It’s Time For The Bumbershoot Festival 2013

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It’s time for the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle!

Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival is taking place this Labor Day weekend at the Seattle Center! Since 1971, this festival has drawn artists representing the best in music, film, comedy, spoken word, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts to the Seattle Center. Already the festival's Facebook page is filled with interviews and previews for the upcoming performances, while the Seattle Times posted a list of the best things to do at the festival on their blog.

This wonderful festival even got featured on renters.apartments.com. Here’s what they had to say about this event:

Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival 2013 is upon us. From August 31 to September 2, you can enjoy music performances, great food, comedy, theatre, and more. This family-friendly, one-of-a-kind Seattle event brings an eclectic mixture of entertainment to thousands every year.

So what exactly is Bumbershoot? As mentioned on the festival’s website, “The arts festival known originally as Festival ’71, then as Festival ’72, was dubbed Bumbershoot® in 1973.” This event swings by Seattle every Labor Day weekend, and takes place at Seattle Center on 74-acre land. It’s known to attract over 100,000 people each year who enjoy local, national, and international artists performing across an array of disciplines.

The 2013 Bumbershoot lineup is extensive – see for yourself. You can search by a specific music genre: hip hop, electronic, pop, jazz, etc. and by theme: words and ideas, comedy, visual arts, etc. There is something for everyone and more! Check out the Bumbershoot 2013 blog for more information on the artists and event.

As if this festival isn’t amazing enough, it believes in protecting the environment. Bumbershoot is known to be one of the most sustainable festivals around. Some sustainable practices encouraged at this entertainment venue are: bring your own reusable water bottles, recycling stations at every turn, composting stations, renewable power sources, Bumbershoot clothing is local and organic, and more!

Can’t forget about the delicious food and drinks – here is a range of local food vendors ready to satisfy your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? You can buy your tickets here – they’re on sale now, so it’s best to buy them before you show up.

This is an exclusive, diverse, and dynamic festival that aims to charm all, and is bound to leave you wanting more. Bring your family and friends, and experience a remarkable weekend celebration in Seattle.

To read reviews on the event, you can check out the positive Yelp reviews.


Head on out and enjoy, Seattle!

10 Great Ideas For Your Picnic Lunch

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If you haven't gone on a picnic yet this summer, now's the time! The best season of the year may be winding down but it's not over yet, and a beautiful weekend in the park is the perfect setting for a fabulous picnic with friends, family, or a significant other.

The next question, then, is what should you prepare and take to enjoy on your picnic? Well, renters.apartments.com has a few ideas - 10, to be exact!

1. It’s a lazy summer day. You’ve got all the time in the world, and there’s a good chance your picnic is going to last half the afternoon. If so, you’re going to need some snacks and appetizers. Hummus and pita bread is classic picnic cuisine.
2. If you want something flashier and more indulgent than humus, bring along some pate; mushroom, chicken liver, and duck pate with apple jelly are just a couple of options.
3. Cheese and fruit are essential to any picnic. Smoked Gouda, Edam or goat cheese go nicely with grapes or figs. Throw some salami or smoked salmon into the mix and you’ll have a nice charcuterie plate.
4. If you want super-fresh fruit, opt for strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. They are all in season during the summer.
5. Any European -and they know a thing or two about dining al fresco- will tell you that a crusty baguette is a must have at a picnic.
6. While people will argue that macaroni or potato salad are picnic staples, if you’re planning on being outside for a long time, mayonnaise that’s slowly going sour will have you thinking differently, and probably hating future picnics, too. Instead of macaroni potato salad, make a salad using orzo rice shaped pasta. Add asparagus, spring onions, peas and pine nuts, and then sprinkle it with olive oil.
7. A classic chicken Caesar salad with hard boiled eggs is filling and easy to share, and it’s the perfect addition to an outdoor pick-up meal.
8. Is there any food more portable than a wrap sandwich? Wrap up your favorite deli meats with some sprouts and lettuce and voila.
9. Desserts can be tricky, not to mention messy and a magnet for bugs, bees and other picnic creatures. Cookies aren’t really fancy enough, and a pint of your favorite ice cream is going to melt in five minutes. This is where the cupcake comes in. Small, portable and eaten in a couple of bites, cupcake frosting won’t melt too fast, causing a mess, nor will the dessert be around long enough to attract bugs.
10. Depending on where you’re having the picnic, a chilled bottle of white wine is the perfect beverage. If that’s not possible, opt for lemonade or sweet tea.

 Are we missing anything? Let us know what your favorite picnic dishes are in the comments!

Got A Vacation Soon? Here’s How To Find Pet Care!

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If you have pets, you know that the first step in booking a vacation isn’t picking the your motel or buying your plane tickets: it’s finding a place for your best friend to stay and get some TLC while you’re relaxing far away.

Sometimes pet care while you’re away is as simple as calling a friend up and trading a few bucks for their troubles. Other times, it requires research and lots of planning. If you fall into the latter category, the following apartmenttherapy.com article is for you - and even if you don’t fit the bill now, you never know: your go-to friend could always schedule a vacation at the same time that you do!

Either way, always be prepared and know how to find your pet care with these five tips:

1. Decide what kind of care you are after. This can vary with your personal comfort level, your budget and you pet’s individual needs or temperament. The options vary from the traditional kennel, pet “hotels” that are often also doggie daycare centers, care in a pet sitter’s home or care in your own home. It’s a good idea to have a couple of options researched and prepare in case one falls through.

2. Make sure you leave plenty of time to book, options tend to fill up fastest during holidays and peak vacation times. You will also want to leave time to tour any facilities and for you pet to meet and interact with the caregiver(s) before you commit to anything.

3. Find someone you can trust and establish a relationship with them. At times when I used a regular dog walker they were always my first choice for pet sitting as well. They knew my dogs and I had already vetted them. It can be a good idea to use a service you have experience with, be it a doggie day care of walker but if you don’t have one of those options to turn to you can try calling your vet (they usually keep a list) or ask around at your local dogpark.

4. Have a meet and greet. This is one of the most important things you can do. Have the caregiver meet you in your home or bring your pet to wherever they will be staying. This gives your pet an opportunity to see you interact with the person, so that they know this person has been invited in and allows them to form a connection before you leave them. It’s also a great opportunity to go over any pertinent information in person, and show them where they can find what they will need.

5. Write everything down. You might feel like it’s a bit over the top but a detailed outline of your pet's needs along with their usual routine can save a lot of headaches. Be sure to list your vet's info in case of any emergencies and any prescription or health related information.

A Day Out (Around the Space Needle) In Seattle

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The iconic Space Needle is a pride and joy for Seattle, recognized by many across the nation and even world. Even better: while it’s become a great tourist attraction recently, that doesn’t mean it’s off limits to locals.

But the Space Needle won’t take up an entire day - so what will you do before or after you visit it? We’re glad you asked, because apartments.com has a few ideas:

To start things off, the EMP Museum, a large mass of reflective multicolor panels with no descriptive shape, is a funky building that exhibits everything sci-fi, pop culture, and music. Packed with educational programs and innovative technologies, this is bound to be an interactive adventure indeed. The museum is perfect for all ages and has something for everyone.

Seattle Center has much to offer including the magnificent International Fountain. It was originally built in 1961 for the 1962 World’s Fair and later rebuilt in 1995. Enjoy the synchronized music to the quirky movements of the water program. Songs include: “Welcome to Seattle Center Show, Aaron Copeland’s ‘Billy the Kid,’ Duke Ellington, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and a mix from Northwest Rock ‘n Roll legends.” During the summer, you can find a DJ engaging crowds and livening the scene. Within eyeshot of the fountain, the Seattle Center features a skate park, children’s museum, multiple concert halls, and a ballet school.

These activities are certain to make you hungry. There are many great restaurants around the Space Needle – my favorite being Quincy’s. Burgers, Seafood, Beer. The Space Needle restaurant, Skycity, is also an option; although it can be pricey. However, if you’re in the mood for some amazing Seattle views, your meal includes the cost of admission to the Space Needle.

When you’ve experienced everything Seattle Center has to offer, take a short walk or drive up to Kerry Park to experience a stunning view of Seattle – you might just catch an impromptu yoga session.

Be sure to check the festival schedule occurring year round. ‘Festal’ is hosted by the Seattle Center and community organizations to bring culture, diversity, and community to Seattle. The next festival is August 17, 2013, Indigenous Cultures Day – don’t miss out!

What do you think - does this sound like a good day out to you?

Stay Safe In The Summer Sun!

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Ah, summer. For Seattle, summer has actually brought an incredible heatwave complete with extra sunshine. It’s been both a blessing and a curse at time for us to deal with, but at least we can safely say more people in Seattle got Vitamin D this summer than usual.

With summer winding down faster than we’d care to admit, many of us are beginning to plan our last hurrahs for the season before September rolls around. However, it’s important for us to remember basic sun safety tips as we’re out having fun (which, lets be honest, are easy to forget in a city that’s usually covered in a layer of clouds); sunburns are extremely uncomfortable things to deal with, and any skin damage can lead to skin cancer. So as you head out to catch the last rays of the reason, make sure you remember the following:

• Put on sunscreen whenever you’re out in the sun. Even if you plan on only going out for a 15 minute walk, put on sunscreen; you could be delayed while out on your walk or end up staying out because you’re enjoying yourself. Use a sunblock with at least SPF 30. If you’re out for extended period of time or swimming, make sure you reapply a layer of sunscreen every two to three hours.
• When you can, cover up sensitive areas with clothing. Sunscreen will eventually wear off, so wearing a hat to protect a bald head and the skin around your eyes and mouth with prevent a sunburn once the sunscreen loses its touch.
• Wear sunglasses. Hats and other articles of clothing protect your skin but do little to save your eyes from the damage bright light can cause.

These three simple tips will prevent you from getting sunburn. As a final tip: don’t forget to drink lots of water! Dehydration causes a multitude of other problems, including dry and even cracked skin.