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Local literary journal Crab Creek Review is excepting fiction and non-fiction submissions until May 31. If any of you are looking to be published, or are a closet writer, or maybe a student just realizing their love for creative writing, this is a great Northwest outlet to get your name out there in a highly-regarded journal.

Crab Creek Review has been an independently published literary journal for the past 25 years, and they are a great organization. Just thought I’d pass along the tip and info for anyone interested. 

Maybe you have a short story you think others would absolutely love, or a powerful essay that deserves hearing about. This could be your time to shine!

For more info check out their website at: www.crabcreekreview.org

Every Tuesday night Ballard’s ever-popular The Old Pequliar, at 1722 NW Market St, serves up some awesome trivia.

James Callan has been hosting it now for almost three years, as part of a rotating group of four hosts, and can be found there usually on the first Tuesday of every month. Since this is coming up in the next couple weeks I thought I’d pass along some info for those interested.

Trivia night runs from 8-10 PM, but it is highly recommended to get there around 7 PM or earlier to ensure a table. However, James included that it can be easier to get a seat depending on what else is going on in town that night.

The quiz itself runs in eight rounds, with eighty questions and goes pretty quickly to fit in the two-hour time period. They usually feature categories like geography, movies, picture rounds, current events, pop culture, and so on. James says some of the categories he has done in the past include themes like: English words borrowed from German, People who deserve to be punched in the face, Ancient history and Real-world Clue.

To play, each team throws in $5, and The Old Pequliar matches the pot. This is pretty usual for most bars that do trivia, but it also means that if you get first place you win quite a bit of money! Teams have to be five players or less, but James included that lately they have been experimenting with teams that would like to add a sixth person for an extra fee, which may or may not become the norm. If you come in second or third place, you still win money, though smaller amounts than first place. Fourth place wins a free pitcher of beer, which for some just might be enough!

A couple things to keep in mind: The host is always right! No shouting out answers, and you’re only allowed to use your brain. Sounds pretty simple, right?

I know a lot of people who are regulars at this trivia night and claim it’s the best in town. Plus, you can win money, and, it’s early enough on a work night you can still be home at a decent time.

If you are interested in learning more about this trivia night or others, a great website- www.quiznight.net, is a good place to get the scoop on different bars near you that offer trivia nights, and on what particular nights they’re offered. 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful, safe holiday! Maybe I’ll see you soon at The Old Pequliar!

This last week has been crazy…I’ve never seen Seattle so wonderfully wintery. I’m originally from Anchorage, and one of my biggest gripes about Seattle winters is not having a white Christmas. So yes, thank you snow gods for making this happen! Many of the kids sledding in the neighborhood appreciate this as well.

However…I’m supposed to be in Denver right now, and along with the rest of Seattle trying to get out of town, my flight was canceled. But, there is a slight upside, which if any of you out there have had this happen too, it might be something to consider: we were offered to change our flights for the same price to the 25th, and we decided to cancel and get a refund. Then we decided, what the heck, let’s go from the 25th until the 1st. The tickets we rebought online, were A LOT cheaper! So if you are one of those unlucky ones like us, think about rebuying instead of keeping the originals. We saved $200! 

Besides delaying Christmas vacation and missing out on family stuff, I’ve had to miss quite a bit of work so far. I can’t say I mind, as nice as it is seeing cross country skiers outnumber cars on the streets, and watching the snow fall from the safety of my warm, cozy apartment. Plus, it gave me the extra time to bake some excellent cookies, a pot roast, and some delicious homemade mac n’ cheese. YUM. 

I have also noticed that even though the conditions are screwing up commutes and holiday traveling plans, and people are missing work and waiting hours for buses- everyone seems pretty darn cheerful. It’s really, really nice. I guess whether we love it or hate it, we understand there is not a thing we can do about it besides cuddle up in our pj’s, or build a snowman, and wait it out. When it’s gone, I know I’ll miss it, probably along with a lot of others. Maybe this was exactly what we needed for the holidays to allow us to slow down, and relax.

Sledders at Gas Works Park, downtown in the background.  Market Street, from Saturday night, 12/20.

Kadampa Meditation Center, at 6556 24th Ave NW, will be holding a New Years Eve service that is welcome to everyone, including families and children. 

The candlelight service, from 5:00 PM-6:30 PM, will include chanted prayers for world peace and Western Buddhist monk Gen Khedrub, who will give a teaching on compassion and wisdom, and facilitate a meditation for the group. Refreshments will be served afterward.

I think this would be a great way to ring in the New Year, plus if you have plans for parties, it’s still early enough to attend.

Regardless of religion, there’s something so special about being in a room filled with people who all in their own ways, have hopes of making our community and world a better place. Plus, nothing besides good thoughts are required of you.

Almost ten years ago, I went to hear the Dalai Lama speak in San Francisco with my mother who is Buddhist. Though I am not necessarily religious, it was one of the most beautiful, inspiring things I have ever seen or been a part of- I can’t begin to imagine how much it meant to my mother.

So if you are in the neighborhood, or looking for something special to do this holiday, think about checking it out. I have no doubt that it will be a remarkable experience and possibly leave you with some new-found optimism.

I know it’s a little late in the month to be writing about this, and believe me, I wish I would have looked into what I had been thinking about much earlier. 

The main reason we don’t have a Christmas tree in our home is because we don’t agree with killing a tree for the purpose of a holiday, or supporting it. We as well don’t feel comfortable buying unrecyclable synthetic-made trees. For those who have them, great; it’s just not personally for us.

However, it would be nice to have a Christmas tree. The only way we imagined this happening though, would be to find a place where we could rent a live tree and return it after the holiday. Even though we live in this wonderful, environmentally-friendly Seattle bubble, we still thought that this would only be possible by traveling a long ways to some charming, idealic nursery far, far away from the city.

Not the case!!!

I recently learned that Ballard’s own Swanson Nursery, located at 9701 15th Ave NW, offers live trees. They even offer exotic live trees (shown above). And since 1999, They have partnered up with Carkeek’s salmon restoration project in an effort called Trees for Salmon, to help restore Piper’s Creek salmon habitat. 

Even though I am sure these live trees can get pretty pricey (one was quoted at $125), this sounds like a great program! We probably won’t be able to do it this year, as we are leaving town for most of the month, but next year it will be on the list, and I hope that anyone else interested will keep it in mind.

To check out all the different varieties of live trees offered look on their website, www.swansonsnursery.com, they’re all unique and beautiful. 

And even if you don’t donate your live tree to the salmon restoration project, what would be a better holiday keepsake than a potted tree on your patio or as a part of your landscaping? The prices may be steep, but this is a gift that actually does last a lifetime. And the best thing about it, is knowing you are making that much more of a difference. Yet another reason why I love Seattle!

Fried pickles just may be that pick-me-up you’ve been hoping for this holiday. Lucky for us, they can be conveniently found in local favorite watering hole, the People’s Pub, on Ballard Ave.

I was first introduced to this tasty treat about a month ago. A friend had opted to meet up at People’s and when she said “fried pickles”, I was sold. Normally, I’m not one to be lured in by fried bar foods, but this was not to be missed…I couldn’t begin to imagine what a fried pickle would even taste like.

Since, the People’s Pub has definitely won a special place in my heart. I even hear they have a delicious fried tomato sandwich. Thinking about these two dishes, makes my mouth water and I wonder, “maybe fried foods aren’t so bad after all…” But yes, of course they are- it’s all in moderation, friends.

After first trying the pickles and being blown away, I started asking others about it. I couldn’t help but think, “Am I the last to know about this phenomenon?” When it comes to food, I hate feeling left out-especially when it’s practically in my backyard.  From asking around I learned that fried pickles can actually be found at various German pubs and restaurants in town. It seemed that everyone had a different take on which or whose pickles were best; hit and miss sauces; and the difference between spears and rounds. I couldn’t believe my ears.

Still curious, I took to Wikipedia, in hopes of finding out some fried pickle history. Knowing they’re served at German establishments, I thought well, obviously, they’re German. But having been to Germany, I never remembered seeing them anywhere, or at least wherever we had been. Wikipedia cleared this up for me by relaying that in fact they originated here in the South, and were popularized by Bernell “Fatman” Austin, of Atkins, Arkansas in 1963. It also seems, after more google searches, that there is quite the petty argument going on with exactly which Southern restaurant they originated in. 

Regardless, I am happy to have found them and recommend all pickle lovers give them a try. Especially for all the fried green tomato fans out there as well. Though they can be found around town, I think I’ll stick with the People’s Pub where I know besides the pickles I can get a great German beer and a mouth-watering schnitzel, with good service to boot. 

People’s Pub, 5429 Ballard Ave. NW, 206.783.6521