Nonfiction

  • So what’s for dinner tonight?!

    I must admit that I’m a bit of a foodie – I love food, enjoy cooking, trying out new and exciting recipes and putting my own signature spin to some classic dishes. And I love watching reality TV cooking competition shows like Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen and Iron Chef: America. I’ve always thought that I’d… Continue reading

  • Fashion, Fashion, Fashion

    You watch “Project Runway,” or “The Fashion Police.” You hear names like Christian Lacroix, Issey Miyake, John Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors. But how did it all begin? The first fashion design houses began around the turn of the century (the 20th century that is). Fashion design itself started in the late 19th… Continue reading

  • BiblioBagels: My Adventures in Bagel Chemistry (Part 2)

    In yesterday’s post, I was on a quest to make Montreal bagels with the help of the library’s resources. A friend had just told me about the process of retarding the dough (placing it in the fridge overnight before boiling and baking the bagels). I was curious about this mysterious-sounding process and decided to investigate… Continue reading

  • Washington nonfiction: Hauntings, history, dirty money and cheeseburgers

    It’s all about Washington in these choice nonfiction titles: Washington’s Haunted Hotspots by Linda Moffitt (133.10979 M724W 2009) Spirit sightings at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, the Bush Hotel in Index and the Pickering Barn in Issaquah? Find the stories behind these and other local spooky encounters right here. Sonic Boom: The History of Northwest… Continue reading

  • Decoding Hip and Rap

    I listen to a lot of hip hop. As a former English major, I always appreciate the alliteration, assonance and hyperbole that rappers use. But as much as I love the sound of hip hop, I don’t always relate to the lyrics. Luckily there are some insightful books out there to remind me why this… Continue reading

  • Nightstand Reads: On tour with The Head and the Heart

    What do musicians read when on tour? We asked Charity Thielen, vocalist and violinist in The Head and the Heart, to give us a peek at her nightstand reads (or, rather, tour van reads) when they were on the U.S. leg of their three-month tour (they’re playing in Amsterdam tonight, then it’s on to Glasgow). We’ve… Continue reading

  • Seattle readers chime in with nonfiction book suggestions

    “If you could suggest one book to someone who thinks nonfiction is boring, what would it be?” we asked readers last Wednesday on our Library’s Facebook page. And – wow, what an incredible response. Within minutes we had dozens of suggestions; by the end of the day we had 136 comments. And even though we did say… Continue reading

  • Be Your Own Hero

    I’m currently riding the wave of anticipation. One of my most beloved childhood spots is making a comeback. The Southgate Roller Rink in White Center is currently undergoing renovation and is slated to open in April! I’ve already decided to have my birthday there and it will be the go to activity for my nieces and me…and I… Continue reading

  • Books with green covers, literally

    A favorite and fun library display to do is one which is literally a rainbow of covers. Library staff go on the search for books with covers in primary and other major colors. These finds are displayed on book easels. Then the serendipitious time happens with people pausing, contemplating, oohing and chuckling. Keeping in mind that the St. Patrick’s Day holiday is this week, I asked… Continue reading

  • History Gone Missing

    Once upon a time, I was a history major and I think I stay pretty current, historically speaking.  One day, not too long ago, I realized that I had basically missed an entire era and civilization.  Byzantium – hummm, wasn’t that some sort of precursor to the Ottoman Empire.  Decadent and short lived right?  Wrong.  In… Continue reading

  • Pie v. Cake

    Cake and cupcakes are still going strong in the Seattle area. Metropolitan Market has a huge mountain of little boxes with specialty cupcakes in them, and I saw a pink cupcake maker at Fred Meyer. When asked, the baker at Met Market said cake sells better than pie. Some of pie lovers admitted liking cake more often… Continue reading

  • Stupid Cupid

    Oh, Valentine’s Day … how I utterly dislike you. Every year I try to avoid this holiday like the plague and try to come up with different ideas so the day doesn’t choke me with its pink tulle grocery store displays, giant 7-Eleven Valentine’s Day cards and red “I LOVE YOU” Mylar balloons. One year I… Continue reading

  • It takes a village

    No matter what the government says, to my family and maybe to yours, we’re still in a depression. I’m remembering the stories my parents told me about the last Great Depression and glad that I hadn’t been around for that one. Now it’s my turn to worry. Continue reading

  • Royal Reading

    My latest favorite author is Alison Weir because she writes so elegantly and compellingly of medieval and Renaissance Britain, focusing especially on the lives of female rulers.  Better yet, this esteemed historian has in recent years branched out into luxuriously detailed, historically accurate novels that bring to life great historical figures. I recently read Weir’s… Continue reading

  • Books for the college-obsessed parent

    Last summer I texted my son to tell him I was bringing home a copy of  Colleges That Changes Lives. His reply, via text: “Shouldn’t all colleges change lives?” I should end this post right here, because that says it all. Nope. I can’t leave it alone, no matter how hard I try to not… Continue reading

  • Spooky Pioneer Tales

    As a little girl, I was constantly reading books like Little House on the Prairie and fantasized about being a homesteader. When I grew up, I began reading more realistic local history, and discovered that living in the middle of nowhere can be brutally hard on a person. Here are some books from one of my favorite… Continue reading

  • A book to make you smile

    Lately, I’ve kept a copy of Learning to Love You More by Harrell Fletcher and Miranda July at the information desk to take a quick peek at when I’m feeling blue. Like Truc, I’m a shelf browser and, yes, I originally picked it for the cover. But one curious flip through its pages and I… Continue reading

  • Seattle Times at the Seattle Public Library

    If you live in Seattle, you’re probably familiar with The Seattle Times newspaper. You may scan the paper each morning to keep abreast of breaking news and recycle it the next day, its value gone with the printing of the next issue. However, headlines from 20, 50 or 100 years ago can provide a fascinating… Continue reading