EarthCorps

Getting the gear ready for park restoration

We spend a lot of time eating, drinking, and exploring Seattle (hence this website).  It's no secret we love this city. It gives us so much when it comes to culture, activities, and good food. So what do you do when someone gives you a wonderful gift (did we mention the amazing food?), well you reciprocate!  We want to make sure we are always finding ways to give back in order to show our thanks. We have volunteered with the Pike Place Market Food Bank, and, most recently, we spent a day doing park restoration with EarthCorps. Park restoration in the middle of winter? Call us crazy, but the good folks over at this lovely organization are out there year-round doing park clean-up so we decided to join them and soak-up some of that fresh PNW air. I mean this is "Rain or Shine Guides," right?

EarthCorps' mission is to build a global community of leaders through local environmental service. The team leads park restoration events all over the city with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. Tasks range from pulling invasive species, planting native trees and shrubs, and mulching.

EarthCorps lends a helping hand to some serious problems regarding the parks in the area. Turns out, a long time ago, English Ivy was planted in the parks around Seattle. It’s beautiful and grows fast, but unbeknownst to the people who planted it, it’s also invasive, covers the ground entirely, grows up trees, and eventually chokes them out. Seattle is a welcoming place and we don't like to choke out beautiful trees that give us clean air and lush landscapes. Trees are what puts the emerald in our emerald city, so English Ivy, you gots to go!

In 1993, Dwight Wilson, a Peace Corp volunteer, dreamed up the idea of Peace Corps for the earth (creatively naming this organization EarthCorps) and in 2003 EarthCorps declared war on the invasive weeds attacking our parks. With the help of over 175,000 volunteers, all Seattle parks have been put into restoration so that we can continue to enjoy them.

Take that you rotten old English Ivy!

What does a day volunteering for the earth look like? During our shift this year we worked in the Thornton Creek Watershed. The first two hours were spent ripping ivy out of the ground. It’s hard work, but supremely rewarding. After a break for lunch, we planted around 50 native shrubs and then mulched. All shifts are 10am – 2pm with a break for lunch. The EarthCorp team also spends time with the group educating about the parks, identifying native and invasive plants, and showing the proper way to use tools. We love that you leave there not only having worked hard to save a park, but educated as well.

English ivy growing up a tree

EarthCorps work in parks all around the city, so it’s easy to find an event near you, and they have a very easy online sign-up. Check out the calendar, and maybe we’ll be seeing you there!

Crabbing 101

We write about all the amazing places to eat in the city quite frequently, but what if you wanted to actually catch your dinner? What if you were looking for a real PNW experience that resulted in a delicious, well deserved meal? Well, we’ve got you covered. This post is dedicated to a favorite northwest activity…crabbing! How amazing is it that some of the World’s best crab is located right here in the Puget Sound just waiting to crawl into your trap and your dinner table. Here is our step by step guide.

Step 1: Get yourself a crabbing license. It’s illegal to catch crab without one if you are over the age of 15. You can get a day pass or one that is good for the year, and you can easily find them at most local sporting goods stores. Here is a complete list of locations. You also need to carry a catch card and record all of the Dungeness crab you catch (even if you catch zero, you are required to record and submit that). There is actually a $10 fine for not turning in your catch card!

Step 2: Gather your equipment. You will need a crabbing cage. There are many different types, but we prefer this one because it has four entrance doors and will trap the crab. You are also going to need a bait cage, which you fill with chicken parts (just buy cheap stuff!) to attract the crabs. You'll need a 75 ft. (or longer) rope tied to the cage and to a float so you can find your cage after you've dropped it. Buy them together here. Last you need to bring a measuring tape and a bucket to hold alllllll the crab you are about to catch. While this might sound intimidating, these items are not all that expensive.

Step. 3: Choose your spot! There are many different areas to crab around town. If you don’t have easy access to a boat, no worries! You can crab right off of a pier. We like Shilshole Bay Marina near Golden Gardens Park, Mukilteo Pier, and Redondo Pier in South Seattle. This article from the Seattle Times lists a bunch of places you can crab. Also, don’t forget to make sure the crabbing season is open. There are times through the year where it closes to allow scientist to count the population and for the crab’s molting season. The season is currently closed in Seattle, but it is open along the coast. Check this site to see which areas are open.

Step 4: Add the bait to your trap, toss it in, and wait! You can leave it for a few hours or overnight. This would be a good time to crack open a beer. When you are ready to check on your cage, pull it up. It should (hopefully) be filled with crab. However, don’t get too excited. Chances are you will only get to keep some of them. All females have to be thrown back to keep the population sustainable. You can also only keep crab that are over 6 ¼ inches. Throw back anything smaller. 

Photo Source

Step. 5: Take your crab home, crack, clean, and enjoy! Pat yourself on the back for a job well done and bask in the glory you are sure to receive from your friends and family. Here is a great tutorial for how to clean and cook your crab. 

Rain or Shine Guides 2017 Bucket List

Happy New Year!

It's 2017! 

It kind of came at us like a freight train and we are sitting here in the first week of January wondering how another year could have come and gone. 

To start this year off right we figured we would make a bucket list of all the things we want to make sure we do, big or small! 

Our 2017 Bucket List

1. Find #ThatNWBus at Palouse Falls 

People visiting Palouse Falls have started making a pitstop at an old abandoned school bus in the area and it is gaining fame on Instagram with the hashtag #thatNWbus. It's beautiful and run down and holds art from the people who have made the trek. Keep your eyes peeled on Highway 260 and you can visit too!

2. Float Green River

The Green River gorge in Auburn is supposed to be one of the most beautiful river canyons in Washington. You can start the beautiful float south of Seattle in Flaming Geyser State Park and take out at the SR18 Bridge. It should take you around 2.5 hours to complete, and we heard this is a very popular float filled with people partying, throwing back a few beers, and enjoying the sunshine. If you are looking for a quiet float, this might not be your spot.

3. Stay at the new McMenamins in Bothell

McMenamins is a PNW charm and their new location in Bothell is supposed to a be a great place for a little stay-cation. With a pool, restaurant, bar, movie theater, and outdoor grounds with fire pits, this place is great for relaxing, reading or hanging out with friends. It has something for everyone.

4. Try the iced cardamom coffee at Voxx

We fell in love with Fonte's cardamom latte and now we are moving on to the rumored deliciousness at Voxx Seattle Coffee, an iced cardamom coffee! We might save this one for the summer months.

5. Take a cooking class at Hipcooks

A good friend of ours recommended Hipcooks for great cooking classes in Seattle and ever since hearing the rave reviews on Bonnie and her cooking secrets we have been dying to get into one of her classes!

6. Zipline at Canopy Tours NW

It's one thing to hike through the beauty of the PNW, it's another to zip through it amongst the trees! We want to get in touch with our inner flying squirrel and check this out once it warms up!

7. Hike the ice caves

Up north in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Park near Silverton, WA you can hike a trail to view the Big Four Ice Caves. Not only are ice caves cool on their own (they just scream Game of Thrones battle scene), but Macklemore filmed his music video for "Can't Hold Us" here. Just oozing cool points now.

8.Visit Soap Lake

Soap Lake is located in Eastern Washington and has been used by early settlers for its healing purposes and therapeutic effects due to its extremely high mineral content. While we heard there isn't a whole lot going on here, the town is trying to attract tourism and has plans to install a 52,000 pound lava lamp as a roadside attraction. So, let's recap: soak in a lake for healing AND see a giant lava lamp? Sign us up.

9. Enjoy a drink and the view at Mbar.

Mbar is new to the Seattle scene and apparently has one of the best rooftop patios in the city! There is nothing we enjoy more than cocktails in the sun, so we will absolutely be here on the first semi-warm day of the year.

10. Search out the best Korean BBQ in the city

Who doesn't love roasted and delicious marinated meat? (Vegetarians probably don't but there aren't any of those in this duo, so we are just going to say 100% of people love Korean BBQ.) We are going to be on the hunt in 2017 to find the best. Apparently Lynnwood is known to have great Korean BBQ (who knew?). First stops will be Sul Lung Tang and Ka Won.

So those are our 10 bucket list items. What do you have on your bucket list this year? We would love to hear in the comments! 

Confetti gun fail

Seattle Secrets: Waterfall Garden Park

When you think of UPS, what comes to mind? Brown uniforms. Legally Blonde. Mail Delivery. What doesn't come to mind? Waterfalls. 

Except for the people of Seattle. If you live in Seattle you associate UPS with a tranquil waterfall garden. 

Say What?! 

Ok, fun little history lesson starts now. UPS was founded in a Seattle basement in 1907 by Jim Casey and Claude Ryan. Then (spoiler) UPS became kind of a big deal. Today more than 407,000 people work for UPS, and we would bet quite a few of them don't know they have a beautiful waterfall park dedicated to them in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Seattle.

That's right, Jim Casey built a tiny, but amazing park in Seattle in 1978 to honor all of the people who have worked for UPS. It is maintained by the Annie E Casey Foundation (named in remembrance of Jim Casey's mother. Is anyone else thinking how good of a guy Jim must have been?) and is a true hidden gem of Seattle. You can find it on the corner of 2nd Avenue South and South Main Street in Pioneer Square. 

Right in the middle of everything for all the city folks to enjoy!

You will hear the rushing water from the 22-foot waterfall before you see the park. When you find the entrance you will be guided into a small garden with two-tiers. There is usually plenty of seating available so feel free to come with your coffee or lunch and sit with a friend enjoying the peaceful sound of the water instead of the normal construction sounds we are all so used to.