But it got me thinking about all of the great places to catch live music in these parts that aren’t necessarily on my radar. So I decided to build a refresher list based on recent new finds, places I’ve forgotten about and/or peer feedback. Give the list a look in case you find any hidden gems to put on your list of fun. In no particular order:

SODO Showbox–Accomodates both the large-name crowd pleasers and the more intimate, lesser-known bands. Cool yet functional space which brings in a variety of acts. Can’t speak for seeing large acts in the main space, however catching the lesser-knowns in the bar side is highly recommended for something different.

The Comet Tavern–Old school, dive bar in Capitol Hill which reminds you the entire time you. are. in. a. bar. Dirty, loud, fun.

Rendezvous Jewel Box Theatre–Restored to its original 1927 condition the Jewelbox Theater in Belltwon is a hidden gem not only to catch live music but also plays, burlesque and Cabaret shows. 

The SeaMonster Lounge–Eat. Drink. Groove. Very likable place in Wallyhood (er, Wallingford). Old school quirky. Great place to listen to some funk/jazz and sip some suds.

Highway 99 Blues Club–Great, great, great venue(!) under it’s namesake on the waterfront. This juke joint makes you feel like you are transported back in history to a smokey blues club (sans the smoke) in Chicago. Terrific atmosphere, great music, tasty Cajun menu.

The Mix In Georgetown–This funky, artsy, intimate space is a reliable place to catch new and emerging artists.

New Orleans Creole Restaurant–a staple for creole food in Pioneer Square, the stage highlights America’s musical heritage of jazz standards, blues, zydeco and Dixieland. Acts range from local, regional and national musicians.

The Willows Lodge–This is the sleeper of the list. Wouldn’t have ever thought of this as an option until a group of us ended up there one chilly, winter’s evening. The fire was roaring, the two-man acoustic act was deliciously crooning in the background while we cozied up and enjoyed several [wine] bottles of Washington’s best.

Daniel’s Broiler Bellevue–And last but not least, who doesn’t love a good piano bar? A rousing, sing-along version of Piano Man takes it home every time.

The desert sun didn’t disappoint, nor did the endless batches of margaritas, which whirled and churned faithfully away in the double-margarita machine. Kitten’s delight for the unexpected festivities spiked when five rough-and-tumble cowboys busted through the party gates, guns-a-blazing, looking suspiciously like Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp, Doc Holiday, and some cowpoke’s name I don’t recall (Wild Bill Hickock, maybe?). Yes indeedy, these wild shooters rode up from Tombstone for the evening, just to help Kitten (the biggest Tombstone fan ever known to man) celebrate in dusty, old western, Arizona style.

After a trial and a near hangin, Kitten was begrudgingly pardoned and Doc Holiday proceeded to dazzle guests with his card trickery at the gaming table. Fortunately for the guests, Doc wasn’t serious about collecting on his winnings. The Earps kept the bar brawlin to a minimum and mixed with the other guests. They also lent an eager hand (with the rest of the male party goers) when Kitten’s stripper exercise pole was unwrapped and needed installing (by the way, the best line of the evening was when Kitten’s nephew encouraged her son “to go help your pappy put your mammy’s stripper pole together”).

A good time had by all, guests trickled back to their (hotel) rooms throughout the wee hours of the morning (unless you were lucky enough to have your Rents hosting the party which case you simply staggered down the hall). The whiskey eventually had to be hidden in order to get the cowboys back on their horses and on the way home to Tombstone, a city (much like this family) that is just too dang though to die (or go to bed early).

 Arriving in town the Thursday before Seafair weekend, the Blue Angels are undeniably the highlight, and buzz, around town. Literally. Much like an easter egg hunt, well, an easter egg hunt in the air moving faster than the sound barrier, one never knows when they might spy the infamous diamond-pattern formation. Whether they buzz your building or your balcony, or fly atop wherever you may be perched, it’s always fun. And c’mon, who can get enough of ‘em, really?

This year, I was glad to be able to share this fun summer tradition with my mom, who happened to be in town for her first Seafair weekend. After exposing her to the hottest weather we’ve ever experienced here, I was glad to be able to offer her an upside. While we could actually see the BA’s Thursday from my balcony, we grabbed lunch in Madison Park, in order to catch them first-hand practicing over Lake Washington.

Thursday being a warm-up of course, the fam got together on my aunt and uncle’s boat for an authentic Seafair Sunday. Ice chests brimming, the cousins, kids, in-laws, aunt, uncle and my mom motored out with the rest of the area to drop anchor and enjoy the best seats around for Sunday’s Air Show. Always leaving you wanting more, the Angels owned the clear skies and left us all slightly electric and full of homeland pride.

Along with the Blue Angels, Seafair enthusiasts can enjoy many, many other related activities (Torch Light parade, Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, Milk Carton Derby, hydroplane races, and so on). The largest summertime celebration in these parts, Seafair is designed to offer the best of what summer has to offer. However one chooses to join in this unique summer celebration, the arrival of the Blue Angels always means we are in full swing of summer and better make the most of the sunny days we have left because they will be gone almost as fast as a Blue Angel fly by.

On the drive out to North Bend to the trail head, we laughed about our now infamous trip to Nepal. We definitely weren’t Nepal-ready either, but somehow managed to pull off a trek through the southern Annapurnas, to every one’s amazement. Our on-going joke is we like to “train while doing and not before” so I knew down deep I should be able to pull this off, although I really wasn’t feeling like I was bringing 100% to the mountain.

Knowing it was a four+ hour hike, in the back of my mind I knew I should bring an extra water bottle. Trail food for an added energy boost would have been a good idea, too. And, a solid protein-based breakfast would have perhaps been the best idea. But it was hot and I wasn’t that hungry in the morning, and I didn’t want to carry a back pack in the heat. I know, I know, how thick am I?

As we gained 900 feet in the first mile, I knew I was really in for it. The humidity and the constant incline were definitely an ass-kicker. By the third mile marker, I really was thinking “nuh uh“, but when you are that close, how can you possibly stop?  Plus, there was another group suffering alongside us most of the way up, so encouraging words (or each other’s pain) kept us all going. The last .5 mile was the character-revealer, because I was out of water and out of energy, but how could I let down my friend and myself at this point? I couldn’t, so I drug my sweaty, sorry self after her up to the top. The result was well worth it, both for the sense of accomplishment and the views of Snoqualimie Valley.

A few minutes of unparalleled scenic appreciation, back down we went. It felt so good to see EVERY person we passed on the way down (their way up) panting and looking just as miserable as we did. We encouraged people as we jetted by them (as others had done for us), and barreled down the 3100 feet just as fast as we could.

Knowing there was fresh water at the bottom, and a burger following in town, we ignored our aches and pains and clipped along until we finally spied the parking lot. Victory felt good and it was awesome to sprint past people who looked at us suspiciously like “did you really make it all the way?”. Of course we did. And as soon as my knees stop aching, I’m ready to do it again. But this time, I’ll bring two water bottles, some trail food, and some mole skin. Yesterday was indeed a paincation, but sometimes that is what it takes to remind you that if you put mind over matter, you can do nearly anything you want.

My last resort experience in Mexico being Cancun, I expected something similar: a nice resort which offered poolside sun bathing for guests, however the white sands trumping the pool culture by offering cool sips, dips and sunbathing underneath the many huts and/or beach umbrellas. Maybe it is because I’m getting older, or it’s the demo of the Emerald Bay Pueblo Bonito guests (or both), but the traditional beach culture seems to have been replaced with a posh yet relaxed pool culture. Two side-by-side azur infinity pools (which look like they flow right into the ocean) span a  good portion of the waterfront side of the property. Guests angle every morning to secure their preferred lounge chair for the day either under the shade or in direct sun, but close enough to the swim up bar or the outside cafe. Some even prefer the semi-submersed lounge chairs which rest in the shallow end of the pool .

The first happy hour starts sharply at 11:00 am (two-for-one drink specials). Just enough time to wake up to a leisurely morning, enjoy room service from your balcony while luxuriating the spectacular ocean front view, walk the beach for an hour, and by then you are ready to cool off with a dip in one of the pools (there are three all together) and find your stool at the swim up bar. The friendly staff quickly gets to know your name, and cheerfully bring your food order(s), water, and drink specials all day long to the convenience of your lounge chair. You never have to leave the pool, no less your  chair. Your day is a blend of lounging in the sun, swimming, refreshing & re-hydrating, dehydrating via an excellent list of options, noshing and shooting the breeze with the other relaxed guests.

Around 5:00pm you make up your mind whether you are going to dine at the resort, or take the air conditioned bus into Mazatlan for dinner. A quick shower, and you are on your way to a wonderful city pumping full of options: quaint, authentic restaurants, beach-side cafes offering magnificent ocean views, modern clubs for dancing, or even a visit to the sister resort, Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan. It’s all good and you really can’t make a bad choice.

Obviously there are a ton of outdoor (and indoor) activities you can arrange to do while at Emerald Bay (besides staying poolside): scuba, snorkeling, boating, wind surfing, surfing, para-sailing, hiking, horseback riding, shopping, spa, indoor gyms, etc. The list goes on. We gave it a good college try once or twice (hiked a volcano in the mid-day sun and hit a few historic architectural relics), but given the heat and the humidity, the most enjoyable part of the trip was being poolside all day every day.

What a great vacation and way to unwind. While there are many more resorts popping up on this ever-growing crescent shaped beach, Emerald Bay Pueblo Bonito is a delightful way to escape. Far enough away from the everyday hustle and bustle of Mazatlan, but close enough that you can join in the fun and festivities anytime you care to hop a shuttle or call a bike taxi.

I recently was able to spend a few days in Austin with my very good friends. Luckily, my trip coincided with a good ‘ol fashioned Texas heat wave. Super. Because being from Seattle, you know I can manage 106 degree temperatures and accompanying humidity without any problem. Right. But, the buckets o’ sweat which drenched my t-shirt everyday we walked around Lady Bird Lake was a fabulous way to purify the body from the antics of the night before. With such oppressive heat, we kinda got on a cycle of breakfast tacos (bacon being a must to shore up any looming hangover), a sweat-filled, ambitious walk around the lake, cool down burgers and beer at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium,  a well-deserved shower, then a windup of various liquid-induced activities.

And is there a better place on the planet to retox than Austin? I swear they have as many bars as Seattle does coffee shops. I counted. And I’m not talking just around Sixth Street. I mean everywhere. So many options, so little time, but we were up to the challenge. My one request was to hit live music while we were there. I mean, Austin is the Live Music Capital of the WORLD. Fortunately for me, we ended up at the historical and ever-musically-prolific Continental Club. Between the upper and lower clubs, we caught three great bands, with the highlight being Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Hardship. Fantastico live. A must see if you ever get the chance.

But I think the real highlight of the city (besides all of the great Mexican food, the vast sea of bars, and fabulous music) was the overt friendliness of the locals. Maybe it’s because people are bathing in vitamin D and/or it’s all of them bars (and folks are just a little tossed all of the time) but people are welcoming, vocal, and all around nice. Not that “surface nice” Seattleites seem to posses in spades. Actually, I’m 99% sure it is in direct relation to the proximity of the equator, but whatever the reason it feels pretty fantastic as an outsider.

Austin’s draw and fabulousness seems in large part due to the city’s promotion of uncensored creativity, progressive thinking, individuality, and sense of community (along with other stuff like technology and education). It’s no wonder Austin continues to experience rapid growth. But alls I know is you gotta love a place which proudly promotes the slogan: Keep Austin Weird!

Weather-wise, it was one of those perfect days here in the Pacific Northwest. Considering the stage is in a park, the venue is relatively intimate yet affords plenty of  general-grass-seating behind reserved seating, all of it pretty good. There are ample Honey-buckets, stocked with toilet covers and hand sanitizer, and the lines for the beer garden are completely manageable. There’s plenty of good food one can buy, yet we opted to pack in our own (just no glass, and I can’t tell you how many jars of gourmet fig jam we saw confiscated…you feeling me on the crowd’s demo?).

The show itself was the healing elixir it was touted to be. Over this past week, Adam Duritz posted the following note, which let all concert goers know this was not going to be your average show. As opposed to having the opening band, Augustina, play first to warm up the crowd and allow time for the constant trickle of fans who only come for the headliner, the Counting Crows decided to mix it up a bit by blending the two bands for one knock-down hootenanny of a show with all band members playing simultaneously on stage pretty much all night. The bands had a great time, which meant the crowd had a great time. While admittedly, we were all a bit confused as to who was playing when, it didn’t really matter. The show was great and they rocked it well after dark. 

I would say the only drawback (for me) to the evening was the Crows didn’t play the one song I was longing for, but I thought they might pull it out for an encore number. Sadly, no encore. I don’t know if it was because the bands were finito for the evening or if it was because the uber-civilized crowds jammed right after the bands put their instruments down. Either way, veteran concert goers know you have to earn an encore with a bit of commitment and enthusiasm (ie. stay put and wait).  But, the crowds hightailed it outta there like they were headed off to the Nordstrom half-yearly sale. Suppose this genteel concert-goer-esqueness is the price I’ll pay for attending concerts on the eastside and enjoying fig jam (out of Tupperware) on my goat-cheese crostinis.

*credit: Tammi Tompkins

On this last visit, we had the good fortune of stumbling across one of the area’s newer, luxury boutique hotels, The Nines. Well, can’t even call it stumbling. More like the local universe shouting “is something wrong with your mind or something?? If you don’t go to The Nines, you don’t ever deserve to come back.” After asking several of the locals for a good place to spend the 4th of July downtown, every single response was to check out the rooftop lounge atop The Nines. Taking this subtle hint, we decided to take a peek.

It’s important to note that I’m not doing a hotel review here (‘cuz I didn’t actually stay there), but wow, let me just say what a cool space. Located above the landmark Meier & Frank building , it’s modern, artistic, hip, opulent and slightly romantic. All at the same time. And that’s just my impression from lobby-to-elevator-to-rooftop, where the ultra-modern, Asian-infused, cocktail lounge Departure is located. The food is amazing and the scratch cocktails divine, but the bottom line is definitely the views. And the outdoor, rooftop decks. Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

Really feels like SOHO or some other ultra-chic, metropolitan neighborhood. So SOHO-esque in fact, we had to sit and wonder where Seattle’s version was, particularly seeing as Seattle is supposed to be more metropolitan than Portland. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Seattle doesn’t have some great boutique hotels, but none that I know of with rooftop lounges and expansive outside decks. And rooftop decks that serve artful cocktails and culinary nibbles with a side of hip and an extra shot of design.

But back to Portland and The Nines. I’m doing you a solid here. Check out The Nines the next time you are in P-town. For a drink, a bite, a place to lay your head, or even for a quick elevator ride, you are going to be a more fulfilled person for it.

Thus, our inaugural summer camping trip was going to take us to places afar and anew. Decided to try out Maryhill State Park.

Sounded fantastic: sun, fun, water activities, the Maryhill Museum of Art (which apparently has some choice pieces), and not to mention the partial full-scale replica of Stonehenge. Bring it on. And, I figured a stop or three at some of the wineries somewhere along the way might be doable if I were a good girl. It is pretty much a four-hour drive from Seattle to the Goldendale area on a good day and you can imagine one gets a little parched along the way.

But Maryhill wasn’t in the cards this past weekend. A state-wide turn in the weather and a late start time was call for Plan B (I for one am not the girl who puts her tent up in the dark, and particularly not in the rain and the dark). So we scrapped the original plan and fell back on Old Faithful: Wish-Poosh, just outside of Roslyn.

Why do we love Wish-Poosh so much? Located in the Northern Cascade Range it’s close, less than two hours away. It’s easy, always can find a spot on Friday (well, that is until I’ve shared this as one of my favorite campsites to date…but who am I kidding…you people don’t camp). It is close to Salmon-la-Sac and we LOVE to go bust our balls hiking the never-ending mountain range of easily-accessible trails. It makes the consumption of more-beers-than-I’d-like-to-mention a wash for our waistlines. And of course Cooper Lake. An easy Sunday hike out and around the lake fills our senses and cleanses our souls. Literally. Plus, we aren’t that organized of campers, so a twilight-zone inspired run into the Ronald General Store and a burger dash to The Brick always fully completes our weekend escape with rare oddities (this past weekend we were able to experience a Lithuanian Festival).

There are an amazing amount of killer camping areas around here. I’d definitely like to experience several more this summer (including Maryhill State Park). But for you, you don’t even have to camp to take a mini “get-the-monkey-off-my-back” break and enjoy the rest of this state. Grab a cheap hotel room somewhere close to some fantastic outdoor activities and get off your ass and go do them. Doesn’t have to be expensive. It just re-starts your quality of life button and it is a great way to kick off summer.