A Day in Seattle's International District

We visited Seattle's International District a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to go to Uwijimaya on a hunt for Japanese washi paper tape. Inside the store is Kinokuniya Bookstore where they sell pens, tape, papers, books and other stationary supplies from Japan. Seattle's store is much larger than the one in Beaverton, Oregon. Above are samples of the tapes I bought and below is an example of their neat gift wrap paper.
This tape is transparent and is great to use in journals, cards, gift wrap, etc. Check out Jo Reimer's technique to make your own Washi paper tape with a Xyron machine and tissue paper. I can't wait to start creating my own tapes.

At the time, I was reading Jamie Ford's new book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. His novel chronicles life in Seattle's Chinatown and Nihonmachi, or Japantown, before and during WWII and the internment of it's Japanese residents.
The Panama Hotel described in his book still exists and celebrates it's 100th birthday this year. The owner, Jan Johnson, gave us a tour. Thirty-five Japanese families left their belongings in the hotel basement for safe keeping while they were interned. Many of these families never returned to Seattle to reclaim their things. The hotel Tea and Coffee House is a mini-museum with old photographs and other items of interest. The hotel reminds me of Patterson Hall, the dorm I lived in while attending UW. We plan to stay there on our next Seattle overnight trip.