My first time to Seattle

With all the traveling I do, it's hard to believe that I've never been to Seattle. I think I've visited or passed through every other notable large city in America (except Philadelphia and New Orleans are still on the list). But Seattle, I had yet to get there until this past week. Now I didn't get to see much of it but I got a taste and that taste will draw me back (hopefully soon!).

I flew out with some radio folks and friends from Centricity Music for a radio event in Winthrop, WA. We had the opportunity to retreat to the mountains for a few days to hear new music from downhere, Jason Gray and Aaron Shust. A fun time in a breaktaking environment.

We flew back into Seattle from Winthrop on Thursday and were not scheduled to fly back to Nashville until Friday. So Thursday afternoon/evening we had the chance to drive into downtown for lunch and to look around a bit.

I guess when you only have a few hours and you've never been to Seattle before, it seems best to hit the Pike Place Market. Seems like the one touristy thing to do. So we did.

Pike Place Market

We ventured down for lunch and landed at the Athenian Inn at Pike Place. My friend Jen thought it was the place where they filmed the scene with Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner for Sleepless in Seattle. She was right. When you walk in the door to the host stand, there to the right are the counter and stools and the two stools on the corner are marked with plaques. And yes, I did snap a picture on my phone.

It says, "Tom Hanks Sat Here / Sleepless in Seattle."

My vegetarian eats there: The veggie sandwich with hummus, avocado, lettuce, tomato and sprouts on toasted wheat bread.

After lunch, we just wandered through the market. We saw the fish counter where they throw the fish. It was a fish being thrown -- mildly entertaining.

Then of course, we had to stop by the Pike Place Starbucks. It was a pilgrimage of sorts for this former Starbucks barista. It wasn't much to look at and the coffee tasted the same but if you're there, you gotta go.

Ta-dah! First Starbucks Store

They have a system here. One barista forms a line near the door and directs customers to open cash stations to place orders and pay. Then you wait at the bar for your drink. All the mugs and such on the shelves are for display only; to purchase you point at the one you want from a sheet at the register and they have them boxed up in back already waiting for you. There are no tables here; you don't hang out. You come in, get your drink and/or your souvenir, and you continue on your way. Even though the traffic must be something fierce while you're open, at least you don't have a front of house to clean and customers to kick out at closing time every day. And no drive thru. I'd take that.

So that was my first trip to Seattle. I texted my friend Leslie, "Why have we not come here together?" Neither of us had an answer. Some day, soon hopefully.

Good Night To My Nieces

I started collecting the children's book series Good Night Our World for my nieces during my travels around the country.

It started with Good Night California. I found a copy of the board book in a little store in San Francisco in May 2009, about three months before my now 17-month-old niece was born. I remember debating between Good Night California and Good Night San Francisco, and went with California because I lived in Los Angeles at the time. When I got home, I mailed it to my then 3-year-old niece.

I didn't think again about the series again until I found a copy of Good Night Washington, DC at a museum in Washington last June. On my next visit home to Michigan, I delivered it to my girls.

When I was in New York City this past Christmas, I decided to check for a Good Night New York City. And sure enough! I found a copy at the independent Posman Books in Chelsea Market. It was part of my younger niece's Christmas present as she has become quite the bookworm. Reportedly, she reads the book over and over. My older niece said, "We should have Aunt Jackie over and give her a big hug and tell her she picked a good book for Ava." Aw, love them!

Now three books into the series, I've decided to check for a Good Night book in whatever local booksellers I come across in my travels. While in Portland a couple weeks ago, we stopped by a Powell's on Hawthorne. I headed over to the children's section and found Good Night Oregon. Perfect! I bought it, and when I got home, I mailed to my girls.

I have a couple years yet before my girls get too big for these little books so I decided I should check to see what other cities and states in the series might be added to the collection: http://www.goodnightourworld.com/. I see Tennessee, Charleston, Atlanta, Chicago and Arizona, and hopefully, Boston and Los Angeles, in our future at least.