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CHS Crow | Alyssa, Laurie, & Manjiv — ‘We had a lot to do’

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 3.26.02 PMThis week the crow learned if you had to check it once, you’ll probably have to check it twice. And if you checked it twice you might as well give it one more look just to make sure. What did you learn?

  ALYSSA, 34

Alyssa1What are you up to tonight?
I’m working on organizing a community Halloween event at Washington Hall. We’re partnering with Zulu 206, Stay Safe Seattle, and the youth branch of the Seattle Lifelong AIDS Alliance.

Is this a volunteer project?
It’s absolutely a volunteer thing. It’s a benefit for the Seattle Community Media Lab, which is a free creative space open six days a week. You can find us on Facebook. It’s an open resource, and we’re providing a safer space for kids on Halloween.

What do you do for a living?
I’m a stagehand. I do light, sound, that kind of thing.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I work with a volunteer production company. Tonight we did a “people of color” event showing a movie at Black Coffee. But we’ve also done things like helping with fundraisers to send kids to the Tae Kwan Do nationals.

Are you a Seattle native?
I’ve been here since 1991.

So, a while. What brought you here?
My parents. I moved here from Virginia.

Do you live on the Hill?
No, I live in the International District.

Do you come out to this neighborhood very often?
Very regularly.

What are some of your favorite places on the Hill?
Black Coffee, Genki Sushi, Seattle First Baptist Church.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done lately?
Well, if you want to know the most interesting thing in recent years—I got to kick Oliver Stone out of our office.

Which office?
The Community Media Lab.

So…Oliver Stone was just chillaxing at the Media Lab, and wanted to drink Mountain Dew by the computers, or what?
He wanted to talk to some folks, so we arranged a meeting and told him we had two hours total. We got to the end of the time allotted, and we told him we had to go. He didn’t seem to understand.

You were, like, “Buh-bye, Oliver Stone, we’re done with you now?”
We had a lot to do.

Do you have any other thoughts about life on the Hill, or life in general?
I think we all need to do two things: be kinder to each other, and talk to people who make us uncomfortable.

Do you have an example of that?
For instance, I’ve had some run-ins with the Capitol Hill Blog. But I’d rather talk to people than not. It’s easier to be kinder to people when you get to know them. Another example: I’m an atheist. Not big on the Christian religion. But some of my best friends are Baptists. Working together, we’ve done some great things for the community, such as helping to save PSKS, which is an amazing resource for homeless youth. When they went through their financial trouble, we worked together to help raise money for them. So that would be an example of working together to support something that really matters, despite any differences we may have.

  LAURIE, 40

Laurie1Where are you from?
Vancouver.

Washington, or British Columbia?
British Columbia. I always forget there’s one in Washington, too.

What brings you to Seattle?
I came with a friend–to party, and to come here [to Neighbours].

In Vancouver, is Seattle considered a place people come to party?
I think so. It’s a lot more fun than Vancouver, anyway. There are a lot more places to go out. We don’t have a club like Neighbours in Vancouver.

What line of work are you in?
Accounting.

It’s funny, I’ve never met a boring accountant. Not once.
You’ve probably don’t see many accountants dressed like this!

On the Hill…you’d be surprised.
Maybe not, actually. That’s why I like this area so much. Nothing is unusual.

If you could pick up and go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
Probably New York. I’ve only ever been to the airport, but I’d like to see the city. Also, London. I’ve been there a few times, and it’s a really fun place. The British really know how to party and have a good time.

Other than Neighbours, any places on the Hill you like?
I’ve been to Purr, the Lobby Bar, that place on Pine…?

RPlace?
I’ve been there, but I’m thinking of the other one…the Baltic Room. But Neighbours is my favorite for dancing. I love to dance.

How long are you in town for?
Until Sunday.

Any big plans?
Just coming back here, dancing more, hanging out…I love this part of Seattle.

  MANJIV, 36

Manjiv1What brings you out to the Hill?
My friend and I are in town for a tea convention.

Where are you from?
Los Angeles.

What brings you to town?
My friend and I are here for a tea convention. We’re in the tea business.

Tell me about tea.
Tea is going to be the future of coffee.

We’re in a coffee town, so them’s fightin’ words!
Actually, my best clients are coffee companies.

How did you get interested in tea?
I’m originally from Sri Lanka, which is a big cultivator of tea.

How do you like Seattle so far?
I really like it. We’ve been to some nice places.

Anywhere around here?
We went to a restaurant called Marjorie. There was an unusual, eclectic menu. Black cod, burgers, and chicken tikka masala, all on the same menu.

How would you compare the food in Seattle to L.A.?
L.A. has very good foods, but I think the quality of the ingredients is better, here.

I think it’s because so many things are grown nearby.
That’s probably right. Foods seem fresher, more wholesome, and generally tastier.

If you weren’t in the tea business, what do you think you would be doing?
That’s a good question. How much time do you have? Maybe traveling? But, I do a lot of traveling for work, so maybe this is the right business to be in.

What kind of tea would you recommend to someone like me, who is primarily a coffee drinker?
The thing about tea is that, for every feeling or emotion, there is a tea that matches it. There’s a really significant variety.

Okay, Seattle winter is looming. What if I’m depressed, and feeling Seasonal Affective Disorder set in?
If you’re a glass-half-full type, I’d go for an oolong. It will cheer you up. If you want to stay brooding, go for a black tea.

Black tea is the Kafka of teas?
There are many varieties, and black tea is very complex. But black tea matches a dark mood, and dark weather.

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