I’ve always felt like the best thing about the 25 for $25 promotions was the way they managed to make a 3-course meal look manageable for someone like me. It’s no small feat — or rather, it IS a small feat, because I don’t eat that much. Now, the type of restaurant that participates in the promotion is usually the kind of restaurant that serves up smaller, classier-looking portions anyway. If you’d wanted to eat meatloaf the size of your head, you would have gone to the Cheesecake Factory, and good riddance to you. But I’m just bitter because all my friends love to drag me to the Cheesecake Factory.

Without actually being told, I’ve assumed that the portions for the special menu are either shrunken in size, or that small to begin with, and I’ve been perfectly content to assume as such — that’s what a great bargain they are. However, tonight we went to the Third Floor Fish Cafe, and once again my world changed around me.

When my starter — the crispy calamari — was placed in front of me, I could see there was a problem immediately. There were at least two; maybe three servings of calamari on the plate — a whole manhand-grab of calamari rings. I remarked to the waiter, “y’know (cus I like to be all slangy and slurry when I eat at a high class place), this looks like an awfully big portion to be on your 25 for $25 menu.” He said in mock surprise, “don’t all the other restaurants do this? We don’t like to turn anyone away hungry.” and explained how the dishes served up on the special menu were exactly the same in every way, to the dishes served up on the regular menu. Judging from the prices, this means I was buying an entree and getting a starter and dessert for free. Too bad I was going to explode from over-eating before I could get to dessert.

The calamari was crispy and tender and perfect. But sure enough, by the time me and my three other dining partners had finished off the dish, I was full. Not only was I full, but I was heartily sick of calamari. That’s it, for the next 12 months. No more calamari. And now, onto the oven roasted salmon on a bed of mashed potato. I had two bites of succulent salmon before pushing the plate away. I knew I had to somehow get dessert into myself, and I couldn’t do it with a big slice of fish taking up valuable stomach real estate.

Dessert was somewhat of a letdown. After the impossibly huge platter of calamari, the memory of which was swelling to epic proportions (it was a kraken of calamari! With a side of whale!), I was really in the mood for something light. But the choices were slim. I knew I didn’t want a pumpkin sorbet or a mango gelato. I had never been a fan of cooked fruit, so the fruit crisp was out. But that left the brownie, which was heavy and chocolatey when I needed something light and cakey. Thankfully my dining companions once again came to my rescue, and helped me eat my dessert.

The topic for the evening was the view, and what a view it was. (The Fish Cafe seems to be one of those restaurants that defies my theory that if you have a great view, the food is probably mediocre, but I should go back someday and do more research into this.) Arriving at the restaurant at 6 afforded us a seat by the window, where we couldn’t help but notice that someone had dragged the giant NOAA ship away, leaving us with a quickly darkening lake, moored sailboats, and flickering lights on the horizon. I asked the waiter how long it had been since the giant boat had been stolen — he thought it had been about 6 weeks.

If you also work in the Office Tower of the Washington State Trade and Convention Center, then you already know this. If not, let me tell you, I, and many others, were greeted this morning with a sign informing us that the elevators weren’t working and that we could use the stairs to our left over there. Um, they do realize that there are no offices below 7, right? I would complain (more) but I was passed by some man going up to the 21st floor (out of 22!). I was so glad I did not have to go up that high.

In any case, my double digit walk-up this morning got me to panting and to thinking how crazy it is that we rely unthinkingly on elevators to take us to and fro whenever we need them. Plus, isn’t it amazing that bizarre occurrances such as this are so out of the ordinary? Yay for safe elevators! Now if they could just get more than one working, we could all leave this tower without throwing down our hair.

If your Thanksgiving Eve Eve is still unplanned, it’s not too late to pencil in a trip down to the Crocodile Cafe. Tonight brings local boys, Band of Horses (formerly Horses) to the stage. They’ve been making good impressions across the country on their recent tour with Iron and Wine, and were recently endorsed by Broken Social Scene (who were passed a Band of Horses disc from Modest Mouse). Oh, and they’re among the newer additions to the Sub Pop roster. With that kind of pedigree, you should probably clear your pre-existing Tuesday plans and get down there.

I like to think of Band of Horses as Carissa’s Wierd without the girls. This, I realize, is completely unfair and technically incorrect, but it makes me feel better about there no longer being a Carissa’s Wierd. Where the former band was all full, dark, swirly, and reassuringly sad, Band of Horses has a sparser, rambling, feeling of an long road trip. That is to say, the sound of new Americana. Thus, despite the presence of Carissa’s Wierd alumni Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke (albeit in reversed roles), the band stands on its own as a new entity. Sure, they haven’t completely given up on the quiet and lonely (“Funeral” [mp3] starts simply and keeps building into greatness) or a fondness for long titles (the remarkably funny “I lost my dingle on the red line . . . ” [mp3]) and are something of a work in progress.

I haven’t seen them since they added Creighton Barrett and Rob Hampton (formerly of Crutches) to the lineup; so tonight’s show should be interesting. Along for the ride are Phosphorescent and the Castanets. My tickets say 9:00 pm. See you there.

image via: bizjournals.com

There used to be a market on 63rd and Alki Avenue. Its proximity to my apartment was one of the many reasons I choose my place. However, after moving in and taking a walk through the neighborhood, I saw to my dismay that the Alki Market – which had been open for about 40 years – had closed. For good. About a week before I moved. Sigh.

The buzz on the bus last week was that someone had leased the building that formerly held the Alki Market. A restaurant, they said. Hmm. In my arm-chair business consultant opinion, Alki Beach does not need another restaurant. In fact, I think the French restaurant that recently opened and closed this summer/fall didn’t even last a month. No, what Alki needs is a market. Somewhere I can walk to to get bread, milk, beer; you know, the essentials. There really is no place we Alki-ans can go without firing up the car or getting a hernia walking up Admiral. Thus, when I heard the talk this morning (and confirmed online [bizjournals]) about how a restaurant was not in the works and instead a “for lease” sign was in the window, I was relieved.

But who is going to take up the local market challenge and, more importantly, when? The recently (2003) renovated market is a beauty (I’ve peeked in the windows) and apparently has 10,000 feet of store space, but talk is that the asking price of $33/sqft is too much. Ay yi yi! Won’t someone think of the lazy people (i.e. me)? Seriously, I need my beer people!

This is what I know about the albino peahen.
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Driving around town today, I could swear that everyone was conspiring to make me think I was insane.
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The University Place school district–#83, down in Pierce County–has pulled a book from its library shelves. Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger of Tacoma, tells the story of a gay teenager who believes himself the only gay kid at his high school. He is disabused of this notion when he finds out that not only is the star baseball player gay, but so is his best friend, her girlfriend, and his friend’s girlfriend’s friend. It’s a story about accepting people for who they are, and about believing in yourself. Sounds heartwarming, right?

Evidently, it’s not heartwarming enough. According to the Seattle Times, the book has been pulled because it encourages kids to meet up with the people they chat with online [#]. The school district would like to send a unified message that the internet is full of predators, and that teenagers should be careful. Which is true and all, but so beside the point.

Furthering my belief that the internet is a wonderful place, the author has a livejournal. And he feels that such a charge is silly, pointing out that he makes it “screamingly obvious” that the person the main character is chatting with is another student at his school and not an anonymous wacko. He’s pretty sure his book is being challenged because of its gay themes.

Now, I haven’t read the book. (If you would like a list of what could be objectionable about it, the Library Patrons of Texas have compiled one for you.) But I’m not a believer in banning books, especially not banning books with what appears to be a strong anti-harassment theme. I hope that the heat this move is catching will cause the district to rethink itself.

A longer story can be found in The News Tribune.

This weekend’s big news out of Tacoma was the shooting and hostage-taking at the Tacoma Mall [p-i] that took place on Sunday afternoon, frightening teens and shoppers alike and providing lots of footage for local news stations. Because the alleged deranged gunman is twenty years old, he has a MySpace profile:

Well I like to camp. Bike ride go out to the clubs and bars surfing listen to music and just hanging out with a few friends and haveing a couple drinks. PARTY WHEN I GET THE FREE TIME TO DO IT. I LOVE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND SEEING AND GOING NEW PLACES……. DRIVE AROUND WITH NO PLACE TO GO IS ALWAYS A FUN TO DO ON THOSE REALLY BORING NIGHTS…. YOU KNOW JUST THE SAME OLD TEENAGER STUFF [myspace]

If this is actually the same Dominick S. Maldonado’s profile, the most amazing thing about it is that his last login was on Sunday. You’d think that the Tacoma Virgo (currently in a relationship) who’s a fan of Napolean Dynamite might have spruced up his profile before heading off to the mall with his rifle for a four hour terror spree.

(via shane [lj])

One more part of Northgate’s history has fallen victim to the wrecking ball: the former movie theater and Red Robin are making way for a UVillage-esque “lifestyle village.” [You forgot about "Back to Bali"! -Ed.]

After nearly a decade of trying, the owners of the nation’s (contestably) first suburban shopping center have finally begun to replace the original buildings — including medical and dental offices — with newer structures for shopping and recreating. With the sucess of University Village and Alderwood’s recent rennovation, Northgate has had to remodel and re-focus to draw customers in an increasingly-comeptitive market.

The demoltion of the theater and medical office buildings are the latest step in this transformation. Lost in the debris is classic mid-century modern architecture — and perhaps a few bucksin vests.

a thanksgivingday “ferry boat” ride.

Sorry for the long delay, but the full recap is now posted on the other side of the jump. The rundown on Isabel’s day in the kitchen, Chief Wannabe #2′s surprising social graces, George’s hunting expedition, a trailer park lovestory, Meredith’s angst, a short-lived miracle coma recovery, Joe’s gay boyfriend, and the hospital as an escape from personal drama.
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