BlackFridayWatch.com

Well, look at the time! My how time flies when you're trying to post a required number of blogs in the allotted time. Sure made for an exciting day, however.

For today I'd purchased a 24 hour T-Mobile pass, and I must say it worked flawlessly. My HP Pavilion zt3000 laptop's batteries held up well, with the occasional powered blog. Never got below 50% battery. My Merrill shoes kept me comfy in all my walking. My Fuji S7000 camera did an admirable job, save for chewing up its batteries before 5am. It all flowed rather well, taking the media card out of the camera, putting it in the card reader attached to my pc, then prepping the pics, and posting.

I hope you've enjoyed the blogs from Seattle.

Over and OUT!!!

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 08:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What would a Seattle blog be without passing by another great Seattle export. This was Frasier's city for many years, and he had a killer view of downtown. it's a well known viewpoint in Seattle.

Here's where his condo would be:

and the requisite, exquisite view:

I thought I heard Daphne in the crowd around here, but didn't see her. Speaking of which, I'm daffy right now. I basically didn't take much of a break today, running all over town, taking pics, writing, posting. It's a great way to see the city and meet people, but it makes for a long day. I need a comfortable recliner.

Perhaps I'll go to a furniture store and ask if there was any sales today. I've been too busy to notice.

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 08:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I’m writing this one from another Starbucks, but not just any Starbucks, I’m at numero uno Starbucks, right here in the Pike Place Market.

Continue reading "Pike Place Poobah" »

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 08:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I chose to take a walk around Ballard after lunch.

It’s got two main streets, one more turn of the century, the other more ‘50’s type of single row storefronts. Ballard represents the Seattle many of us know and love from years past. Seattle has always had a love affair with thrift stores. This was evident when the so-called ‘grunge’ scene made it big here. Back in the late ‘80’s the local rockers were just normal folks, playing their music mostly for the benefit of their friends, not getting a wide audience, and dressing in the best that thrift stores had to offer. They in no way wanted to look like the popular L.A. hair bands of the time.

Continue reading "Local Angles" »

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 06:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

That's pronounced "Fuh", and it's where I enjoyed my tummy-warming lunch. Pho is the national northern vietnamese rice noodle and beef soup. It's very popular here in Seattle. It's a sit down restaurant, but it typically is served faster than any fast food restaurant could ever wish pho.. I mean for. You are immediately greeted by condiments to put into the Pho, and a little cream puff, to be eaten before the meal, because life is just too uncertain to wait.

Continue reading "What the PHO?" »

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I left the big mall and returned to older Seattle, but not before taking one final outside mall shot to prove that many of us shop in the rain. Note that most of us in the pacific northwest shun bumbershoots (umbrellas to y’all).

I note that most of the leaves have fallen off the trees. We’re in for a long gray winter now. Sun is already setting at 4:32pm these days. Many of us are already going to work in the dark, and returning in the same.

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I’m sitting at a Starbucks now, and striking up some conversation with other shoppers. Two gals next to me started the day at Toys’R’Us, getting there at 7:30am. Their target item was RoboRaptor, a $120 wireless monster. They succeeded in getting it, for the 10 year old boy in the family.

Continue reading "Relaxing at a Starbucks" »

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I braved the roads once more to make it to Alderwood Mall. Before getting out I spied this Navy and Marine recruiting station. I did not see lines outside of this retail outlet.

Finally entered a regular mall, complete with Food Courts and the usual non-home electronic oriented mega-stores. First up was JC Penney, which was slammed! Lots of 4 hour sales going on, and long lines everywhere. Would love to have gotten some dress slacks, but the lines were far too long. Your dedicated servant here must keep the blogs flowing.

Passed by this gentleman enjoying the latest ultra luxury recliner. Just what America needs, more couch time!

Are these jeans for sale at the local salvation army? Of course not, silly, they are hyperexpensive new jeans at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Also passed by this interesting All-Japan store:

I see some couples with their young kids shopping. I know what they're thinking. "Never Again!!" Most parents try to leave their kids with others so they don't have to keep track of them on this day. Better keep those kids tethered to your body if you do bring them.

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I’ve abandoned my car and am taking foot over to the Nordstrom Rack. The hot item there is Joey jeans for women at $40. Weren’t those popular on the east coast last year? Kidding!!

Got shoes?

Afterwards checked out the scene at Barnes&Noble. They have a tremendous new book on the Shackleton Expedition to Antarctica, the greatest story never told. If you haven’t read about this 1914-1915 expedition, you surely must. To say they survived against all odds is the understatement of the century. They would have survived this Black Friday as well, as I haven’t seen any ill tempers, short of being politely asked not to take photos at Old Navy. I stepped outside and took one anyways.

Stopped by Linen’s’n’Things. Their hot item was the RoboSapiens. Sadly, he was extinct after 2 hours of furious shopping.

Stopped back at Best Buy to see how things were going. I noted the waiting areas outside the building were strewn with garbage, which these two lucky employees were dutifully cleaning up. It looked like a homeless shelter.

Off to Alderwood Mall now, have to use the car. Wish me luck. Grrrrr.

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just after 7am now and I’ve made some more rounds. I headed off to Lowes to check out the crowds there, but they didn’t compare to Best Buy or Circuit City, thank goodness. I just had to get their little $9.99 tote box for the garage.

Here in Lynnwood, just north of Seattle, WA, is Alderwood Mall, and next to that is a several block shop-o-rama of stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Barnes&Noble, Nordstrom Rack, Lowes, Staples, Babies R Us, you name it, all crammed as closely as possible.

Continue reading "Still not dawn yet" »

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just realized my sweater is on inside out. Not used to dressing at o'dark thirty. Nonetheless, made it to Lynnwood's Best Buy and as promised, Robert Matthews, the manager, let me in before the the store opened at 5am. The manager had been there since 2:00am, helping set up the latte stand for the waiting crowds.

Speaking of which, I interviewed the first in line. 3 of them had gotten there at 5pm Thursday afternoon, a full 12 hours before opening time. There were there for the $39.99 MP3 players, among other things.

I left Best Buy 20 minutes after opening, all seemed very orderly, with plenty of staff to help shoppers increase their debt load. Here's a pre-opening pep talk:

Pointing the way:

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 08:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good God, it's 4:00am, what am I doing up? Why did I agree to cover Seattle's Black Friday again? What was I thinking? I normally do not "do" Black Friday, but here I go. Hey, I just might get a good deal on something.

Actually, I got in the groove and spent a good 90 minutes previewing ads and using the web to read reviews on some sale items. I note that many of the big ads are not competing with each other, i.e. I rarely find the same digicam or videocam being sold by different stores.

Off into the cold and wet darkness go I.

Posted by Steve Schaeffer at 07:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)