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Bottleworks does good works. A robust micro- and international beer selection, complemented by a relatively small but potent selection of chocolates. They offer tastings on Tuesdays, present...
Bottleworks does good works. A robust micro- and international beer selection, complemented by a relatively small but potent selection of chocolates. They offer tastings on Tuesdays, present festivals, and team up with various brewers to construct interesting (mainstream-straying) beers. A bit pricey (Wallingford rents, I assume), so unless you’re remarkably gung-ho about supporting local businesses, some of the basics would be more cheaply purchased elsewhere. The remainder of their inventory (most of it) consists of brews you’re unlikely to find elsewhere.
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A retail venture by a local, nonprofit environmental group, the REStore will rip out any salvageable materials from a building you're tearing down and resell them at its retail locations. They...
A retail venture by a local, nonprofit environmental group, the REStore will rip out any salvageable materials from a building you're tearing down and resell them at its retail locations. They divert some three million pounds of waste from landfills, provide jobs, and do other warm, fuzzy things. The range of goods sold is random and varies, but is worth checking out if you're looking for some sort of inspiration.
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Open seasonally, the Yakima market is, of course, not in Yakima. The name refers to the source (at least early on) of its fruits and vegetables. As you'd expect, everything available comes from...
Open seasonally, the Yakima market is, of course, not in Yakima. The name refers to the source (at least early on) of its fruits and vegetables. As you'd expect, everything available comes from local farmers and, as a result, the market is only open seasonally. A nursery is an appendage which, while not having as large a selection as larger businesses, is worth checking out nonetheless. A local (very local) institution worth supporting, especially if you don't belong to an organic-box service.
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Frankly, the most knowledgeable (seemingly, given my acutely limited knowledge) stereo folks I think you'll find in Seattle. A tremendous selection of used equipment, at used prices, which will...
Frankly, the most knowledgeable (seemingly, given my acutely limited knowledge) stereo folks I think you'll find in Seattle. A tremendous selection of used equipment, at used prices, which will outperform comparably priced new equipment you'll find at most big-box-retailers. Bring your own LPs/CDs and choose your components. Absolutely lovely, but prepare for audiophilic addiction.
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The reviews here have ranged from largely positive-->glowing/gushing. In the interests of contributing to a hopefully useful implementation of the local-review genre of websites, I'd like to...
The reviews here have ranged from largely positive-->glowing/gushing. In the interests of contributing to a hopefully useful implementation of the local-review genre of websites, I'd like to respond while trying to avoid the aggressive bipolarity present on most such sites. With that in mind, please season yr. reading of this review with a few grains of salt:
a) I don't much like mainstream movies,
b) I usually arrive late to avoid prescreening ads and such,
c) I know not one whit about the original theater.
d) The MB may well hold an important position in the local business/charitable community of which I am not apprised.
First, I appreciate very much the lack of prescreening ads. Very Much.
Although I'm very much in favor of 'neighborhood' theaters, I'm not sure why one would characterize the Bay as a neighborhood theater except for the fact that it occupies space within a neighborhood. Similarly, I don't understand the MB to be local, except to the extent that it is close to my own abode. Here, I have two disclaimers. First, I understand that the theater is just now establishing itself, and has much to do to become a Ballard 'institution.' Second, as noted above, I have no sense of the institutionality of its prior incarnation. However, the best examples, to me, of neighborhood theaters, would be places like the Harvard Exit, the Guild (on 45th), or the Neptune. Each of these is entrenched within its respective community and, to an extent, has a super-theatrical meaning beyond mere historical resonance. I don't hold this against the theater, and certainly (happily) observe that it is not owned by a conglomerate. With that said, does anyone else know of another local/neighborhood theater that Elttaes has actually started?
While I usually prefer small theaters as opposed to large, and theaters with personality as opposed to those without, I question both aspects with reference to the MB. First, a small theater is the perfect place to present movies outside the mainstream/blockbuster range. Screening an independent film in such a theater makes sense because they appeal, by nature, to an audience seeking a more personalized and intimate (vis-a-vis other viewers) experience. Screening a mainstream film invites a crowd which does not generally enjoy the experience of film-as-film, but instead only of film-as-leisure or film-as-entertainment.
The size of the theater notwithstanding, even small theaters should have two aisles (another disclaimer--I've only sat in one room, and the others may actually have aisles). In itself, the design may echo the other 'retro' attributes of the earlier, or other earlier theaters. I'm not sure. But it would seem to me that one could buld a 'retro' theater while at the same time minimizing those design defects. I would expect this problem to be particular chronic, given that the theater shows mainstream movies. Thus, although one is not subject to prescreening ads, one is functionally led to going early, anyway. Interestingly, I would have expected the seating arrangments to reflect a particularly mercenary advertising mechanism. Another plus (or lack of a minus) for the MB.
The retro-design: I'll admit that the exterior is interesting, if not compelling (by which I mean only that the design is not an independent reason to see a movie there). The interior, though, seems fairly ordinary. The curtain-thing is nice, but would hardly be out of place at any (less-than) slick-stripmallish chain theater. Rather than add to the effect, I wonder why folks would consider such snug quarters as retro (space and property used to be cheap, luxury omnipresent as a fantasy-element).
The screensize and audiotech, I think, is a function of the size of the screening rooms and is, as such, just fine. But it is no more impressive, really, than someone with a $10,000 gift certificate at a big-box electronics store could pull off. Given the money oozing around Seattle, and after P. Allen's extravagance, the MB hardly seems anywhere near state-of-the-art circa '93.
This long communique/diatribe should not be read as suggesting that I in anyway hate/dissaprove of the theater. It is convenient, fine, OK, free of monopolistic taint, and etc... But to rate it as 'Great' seems to me an overstatement.
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A city this size allows/forces one to construct one’s own categories of particular food/beverage experiences, and there are enough solid coffees/coffeeshops/cafes that you can micromanage exactly...
A city this size allows/forces one to construct one’s own categories of particular food/beverage experiences, and there are enough solid coffees/coffeeshops/cafes that you can micromanage exactly the outcome you want. You trade down two percentiles in one category to trade up in another. Here, the categories you trade down in include (a) quality (maybe five percentiles below the best); (b) depending on the time of day, seat availability—as a function of being very, very friendly; and (c) quiet—also as a function of friendliness. You generally trade up in comfort/friendliness and value. Depending on your perspective, you trade either up or down vis-à-vis the number of noisy young children and study groups of various sorts. Miscellany: overhead music and art available for purchase vary by location/barista; they roast their own and blend a zodiacal series (if I remember correctly, their prior roaster was Batdorf & Bronson, makers of my favorite Harrar); while unobtrusive, their vibe is much more collegiate post-hippyness than urban hip.
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Smokin’ Pete’s stands out as a neighborhood joint that has, at some point, actually paid attention to the art of smoking. Smoked to a perfect fat-mostly-rendered tenderness and happily moist, the...
Smokin’ Pete’s stands out as a neighborhood joint that has, at some point, actually paid attention to the art of smoking. Smoked to a perfect fat-mostly-rendered tenderness and happily moist, the meat is served dry (free of sauce) so that one can actually taste the smoke. There are sauce options at hand. Taste them. Don’t overuse them. The ‘hot’ is not, particularly, and I haven’t been able to taste the difference between the presauce ‘hot’ and ‘not’ levels of spice. Perhaps the offer is meant more as a psychological balm aimed at whatever local neurosis has limited Seattle barbecue to its generally unfortunate state.
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A city this size allows/forces one to construct one’s own categories of particular food/beverage experiences, and there are enough solid coffees/coffeeshops/cafes that you can micromanage exactly...
A city this size allows/forces one to construct one’s own categories of particular food/beverage experiences, and there are enough solid coffees/coffeeshops/cafes that you can micromanage exactly the outcome you want. You trade down two percentiles in one category to trade up in another. Although there are substantially fewer solid pizza options, there are enough that compromise (even if ordering alone) becomes inevitable. I usually give up the struggle and order from Romio’s. Henceforth, I speak of the basic pie (traditional crust, cheese, and toppings).
A pizza suffers delivery like every newborn slapped by a doctor. Even at its worst, however, a pie delivered from Romio’s is substantially better (and greasier) than the best available from most other places. The crust is doughier than I usually like, and the sauce slightly sweet. The cheese, however, and whatever its artificial content, is vicious (having the nature of vice). Lots and lots of vicious cheese. Wonderful.
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The public face of the Maritime Pacific Brewing Company. Slightly pirate-themed, relatively low-lit, wood-heavy, and very much a neighborhood hangout. They offer what I consider to be the best...
The public face of the Maritime Pacific Brewing Company. Slightly pirate-themed, relatively low-lit, wood-heavy, and very much a neighborhood hangout. They offer what I consider to be the best pub-style food (durn good mini hamburgers and Mahi sandwiches, the best onion rings I’ve ever had, large portions of crisp rosemary-heavy fries) all day long. During lunch you can get wonderful though fancified sandwiches and salads; for dinner, the relatively upscale entrees are executed quite well. Although you need not appreciate the brewer’s art to enjoy the food (and certainly don’t need to drink), the beer is the proper focal point, and please don’t forget it.
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The best brewed coffee/pulled espresso available in Seattle. Also the best roaster. Probably also the best place to ask any coffee-related question. Home to a recent U.S. barista champion. ...
The best brewed coffee/pulled espresso available in Seattle. Also the best roaster. Probably also the best place to ask any coffee-related question. Home to a recent U.S. barista champion. Vibe—an extreme informality which seems authentic rather than unctuous, though I change my mind on every sixth Thursday afternoon. This ambiguity comes from its location—Eastlake’s core—an increasingly gentrifying neighborhood which has held out much longer than, say, Fremont could. Unfortunately or not, Hines is currently (sometime mid-to-late August) being forced to relocate (I’ve heard Belltown).
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