Podcast Picks

When it comes to new forms of technology, I tend to be a little slow on the uptake.

But this year I discovered the amazing world of podcasts, and since then my life and commute haven't been the same. 

What is a Podcast?

My friend Jessica was always referring to interesting little tidbits she had picked up from various podcasts, and eventually I asked her, "What IS a podcast? How do you access them? Which ones are good? Where do I start?"

If you haven't yet been introduced to this extra-special form of addiction, here's the deal:

A podcast is a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player. It's typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.

Thus began my love affair...

My 10 Favorite Podcasts

1. Serial

This was the very first podcast I ever listened to, and it has remained by far my #1 favorite. Serial unfolds one true story over the course of a whole season, following the plot and characters wherever they lead, through many surprising twists and turns. Season 1 investigated the murder of Hae Min Lee, an 18-year-old high school student in Baltimore, Maryland allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. Syed was convicted and given a life sentence despite pleading his innocence. Serial brought massive new attention to the case, including a court decision allowing Syed to appeal his conviction. I am waiting on pins and needles to see if Adnan will be freed from prison, because I, for one, think he is innocent.

2. Undisclosed: The State vs. Adnan Syed

In the wake of Serial, tons of new evidence and information has been discovered and uncovered thanks to the investigations of attorneys Susan Simpson, Colin Miller, and the Adnan Syed Legal Trust. Undisclosed examines and explores the case in greater detail, from an investigatory perspective instead of a narrative one. Definitely don't dive into this one unless you've already put in the time listening to Serial first.

3. Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff

This podcast is a listener-driven show devoted to the pursuit of truth and justice. So far the host, Bob Ruff, is investigating the Hae Min Lee murder case, hence why I find this particular podcast appealing. Bob is a Fire Chief and uses his experience investigating arsons to find the truth, and he has proved to be very effective in finding new details in the case.

4. This American Life

This weekly public radio show is one of the most popular ones out there. Each week's show has a theme, explored in several "acts." Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays, memoirs, field recordings, short fiction, and found footage. The content varies widely by episode, and the mood of the show ranges from gloomy to ironic, from thought-provoking to humorous. I've yet to listen to an episode that I didn't love.

5. Love + Radio

This podcast features intimate and otherworldly-produced interviews with an eclectic range of subjects, from the seedy to the sublime. It's featured some really emotionally complicated stories and portraits of people that I've found super fascinating.

6. Matt Walsh - TheBlaze

Matt describes himself as a "professional truth sayer." He is a young, outspoken conservative Christian covered in tattoos, and surprisingly I often find myself nodding along to his outspoken tirades about current events and social issues.

7. TED Radio Hour

This podcast is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. The episodes are based on talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, and each show is centered on a common theme such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts, or inexplicable connections. I always feel inspired after listening to this one.

8. The Longest Shortest Time

This is the only podcast I listen to that's focused on parenting. It features a variety of stories about all different kinds of parents, kids, and experiences from all walks of life. And you don't have to be a parent to love this podcast and the people it features. I recommend listening to one of my favorite episodes, "The Accidental Gay Parents," which is sure to have anyone with a heart in tears.   

9. Radiolab

This one features an investigation told through sounds and stories, and is centered around one big idea. Information sounds like music and science and culture collide, and the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder.

10. Invisibilia

"Invisibilia" is Latin for "all the invisible things," and the podcast is about the invisible forces that control human behavior: ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions. I absolutely love listening to the co-hosts, Lulu Miller and Alix Speigel, as they interweave narrative storytelling with scientific research that will ultimately make you see your own life differently.

How to Listen to Podcasts

To subscribe to a podcast, use iTunes or the Podcast application on your smart phone and click "subscribe" on the page for that podcast... it's as simple as that! iTunes will then automatically check each day for new episodes. You can also stream an individual episode by clicking its episode number in the episode list.

Serial is what originally sucked me in, so of course I recommend starting there. This American Life is also a great place to begin. Or just start browsing the Top Charts in your app and see what appeals to you. There are literally bazillions of podcasts available; truly something for everyone.

Podcasts are such a great way to pass the time during a boring commute, difficult workout, house cleaning frenzy, or just a dull afternoon.

But beware... once you start you won't be able to stop!

What are your favorite Podcasts?

Frugal Fun -- Affordable Seattle Dating

Earlier this year, Seattle was ranked the seventh most expensive city in America. Worldwide, it outranks cities like Shanghai, Milan, Madrid and Dubai for cost of living, making it the 44th most expensive city in the world...

 

Cha-ching!

Stew and I don't really consider ourselves to be extravagant people, and we usually have more fun at a parking lot tailgate drinking from red blue Solo cups than we would at a fancy schmancy, trendy, expensive restaurant. We prefer to entertain ourselves without wasting our hard earned dollars, so I was flattered when my darling cousin Brooke reached out to me recently for some ideas about having frugal fun in the city.


Brooke and her boyfriend, Benjamin, wanted to celebrate their anniversary without breaking the bank, so I sent them on a day full of my most favorite affordable Seattle adventures.

Let's head out with them for a day of cheap entertainment in Seattle!

// Breakfast //


They started things off with this delicious breakfast. Brooke found the recipe on Pinterest, and since she already had the eggs and bacon in her fridge, only spent a total of about $3 to make it.

DELISH!

 // Kubota Garden //

 

This 20 acre Japanese garden in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle was started by Fujitaro Kubota, a Japanese emigrant, in 1927. Today it is maintained as a public park and it's a great place to spend a morning wandering around. The garden is open to the public every day during daylight hours all year round. Major features include the Kubota Terrace, the Bamboo Grove, the Necklace of Ponds, the Mountainside, and the Tom Kubota Stroll Garden.

 

It's FREE and easy to find!

 

Benjamin called himself "Big Buddha Juddha."

Brooke and Benjamin took turns standing up inside the bell (which, by the way, doesn't ring unless you smack it loudly when someone's head is inside it -- have fun with that!)

 

 

Brooke loved exploring around all the crazy-looking trees!
 

// Ballard Locks //

 

One of Seattle's most popular tourist attractions, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks is a complex of locks that sits at the west end of Salmon Bay, part of Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal. Completed in 1917, the locks maintain the water levels of Lake Washington and Lake Union, prevent Puget Sound sea water from mixing with the fresh lake water, and move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa -- this is the fun part!

Through a system of swinging walkways, visitors can watch the action up close. The grounds also feature a fish ladder, visitors center with interpretive exhibits, gift shop, and botanical garden. Visiting hours for the locks and surrounding garden are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. year round.

Admission is FREE!

It was Benjamin's first time at the Ballard Locks, and he and Brooke were both very excited to watch big boats be lifted up by water that seemed to come from nowhere!

They enjoyed the beautiful scenery and fish ladders. The sculptures dedicated to the fish ladders were especially pretty.
 

// Red Mill Burgers //

Rated best burgers in Seattle for ten years in a row, Red Mill Burgers has "one of the 20 hamburgers you must eat before you die," according to Oprah Winfrey and GQ Magazine.

The original Red Mill was located in Capitol Hill, and opened in 1937 as a diner and ice creamery with table and counter service. The second location in Interbay opened in 1998, and immediately received honorable mention in the best burger category in the Seattle Weekly's annual Best of Seattle issue. It has subsequently won the best burger award every year since, along with numerous other accolades.

After hitting the locks, Brooke and Benjamin headed over to Red Mill for some giant burgers and delicious shakes.

YUM!

They only spent about $20 on their entire delicious meal.

// Second Ascent //

Before calling it a day, Brooke and Benjamin decided to stop at Second Ascent, a shop in Ballard that carries new and used name brand outdoor gear like The North Face and Arc'teryx.

Unfortunately, in their excitement to find a free parking spot, they missed the sign that said "back-in, angle parking only."

WHOOPS...



Luckily, they didn't receive a parking ticket, because that would have put them way over budget for the day!

 

Congratulations on your anniversary,

Brooke & Benjamin!

 

And I hope this post is a reminder to everyone that in the Emerald City you really don't have to look too far, or dig too deep into your wallet, for fun and affordable activities that are sure to bring back those first date butterflies.

 

A Nice Little Saturday

This weekend we had a nice little Saturday planned...

 

We started off with something I have been dying to try for a very long time... brunch at Salty's on Alki! It's been voted best brunch in Seattle year after year, featuring a world-famous array of the best Northwest local seafoods and iconic brunch favorites. Seafood, hot dishes, breads, fruit, pasta made-to-order, bakery specialties, veggies, Wonka-style chocolate fountains, and of course my favorite, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar! Eat all you want for under $50, kids! I think Stewart thought he had died and gone to heaven.

 

Buffets are usually such a waste on me, because I fill a towering plate with all sorts of yumminess, take a few bites of each thing, and then push it around mumbling, "I'm full..." but at Salty's Stewart was definitely able to eat our money's worth. And I did a decent job on my own fair share of crab legs. YUM.

 

We were celebrating my bestie Tara's birthday, and it was such a fun way to get the weekend started.

 

Happy Birthday Tara, we love you!

 

 

 

 

Next on the agenda was to head downtown and catch The Wizard of Oz at the Paramount. We are really big musical theater nerds, but honestly we love going to shows! Especially ones meant for children.

 

That being said, the main problem with loving shows that target kindergartners is that the audience is filled with evil brats tiny humans.

 

I swear sometimes I don't know what is wrong with people. Maybe I'll be singing a different tune someday when I have children, but honestly I do not understand someone who brings their child to a fancy theater, pays $70 for seats, and then lets the child scream throughout the entire production.

 

The fun-loving dad next to us sat his daughter on his lap (she actually placed one leg over on Stewart's lap) and then proceeded to talk and sing to her AT FULL VOLUME for the duration of the show, as if they were the only two people there!

 

"Do you see the witch, isn't she scary? Oh my goodness, here come the Munchkins! Do you remember what happens next?"

 

Are you effing kidding me??!?

 

Stewart and I both rudely and obviously covered our ears with both hands, but that didn't seem to deter Dad at all. It also didn't block out the ringing of a cell phone that went on for the duration of most of one famous song. I know I've said it before, but honestly what the hell is wrong with people!?

 

That being said, I loved the show and had a great time, albeit the spoiled brats and obnoxious parents in attendance. But maybe next time I should opt for a show that targets grown ups.

 

After the show we headed down to Puyallup to the Ram for a firefighter retirement party. I don't go to Puyallup very often, and we eat at the Ram even less, but it was actually a really fun evening with good food and great people. Plus there was a Hawaiian theme (the guest of honor is relocating to Hawaii), and y'all know how I feel about theme parties! Best.thing.ever.

 

 

Phew. We were feeling pretty tuckered out by this point (god I miss that 20-something energy), but we still had one more party to crash that evening... a housewarming party for Stew's friend Justin at his new place on Lake Washington. Holy moly his place was fantastic! Filled with yummy food, drinks, and peeps, the house looks out over the lake toward Bellevue... gorgeous!

 

Since we're old and lame mature and responsible we didn't stay too terribly late, but we did have fun catching up with some good friends before we headed home to pour ourselves into bed. After all, we had a big day of tailgating coming up on Sunday!

 


I'm a pretty good planner, and I can usually manage to get quite a bit accomplished in a single day, but even I can admit that Saturday was a little excessive... I think I'll try to keep my calendar a little more open in the future. But it was still awesome to see so many rad people in the course of 24 hours.

 

I hope that you had a fantastic, fun-filled Saturday as well!

Jersey Boys for the Birthday Boy

Stewart was super excited when he found out that Jersey Boys was coming to the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and we got tickets immediately.

Months and months later, the day of the show (and Stew's birthday), I woke up bright and early to get ready for the day... I wanted to pick a cute outfit for the show after work, and I needed to set out a few birthday surprises for Stew. And as I finished up my makeup and prepared to head out with just a few minutes to spare I realized... eeek! The tickets!

Like I said, we bought them months and months ago. But I had been careful to keep the tickets in a specific drawer at our condo. And on the weekend of the BIG MOVE, I carefully transported them to the new house via the safety of my purse. And when we set up a temporary office upstairs while we were waiting to install bookshelves in the den, I carefully placed them on a shelf in that room. But then we moved the temporary office back downstairs. And somehow... somehow... yes... I lost track of the tickets. Eyeyeye...

So picture me, in the den, at 7:00 on a Thursday morning, frantically tearing open and dumping out banker boxes filled with files and miscellaneous office supplies. Freaking out, obvi.

Twenty minutes later I found the tickets, on the same shelf where I had put them originally. (Yes, it's the first place that I checked, but the tickets had gotten buried under some medical bills). But I digress.

Tickets safely in hand, we headed over to the theater following a yummy birthday dinner at Rock Bottom. The show was fantastic! Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and their rise to the heights of stardom in the '60s. I'm sure you're familiar with songs like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (which for me brought back fond memories of Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You). And if you've ever been on a car trip with Stew, you've inevitably been treated to an extremely loud, singalong version of "Oh What A Night."

Who knew these guys had so many hits?! I knew almost every song! Surprising, since when I looked up at intermission we were actually the only people under age 50 in the entire theater. Jersey Boys is a fantastic show though, and I'd recommend it for anyone. Check it out if you can!

I think Stew had a really fun birthday evening, and we've got some more festivities planned for this weekend. What are you up to?

Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant

I loved my first experience at Book-It Repertory Theatre a few months ago, so when my friend Jessica invited me to see Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant with her I agreed right away. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving is one of my favorite books, and this show takes a small piece of the book and turns it into a full stage production where the quirky and memorable boy Owen Meany wreaks havoc on the annual Christ Church Christmas Pageant.

Most of the play dramatizes action from the fourth chapter of the novel, called "The Little Lord Jesus." It begins by quickly summarizing the background from the beginning of the book so that the relationships and characters are established, before quickly transitioning into Christmas-mode. This is what I was really looking forward to, since I've struggled to get into the holiday spirit this year.

Owen Meany is a tiny boy from a working class family with a "wrecked voice" who, in spite of many would-be handicaps, somehow manages to charm, manipulate, and even intimidate everyone he meets. After playing the Angel Gabriel for seven years in the Christ Church Christmas Pageant, this year he aggressively acquires a position of leadership and casts himself instead as the Baby Jesus. Hilarity ensues.

The production is light, fast-paced, and full of humor. I found myself laughing out loud several times at the characters who I knew so well from the book as they were brought dramatically to life. At first I wasn't sure how I would feel about someone other than a small child playing Owen Meany, but the casting was brilliant and I instantly fell in love with the characters all over again.

This is a short, heart-warming holiday show great for all ages, and it has definitely made it's way onto my must-see holiday show list.

Me and Jessica with Owen.

ELF - The Musical

As sort of an extra birthday present / holiday treat, Stew and I went to see ELF - The Musical last night at the 5th Avenue Theatre. I doubt there are many people who haven't seen this Christmas classic, but just in case, here is a plot recap for you:

"Buddy, a human raised at the North Pole by elves, sets off to the big city in search of his father. What he finds is an alarming lack of Christmas Spirit. Even his little brother doesn’t believe in Santa! So Buddy sets out to help everyone remember the true meaning of Christmas, eating as many things covered in syrup as possible along the way."

I had absolutely no idea how this movie could be turned into a musical stage production, but I couldn't wait to find out! But first things first, we met up before the show at Taphouse Grill to have dinner with a couple of Stew's co-workers who were also going to the show.

ELF - The Musical was awesome! And it really helped me get into the Christmas spirit, which I've been struggling with this season. The set was absolutely gorgeous, colorful, and Christmas-y. And the show itself had us laughing and smiling throughout. There were enough jokes for the adults plus fun special effects for the kids, and the cheerful messages really lifted my spirits.

We've been happy with our choice this year to bypass getting season tickets and just attend a few specific shows that really interest us. ELF - The Musical was an excellent choice, we highly recommend it for kids and adults alike this holiday season!

Glass Garden Dinner Party

Our event took place in this amazing space.

My company is celebrating a very important anniversary this year, and to celebrate we all attended an amazing event last night at Chihuly Garden and Glass in the Seattle Center. This amazing exhibition explores the inspiration and influences of Northwest glass artist Dale Chihuly. It features a comprehensive selection of his work including both indoor and outdoor spaces, and a new Glasshouse.

"I want people to be overwhelmed with light and color in a way they have never experienced." ~ Dale Chihuly

Our event began with time for a social hour and viewing of the exhibit. I was completely overwhelmed by the elaborate installations that flow onto floors, walls, ceilings and the outdoors. The shapes and colors were simply breathtaking!

Afterward we had a delicious seated dinner followed by a program and additional social time.

The menu, which I helped select, was melt-in-your-mouth amazing. It started with a garden salad followed by Roasted Delicata Squash Soup which was probably the best soup I've ever had in my life. So rich, creamy and delicious, I can still taste it... My entree was Sundried Tomato and Goat Cheese Ravioli with rainbow chard, Pistachio brown butter and grilled bread, and Stew had the Double R Ranch Waygu Style Beef Filet in red wine butter (actually he had two, because the person who was supposed to sit next to me didn't show up!) We were in heaven. Dessert was Strawberry Rhubarb Croustade with marscarpone cream.

Seriously, if you ever get the chance to eat here, do it. I hear the food in the Cafe is equally amazing.

It was a wonderful evening of celebration and I only wish it could have lasted a little longer... and that we both didn't have to work the next morning!

Mom's WICKED Birthday Celebration

To celebrate Mom's birthday, my sister and I bought tickets to WICKED at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. I have been wanting to see this show for ages, so I was super duper excited. WICKED (the untold stories of the witches of Oz) is one of Broadway's very best productions, and it was even more amazing than I ever could have imagined.

I loved the central theme of "defying gravity," and almost every single one of the musical numbers gave me chills. At our matinee performance, Glinda was played by understudy Sarah Schenkkan and she was unbelievable! Her character is laugh-out-loud adorable, and her personality combined with Dee Roscioli's performance as Elphaba was incredible. Stewart doesn't typically like musicals when he is not familiar with the songs, but both of us liked the show so much we'll list it as one of our very favorites.

The stage performance is based only loosely on Gregory Maguire's book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, but that didn't really bother me at all. However, the book is also absolutely fantastic, if you can get around to reading it.

My aunt Karen and cousin Brooke also had tickets to the show, so they joined us afterward for a special birthday dinner at Wasabi Bistro. Little did I know I had managed to make our reservations during happy hour! For someone who eats as much as Stew, sushi can get expensive quickly, but with the happy hour specials we were able to absolutely pig out on sushi rolls to celebrate Mom's big day.

Karen and Brooke hadn't been to that type of sushi restaurant before, so it was fun to help them navigate the menu and decide what to order... I hope they enjoyed it!

I love how if the servers at Wasabi find out it's your birthday they bring out a complimentary dessert. Mom loved the green tea tiramisu...

It was a super fun afternoon/evening with my family, and we were so happy to be able to celebrate together.

Happy happy birthday, Momma!

BURN

Last night Stew and I saw BURN - One Year on the Front Lines of the Battle to Save Detroit, and if you have the opportunity I highly recommend checking it out. The film is a feature documentary about Detroit, told through the eyes of Detroit firefighters, who are charged with the thankless task of saving a city that many have written off as dead. I thought this was a very well done documentary, and I was absolutely fascinated by the history of the city and the personal stories of the firefighters who work there. It was also fun to finally see a movie in the little theater in Lower Queen Anne that I've always wondered about... it's actually pretty nice!

Here's the trailer to give you a sneak peek of the film:



As I understand it, proceeds go toward a major commercial release of the film, as well as providing Detroit firefighters with equipment that they desperately need. For more info visit : http://detroitfirefilm.org

Measure your life in love...

Last night we saw RENT, the final show in our 5th Avenue Theatre subscriber package. I really, really liked it, and Stewart thought it was okay. We both absolutely loved some of the song performances and I thought the entire thing was very well done. Stew struggled a little bit with the overall message of the show... let me try to recap his comments during our walk back to the car:

"Oh, woe is me, why should I have to pay rent? Why can't I just live here for free? I don't want to pay rent, EVER. I just want to sit here and play my guitar and whine about how oppressed I am."

I think that just about encompasses his summary. For the most part, I agree with Stew's thoughts, but I only went to the show for an evening of entertainment, and in that regard we both walked away satisfied. We particularly liked the characters Mimi and Angel, and of course absolutely loved the Seasons of Love performance at the beginning of the second act. That song always gives me chills. Light My Candle and Over the Moon are also two of my faves.

Now that I've finally seen the stage production, I'm anxious to go home and watch the movie again (it's been years) to see what the similarities and differences are.

So now you might be wondering, what's in store for the future?

We did a lot of thinking about whether or not to renew our subscriber package to the 5th Avenue Theatre. Our 2011/2012 season subscription included:

• Cinderella - I liked this one a lot because I remembered the songs from my childhood. Stewart wasn't a huge fan.
• Oklahoma! - This one was okay but I wouldn't say either one of us was a huge fan.
• Damn Yankees - My least favorite, Stew's favorite from the season.
• RENT - Probably my favorite from the season, Stew thought it was okay.

Some of the other shows we saw and really enjoyed were ones we bought tickets for outside of our subscriber package, like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast (Paramount Theatre), and Les Misérables. Even though we paid quite a bit more for these tickets, we enjoyed the shows MUCH more. So, considering that, we decided that we're not going to review our subscription at the 5th Avenue Theatre this year. Instead, we'll just buy individual tickets for the shows we know we really want to see. We've already got Wicked scheduled for November, and we've got our eyes on ELF - The Musical, Jersey Boys, and I think I'd like to see Flashdance, too. I also might take my grandma to The Music Man, since I know it's one of her favorites.

Overall I'm really glad that we tried out a subscription, and it was fun to see some shows that wouldn't necessarily have caught my eye otherwise.

We are so lucky to have so many amazing theater options here in Seattle!

I Dreamed A Dream

Our 5th Avenue Theatre subscriber package this year didn't include tickets to Les Misérables, so we decided to buy some with my sister, Erin. It holds a special place in her heart as the first musical she ever saw, and Stew remembers the music because his mom had the soundtrack growing up. As for me, I enjoyed the movie almost as much as I loved the moment when Susan Boyle sang "I Dreamed A Dream" on Britain's Got Talent. (Seriously, it still makes me tear up a little when I watch it.)

I'm familiar with a lot of the music from Les Misérables and I saw the movie years ago, but I couldn't quite remember the story so I was really looking forward to the show. We had purchased fairly good orchestra level seats about 20 rows back from the stage and couldn't wait for the curtain to go up. As soon as it did I realized my mistake... we probably should have sprung for front row seats. I need glasses so badly! It's really pathetic. I could see the blobs of people and sets on the stage, and I could vaguely make out the difference between men and women, but beyond that I was resigned to just listening in order to put the plot together.

The story is quite complicated with lots of characters spanning several different time periods, and I although I was thoroughly enjoying the music I found myself becoming quite lost. Was that vaguely male-shaped blob Jean Valjean or Inspector Javert? Was that little kid Cosette or Gavroche? I had no idea. That woman looks like Fantine, but I thought she died? Oh wait, we've actually gone several years forward and it's actually Cosette all grown up. And Madame Thénardier... I thought she was the innkeeper's wife in a small village, but now she's on the streets of Paris? My head was spinning.

When I checked in with Erin and intermission she actually confirmed that I had the gist of the story correct, so I sat back to enjoy the second act. It started out with one of my favorite Les Mis songs, On My Own, which was so good it gave me chills and also had me daydreaming about one of my favorite Dawson's Creek moments. But following that there were a lot of French Revolution scenes and battles which I also found myself daydreaming through.

I wished I had done a little more Wikipedia research before going to the show (or at least gotten myself to the eye doctor), but overall we absolutely loved Les Misérables and were so happy to enjoy a fun evening at the theater together.

Art of Dining

I was invited by my boss to attend the 20th Annual Art of Dining gala this week. The event was promoted as "an evening of culinary adventure and fine wine celebrating women and girls," benefiting the Women's Funding Alliance. According to their web site, the Women's Funding Alliance is the leading funder in Washington state that invests in and advocates for women and girls. By strategically supporting organizations that promote progressive change for women and girls, we have a dramatic impact on the overall health of our community. It sounded like a fabulous event for a very good cause to me, and all Art of Dining proceeds directly benefit WFA's critical work of creating social change for women and girls in the Puget Sound region.

Wine tasting before dinner...

The festivities began with wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner featuring Seattle's top female chefs, wineries, entertainment and an auction. The chefs generously donated their food, time and talents for the benefit of women and girls. Each table was treated to a unique four-course dinner prepared and presented by the chefs and paired with of the region’s exquisite wines. For our personal chef we specifically pre-selected Lisa Dupar, who my company had worked with previously and found absolutely amazing. It was definitely the right choice!

Specialty Cocktail: Sicilian Prosecco Royal

Crisp Tomato Breadstick with black smoked bamboo salt butter

Hard Boiled Egg & Roe with brown butter and pink salt

Green & White Yakima Asparagus with fried egg dressing & shitake bacon

Oregon Pink Shrimp Cake on spring ramp kimchee, sugar snap peas & pink ginger

Caramelized Beef Tenderloin with herbal spinach gruyere broth

Creme Fraiche Cheesecake with blueberry snow

The food was absolutely amazing, and the hard boiled egg was absolutely hands down one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. During dinner local TV personality John Curley auctioned off delicious desserts donated by local chefs and bakeries, and afterward Governor Chris Gregoire shared her personal leadership story and received the WFA’s first-ever Game Changer Award due to "her work to appoint unprecedented numbers of women to leadership posts and her constant support of women pursuing elected office has been game changing for women and girls in Washington state."

Hanging out with some of my favorite co-workers for the evening was lots of fun, and I felt lucky to participate in such an inspirational event celebrating and supporting women and girls in our community.