|
QFC
Category:
Grocery Stores
University Village
Seattle, Washington 98105
(206) 523-5160
As far as chain grocery stores go, without going to Whole Foods (which is hellish to shop at) or specialty stores, this is probably as good as it can get if you want to pick up an interesting beer...
As far as chain grocery stores go, without going to Whole Foods (which is hellish to shop at) or specialty stores, this is probably as good as it can get if you want to pick up an interesting beer spontaneously. We live right by this QFC, and we've been most impressed by their international beer selection. It's not a huge wall or anything, but it's way beyond the other QFC's (maybe the one in Capitol Hill has a good selection too but I don't know). The one that impressed me the most is the Red Rice Ale by Hitachino Nest in Japan http://kodawari.cc/engpage/kodawari/html/product_beer/red_rice_ale.htm , mostly because I hadn't even seen that in Japan. It's made from the ancient red rice (which is the only native rice to Japanese soil), and it tastes like nothing you've ever tasted. They have all the usual suspects - local microbrews, different stouts, ales, lagers, lambics, ciders (okay that's not technically a beer but I enjoy a good cider)... plus they have high quality/interesting beers like different Trappist ales and the red rice ale mentioned above.
Well not to sound like a complete drunk, first and foremost it's a "grocery" store, and it does that pretty well, too. Good bread and produce selection (much better in quality than the Safeway next door), decent section of organic foods, great ice cream selection, etc. It also has SBC, a bagel shop, and FREE childcare. Their flowers are pretty good as well.
The service is not too shabby either - whenever I had a problem with the self checkout machines I've always been offered a prompt refund.
While QFC stands for Quality Food Center, we've been disappointed by other QFC's, and this one hasn't let us down - yet. So the next time you're shopping at the Village, go ahead, pick up an interesting beer just steps away.
Hide
|
|
At a glance Gingko Tea is like other bubble tea places on the Ave, but I think this place has a leg up since it caters to our various needs and also has some interesting selections, while not making...
At a glance Gingko Tea is like other bubble tea places on the Ave, but I think this place has a leg up since it caters to our various needs and also has some interesting selections, while not making everything from powder. They also have good choices of "add-ons".
IMHO, bubble tea can be a horrid sugary experience if you go to a place where they make everything from powder. This place seems to have many good milk teas, shaken teas, and other bubble teas that are not made from powder. (My favorite is longan, which comes with some longan jelly bits in it, with added tapioka.) They also have nice different options like lavender milk tea (not always on the menu, but very good) or rose milk tea.
They also serve all the standard coffee/espresso drinks, regular tea (good Chinese teas) and some fruit smoothies. The shop is spacious and have a relaxed feel, equipped with board games. They also have some Chinese munchies. While it's not as quaint as some (e.g. Shinka - which is more Japanese), this place is a good choice for stopping by to relax with a drink when you want something different for everyone.
Hide
|
|
It's a very old concept, dinner and a movie. Many entrepreneurs across this country have tried this merging of movie and dinner approach, some good, some not so good, and most good ones I knew have...
It's a very old concept, dinner and a movie. Many entrepreneurs across this country have tried this merging of movie and dinner approach, some good, some not so good, and most good ones I knew have gone out of business. (Oddly I know of some badly executed ones that are still in business.)
In this town we have Central Cinema, and they do it in good taste! They have decent drinks (a small but tasteful variety of beers includes microbrews, and some wines - wish there were mixed drinks, but oh well), a succinct but somewhat interesting menu (personal sized pizzas that are not just pepperoni, sandwiches, salads, "tapas plate" which includes killer hummus, edamade, pig in a blanket with turkey or tofu option, and also rich desserts), and usually a good selection of one movie at a time.
I like their movie selection - this time we saw Vodka Lemon, a bittersweet old people romance flick from an ex-Iraqi Kurdish director set in a little Armenian village. They'll show good older movies like Run Lola Run and Triplets of Belleville (one of my all-time favorite!) in the coming days. Whoever picks movies for this place has a good taste.
The food, while they try, is not that stellar but sufficient to serve your needs when you want to combine dinner that's not hot dog/popcorn and a movie. I do appreciate that it's not just a burger and pizza fare. Their herbal tea is good, hummus excellent, pizzas pretty good, salmon burger satisfactory, but the edamame was mushy and kind of gross. This last time I went for a quirky option of pig in a blanket, and while the pastry had good ingredients and intentions, it was a little mushy inside also.
They play old cartoons (like Betty Boop) and interesting old educational clips (sometimes satirical while the original was not meant to be so) before the show, making the wait time more entertaining and much more interesting than a conventional movie theater. The wait staff is friendly and usually helpful.
Overall I give it a "great" rating, because of their semi-interesting menu selections, availability of alcohol, excellent pre-movie entertainment and excellent movie choices. Movies are cheap here ($5), and in my mind, we should always encourage combining drinks, better food and a movie :-)
P.S. If you ever go to Boulder, don't miss Boulder Theater - there's nothing like watching The Big Lebowski in bathrobes while sipping White Russians, in the middle of downtown.
Hide
|
|
Caution: I'm admittedly a "bleeding heart" who's happy in Western Washington. No need to go on if you feel we don't really have inequality in our society or some screwed up policies.
I've been...
Caution: I'm admittedly a "bleeding heart" who's happy in Western Washington. No need to go on if you feel we don't really have inequality in our society or some screwed up policies.
I've been with Working Assets http://www.workingassets.com/index.cfm for my long distance for as long as I can remember. Sure, I use my cell phone most of the time, but we still have a land line and gotta pick a long distance company, so why not pick one we feel good about? It may not be the cheapest, but it's certainly competitive, and what sets them apart is what they do with their money.
First and foremost, though, you get a FREE PINT of Ben & Jerry's every month for 12 months if you are new (you get a coupon each month). That sold me. A company who knows the value of good ice cream. What can go wrong?
In short, every time you talk on the phone, 1% of your charges automatically go to progressive nonprofits at no extra cost to you. Since 1985, Working Assets has donated more than $50 million to different organizations; in 2005 they raised almost $4 million. You get to nominate and vote for what organizations receive funding each year.
You can also voluntarily "round up" your bill, to make a tax-deductible donation.
Each month they also include "Citizen Actions" in your bill, which talk about some current issues that could use activism on your part. They would do a targeted campaign to call a certain representative, and you can make those phone calls to Washington FREE if you use your registered phone. If you so choose, instead, you could send "CitizenLetters" for a fee, and they'll send a letter to the targeted representative on your behalf. It's no-pain activism for busy folks (or a lazy person like me)! You may not agree with every action they bring up, but at least you have an option to be a collective voice if you agree with something. For example, this last month they were 1. urge Pres. Bush to seek a UN peacekeeping for Darfur, 2. raise minimum wage (still $5.15!!! That's $10,700 a year) and 3. restore funding for Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
They also recommend some current books and you can buy those from them if you so choose. There are a lot of stuff they include in their bill (but no more pages than a typical phone bill) - if you're busy or don't agree, you can choose to ignore it.
The rates are very competitive I think - since we moved and signed up with a new account, we got 2.9 cents a minute for a full year, and 5c a minute thereafter. They have good international rates, too (with their optional international plan I believe it's 10c a minute to call Japan).
I've been happy with their service - we've never had any problem. And when you call their customer service, you don't have to wait forever like you would with a huge company, and they seem actually happy that you are their customer.
They'd started offering wireless services as well as a credit card, but I haven't tried those since we're against credit cards and we have a wireless service contract. But for long distance they pay your fee to switch, so there's usually no pain.
Hide
|
|
We have one very skittish, xenophobic cat, Mia. My fiance mostly raised her, and he raised her in the same loving way he raised his other cat, but somehow Mia always seemed to be much more skittish...
We have one very skittish, xenophobic cat, Mia. My fiance mostly raised her, and he raised her in the same loving way he raised his other cat, but somehow Mia always seemed to be much more skittish and very suspicious of people's best intentions even to pet her. She's a long haired cat who had some bad knots and tangled hair - my fiance was convinced we needed to shave her (she would become very scratchy when he tried to comb her knots).
Thanks to Lori's recommendation http://www.judysbook.com/members/37756/questions/4165/ we found Victoria at Looking Good Grooming, who seemed to have the magic touch! Not only did she say Mia gave her no trouble, she shampooed Mia and combed out all the tangled knots, so she didn't have to be shaved! I don't know how she did it, but Mia came out smelling nice, shiny haired, with a cute bandana around her neck, calm and happy :-)
Needless to say, without all the knotted hair tugging her skin, Mia is a much happier cat now. So worth $40+tip we paid. If your cat/dog is also scratchy, they also cut nails for $5, and/or apply Soft Claws http://www.softclaws.com/ for $20, I think. Thank you Victoria, and we will be back!
Hide
|
|
The Scene:
A little house converted into a restaurant which is surprisingly roomy inside on a busy street (25th north of U Village). There is a piano by the door so some nights they may play it,...
The Scene:
A little house converted into a restaurant which is surprisingly roomy inside on a busy street (25th north of U Village). There is a piano by the door so some nights they may play it, but on a Tuesday we visited, nobody. Dimly lit, warm-toned (orangish yellow) walls, red curtains in spots, tasteful forged iron and glass lighting fixtures, a big round brick fire pit in the middle of the main dining room with copper vent over it. Definitely a warm ambiance; very secluded. You don't notice you're on a busy street once you're in.
The People:
It's possible there are other waiters who called in sick, but there was just one fellow working the 8-9 tables which were occupied (too high a table-to-waiter ratio to provide good service, IMHO). He also manned the front desk. Customers are definitely older - ranging from mid-30's to 60's or 70's. Quite a few button down shirts, some ties and properly dressed ladies. Seems like the kind of place where the more traditional neighborhood people have been dropping in because it's "comfortable".
The Food:
Homey, authentic Italian. Seems like you stopped in someone's home kitchen. Translation = Nothing super refined, but very authentic Italian comfort food. Anyone who decides not to fry tender calamari is good in my book, and they do just that - their calamari appetizer is flash-stewed with tomatoes, Kalamata olives, garlic, basil, wine, and little chili. Mmmm. Their minestrone is uneventful, like you had someone's mom's soup (with very unevenly chopped veggies), but the flavor is good and authentic. Dipping oil/Balsamic vinegar combo for bread comes with herbs and garlic; while it's by no means high-end olive oil or matured vinegar, it again tastes authentic and goes well with the rustic bread. Their pesto is very good with nicely toasted pine nuts.
The Service:
Dicey and more European than American. Translation = It's not going to be fast, so don't go there if you are in a hurry. Only go if you are feeling laid back and feel like taking your time to enjoy your meal. Definitely faster service than what you would receive in, say, Ireland, but too many tables for one person. It could've been an off night. The man (very Italian) tries hard, though, and you almost feel bad for him.
The Verdict:
It's a charming neighborhood bistro with simple, authentic dishes. The dishes are $10-$20, averaging around $15. They taste good and homey, but nothing spectacular. Easy-going and unpretentious, probably very romantic if the fire is going in cold weather. A sensible choice for everyday dining, but the level of food or service probably wouldn't cut it for more special occasions, unless you have a personal memory associated with the place or its people.
Hide
|
|
This pretty much sums it up: biggest yakisoba in Seattle for $5.95.
(I'm usually opposed to "teriyaki" joints since you don't even cook teriyaki like that in Japan, but we were hungry and waiting...
This pretty much sums it up: biggest yakisoba in Seattle for $5.95.
(I'm usually opposed to "teriyaki" joints since you don't even cook teriyaki like that in Japan, but we were hungry and waiting for a bus.) Yakisoba is sort of a festival food in Japan - some dude in a festival booth cooks up noodles on a big teppan grill over high heat, all greasy and shiny (or you can go to an okonomiyaki restaurant and cook yourself - v. fun). So by no means it can be glorified, but I sometimes love it the same way I love good hot corn dogs few times a year.
Some yakisoba's are posers, using chow mein noodles and the like, with "teriyaki" sauce (no teriyaki sauce for yakisoba!). The one you get at University Teriyaki is pretty good as far as the fast food place goes. It's made with yakisoba noodles, and it has the correct kind of seasoning.
The thing which impressed us is its sheer SIZE. The plate is about a foot wide, and the dish fills it. If you have small appetite it could easily feed three people. And it's under $6. So if you lose all your money one day, go there to fill up.
Like most teriyaki joints this place is run by Korean folks (so I'd stick with Korean and "Japanese" dishes), so their jjigae (hot pot stew) is a good deal as well, and they bring it out bubbling hot (they bring your food but you bus). Very flavorful. If you add tofu/meat and some veggies to it, you could probably eat it with rice for a couple of days. Most of their dishes are under $6 before tax. A good resource for a starving student, or when you want to explore new territories with Korean food for dirt cheap.
Hide
|
|
(Reviewed in May 2006 - some numbers may have changed)
Jae H. Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute is new to the area (they opened the Seattle branch just last year), but the grand master, Mr. Kim has been...
(Reviewed in May 2006 - some numbers may have changed)
Jae H. Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute is new to the area (they opened the Seattle branch just last year), but the grand master, Mr. Kim has been teaching in Boston area since 1971. The Seattle school currently has about 80 students enrolled, and is in Wallingford area. (They'll cap the enrollment at 300 - I think - and people will start getting wait listed.)
Good things about a new school:
- You get LOTS of personal attention (they give you some private lessons before you join a class if you are a beginner)
- Great teacher to student ratio
- Nice facility
- Most students are beginners so you don't feel left out
This new branch is being run by Ms. Gailyn Perrin, who is an impressive athlete - she used to row on the U.S. National rowing team, and also coached the crew team at Boston Univ. With all her credentials you could expect her to be more scary, but she's totally nice and laid back - great with her praises and always full of smiles! She's nothing but reliable and fun to train with.
One thing that drew me to this school is that the grand master of this school is above politics often associated with a martial art school, and the school embodies and emphasizes the mental discipline of the sport. They definitely would not train you to become some aggressive fighter. (If anything, they'll probably teach you how to avoid conflicts.) I've dealt with lots of martial art school owners who were wrapped up in the politics of "which school is the best" or "which is the original teaching", "which is the most authentic", etc. - esp. Aikido and Karate, sometimes Yoga - that kind of politics only detracts from what you are trying to accomplish, and to me it discredits the owner for being a true master mentally.
Well philosophy aside, Ms. Perrin is awesome to train with, and while I never took their kids' classes, when I spoke to a parent whose kids are enrolled, she was very happy with the teachers. And I would imagine if you had a girl, it would be a great boost to have such a strong female role model.
Also, they are very cognizant of what YOU are comfortable with and what YOU are trying to accomplish. They realize one size doesn't fit all, so they won't challenge you to do something if that's not what you're interested in (e.g. they are not going to force you to do a full sparring, if you feel that's not what you're after). With that said, you'll always learn new things and realize your new abilities.
Heads-up, they do have you sign a 6-month tuition agreement (taken as monthly payments) like a gym, but to me it was worth it. With that you get initial private lessons and unlimited classes.
Hide
|
|
..and she's also capable! We bought our current home at the border of Ravenna/U-District (which was by no means a high-commission material in today's Seattle real estate market) with Sharilyn. We...
..and she's also capable! We bought our current home at the border of Ravenna/U-District (which was by no means a high-commission material in today's Seattle real estate market) with Sharilyn. We found her by stroke of luck, considering we were doing it long-distance, but she was nothing but accommodating and courteous at all times. She always got back to us right away, and she worked with our impossible time constraints, always smiling.
She's one of those real people - she's also a lifetime northwestener and she knows different areas very well. She can tell you what kind of price fluctuation you can expect from each area/property as well as pros and cons. She'll also notice little things about a property you may overlook. The home buying experience can be grinding, but since she was so easy to get along with, it was actually fun looking at homes with her - and you can laugh at bad flowery wallpapers together.
She also seems good at building quick rapport with the seller's agent or other involved parties, which I believe is a plus when you start the negotiation. And she can be assertive on your behalf when she needs to, from the buyer's point of view.
Her aftercare was good, too - it wasn't like "oh, your deal is over, goodbye, I'll send you Mariners' schedule on a postcard and a magnet from time to time". She never seemed bothered when we would call and ask additional questions, and even after a while, she dropped us a note (with a Starbucks gift card nonetheless) saying, "look, a similar property in your area sold for this much - prices are going up!" to make us feel better about our big purchase.
Some popular real estate agents can become unreachable with lots of assistants and such, but with Sharilyn we feel like we've always got a friend in real estate (but not dull like Tom Shane), just a phone call away. Highly recommended.
Hide
|
|
Okay, maybe that's a weird beginning to a review of a restaurant, but they have the yummiest home-made yogurt (active culture!). And they give it to you for free.
So while it's a typical...
Okay, maybe that's a weird beginning to a review of a restaurant, but they have the yummiest home-made yogurt (active culture!). And they give it to you for free.
So while it's a typical Vietnamese restaurant in the area (minimal furnishing, fast, cheap, back-to-basics, like many others in U-District), we go there for yogurt.
Their food is decent and cheap. Their pho and rice vermicelli dishes are always comforting and fresh, and the rice dishes are also nice comfort foods (fried egg on top is a nice touch) - and at the price tag of about $5-6 per meal (the sandwiches are like $2 but they are not very exciting - it's mostly just the meat of your choice and cilantro in a baguette), you can't help but to feel like the ladies there are your surrogate moms away from home.
The food may not be the best in town while they are consistent and yummy for the price, but then, they appear with a little Styrofoam cup of home-made yogurt, complimentary, at the end of your meal. I make yogurt at home, but somehow theirs is smoother. Who doesn't love a free dessert? And it's even healthy!
So if you can't convince your significant other to go out some night, just say "it's for your intestinal health http://www.healthcastle.com/yogurt-probiotics-benefits.shtml , honey". You'll be glad you didn't settle for a store-bought Dannon.
Hide
|