Last Thursday in Seattle – Driftwood Consignment Shop

And you thought this blog was just about food.  Well, it is.  But I can’t go out to eat naked, can I?  I mean, legally. In Seattle.

So, a girl’s gotta wear something, especially when it rains like it did last Thursday.  And here’s my philosophy on clothes: it has to fit and look good and be a steal.  Seems simple, doesn’t it?  Well, when you’re barely under 5 feet tall, but you still have curves, and you’re still trying to figure out your personal style, challenges present themselves.  I’ve got a bad track record – for years, I would only buy that which was a steal – yes, even if it was a Large.  Maybe it would fit someday, I would say.  I remember those days, because I still have that size 42 Piazza Sempione camel hair jacket with the impeccable seaming, mocking me from the closet.  Those days, hmph. Don’t you shake your head at me.  You know you’ve had them.

Bargain hunting drove my shopping habits for a long time.  Then I met my best friend Sheila, who would spend scads of money on just a dress, or a pair of shoes.  At first, I would balk at the prices.  But she always looked great, and really – look at these shoes:

Aren’t they lovely?  I know.  She has plenty that are equally gorgeous. And we wear the same shoe size.  Lucky me!

Anyway, here’s my point.  I still go for the bargains, but I only go for those in my size.  It has to fit me, style-wise and size-wise, no matter how detailed the seaming or elegant the heel.  So, I hit the requisite Nordstrom’s Rack and Loehmann’s, as well as a couple of local thrift stores for bags and shoes.  I’ve really been on the hunt for a local consignment shop that has swoon-worthy high-end goods.  I think I’ve found it.

I found Driftwood through Yelp,  made an appointment at the Madrona location, and took a few items that I wanted to recycle.  For you out-of-towners, you should know that Seattle is big into recycling.  And consignment is a great way for a fashionista to contribute to that cause.  You have items you bought on impulse and never wore, right?  Right?  Well, I do all the time.  And I’ve found some great deals (Botkier purses, Delman shoes, Theory jackets) for incredible prices in nearly new or new condition.  For example, I took in two pairs of boots I love but have never worn – black Santana waterproof ones in a size 7, and lovely butter-soft Lisa Nadings.  And I left with a great Rachel Pally wrap that will be perfect for summer, and a pair of stunning Chanel pants in liquidy black silk.  Besides these items, I found high-end denim (Rock and Republics, Sevens), great shoes and bags (Bally boots, Choos, a Marc Jacobs mini multipocket), evening wear and work-ready dresses and pants (Alvin Valley, Miu Miu).   The store is about the size of a walk-in closet, and it doesn’t smell like a thrift store.  Natalie, the owner, is friendly and warm.  I left feeling satisfied that I had scored another local find, and intrigued as to what other deals might be had at the Downtown location.

Well, since I was in that area for Dahlia Bakery’s Happy Hour, I jaunted over to Driftwood on 2nd and Stewart.  Same intimate walk-in closet feel, great selection of shoes, and the clothing trends a little funkier than the Madrona location.  I fell in love with a lovely red Diane Von Furstenburg dress in the window that was just a smidge too big.  Maybe it’s meant for you.  You should go take a look.

Driftwood is open 11-7 p.m. Tues. through Sat. and Sundays from 11-5 p.m.  For more information, check out their website at www.DriftwoodConsignment.com.  And please, don’t buy those Bally boots in the size 36.5 if you see them.  I think they’re meant for me.

Yesterday in Seattle – Dahlia Bakery Happy Hour

Here’s something I’d never heard of – a bakery happy hour!  And a stunning one, no less.  I ventured really awful traffic, parking search hell and raindrops to check out Dahlia Bakery’s happy hour inauguration.  Happy to report, I wasn’t disappointed.  Here’s the goods:

Offerings and a very reasonable price list

Models of the treats

I had a couple of doughnuts, 3 tiny coconut cream pies, the pear galette and the housemade ginger ale.  The doughnuts were what doughnuts aspire to become when they go to heaven: light, airy, dusted with just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar and accented with the smallest dollop of cream.  The pies were – well, coconutty bliss, and if you don’t like coconut but want to know the hype, this is really the best way to try them.  The galette was good – I’m not a fruity dessert person, but if you are I’m sure you’d think the puff pastry and caramel were perfect pairings to the pear.  All were excellent, but the ginger ale took the cake.  Smooth, with a bit of bite – and I imagined sipping it with vodka or even a splash of bourbon.  Delicious!  And so refreshing on this rainy day.

The lovely bakery staff  (see above) relayed to me that they will be doing this happy hour every day (Yes!).  Offerings will change on a daily basis (although today’s selection should be the same as yesterdays) and you can get Twitter updates from TDRBakery (which is how I found out about this event in the first place).  Another reason for me to blow my hard-earned cash; but not nearly as painful as that Marc Jacobs purse purchase I shouldn’t have made. Ah well – life is sweet.

Arrivaderci!

Today, in Seattle – 63F and Cloudy

It’s a brisk day in Seattle, although a bit sloggish for me.  Outside, the leaves are starting to change colors, and I have to admit that I’m a little sad that summer is already gone.  If you aren’t from here, you might not know that summer in Seattle is one of the most beautiful things to behold.  The days are more vibrant and cleaner than San Francisco and Chicago, bigger and more urban than Portland, softer and more luscious than San Diego.  You’ll catch glimpses of the water almost anywhere you are downtown, and it twinkles at you, all dark and pretty.  There’s so much to do in the summertime – catch a ferry, check out funky shops, drink awesome coffee, run along the shore.  And the food!  Farmer’s markets are a dawdler’s dream – you’ll never taste strawberries or peaches so luscious and ripe, and there is seafood and cheese and cupcakes and bread.  A perfect day is easy to achieve when it’s summertime in Seattle – and it looks like this:

For breakfast, you’ll go to Cafe Besalu in Ballard for a croissant, or Macrina Bakery for a morning roll.  Grab some seriously dreamy coffee at Victrola on Pine and sit outside to catch your daily dose of Vitamin D.  Stroll to Pioneer Square for lunch, and you’ll wait in line for the best sandwich you’ve ever eaten at Salumi.  Walk across the street to Caffe Umbria for dessert and take it outside to watch the people go by.  Stroll  along the waterfront to watch the sailboats and cruise ships trail in, and end up at Wann Izakaya for happy hour.   Grab a table on the deck at the Pink Door, or outside La Fontana, and hold hands with your sweetie over pasta.  You’ll want to relax with a glass of the honey-like Schloss Schonborn spatlese, which tastes exactly how you’ll feel – sweet and a little bitter that summer is so fleeting.

Here are the things I loved about Summer in Seattle 2009:

• My new car radio
• Not training for triathlons
• Eating a perfect Rama Farms nectarine
• Hiroki Bakery
• My Birnbaum and Bullock dress
• Rediscovering e.e. cummings
• Taking up yoga
• Grey Stack’s Sauvignon Blanc Rosemary’s Block
• Arosa waffles
• Trophy’s snickerdoodle cupcakes
• Julie’s Blackberry frozen yogurt
• Strawberries from my own garden
• Smiley-faced linzer cookies from Caffe Umbria
• Dinners at Chez Shea
• Sevilla mochas from Caffe Fiore

This summer, so much had changed for me; I lost my job, I gained a partner, I met new friends and ate great food.  I’m in awe of all that has taken place.  And I am happy and lucky to have such a full and diverse life.

I want to start documenting these days, so that when I get slogged down by the rain, or the greyness that will occasionally come my way, I’ll remember smelling jasmine flowers along Hunter Boulevard, or the way the water looked driving across Lake Washington in the early mornings, or seeing the mountains on a clear day.   I’ll think of those afternoons in Magnolia, looking down at the cityscape and catching my breath.  And I’ll remember that peach I ate, how luscious it smelled, and how I knew it would be gone too quickly.

Goodbye, Summer. I’ll see you again soon.