Archives For August 2019

With PAX West just around the corner, I’m giddy! For the first time ever, we’re attending with our entire D&D group, and we’re not messing around. For a few members of our tribe, it’s their first time visiting Seattle, so we can’t wait to show them the city.

For Jeff and I, this will be our fourth PAX West, and we’ve visited Seattle for other occasions. It’s one of our favorite places, and one of our best friends lives there. (Hi, Jack!) So, we’ve had many a fine drink in this beautiful city, and I wanted to share some of our favorite spots. Cheers!

Best Selection: Canon

banksy sour

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Canon inhabits a teeny-tiny, cozy space, and it’s usually packed to the brim for a reason. It routinely pops up on “best of” lists, and it boasts America’s largest selection of spirits with over 4,000 labels and counting. When I walked into this shoebox, I wondered if it was worth the hype (and wait). But I’m so glad I stuck around.

The whiskey selection floored me, and the cocktails will elevate you to a new level of being. If the cocktails aren’t mind-blowing enough on their own, you’ll be impressed by the unique presentations like you see in the photos above with the Banksy Sour and tasteful skull chalice. If you can brave the wait, put this place at the top of your list.

Best Patio: Fremont Brewing Co

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Visit Fremont Brewing Company for a laid-back brew hall. Sit with strangers at long tables while you enjoy beer on the lovely patio. You also get all-you-can eat free hard pretzels. You’ll need ’em until you journey somewhere with more substantial food.

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Sharon Tate Margot Robbie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

While Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has been generally positively reviewed, its portrayal of Sharon Tate remains controversial. Some have criticized the film for Tate’s minimal dialogue, with one critic saying, “Tarantino’s portrayal of Tate as a lifeless doll is proof he has lost his touch.” Another critic says, “The film reduces Tate to a mute sex object and bit player within her own story.” If someone only views the film through the lens of whether Tate pushes the plot forward, I could see how someone might draw these conclusions. However, the film’s nontraditional plot consists of small character moments that don’t necessarily impact the unexpected finale.

Personally, I take issue that a woman in a short skirt with minimal dialogue is automatically categorized as a sex object—especially when there’s extensive evidence of character depth. Despite the biting reviews and Tate’s few lines, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood depicts Sharon Tate as a whole person, rather than reducing her to a victim or object, as illustrated in her slice-of-life story and non-dialogue-driven characterization. The film challenges the viewer’s expectations. In particular, it challenges viewer assumptions about Tate’s role as victim in a gruesome murder that ultimately eclipsed her career, accomplishments, and personhood.

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