In the course of my job, I spend a fair amount of time completely avoiding my job. I love meeting people and taking pictures and hanging in bars, but truth to tell, most of my workweek has me sitting on my ass at the office, staring into the gaping maw of Web 2.0. I love the writing parts, of course, and I think my co-workers are swell -- but I don't like florescent lighting and endless meetings any more than you do.

So I cheese it. I take my MacBook and my Nikon and I flee from one Wi-Fi hot spot to another -- from Cupcake Royale to Caffé Vita to Ancient Grounds to Bird on a Wire, ever onward and outward. I'm slowly working my way south, with the eventual goal of writing my daily posts from one of Portland's coffeehouse/bookstore/strip clubs. They have those, right?

Anyway, while I'm out of the office, I see things. New things. In this extra-special Gentle Snark feature -- which I hope to continue as often as I can flee my cubicle -- I will share some of those sightings with you. Some are interesting, some will be interesting later and some aren't interesting at all, but if you've read this far you've obviously nothing better to do. Or you're in a meeting. I'm sorry.

First, a couple of notes from Seattle's space program: The Fremont space formerly occupied by Sonic Boom Records will soon be home to NAU, a Portland-based organic clothing company. As I understand the NAU business model, the company's "webfronts" are little more than showrooms; you can look at the clothes and try them on, but you are encouraged to actually buy them online (and to combine large orders, to "ship in the least impactful [sic] way possible"). Online purchases arranged through the store get a 10 percent discount.

Every aspect of NAU's operation has sustainability and environmental consciousness and all that jazz swimming through its blood, and I might be inclined to shop there if a pair of their raw denim jeans didn't cost nearly $140. NAU appears to be the Whole Foods of the garment world, all noble-minded and Good For You, but daaaaaamn, that's a lotta money for jeans. The average American would only be able to buy, like, four pairs with that $600 tax-relief check we're all being given to boost the economy. By comparison, with that kind of money I could probably get 200 or more cups of coffee.

Anyway, we needn't worry about Sonic Boom. Many of the Fremont store's fixtures, including the cool rocket sign that hung over its door, are migrating to the Ballard branch. The rocket has already landed over Market Street, and the floor space is currently being reconfigured to incorporate more stock. Hopefully, they'll still have plenty of room for the in-store performances that have become the Ballard store's hallmark.

Back in the Center of the Universe, the Fremont Antique Mall is under new ownership. Atlas Clothing has taken over the subterranean space, and the new owners are busily tearing the place apart. "We're cleaning it up," a staffer said, adding that (de)construction should be completely done by May.

Five new vendors are expected to move in (though I don't know how many moved out when the venue changed hands), and the garment offerings will be significantly increased. The "cleanup" process makes me nervous; I rather liked the place the way it was. Still, they've got until May to start impressing me, and I'll be back to check the progress.

Lastly, in news I can douse in Tabasco, the former Minnie's Cafe space in Lower Queen Anne will soon be home to a new joint, Roxy Restaurant and Lounge. If it's not a 24-hour diner, I may have to go on a rampage. Minnie's was rarely my first choice for late-night hash browns (Beth's Café enjoys that distinction), but Seattle is currently operating at a net loss of 'round-the-clock joints, and that cat just won't fight.

Anyway, Roxy applied for a liquor license Feb. 21, and that's all I can find on the place so far. By the way, other recent applications include a Madrona restaurant called The Neighbor Lady, a Bellevue beer and wine shop called I-Booze and a Pioneer Square joint called Juno, which will presumably serve Tic-Tacs and Sunny D.

Others check sports scores in the morning; I consult the Washington State Liquor Control Board's new liquor license applications, approvals and discontinuances page. Maybe my co-workers should be glad they don't get me every day. I'm kinda not right in the head.

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