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This is a family gym. You have neighborhoodies pumping iron, teen girls on the bikes, seniors on the treadmill, and kids coming out of their water babies class. I love it all. The staff at the...
This is a family gym. You have neighborhoodies pumping iron, teen girls on the bikes, seniors on the treadmill, and kids coming out of their water babies class. I love it all. The staff at the Meredith Mathews YMCA is super friendly.
The facilities are pretty basic, but they work to improve their offerings all the time. Over the years, they have added several new types of weight and chin-up machines and a row machine (old school style). There is a smaller room with various weight machines, exercise balls, and stretching mats. The main room has elliptical trainers, treadmills, two different types of bikes, step machines, free weights, and some more weight machines. They have a classroom with a mirror and hardwood floors where they teach yoga sometimes, but which you can use for your own training (martial arts, etc) when it's unoccupied. They have a lap pool, locker room, steam room, and a basketball court.
They offer a lot of interesting classes, though times are hard to make if you don't wake up early and if you work during the day.
I am very fond of the Y as my neighborhood gym. I never feel like I'm too out of shape or that I need the right workout clothes to go there. I know of adults who have been going to this location since childhood!
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The carne asada here reminds me of the stuff I used to get in Southern California. If that isn't an endorsement, I don't know what is. You can get all kinds of meat, including goat, I think, but I...
The carne asada here reminds me of the stuff I used to get in Southern California. If that isn't an endorsement, I don't know what is. You can get all kinds of meat, including goat, I think, but I and my family always go for the carne asada, spicy pork, or chicken. You know this place is authentic because they even include ceviche and albondigas on the menu.
Tacos El Asadero is a family operation; you always see the same people there. Some days, the food is a little salty...it just depends who's cooking. They added a new person to the crew about a year ago and I think she's the culprit. I don't care, though, because I will always eat their cheap, delicious tacos and mulitas. I know people who swear by the burritos, but 've never ordered one because I like my burritos without a lot of rice and beans. Besides, the tacos are a buck a piece and you can't beat that!
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The Uwajimaya in the International District is amazing. They have an excellent produce section and countless aisles of packaged foods from a huge range of Asian countries. Their focus is on Japanese...
The Uwajimaya in the International District is amazing. They have an excellent produce section and countless aisles of packaged foods from a huge range of Asian countries. Their focus is on Japanese foods, but their products cover so many other regions that they are a great one-stop shop. If you have time, walking around and stopping in at the many small groceries in the I-D will also yield a bounty and give you an even broader selection of Asian groceries.
Whenever I cook Thai food, which is more often than I cook most other types of cuisine, I, without fail, go to Uwajimaya and stock up. It's easy because they pretty much carry everything I need. Usually, it's to refresh my supply of kaffir lime leaves and galangal. If they are ever out of stuff, it's because they are always insanely busy and items sell out quickly over the weekend. I would suggest calling and finding out about shipment dates if you have something specific you want.
I could spend hours at Uwajimaya, smelling produce, poring over the fresh seafood (making your own sushi is SOOO much cheaper than going out for it), and examining the interesting breads/pastries, desserts, and drinks. When I am really hungry, I go to the food court, which also demonstrates a nice variety of Asian cuisines. If I'm not in a hurry, I stop to look at ceramics and appliances, and then I go to the adjoining Kinokuniya and look at books, stationery, and t-shirts.
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It depends on your style, of course, but I am always lusting after the home stuff at Anthropologie. (The great majority of clothing items at Anthropologie are aimed at someone a little more girly...
It depends on your style, of course, but I am always lusting after the home stuff at Anthropologie. (The great majority of clothing items at Anthropologie are aimed at someone a little more girly and fuddy-duddy than me, but for some reason, I tolerate a higher degree of girliness in home decor. It's a shame my husband doesn't!) Anthropologie has a surprisingly big selection of funky cabinet hardware! I had never noticed the hardware prior to my recent visit to the downtown store, but they have their full selection online. They must have some at the U-Village store, too.
The prices at Anthropologie can be ridiculous, but I will say that their home decor is comparatively less outrageous than their clothes and other apparel. I pick up almost every home item in the store. I can't say the same about the clothes, though I do like the stuff that isn't designed for people twice my age and the sales racks can produce some good finds from time to time... Anyone who's shopping for me for Christmas or my birthday can file these little tidbits away...
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I've stopped looking for a good Chinese restaurant because I've found my favorite. Even my friends who don't like Chinese food (because they normally think it's bland and boring) will suggest going...
I've stopped looking for a good Chinese restaurant because I've found my favorite. Even my friends who don't like Chinese food (because they normally think it's bland and boring) will suggest going to dinner at Seven Stars Peppers!
The food here is anything but bland, though it can sometimes be one-note. Cumin lamb comes to mind, even though I still enjoyed it quite a lot. Seven Stars Peppers offers all the usual items that come to mind when you think of Chinese food, but they also offer many more options that only the Chinese families seem to order. (I always think that having a majority of Chinese customers is a pretty strong indication that they serve good Chinese food.) I've been coming here with regularity for over a year and still have only tried a small sampling of what's on the menu.
They are cheap to boot. Ordering soup, an appetizer, and three main dishes will run you about $45. It's far more food than you can eat in one sitting, too. I tend to stick to my old standbys: crispy fish with string beans (or is it green beans), eggplant, mongolian beef, and spicy wontons. Their green onion pancake and house special crispy noodles are new favorites of mine. I also like their tofu dishes, but I have decided I do not like the bacon-like qualities of their twice-cooked pork. Sometimes we get the hot pot, which is a lot of food and fun because it's interactive.
Reasons why they don't have a "perfect" rating: The menu, like those at most Chinese restaurants, names each dish in Chinese and English, but doesn't go into great detail about ingredients. Also, lately, the service at Seven Stars has gotten worse. It can take a while to get someone over to your table, but when the food is ready, it comes quickly and is delicious!
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Bartending services are expensive, but if you are having a big party and don't want to man the bar all night, it's well worth it to hire a bartender. I've used Pour Girls & Some Guys twice. They...
Bartending services are expensive, but if you are having a big party and don't want to man the bar all night, it's well worth it to hire a bartender. I've used Pour Girls & Some Guys twice. They have been very reliable and a big hit. Partygoers love having a bartender. You'll love the bartender even more because you won't have spills and messes to clean up. Pour Girls employs a fairly small circle of bartenders, so if you want to use them for a big holiday event, you have to plan ahead.
The bartenders from Pour Girls have been friendly, professional, and helpful. The last bartender we hired arrived early, set up the bar area from scratch in a very creative fashion, and even helped clean up a bit afterward. They come dressed in basic black and white attire, provide their own bar tools (shakers, pourers, etc), and bring ice to ice down beverages before the party. However, you provide your own alcohol and mixers.
Don't forget to pick up a banquet license!
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I love Margi David Salon. For awhile, almost everyone I knew was going there! Margi David's stylists are hip, but approachable, friendly, and easy to talk to. They have an ongoing education program...
I love Margi David Salon. For awhile, almost everyone I knew was going there! Margi David's stylists are hip, but approachable, friendly, and easy to talk to. They have an ongoing education program that I think helps to attract great talent and helps to ensure that you're seeing very capable people. They are open until 7pm Tuesday through Friday, which helps if you don't have time to stop in in the middle of a workday. Saturdays, they are only open until 5pm, so it can be hard to get a weekend appointment.
I see Marissa and I love what she does with my hair. My hair can be difficult, but Marissa's given me great cuts and perms. To help, I bring in photos of what I want and we talk about what appeals to me in the cuts/styles I ask for. Also, I've noticed that the stylists aren't afraid to consult one another, which I really appreciate. I prefer to have a stylist who is fully informed and weighs all options instead of having one who just acts like they know what they're doing.
Another thing I like about Margi David is that you see all types of customers in there. I never get the feeling that I'm too young/old/uncool to be there and that's very important to me.
My only gripes about the place are related to the prices. It wasn't so bad when I was just getting cuts, but this place is not for the faint of heart if you're getting multiple services (like a cut and color or cut and perm). Seeing Marissa has gotten more expensive as she's been promoted over the years (the salon has a graduated scale for services based on the experience of the stylist you see), but I enjoy coming in to see her so much that the miser in me stomachs the prices. It's markedly cheaper to see New Talent. Also, keep in mind that there are many places where you can pay even more and not get service this good. Also, they carry Bumble&bumble products, which aren't marked with price stickers, but don't come cheap.
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I try to go to Pharmaca as often as I can. Whether you're looking for vitamins, supplements, organic chocolate (Dagoba), specialty brand cosmetics and beauty products (MOP, Dr. Hauschka),...
I try to go to Pharmaca as often as I can. Whether you're looking for vitamins, supplements, organic chocolate (Dagoba), specialty brand cosmetics and beauty products (MOP, Dr. Hauschka), pleasant-smelling cleaning products (Mrs. Meyers), oils, or gift items, Pharmaca is the place.
It's fairly small in size, but they carry a wide assortment of products. They also have extensive supplies of certain brands. The last time I was there, I must have smelled every single Pre de Provence scented soap that exists. I also tried out a bunch of Burt's Bees products that I didn't even know existed.
I always end up walking out with more things than I originally came in to buy. They also have a nice reference library and a pharmacist on-site.
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Carmen is the agent that you want on your side. She's been in the business a long time and knows what is in your best interest. She helped us buy a house in Seattle even though she's based on the...
Carmen is the agent that you want on your side. She's been in the business a long time and knows what is in your best interest. She helped us buy a house in Seattle even though she's based on the Eastside. She did an excellent job of refining the list of potential places whenever we gave her new thoughts about what we were looking for. She knows what the true costs (time and money) of home ownership and remodeling are, so she was able to give us sound advice about which homes were really worth their cost. She dissuaded us from a home that had already been remodeled, telling us that we were being influenced by the nice furniture and fancy paint jobs and that our second choice was the better investment because it could be remodeled to an even nicer state. When it came time to make an offer, she assessed the situation and let us under-bid by a great deal on the house we eventually bought and stood by the offer when the seller's agent came back with a quibbling counteroffer. We got it for the price we wanted and have never looked back! Thanks to Carmen, we may never move!
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I only wish this place was open more. They are open Wednesday through Sunday and it seems like I am always in the mood for a movie and their delicious food on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Central Cinema...
I only wish this place was open more. They are open Wednesday through Sunday and it seems like I am always in the mood for a movie and their delicious food on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Central Cinema is a theatre that shows movies in their second run. The main draw is that you can be served food and drinks during the movie. Also of note is the fact that their tickets are only $5! An evening's worth of entertainment ends up being very inexpensive if you go here.
Their bistro menu has nice options like thin-crust personal pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. My favorite is the Sienna--aged provolone with caramelized onion, pine nuts, and basil. Their desserts are huge and decadent. You can pair your meal with local microbrews, wine, tea, coffee, or specialty sodas. Also of note is their popcorn with real butter. I'd recommend that over the popcorn with dijon. I thought it would be powdered mustard, but it was drenched with way too much liquid mustard instead.
I haven't been to a matinee yet, but I've been most excited about their "children's movies" in the past. The Muppet Movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... I will definitely be going to The Princess Bride, which plays this week! Matter of fact, I'll also be seeing their evening show, Repo Man, too!
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