Fast Company named Seattle its 2009 City of the Year, citing its -- get this -- creativity! I knew something felt good here. Check out the story:
http://www.fastcompany.com/cities/2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Princeton Reunions 2009
Going back to Old Nassau never gets old – although we seem to. While attending our 6th Reunion with about 150-200 classmates (official numbers coming soon), I discovered:
1. Overwhelmingly, ‘03ers don’t like sleeping on hardwood floors anymore. Grown men will spoon in a twin bed just to avoid it.
2. We now prefer the Beatles cover band at the 40th to the Top 40 band at the 5th; fireworks also take priority over Bud/Bud Light.
3. We all complained that Led Zeppelin cover band Zoso played “too loud.”
And though we check in at the 10th Reunion next year (eek!), it won’t stop us from coming back – we have too much fun. See below for proof.
1. Overwhelmingly, ‘03ers don’t like sleeping on hardwood floors anymore. Grown men will spoon in a twin bed just to avoid it.
2. We now prefer the Beatles cover band at the 40th to the Top 40 band at the 5th; fireworks also take priority over Bud/Bud Light.
3. We all complained that Led Zeppelin cover band Zoso played “too loud.”
And though we check in at the 10th Reunion next year (eek!), it won’t stop us from coming back – we have too much fun. See below for proof.
School's out
My little brother Norm graduated from Fordham University in May -- the Dannens rejoiced. Pictured in the Bronx, NY: Grandma Margaret, Mom, myself, and three generations of Frederick Norman Dannen.
Seattle photos
Finally! The photos of Seattle I promised. Warning: there are many, many shots of Puget Sound.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Playing the ponies
I love going to the racetrack. My dad, brother and I have gone to Monmouth Park at least once a summer since I was old enough to place $2 bets. We take our cooler of sandwiches and beer, set up lawn chairs along the track’s fence, work on our tans and pretend to know what we’re doing. Our betting isn’t sophisticated, though we go one step beyond banking on a horse’s name. My top three reasons to bet on a horse are: 1) if it has the biggest hind legs. 2) if jockey Edgar Prado is riding (he’s awesome). 3) if the odds are such that this horse’s victory will pay for parking for the day.
Strangely enough, I also love floppy hats, which is why I quickly agreed to go with Courtney and Joe to a Kentucky Derby Day charity outing organized by her Microsoft friends on Saturday. The last time I wore a floppy hat was in Melbourne (Australia) for Melbourne Cup Day, which is actually a public holiday. The city shuts down for the races and people start drinking champagne at 9am. Love Australia. Anyway, Greg – in his white linen suit, no less – and I met up with Courtney, Joe and a gaggle of twenty- and thirtysomethings at Post Bar in Post Alley at noon. The event organizers had spent the night creating (and taste-testing) gallons of mint juleps to bring on our (school bus!) ride to Seattle’s closest racetrack, Emerald Downs. Six gallons, actually. For a half-hour ride. We brought Post Bar’s bartender along for safety’s sake.
The mint juleps actually calmed some nerves when our bus, manned by “Dollar” Bill, got stuck in the alleyway. That was fun. The final destination was well worth it, though. Check out the outfits and the track [see pics below]. We didn’t win any money (Edgar Prado let me down), but the sun came out and we had a fun time playing the ponies. One guy in our group bet $10 on the 50-1 Kentucky Derby winner and left with $500 in his pocket. Not too shabby.
Strangely enough, I also love floppy hats, which is why I quickly agreed to go with Courtney and Joe to a Kentucky Derby Day charity outing organized by her Microsoft friends on Saturday. The last time I wore a floppy hat was in Melbourne (Australia) for Melbourne Cup Day, which is actually a public holiday. The city shuts down for the races and people start drinking champagne at 9am. Love Australia. Anyway, Greg – in his white linen suit, no less – and I met up with Courtney, Joe and a gaggle of twenty- and thirtysomethings at Post Bar in Post Alley at noon. The event organizers had spent the night creating (and taste-testing) gallons of mint juleps to bring on our (school bus!) ride to Seattle’s closest racetrack, Emerald Downs. Six gallons, actually. For a half-hour ride. We brought Post Bar’s bartender along for safety’s sake.
The mint juleps actually calmed some nerves when our bus, manned by “Dollar” Bill, got stuck in the alleyway. That was fun. The final destination was well worth it, though. Check out the outfits and the track [see pics below]. We didn’t win any money (Edgar Prado let me down), but the sun came out and we had a fun time playing the ponies. One guy in our group bet $10 on the 50-1 Kentucky Derby winner and left with $500 in his pocket. Not too shabby.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
When pigs attack
Fact: It is 1,272 miles from Seattle to Tijuana, Mexico.
Fact: As of this afternoon, there are 13 suspected cases of swine flu in Washington state.
Fact: I saw two people walking around downtown Seattle wearing surgical masks today. Two of thousands, but still -- two.
Which begs two questions: Are surgical masks trendy? And HOW THE HELL did swine flu make it up here? Someone please explain...
Fact: As of this afternoon, there are 13 suspected cases of swine flu in Washington state.
Fact: I saw two people walking around downtown Seattle wearing surgical masks today. Two of thousands, but still -- two.
Which begs two questions: Are surgical masks trendy? And HOW THE HELL did swine flu make it up here? Someone please explain...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sucked in
When I move somewhere new, I enjoy reading books about or based in my adopted home-region. It gives me some perspective when I write -- and keeps me from saying embarrassing things around complete strangers. "You mean the Olympics were never held in the Olympic Peninsula?" That kind of thing.
I'm starting with a classic: Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer. It's set in Forks, Wa. (though you all know this already, since I'm at least a couple years behind this trend.) And much like its lead character, this book has the potential to eat me alive. I can't put it down. I read it in the kitchen while making dinner; while walking outside; at the gym; during lunch; instead of working; at night before bed, and first thing when I wake up. I wake up early, just to read it. I feel horribly guilty, like I'm addicted to a teenager's diary. Though I have technically learned something about NW Washington state: 1. It rains there more than anywhere else in the US. 2. There are vampires there.
Does anyone have any other recommendations on good Seattle, Washington or Pacific NW literature I should check out? I should be done with this paper-based cocaine tonight.
I'm starting with a classic: Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer. It's set in Forks, Wa. (though you all know this already, since I'm at least a couple years behind this trend.) And much like its lead character, this book has the potential to eat me alive. I can't put it down. I read it in the kitchen while making dinner; while walking outside; at the gym; during lunch; instead of working; at night before bed, and first thing when I wake up. I wake up early, just to read it. I feel horribly guilty, like I'm addicted to a teenager's diary. Though I have technically learned something about NW Washington state: 1. It rains there more than anywhere else in the US. 2. There are vampires there.
Does anyone have any other recommendations on good Seattle, Washington or Pacific NW literature I should check out? I should be done with this paper-based cocaine tonight.
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