Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Central District of the United States of Cold


It's cold in Seattle today.  Our Tiny Cottage rental, for quirky old house reasons, doesn't have heat in the kitchen or bathroom.  It's not enjoyable to be in either of those rooms at present.  Tonight I prepared dinner wearing mittens and took an hour-long shower so hot it nearly melted my skin off; it was the only way to make the cold a blessed relief.

The kids aren't happy about the chilly situation, either.  Lucien got out of the bath tonight and stood shivering hard and wrapped in two towels.  As he attempted to gain control of his violently shaking body, he said, "I live in the United States of Cold."

Oh God, my blog is turning into a list of things my kids say.  It's exactly what we feared.


Now I want to talk about my neighborhood.  I think it's a sign of a great neighborhood when people are as likely to greet a neighbor with friendly words as they are the homeless man who regularly pushes a grocery cart down the middle of the street. 

I love this neighborhood.  I love it for its proximity to downtown, for the diversity of its residents, the bright colors of its houses, and the deliciousness of its taco bus.  It's the C.D., baby -- The Central District -- all cozy and weird and occasionally urine-scented snuggled up next to downtown Seattle.


Houses like this happen in the C.D...

...as do shoe-covered poles

The Central District is a delightful mix of money and squalor.  Beautifully restored houses sit next to rundown saggy bungalows, and coffee shops and kid boutiques exist alongside shady looking establishments --  you couldn't pay me a million tacos to enter some of those places. 

Coffee shops with toys in the back.  God Bless the United States of Cold.

There are certainly some rough edges in the C.D.  As I've mentioned before, there are issues with racial tension and dog poop.  There's crime, as evidenced by my friends who've had their car stolen five bazillion times.  The car has always been found and returned but five seconds later they look out the window and dammit....gone again.   It's no rosy suburb, that's for sure, but I'm pretty sure it's more interesting.  It's just all us families and hipsters and criminals trying to get along.

One of the gems of the C.D. is the Central Cinema theater.  At Central Cinema, you can watch movies from the comfort of a booth while a server brings you food and beer.  I met up with Seattle Dad at Central Cinema Thursday for "Cartoon Happy Hour."  This is an inspired event where they play free cartoons for the kids and serve delicious cold brews for the adults.

 Our server had bright pink hair.  Not unheard of in the C.D.

(Central Cinema also hosts events such as sing-a-longs, quote-a-longs, and something called "hecklevision.")

For Cartoon Happy Hour, Seattle Dad and I shared a booth with our combined five children.  We also shared a pitcher of Mannys Pale Ale and a few laughs over Scooby-Doo.  Scooby-dooby-doo! Ruh-roh! Hilarious.



One little boy in front of us couldn't stay in his seat for all the popcorn in the world.  His parents would sit him in his seat and -- thunk -- that kid would go straight over sideways onto the floor.  Sit up -- thunk -- sit up -- thunk.  It would have been downright distracting if my own child hadn't been trying to drink milk through a straw stuck up his nose.

Coco staggering the long walk home, drunk on milk and cartoons.

Even if we don't get The Goddamn House, we will not leave the C.D.   This neighborhood just feels right.   We prefer neighborhoods (and people) with a few rough edges -- it really gives you something to hold onto.


Here's a song I've been listening to ad nauseum.  During these times of house uncertainty, it's cheered me immensely.  It's just about the most charming little thing I've heard. 

This is a live version at a house party, so it's not flawless sound-wise, but these people are so cute it makes up for it.  I especially like the party-goer who says, "Watch those beers, I bet they'll fall" at :36.




Central District, I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart.  Let's do this, dammit,
MJ

35 comments:

  1. "It's just all us families and hipsters and criminals trying to get along."

    Toto, I think we're not in Saint-Germain-des-Prés anymore...;) No wonder you liked Belleville so much:)

    Love the concept of Central Cinema! Reminds me of "videobangs" in Korea, where you could rent a little viewing room and a video for a few won and it came complete with watery-dishwater-like coffee and outlandish snacks! I miss them!:) Of course, the ones with posters on the windows were also used for other activities, but I digress... Aaaahhhhh Good times!;)

    What is "hecklevision"? Viewings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show?:)

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    1. Duchesse! Exactly! I think that's exactly why we liked Belleville so much. St. Germain was a beautiful place to live but a tad too fancy -- no rough edges, not even an errant blade of grass. All that perfection made my eyes hurt after awhile.

      Videobangs? Videobangs? Dirty, dirty...

      No idea what hecklevision is. Sure sounds like R.H.P.S. I will look into it, let you know what I find.

      Have a good day, The Hague!

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  2. Oooh, schmancy coffee.

    I TOTALLY LISTENED THE ASS OUT OF THAT SONG LAST YEAR! I'M SHOUTING BECAUSE I'M EXCITED SOMEONE ELSE HAS DISCOVERED ITS AWESOMENESS!

    Okay I've calmed down now. Wait a minute... SHOE POLE! I WANT ME ONE OF THEMS! My neighbourhood sucks. It has an extra U in it and nothing interesting stuck to poles of any kind. Boo.

    I was worried there for a moment when you said "watched movies from the comfort of a booth..." o_O HO! HEY!

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    1. Hi Bec. Fantastic -- further proof we are twins separated at birth. I'm all fired up about the song because it's finally on iTunes -- FINALLY. I've been waiting a long time.

      Maybe you can make a shoe pole? You sound like one of those people who could pull it off, and your neighbors will just roll their eyes and be like, "Oh, just Bec again, honestly, that woman..."

      Different kind of booth. Not as dirty, maybe not as interesting?

      Bye, Bec.

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    2. Hee hee, you said 'pull it off'

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    3. Bec! Manners! My mama reads this motherf*cking blog!

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  3. I love the CD . . . that sunshine house was a block away from my first Seattle apartment, and it always made me smile. I'm so glad it's still there. Good luck with the house; I think you've chosen the #1 neighborhood in Sea-town.

    Hey, speaking of the Central Cinema, I heard a disturbing rumor about Seattle law changing to prevent family-friendly establishments from selling beer. Does this mean that now that we're having a kid, we can't bring him with us if we want to have a beer at any of our favorite old Seattle bar-and-grill type haunts? Please confirm or deny so I can steel myself against disappointment before our Seattle time this summer! (Is it wrong to say that I'm ALMOST as excited to return to the world of good beer-drinking as I am to become a mother?) Can't wait to see you then, by the way. We're renting a place in Cap Hill and should be a quick walk from you guys.

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    1. Wait a second. I just replied to this and the reply didn't post. I'm not going to say it all over again just in case it's a hiccup and will show up later, because then I will look crazy.

      Bottom line -- Jess! Thinking of you here in the final stretch before baby boy arrives. Can't wait to see you this summer -- where's the rental on Capitol Hill (you can send me an email about that one)? And yes, it's true, Central Cinema may not be able to serve beer much longer. It will be a sad, sad day, but we'll still have Madrona Ale House! (crap food, but toys in the back!)

      Love you guys, good luck and can't wait to hear the happy news.

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  4. I wanted to respond to your open question about House Madness the other day (sorry I am lazy) to say I nearly went mental over a house and I regret every palpitation I had over it. Absolutely WAS NOT WORTH IT, in fact I had buyers remorse almost immediately after we got it and we ended up selling it later. I wish we had continued looking, which would have helped relieve the anxiety about The Poo House we did buy and might have even helped us find something we would have loved more. Just wanted to share as I would tell every friend...keep looking! You might find something even more radical that is cheaper, better, less work, less anxiety, etc.

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    1. Scooby-Doo says "Ruh-roh." That's not a happy real estate tale.

      We are looking elsewhere, promise. We've been interested in a couple others, and continue to scour listing for whatever comes on in the neighborhood -- so far The Goddamn House still has my heart, but...

      Sigh. I spend way too much time talking about houses, don't I?

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    2. One can never spend too much time talking about houses, I just don't want you to end up in a Poo House. ;-) Our tale did end happy though, we love our new hood which is a similar hipster/barrio melting pot like your C.D.

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  5. I'm not a cool hipster, 'cause I laughed out loud at your post tag "real estate can blow me".

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    1. Maybe a hipster would laugh, too. Do you think they can laugh under those heavy wide-rimmed glasses or does it make their faces too heavy?

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    2. How many hipsters does it take to change a lightbulb?
      It's a really obscure number, you probably haven't heard of it.

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    3. Duchesse, you are awesome. That was an LOL moment for me, thanks. May use that one in daily conversation.

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  6. Hey mj....love the neighbourhood...something like mine (and my house has no heat too)...and I'd have much more to say but I'm in mourning right now...Davy Jones died today and a big part of my girlhood died with him.....

    that shoe pole is just wack!

    hi Duchess!

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    1. I'm sorry, Debbie. I heard that today, too. You know The Monkees was the first concert I ever went to? (I was a weird kid). It was the reunion tour, the one they did without Mike Nesmith.

      I loved them, especially their TV show which was oftentimes funny as hell. My personal fave was Micki.

      Play a tambourine tonight in his memory. That's what I'll be doing.

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    2. Hey Debs!

      Loved Davy Jones too even though he wasn't part of my girlhood! What a drag! And so young too!

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  7. Go for the rough edges, it makes life way more interesting... when I visit friends in those "stepford wives" neighborhoods, it freaks me out.
    I saw shoes all over Haight-Ashbury last summer in San Francisco, in the parks, on benches, on corners, you find yourself looking for them, and they are way cool.

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    1. Rough edges, huzzah. Stepford Wives, blah.

      What's up with the shoe thing, I wonder? I like it, whatever it is.

      Bye, Lou!

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    2. You must really hate the Parc Monceau area;) Or the avenue de la Bourdonnais!;)

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    3. Those neighborhoods are beautiful to look at. To live in, not so much for me. NO ROUGH EDGES!!!

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  8. Awww...the CD. Love that neighborhood- so many great memories there. I just might have to visit if you end up there. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys. Can you stop by the Abbey and sit on the porch for me? Love reading your blog:)

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    1. OMG it's Mariessa! Mariessa, I had no idea you read the blog. Sweet. How do you find the time with all those boys running around???

      I wonder if you'd even recognize the old C.D.? It's changed a ton in these handful of years since you were here. The Abbey is still there, looking fine as ever. One of the houses we looked at was on the other side of Cherry so we walked past several times. Damn, we had some fun in that house -- oh, the porch, the porch....

      I'll go sit there this weekend. Freak some people out.
      Hugs, Mariessa. Come on out and visit, yeah?

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  9. That neighborhood reminds me so much of mine back in SF, with the mixture of families, hipsters, and homeless people. Thanks for making me homesick.
    Central Cinema sounds uber-awesome!

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    1. Sorry, Mrs. Howard. I seem to be reminding you of SF a lot lately. Still thinking about that creme brulee truck, too? Even I'm still thinking about that one...

      Here's to urban neighborhoods.

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  10. Oh, MJ, I love you. Not in the crazy stalker or freaky obsession sort of way (put down the phone...911 won't be necessary this time) but just in the you-make-me-laugh-and-feel-more-sane-on-the-way-to-work kind of way. That shoe pole? That's some serious cache.

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    1. OK, no 911 this time. Thanks for the compliments, but do you mean I make you feel more sane because I am not very?

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    2. Ha! No, I guess I just meant laughing on the way to work helps ... but I'd be lying if I didn't say I find a decent amount of solace in your posts. Funny, irreverent without all that cloying yick you see on some mom blogs.

      An appreciative mom,

      Betsy

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  11. I had to share this conversation I had with my own son just last night...
    Son: It's too bad we don't have a 2-car garage (we had a snowy, icy, crunchy storm yesterday)
    Me: You only get 2-car garages in the suburbs.
    Son: What's a suburb?
    Me: Bigger houses, bigger yards, and a lot less interesting.

    I know it sounds like I made this up, but we actually had this conversation and I had to tell ya. Rock that urban neighborhood, MJ! Except for the shoe-covered poles, it sounds a lot like where we live.

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    1. Hi Jenni. Nice. Teach 'em young. (I actually grew up in a suburb and it was a fine, happy upbringing, so no offense, suburbs.)

      I'm sure wherever you live could use a shoe-covered pole. So get on it! Shoe-covered poles for everyone!

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  12. I have fallen in love with the Lumineers now! I'm a little disappointed in myself for finding a local (Denver) band through your (Seattle) blog, but nonetheless I'm stoked!

    Hecklevision reminds me of when I lived in Sacramento and they had the Trash Film Orgy every month... Such good times watching trashy b-movies with a few drinks in you and yelling at the screen along with everyone!

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    1. Happy to introduce you. I love them, too. Their first album is coming out in April so be on the lookout.

      Trash Film Orgy sounds awesome. I hope that's what Hecklevision is.

      Bye, Sarah, thanks for stopping by.

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  13. MJ,
    I love the song. And the house party video. It reminds me of my college days in Austin. And now I have a crush on the lead singer....again.
    Aidan

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    1. Aidan...me too, girl, me too. I've got a thing for singers, too. There's totally a college vibe to that video, brings on the nostalgia.

      Bye, Aidan, happy you're along for the ride.

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