The Moisturizing Revitalizing Power of Springtime Rain in Seattle.

[thoreau]

So kittens - not even 12 hours in Seattle and already so much to talk about.

first off - A_R_T_G_A_S_M! The newly revamped and renewed Seattle Art Museum - is tremendous. We went to see the artifacts of ancient Rome on loan from the Louvre. It was simply ASTOUNDING. I cannot remember when a single exhibit had such an overwhelming impact. I mean - statuary and jewelry from before Christ. Right here. The mosaics and painting on wood - and the glorified images of the caesars. The art was stupfifyingly intense. It even shared undercurrents of the homosexuality in the Roman empire by showcasing the statue of one of the emperors lovers - who drowned in the Nile - so he was immortalized as the Egyptian god Osiris in a stunning statue.

But what also impressed me was the revamping of the Seattle Art Museum's space. (while not all of it was knockyouoffyourfeet - it was a tremendous use of space. the curation of the new space and its use of colour, height and space - - is tremendous.

I will post later - in the lobby of the SAM is an incredible sculpture called "impact". It's five "snapshot poses" of a Toyota Camry in a spectacular rollover accident. it spins through the air suspended litereally a foot or two over your head - using five differently posed and suspended identical Camrys. Then - LED and Light is wired into it simulating fireworks and well. fire. It was thrilling work. I'll have to look up who did and post more information.

As much as I love the museums in SF (and you know I do) - my favorite pastime when visiting other cities is to visit their fine art museums. It is strange to come back to Seattle after having lived here for 13 years - and grown up near here - and experience Seattle completely new and fresh through the lense of its art museum. An art museum says so much about its city. Try it sometime.

I do love my friends. My friend John here has been just the bestest pal since we reconnected in 2004 shortly after my ex, Jon, left me in Boise. We've done car trips and traveled together. He recently got a new dog - Abby. She's a beautiful mix - and was a rescue. I'll take pictures of her tomorrow (i hope Kateydog doesn't get jealous).

The other treat today was meeting bukephalus. He's beautiful, articulate and OMG-TALL^tm and I way underestimated his raw sexyness. (way way way underestimated) It's one thing to see pictures of guys like Mr. Ph - that are so naturally comfy with their body - they are often like HERE IT IS WORLD. It's brave and beautiful the way he openly celebrates himself. and it is one of the reasons he's on my friends list. But this man in person? I just get all googly and warmnfuzzy. At dinner we just touched and hugged - and he's well - just plain wonderful. It's nice to have a gut instinct confirmed like that. (and I didn't have to slap him with a wet salmon once! which was nice. as that's not the best first impression)

So - tonight was a wonderful dinner with John and bukephalus at Martins on 14th up here on Capitol Hill. When I lived here it was a divey yucky gross bar called "Seawolf" but is now an upscale trendy nightspot with a unique menu. We were greeted by soft piano music and had wonderful cocktails. The waistaff's new uniforms (apparently recently debuted) were utilikilts and boots. (hawt!) So - some had the natural genes for it (stocky legs and etc) and some had (like me) chicken legs not designed for kiltage. (ever) (no - don't do it - not pretty). John and I had the fauxpaella (not paella - still tasty but free of saffron and lovely sauce-age? no - not quite) and Mr. Ph had the halibut. Beforehand we tried their NotBruchettaButCalledBruschetta appetizer which was toasted bagettes smothered in sauteed onions, mushrooms and fresh goat cheese. Yummy - (seriously actually) - but not what I would call bruschetta.

Then we headed back to the swanky PhalusPalace^tm for a guided tour of the premier fuck palace destination in the NW his lovely home. His sun room upstairs was particularly striking - for the hours out of the year the sun actually shines here. OMG I'd forgotten how cold and depressing the "beautiful silver skies" of Seattle can be. I remember my last winter here with my ex Jon - with 110 straight days of misty yuckification. (I heard a nasty rumour that the sun came out yesterday - but I think for both John and Mr. Ph - it was a dread induced hallucination) (Grunge depressed fuck you world rock was not invented here by accident, people!) Nope - I don't miss it. It's been fun to see how the new buildings are going up.

The one thing I'll say that has really blown my skirt up is the new "lite" rail system; due to open in 2009 - the track from downtown to the airport is all finished. It's really quite something. They debuted the new plans for the Capitol Hill subway in this morning's paper - featuring a sculpture of WW2 fighter planes in pieces. Nothing say gay ghetto to me than pieces of war machines painted pink and purple. Really honey - when designing a subway station - STEP AWAY FROM THE CRACK. its not good for you - it's not good for us! really... it is not. (i'll have to find a linky to the justifications from the artist - the only real justification was that he was high when interviewed. I'm sure of it!)

well thats all dolls. Having a great time. I hope it's sunny where you are. More to come about the ballet tomorrow - and my coffee date with my friend Roger in the morning.

Comments

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

Oh, Mr. McMuffin, how you do go on! I swear I shall blush myself into a dead faint if you don't stop carrying on like that.

I guess I knew what I was doing when I fired that PR firm and asked you to handle all my press. The check is in the mail.

It was so great to meet you too and get my arms around your all natural scrumptiousness. You're not only brilliant, witty, and charming, but chock full of cuddly goodness too.

Hope I see you again soon!

[redhochipe.livejournal.com]

So glad to hear you are having fun. Did you drive up? Who is watching Miss Katy? I noticed Bukephalus was tall when he was standing quite well above others in his pictures. Hopefully, I get to meet him some day. Going to the Louvre has been on my list for quite some time. We'll make it some day.

[nudewoody.livejournal.com]

Robert,

Sounds to me you are on the vacation which I have been dreaming of. Really. I am so glad you are having fun. I couldn't agree more about visiting Art Museums in new towns. And you know, there are even museums right here in SF which I haven't visited yet. Oh My!

I am so glad to here that Mr. Ph is actually tall. I was so concerned that he was actually standing on a crate in all of his photos!

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that they've done something with SAM -- it was badly needed for a long, long time. The light rail is badly needed, there was a recent article that they are having an increasingly hard time keeping Metro on time because they've had to add so many buses (especially articulated) and they are running packed to the gills.

I'm really excited -- next summer ('09) Americans for the Arts will be in Seattle, so I'm planning a super-whiz-bang vacation for Keith in the Olympic mountains, Victorian mansions, lavender fields, Victoria and Vancouver.

And, don't steal all of Mr. Ph's rawness....I want some left when I come to town next summer.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

Miss Kate is staying with the neighbors because it's such a short trip. I usually hire a dogsitter but figured for two days she wouldn't mind sharing with the neighbors. :)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

His rawness is like a capacitor :) it charges - releases - charges - releases (and so on and so on)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to download photos and talk about it all. We'll have to coffee. and asyou know, David - the guy I'm dating there in SF? - had challenged me (and him) to see all the museums in SF. PErhaps we'll take you along sometime. First Tuesday is a fun day to go hit one on lunch hour or some evening. :) Your love of art and appreciation of culture is one of the reasons we're friends. (albeit - we keep so busy - its hard to pin down TOGETHER time)

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he almost made me want to visit! And I'm a hard case to market to.

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

Ha! Y'all are waaaay too kind. But let me remind our listening audience that "rawness" is just another word for "half baked."

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

Maybe some day I'll get to SF and check out your "hard case" in person.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

You flirt! [said like it's a bad thing]

[mh58.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we will have a fabulous trip like you appear to be having. You must give me lots of info for upcoming birthday trip for notdefined to Seattle. Not sure where octothorpe has made reservations, but it'll be a Kimpton property (his fav). Arriving about noon on 5/9 and heading home on 5/11 (at 11 I think - must check flight info). We will need to do some basic touristy things and of course leave time for LJ get togethers.

[budmassey.livejournal.com]

When I lived in Seattle, I always thought their permanent collection left a lot to be desired, but they did manage to get some tremendous touring exhibits.

That Roman exhibit passed through Indianapolis on its way to Seattle, but I missed it.

[kenwoodville.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a good time.

The art musuem is on our list of things to do while Hugh is here.

Had you have come one week earlier you would have had wonderful, sunny weather...isn't that what always happens. lol

As you know we may not have much sun from October through May, but the summers here are golden...

[kenwoodville.livejournal.com]

I just remembered that I going to ask if you made it to the Olympic Sculpture Park...?