TeachStreet launched their beta site today. They help you find classes from local teachers (only Seattle for now). Exercise, language, cooking, and all kinds of other learning available. Educate thyself!

Quoted: TeachStreet helps people find local teachers, classes and tutors who help them learn new things. Teachers use TeachStreet to find local students.

Had great brunch today at this tiny neighborhood cafe on Summit & Thomas. The food was tasty (3 choices of omelette but menu changes every week and it came with juice, coffee, croissant, Greek appetizers, and dessert).

The owner was very friendly, and so was the live music: a guitar player who sang some Floyd, Beatles, and Radiohead songs for us (and one of his own).

You should try it. I'll go back for dinner next time.

By the way, they spell it "Thomas St. Bistro" sometimes, and I keep calling it "Thomas Saint Bistro". The Saint, for short.

Audrey faved first. An article about ClayValet in today's Seattle Times tech blog.

Quoted: It's kind of fun and might be useful for complicated product searches that don't work well with automated comparison-shopping services.

A very critical review of the 2007 SIFF.

Quoted: “Hypnotized by luxury and opulence” could go a long way in accounting for why the festival selection was so much worse than in seasons past...

Just "discovered" this little sushi place half a block from my apartment. Great sushi, awesome prices, and I ended up talking to the other two customers for a while. Three of us made the place feel crowded. I might have to become a regular.

Quoted: Sushi Maki Reviews - "One heavy ass bag of sushi to go please. That will pretty much be your order at this teeny tiny sushi bar - they have about 50-60 different rolls for you to choose from all organized neatly by cooked, raw, and spicy. The…

What is it about May? The whole winter went by without a reading that would lure me down to Elliott Bay, and now I'm looking at the list of May events like a kid in a candy store. Michael Chabon, Chuck Palahniuk, Miranda July, Christopher Buckley, Jumpha Lahiri, William Langewiesche, Russell Simmons.

So, who's coming to what?

The partial lineup for this year's Bumbershoot looks solid. Also, Miranda July is doing two readings (I dotted her website a few days ago).

Quoted: This year's music acts include: The Shins, Wu-Tang Clan, Panic! At The Disco, Crowded House, Lupe Fiasco, Steve Earle, DeVotchKa, Devendra Banhart, Gogol Bordello, Kill Hannah, Norma Jean, Plain White T's, The Gourds, Lyrics Born, Roky Erickson & The Explosives, The Holmes Brothers, The Avett Brothers, Yungchen Lhamo, Allison Moorer, Magnolia Electric Company, The Aggrolites and many, many more to be announced!

Kings and Queens! I'll have to do this when the weather improves.

Quoted: Thank you for exploring Hot Air Ballooning - the sport of Kings and Queens! This is an incredible experience that is the most enjoyable when shared with someone special. If you schedule a flight individually, you'll end up with not only extraordinary memories, but new friends, since we only allow nice people aboard our balloons.

This Saturday (tomorrow), in the ID: celebrate Year of the Pig

Quoted: Seattle's Chinatown-International District invites you to celebrate the Year of the Pig! Experience first-class multicultural entertainment on the Toyota Main Stage including the lively Lion and Dragon dances, rhythmical Japanese Taiko drumming, colorful traditional Korean dance performances and much more! Bring your family and friends to visit our many booths featuring unique Asian-inspired arts & crafts, local businesses, and community organizations. Best of all, admission is FREE!

Toyota Pig Stage Entertainment:
12:00pm Mak Fai Kung Fu Club (lion & dragon dance / martial arts)
12:15pm Opening Welcome by Bank of America
12:30pm Daughters of China
1:00pm Hengda Dance Academy (Chinese youth dance)
1:30pm One World Taiko (Japanese taiko drumming)
2:00pm Korean Morningstar (traditional Korean dance and music)
2:30pm Chinese Community Girls Drill Team
3:00pm Melody Dance Troupe (Chinese youth dance)
3:30pm Washington Chinese Youth Orchestra
4:00pm Rhythms of India
4:30pm Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team
5:00pm Aloha Island Treasures
6:00pm Event closure