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Located in Ballard's Old Town, the Tractor is a great place to take in a show. Although any genre may be playing on a given night, it's the place to see roots, folk and alt-country music. With its...
Located in Ballard's Old Town, the Tractor is a great place to take in a show. Although any genre may be playing on a given night, it's the place to see roots, folk and alt-country music. With its medium-small performance space, cozy bar and room for a crowd, it's a good venue for this type of music. The bar pours good beer for reasonable prices and has a (very) limited snack menu. Check it out when there's a good band.
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The view of downtown Seattle really doesn't get any better than at Gas Works Park. Come here on a sunny weekend day to watch the sailboats on Lake Union, or at sunset to see the sun disappear...
The view of downtown Seattle really doesn't get any better than at Gas Works Park. Come here on a sunny weekend day to watch the sailboats on Lake Union, or at sunset to see the sun disappear behind Mount Olympus and the city lights come up, one by one. On a windy day, bring a kite. Be sure to check out the big funky sundial at the top of the hill.
It's a fascinating place to watch people, too. Morris dancers practice here on summer evenings, and skateboarders grind on the concrete. Sun worshippers and kite flyers are well represented.
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If you live in Seattle city limits, chances are there's a Seattle Public Library branch within a mile or two of your house. Do yourself a favor and check it out -- the public library here is really...
If you live in Seattle city limits, chances are there's a Seattle Public Library branch within a mile or two of your house. Do yourself a favor and check it out -- the public library here is really outstanding.
There's been a library building and renovation boom, and many local libraries are in brand new or newly refurbished spaces, with comfortable chairs, computer terminals and beautiful spaces. Free wi-fi is in most or all of them.
Although local branches have limited selections, you can "hold" anything in the system (books, CDs, DVDs, tapes) and have it delivered to your local branch. Convenient, though there can be a bit of a wait on new or popular materials.
Of the places I've lived, SPL is one of the best library systems I've seen.
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The half of our food budget that doesn't go to the farmer's market goes to Trader Joe's. This emporium of eclectic fine foods makes it affordable to be a gourmet. From their $3 (quaffable!) wines...
The half of our food budget that doesn't go to the farmer's market goes to Trader Joe's. This emporium of eclectic fine foods makes it affordable to be a gourmet. From their $3 (quaffable!) wines to good, cheap olive oil, cheeses, nuts and dried fruit to their surprisingly fine frozen ready-made foods, TJ's gets lots of our business. Fun place to shop (friendly staff, interesting stuff) and great products!
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If it grows in Washington State, you can find it here. This is the place to find incredibly fresh, local (grown in-state) tomatoes, berries, peppers, lettuce and nearly anything else that is...
If it grows in Washington State, you can find it here. This is the place to find incredibly fresh, local (grown in-state) tomatoes, berries, peppers, lettuce and nearly anything else that is farmed, foraged or fished. Careful shopping can yield produce, cheese, fish and baked goods that are organic and cheaper than their grocery store counterparts.
It's a lively scene, with dozens of vendors, musicians and master gardeners to give you advice on growing your own. There are cooking demos most weeks as well. What a great way to watch spring turn to summer to fall: strawberries, then asparagus, then tomatoes, peppers, squash, mushrooms...
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Vivace takes espresso very, very seriously. Founder David Schomer literally wrote the book on preparing espresso (from bean choice and roasting, to grinding, to the perfect brew) and can be seen...
Vivace takes espresso very, very seriously. Founder David Schomer literally wrote the book on preparing espresso (from bean choice and roasting, to grinding, to the perfect brew) and can be seen holding seminars in the back room. The baristas here are very skilled, and proud of the quality of their work. They should be. Of all the espressos I've tried, theirs is not only excellent, but consistently so. Great flavor and depth, beautiful crema, perfectly steamed milk, if you go for that.
The cafe has a nice open atmosphere, with comfortable chairs as well as tables that invite you to open a chessboard or bring a book. Little cookies and nibbles are also available but really, here, it's all about the coffee.
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Paseo is not easy to find -- it's a tiny place on Fremont Avenue, just up from the Buckaroo Tavern, with a minimal sign. But come at dinner time, and you'll be able to identify it by the crowd...
Paseo is not easy to find -- it's a tiny place on Fremont Avenue, just up from the Buckaroo Tavern, with a minimal sign. But come at dinner time, and you'll be able to identify it by the crowd spilling out the door, waiting for delicious Cuban food, to pick up or eat at one of the five or so tiny rickety tables.
Come early to get the specials -- chicken roasted till it falls off the bone, on a bed of white rice and incredibly tasty black beans, or fried fish that looks amazing (haven't tried it yet). Or just get the Cuban Midnight sandwich, a tower of tender roasted pork, unbelievably sweet and savory slow-roasted onions, lettuce, peppers and mayonnaise on a crusty baguette. It's messy, drippy and it comes with a little piece of corn on the cob. What could be better?
Don't forget to ask for rice pudding -- it's homemade and comes free with dinner if you ask. A great end to a memorable meal.
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Expecting great seafood from Ivar's Salmon House when we went there with out of town relatives, I left underwhelmed by the fish, but delighted by the views.
Situated on Lake Union, Ivar's has...
Expecting great seafood from Ivar's Salmon House when we went there with out of town relatives, I left underwhelmed by the fish, but delighted by the views.
Situated on Lake Union, Ivar's has great views, especially on a warm summer evening. Sitting on the deck, or inside at a window, is highly recommended.
The fish, including several varieties of salmon, halibut and shrimp, is roasted over alderwood and has a lovely hint of smoke to it, but we were all a bit disappointed in the quality -- the salmon was a bit dry and didn't burst with flavor, and the crab cakes needed more crab and less onion.
The halibut was better, with a good texture and nice mild flavor, and the shrimp was surprisngly good, slightly sweet and smoky. White clam chowder was nice, with a subtle onion note, but the smoked salmon chowder wasn't quite as flavorful -- a bit smoky, but the salmon didn't come through.
The views are great, but I might get the fish and chips takeout and sit at a picnic table next time, myself.
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The menu isn't extensive, the food isn't varied, but if you're in the mood for pho (and maybe some cream puffs), you can't do much better than Than Brothers.
House-made cream puffs arrive when...
The menu isn't extensive, the food isn't varied, but if you're in the mood for pho (and maybe some cream puffs), you can't do much better than Than Brothers.
House-made cream puffs arrive when you sit down, and it's a delight to eat dessert first. Then comes a brimming bowl of noodles, broth and meat, with the traditional sprouts, basil leaves and lime on the side.
For under $5 (and usually in under 5 minutes), Than Brothers serves pho with any combination of beef roast, brisket, tripe and tendon (or chicken or vegetarian). Do get a small or medium the first time; they're huge.
The coffee and tea drinks are worth a try, too -- very potent and very sweet.
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Here in Fremont, it seems every other storefront is a Thai restaurant. (They alternate with the coffeehouses and antique/junk shops). But among them, Kwanjai stands out for its friendly and...
Here in Fremont, it seems every other storefront is a Thai restaurant. (They alternate with the coffeehouses and antique/junk shops). But among them, Kwanjai stands out for its friendly and blindingly fast service, reasonable prices and, especially, its truly outstanding food.
The noodle dishes, especially the Pud Kee Mao, are fresh and flavorful, and they really will vary the "heat" of the dish from very mild to painful at your request. The curries, especially the green curry, are plentiful and delicious. And the entrees, such as Summer Fire, have great fresh vegetables. Everything's good with tofu or meat.
The waitstaff are friendly and helpful, and the service is unbelievably fast, even with a group of four. In the summer, there's outdoor seating; highly recommended, since the restaurant gets pretty hot.
I can't recommend this place enough; it's an absolute gem.
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