Let's Go Back to Your Neighborhood

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On the eve of GO! MACHINE – two days of local hip-hop shows at the Crocodile – a Seattle hip-hop post for your pleasure.

At the Intersection ofE. Marginal Way and 4th Ave. S.

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If you have not been to Matt's Hot Dogs on your way to the paintball range or South Park, I strongly urge you to make the trip some day on your lunch break. The story goes that this guy Matt, who is ever present at the counter, taking orders and speaking fluent Spanish to the Latina cooks, has been obsessed with hot dogs since day one. He went to business school and wrote a plan for a hot dog stand, became a mortgage banker to save money for said hot dog stand, and finally realized his dream in 1992. Specializing in Chicago dogs, chili dogs, slaw dogs and the like, this is the kind of place where you can really get yourself into trouble. I usually go for one Chicago dog, a slaw dog with chili, and fries. If you want to fake your friend out, get one dog and fries, tell them you are being good, and then slip away and order a second dog on the DL. See how jealous they get. This place has the formula down. Just be careful, get good exercise and don't get mustard on your shirt.

I'm not crying. It's just raining…on my face

The state of Seattle sports is so craptacular that The New York Times is covering it on the front page this morning. An excerpt:

Erik Denmark, an internationally ranked competitive eater, sat at the bar. He grew up watching Seattle sports and once attempted to eat 40 hot dogs when the Seahawks played in the 40th Super Bowl. “Every week is a new low point,” he said. “It’s pretty ridiculous and pretty comical. It’s hard not to just laugh with cynical depression…everything happened so fast.”

Click here to read the rest. Try not to cry on your keyboard.

Above, Lorin "Big Lo" Sandretzky, watching the Seahawks lose to the Cardinals, 26-20, on Sunday. "I will stay positive," he said. Photography Rod Mar for The New York Times