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Bliss
Category:
Women's Clothing
3501 Fremont Ave N
Seattle, Washington 98103
(206) 632-6695
It took me a few trips to Bliss before any of the sales clerks managed to stop ignoring me. I don't know if it's because I didn't flash any money or if they were genuinely that interested in folding...
It took me a few trips to Bliss before any of the sales clerks managed to stop ignoring me. I don't know if it's because I didn't flash any money or if they were genuinely that interested in folding jeans, but no one wanted to acknowledge my presence. That is, until one fateful day in 2005.
I'm guessing I looked like a woman on a mission when I walked into Bliss in search of wedding attire. As soon as I came through the door, a young employee was on me like white on rice. It turns out she was the store manager. And what a manager. Ten minutes in, I futilely wished we could go back to pretending I didn't exist. After I tried on one outfit, the manager over-enthusiastically told me the top and skirt combination looked just gorgeous on me, that she'd sold a few already even though she just got them in, that the size I wanted was the only one in the shipment, that really, it would look so good on me even if it needed some alterations--which she promised would be easy for the tailor--that at the rate the pieces were going I would have to act now or lose them forever, and weren't these shoes absolutely adorable with the ensemble? (Decidedly not. Ruffled white, super-pointed pumps didn't even look good in the '80s.) She basically followed me around the 500 square foot floor space for the entirety of my visit, extolling the virtues of the outfit with saccharine sweetness. I eventually found something to wear, but not without enduring repeated visits, still more sales pressure from the manager ("These earrings, this necklace and these bracelets are just perfect for you! No? What about these? I think these are also great on you") and prices I wouldn't ever have considered had I not been desperate.
Although Bliss tries to represent the glimmer of hope for Seattle fashionistas, it usually falls short. You might be able to find a gem from time to time, but you have to ask if it's really worth all the hassle. For example, Bliss carries some designer jeans, but you're better off going to a store like Nordstrom's where the service, prices and alterations are better. At Bliss, you'll find bipolar sales strategies, returns for store credit only, and basic hems--not much else in the way of tailoring--for more than you'll find elsewhere.
At what cost fashion? Not this much.
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The rumors are true: The hipsters sometimes come to congregate here. And why shouldn't they? At Shorty's Coney Island you get to hang out in booths reminiscent of high school cafeterias. Beers are...
The rumors are true: The hipsters sometimes come to congregate here. And why shouldn't they? At Shorty's Coney Island you get to hang out in booths reminiscent of high school cafeterias. Beers are cheap. There's Galaga. OK, so it's no Nickel Nickel, the staple arcade for me growing up where old school games were a nickel and newer ones the standard 25 and 50 cents. But where else can I go and order a PBR and a hot dog with kraut, cheese and onion (without receiving a dirty look or a double-take!) and play Time Crisis to my heart's content. Nowhere. And really, nowhere, as Shorty's no longer has Time Crisis--but they still have Buck Hunter and a variety of other video games and pinball machines.
Ah, Shorty's, the one place I can go in Belltown without fear of being eaten alive.
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Sometimes when I'm standing atop one of the cliffs in Discovery Park, I like to pretend what I'm seeing is what the first settlers experienced on their arrival; it's so refreshing and awe-inspiring....
Sometimes when I'm standing atop one of the cliffs in Discovery Park, I like to pretend what I'm seeing is what the first settlers experienced on their arrival; it's so refreshing and awe-inspiring. But then I remember that the coastline was a lot more forested and difficult to navigate back then, that a lot of grooming and maintenance is required to keep the park in the shape it is in. (How else would all the strollers, marathoners and dogs manage it?) Still, I think the magic about it keeps it among my favorite places in the city.
Whether you're going on a hike, bird-watching, playing ultimate frisbee or doing a trail run, Discovery Park harbors a wealth of activity. You get basketball courts and a visitor's center, trails and water fountains, all side-by-side. The park is especially great with out-of-town guests; you get to enjoy nature without leaving Seattle city limits. I love how in the span of a few miles, I can hike through some small forest, walk along a sandy beach and stand in the middle of what feels like a mini prairie. Although many of the visitors travel in groups, I still find Discovery Park a great place for solitude. Depending on the day, you can spend an hour exploring and not run into anyone. And even if there are lots of people around--as is usually true on a sunny summer day--it's hard to beat the views.
If you are going for a run in the rain, there's pretty decent tree coverage on the Loop Trail. If there hasn't been a lot of recent precipitation, the trails are usually manageable still, with limited pools of water to spoil your jaunt.
If you're letterboxing, I will note that I've never been successful at finding any of the boxes. Perhaps I'm going at the wrong time, perhaps my navigational skills are that off. I have a sinking suspicion, though, park officials are diligent about removing any foreign articles found.
I've never visited the park after sundown. I've heard interesting rumors about the goings-on once the sun has set, but I cannot confirm.
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I made my first--and only--car purchase with Honda Auto Center of Bellevue and I can say it was a dream. As if the stress of such a major purchase that would lose value the minute I drove it off the...
I made my first--and only--car purchase with Honda Auto Center of Bellevue and I can say it was a dream. As if the stress of such a major purchase that would lose value the minute I drove it off the lot wasn't enough, I kept envisioning the absolute worst. There have been enough horror stories about young women entering car lots as novices, and after visiting a few dealerships, I can see why those stories exist. Luckily I had the exact opposite experience at this dealership.
When I started my car hunt, my officemates directed me to a fellow coworker who is a car aficionado, having bought, sold and owned dozens of vehicles. After telling him I was in the market for a Civic, he immediately directed me to Honda Auto Center of Bellevue. My coworker guaranteed me that Honda Auto Center of Bellevue was one of the the best dealerships he'd worked with. Besides having a large inventory, the dealership employed good people. He then directed me to Tony, his salesman of choice.
As Tony wasn't available the first time I visited Honda, Kevin was my salesman. It almost feels wrong to write "salesman", though, as he doesn't embody the stereotypes normally attached to that position. Kevin managed to be attentive without being invasive. He answered my questions as needed, gave me service advice (he'd worked as a mechanic) and never gave me a barrage of calls, as I found to be true with other reps I met during my research. Perhaps the sell was easier with me, as I grew up in family of Honda fans. Still, I waited a week before making my purchase and I never felt pressured or out of communication with him, even on his days off. (I tend to ask a lot of questions. Maybe I should be commending his patience, too.) When I made my purchase, it was a price I was happy about and a decision which I had confidence in.
I didn't have my financing handled by the dealership, so I can't speak to that. I can say that the paperwork process appeared to be handled in an orderly and professional fashion. Although they did try to sell me a warranty, the speech was brief and after I declined their offer, there was no extra hassle.
Since the purchase, I have had only positive comments on the care of the car (a few mechanics now) and no extraneous communication from Honda; just a few discount flyers in the mail. Once I left the lot with my keys, I haven't had any need to call them back--except maybe to say thank you. I don't know if I could have had a better buying experience.
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"Non-descript" is the word that comes to mind. Sitting here, I can't remember the meals I've eaten at Beso del Sol. Somewhere in there were rice and beans, good beef (although not particularly...
"Non-descript" is the word that comes to mind. Sitting here, I can't remember the meals I've eaten at Beso del Sol. Somewhere in there were rice and beans, good beef (although not particularly flavorful and a little on the tough side) and some decent pork. Nothing outstanding, nothing signature to recall. Just a meal that was good but perhaps more expensive than the enjoyment warranted.
A few times, we've received some grilled meats that arrived with more char than is usual in a restaurant. (Hmm... perhaps that's why the restaurant is called "kiss of the sun".) Fortunately, I happen to like that effect so I was pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, my dinner mate was not. And still we return. My best explanation is that they're nearby and sell fajitas and are not Chili's. That and we're too lazy to make our own fajitas.
What I really enjoy there--and is probably what moves me from borderline to pro-Beso del Sol--are their tasty mango mojitos. Maybe THAT'S the kiss of the sun they're talking about...
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Perhaps it's the quality of the ice cream (so creamy and smooth). Or perhaps it appeals to the glutton in me (whatever I want on it? I'll take it all!). Either way, when I think of an easy way to...
Perhaps it's the quality of the ice cream (so creamy and smooth). Or perhaps it appeals to the glutton in me (whatever I want on it? I'll take it all!). Either way, when I think of an easy way to treat myself I think of a waffle bowl at Cold Stone Creamery.
On my first visit, the good-better-best sizing approach left me ordering the love it (the "better" of the three sizes: like it, love it, and gotta have it). I was fooled by their intelligent pricing structure and left with more than I should have been able to handle. One love-it cone later and I knew it was just too much; their portions are for giants. (Giants, ice-cream fiends or for sharing, I'm not sure.) Still, I managed to get each delectable bite down.
A national chain, Cold Stone offers a list of 33 pre-designed ice creams. You can either take their recommendations or pick your own mix-ins. Be forewarned: Like pizza, the ice cream costs quite a bit with each additional topping if you decide to "mix it yourself". On first impression, the mint ice cream drizzled with fudge, M&Ms and brownie in a waffle bowl may seem like a good idea, but you may want to cut back a little--maybe just mint, M&Ms and brownie--before the ice cream approaches $10 a pop.
In other genius moves, this ice cream parlor is open until 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on Friday and Saturday. In the summer, I love grabbing dinner in Fremont, walking to Cold Stone for a cone and then taking a stroll along the Burke. It's a pleasant way to burn off some of the thousands of Coffee Lovers Only (coffee ice cream, Heath bar, almonds and caramel) calories that go down so easily.
Besides ice cream, Cold Stone also sells milk shakes and ice cream cakes. The ice cream cakes, like their ice cream cones and bowls, are huge. Delicious, but huge.
At the end of the day, Cold Stone is a splurge--financially and calorically. Sometimes, though, you need a little bit of both. Or as the case may be, a lot of both.
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Paseo makes me drool. Delicious toasted bread with a heavenly piece of perfectly grilled and seasoned pork in between and a mayo spread to top it off. Mmm... tasty.
OK, so I should admit I...
Paseo makes me drool. Delicious toasted bread with a heavenly piece of perfectly grilled and seasoned pork in between and a mayo spread to top it off. Mmm... tasty.
OK, so I should admit I haven't really tried any other dishes outside the grilled pork sandwich. I go in with the best intentions; "Today is a pulled pork day" I will decide. But once I'm at the counter, I can't forget how amazing the grilled pork is, and away my best laid plans fall. Such an amazing sandwich. Probably one of my top five favorite sandwiches of all time--and that's a tough list to make considering how many sandwiches are out there.
Points off for being difficult to eat (I can't keep the meat-to-bread ratio consistent as I'm eating) and for the corn being less buttery and delicious than it could be. As far as dining experience, I recommend ordering to go; the establishment is small and the furniture not the most comfortable to sit in. But if you're wolfing down the food in a few glorious gulps like I am, I guess comfort isn't the biggest factor.
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Come get your T-shirts! American Apparel is here.
Perhaps overly hyped, American Apparel offers American made clothing in basic colors and more cuts than you imagine. If you've ever wanted to add...
Come get your T-shirts! American Apparel is here.
Perhaps overly hyped, American Apparel offers American made clothing in basic colors and more cuts than you imagine. If you've ever wanted to add more color to your wardrobe, wondered exactly what the best T-shirt shape is for you, or wanted to make a custom shirt, hit American Apparel. I must have tried on about five different short-sleeved Ts--all with a different look. They also offer underwear, bathing suits, skirts, vests, zip-ups--even dog T-shirts. (While the puppy Ts seem ridiculous, I can't help put finger them and remark "How cute" every time I see one.)
Although I've met customer service reps with varying degrees of pretentiousness, most are extremely helpful and able to tell you about how much the shirt will shrink, what types of laundry care are best for which shirts, what style I might like best based on my fit preferences, etc. I've also gone in and purchased a bagful of shirts to use for color selection and sizing, and the clerks were quite understanding, congenially reminding me that all purchases are returnable so long as I have the receipt, tags attached and meet the return period.
My biggest gripe is having to pay upwards of $15 for a T-shirt. Something about that just doesn't feel right. At least I can say that dozens of washes later, my T-shirts are the same color they were when I first bought them and that they are as soft as ever. Perhaps those guarantees alone are worth the price. It still hurts a little, though.
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When I have a hankering to belt out my latest favorite sappy love song and the confines of my car are not enough, I know that I can always rally a few people to join me at Seattle's Best Karaoke....
When I have a hankering to belt out my latest favorite sappy love song and the confines of my car are not enough, I know that I can always rally a few people to join me at Seattle's Best Karaoke. Set up with individual karaoke rooms, SBK offers you the opportunity to sing out loud with a microphone without embarrassing yourself in front of TOO many people. (I think the largest capacity for the largest room is around 12.) And with a nearly overwhelming collection of songs (3" binders full to the brim of song spreadsheets!), you don't have to worry about finding something you can/want to sing; Journey, always a crowd pleaser, is among the many songs available. (Find the song lists--all but the most recent additions--online at sbkaraoke.com.)
No food is available for purchase, and only a few sodas and water bottles are kept in stock. Looking for something a little less dry? Pick up a banquet license (about $10) at a liquor store, and you can stock your bar as full as you want/need.
Parties at SBK are generally fun for everyone; if you're not participating, then you're watching the hilarity. Sadly, the prices--which are pretty steep, especially on the weekend--reflect the maximum number of people in attendance and not those singing, so everyone is charged. And as the furniture hasn't been changed in the rooms in the last few years, nor has much additional maintenance been performed, it feels more like you're paying for the limited availability of private karaoke and not the ambience.
If you're holding an event elsewhere and would prefer to not leave those comforts for karaoke, have them come to you: SBK offers equipment rentals, complete with machine, music and a small screen. Only an abbreviated collection of songs and lyrics sans quirky videos are available as part of the rental. For the full set, you'll just have to stop by SBK and experience the real deal--which for now isn't all that much.
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First off, any activity called tubing ("tubin' " is also an accepted pronunciation) guarantees a certain level of fun. That said, I don't know how the Tubing Center at Snoqualmie could get much...
First off, any activity called tubing ("tubin' " is also an accepted pronunciation) guarantees a certain level of fun. That said, I don't know how the Tubing Center at Snoqualmie could get much better than it is.
Located just off Summit Central, the Tubing Center offers a groomed, easy and unique winter diversion. Come dressed for snow, buy your pass (tube usage included) and you're set. The park is open on the weekends during the day and on some evenings. (Nighttime tubing is definitely something special.)
On the main hill, there are about 10 lanes ripe for tubing, each with enough variety that by the end you'll have a favorite. Even at maximum capacity, the wait at each run is short to nonexistent. Once you've made your way down, you have the option of walking back up (a nice way to keep warm--and the faster option) or you can take the tow back up. Although slow, the tow is a piece of fun unto itself.
Tubing, which requires no skill whatsoever, is great for people of most any age or derring-do. You can take each run as a basic tube down the hill, or you can spice it up with powerful spins, running starts, riding head-first or taking some other approach that I can't begin to fathom.
After a few hours, when you're all tubed out, you can head to the park's cafe where nachos are available for purchase. An oddly great end to a great day.
http://summitatsnoqualmie.com/info/winter/tubing.asp
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