I’m sure most of you out there are already know this, but you can make it from Seattle out to wine country in the same amount of time it takes a bottle of red to properly breathe.

However, I’m not here to talk to you about wine.  Which I can assure you is to our mutual benefit, as all I have to offer on the subject involves the painfully embarrassing consequences that befall me those times I muster the bravery to take another shot at drinking it.  What I’d like to touch on today is an oft-misunderstood spirit favored by my curly-headed 70’s hero, Ron Burgundy:

I love Scotch. Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly…

And down into my belly it has gone on many a fair occasion.  Sadly, my lack of respect for the true potential of this Scottish delight has led it to make almost as many return trips from my belly as well.  Cutty Sark, J & B, Chivas Regal — these are the names I had associated with Scotch throughout the years.  It’s not that I particularly enjoy slumming it on the bottom shelf, I had simply been under the impression that it was all going to go down like battery acid anyway.  It’s almost comical that it took a certified “master of whisky” to set me straight on the subject.

Recently I was offered the chance to stay at Willows Lodge in Woodinville, a five-acre spread bordering the Sammamish River in the heart of Western Washington’s wine country.  Under normal circumstances I might be apprehensive about such a vinocentric destination, but I made the trip in order to attend something far beyond your everyday swish and spit wine tasting.  Hosted by renowned master of whisky Ari Shapiro (pictured left), and with a four course menu prepared by Barking Frog Executive Chef Bobby Moore, the celebration comically dubbed “Scotch-tober” was nothing short of an amazing amalgamation of whisky knowledge and culinary craftsmanship.

It’s not likely anyone would argue whether or not Shapiro knows his Scotch.  Even those not immediately enamored with his PowerPoint skills (fun fact: this is the first alcohol-related PowerPoint presentation I’ve experienced) would find his expertise on both the spirits and the land they originate from to be truly impressive.  Over the course of the evening he regaled the crowd with old world toasts, and spared no detail in explaining the production methods and regional flavors leveraged to produce each distillery’s unique flavor.  As a wannabe connoisseur, I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty that the 15-yer-old single malt Dalwhinnie was my favorite Scotch of the evening, due largely to its floral nose, sweet taste, and clean, subtle finish.  This stems from its origins in the highland region of Scotland, where it is crafted out of fragrantly sweet mountain water.  After that I’m pretty certain I’ll never be able to even look at a bottle Cutty Sark seriously again.

Well before the event ever took place, Shapiro and Chef Moore had been putting their heads together to come up with a menu that balanced the signature flavors of each Scotch with that of the evening’s cuisine.  The result featured such mouth-watering dishes as breast of squab with a celeriac, endive, and Walla Walla onion salad, chilled Virginica oysters, and my personal favorite, the smoked ribs with fennel and yukon gold potato gratin.  There was just something about how the smokiness of the ribs played off of the dry, equally smoky 16-year-old Lagavulin that made me want to paint my face blue and white and start quoting William Wallace.

As if I didn’t have it good enough already, after my hunger and thirst had been quelled around the Barking Frog’s open fireplace, I made my way back to the room waiting for me at Willows Lodge.  Just your standard accommodation, complete with 40″ flat screen TV, stone fireplace, private patio, and a soaking tub deep enough to drown your sorrows and/or Manuel Uribe if you really felt like it.  Seriously though, the one thing I couldn’t get enough of was the bed.  So soft, so comfortable.  The sensation that I would later describe as “sleeping on a cloud of smiling puppies” was in fact courtesy of the Australian lambs wool mattress pad that can be found adorning the beds in any of the lodge’s 84 rooms.  Probably the highest compliment I could pay to the lodge, its staff, and their attention to detail is that in all my years traveling I’ve yet to stay anywhere so comfortable and relaxed, yet so serious about the care of their guests.

Another great thing is that there’s always something going on at Willows, so you never have to be without an excuse to treat yourself to a mini-vacation or romantic getaway in Seattle’s back 40.  For example, in December Willows Lodge is featuring a weekly series of complimentary classes called “Holiday Boot Camp”.  The classes are free and take place the first three Wednesdays of the month, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. during Fireside Cellar’s Happier Hour. The program is aimed to help novices navigate the challenges of holiday entertaining:

• Wednesday, December 2: Brian Matthews of Barking Frog will share drink recipes and tips for creating the perfect holiday cocktails.  Guests will learn techniques for creating a hot apple pie, oatmeal cookie and a white chocolate mint-tini.
• Wednesday, December 9: Executive Chef of Barking Frog Bobby Moore and award-winning Wine Director of Willows Lodge Jeffrey Dorgan will share tips and recipes for holiday appetizers and discuss how to pair the perfect wine with traditional holiday meals.
• Wednesday, December 16: Trena Costello, pastry chef of Barking Frog, will share pastry recipes and tips for creating the perfect homemade holiday desserts.

No matter how long you’ve lived in the area, I implore you to consider adding a night at Willows Lodge and a meal at Barking Frog to your Seattle bucket list.  Both are comfortably far enough away from the city — but not too far — perfect for those who wish to spend less of their time traveling and more of it relaxing in the arms of the one they love; or as it was in my case, a foursome of strategically-placed goose down pillows.

Eric Ankrim as Peter Pan and David Pichette as Captain Hook in SCT's upcoming musical production of "Peter Pan." Photo by Chris Bennion

Seattle Children’s Theatre is keeping their impressive momentum going this year with tonight’s opening of Peter Pan, the third production of the 2009-10 mainstage season.  This musical adaptation of James M Barrie’s original play will run through January 10th of next year, and is directed by SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell.  I should probably also mention that they’ve got a badass crocodile costume for your enjoyment as well.  And while “badass” may not be in the standard descriptive vernacular for children’s plays, I can’t help but stress how appropriate it is all the same.

Oh, and just in case you’ve suffered total cultural amnesia or have been trapped on a deserted island since you were 3, here’s a synopsis of the production (spoiler alert!):

One of the greatest American musicals for any age—join Peter, Wendy and all the characters we know and love as we fly away to where dreams are born. Peter Pan flies in the Darling’s nursery window and tells the children that if they just believe and think lovely thoughts, they can fly to Neverland with him. There, they join Peter’s Lost Boys for fun and grand adventures. When Wendy and Princess Tiger Lily are captured by a menacing band of pirates, however, it takes Peter’s wily wit and Tink’s resolve to free them. Finally, with the help of one tick-tocking crocodile, Peter manages to turn the pirates against their Captain. When Wendy, John and Michael return to London, Peter Pan continues to visit Wendy once a year, until one day he finds that she has grown up and had a child of her own. Now it is little Jane’s turn to journey to the place where dreams are born with the wonderful Peter Pan.

Further details, including showtimes and ticketing information, can be found on the SCT website.

Some say it takes a special kind of person to truly appreciate “the water of life,” while others might claim it takes little more than a problem begging to be drowned.  I’d have to admit to falling somewhere in the middle of the two; perhaps we should just refer to it as a healthy appreciation for this whisky born of barley and love, destined to get me into trouble.

On October 22nd, Barking Frog’s twist on Oktoberfest, “Scotch-tober,” will offer attendees the ultimate spirit experience with 1 of only 15 Master of Whisky experts residing in the United States, Ari Shapiro. The evening will feature a four-course menu developed by Executive Chef Bobby Moore and five whisky pairings.  As in real Scottish whisky, like Oban and Dalwhinnie; whiskys old enough to be in high school if they were people.  Throughout the dinner, guests will learn about whisky production and its history through interactive table-talk with Shapiro. Following dinner, guests will to the Fireside Cellar’s firepit on the patio for whisky and cigars. Cost is $95 per person; further details can be found via the Willows Lodge event calendar.

Last week I was given the opportunity to take part in the “Camp Woodmark” experience at The Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa in  Kirkland, which just so happens to be the only hotel located on the shores of Lake Washington.  Camp Woodmark was designed with adults in mind, meaning they offer a grown-up kind of fun without any of the awkward moments or pre-teen angst from the summer camps of our youth.

Upon my arrival at The Woodmark I was cordially greeted by Brandon, one of the “camp counselors” entrusted with making each campers stay as relaxing and hassle-free as possible, who presented me with a welcome package that included several Woodmark t-shirts and reusable aluminum water bottles.  Not long after that I was on the balcony of my amazing fourth floor lakeside room, enjoying a cool breeze and feeling that there may just be some merit to escaping into your own city after all.

The Woodmark Hotel and terrace

The early part of the afternoon was spent touring the hotel grounds to learn a little more about what exactly The Woodmark has to offer, which as it turns out is quite impressive.  Featuring 100 rooms, 21 of which are suites, most with views of the lake and all with luxury amenities, The Woodmark is also home to a full-service spa, two exceptional restaurants (more on those later), and is one of the premier wedding venues and event spaces on Lake Washington.

Sneaking my way around the property for a few hours left me pretty thirsty, so I headed down to The Library Bar for the first of my scheduled camp events, a summer cocktail making class with Aziz, one of the friendliest and more theatrical bartenders I’ve met in my many years of bar patronage.  Aziz was insistent that I step behind the bar and attempt to fill his very knowledgeable shoes.  Who was I to argue?  Over the hour and a half that followed, Aziz let me mix drinks for the regulars and taught me how to make some of his personal favorites, from the Shinjuku Blossom to the “Aziz You Like It,” a frothy pineapple concoction of his own creation.

Right around the time my nerve was building up (that and a healthy amount of “sampled” drinks in my stomach) to start flipping bottles a la Tom Cruise in Cocktail, it was time to pick up my wife for dinner at bin vivant.  A procession of food like no other, courtesy of head chef Scott Lents, started crossing our table almost immediately.  Scallops P.L.T. (prosciutto, bibb lettuce, cured tomato), French onion soup, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb; everything was cooked to perfection and with great attention to detail.  The wine list is enough to make even the most earnest grape nut second guess their top picks for the evening.  With one of the largest wine preservation systems of its kind in the Puget Sound region, bin vivant takes wine to a new level by making available over 80 climate controlled wines by-the-glass with a state of the art Argon gas-based dispensing mechanism.  Rounding out an amazing meal and adding to the Camp Woodmark experience are tableside s’mores, where the marshmallows (made in-house) are toasted at the table so you can immediately capitalize on their warm, gooey bliss.

Late night at The Woodmark happens to be just as appetizing too.  From 11pm-1am, guests of the hotel are encouraged to “raid the pantry,” a Woodmark tradition where you emerge from your rooms in pajamas or sweatpants, head down to The Library Bar, and then fill your arms/plates with an assortment of delectables that have been laid out buffet-style.  Some drinks, chips, and a plate of what I’m calling spicy Asian meatballs later, my wife and headed back to the room, ready to top off our tanks for the night.  My head hits the pillow finding me stuffed, relaxed, and not quietly weeping while longing for home in any shape or form; basically the exact opposite of all my previous summer camp experiences.

Kayaking on Lake Washington

You may be asking yourself at this point, is all of this really necessary? Well no, actually, but therein lies the reasoning behind the recession-fueled staycation movement in the first place.  Perhaps it would be better if I let Brian Flaherty, general manager of The Woodmark, give you his take on the subject, “Every so often, it’s important for us to not take ourselves so seriously.  With our Camp Woodmark program, we’re encouraging adults to simply have fun while enjoying an unforgettable Pacific Northwest getaway this summer.”

The fun I had was only a small sampling of what Camp Woodmark has to offer their guests as well.  A more robust itinerary might include a cooking class with Chef de Cuisine Scott Lents, morning yoga on the lawn, kayaking on Lake Washington, or even a cruise around it aboard the 28-foot Woodmark II.  The Camp Woodmark packages start at a minimum of two nights, allowing you more than enough time to fill your stay with those “home away from home” kinds of experiences you’re looking for.  Because as I learned from my stay at Camp Woodmark, the goal of keeping it local isn’t just about trying to do more for less, it’s about taking the time to re-discover the adventures that await you in your own backyard.

For this special event, some of Child’s distinctive dishes are brought to life and featured on the Gold Class Cinemas menu, including Red Wine Marinated Beef Satay, Classic Quiche Lorraine and Lange De Chat. Prices range from $8 to $14 per dish. Patrons can also order any of the other delectable choices from the regular menu as well.

Gold Class Cinemas has also gone one step further in creating the ultimate cinematic experience by offering live cooking demonstrations by Gold Class Cinemas’ executive Chefs on August 13th, 19th, 20th, 23rd and 26th. A Gold Class Cinemas Chef will prepare Child’s signature dishes and serve them straight to your seat, providing for a hassle-free, delicious event.

For each item purchased, Gold Class Cinemas will donate to Food Lifeline, a local organization which is working to end hunger in local communities. Food Lifeline distributes nearly 22 million pounds of food to 600,000 hungry individuals each year.

Event Details:
Julie & Julia Dinner & Movie Cooking Demo:
Cooking Demo begins promptly at 6PM (Film begins at 6:45PM)
For movie times, ticket and theater information, go to www.goldclasscinemas.com

Experience Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at EMP|SFM’s Late Night Exhibitchin’, Saturday, August 1 from 9:00 pm – 1:00 am. EMP|SFM’s new afterhours dance party will feature live music, cheap drinks and super surprises throughout the evening and into the morning.

Start the night out right, and get your inner-Muppet on for an Animal drumming competition! Drums and sticks will be provided, animalistic tendencies—that’s all you, baby. Dance to music by local rap-pop-rock legends The Saturday Knights, the deliciously funky Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme and wunderkind spin master DJ Electro Wolf. Enjoy $3 beers and other drink specials throughout the night. Oh, and did we mention surprises? What’s a bitchin’ event without a little spectacle here and there?

Prizes for most-spazzy and most-snazzy Animal impersonations will be awarded. Save a place in the competition, send an e-mail to animalrocks@empsfm.org and get the low-down.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is currently on display at EMP|SFM through August 16. This limited-run exhibition, organized by The Jim Henson Legacy and Smithsonian Institution, takes a comprehensive look at the creative genius and cultural phenomenon, Jim Henson.

Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009 – Sunday, August 2, 2009
Time: 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Ticket Info: Tickets are $10 for EMP|SFM members and $12 for the general public in advance; and $15 for EMP|SFM members and general public at the door. Tickets are on sale now at brownpapertickets.com.

That being said, there still might be preferential treatment given to anyone motivated enough to send in a picture.

via M.V. Janzten and the Seattle Metblogs Flickr pool

Dust off the old bowling shoes and get some face time with a mirror to practice your best “Nobody fucks with the Jesus,” because you’ve got less than two weeks before Lebowski Fest 2009, a two-night celebration of the Coen brothers cinematic masterpiece, rolls into town.

From their website:

Lebowski Fest returns to Seattle on July 20th & 21st! The Fest kicks off with the Movie Party at the Fremont Outdoor Cinema with a performance by Har Mar Superstar, Jeff Dowd and white russian flavored popcorn on July 20th. The next night is the Bowling Party at ACME Bowl with bowling, beverages, costumes and what-have-you on July 21st.

Tickets are on sale now for Lebowski Fest Seattle. The last Lebowski Fest Seattle sold out in advance so please get your tickets soon.

For those of you that are unaware, Jeff Dowd was not only a member of the famed Seattle Seven, but he also served as inspiration for the character of Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski.  It’s not certain whether there will actually be a performance of some kind from him, or if he’s simply acting as emcee and pillar of cult movie awesomeness, but no doubt Lebowski Fest would be missing something without him there.

Seattle Metblogs wants to ensure that our local die-hard Lebowski fans get a chance to attend, regardless of ticket and/or ticket money availability, which is why we’re giving away TWO pairs of tickets to BOTH of this year’s events.  But first you’ve got to prove your love for Lebowski to us.  To be eligible to win one of the two prize packs (each consists of two tickets to both the movie and bowling party) available, all you have to do is submit your best (and original) The Big Lebowski-inspired photo to us by midnight on Wednesday, July 15th.  We’ll pick the best two and post them on Friday the 17th when the winners are announced.

All contest entries should be submitted by adding them to the Seattle Metblogs Flickr pool, along with a link to it in the comments section below.  Please note that Metblogs, its affiliates, sponsors, and writers will not be held responsible for any damaged rugs and/or severed pinky toes that result from the creation of your entry.

Photo By Chris Bennion

Last Friday Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) wrapped up its 2008-09 mainstage season with their 101st world premiere, I Was a Rat!, based on the popular re-worked fairy tale and children’s book by Golden Compass author Philip Pullman.

The story opens with a young pageboy taken in by a childless couple, the aging cobbler Bob and his wife Joan. They give him the name of Roger, as the pageboy says he was formerly a rat and without a name, a tale quirky enough to attract the attention of the Daily Scourge newspaper, a sideshow owner named Professor Tapscrew, and a young ruffian named Billy. The search for Roger’s true home is also accompanied by the story of the newly-married Princess Aurelia, whom Roger claims to have a past with.

My family came along to see the show, with my two children especially excited to watch their first play ever.  Besides, I knew that as much as I hoped to offer people an objective opinion of the performances, what is ultimately important to the success of I Was a Rat! is a show that would be both entertaining and engaging for the little ones.  Although making it a good time for the parents certainly doesn’t hurt their chances either.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to let my children, Evan (6) and Kenzie (5) take the forefront of this review.  Their overall impression of the play was quite obvious as we left the theatre; smiles played across their faces, both extremely happy to have met the cast and get some autographs, especially those of Roger and Aurelia.  I did manage, however, to wrap up the evening by asking them a few pointed questions on the way home.

• What was your favorite part of the play?

Evan: How Roger ate EVERYTHING. Pencils, paper, and his bed too!  He ate those peppers and was all like “Arrrggghh!!”
Kenzie: The princess.  She was gorrrrgeous.

• Why do you think Roger keep getting into so much trouble?

Evan: Because he only knew how to be a rat, not a person!
Kenzie: Because they all thought he was a monster!

• Did you understand the moral of the story [note: we always ask about themes and morals]?

Evan: Being mean is wrong, even to rats.
Kenzie: Yeah, he was so cute! (makes scrunched up rat face)

As for me, I too enjoyed the production.  I’m not sure if it helped or hindered the experience that I had never read or even heard of Pullman’s original story, but I still feel like the SCT did a great job of adapting it for young and old crowds alike.  What I can certainly vouch for is this being an excellent choice for inaugurating the youngest members of your family (age 5 & up though) to the delights of the stage.  With good pacing, many diversely-played characters, and lots of laughs throughout, it’s now apparent to me why the Seattle Children’s Theatre has been a mainstay in the Seattle arts community for over 30 years.

I Was a Rat! was adapted for the SCT stage by Barbara Field, and directed by SCT Artistic Associate Rita Giomi, and runs through June 7, 2009.  Tickets and further info available at the SCT website.

Seattle Children’s Theatre wraps ups its 2008-09 Mainstage Season with their 101st world premiere, I Was a Rat! by Barbara Field, based on the book by Philip Pullman and directed by SCT Artistic Associate Rita Giomi. I Was a Rat! opens May 1, 2009 in SCT’s Charlotte Martin Theatre and runs through June 7, 2009.

Also from the SCT press release:

In a similar vein as Wicked or The Ugly Stepsister, I Was a Rat! shows us a different perspective on a well-traveled tale. Poor little Roger (even rat-boys need proper names) has nowhere to turn. Luckily, Bob the cobbler and his wife, Joan, have a warm home and welcoming hearts. If only Roger were able to stay out of trouble long enough to enjoy them. He even manages to get thrown in jail for being a dreaded sewer monster! Thank goodness, the Princess arrives in time to straighten the whole mess out, and return Roger to his new home and loving family.

Further details, including showtimes and ticketing information, can be found on the SCT website.