“Open wide!!!” At least, that’s what Violet seems to be saying to this amazing fish. On closer inspection, the fish is headless, so perhaps–since we are getting close to Hallowe’en, and since Westport is not too far away from Sleepy Hollow–Violet is worried about the legend of the Headless Fish?
Greetings from the West Coast! Violet and I are touring Seattle and Vancouver as part of the start of my press tour to launch the new book. This photo was actually taken at Seattle Public Market, whose iconic sign has featured as a backdrop in countless TV shows and movies, including Say Anything… and Grey’s Anatomy. Right inside we stopped and watched in amazement as the fish were truly flying overhead. The world-famous Pike Place Fish Market is known for their tradition where their fishmongers throw fish that customers have purchased, before they are wrapped. With a hearty “halibut in the air!” we watched a giant–you guessed it–halibut went sailing over our heads, from the ice tray to the wrapping station. Violet was entranced. So of course, we had to stop and get a photo to commemorate it.
From there we wandered down the street to the original Starbuck’s coffee house for my java fix. It was very cool to be in the birthplace of this culture-changer, which from the outside is very unprepossessing. Now that there seems to be one on every corner of that city, I, too, felt I could have easily been Sleepless in Seattle! But I needed my sleep, as the next morning we were both to be guests on KING 5’s New Day Northwest, where I showed how to design your home to be pet-ready without looking like it went to the dogs. The segment was a hit, but Violet stole the show. Can’t wait to go back there!
On to Vancouver, where I spent a fun afternoon walking through the parks and then dove into the world of make-believe at Watts Costume Rentals. With over 15,000 amazing costumes, from every era and style, it is Vancouver’s largest, longest-running, public costume rental shop. I simply had to get ahead of the Hallowe’en rush and had the place to myself. Browsing the incredible collections was such fun. The shoes were incredible–and all original. Imagine a pair of vintage ’70’s disco 5-inch men’s platforms in yellow and black! Real wooden dutch shoes! So to dress up, I chose the manly get up of a warrior: Braveheart! Even with the help of a dresser, it took a good 15 minutes to get it all on. (For photos, check out my Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter feeds–the wig photos alone are worth it.) If you are in Vancouver, check them out–and tell them I sent you!
This afternoon off to the famous VanDusen gardens, with plant species representing ecosystems ranging from the Himalayas to the Mediterranean, from Louisiana swamps to the Pacific Northwest. Then after Tuesday’s appearance on Breakfast Television, it’s back to Seattle where Violet and I will fly home. What an amazing time we have had. I came out here to be in the public eye, but quickly realized that, just like a great public market, this part of the world has something for everyone.
