crosscut.com : Lifestyle / Leisure

No longer in the garden: pesky starlings

Crosscut — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:00:01 PDT

The lessons of one mistake can be endless. When I try to walk through a pubic park just about anywhere in the Northwest, I wonder about that Englishman who thought importing starlings to the United States would give us a more Shakespearian atmosphere.

How to H&M

Crosscut — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:00:01 PDT

Our style expert provides tips for surviving a visit to Southcenter Mall's H&M, the newest effort to help Northwesterners find fashion.

Carless and carefree: Seattle to Bellingham

Crosscut — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:01:01 PDT

I prefer road trips that don't include me as the driver. And now with the gas gods scowling down on us, even folks who would never leave their beloved vehicles at home are opting for alternative ways to roam. Plus, lots can happen when you're not behind the wheel. You can read. Listen to tunes. Eavesdrop. Take a snooze. Or see familiar sights with fresh eyes. My favorite way to travel to British Columbia is a combination of trains, buses, boats, and planes. This is the first in a series of my carless, carefree getaway to B.C. Depending on your time and budget, cut and clip as necessary.

The funny thing about Seattle ...

Crosscut — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:00:01 PDT

Our humor writer shares the top ten jokes he's collected in a not very funny city.

A tribute to eccentrics

Crosscut — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:00:01 PDT

Our garden writer shares why those who refuse to follow the herd can best teach us.

Sausage Links, Obama waiting game edition

Crosscut — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:00:01 PDT

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Has Barack Obama texted you yet? He sent me a text message two days ago that read: "Barack Obama is proud to announce Wash. Sen. Patty Murray will be his VP nominee in the November elections. Yes We Can." But it was not to be. ...

It's all bad for you, and it's all good

Crosscut — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:00:01 PDT

I appreciate the media bringing attention to health issues. Particularly good is Jean Enersen's HealthLink on KING-5. But recently, a number of the advisories have made me more neurotic than usual. The one about moisturizers increasing skin cancer really made me listen, although I was less concerned when I heard that the study was conducted on hairless mice.

Want to be happy? Become a Dane

Crosscut — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:00:01 PDT

Two recent surveys have put Denmark at the top of the list of happy countries, challenging the stereotype of the melancholy Danes. Summing up the surveys, Businessweek finds the formula for happy citizens to be a combination of a strong economy and strong social programs, countries with "a head and a heart."

Death by a thousand (paper) cuts

Crosscut — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:00:01 PDT

A magazine distributor is doing what the Bellingham police and a prosecutor tried to do and couldn't.

Sausage Links, top-two primary Cuban cigar edition

Crosscut — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:26:01 PDT

Today is "Top-Two" Primary's Eve, and as usual, the pundits have circled and speculated about tomorrow's big turnout. But we'll get to that in a second. First, Oregon congressional candidate Mike Erickson has a lesson for us titled What not to do when going on a "humanitarian trip" to Cuba. In 2004, Erickson said he visited a Cuban "medical center, met with doctors, and attended a presentation on the plight of the disabled." But according to a recent story in The Oregonian, the medical center Erickson said he visited does not exist. The story goes on to say that Erickson and some friends spent nearly $1,698 each for the weeklong Cuban vacation, which conveniently coincided with the Habanos Festival, an annual celebration of Cuban cigars. ...

The future of 'nowhere'

Crosscut — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Urban planners love to hate the suburbs, but what's going to become of them? Will Bellevue eventually become a post-carbon ghost town or a new urban hybrid? Some reflections on the urban/suburban debate.

The 'Water Dogs' visit Cama Beach State Park

Crosscut — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

A women-only getaway doesn't have to be all about spas. These "Water Dogs" prefer kayaking to pedicures, and the new Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island is the perfect setting.

Seattle has a streetcar named Desired

Crosscut — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Minneapolis is the latest city to develop Portland-envy and, thanks to the Portland-imitating Seattle Streetcar, a little Seattle-envy as well. Minneapolis is now considering a starter-streetcar line, with maybe six more to follow. Minnpost.com writer Steve Berg recently visited the Northwest cities, rode and praised the streetcars, and was "reminded again how far behind downtown Minneapolis has fallen."

Sausage Links, ice cream man edition

Crosscut — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:22:01 PDT

Despite the near-record temperatures predicted for the weekend, officials from around the state are asking agencies to "freeze." Last week, Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered a hiring freeze for state employees in an attempt to ease Washington's mounting budget deficit. Yesterday, the Snohomish County Council ordered a hiring freeze for all of their county's agencies. Not to be outdone, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels proposed a $5 million spending freeze for the City of Seattle yesterday. On a related note, Seattle's fleet of ice cream carts are expanding their service around the city, in a move experts say could result in widespread brain freezes. ...

Europe in our front yard

Crosscut — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:01:01 PDT

If you're upset because that two weeks in Italy isn't part of your summer plans due to our lowly little dollar, never fear. All the Europeans are over here. It seems wherever I go, there they are. On a whale-watching trip out of Port Townsend recently, there was an ornithologist from Vienna on board, along with two Swiss guys in their twenties. OK, the Swiss guys were with me, family friends from Zurich staying with us for a week on Whidbey Island. But I think they're typical of the Western Europeans who are flocking to the U.S. this summer.

Terry Theise has no axe to grind about Washington wine

Crosscut — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Terry Theise expressed concern about Crosscut writer Harris Meyer's choice in today's story to highlight Theise's opinion on Washington Reislings, which isn't favorable. Here are excerpts from an e-mail exchange between Meyer and Theise:

In the bamboo garden

Crosscut — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Without mentioning any names — not that you'd know her anyway — I know someone who helped her partner plant bamboo all over his new yard just before she left him. It is an old, tired story. He was having a secret affair, except she knew and couldn't cope with it anymore. What probably looked like small, lovely bands of green topped with soft shivering leaves is probably upending his driveway and back porch right about now. My heart breaks for both of them. Oh, that karma.

A Riesling for no reason

Crosscut — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Wine importer and writer Terry Theise spoke in Seattle recently, and he finds little to admire in Washington state's Rieslings.

Sausage Links, 'Everybody wants to rule the world' edition

Crosscut — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:00:01 PDT

Angie Vogt at Red County Washington has posted an exclusive one-on-one interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. However, don't expect attacks like those seen in Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire's interview with the Stranger last week — this one is fairly vanilla. From the start, Rossi channels the Obama-patented change mantra, saying "this election is not about me, it's not about Christine Gregoire; it's about changing the culture and direction of state government for a generation." It may be a sign Rossi is looking to court more independent voters like this. Or that he's sticking to the high road for now. His campaign, however, isn't so sure he'll be ahead after Tuesday's primary election. But they aren't worried. ...

Eat and walk your way through Northwest cities

Crosscut — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Our Whidbey Island correspondent shares her favorite way to explore the food and atmosphere of Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle.