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Ramuta's is that family shop from days gone past that really should be on Main Street of some quaint little town -- the wife runs the counter, the husband works on the shoes, and the sister comes in...
Ramuta's is that family shop from days gone past that really should be on Main Street of some quaint little town -- the wife runs the counter, the husband works on the shoes, and the sister comes in periodically to do her specialty work on "elastic" projects. I found Ramuta's years ago when a Nordstrom employee whispered to me that Ramuta's was the best shoe repair in town (she even hinted that Nordstrom used to send their shoes there for repair). Other famous clients include the Pac NW ballet (which gets the toe shoes repaired there) and most of the local theaters. Ramuta's will resurrect ANY pair of shoes (worth salvaging) that you bring to them. They have succeeded with my worst. New heels, new toes, new straps -- whatever you throw their way, they will work their magic and transform the shoe (or will be brutally honest that it is beyond repair). All this combined with kind, friendly, sparkle-y personalities. They make you feel like Seattle is still a small town. Make sure to be explicit if you need your shoes by a certain date/time, because the "ready by" date is more like a possible date rather than a definite one. So just call ahead to make sure the shoes are ready.
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I had not realized this before I discovered Urban Vines, but the next best thing to the neighborhood bar just may be the neighborhood wine shop. With its exposed brick walls, boutiquey wines &...
I had not realized this before I discovered Urban Vines, but the next best thing to the neighborhood bar just may be the neighborhood wine shop. With its exposed brick walls, boutiquey wines & beers, friendly owners, abundant tastings, and dog-friendly atmosphere, Urban Vines is a cozy place in the heart of Mt. Baker where you can sip some wine with the neighbors and feel like a regular. No pressure to know anything about varietals or to make a big investment, Urban Vines is that unique shop that has really cool wines -- and for as low as $10 -- but with none of the attitude. Also, you don't feel like a schmuck if you hang out for a while and drink some of their wine.
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Introduced to it by Emily Parker, Voula's has changed my breakfast life. Until EP's brilliant intro, I hadn't found a place where I could (1) sit at a counter; (2) get heaping hash browns cooked to...
Introduced to it by Emily Parker, Voula's has changed my breakfast life. Until EP's brilliant intro, I hadn't found a place where I could (1) sit at a counter; (2) get heaping hash browns cooked to perfection; (3) see the same waitresses each week; and (4) feel like a local. Pre Voula's, I was often stumped when someone wanted a good old-fashioned breakfast (eggs, bacon, hash browns). Voula's is that authentic spot: straightforward, simple, yummy diner food. Bonus is that you may also have a UW crew team sighting.
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Buckets
Category:
Florists
1219 1st Ave
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 405-3335
Sending flowers can be a bit tricky because the florist controls the aesthetic. No matter how specific your direction is (i.e. what flowers to use/not to use), it is ultimately the florist's...
Sending flowers can be a bit tricky because the florist controls the aesthetic. No matter how specific your direction is (i.e. what flowers to use/not to use), it is ultimately the florist's artistic sensibility that controls, So, it is critical to like/trust the florist's taste. For me, Buckets is the place I trust. Very artistic arrangements -- they use unusual flowers, colors, and combinations (once I saw poppy pods, another time, some funky vegetable looking flower), but they are not so artsy that the arrangements come across smugly. They are always, as I think flowers should be, lovingly selected and cheerful. They are reasonably priced as well -- I can send an arrangement anywhere around town for $40.
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Daisywagen is the rarest of auto shops: you can really trust these guys. Before I found Daisywagen, whenever I needed to take my 87 Volvo into the shop I just felt dread. Having no knowledge...
Daisywagen is the rarest of auto shops: you can really trust these guys. Before I found Daisywagen, whenever I needed to take my 87 Volvo into the shop I just felt dread. Having no knowledge or understanding of auto maintenance/mechanics, I felt like a trip to the auto shop meant an opportunity for someone to drain me of money (especially because of the age of my car). Daisywagen is NOT that place. First, no matter how busy they are, they have always made room to see my car. Second, they fix the problem -- instead of compiling an endless list of things that could be repaired, they identify the ones that need to be repaired. Third, they are reasonably priced and they are not trying to rip you off (in fact, sometimes when I have made an incorrect diagnosis and brought the car in unnecessarily, they haven't charged me (even if they topped off my oil and other fluids). Fourth, they are really really nice. Daisywagen has the feel of a small town auto repair -- they are decent decent people who know/value their customers and take great pride in their work and trustworthiness.
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