A Warm Glow

Last night we walked into town for dinner at Island Soul, the new(ish) Caribbean place in Columbia City. It felt like a charmed evening. The weather was perfect, in that crisp autumn way that Seattle often doesn't deliver. Simon collected shiny brown buckeyes outside his old preschool, and we all marveled at the flame-colored maple and sumac trees that seemed to be glowing in the gathering dusk.

The restaurant was packed, but we didn't have to wait long for a table. The crowd had that classic Columbia City feeling: people of every race, creed, and color, who all seemed to know each other. Mikala ran into a beloved classmate from museum school whom she hasn't seen for at least five years. A colleague of Andrew's stopped by our table to say hello. Theo (the owner) came out of the kitchen to meet the family. Everyone in the room seemed to be having a glorious time, especially the big party celebrating someone's 25th birthday -- and yes, we all sang to her.

Plus, the food was fabulous! BBQ ribs, gumbo, collard greens, coconut cornbread -- all delicious. Simon (who on the way there had declared his intention to eat nothing but mac 'n' cheese for the rest of his life) stuffed himself with coconut prawns, chicken wings, and fried yams. It was the kind of experience that reminds you that the word "restaurant" comes from the French restaurer: "to restore."

Afterwards we wandered over to the nearby gallery Gather, which seemed to be living up to its name as well. There we ran into a whole nother crowd of old and new friends, including many Orca folks. The new show features the alphabet in neon, each letter drawn from a different corporate logo. We staked out our favorites:




There was just one thing missing...


Confidential to Pookie-Pie Pumpkin-Bubble Snoofiekins: Can't wait to see you tonight!