UW Special Collections

University of Washington Libraries: Digital Collections. Special collections of around the Pacific Northwest. Worth a look back at history.

http://content.lib.washington.edu/sc.html

Bumbershoot

Every Seattleitte knows that Labor Day weekend should be strictly reserved for the event that is Bumbershoot. Or, at least, you need to experience it once! The 3-day music and arts festival is amazing, but make sure to know the line-up and their locations, since it is general seating and a huge location.

http://www.bumbershoot.com/

eHow

Learn how to do about anything from others!

http://www.ehow.com/

Free 411

I just discovered Free 411. I would only use it as a last resort- considering that you have to wait through 2 advertisements total, and usually it might not get exactly what you want. But, it's an option, at least. Just dial 1-800-373-3411.

http://www.free411.com/index.php

Travel Channel

A great source for video, tips for trips, and information on global destinations: the Travel Channel.

http://travel.discovery.com/

Friends

Thought of the day: How would you prioritize your friends? How would you categorize them?

Friends are the best invention on earth. Not only are they the family you choose, but they are a collection of people that represent the various sides of you. You have the friends you'd like to relax on the couch with, explore the city with, go out at night with, go on adventures with, etc. And it's fabulous.

"Wherever you are, it is your friends who make your world." -William James

RoadTrip America

I LOVE the NY Times. Especially the travel section!! Follow their writer Matt on a great American roadtrip- minus the high budget.

http://travel.nytimes.com/map/travel/frugal-traveler/2007/overview.html

Seattle CitySearch

CitySearch is a great resource to 'live like a local.' And of course, there's one for Seattle!

http://seattle.citysearch.com/

List of recommendations and reviews in Seattle- a great source of articles of what's hot.

http://seattle.citysearch.com/browse_roundups

Found Magazine

A collection of things found that give insight into the reality of daily life. Those that love PostSecret, will equally love this.

http://www.foundmagazine.com/

Etsy

An online community of handmade art- jewelry, painting, music, toys, and other goods.

http://www.etsy.com/

REI sale

There are two major sales that shoppers in Seattle look forward to: Nordstrom and REI. And it's only a couple of days away from the REI Labor Day sale!!

http://www.rei.com/

Love At First Sight

Thought of the Day: Do you believe in Love At First Sight?

I honestly didn't until this past year. However, I have recently come upon new experiences where I can say, yes, I believe in love at first sight.

Love, at first sight, is thrilling to experience and a reminder that life is full of excitement.

Just something to ponder.

La Mode: A night of Fashion

A night of fashion put on my FIDM of Seattle on Friday, Aug 24th.

http://www.doyoulamode.com/

Shopping with LC

I SUPER love the Hills and the fashionista Lauren Conrad. LA Times recently gave her a challenge- one complete outfit, for $100. Enjoy!

LA Times: She's An Alley Girl

Shop For A Cause

All girls know how to shop til we drop, but these sites have our best intentions in mind. Shopping with origins in fair trade from around the world, many of which make donations as part of the cost- plus their unique and thoughtful presents!!

Shop The Hunger Site

http://shop.thehungersite.com/store/site.do?siteId=220

Greater Good

http://www.greatergood.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/GreaterGood

MAC Make-Up

http://www.macaidsfund.org/

Eco-Conscious Market

http://www.econsciousmarket.com/

iGive

http://www.igive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=30705

Living and Shopping in Seattle

http://seattle.citysearch.com/roundup/41479

Travel Sites

Budget Travel Magazine

http://www.budgettravel.com/index.html

Rick Steves: Europe travel guru, Seattle native

http://www.ricksteves.com/home.htm

Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/

Search Engine for the cheapest airfare, hotel, cruises, etc: Kayak.com

http://www.kayak.com/

Grab their $10 seats on flights, but they go to obscure airports domestically: SkyBus

http://www.skybus.com/

Student Travel: discounts on airfare, information on locations from others, etc

http://www.statravel.com/

Booking hostels has never been so easy and efficient- HostelWorld has never failed me. Plus, if you are booking enough, just getting the 'Gold Card' pays off after 4 bookings.

http://www.hostelworld.com/

Inspirational Sites

An inspirational online community, Daryn Kagen updates daily to keep our sanity. Look for Archbishop Desmond Tutu's interview- he's aboard the MV Explorer!!

http://darynkagan.com/index.html

Intelligience for your life from radio personality and spiritual guru John Tesh. Plus, random daily facts to add to our optimistic world.

http://www.tesh.com/

Nourishing your mind, body, and spirit, DailyOM is unique in that it has a forum where lots of active members contribute to the daily read. Also, I love the horoscopes!

http://www.dailyom.com/

Seattle Daily Photo

A different view of Seattle through a lens each day. Also, with great links to other Seattle-ites.

http://seattle-daily-photo.blogspot.com/

UW Commencement 2008 ideas

After sitting through the horrendous speech Norm Dicks gave at this years commencement ceremony, for the class of 2007, I have a couple of my own suggested speakers. These are in no particular order.

UW Alumni
01- Rick Steves: travel guru and northwest native
02- Joel McHale: E! News Soup host, which could be a lively speech
03- Dawn Wells: Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island

04- Dale Chihuly: master glass-maker extraordinaire

If you can reach this far

05- Madeline Albright: first woman to become United States Secretary of State

06- Anderson Cooper: journalist & author, and great eye candy

You Are Beautiful

A campaign for beauty on an international, street-level. Another, great reminder of the little things.

http://you-are-beautiful.com/

Seattle in One Day

You can accomplish everything to see and do in Seattle in 1 day, and take the bus everywhere!

01- Original Starbucks in Pike Place Market
02- Walk around Pike Place Market
03 - Catch a fish at Pike Place Fish Market
04- Underground Tour at Pioneer Square
05- Walk around Pioneer Square: Waterfall Garden Park, stadiums, waterfront
06- Lunch in International District / Uwajimaya
07 - Tour University of Washington
08- Fremont: Troll, Center of the Universe, Rocket, Dinosaurs
09- Seattle Center: Pacific Science Center, IMAX Movie, International Fountain, Space Needle (around sunset is great and more picturesque), Experienced Music Project (suggested only if you have coupons/ discount)
---> Alternatives to the Space Needle for the view: Columbia Center or Smith Tower
10 - Dinner around waterfront (Anthony's, Old Spaghetti Factory, Ivar's)
11- Walk around town, or drinks around Belltown/ Pioneer Square/ Capitol Hill
12- Late night snack at Dick's in Capitol Hill (open until 2am) or late-night happy hours (usually 10- close)


If you have any extra days, or want to throw something else in the loop, here's more ideas of what to do...

Day 2
11- Ferry to Bainbridge Island: walk around downtown, rent kayaks
12 - Museum of Flight
13- Sporting Events: Mariners baseball, Sounders soccer, Seahawks football

Day 3 (need car, but for Tacoma, you can use public transportation- bus or train)
14- Half-Day trip to Snoqualmie Falls
15- Day trip to Tacoma: Glass Museum, University of Washington at Tacoma, Almond Roca Factory, waterfront, eat dinner at Anthony's

Volunteer in Seattle

Give back to Seattle: Volunteer or Donate.

http://www.seattle.gov/html/citizen/volunteer.htm

Internet Radio

Free internet radio. Genius.

http://pandora.com/

Breathing Earth

A powerful way to show how the world moves around us. Filled with statistics and updated every second.

http://www.breathingearth.net/

Little People

Reminder about the little things in life. "Little handpainted people, left in London to fend for themselves".

http://little-people.blogspot.com/

The Start

I am starting this to journal my life in Seattle, my last year at UW, and the extent to which being young in the middle of the city is like. It'll be filled with random thoughts and chapters of my life- and the many, many things I'll stumble across. Or, it'll just be posts of sites worth an extra minute. Enjoy and maybe you'll just laugh too.