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I just got my first pair of eyeglasses from Ottica. When I initially checked out what they had in the window I thought the style was a bit too over the top for me. However, when I went inside, I...
I just got my first pair of eyeglasses from Ottica. When I initially checked out what they had in the window I thought the style was a bit too over the top for me. However, when I went inside, I found that they have a wide range of styles and plenty that would fit my slightly more conservative tastes. Lorelei was extremely helpful and patient, asked me several questions about where I worked, what I'd be using the glasses for, etc. Then she patiently helped me try a dozen or so pair until I felt confident I'd found just the right ones. I ended up with something that was conservative enough to feel comfortable in, but stylish enough that I don't look like I just walked out of one of the cheapo optical chains. My glasses were ready a day later and have been great.
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My daughter received a gift certificate to Qtini as a birthday present. When she went for her manicure, they treated her like royalty. They spent plenty of time on her nails, finishing them with...
My daughter received a gift certificate to Qtini as a birthday present. When she went for her manicure, they treated her like royalty. They spent plenty of time on her nails, finishing them with careful details and a flower decal. All for $10. The shop is bright and clean, the staff is friendly, and the price is right.
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I used to think that hair stylists were pretty much all the same, or at least that it wasn't necessary to go to a high priced salon to get a quality cut. However, after trying Gene Juarez I have...
I used to think that hair stylists were pretty much all the same, or at least that it wasn't necessary to go to a high priced salon to get a quality cut. However, after trying Gene Juarez I have noticed a real difference. My hair is cut with great precision and my stylist, Rayna, has a great sense of how to make it look good and work when I go home to style it myself. I'm not fond of the pounding techno music or the haughty vibe that jolts through the chi chi salon, but when I remind myself that I'm just there to get a great haircut I can stomach it for a half hour.
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As a person who has never been into huge, gluttonous brunches I was skeptical of going to Salty's on Alki to try theirs. However, I came away not only pleasantly surprised but amazed at the volume,...
As a person who has never been into huge, gluttonous brunches I was skeptical of going to Salty's on Alki to try theirs. However, I came away not only pleasantly surprised but amazed at the volume, variety and quality of the food. The seafood alone - fresh shucked oysters, jumbo prawns, crab legs, mussels were worth the 25$ or so price. On top of that, there were made to order omelettes, pasta and belgian waffles, supplemented by a dozen other dishes and close to twenty desserts. The piece de resistance was the chocolate fountain, into which one could dip various fruits, cakes, and other sweets.
The final bonus was a beautiful view over Elliot Bay to the Seattle skyline. Salty's is a great place for locals to brunch but if you're entertaining out of towners it would be spectacular.
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The first thing you'll notice at the Alki Homestead Restaurant is that most of the other diners are older than you (unless you're 80 or more). These are the folks who order the various entrees from...
The first thing you'll notice at the Alki Homestead Restaurant is that most of the other diners are older than you (unless you're 80 or more). These are the folks who order the various entrees from the menu. Everyone else comes to the Homestead for just one thing - fried chicken.
It's greasy but flavorful, bony and meaty all at the same time. The side orders of mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade biscuits, watery salad, Flav-r-Pac frozen mixed vegetables are adequate but nothing special. Order it family style and they'll keep everything coming until you say stop.
Oh, and there's something both spooky and special about the place itself too. It's in an old log cabin decorated with fringed wall sconces, lace tablecloths, and gilded paintings. It's elegant and at the same time just a bit shabby. It's a fifty year time warp back to the best fried chicken and a gut-busting family style dinner your grandmother only dreamed of.
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Ichiro Teriyaki and Sushi in Magnolia offers all the benefits of a real Japanese restaurant, at the price of a cheap teriyaki joint. The teriyaki itself is great - thin slices of quality chicken...
Ichiro Teriyaki and Sushi in Magnolia offers all the benefits of a real Japanese restaurant, at the price of a cheap teriyaki joint. The teriyaki itself is great - thin slices of quality chicken with a tasty sauce, two large scoops of rice and a simple salad for about $6. Yakisoba noodles are full of meat, and finely chopped vegetables and completely fill a deep dish that is more than 12" in diameter. The volume is plenty for two people to share. The restaurant is simple, clean and nicely decorated. The family that runs the restaurant is friendly, welcoming and quick with service. I'd still eat here if they charged 50% more for their food, but don't tell them that!
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Everyone loves the Woodland Park Zoo. Here are three small things I've discovered that make our day there a bit more fun and enjoyable. First, arrive before 10:00AM. You can park free in the...
Everyone loves the Woodland Park Zoo. Here are three small things I've discovered that make our day there a bit more fun and enjoyable. First, arrive before 10:00AM. You can park free in the North lot and the zoo is much less crowded. Second, pack your own food. The concessions at the zoo are poor quality, expensive and its often difficult to even find a table during prime time. Its so much more pleasant to spread out on the lawn with decent food and let the kids run for a bit. Finally, check the sign board when you first arrive for various programs that take place throughout the day. These are often worthwhile diversions from the plain old wandering that makes the zoo such a fun place to visit.
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The Pacific Science Center is a great place to meet up with another family or child for a play date. The exhibits have plenty of variety, including interesting demonstrations of physics concepts,...
The Pacific Science Center is a great place to meet up with another family or child for a play date. The exhibits have plenty of variety, including interesting demonstrations of physics concepts, various animals such as snakes and bats, enormous robotic dinosaurs, and the beautiful tropical butterfly house. I could spend hours in the butterfly house just imagining I am on a tropical vacation. The kids always have a good time because the exhibits are very hand-on and permit plenty of physical activity.
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We used Shuttle Express' town car service to and from the airport in May '05 and it was great. The driver called to confirm the day before and was on time for the 4AM pickup. She handled all of...
We used Shuttle Express' town car service to and from the airport in May '05 and it was great. The driver called to confirm the day before and was on time for the 4AM pickup. She handled all of our luggage with ease (very impressive), helped get the kids' car seats buckled in properly, and was very pleasant on the drive to the airport. The car was clean and roomy. All in all, it was well worth the cost, which was roughly equivalent to what we would have paid to park at the airport.
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Sitting in the tiny dining room at Niko's Gyros you could almost believe you were in a Greek village cafe. The walls are painted in crisp white with a colorfully abstract folksy design, the tables...
Sitting in the tiny dining room at Niko's Gyros you could almost believe you were in a Greek village cafe. The walls are painted in crisp white with a colorfully abstract folksy design, the tables are covered with simple bright floral oilcloth, and the smell of grilled meat and toasted pita wafts from the cramped open cooking area. Best of all, the family member/owner taking your order is truly Greek and this family knows how to do all the Greek specialties right. Gyros are satisfying and inexpensive (under $5), while more elaborate dishes (specials such as roast chicken or pork) or full souvlaki meals (around $8-10) are enormous and almost enough for two. Don't miss the Greek fries, waffle cut potatoes topped with feta and lemon juice.
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