Anything Can Happen!

Macrina was a 4th century Greek mystic and visionary who
started a community that emphasized a simple, self-sufficient lifestyle.

Recently a friend invited me to spend an 'anything can happen day' with her in Seattle, Washington. I immediately accepted, unaware that I was about to learn that ‘anything can happen’ is characteristic of Seattle culture. Our first stop of the day was Macrina Bakery and Café at their SODO location on First Avenue South. We had an 11:00 appointment for a tour.

Marina Bakery and Cafe

Macrina Fruit Babka Bread

As we waited in the café of their LEED certified building for the Wholesale Sales Manager to arrive, I stared through big glass windows into the bakery. Over a dozen Vietnamese workers were forming individual bread rolls. Macrina is an artisan bakery in which every item is hand-formed and freshly baked. Translate that to mean it is labor intensive!

The yummy pastries and lunch menu items defy description.

Upon her arrival our guide gave us a brief history of Macrina, beginning with founder Leslie Mackie’s vision of bread as a connective tissue for local communities - as it was and is in places like France and Italy.

Founder Leslie Mackie is fond of anything 'natural'.

Mackie is an internationally renowned chef and baker. It is totally remarkable that in expanding from one bakery and café to three, she and four owners have been able to maintain the basic commitment to hand-formed and freshly baked bread and pastry. They even have an Italian clay brick oven. When purchased, an Italian artisan came to Seattle to install it properly.

Imagine hiring a woman just to remove Rosemary from twigs.
That shows commitment to hand-formed and freshly baked bread and pastry!

I asked about the Vietnamese workers and learned that because of Vietnam’s French connection, people there are familiar with artisan baking. Ok, but how many companies do you know that offer English As A Second Language to their workers and encourage them to speak English in the work place so the lessons will take?

Sip and Ship

Sip and Ship is a local business in Ballard and Greenwood/Phinney Ridge areas.

If I was overwhelmed by how local company Macrina Bakery maintains it's core values, the innovative concept at our next stop, a Sip and Ship business on NW Market Street, took my imagination to yet another level. 

Chairs out in front encourage the feeling of a neighborhood node.

What a business concept: your personal mailbox located where you can receive packages, sit and read your mail with a cup of coffee and a snack or you can buy a gift, have it wrapped and shipped all in one place.

Don't you love the sliding ladder?
Old library concepts have new life in today's world.

With two Seattle locations (Ballard and Greenwood/Phinney Ridge), this innovative little business has won a number of awards.

Did you know that candles are the #1 gift item worldwide?

Can you believe I found a jar of Kale and Parmesan Pesto in their gift area? The friendly site manager is from Atlanta and has introduced some new gift items. Although cards, candles, and bath accoutrements were tempting, the pesto was my one purchase of the day.

Fountainhead Gallery

As a 'lover of light' Fountainhead Gallery won my heart immediately.

And then ... a real treat for this artist ... we landed at the Fountainhead Gallery on quiet but quirky McGraw Street on Queen Anne hill. While I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of our first two stops, I welcomed the serenity and spaciousness of this sophisticated gallery.

A staircase to the second level provides a view of the entire space.

We were welcomed by the Gallery Assistant who gave us a first class tour. I loved how even the storage area walls were filled with lovely art, adding to the gallery space, providing a feeling of openness, and an awareness that art belongs in every room.

What gallery do you know that has a mini stage that is perfect
for intimate musical performances?

In addition to the upbeat atmosphere created by light streaming in through storefront windows and skylights, the gallery has a small stage that makes musical events a snap. In addition they make use of a lovely table in front of an inviting heating stove for book signings.

This gallery knows its audience and enriches their lives in a variety of ways.

Displaying regional and local artworks for twenty years, Fountainhead Gallery understands customers want a variety of cultural events as well as a chance to meet artists. All of the arts support and feed each other and people today seek participation and interaction as well as an opportunity to view good visual art.

The open floor plan allows for multiple space configurations.

Located on a precious corner spot near neighborhood businesses and an elementary school in a close knit community, this gallery is situated to grow into a neighborhood cultural center with an ongoing series of musical events, artist demonstrations, and art workshops to accompany its beautifully displayed art. Need I mention there’s a Macrina bakery and café just down the street?

My hostess and event planner was Leah Early (left). 

Clearly in Seattle, anything can happen, and does! Whether it’s Microsoft, Macrina Bakery, Sip and Ship, or Fountainhead Gallery, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in this Northwest city.

For those of you who know Leah and Lee Early, it will not surprise you that the Wholesale Sales Manager of Macrina Bakery is daughter Rebecca Early, Co-owner of Sip And Ship is Diana Early Naramore, and Fountainhead Gallery Assistant is Laura Early. With a father who is a business consultant and a mother who is a former speech and debate coach, these entrepreneurial women had a leg up on making a splash in Seattle.

When was the last time you had an ‘Anything Can Happen’ day?

Photo Credits

Macrina Bakery: #2, 4 Macrina Bakery website: #1, 3, 5 LiDoña Wagner

Sip and Ship: LiDoña Wagner

Fountainhead Gallery: #2, 3, 4, 5 Fountainhead Gallery Facebook page: #1 LiDoña Wagner

Leah and LiDoña: Ballard Sip and Ship location manager