BagongPinay - Pinay Ngayon (Filipina Today) 2002/ Summer in Seattle by Joann Natalia Aquino

Summer in Seattle
by Joann Natalia Aquino

Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

"... Nowadays, in my quest to simplify everything in my life, my finest summer moments are when my entire family is together or when I’m in the company of my best friend and other close friends, just spending quality time with each other. Otherwise, my summer days are also pleasingly well spent when I’m alone relaxing the afternoon away, by the water or sitting on my thinking chair, with a book in one hand and sipping a cold buko or mango juice on the other."

Many of us usually plan to get away on a well-deserved vacation every summer.
I know as often as I can, I try to escape the hustle of the town I live in, to be in a hustle on a different town, but truly, it’s just to make me remember the magic and spark this city has to offer.

Permit me to take you to a trip to a summer memory lane in Seattle, Washington. We all have our favorite summer memories of our much-loved cities. Mine in particular is about the city of Seattle.

For a number of people, the fondest memories of summers may be spending it with your family and friends barbequing in a backyard or a park, exploring a different scenery, or attending the action-packed summer festivals and concerts various cities presents. Having to spend many years traveling all over, my summer memories from the past to present has left me many adventurous stories to tell my future children later on...

Growing up as a child, I spent my summers away from my family and in the company of my relatives in either a different U.S. state or a Philippine province. At a young age, my parents thought that this was a way to teach me how to be independent. My best summer moments as a child was spent in Batangas with my great-grandmother, away from the city and near the acres of sapphire-blue waters, adjacent to the coconut plantations and the fresh farm produce, and yes, near that aroma of Batangas-coffee that beats any coffee corporate chain in any given day.

As a teenager, my summer memories are associated with either being on the telephone-marathon with friends or spending our weekends at every summer festival in Seattle. Northwest Folklife Festival, Chinatown/ International District Festival, Torchlight Parade, Bon Odori Festival, Bite of Seattle, hydroplane races, Seafair Festivals, Bumbershoot Concert Series, most especially Pista Sa Nayon Philippine Festival which we look forward to every year; just name the summer festival and we were there.

A city of diverse facets in its neighborhoods, Seattle is a wonderful town for summer festivals. This year, the summer unofficially opened up with the now concluded 28th Annual Seattle International Film Festival that featured every type of film from the U.S. and around the world. From famous directors to independent filmmakers, more than 300 films were showcased in this popular event. Another great tradition in this city is the Seattle Seafair festivals. For over a half-century in Seattle, Seafair summer events have been an annual convention for both visitors and locals alike. Celebrated for almost the entire month, Seafair in Seattle is the largest summer festival in the Northwest and is rated one of the top 10 summer events in the nation. Seafair offers something for everyone: from parades to music, arts and crafts, triathlons and torchlight runs, the milk carton derbies, the air show featuring the Blue Angels, and the hydroplane races held on the picturesque Lake Washington. The Bite of Seattle is also not to be skipped for the food gourmands to converge at the Seattle Center to satisfy their stomachs into an appetizing stupor. The Bite of Seattle was first introduced in this city in 1982 at Greenlake with 26 restaurants and 1 entertainment stage, and now boasts more than 60 of Seattle’s premium restaurants, live music, and several entertainment stages.

Summer is also not complete without concert festivals. The “Summer Nights at the Pier” in Seattle’s Waterfront district is praised as one of the city’s most in vogue summer concert events and has consistently drawn huge name acts since its’ launching. I, myself, am looking forward to Lauryn Hill’s solo acoustic concert, which promises to draw big crowds for this talented soulful singer. Latin balladeer Mark Anthony’s concert at the Key Arena is another concert I am looking forward to, offering an enchanting evening with the poignant ballads from this Latino crooner. R& B artists Donnel Jones and Alicia Keys’ concert at the Key Arena is another I’m also looking to enjoy. Yes, having an appreciation for the arts, I try to support such events and spend quite a bit attending concerts and other similar functions in various cities... The Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Summer Festival on the Green for the Arts is also one of Pacific Northwest’s most popular concert venues. Chateau Ste. Michelle vineyard presents an intimate, outdoor grass amphitheater on the winery grounds in Woodinville, featuring the 98.9 Smooth Jazz Festival and performances from wide variety of artists. The Seattle Chamber Music Society Summer Festival also continues its tradition and presents its 21st Summer Music Festival from July 1st to July 26th, consisting of twelve concerts held on the Lakeside School lawn many families will enjoy. The summer concerts at the Gorge is also very exhilarating, offering the majestic blue skies, the Columbia River, and the mini-canyons in the background, while listening to the renowned performers on stage.

Though nothing can compare to the summer memories Pista Sa Nayon has created for many of us. Since it’s beginning in 1989 at Rainier Playfield, to the over 15,000 people it now draws at the Seward Park Amphitheater, Pista Sa Nayon is a summer festival that is definitely not to be missed. Pista Sa Nayon offers community fellowship and gathering, in addition to the mouth-watering food, riveting music from promising local artists, cultural performances, and not to mention having a reunion from bumping into old friends and schoolmates most of us rarely see. This year, Pista Sa Nayon, an official Seafair event celebrating the Filipino culture, will be on Sunday, July 28th. Once again, this annual community celebration offers a dynamic event for all ages. Please encourage others in the city to attend this community gathering showcasing our Filipino culture.

Seattle is also a great city for walking exploration during the summertime. The Pike Place Market is a historic shopping haven that allows you to experience a taste from around the world from local farmers and vendors. Also, with the stunning view of Elliot Bay, the Seattle Waterfront leads to more adventure by rummaging in its interesting shops and scenery around this area below the Market. The Seattle Center is also the hub of the city providing community fairs, concert series, the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project museum exhibit, and the Liquid Lounge for free live music. Lastly, summer in Seattle would not be inclusive without watching the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field play baseball as it is meant to be played, in this state-of-the-art baseball stadium.

Though I’ve lived in this city most of my life, as much as I can, I still try to re-explore and find something innovative to discover in this city. Having to be in Downtown, the elemental sights, scents, sounds, and tastes of Seattle is just footsteps away. Even today, I find something calling my heart back to these familiar places to revisit old memories. As much as possible, especially on sunny weekend afternoons, I try to make an effort to travel and walk around Seattle to learn something novel. Recollecting to feel once again, the lovely memories of my summer days in this city.

Nowadays, in my quest to simplify everything in my life, my finest summer moments are when my entire family is together or when I’m in the company of my best friend and other close friends, just spending quality time with each other. Otherwise, my summer days are also pleasingly well spent when I’m alone relaxing the afternoon away, by the water or sitting on my thinking chair, with a book in one hand and sipping a cold buko or mango juice on the other.

I hope this summer is filled with great memories for you and your family. If not, go out there, enjoy the rest of the summer, and create a reminiscence to remember.

(Article originally published at Filipino American Herald on July 2002. Republished with permission from the author and Editor-In-Chief of Filipino American Herald.)

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To reach the author, please e-mail: joannnatalia@newfilipina.com , editor@newfilipina.com .