Powell’s Bookstore is coming to Seattle, but it’s not what you’d think. The “legendary independent bookstore” is setting up a temporary shop to buy used books from the Seattle populace and bring them back to sell in Portland (and online too, I suppose). Much as I love Powell’s, there’s some interstate book economics going on here that doesn’t sit well with me.

If you love wasabi peas, you may want to try making your own. It starts with dried whole peas and of course uses wasabi powder or paste, the amount of which can be adjusted to your taste.

Reader Marc sent in a fun weblog written by a violist in the Minnesota Orchestra. Sam Bergman chronicled his orchestra’s European tour in February. Interesting details of life on the concert stage emerge, such as what happens when the principal cellist breaks a string, coping with the acoustics of unfamiliar halls (one of which he likens to “performing on the inside of a giant SuperBall”). Then there are the necessary details of life on the road, finding time to sightsee between commitments, washing socks and undies with Woolite in the hotel sink. Add in the rituals of plane travel and the logistics of transporting a full orchestra and instruments through Europe.

Shhhh, it’s a secret. But Seattle Times food writer Nancy Leson wrote about it anyway — even though she won’t reveal too many details. A secret underground restaurant, code-name Gypsy, has hit the Seattle food scene. Dreamed up by Seattle chefs who noticed the underground dining phenomenon in other urban locales, the Sunday night dinners are held in private homes (with gourmet kitchens of course) and have “suggested contributions” for the food and wine (plus there’s the tip), cash preferred. You pay $5 to get a membership in this secret club, but she won’t tell you how. Invitations then arrive by email and the reservations go fast.

They don’t actually mow grass or even ride on it, so participants in National Lawn Mower Racing Competitions remove the blades from their riding mowers. Many of the racing mowers are actually junkers brought to life for the race. Various classes of competitors take 10 laps around the dirt track to qualify for the 20 lap trophy races. The U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association began on April Fools day in 1992 after a visit to their British counterpart.

Cufflinks on display at a music library? UC Berkeley’s Music Library has a new home, the Jean Gray Hargrove Music Library, with room to set out the cufflink collection of jazz pianist Earl “Fatha” Hines. Of course there’s music too: a collection of Gregorian chants, manuscripts from the school of Giuseppe Tartini, two operas from Alessandro Scarlatti, and a manuscript of Stravinsky’s Orpheus “written in the composer’s alarmingly fastidious hand”.

It’s a tough search but someone’s gotta do it. Every Olympics it’s fun to seek out photos of winning athletes biting their medals on the podium. I had to peer through a stack of sports photos to finally find someone biting their gold medal at the Athens Olympics. I saw a number of medal kissers but no biters until Valentina Vezzali obliged. Then I realized I was being dense and searched on “medal bites” and found more: Michael Phelps, Lee Wo-hee, Brice Guyart, Ilias Iliadis, Yana Klochkova, Marcel Fischer, Tony Estanguet. Plenty more to come, for sure.

Credit card companies’ new “no signature required” policies are increasing card usage at places like Starbucks and fast food restaurants. Only retailers with typically small transactions such as video stores, parking lots, and fast food have been allowed to use this speedier method. A signed receipt is not required of credit card holders and debit card users do not need to enter their PIN. The policy has convinced McDonalds, a holdout in accepting cards because of wait time, to embrace credit card use. Another big advantage is that without signed paper receipts, there’s no need to store paperwork away for years in case it is needed for alleged fraud. Credit card companies claim there has been no increase in fraud with the no-signature situations since stolen cards are used for big ticket items.

Seattle area dog owners have been enjoying al fresco dining at fine restaurants with their pooches in support of a no-kill animal shelter. The “Dine With Your Dog” events are produced by the local Three Dog Bakery which of course also supplies the canine portion of the meal, including an after dinner mint. Humans get to order off the regular menu.

The final tally is in on the September Vogue issue, proving the rumors true: 832 pages with 647 ad pages. That’s 4 pounds of fall fashion. The inclusion of a new advertiser, Kmart Holdings Corp was newsworthy. J.C. Penney is another more affordable retailer sitting next to the Louis Vuittons and Yves Saint Laurents. Also notable, the cover features actual models instead of a celebrity, unlike the past 3 years (and on many non-September covers as well). Vogue sits alone in breaking with the celebrity cover girl trend with Elle, Glamour, and the like continuing to use actresses. The N.Y. Daily News found it prudent to offer a guide to locating the elusive table of contents in the fall issues (for Vogue, pages 44, 60-76).