dark fruit (raisins, figs), and toffee start to come through more. If you want to take a shortcut to try this beer, Alaskan released a Vintage Gift Pack this month that includes bottles of the 2008 and 2013 vintage of the Smoked Porter. Speaking of shortcuts, Bottleworks is nice enough to save you the task of cellaring your own beer. They have a stash of beer down in their own cellar that they dip into for special occasions, including the holidays.
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HOLIDAY SPIRITS
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Gifts that go in a glass—or mug.
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LOOK SHARP! VIA WIKIMEDIA
SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT THREE
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1. Tovolo Colossal Cube Ice Molds
Every time I watch an episode of Mad Men with my girlfriend, she wonders aloud, “Why does every man want to be like Don Draper? All he does is womanize and smoke and drink!” Well, she’s right on all counts. The truth is, there is only one Don Draper. But that doesn’t stop us from drinking classy beverages with classy ice cubes that make us seem a little bit more like him, right? Right! So for the Don-wannabe in your life, get a magnificent large ice-cube molder! JACOB UITTI $16.50. Mrs. Cooks in U Village, University Village Shopping Center, 2685 N.E. Village Lane, 525-5008, mrscooks.com. 2. Yamazaki 12-Year Single Malt
Suntory made the news this year for producing the World’s Best Whisky, taking the top spot over Scottish whisky; the news was controversial among whisky drinkers and Scots. But rather than rub salt in the wound, sit back and enjoy the best in the world. Though the winning whisky, a Yamazaki Single-Malt Sherry Cask 2013, is far from easily available, Suntory’s Yamazaki 12-Year Single Malt is as close to the best as the common man can get: aged in three types of oak and sweet with the fragrance of honey and dates. TIFFANY RAN $69.99. suntory. com.
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3. Smacha Tea
3 6 5. Scrappy’s Cardamom Bitters
7. Moscow Mule Copper Mugs
For the tea connoisseur in your life, you can’t go wrong with a selection from Smacha in Bellevue. Owner Jason Chen, recently profiled in Seattle Weekly (“Tea Party,” April 9), has been in the wholesale tea business for 16 years, and owns more than 3,000 acres of tea gardens in China. To ensure top quality, he farms the tea and processes it himself, and sources the best bergamot and hibiscus. With more than 60 varieties to choose from, there’s something for every palate—from creamy Taiwanese oolong to lively yet delicate jasmine. Pick up a box of locally made snacks to pair with them. like mochi or black-tea lotus cake. NICOLE SPRINKLE Prices vary. smacha.com.
I feel that bitters are a bit overplayed in the cocktail world these days. I’m not sure there’s a point in having 100 different varieties, because they’re used in such minimal quantities most of the time. That said, a good home bar has at least four: Angostura, Peychaud’s, orange bitters, and something spiced. My personal preference in the latter realm are the cardamom bitters from Scrappy’s, which pair nicely with both barrel-aged spirits like whiskey and brandy and with gin. They’re powerful and should be used with restraint, but they lend a delightfully exotic note to many otherwise familiar drinks. ZG Prices vary. scrappysbitters. com. Sold in dozens of stores in Seattle.
In 1941, a Hollywood bar owner mixed the first Moscow Mule to sell more vodka, but what followed the success of this marketing strategy was a frenzy for the signature copper mug it’s served in. Even Mules enjoyed at home should come in a dapper mug, but swiping the copper beauties from your neighborhood bar is not so classy; one should opt instead for buying a set. Mules aside, these copper vessels can hold the chill for any iced beverage of choice. TR Set of 4 mugs; $79.80. Sur La Table, Pike Place Market, 84 Pine St., 448-2244, surlatable.com.
6. Sparkling Wine
4. Mixing Tools
Without a doubt, the perfect gift is sparkling wine. It’s fun to buy, and everyone will have a time in their life when opening a bottle of sparkling wine is appropriate: birthdays, promotions, Tuesdays. Picking a bottle is always a bit tricky, and of course there are tons on the market. Yet for my money, the best combination of deliciousness and value is the Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs. It’s amazingly complex, super-delicious, and, for a Grand Cru Champagne, surprisingly affordable. ZG $54.95. Sold at most wine shops including Wine World, Esquin, and McCarthy & Schiering.
You will earn either eye-rolling or a new friend if you bring this on your next flight. The kit includes the makings of an Old Fashioned (minus the whiskey, which you’ll need to order on the plane): a recipe card, a spoon/muddler, aromatic bitters delivered via those miniature pumps in perfume sample bottles, cane sugar, and a linen coaster. Since the cocktail requires no fresh-squeezed citrus, herbs, or other nonairport-friendly portable ingredients, it’s the perfect drink to mix in flight. A great gift for the jet-setting boozehound in your life. NS $24. carryoncocktailkit.com E
Mixing drinks is actually really simple. It’s easy to go overboard with equipment, but in the end you only need three tools to make just about every drink under the sun. The centerpiece is a sturdy pint glass (well, preferably at least four to six), which will allow you to shake drinks in concert with a Boston shaker tin or stir them with a bar spoon. A Hawthorne strainer (the kind that vaguely looks like a Slinky) will help you leave the ice behind and completes the set. ZACH GEBALLE
8. Carry On Cocktail Kit
KITCHEN CONTRAPTIONS Tools that will make foodies drool.
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5 1. Sansaire Sous Vide Machine
2. Beginning Modernist Pack
Sodium alginate and calcium chloride may not make an appearance in the standard recipe, but the Modernist Cuisine reader in your life will surely squeal to have their own Modernist Pack. A Beginning Modernist Pack includes seven ingredients (agar agar and sodium citrate, among other pixie dusts), and a set of starter tools will help even the molecular gastro-novice achieve food-lab perfection at home. A variety of modernist agents are also available and sold separately. TIFFANY RAN $96. Marx Foods, 144 Western Ave. W., 447-1818, marxfoods.com. 3. Miyabi Birchwood Santoku Knife
For both the home cook in dire need of a knife upgrade and the chef who’s a sucker for the classics, this is the ideal everyday knife for fine dices on vegetables, thin slices on fish, and clean cuts on meats. Its thin blade is crafted
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with exactly 101 layers of resilient steel, and, relatively affordable, it’s a great introduction to the ease and elegance of Japanese knives. It’s safe to say that after a few uses, one will simply never go back. TR $279.95 for the 7-inch. Sur La Table, 84 Pine St., 448-2244. 4. Burlap Holiday Napkin Rings
Some people are nuts for table settings, from cloth napkins to table runners. For them, decking out a holiday table is right up there with trimming the tree. And for them is this homemade set of burlap napkin rings with four holiday embellishments, like a single bright-green jingle bell and a wooden Christmas tree, sold by “The Sleepy Dog” vendor. Mix and match them or get one uniform set. NICOLE SPRINKLE $12 for a set of four. etsy.com/ listing/116125996. 5. Vegetable Peeler
Multi-use tools are a must in the kitchen, and a wide-set vegetable peeler is a good one, useful both for cooking and drinking. On the culinary front, it’s great for peeling lumpier items like potatoes and other root vegetables, while in the mixology world, it helps you make really nicelooking wide citrus garnishes. OXO in particular makes a comfortable and highly functional version called the Julienne Peeler. ZACH GEBALLE $9.99. oxo.com.
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SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
Cooking food sous vide—in a bag submerged in water at very specific and often low temperatures—is a practice reserved for only the most ostentatious of at-home food nerds, owing to the device’s big price (usually more than a grand) and enormous size. But a Seattle native has found a way to bring that cooking potential into your kitchen, for a small price and a smaller footprint. The Sansaire slips into any standard large cooking pot and transforms it into a beautiful and capable sous vide machine. Get your bags of lavender-infused halibut ready: The Sansaire is the next ultimate food-geek tool you absolutely need. PATRICK HUTCHISON $199. sansaire.com.
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Kitchen Contraptions » FROM PAGE 13 6. Turnco Wood Goods French Rolling Pin
The best tool in your kitchen is not that newest gadget or most unusual item, but the most common. For home bakers, a rolling pin is as vital as a chef ’s knife or the perfect sauté pan, and Turnco Wood Goods on Whidbey Island might make the best you can find. Owners/makers Kelly and Janae Cameron use locally sourced wood for their French rolling pins. Versions in black walnut or PNW madrona are available, along with custom felt storage sleeves to protect them from all the other tools in your baking drawer. PH $58. turncowoodgoods.com.
Welcome Sights
7. Finex Cast-Iron Skillet
When Portland’s Mike Whitehead was a kid, he didn’t collect baseball cards or pogs or Pokemon, but something that mattered: castiron skillets. Now instead of collecting them, he’s making them. “We’re all drawn to things that age more slowly than us, things that are going to be here after we’re gone,” says Whitehead. His company, Finex, is looking to revitalize the lost tradition of making truly great skillets—ones you pass down to your grandchildren. And from the looks of them, octagonal with polished, brass-capped handles, your grandchildren will be happy to inherit them. PH $125–$195. store.finexusa.com. E
MAKER’S DELIGHT Tools and supplies for your favorite artist. 1
3
Blue skies in December. A HARDWARE A hardware store on Capitol Hill.
STORE ON
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206-322-1717 CAPITOL HILL 1417 12th Avenue 206-322-1717 www.pacsupply.com
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1417 12TH AVENUE (BETWEEN PIKE AND UNION) WWW.PACSUPPLY.COM
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1. Mosaic Glass
A pound of glass is appropriate no matter your recipient’s artistic discipline. Bedrock Mosaic Glass, located under the Magnolia Bridge, offers a variety of colored glass—some pieces circular, others triangular, all 100 percent recycled. Browse mosaic materials to complement his or her next project. A trip to the shop’s Stoneyard is a gift in itself. Orderly as it is, the back outlet lends a funky flair that lures a buyer to the bright-hued tubs of tumbled tile. ABBY SEARIGHT $7.99+. 1401 W. Garfield St., 283-7625, bedrockmosaicglass.com. 2. Turtle Sandbag
Ordinarily used to pound sheet metal, a Turtle Sandbag also serves to deaden the sound of hammering, support hand tools, and as an engraving surface. Handstitched by Danaca Design instructor Bill Dawson, this multipurpose leather pouch is sure to delight the artist in your life—especially if that artist is partial to turtles. AS $40. Available at Danaca Design, 5619 University Way N.E., 524-0916, danaca design.com.
3. Hand Roller
Ideal for potters with designs on their mind, the MKM hand roller imprints a pattern on rolled clay. Crafted in Appleton, Wisc., these rollers range in size and design depending on the project and the artist’s preference. AS $7.95–$17.95. Available at Seattle Pottery Supply, 35 S. Hanford St., 587-0570, seattlepotterysupply.com. 4. Yarn Bowls
Yarn balls never stay put. They’re on top of the nightstand one second and rolling across the floor the next. Heidi’s Pottery’s yarn bowls will secure those runaway balls, making your grandmother’s and knitter friends’ lives a whole lot easier. Hand-thrown and carved on Capitol Hill, the bowls are specially designed with holes and a J-curve to hold yarn in place while knitting and a weighty bottom to prevent tipping when tugging. JEANNY RHEE $39–$68. Heidi’s Pottery, 735 Belmont Ave. E., 965-9810, heidispottery.com.
» CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Holiday Editions 4TH WEEK of HOLIDAY COVERAGE
Next Issue On Stands 12/17! Gift Guide Part 4
Give the gift of comfort.
MILAGROS FINE MEXICAN FOLK ART
THE BEST OF MEXICO IS HERE!
GIVE A UNIQUE GIFT! • Oaxacan carvings • Religious artwork • Talavera pottery • Huichol artwork • & more 206.464.0490 www.MilagrosSeattle.com
And remember we always validate parking for all UDPA parking lots.
Give an experience that will create lasting memories this holiday season. Instant Gift Certificates available Online
LUCKY FOR YOU WASHINGTON’S LARGEST SKI RESORT IS LESS THAN 2 HOURS AWAY! Learn to Ski or Snowboard this winter for just $195 - Includes 3 days of lift tickets, lessons and rental equipment. Learn more or purchase online as a gift CrystalMountainResort.com/StartingOut The Mt. Rainier Gondola and Summit House Restaurant welcomes non-skiers during the winter! Surround yourself with stunning scenery in a true winter wonderland. Come for the day, or stay the night in a charming hotel, condominium or suite. Let’s connect: CrystalMountainResort.com
CrystalMountain
CrystalMt
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
PIKE PLACE MARKET Post Alley (just off Pine St) 1409 1ST AVE (2nd location) between Pike & Union
4303 University Wy NE Seattle 98105 • 206-632-3254
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MAKER’S DELIGHT
» FROM PAGE 14
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For the artist who wants some Northwest in his or her work, there’s Bob’s Fine Vine Charcoal, sourced in Eugene. Its trademark color and consistency is credited to its method of production—select Northwest hardwood is burnt at a specific temperature. A pack contains 24 sticks, 20 small and four large. AS $12. Available at ARTspot, 408 Main St., Edmonds, 425-640-6408, artspot.squarespace.com. 6. Clothbound Chicago Screw-Post Portfolio Professional
This is for any Type-A artist out there who understands the importance of keeping work neat, organized, and coffee-stain-free. Paper Hammer’s handmade cloth-bound portfolio comes with three 1-inch vertical Chicago screw-posts that tightly hold and secure paper, with multiple colors available. It’s the perfect gift for your anxiety-ridden designer friend, who’ll most likely treasure this timeless gift—and you for your support of their tidy career. JR $45. Paper Hammer, 1400 Second Ave., 682-3820, paper-hammer.com. 7. Fountain Pens, Nibs, and Dip
Calligraphy isn’t just for Mother’s Day cards. These wooden beauties with replaceable nibs offer an archaic yet worldly feel that is perfect for illustrators and cartoonists, but also good for writing your autograph in your checkbook.
It certainly would make paying the rent an eloquent chore. JR $5–$15, $2-$5 for nibs. Available at The Lost Quill, 126 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, info@thelostquill.com. 8. Pastel Set
Washington-based Dakota Art Pastels is the designated distributor of Blue Earth Pastels, which offers two sampler sets, Land & Sea and Portrait & Figure. Each includes 21 sticks in seven tones that will enable an artist to draw the most convincing landscapes or portraits. Place an order with Ballard’s Dakota Art Store, and your pastels will be available for pickup within a week. AS $49. blue earthpastels.com. Available at Dakota Art Pastels, 2000 Market St., 523-4830, dakotapastels.com. 9. Customized Stamps & Crafty Miscellany
On average, holiday cards cost $4 to $6. $4 to $6! Add the cost of stamps, shipping, packaging, and sometimes Priority Mail Express, and sending a standard “Happy Holidays” card plus a few “envelope stuffers” can easily cost you $15. That’s quite a burden to put on your loved one. At Impress Cards and Crafts, your friend can custom-order and design stamps that start at a fraction of that cost, choosing from a variety of typographies and font sizes. You’ll see the results in the mail. JR $9+.University Village Shopping Center, 2621 N.E. Village Lane, 526-5818, impresscardsandcrafts. E
TOURS BY APPOINTMENT For reservations, visit westlanddistillery.com/tours Tastings, Tours and Holiday Specials available in our Tasting Room, Tuesday through Saturday, 11am—6pm. 2931 First Avenue South | Seattle, Washington 98134 westlanddistillery.com
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY © WESTLAND DISTILLERY LLC 2014
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
5. Charcoal
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• Hair Weaving • Extensions • 100% Virgin Human Hair
253-431-2121 2052 Rainier, Seattle
Sheila “Ms. Denight” Triplett All hair types are welcome!
Styling, Blowouts, Color, Cuts, Braids and Locks. $25 Booking Deposit
WILD THINGS
College student discounts
HairbySheilaTriplett.com
Perfect presents for kids ages 12–14.
K. Alan Smith, Jeweler’s 10th Annual Holiday Party. Friday, December 12th from 5pm until whenever. • Raffle for a pair of 1 carat diamond stud earrings • Extensive selection of unmounted diamonds • Wines from DeLille Cellars (hors d’oeuvres to accompany)
RSVP kim@kalansmithjeweler.com The Logan Building | 500 Union St, Suite 325 Seattle, WA 98101 | 206.622.0223
Mini Yeti Friend
Bring a bit of wild into your kid’s life with a personal Mini Yeti Friend, handmade by Kelice, founder of local plush company Careful It Bites. These fleece and felt yetis stand 6.5˝ with customizable face, eye, and heart colors if you order offline. Each plush also comes with a hand-stamped cotton bag. Although suitable for all ages, these unusual monsters are perfect for the quirky teen in your life. TERRA CLARKE OLSEN $18. carefulitbites.com. Available at Crackerjack Contemporary Crafts, 1815 N. 45th St.., 547-4983, crackerjackcrafts.com. Concept
A simple-to-learn and -play party game, Concept pits two teams against each other, sort of. Each team chooses a word or phrase— which vary from simple nouns to pop-culture references—and tries to get the other team to
DWELL SEASON
SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT THREE
Curious things to bring light and life into the home.
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HAPPY HOUR pm Mon-Fri: 3pm-6pm • Sat-Sun: 12pm-6 BAR MEZZANINE OPEN For private parties up to 40 people, email alibiroom@outlook.com
Kitchen Open Until 1am | 7 Nights a Wee
k
Open Mon-Fri: 3pm-1am • Sat-Sun:12pm-1am 10406 HOLMAN RD NW • SEATTLE, WA 98133
www.greenwoodalibi.com
Ninja Bag
The perfect gift for the tech-savvy teen who needs a bit of help toting all their devices. Handmade in Seattle, it features an image of a ninja scaling the Space Needle, evoking the kawaii style that designer Retro Pop Namu is known for while also incorporating hometown pride. Made from a cotton canvas, the shoulder bag has numerous pockets and a padded sleeve that fits an iPad, netbook, or tablet. TCO $45. etsy. com/shop/namu. Available at Sassafras, 2307 First Ave., 420-7057, sassafras-seattle.com. E at Third Birds, 2107 Queen Anne Ave. N., 6867664, threebirdshome.com. Red Koi Lantern
Need a living gift that’s both green and gorgeous? Sharon Chung of TWIG Landscape, a Seattle-based garden-design/build firm, creates one-of-a-kind arrangements of succulents and air plants in pieces of driftwood that are easy to care for and longlasting. You can even work with her to create custom pieces. LISA COLE $40–$80. twigand landscape.com. Available at Juniper, 3314 E. Spring St., 838-7496, juniperinmadrona.com.
Elaine Hanowell is a participating artist in Bellevue Arts Museum’s wood exhibition this season, but in the long winter nights ahead, her light sculptures may grab more attention. The fragments of torn paper embedded in the pale bodies of her fish lanterns evoke the shikishi craft and the spontaneous urban collage of flyers and ads that also inspired Paul Horiuchi. Each is a unique and playful way to add color and warmth to a room, especially for fans of Japanese art. T.S. FLOCK $750. Available at ArtXChange, 512 First Ave. S., 839-0377, artxchange.org.
Velvet Pumpkin
Bird of Paradise Print
TWIG Landscape Succulent Driftwood Planter
@weeklyevents
guess it, placing game pieces on various icons on the board as clues. Concept is endless fun, varying in difficulty and wackiness depending on who’s playing. TCO $33. Card Kingdom, 5105 Leary Ave. N.W., 523-2273, cardkingdom.com.
Located just outside Portland, Hot Skwash is a family-run business began by Daria Knowles in 2008. Working with local farmers, the company harvests unwanted pumpkin and squash stems and recycles them into the most beautiful home decor. The hand-crafted pumpkins come in a variety of luscious velvet colors, and are definitely in the “the more the merrier” category. These elegant little gems are not just for fall, but add a personal touch to your home all year. LC $11–$62. hotskwash.com. Available
Art makes a timeless gift—although because it’s so personal and subjective, it can be intimidating to choose for someone else. Jennifer Ament’s handprinted linocuts draw inspiration from nature, the Pacific Northwest, and old books from centuries past. These beautiful prints, on French paper, have wide appeal as both classic and modern. The Bird of Paradise print, in a limited edition of 50, is signed by the artist. LC $325 (15˝ x 22˝ unframed). jenniferament.com. Available at Rejuvenation, 2910 First Ave. S., 382-1901, rejuvenation.com. E
The Perfect Gift For the one you love...
Isadoras Antique Jewelry Est. 1973
4-7pm Every Day Happy 10am - 2pm Sat & Sun Hour
& Late Nite Fri - Sat 11pm - 1 am
WEEKEND BREAKFAST! Open @ 9am! TRIVIA Thursdays 8pm!
Ring In The New Year At Norm’s! 1601 First Ave.
isadoras.com
206.441.7711
206-547-1417 • 460 N 36th St in the Heart of Fremont
SCANDINAVIAN Specialties
EVERYTHING FOR A NORDIC YULETIDE! 206-784-7020 // ScanSpecialties.com // 6719 15th Ave. NW
December 10th, 2014 &
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SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART THREE
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