There are hundreds of growers of grapes in Washington state -- and, as far as I know, not one grower of coffee beans. Isn't it time that we admit the unthinkable, and defect from the coffeehouses to the wine bars? We could still have our coffee in the morning, but after work we could maybe have a glass of wine at one of these fine establishments, and hope that we don't run into our favorite barista. They get jealous, you know.
By Geoff Carter | November 1, 2007
Remember what Michael Flatley did for Irish step-dancing? That's what the Bellydance Superstars hope to do for American Tribal-style belly dance. They take considerable liberties with the dance form, but audiences are reportedly going nuts for their new Vegas-style show, "Babelesque."
By Geoff Carter | March 7, 2008
I feel ya: You're ready to get out there and practice democracy. You've
been hearing the water-cooler discussion for months and you're fairly
itching to exercise the hell outta your right to vote. I'm happy to
tell you that the wait is over: Your 2008 NWsource.com People's Picks is here! Vote now for your favorite Seattle dining, shopping, nightlife, entertainment and recreation. Tell us what's good!
By Geoff Carter | May 1, 2008
Full Throttle Bottles has everything you could want to pour down your gullet, affordably-priced and ready to move. And it also has a rideable elephant such as the kind one used to find grazing in front of supermarkets. Rides on "Tusko" costs only a dime, and if you leave the premises without springing for a ride on this possibly bibulous pachyderm you're missing the point of Full Throttle, of Georgetown and very possibly of life itself.
By Geoff Carter | June 25, 2008
Hello, I'm Geoff Carter, and this is my NWsource nightlife and entertainment blog. It's called "Gentle Snark" because that's how the good NWsource folks describe my writing style, and because "compassionate douchebaggery" just doesn't roll off the tongue. Plus, I think Giuliani's using the latter as a campaign slogan.
By Geoff Carter | January 24, 2008
Monday: It's not often that the Triple Door's calendar throws a surprise at me, but this week it has: Tonight, Howard Jones plays the venue. You know, Howard "No One is to Blame" Jones, the synth-pop wunderkind whose vertiginous late-1980s haircut made the coif on that Flock of Seagulls guy look like so much Astroturf.
By Geoff Carter | January 28, 2008
Once a year, Cupcake Royale raises the unholy but yummy phantasm of Deathcake Royale, a Valentine's Day treat that boasts a quantity of chocolatey goodness equivalent to the amount of narcotics currently swimming through Amy Winehouse.
By Geoff Carter | January 26, 2008
Last Friday I checked out three new Capitol Hill venues: Grey Gallery, a lounge and gallery in Backstage Thrift's former location; King Cobra, a rock club built on the glitzy skeleton of Sugar; and the new digs of venerable adult shop Crypt Off Broadway, which resides where the Vogue once did. All three venues are within a few steps of each other, all three held their grand opening fetes the same night and all three are outstanding in their respective ways.
By Geoff Carter | January 29, 2008
Photographer Lilly Warner may be one of the founding members of the Rat City Rollergirls, but this coming month at Cafe Venus, she pulls a surprise move: All this time, she's wanted to be a wrestler. "Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestlers" features dozens of Warner's photos of these tough yet stylishly dressed bruisers in backstage repose, calmly gathering their wits about them before they go out and slam some poor sucker into the mat.
By Geoff Carter | January 30, 2008
Monday: Look, I can't pretend to like everything that's coming
out of England these days. Editors are a case in point: While I concede
that the Mercury-nominated Birmingham indie-rock band has a punchy and
expansive sound, they also bore the living hell out of me. I don't get
how the kids can dismiss old-timers like U2, Simple Minds and The Call
while embracing younger bands that sound exactly like them. Must be a
MySpace thing; I swear to God that this whole social-networking trend
is gonna end in tears. Anyway, Editors play Showbox at the Market tonight with Hot Hot Heat, Louis XIV and ... and ... I drifted off for a moment, sorry.
By Geoff Carter | February 4, 2008
