It’s time to put this bad boy to pasture. While I’ve steered clear of blogging about most Seattle things, this was my first blog. Therefore it’s blossomed from a travel diary, to a pseudo social activist to a wannabe celeb shit talker. It’s been a learning process, so by no means judge me on the blogging faux pas often committed.

You weathered the storm as I rapidly changed the design and categorization. While I’ve gotten honorable links for my post on Sigur Ros and unexpected traffic into the thousands for blogging a rumor that Johnny Depp was going to buy the Croc, I must confess that my little bloggin heart beats on elsewhere.

From here on out, track my commentary via Twitter, over at Cap to the Hill, as well as at the Seattlest.

I bid thee adieu and thanks for reading!

Image: Zany Images

To the dismay of many Seattle-dwelling Johnny Depp fans, it looks like the beloved bohemian passed on re-opening The Crocodile Cafe.

Back in May, I posted that Depp May Buy the Crocodile Cafe, yet the dust has settled and Edward Scissorhands seems to have been beat out by Marcus Charles, a Seattle club owner and Capitol Hill Block Party co-producer.

Joined by other investors, the remodel should be done by the end of the year and doors should be open in late January, 2009.

The Seattle P-I’s Gene Stout reports,

Some of the club’s original decor, including the devil’s head and the snakes on the ceiling, may not survive the remodeling.

‘People should not expect a cleaned-up version of the old Crocodile,’ Kerri Harrop (event planner and club spokeswoman) said. ‘Nobody wants to open a Crocodile museum. But hopefully the heart and soul of the place will remain intact.’

The article also reports that Via Tribunali will be kickin it in the back bar, as an adjoining business eager to serve their famous wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza to neighboring Croc fans.

In dire need of some roughin’ round the edges, the re-opening of the Croc could easily be Belltown’s redemption. It’s bars like Shorty’s & the Bad Juju that have given the rest of us oxygen in a sea of Nordstrom wearin, iPhone packin yuppies in the mean time.

Related posts:

• General Bonkers – Doing A Thing Called The Crocodile Rock
• Seattle Subsonic – Crocodile Cafe to Reopen – Yessssss

Photo: Kelli Lynch

Folks. As you probably noticed, this blog needs some work.

Although I pat myself on the back for having been blogging since 2005, there’s a lot of amateur detail that needs worked out.

Therefore, please forgive my lousy set-up (i.e. lack of efficient categorization, tags & sporadic bouts of all lowercase text) while I do a little “spring” cleaning/makeover.

p.s. why isn’t it fall cleaning? I’m much more apt to put a dent in th-angs when I’m avoiding the dropping temps.

Photo: Nexus404.com

To put it simply, you haven’t lived unless you’ve seen Sigur Ros live.

Now, now. It’s nice you can recite the exact pauses and translation of gibberish on ( ), but it wasn’t until last night that I became a firm believer in the fantasma that is the Icelandic group.

Benaroya is an absolute oasis as it compliments the band’s sound to a tee. The first boom of Jónsi’s voice had my arm hairs standing on end — it’s every bit as good live, as it is on any recorded album to date.

From the charm of dim candle light, uber zoomed-in shots of the instruments to the strange depiction of baby’s faces soaring above, the grand illusions didn’t disappoint.

As to be expected, my heart pitter-pattered and eyes went musty during “Hoppipolla.” Although Kjartan didn’t pound the keys on the boards as much as he does in the recorded version, the sound must have struck my fellow audience members similarly as the hums and applause went roaring after the crowd sing-a-long.

For sports fans, ticker tape typically signifies a world championship, perhaps an MVP. For Sigur Ros fans, it means “Gobbledigook.” As the opening band, Parachutes grabbed drums and joined the infamous foursome, Skittled lights and a blizzard filled bits of ticker tape doused the laden crowd.

Check out more pics from the show.

Photos: Piano Sound

Related: (Seattle Times Review) Sigur Rós do loud, quiet, loud spellbindingly

My cancellation of cable and silent protest of movie theater prices somehow let this slip by, but as my buddy brad pointed out, there’s a new set of lookalikes in town and it’s blowing his mind:

Mike Meyer’s newest creation, The Love Guru and indie musician, Devendra Banhart.

By mutual doning of awkwardly adorable outfits, long and flowy Jesus locks and the true one-two punch of a sweet stache/beard has me convinced that their mamas know the same milkman.

Apparently this look does it for Natalie Portman, as she and Banhart have been dating since early April. In a word: huh??

Who do you think looks alike?

]]> http://seeattle.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/the-love-guru-looks-nothing-like-devendra-banhart/feed/ 0 seeattle http://seeattle.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/half-price-doesnt-pity-you/ http://seeattle.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/half-price-doesnt-pity-you/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:08:48 +0000 seeattle http://seeattle.wordpress.com/?p=127 ]]>

I’m pretty shameless. However yesterday’s less than proud americano required self-burglary, and I’m pretty sure my piggy bank is pissed.

After counting out 17 dimes, 3 quarters and a nickel, I wouldn’t be surprised if the baristas at Vita have pasted my mug above the register, with a fat sharpie slash over my face.

My Mrs. Moneybags morning was enough to send me to Half Price Books to get cash for some dusty books.

Word to the wise: Half Price ain’t shellin out for shitty books, go elsewhere.

As much as I love that place, three purseloads (bear in mind I could backpack most of the world, feed most of the hungry and schlub around a baby hippo in one of my enormous bags) should have landed me with more than $24. $24!!

The process: go downstairs, empty your library on the counter. They’ll sort through and after 15-20 minutes come up with a price. From there you can either sell or peace out. I should have peaced.

The major plus was that they offered to dispose of, donate or god knows what with my less than appreciated literature. My heinous, unsellable literature.

A tip: be especially aware of any embarrassing high school pictures where braces and bad prom dates photos that are hiding between pages.

I’ve heard that Twice Sold Tales buys back, however these feline loving book nerds aren’t currently buying back for cash, credit only.

Be smarter than I was: read the buy guy’s faqs and you’ll likely score more cash than my measly $24.

p.s. not only do I feel royally irked, the tempting sale left me walking out with $4. Sure, I’m now a proud owner of a Blood, Sweat & Tears record and an Ogden Nash Biography (which I doubt either are going to get my 6 weeks worth of laundry done any time soon).

Just when I thought Lykke Li was all i needed to get by…I saw her and her Swedish cohorts in concert at The Triple Door a few weeks back and furthermore convinced I was born in the wrong country.

…well, that and the fact that I’m completely tone-def.

If you want to read a review, there are plenty floating around the blogosphere.

All I ask is that you check Li’s partnering acts: 

Anna Ternheim:

El Perro del Mar:

]]> http://seeattle.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/swedish-sensations/feed/ 0 seeattle http://seeattle.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/mccain-is-really-young/ http://seeattle.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/mccain-is-really-young/#comments Fri, 23 May 2008 06:47:36 +0000 seeattle http://seeattle.wordpress.com/?p=114 ]]>

In fact, he’s so young, there’s an entire blog dedicated to his age.

Things Younger Than John McCain accounts for all things younger than Republican candidate and US Senator, John McCain.

Born in 1936, John McCain would be the oldest person inaugurated to the office (if elected).

The blog features a silly collection of posts that reveal a schload of things are older than McCain.

Just to name a few:

• Both of Obama’s Parents
• Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs
• 90210, the zipcode
• Minimum Wage (pictured right)
• TV Dinners
• Velcro
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Alaska

Curious for more?

As a native Oregonian, I gotta tell ya that it’s damn exciting time for my state.

It’s no wonder so many folks turned out for Senator Barack Obama’s rally speech in Portland on Sunday. In years past, at this point in the election all the major electoral votes are tallied and the two candidates have been chosen months ago. In their obligatory stop, they spend one day campaigning and it’s typically to promote the presidential election and not the primaries.

Therefore I’m pumped that the numbers game hasn’t discounted Oregon yet. Usually our seven electoral votes are discounted come this point in the primaries.

I know how Oregon is perceived. Yes, that hole between Washington and California isn’t solely comprised of tree-huggers. Although I, along with most of Portland favors the left, Oregon isn’t as liberal as people may initially assume.

In 2004, John Kerry won the presidential vote by 51%. However if it weren’t for Portland liberals, Oregon results simply wouldn’t be the same.

In 2000, Al Gore barely beat George W. Bush by a rough 6,700 votes. Interestingly, 77,000 folks voted for Ralph Nader.

These approximated facts go to show that oregon is not just a state of 3.6 million hippies.

Fact be known, there are a lot of rural towns throughout the state. As someone with a family of farmers, rural usually equates to conservative; therefore, when blogs refer to it as “Obama Oregon,” I giggle.

That being said (or written, rather), cheers to my neighbors turning out for Obama’s rally speech on Sunday. The New York Times estimates 77,000 folks braved the sun to support the candidate.

OK Tyra–

You finally let the “full-figured” gal stay for more than three shoots. Not only that, she actually won! Whitney Thompson, pictured left won the most recent round of America’s Next Top Model.

And as great as I think a non-emaciated girl winning is, I can’t help but suspect it to be a ploy.

As Tyra’s waistline has trimmed, I think Thompson’s win was more crafted than coincidence.

Take for example the small focus group of my buddies and me, none of us watch the show anymore. For a variety of reasons: obnoxious attitudes, scripted results, Tyra’s idiocy; I suspect we’re not the only ones.

Back in 2006 (circa Caridee) the Nielsen ratings were at their highest. This season, ratings are undeniably down. With such facts and figures, I can’t help but speculate that Thompson’s win was scripted before a single photo was ever snapped.

It would be a clever ploy to bring viewers back.

Let’s face it, Tyra always goes on a spiel about how much curvy chicks rule and then plops them in world’s most unflattering outfit next to a broom stick and they have a pose off.

I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but Thompson’s win as the curvy gal was long over-due. Now they just need a lesbian & an asian and ANTM will have met the quota.

See Whitney’s win.