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Inn of the White Salmon is a small hotel (16 rooms) in the Columbia River Gorge. The rooms are small but pleasant -- a little high on the doily count, but not as chintzy and flouncy as many a...
Inn of the White Salmon is a small hotel (16 rooms) in the Columbia River Gorge. The rooms are small but pleasant -- a little high on the doily count, but not as chintzy and flouncy as many a precious B&B I have stayed at.
Two big plusses: 1. They take dogs, and don't charge you an arm and a leg (the pet surcharge is $10 per dog for your entire stay). Plus there is a park two blocks away that was deserted all weekend, so I was able to let my beasties romp there off-leash (though I'm not sure what the local leash laws are). 2. Breakfast is included in the price of your room, and bears no resemblance to the cheap continental breakfast provided at chain hotels. There is a buffet of 15 or 20 types of tarts and pastries, fresh fruit, and you also get your choice of a tasty egg entree (I had Hungarian flauf one morning, and a chile relleno fritatta the other). There's also a hot tub, in a nice garden area at the back.
Drawbacks: 1. Little in the way of a view, at least from our first-floor room. 2. White Salmon is a seriously sleepy place, where there are basically no restaurants and the shops seem aimed at the tourist trade yet were closed on Sunday and on Memorial Day. However, Hood River is a short drive away.
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I recently went to see a Peruvian singer, Susana Baca, at the Crocodile. This is a woman who has appeared before at the Triple Door, the Paramount, etc. I'm not sure exactly sure how she ended up at...
I recently went to see a Peruvian singer, Susana Baca, at the Crocodile. This is a woman who has appeared before at the Triple Door, the Paramount, etc. I'm not sure exactly sure how she ended up at the Croc, but it was completely the wrong venue for her. Hot, crowded, noisy (three different couples behind us yakked at full volume through the ENTIRE show), full of drunks. We walked out halfway through, and a lot of other people did too.
I'm sure this is a fine place for getting drunk with your friends to the beat of a loud punk band, and the food was surprisingly decent, but for someone who actually wanted to be able to see and hear this petite, soft-spoken woman with an acoustic backup band it was awful.
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Anderson's isn't one of those gyms full of posturing hardbodies admiring themselves in ubiquitous mirrors. The atmosphere is laid-back, and the staff and customers are friendly without being in your...
Anderson's isn't one of those gyms full of posturing hardbodies admiring themselves in ubiquitous mirrors. The atmosphere is laid-back, and the staff and customers are friendly without being in your face. Sure, you'll occasionally see some dude dramatically grunting his way through a set, or chatting up a young woman who's doing her best to politely ignore him, but it's the exception here rather than the rule.
Another big plus is that it's a family-owned business with some history in the community, not a cog in some corporate conglomerate with a hard-sell marketing plan.
The only major beef I have with Anderson's is that they aren't open Saturday and Sunday evenings. (They close at 5 or 6.)
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I've given up on finding clothes I like at Value Village (I'm an odd size to fit), but I go there all the time to buy books. It's perfect -- the books are affordable (I think the prices range from...
I've given up on finding clothes I like at Value Village (I'm an odd size to fit), but I go there all the time to buy books. It's perfect -- the books are affordable (I think the prices range from 0.99 to 2.99), and unlike the overwhelming variety at an actual bookstore, I can usually browse the entire selection in less than an hour. It's totally random, of course, but I always manage to end up with five or six books that I've been wanting to read or (even better) have never heard of.
Yeah, I know, if I'm gonna be such a cheapskate I should go to the library already. Somehow that never occurs to me, despite my degree in Librarianship. Go figure.
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OK, let's say it together. Movies in a theater for $3. Even on a Friday or Saturday night. To the guy who gave it one star, get real! No, it's not the Cinerama, but you can see a movie AND get a...
OK, let's say it together. Movies in a theater for $3. Even on a Friday or Saturday night. To the guy who gave it one star, get real! No, it's not the Cinerama, but you can see a movie AND get a bucket of popcorn for under $10. Sure, it's even cheaper to rent a DVD and make microwave popcorn at home, but when you want to see a movie on a real movie screen with a theater full of people laughing and/or sniffling around you, the Crest is a great value.
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I have to admit I'm biased -- I've been taking classes with Hallie Kuperman every couple of years since before she even owned the Century Ballroom. But to me it is the best place in Seattle to go...
I have to admit I'm biased -- I've been taking classes with Hallie Kuperman every couple of years since before she even owned the Century Ballroom. But to me it is the best place in Seattle to go for a romantic evening out. What could be better than having a nice dinner (the menu is limited, but everything I've had has been very good), white tablecloths and all, then twirling 'round the floor with your girl (or guy) in your arms?
Despite being a lesbian-owned business on Capitol Hill, the Century is dominated most evenings by hetero couples. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I am very happy that Hallie recently added gay nights to the schedule. OutDancing happens on the third and fourth Friday of every month, and features a wide variety of dance music, from salsa and swing to two-step and disco. The crowd tends to be mostly women (including a lot of familiar faces from the Timberline, may it rest in peace), but there are several male regulars as well. There are plenty of people to fill the room with energy, but it is not nearly as crowded and sweaty as the popular salsa nights.
Don't know how to swing? Scared by salsa? Not to fear. There are classes before each dance, as well as a regular schedule of classes that meet several weeks in a row, and the instructors are great.
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This is my favorite place in Seattle for nachos. Specifically, the chicken nachos. The chicken is slow-cooked with onions and spices and is really tender and flavorful. My other favorite on the menu...
This is my favorite place in Seattle for nachos. Specifically, the chicken nachos. The chicken is slow-cooked with onions and spices and is really tender and flavorful. My other favorite on the menu is the pollo loco -- which features the same tasty chicken, this time wrapped in a tortilla, fried, and topped with cheese and sour cream. I'd like it even better if it came with rice AND beans, instead of rice OR beans (BDS, are you listening?).
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I know there are lots of Krispy Kreme devotees out there, but I'm not one of them. I'm a confirmed Family Donut addict. (And yes, that's the way they spell it on the sign; not the same as the name...
I know there are lots of Krispy Kreme devotees out there, but I'm not one of them. I'm a confirmed Family Donut addict. (And yes, that's the way they spell it on the sign; not the same as the name Judy's Book has it under.)
Family Donut is a tiny storefront in a tiny strip mall. Definitely not fancy, but it's well worth seeking out. They have a wide variety of fresh, crispy (or squishy, if that's your preference) donuts at very reasonable prices. Including my favorite -- iced, with chopped nuts.
A couple of years ago a KK opened up not far away, and I was worried my favorite donut shop would go the way of all the mom-and-pop shops driven out by the Wal-Marts of the world. So far at least the neighborhood devotees seem to be keeping it afloat. But we could use your help! It's not just a donut, it's a blow against the hegemony of huge multinational corporations...
(Yes, they're better than Top Pot too.)
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I've been getting my hair cut at Salon Zaffa for about 5 years now. I have wavy hair that I like to keep very short and tidy -- not an easy haircut. I not only look good when I leave SZ, my cut...
I've been getting my hair cut at Salon Zaffa for about 5 years now. I have wavy hair that I like to keep very short and tidy -- not an easy haircut. I not only look good when I leave SZ, my cut keeps looking good as it grows out. (They also do fabulous longer cuts, color, etc. on my more adventurous friends.)
Zaffa's also fun to go to -- there's always interesting art on the walls and good music playing, and frequently a cute, friendly dog or two in residence. Definitely not the stuffy atmosphere of the pricey downtown salons, yet it's very professional and clean. Another great feature is that it's right across the street from the Essential Bakery.
The only downside is that my favorite stylist there is so popular I have to plan ahead and make an appointment long before my hair gets to the "I can't take it anymore!" stage.
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When I've had a hard day and want to relax with some comfort food, this is my favorite place to go. It's the ONLY restaurant where I've ever had spaghetti and meatballs and haven't thought "heck, I...
When I've had a hard day and want to relax with some comfort food, this is my favorite place to go. It's the ONLY restaurant where I've ever had spaghetti and meatballs and haven't thought "heck, I could make it better at home." I can be lured away from the spaghetti and meatballs only if the chicken pistachio ravioli is on the specials board. It's amazing. And be sure to get the molten chocolate pudding cake to finish things off (it takes 15 minutes to make, so order it with the rest of your meal rather than waiting until after).
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