Beef Cake

Local Boy Bakes Good

Good Monday morning, Kids! So how was your weekend? Hopefully, it was a good one with a little early holiday shopping (from fabtastic independent retailers?) and some much-deserved relaxation and down time. As you all know, I was bustin' it out baker-style with my Saturday morning cupcake marathon session. All in all...273 in total! We managed to deliver all of them to Sarah in one trip with only 3 casualties in the process - two to the laws of awkward movement and gravity and another to a rogue coat zipper. What was on the menu? Chocolate Cake with Coconut Milk Buttercream & Toasted Coconut, Yellow Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream, Lemon Cake with Pomegranate & Blueberry Buttercream, and Orange Cake with Fresh Cranberry Buttercream. All from scratch, no flavorings or artificial colorings, fresh fruit...and a whole lot o' deliciousness! (I'm just sayin'.) ;)

Am I going to show you pictures...you ask? Honey! If you asked a Grandmother to show you photos of the grandkids d'you think she's gonna say, "No, not now."?!! Of course I'm gonna show you photos! More than you may be able to stand! But after today, I promise, it'll be a good while before I subject you to these again.

Haley (loveliest employee and all-around-person in the universe!) and Sarah putting the finishing touches on the table o' treats. By this point, I was a little sick of my sugar trip but I made very good friends with that champagne punch...I'll tell you what! Woo woo!

Le Grande Finale!

Beefy's Bainbridge 4th of July Blitz

(A recuperative lunch (let's just say things start on Bainbridge Island
as of the 3rd) on the lawn at Doc's Marina Grill.)

I know, an unusual posting for Beefy. On a Sunday! Don't expect o whole lot, Kids...your Uncle is tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired! I know, I know...by "tired" I mean hungover, right? Okay, I admit it...you're wrong. By "tired" I mean too old to drink like the 20-somethings around me. By "tired" I mean I'm a cheap/er date who will begin to fade long before the art of intoxication really begins to take hold. By "tired" I mean one who now gets just as excited over beautifully arranged fruit skewers as he does the beer run. By "tired" I mean that when one exclaims that there's no more beer you're now a bit more content that sparkling water has been offered as an alternative. By "tired" I mean that, with barely a buzz, I found it absolutely necessary to demonstrate the African dance ensemble from Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" video. Yes, THAT tired!

And even still...I sacrifice what energies I have left to you, Kids, my gentle readers. That and to get Bee off m'back! Geez, for a vegetarian it seems a bit contradictory to be asking for more "Beefy" doesn't it, Bee? ;) Silly Kids! No matter...I will oblige you all with what will perhaps be one of the most striking and poignant cinematic and photographic displays of a local 4th of July celebration in recent history.

Oh yeah...I'm tired.

Lunch at Doc's was followed by heading up to Winslow Way for the 4th of July parade! The 4th is a big celebration on Bainbridge Island. Just the night before (i.e. the 3rd) the street was shut down for games, live music, food, and yes, a beer garden. Yes! I was there...can we move on now! ;) It's a nice community gathering that gives you a little hope that all is right with the world.

The parade...in case you couldn't tell. Always here to help.

Shortly after this cinematic genius was shot I had a "starlight mint" hurled at my throat with such velocity as to perform a tracheotomy. Ah yes, good times, Kids....good times. Also, a cinematic learning lesson...Sen, don't ever tell a blogger not to put something on their blog. You're just asking for it.

At Sarah & Sen's house. A stellar gathering (Sarah & Georgina busted out with every Martha-driven fiber of their beings ~ beautiful job ladies!!!) with friends (including FABULICIOUS visitor Ms. Jenny from the OC ~ OMG! Kristin Cavallari is going to be so jealous!) just before the most incredible neighborhood fireworks! My video bears absolutely no resemblance to the grande spectacle. Ask anyone who was witness...I was relegated to a 4 year old I was SO flippin' excited! So excited that I may have even piddled in my pants...but just a little ;) (If I am ever on The View and Barbara brings this up during the interview...I'm never speaking to you again!)

(Okay...y'all know I'm just kidding about the piddling...right?)

Hope you all had a GREAT
4th of July weekend, Kids!

Kennedy & Kate

Wanted to introduce you to a lil' piece of home this morning, Ladies. (Boys, you may have to sit this one out?) So you know I live on an island right? No, I haven't been quarantined! It's a very nice little place across the Puget Sound from Seattle. Well, I've been out here on Bainbridge Island off and on over the past 11 years and this place has seen some changes. Some not so good and some that were "it's about time!" good. Kennedy & Kate was SO that type of change!

When I first hit "land, ho!", Bainbridge Island was such a cute spot (and still is). But clothing choices were definitely relegated to the typical Northwest choices of plaid and/or fleece, with a Croc or two thrown in for...well...measure. So when Kennedy & Kate popped onto the scene it was like fashion first aid to a seriously starving population. Needless to say, it was very well received. With a great selection of labels such as Dutchy, Ella Moss, Miss Sixty, & Plenty, owner Sarah Wen knows how to stock 'em. And, Sarah is everything one wants as part of their retail sales experience; product knowledge, customer care, no hard sell, and sans attitude. In a word, "refreshing". But the price points? Amazingly affordable!!! And you can see for yourself right here! Happy shopping!

Seattle Sunday

Went into the city (Seattle) on Sunday to meet up with my friend Jenna. Just a leisurely day...cold but sunny...perfect for a cup of coffee and a sit down. I thought I'd take you along.

Overlooking Eagle Harbor from the ferry which travels between Bainbridge Island & Seattle.


Leaving Bainbridge Island and heading out into Puget Sound.




Seattle skyline in the distance. I love this view.


That's West Seattle to the left. Small children and seagulls ride the ferry for free.


The Space Needle


Coming into downtown Seattle.


Waiting to get off the boat.


This is at the north end of Pioneer Square. The only part of the city not to suffer under the general malaise of "tear it down and build a beige box" answer to older architecture. Oh well, history is totally overrated anyway. Don't you think? (Um, kidding.)

The Pergola in Pioneer Square. This always felt to me like a little bit of Paris. That is, until I went to Paris. But I still love it. The structure was original up until several years ago when a truck driver didn't make the turn and brought the whole thing down. I bet that was a really bad day for him.

Looking south into Pioneer Square.


My FAVORITE bookstore! Elliott Bay Book Co. Old creaky wood floors, miles of books, abuzz with people, coffee and noshes downstairs in the basement...albeit along with some rather unsavory restrooms. But what are ya' gonna do? You can't always have everything.


Just a pretty building.


Ornamo. An amazingly cool shop with lots of goodies that I can't really afford.


Occidental Square. Home to a number of art galleries including favorite Davidson Galleries.


Zeitgeist. A wonderful respite. I love all the warm woods and ironwork. Large street-side windows are perfect for people watching and getting whatever light might happen to appear. And the coffee ain't too bad either.


A Seattle-style fika (for a wannabe Swede). Okay, okay, okay...the sandwich & salad was Jenna's! I had a Top Pot doughnut off to the side. But if you can't see it I cannot be held responsible.


Smith Tower. An historical building that I imagine will likely house yet another branch of the Starbuck's world headquarters someday.


Walking up 1st Avenue toward the ferry terminal. The sign advertising "rooms .75" is old. And if it wasn't...would you really want to stay there?


The beginning of nighttime lights on the city.


Heading back home to Bainbridge.

(And now into the studio.......)

Beefy & Bainbridge

Sorry to be referring to myself in the third person but I'm a sucker for alliteration. Just sharing some photos of riding the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (i.e., home). It is a beautiful aspect of living out here (ok, sometimes it's not). They say no man is an island but at least I can be a man "on" an island.

Part of the Seattle skyline in the distance, with Safeco Field, and the Bremerton Ferry.

The beginnings of sunset over Puget Sound.

Rolling into Eagle Harbor with the Olympic Mountains in the west.
My favorite mountain range...especially in winter.

(Aaaaaaaaand scene.)