I'm physically drained but jeebies, I'm sorta bobbing on elation. I'm astounded by how God conducts so many current circumstances and weaves it all together for his grand purpose and glory. God's so good and His ways are beyond wonderful! Thank you for the manifold opportunities amid intentional LA play days, Lord. Thank you for the seeds planted that You're sowing. Help me to harvest, Lord. And now I just pray and pray and wait on His will, which is so good and perfect!
Happy happy weekend, friendly folks!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Seattle spunkiness
We hitched a ride on the A(mtrak) train up to Seatown in the wee hours of the third morning of the Pacific Northwest trek. Although a mere 3-hour train commute north of mild-mannered, green-efficient, unsullied Portland, 
isthmus-engulfed Seattle was an unequivocally disparate borough congested with formidable skyscrapers, grunge culture, historic edifices, local hideaway shoppes, a hodgepodge of smells and sounds both pleasant and not-so-agreeable, and throngs of Seattleites, all of which define a bouyant metropolitan region.
Our hostel was fortuitously situated smack dab in the medial vibrancy of 
one of the nation's most foremost public markets where local farmers, merchants, and crafters akin converge: Pike Place Market,
a City of Raindrops institution confoundedly teeming with too many a smothering human being staking out the latest 
local epicurean must-haves by way of profuse fishmongers, craft stalls, produce stands, mom and pop establishments, and hole-in-the-wall diners.
Aged cities entail antiquated artifacts so we achieved antique-rummaging success, with hearty thanks to some of the most preeminent vintage shoppes I've confronted thus far at Antiques at Pike Place
and Pioneer Square Antique Mall. 
The ultimate gem: a comprehensive Internet how-to pamphlet circa 1999. Conquering the world wide web's challenging terrain is rough stuff, dontcha know.
We prowled Seatown's multifarious crevices,
all of which is surmounted by some spacey needle-like contraption.
Pioneer Square's archaic architectural facades and folkloric cultural cultivation served my partialities well.
Traversing the kingdom of coffee junkies evokes an irrepressible promenade to, amongst the multiudinous java-houses, the Starbucks au original.
Cuppa joes only launched our Seattle foodie expedition. Cramped yet cozy 40s-esque Three Girls Bakery touts some of the most mouthwatering sandwiches, soups, and delectable edibles this side of the Pacific Ocean.
Case in point: the grilled baked salmon sandwich, creamy tomato basil soup,
and the decadent Mound (a coconut macaroon lavishly dunked in Belgian chocolate).
Exceptional Pacific Northwest French cuisine is contrived at Crow,
where the savories and the intimate yet vivacious ambiance made for a guaranteed smashing affair.
French boulangerie Le Panier dishes out at warped speed 
heavenly aromatic pastries, including the photographed féuillete epinard, the madeleine pistachio, and petit macarons. Boy, they fostered longings for French patisseries!
Behold, rather substandard "best Thai food in town" at Mae Phim.
Washington phenomenon apple dumplings are fine fair fare, which we sampled at the Northwest Folklife Festival.
I must say, the most memorable highlight de Rain City is the tomfoolery that befell within The Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, a most ravishingly snazzy joint
where we sipped flights of marvelous wine, 
nibbled a masterpiece of cheesy creaminess, 
and jabbered the evening away about life and God and life in God! 
Thank you, Lord, for a undeservedly blessed trip You provided the resources to enjoy. You are too good!
A crashing waveload more snapshots de Seattle here!
isthmus-engulfed Seattle was an unequivocally disparate borough congested with formidable skyscrapers, grunge culture, historic edifices, local hideaway shoppes, a hodgepodge of smells and sounds both pleasant and not-so-agreeable, and throngs of Seattleites, all of which define a bouyant metropolitan region.Our hostel was fortuitously situated smack dab in the medial vibrancy of one of the nation's most foremost public markets where local farmers, merchants, and crafters akin converge: Pike Place Market,a City of Raindrops institution confoundedly teeming with too many a smothering human being staking out the latest local epicurean must-haves by way of profuse fishmongers, craft stalls, produce stands, mom and pop establishments, and hole-in-the-wall diners.Aged cities entail antiquated artifacts so we achieved antique-rummaging success, with hearty thanks to some of the most preeminent vintage shoppes I've confronted thus far at Antiques at Pike Placeand Pioneer Square Antique Mall. The ultimate gem: a comprehensive Internet how-to pamphlet circa 1999. Conquering the world wide web's challenging terrain is rough stuff, dontcha know.We prowled Seatown's multifarious crevices,all of which is surmounted by some spacey needle-like contraption.Pioneer Square's archaic architectural facades and folkloric cultural cultivation served my partialities well.Traversing the kingdom of coffee junkies evokes an irrepressible promenade to, amongst the multiudinous java-houses, the Starbucks au original.Cuppa joes only launched our Seattle foodie expedition. Cramped yet cozy 40s-esque Three Girls Bakery touts some of the most mouthwatering sandwiches, soups, and delectable edibles this side of the Pacific Ocean.
Case in point: the grilled baked salmon sandwich, creamy tomato basil soup,
and the decadent Mound (a coconut macaroon lavishly dunked in Belgian chocolate).
Exceptional Pacific Northwest French cuisine is contrived at Crow,
where the savories and the intimate yet vivacious ambiance made for a guaranteed smashing affair.
French boulangerie Le Panier dishes out at warped speed 
heavenly aromatic pastries, including the photographed féuillete epinard, the madeleine pistachio, and petit macarons. Boy, they fostered longings for French patisseries!Behold, rather substandard "best Thai food in town" at Mae Phim.
Washington phenomenon apple dumplings are fine fair fare, which we sampled at the Northwest Folklife Festival.
I must say, the most memorable highlight de Rain City is the tomfoolery that befell within The Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, a most ravishingly snazzy jointwhere we sipped flights of marvelous wine, nibbled a masterpiece of cheesy creaminess, and jabbered the evening away about life and God and life in God! Thank you, Lord, for a undeservedly blessed trip You provided the resources to enjoy. You are too good!A crashing waveload more snapshots de Seattle here!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Portland pleasantry
Colleen, Janice, Annie, and I tarried away the first half of the journey through the Pacific Northwest in Portland, also dubbed the City of Roses, the nation's greenest metrohub, and the handcraftiest cosmopolitan sector in the homey US of A...therefore, I was more than a tad ajitter with excitement to play there! All hail the Oregonian land of spic-and-span thoroughfares, a buzzworthy downtown, a superb public transit system that mortifies the rest, a culture that ratifies the handmade lifestyle, a sales tax negated legislation, and tastebud-thrilling regional fare! We marveled at the interminably snaking Willamette River that splices Portlandia into halves,
around which we rummaged over and under, to and fro, round and about via bicycloves.
After all, 'twas a necessary transportation accessory since we were in America's most bike-friendly town.
We got introduced to the annual waterfront-lining Rose Fest this weekend past,
meandered Pioneer Courthouse Square, the heart of the city's bustling living room that outfits locals with a central communal venue to gather and gab,
roamed Nob Hill's eclectic hipster vibe,
attended the parading of Portland's prime handmade curios at the nation's grandest weekly handicraft fair, the Saturday Market,
whilst acquainting ourselves with its history-ridden arms, Old Town and the Pearl District
and its terribly terrific antiquities,
submerged ourselves within the mind-boggling grandeur of the most insanely fabulous indie bookstore, Powell's, a bona fide Portland institution flaunting 4 million new, used, rare, and outta print tomes,
particularly an addicting artillery of vintage printed literary lovelies,
absorbed the natural splendor of the City of Roses' International Rose Test Garden,
patroned snazzy live jazziness at the premier Jimmy Mak's,
and consumed local savory foodie favs. 'Twas all so fresh and tasty at: Mother's Bistro,
where the amalgamation of chic vintage-meets-warehouse interior decor and a Pacific Northwestern spin on French fare garnered tastebud praise,
Pastini, where authentic Italian pasta near-perfection is delivered for measly buckaroos,
Huber's, Portland's oldest established bar to sample a Pacific Northwest phenomenon deemed Spanish coffee, which, to our chagrin, packed too ghastly a punch,
bread-centric Pearl Bakery for delectable pastries and locally-cultivated artisan sandwiches,
and Portland's finest sweet treats for dessert connoisseurs at Papa Haydn.
Furiously fantastic time! Portland is a smidgen too tame for my preferences, but I fervently admire its green, relaxed, DIY culture that breeds refreshingly down-to-earth and helpful locals. A remarkable town to sojourn, indeed.
Bushels more snapshots de Portlandia here. Stay tuned for the forthcoming post on Seattle!
around which we rummaged over and under, to and fro, round and about via bicycloves.After all, 'twas a necessary transportation accessory since we were in America's most bike-friendly town.We got introduced to the annual waterfront-lining Rose Fest this weekend past,meandered Pioneer Courthouse Square, the heart of the city's bustling living room that outfits locals with a central communal venue to gather and gab,
roamed Nob Hill's eclectic hipster vibe,
attended the parading of Portland's prime handmade curios at the nation's grandest weekly handicraft fair, the Saturday Market,
whilst acquainting ourselves with its history-ridden arms, Old Town and the Pearl Districtand its terribly terrific antiquities,
submerged ourselves within the mind-boggling grandeur of the most insanely fabulous indie bookstore, Powell's, a bona fide Portland institution flaunting 4 million new, used, rare, and outta print tomes,
particularly an addicting artillery of vintage printed literary lovelies,
absorbed the natural splendor of the City of Roses' International Rose Test Garden,
patroned snazzy live jazziness at the premier Jimmy Mak's,
and consumed local savory foodie favs. 'Twas all so fresh and tasty at: Mother's Bistro,where the amalgamation of chic vintage-meets-warehouse interior decor and a Pacific Northwestern spin on French fare garnered tastebud praise,
Pastini, where authentic Italian pasta near-perfection is delivered for measly buckaroos,Huber's, Portland's oldest established bar to sample a Pacific Northwest phenomenon deemed Spanish coffee, which, to our chagrin, packed too ghastly a punch,bread-centric Pearl Bakery for delectable pastries and locally-cultivated artisan sandwiches, and Portland's finest sweet treats for dessert connoisseurs at Papa Haydn.Furiously fantastic time! Portland is a smidgen too tame for my preferences, but I fervently admire its green, relaxed, DIY culture that breeds refreshingly down-to-earth and helpful locals. A remarkable town to sojourn, indeed.Bushels more snapshots de Portlandia here. Stay tuned for the forthcoming post on Seattle!
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