It broke my heart to learn that Northwest Flower and Garden Show found Duane Kelly was getting out of the expo game; there are many great expositions, conventions and shows in Seattle each year but the best of them for me has always been the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, a feast of fresh blooms and classes, vendors, displays, demonstrations and lectures representing the very best of all that’s green and good. Want to build a greenhouse for your veggies, encourage bats to visit your backyard, turn a foot of patio into a green space, plant the right herbs to flavor your food or treat your minor ailments, landscape your commercial or residential property, find natural ways to deal with pests or simply enjoy some pretty flowers? These are just some of the things you’ve been able to do at the Flower and Garden show over the years.

Back in June family owned and operated O’Loughlin Trade Shows purchased the NWF&GS from Mr. Kelly and they’re bringing the show back, marking a new beginning for this established tradition. “Beauty and Functionality” is the theme of the 2010 show, to be held at the Convention Center the first weekend in February with display gardens, internationally-known speakers, over 350 exhibitors and activities for the entire family.

More details will be coming as the event gets closer, but even though it’s three and a half months away, this is an event that’s truly worth marking your calendar now.

If it seems like First Hill’s Sorrento Hotel has been around forever, that’s because it has. Well, relatively speaking, in Seattle time.

This year the Sorrento is celebrating 100 years. Part of the festivities is a Midnight Symposium series which has its second installment on November 11 with author Lesley Hazleton. Hazleton, who has written four books about the Middle East and Jerusalem, will be presenting “The Ugly American, or the Roots of Arrogance in Ignorance”.

For a mere $50 each, 40 guests will gather in the Sorrento’s 7th floor penthouse at 8pm for an evening of dialogue and discussion led by Hazleton, a hearty stew, wine and a large bottle of whisky to be shared by all. Guests who think they may require additional fortification are encourage to bring a bottle or two to share with the class.

If you’re interested, e-mail nightschool@hotelsorrento.com. for reservations or more details.

It’s only October and it’s already getting gloomy, what’s November going to be like? Odds are good it’s not going to be sunny and clear.

You’ll want an escape to somewhere warm and bright but we’re not all lucky enough to be able to shuffle off to the tropics whenever we want. That’s why you’re going to save airfare and do good by attending “Sip for SIFF: A Night in the Caribbean”.

Marvel as Pravda Studios becomes a tropical paradise right here in the dreary winter Northwest on lucky Friday, November 13 at 8:00 pm. Enjoy tasty Caribbean themed food and specialty rum cocktails all night long, a live steel drum band and even a late night DJ spinning Caribbean and Island dance music.

As if all that weren’t enough, the night features a raffle with prizes like an Ipod, a luxury shopping spree, tickets and passes to the 2010 Seattle International Film Festival, wine, and, oh, a trip to Cancun. (Okay, not QUITE the islands, but, really, are you going to complain? If you are going to complain just go ahead and give me your tickets because I’m not going to complain one bit.)

The best part about this fun filled festivity is that you’ll be having a good time while you are simultaneously helping SIFF raise funds for their many fine programs. (They’re not just a film festival.) Tickets are a mere $50 each, a bargain for what you’re getting. SIFF supporters get a discount and so do groups: get together a bunch of vos amis and get a ten percent discount for 10 – 24 of you, a fifteen percent discount for a group of 25 – 49 and an amazing 20 percent discount for groups of 50 or more.

For more information or to buy your tickets, check out the event page on the SIFF 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.

Kind of a cool thing, support our local environmental groups!

Patagonia Seattle to Award $5,000 to Local Environmental Groups in 2nd Annual Community-Selected ‘Voice Your Choice’ Campaign Vote September 24-October 24 at Patagonia Store

SEATTLE, WA — Put Patagonia’s money where your mouth is! Cast your ballot in the outdoor clothing manufacturer’s second annual “Voice Your Choice” campaign to help Patagonia’s Seattle store decide how it should distribute $5,000 in grant money to three local environmental organizations. The top vote-getter will be awarded $2,500, with the second- and third-place organizations receiving $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.

Local groups nominated for the award are Sightline Institute, Woodland Park Zoo, and 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living. Votes will be accepted at the store at 2100 First Avenue from September 24 through October 24. Participants can cast one vote per store per visit. No purchase is necessary.

The candidates were selected by Patagonia store members based on their local focus and range of environmental concerns. Consumers can learn more about the groups by visiting their websites as well as attending “Table Day” presentations by each organization that will be hosted by the store over the next few weeks. Winners will be announced in early November.

Patagonia retail stores in 25 communities throughout the country will be participating in the Voice Your Choice campaign as part of the company’s well-known support for environmental causes, including a separate Environmental Grants Program that has generated more than $34 million in grants since 1985 by donating 1% of annual sales to environmental organizations worldwide.

“Every day, local environmental organizations make a difference in the community. Our Voice Your Choice program helps them continue their work as well as spreading the word about projects taking place in our backyard,” said store manager Nicole Mamola. “Seeking community input in how to distribute the funds is our way of raising public awareness about local environmental issues and hopefully getting more people involved in protecting the planet.”

“Last year’s Voice Your Choice program distributed $100,000 to local environmental groups and was very well-received in participating communities. People were eager for the opportunity to have a say in grant decisions that will directly affect their quality of life or that of their children,” said Vickie Achee, Head of Marketing for Patagonia’s North America Retail Division. “We’re repeating the program this year to extend that opportunity and enable other organizations to benefit from the funds.”

Seattle Works is an organization for 20- and 30-somethings to positively influence the local culture and community through volunteer work, charitable giving and civic engagement. In order to fund their many fine programs, Seattle Works is offering up Emerald City Swank, a special night of giving and receiving.

A silent auction and cocktail hour starts the evening and is followed by a dinner that included free wine and a fast-paced live auction featuring a variety of excellent items and awesome opportunities.

The evening is rounded out by a dance party.

To purchase a table or individual tickets, visit Seattle Works’ site.

Next Saturday, join thousands of fellow Zombies as they converge at the Space Needle. Here are the details:

Hey Hey Seattle Zombies!
Its getting closer to our favorite season of the year and we have a wonderful surprise for you! After years of crawling around the fringes of Seattle we now aim deep at the heart of the emerald city herself. We are going to bring the zombie horde to the Center on October 10th 2009 at 3pm, meet on the grass field in front of the space needle. We also have a rock concert at the Funhouse hosted by Bucephalus Games starting at 3pm and ending at 8pm. The bands are: Dehumanizers, Sounds of Mass Production, Staples in Carpet, Demoni There is also a Zombie Karaoke lined up at Ozzie’s from 6-9 pm with zombified lyrics available, a zombie Thriller sing-a-long at 9pm, and prizes for best performance! Zombie David will lead a horde of ghouls down the street from the Seattle Center a little before 5. Cost for karaoke is only $4, and includes all the songs you want!

This will be our biggest zombie invasion of the season. Remember the success of zombie walks are you! The numbers come from spreading the word… Thank you Seattle!

Follow Seattle Zombie Walk at:
Zombie LJ
Zombie Myspace
Zombie Twitter
Zombie Facebook

Personally I won’t be there, but that shouldn’t stop you! If you go, add your photos to our Flickr pool and I’ll post the best ones after the event.

6:00 PM – Julie Whitesel Weston: The Good Times Are All Gone Now: Life, Death and Rebirth in an Idaho Mining Town
Elliott Bay Book Co.
The story of how a small town turned into a Superfund site. I think it has something to do with mining, the usual reason in the American West. Of course, I live near a Superfund site that has nothing to do with mining, so what do I know?
[LINK]

6:00 PM – Selden Edwards: The Little Book
Queen Anne Books
Romance, history, and time-travel.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Greg Hofmann: No Surrender
Richard Hugo House
“Local artist, writer and zinester Greg Hofmann reads from his debut illustrated novel, “No Surrender.” Featuring additional performances by author Isaac Marion and musical acts Bagheera and Josh Powell.” -RHH
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Rowan Jacobsen: The Living Shore: Rediscovering a Lost World
University Bookstore U-District
Jacobsen is slightly less alarmist about our wee sweet Olympia oysters, than he was about honeybees. Did you know that honeybees are not native to North America? Olympia oysters are. Perhaps one should keep such things in mind when writing books about THE END OF THE WORLD.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Dr. Donald C. Johanson: Lucy’s Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins
Town Hall Seattle
Ah, yes, where did we come from, or rather, who?
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Ryan Boudinot: Misconception: A Novel
University Bookstore U-District
I am looking forward to reading this book, but I hate titles that end with “A Novel.” No, really? Finding it in the fiction section apparently is not clue enough, I need “A Novel” writ large on the cover and spine?
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Glen Chilton: The Curse of the Labrador Duck: My Obsessive Quest to the Edge of Extinction
Town Hall Seattle
Winner of this month’s “Most Awesome Title” Award. I want to see Chilton’s collection of 55 stuffed ducks. Hey, he’s Canadian: I’m sure if I stopped by unannounced one day, he’d totally invite me in for tea and duck-gaping.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Lauren Weber: In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue
Elliott Bay Book Co.
I’m fascinated by the new interest in frugality, savings, and conservation, really. Suddenly, I’m not a cheap-skate, TV-less freak of nature: I’m thrifty and admirable. How charming.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Ray C. Anderson: Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose—Doing Business By Respecting the Earth
Town Hall Seattle
Hear a carpet company CEO talk about creating a sustainable business. Bill McKibben thinks Anderson is a “hero.” YMMV.
[LINK]

8:00 AM – Diane Ackerman: Dawn Light: Dancing with Cranes and Other Ways to Start the Day
Elliott Bay Book Co.
I’m sure that having a morning presentation about a book on the joys of dawn is a lovely idea, but I have to get up at O’Dark-Thirty to catch a bus for work. And on a Monday, no less. Wah!
[LINK]

7:00 PM – John Webster: discusses Shakespeare
University Bookstore U-District
Totes awesome!
[LINK]

7:30 PM – David Byrne w/ Others: Bicycle Diaries
Town Hall Seattle I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book, but tickets are $30! If you have the dosh, go see Mr. Byrne be his interesting self in re: bicycles.
[LINK]