You: THE SUN IS OUT!

Stranger: I KNOW! SUNSHINE EVERYWHERE!

You: IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL LET’S DO ALL THE THINGS!

Stranger: EXCLAMATION POINTS!

Or maybe that’s just me? Anyway, the weekend is here, the sun is going to stick around for a little while longer, so here are your options for attacking our fair city with an appetite for fun.

-Join fundraising forces with Caspar Babypants to raise money and awareness for homeless children at Kids helping Kids Music and Movie Night.

-Vocalpoint! is concluding their 29th season with Pop Quiz! It runs for the next couple of weekends, so see it soon.

-Saturday is a busy day. First, head down to Seattle Works Day. Donate $30 and join a team to help clean up the city. I did this last year and it was awesome. I highly recommend this.

-Reward your good deeds with cheese at the Seattle Cheese Festival. It’s fairly self-explanatory, y’all.

-U-District Street Fair! It’s free and fun and you should go.

-Head over to Elliot Bay Books for the What Was Your First Book Readathon. This event benefits under-served children in King County.

-Taste some Finnriver Farms Cider at Savour in Ballard.

-Want to explore the city in the sunshine, on foot? Saturday is the 9th Annual Seven Hills Walk. This is awesome and everyone should do it.

-Speaking of walking, go hike the Arboretum at Park in the Dark on Saturday night.

-Cap off your Saturday with some fantastically fun burlesque at Miss Indigo Blue’s Good vs. Evil Alumni Spectacular.

-On Sunday, you can continue your fun at the Cheese Festival and the U-District Street Fair.

-You can also head to Broadway to buy a punchcard and taste many delicious foods at Bite on Broadway.

-TOMATOES! And also a lemonade stand. Stop by the Tomato Plant Sale at the Fred Lind Manor from 11-3 on Sunday.

-Finally, finish your weekend with some wild dancing at WHACKED: A Night of Killer Dance. Velocity Dance Center, $5.

I’m sure this is just a smattering of the thousands happenings around town this weekend. Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments. Be sure to tell us on Twitter and Facebook what you are most excited about for the weekend. Until Monday, lovelies!

(photo courtesy of the Cascade Bicycle Club)

Seattle boasts one of the nation’s most active local bicycle organizations, The Cascade Bicycle Club, and F5 Bike to Work Day celebrates everything that they stand for- making it easy to get more people out of cars and on their bikes. This year they’ve set up 42 Commuter Stations in and around Seattle to help out both novice and experienced riders alike. Stop by any of these stations (or take the scenic route and hit a couple of them) to get FREE souvenirs, raffle entries, coffee and snacks. You can also get your bike checked out by an on-site bicycle mechanic and, if you find yourself falling in love with your new biking lifestyle, join the Cascade Bicycle Club at a reduced rate. Use this cool interactive map to find stations near you.

As if free coffee and self-satisfaction wasn’t enough, there are also a bunch of pretty cool parties happening all over town to celebrate F5 Bike to Work Day as well. At 7:45 in the morning you can join a group ride from the KEXP headquarters (113 Dexter Ave N) to Seattle City Hall, where Mayor Mike McGinn, along with some other uppity ups, will hold a bike rally from 8:00-8:30am. Expect to find more swag and coffee, as well as enthusiasm.

Just due north, in Ballard, it’s all bikes, all day. KEXP will be broadcasting live and hosting live performances at Bergen Place Park from 10:00am-6:00pm. (I know it’s called “Bike to Work Day”, but I don’t see anything wrong with celebrating “Call in Sick and Go To a Free Concert Day” instead). Then, starting at 4:00pm (at least leave work early for this one), downtown Ballard becomes a street fair celebrating all things bicycle. Head over for more free music, samples, vendors, and a chance to ride the Dutch Bike Company’s 7-person bike. At 6:30pm there is even a biking fashion show, so you can learn how to look cute while you brave the busy streets.

Just added! Start celebrating early! Tonight, ride over to Slim’s Last Chance Saloon in Georgetown for FREE carnitas tacos and $2 PBRs. This Thursday kicks off their weekly Two Wheeler Dealer. This will continue every Thursday night all summer long, so expect a full post about it next week.

So stop living your life trapped in that car! Get out, enjoy the fresh air and participate. Tell us your best bike-commuting tips on Twitter, Facebook or in the comment section below!

Photo courtesy of SIFF

Movies We’ve Seen!

• My Sucky Teen Romance: If you’re 13 and a girl and you still like vampires, then this romantic high school comedy movie is definitely for you. Friday, May 18th, 4:00pm at AMC Pacific Place 11 and Sunday, May 20th, 6:00pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown
• Mosquita y Mari: A touching and true-to-life peek into two teenage girls who fulfill your movie going experience with enough drama and awkward moments to make you feel glad you’re not a teenager anymore. Sunday, May 20th, 6:00pm and Monday, May 21st, 4:00pm at Harvard Exit
• Cloudburst: Remember Kirstie Alley as the mom in Look Who’s Talking? Well, she’s finally back–this time as a old lady lesbian dramedy. Tuesday, May 22nd, 6:30pm at Egyptian Theatre

Movies We Can’t Wait to See!

• Donna Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel: I look forward to becoming an eccentric old lady who wears too many accessories. This biopic has a definite Grey Gardens feel to it, so I’m totally in. Friday, May 18th, 1:30pm & Wednesday, May 23rd, 7:00pm at AMC Pacific Place
• American Addict: This documentary sounds explores America’s troubling dependency on prescription drugs. In a world where we pay way too much for health insurance and I hear about “Xanny the Nanny” on the news, it sounds like this might be even better than a marathon session of Intervention. Friday, May 18, 7:00pm at Harvard Exit (with the directors!) and Saturday, May 19, 1:00pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown (with the directors!)
• Safety Not Guaranteed: Buy tickets for this one NOW- they’re almost gone. Starring Aubrey Plaza of Parks and Recreation (um, she has the best name ever, RIGHT?) and Ron Livingston, the guy from Office Space and the Post-It Note episode of Sex and the City, this movie revolves around want ads and time travel. Sold. Wednesday, May 23rd, 7:00pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown.
• Sleepwalk With Me: Based on comic and This-American-Life regular Mike Birbiglia’s one-man show, this is a funny movie about night terrors. Saturday, May 19 at Harvard Exit, 9:00pm.
• The Do-Deca-Pentathalon: Two hyper-competitive brothers go head-to-head in mindless competition as adults to settle an old childhood score. Friday, May 18 at SIFF Cinema Uptown, 7:00pm (with the director!) and Tuesday, May 22, 4:30pm.

What SIFF movies are you most excited about? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below!

• This Thursday, May 17, go to Madewell, my very favorite store at University Village, is hosting a special event called Style Sessions from 7:00-9:00pm. Swing by for FREE snacks, exclusive discounts, and honest feedback from a “style expert” who will tell you if you’re too old to wear something that short without leggings. (If you’re asking, the answer is probably yes). Eastsiders should head to Bellevue Square for the same event from 6:00-8:00pm.
• Other chain stores that I love for affordable sundress options- Urban Outfitters (even though I’m past 30 and sometimes have to wear their “dresses” as “tunics”), Anthropologie (well, the sale rack), H&M (note: never be tempted NOT to try something on before you buy, and don’t count on it lasting for more than a season), and Macys and Nordstrom (or even better, Nordstrom Rack’s new downtown location). And you know what- never underestimate the power of a lucky stop at Target when they have a sweet collaboration. (Dear god, I can’t wait to add Uniqlo to that list.)
• If virtual shopping is more your bag, you must be thankful that Zara is available online now. Don’t forget about smaller options too, like ModCloth (great for vintagey finds) and Fancy Treehouse, which is crazy affordable! (Thanks Alix Rose for turning me on to them!)
• And never, ever forget to shop local. It’s really easy to support local businesses when they are as freaking awesome. Case in point- I’m totally obsessed with pretty much everything SPUN makes- super high quality and super flattering- especially their new print collection, which just screams “happy summer day” to me.
• Added: The Frock Shop in Phinney Ridge is basically girly sundress heaven. Go there and get yourself something cute, then strut around town looking adorable.

So where do you go to feed your sundress addiction? Let me know where else I should be getting my retail therapy on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below!

Photo courtesy of Sasquatch Books

One of my biggest Seattle food writer crushes is Jess Thomson. Jess is the author of Hogwash, which chronicles her thoughts on food, life, and Seattle, and all the tasty things in between. She’s an award-winning writer; her piece on dining at Alinea in Chicago won a spot in Best Food Writing 2008. (Seriously, read this essay. You’ll feel like you’re at the table with her and, by the end, without ever taking a bite, you’ll be too full to feel your feelings.)

This has been a big year for Jess. You might recognize her from her work on the best doughnut cookbook in the entire world, Top Pot Hand Forged Doughnuts (Secrets and Recipes for the Home Baker). It was the first doughnut cookbook I ever found that made making doughnuts at home seem actually doable. (Spoiler alert: these recipes are more than doable; they are simple and fantastic and every single pound I gained was worth it.)

Today is another big day for Jess. Tonight she celebrates her newest offering to the world of Awesome Cookbooks with Pike Place Market Recipes. Each of the 130 recipes comes with a story, showcasing what makes our market so unique and so incredibly delicious. You could think of this cookbook as your own personal gastronomic tour guide to the market, showing you new and hidden treasures, while allowing you to rediscover your old favorites. Not in Seattle? This book will make you feel like you are wandering the stalls of fresh produce, thumping melons and tasting slices of sweet and juicy apples. You could do a whole Seattle-Themed Dinner Party. Just add rain!

Jess will be doing various signings around the city over the next couple of weeks. For a full schedule (and the recipe for Fran’s Gold Bar Brownies), click click click this link.

Yay-Today is so proud of Jess and what she has done with this cookbook. We’d like to join the celebration by giving away a copy of Pike Place Market Recipes to one of our readers. Sasquatch Books has kindly donated a copy and we will be getting it signed by Jess, just for you. To enter, just leave a comment on this post, telling us about your favorite Pike Place Market memory or experience. Never been? Tell us your favorite thing to eat, or if you like doughnuts, or that you think we’re pretty. Anything, really. Just comment and tell your friends.

Winner will be chosen Friday by 8am.

**Winner chosen! Congratulations Jenn! We’ll be contacting you to arrange delivery. Happy cooking!**

Congratulations, Jess! We can’t wait to cook our way through the market, thanks to your guidance.

(Disclaimer: Yay-Today received an additional copy of Pike Place Market Recipes to review. As always, our views are our own and 100% honest.)

photo courtesy of www.BallardNewsTribune.com

With over 20,000 people filling in the streets at last year’s event, I was amazed that I never once felt claustrophobic. Maybe because the cute little kids in their Norwegian garb was so entertaining. Or maybe because of the drill team, or the marching bands, or the old guys driving their old cars, or people throwing candy as children run out into the street Mardi Gras style (Minus the show-the-boobs bit. This is Ballard people ). Whatever the reason, I come back to this festival year after year and I never have a single complaint. And let me tell you, that’s a rare thing!

So what can you expect on the 17th of May? People watching, arts & crafts, and lack of parking (that is one complaint you’ll probably hear on the streets, so my advice is to bus it, find a friend who has a parking spot or go the distance and walk a bit from your spot–be prepared).

If you have kids, head on over to the Nordic Heritage Museum for some free/easy craft projects from 10-2pm. And since you’re already at the Museum, which is free all day, you can take advantage of all the munchies they’ll have (not free, but still damn good). From there, you’ll want to walk off all that dried codfish and head on over to Bergen Place for some classic Nordic entertainment, from 2-5pm. Then comes my favorite part of the whole day- no matter if you’re a kid or not, it’s the 17th of May Parade! Starts at 6 on the dot and lasts till 8, and you’ll want to stick it out till the end so you can see every last Norwegian outfit walk on by.

Let us know how you liked the parade and festivities. Take pictures, share them with Yay-Today on Facebook, tell us if you love those crazy Northern Europeans as much as we do on Twitter and have a good one!

-Punchline Friday is happening at Jai Thai on Broadway. End your workweek with tasty food and lots of laughs.

-Also end your week with ice cream from Full Tilt! If you download the “LevelUp” app (iPhone or Android), they’ll give you $10 worth of ice cream on Friday from 5-9pm. GO.

-Feel like dancing? Feel like supporting a local Seattle artist group creating a regional installation for Burningman? Then head over to Contour for dancing, fundraising, and all the fun with Camp: SEACORE. $5 after 11, free before.

-Saturday will be spent in the sun, on the grass, at the beach, basically anywhere we can get color on our sun-deprived legs. If you are looking for an indoor option, head to 8 Limbs West Seattle for CHANDRA (MOON) PRACTICE. You will be led through a series of poses honoring the moon, just in time for Mother’s Day.

-I’ve always been interested in the 1919 Strike and wish I could attend the lecture at New Freeway Hall on Saturday night. You should go. Learn what a city ruled by Labor is like. 7:30 pm, $3.

-Are you 15-22 years old? Then head to Pink Prom for LGBT youth. Older than 22? Consider donating a ticket to someone who can’t afford to attend.

-Aubrey covered the Mother’s Day Brunch happenings for Sunday. Here’s her list.

-Celebrate Mom with not one but two fun runs. Run Like a Mother and Mother’s Day 5K Fun Run are both happening Sunday morning.

-Finish your weekend by enjoying the beautiful weather at Mother’s Day at the Arboretum. Fun family activities happen from 1-4pm.

That’s your weekend, y’all. Enjoy the sun, wear your sunscreen, and have a mojito or a margarita on a patio. Make us proud! (And tell your mom you love her.)

that's me, and that's my shopping score.

If you haven’t heard of Uniqlo, it’s basically what would happen if H&M and American Apparel had an adorable Japanese baby- super affordable prices for clothes that fit well and don’t fall apart after one washing. It’s amazing. Last week I went on a shopping spree and walked out with a bag bursting at the seams for $150- 2 pairs of pants, 2 sweaters, 1 amazing spring jacket and a scarf from the Marimekko collaboration for my bff’s birthday. The deal itself made me giddy, but when I casually asked the cashier when Uniqlo was coming to Seattle (there are have been rumors floating around for ages), and he said that there would be two locations by early 2013, I almost hugged him. Like, seriously, it’s a good thing the checkout counter was in the way.

Of course I opened my big mouth and started gabbing on Twitter, where it was picked up by one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Laura Cassidy of Wear What When. Check out her article here, and make sure you keep reading over there to find out when you too can score giant deals on the best basics in the world.

Are you a Uniqlo fan? Tell us where you get your best clothing deals on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below.

Sometimes, happy hour should feel chic and slick- an occasion to wear your impractical shoes and talk about the latest celebrity break-up. Other times, all you want is a cheap drink, something yummy and a chance to catch up with your best girlfriend and talk about something important, like… the latest celebrity break-up. Or whatever. But the point is, next time you want to hole up in a non-sleazy bar and get your chit chat on, you should go where the girls of Yay-Today go, Row House Cafe. 

Row House Cafe is an oasis of adorable in ultra-modern South Lake Union. But unlike everything else within a 3-mile radius, it’s not owned by Amazon and it’s not full of frat-boy developers. Row House Cafe is a converted old house that feels like… an old house. Somewhere comfy. But comfy with a great selection of wine, cocktails, salads, sandwiches and desserts. And an awesome happy hour.

Like everything else at Row House Cafe, happy hour isn’t fancy. $1 off beers and wines, $2 off select cocktails and discounts on some of their appetizers. It’s not flashy, but it’s GOOD. The wine list is hand-selected, the food is simple and delicious and not the kind of stuff you hate yourself for eating afterwards- salads, paninis, mezza-style appetizers. They pay attention to details- check out the tiny bowl of honey that came with Barrie’s hot toddy. Everything is better with honey!

Feeling hungry? Why not tell the world on Twitter, Facebook, or in the comments section below? Spread the word and we’ll have even more awesome freebies to share with y’all.

So here’s your chance to meet the people behind the bartering. This weekend, on Saturday, May 12^th, from 2-4pm at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, Backyard Barter will be hosting their monthly event. Come with whatever you have to offer—from books to homemade pasta to seeds to starts to cookies to whatever—and barter with the best of them.

Every month they choose a new location, so don’t fret if Phinney is too far or you just can’t make it (due to that big shining sun we’re supposed to have this weekend). They’ve been to Ballard and SODO and everywhere in between and they’ll be back in a month for another bartering round o’ fun. If you do go, please tell us how you liked it. Show us what you swapped! We can’t wait to hear all about it.