"ODD" - In the Good Way.

The Boy Next Door Suggets: "The Oddfellows Cafe" Capitol Hill - Seattle

So, I have decided to make way out and about into the neighborhoods of Seattle and begin to give you The Boy Next Door's take on things. I have promised myself to only post positive experiences and to keep my selection of locations to small, locally owned businesses. So, with that... Let's have TBND's reaction to lunch at The Oddfellow's Cafe.

The Oddfellows Societies date back to the early 1700's and were formed as friendly and fraternal societies. For as much as life and society has changed since then, the idea of a gathering place, a "hall" for friends of all factions of society to gather, is the heartbeat of this sweet little spot tucked between Pike and Pine on 10th. At first glance, it seems a bit more like an old warehouse than a "hall." But they have showcased the space well with bygone era photos and trinkets and suited it with rugged tables, benches and chairs. The counter bar reflects the old-time approach of bringing single diners together to share a little nosh, some good cheer, and a quirky anecdote or two. You really feel a sense of "cozy comfortability" after just a few minutes of soaking in the scene.

Those of you that truly know me understand my great love of food and the aroma of fine cuisine. My penchant for a festive setting and a flair for the finer things. Many will also note that I don't always subscribe to those comfort features in my everyday living. Often times two corndogs and a grape soda witll suffice as lunch or a segue into Happy Hour. But today I wanted to treat myself to some time to sit down, enjoy some good food and soak in a scene. So I waltzed up to the counter and placed my order for their Chicken Salad Sandwich.

What I have deemed to be "The Finest Chicken Salad made Outside of Your Kitchen" is so delicate and yet has lingering hints of wonderful seasoning. I have had it twice before and my only qualm has been the baguette that they use. My gums and front teeth are a little sensitive, I admit, and chomping into a rustic, crusty baguette can often times do some damage. So previously I have always just used a fork to eat the salad off of the bread, then eat each portion of the bread separately afterwards. Today, I wanted to see if there was a better option.

I was offered my choice of a hearty rye or their lighter than air brioche. I of course chose the latter. While waiting at a cozy corner table, I eyed the folks that had decided to call The Oddfellows their lunch spot for the day. A clear cross section of The Hill. Police Officers, Office Mates, Friends with a free afternoon, College Students, Construction Workers, a local Freelance Writer... a nice blend of people to assist any nosy busy-body or eavesdropper. I removed my coat, set my bag down, grabbed a few periodicals from a nearby rack and just sat back to breathe in a relaxing experience.

A moment or two later a young and friendly, fresh-faced girl sauntered over with some water and silverware, asked me about my day and made sure I was doing A-OK. She continued down the wall of windows and checked in with other patrons not seeming to be too haggared or hurried that they were packed and busy. All in stride and never broke a sweat.

Then the miracle arrived! Not only did "The Finest Chicken Salad made Outside your Kitchen" appear before me; lightly toasted, super-silky-soft brioche hugged it all into place with the assistance of some lovely spring greens. A quaint side salad of mixed greens complemented the sandwich and I felt almost guilty to even bite into it all. It was just so - perfect! I lingered over it while flipping through pages of Seattle tid-bits, fashion forward news, and huge spreads of photo picks from recent parties and events. It felt so natural to sit and be part of this Seattle social society. Not Odd. Rather, strangely Normal.

I left sated and ready to resume the freestyle schedule Unemployment affords one. Making my way towards the exit, I spied a gentleman just spooning his way into a lovely bowl of their housemade Cream of Mushroom Soup. The scent blew me away and caused my brain to send itself a mental invitation to spend another chilly autumn afternoon with the Seattle Oddfellows and warm my palette to the core. ****

And Just Around The Corner... The Boy Next Door invites you to try the magnificent hand-crafted ice creams and sorbets featured at Mollie Moon's. If their Apple Cider Sorbet isn't enough to bring you in, then just the amazing smell of those waffle cones on their griddles will!!

Hey Mr. DJ...!

~ A Webb Spinner! ~

I do not recall the exact date. The day of the week, the time of day and the location are pretty steadfast in my memory. It was a Sunday. A Sunday in May? Not 100% certain, but it was a Summer Sunday a little after 5:00pm at The CHAPEL Bar that I first experienced the phenomonon known as DJ Skiddle. I had met him a few times before in passing through a mutual friend or two. He was originally introduced to me as "Christopher Webb." Young. Cute. Energetic sort of a guy.

And one hell of a DJ!

Songs that were as familiar to me as nursery rhymes and camps songs (the stuff I grew up on,) mixed in with some funky/hip-hoppity rhythms and new contemporary tunes really made for an awesome social atmosphere. The 70's and 80's laid out and over new Madonna and Lady Gaga and techno beats. To add to the exquisite vibe of the night... a full list of specialty martinis, wines, cheap beers and great food. CHAPEL became my new Sunday Spot right then and there. And the momentum of DJ Skiddle and his hypnotic hype kept me craving more!

Without knowing it (and before I realized it,) Christopher had planted a seed of security and desire for the space and the atmosphere he recreated in brand new ways each week. Perhaps a month or so later, that sensation caused a spark to ignite and soon that flame became a full-on business idea that raged bigger than my desire to be my own boss.

Here's how the recipe for inspiration breaks down:

1 part good friend who models/acts and is constantly looking for new ways to keep herself marketable.

Add a heavy dose of a freelance photographer who has decided that his new-found freedom from the corporate craziness has left him with time to pursue his real passion.

These two elements neede time to stew. Let their needs congeal. Freelance photographers who need to get their work circulating to commercial and modeling agents need to savor the spicy-sassy side a thriving model/actress can provide.

Enter... one down-and-out, unemployed creative sort. He has tried to make it all work and found himself tucked into a vintage clothing store working retail 18 hours a week to subsidize his clinical depression.

Combine this third ingredient via telephone conversation with the model who needs clothing for the new photo shoot, and the photographer who is seeking a prime location.

Now - even though Christopher did not hook me into the arrangements to have this photo shoot at CHAPEL using clothes that I coordinated through my part-time job; but his ability to keep it in the forefront of my memory as the place to consider really influenced me contacting their management. Ultimately the photos were used for the model's portfolio, the photographer's marketing, and I was left trying to discover what I could do to unite these two great small businesses with nothing more than a pile of random fashion photos.

The rest is all kind of summed up in my previous posts. But I want to give a huge shout out to DJ Skiddle. He is on the verge of making a name for himself across The Northwest. A future blog will highlight not only his breadth of talent and entertainment, but his ability to turn an ordinary room into a festival of funk. I hope to continuing using my new opportunities to promote him and introduce you all to a very rare find just outside your back door. Spin it!!

Why - "The Boy Next Door?"

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

So... in preparing to psyche myself up enough to go for it and start my own business with my own ideas and my own strategies, I realized that this business had to have a name to make it work the way I wanted it to. "So, let's see... what is it that I do exactly?" I kept asking myself. Well - the long and short of it was that I wanted to use the talents of friends of mine (artists, performers, photographers, designers, etc.) and introduce their abilities to the owners of local, small businesses that I enjoy frequenting. I believe in the small business owner, especially when they have been able to keep their heads above water during this economic crunch.

A lot of local businesses have had to knuckle down and tighten up on their budget for marketing. Many have had to rely on recycled photos, images, websites and artwork to save money. But I also realized that a lot of my newly unemployed friends whose passions gravitate towards The Arts were just looking for new ways to get their work promoted. "Why don't I network my creative friends and their abilities with these business owners I enjoy and give them all a little help and exposure in a new way?" was the solution that popped into my head.

So, basically - I network neighbors. But all of the business names that I initially brainstormed were stuffy, trite, too far out there, or just plain dorky. Being a theatre kid from the time I broke out of the womb and into the spotlight (and a gay man with a passion for the dramatic,) I was drawn to song titles that might have some relevance or familiarity to Joe & Jane Q. Public. Then it hit me - uniting neighbors!! Who knows a neighborhood better than The Boy Next Door? A great song from a musical "Meet Me In St' Louis" which carries fun memories for me from both viewing the Judy Garland film and performing it in college with my close friends.

A cute song. A familiar context. An appropriate amount of kitsch to define my personality a bit more closely. (And a damn fine ringtone once the business license was official!!) So, like it or don't - I am the guy on the other side of the fence celebrating on a cozy patio of some great eatery, or enjoying the fabulous installations at that new gallery down the street. I am the guy who can tell you which bartender in your neighborhood mixes a mean martini, and which new business owner stocks the best martini shakers for your next cocktail party.

And as the song says - "I just adore him, so I can't ignore him... The Boy Next Door!"

Give me a chance to show you why!!

Come And Knock On My Door...!

Greetings & Thank You for checking out "The Boy Next Door"!

I am a recent small business owner in Seattle, Washington and would love to have you share in my adventures as I find new places and new faces to unite for the very first time. These people are not strangers to you, however. They are your neighbors, the people you pass on the street each week, the random faces on buses and in coffee shops; but never had a chance to find out what makes them unique.

I am here to correct all of that confusion. In my efforts to build a business of my own that ultimately provides a center for The Arts to thrive and local artists and performers to call home, I was encouraged to start at the very grass roots stage and grow from there.

Hence - "The Boy Next Door."

I enjoy people and finding new/unique ways to bring strangers together. My brain works at lightening speed to seek out crazy and creative ways to make a party or project seem brand new everytime. And since I have spent 12+ years making these ideas work for other people, I finally forced myself to make it work for me. I have had several opportunities in the last few months to get my feet wet and see just how my business might work. I'm getting there, but still so much to do and learn.

So --- follow me down the path to new and exciting insights into the small, locally-owned businesses of Seattle. As I experience the atmosphere, the customers, the services, and the business owners first hand, you will get a glimpse into what's happening in your own backyard. TBND will reunite you with the neighborhood you've yet to discover. Hope we all enjoy the adventure.

p.s. ~ and if you or a small local business owner in the area could benefit from a meeting with me and explore new marketing strategies... come and knock on my door!!