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Hattie's Hat was a great experience. I never hang out in Ballard, but we were going to a show down at the Sunset and needed a place to crash beforehand. We met up with a couple friends and sat in...
Hattie's Hat was a great experience. I never hang out in Ballard, but we were going to a show down at the Sunset and needed a place to crash beforehand. We met up with a couple friends and sat in one of the half circle booths, which was probably the best idea of night next to ordering a round of Pabst Tall Boys.
I really enjoyed Hattie's because of the ambiance. I didn't get the feeling that it was a trendy, scenester bar. It just sort of was and you either liked it or didn't. The interior at night is dark, very dark. There is random stuff all over the walls -- artifacts that look like they've been there since the beginning of the bar.
The waiter was really cool, but really slammed. The place was busy. I saw people in there from all walks of life, which I appreciated. It's definitely not a classy upscale wine bar so don't expect that. Expect a great place with a great vibe. My advice would be to go with some good friends and shoot the breeze all night.
One tip: Get the Pabst Tall Boys. Even if you aren't a cheap beer drink just do it for the experience.
Another tip: Hattie's is a great place to hang out before going to see a show at The Sunset or any other place on that strip. Spend about an hour there beforehand and loosen up with a drink or two.
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Carmelita
Category:
Restaurants
7314 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle, Washington 98103
(206) 706-7703
I just recently took a special someone out to Carmelita for her birthday because she's been wanting to check out Cafe Flora, but I wanted to find a new place. I've heard that Carmelita is excellent...
I just recently took a special someone out to Carmelita for her birthday because she's been wanting to check out Cafe Flora, but I wanted to find a new place. I've heard that Carmelita is excellent and it did not disappoint.
Atmosphere:
The outside of the restaurant has an inconspicuous neon sign and the minute we walked in we were met with a flurry of conversation. The place was packed and humming along. I liked some of the reclaimed decor like the doors at the entry that acted as dividers. The lighting was just right and enhanced by candlelight. Everything was really simple. Nothing outrageous which I appreciated.
The Service:
Prompt and extremely attentive. My water was never empty and our server was very knowledgeable about the menu. She was really patient with us while we made our decisions very slowly. When my girlfriend asked to get her food heated she was concerned they would just microwave it but the server said they don't have a microwave. Her food came back 5 minutes later and the night didn't miss a beat.
The Food:
As an avid beef eater (not the gin) I really enjoyed this vegetarian fare. I got the empanadas for starters, the crepes for the main course and a chocolate volcano type dessert with a generous portion of delicious whipping cream on the side. This alone was incredible. If you want a place just for a good dessert go here after the dinner rush, maybe 9:30 pm or so. Excellent desserts in my opinion and I LOVE dessert, especially chocolate. I didn't miss the meat on the menu and I felt really good after eating, not heavy and lethargic. I will never give up meat, but I will definitely add in more vegetarian options to my diet (sorry anti-meat activists, it's just not going to happen -- I was raised in Eastern Washington).
The Bill:
The bill wasn't too staggering considering we kind of went all out and had a glass of wine, starters, main courses, and one dessert. With tip and everything the bill totaled just under a bill. $50/person for really good food and a great change of pace was worth it in my opinion.
The Crowd:
This is a very romantic place for a dinner-for-two kind of a date, but I also saw a lot of groups there and a lot of late nighters enjoying a good dinner. There was one hippie table, but the rest of the people in the place looked pretty much like anyone else you'd run into around Seattle.
Reservations:
A definite must on a weekend night. The place was packed out at 8:30 when we arrived to sit down and even then we had to wait 5 minutes to have our table prepared (I didn't care about this). If you don't have your heart set on eating there one night then try your luck, but if it's a special occasion I would suggest making a reservation 1 week in advance.
Overall:
A great ambiance, with tasty food, and excellent service.
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Ray's Cafe upstairs from the fancy Ray's Boathouse Restaurant is a good retreat on a beautiful Seattle day or on a mixed-weather day when you want to watch the clouds come in.
They don't take...
Ray's Cafe upstairs from the fancy Ray's Boathouse Restaurant is a good retreat on a beautiful Seattle day or on a mixed-weather day when you want to watch the clouds come in.
They don't take reservations for the deck and reservations for inside are always recommended as it has been busy every time I've been there (4 times now).
If you do make it out to the deck bring a light jacket if the weather is partly cloudy. Otherwise you can request a blanket.
The food is really good cafe food. It's nothing to write home about specifically, but it is tasty and hits the spot when you want to relax with friends or a significant other. Or, you could just enjoy a good book and the view while snacking.
There's plenty to choose from on the menu, with options for everyone. Drinks abound as well from cocktails to a decent selection of beers.
Going to Ray's Cafe is a classy experience even if the fancy restaurant is downstairs. Dress is casual here and there are no pretentions by guests or waitstaff. It is even good for visiting family or friends. Don't forget the sunglasses on hot days, but they do have a canopy to protect you from the sun and when I asked for sunscreen they let me have some.
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Here's another blog entry I wrote after I checked out a cool weekly hip-hop dancing event at The War Room. It made it more special knowing some of the dancers, but even if you didn't you'd have a...
Here's another blog entry I wrote after I checked out a cool weekly hip-hop dancing event at The War Room. It made it more special knowing some of the dancers, but even if you didn't you'd have a lot of fun. The DJs arrange music in ways that make you go hmmmmm...
Last night I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing some of Seattle's most talented dancers from all genres. The setting was The War Room on Capitol Hill, a sparsely decorated club featuring the work of Obey founder Shepard Fairey. The anticipation was high for me because I've never been to a dance off and as I met up with counter-cohorts Grace and Bryce I had to calm myself down--telling myself I was cool enough to be in this club with these trendsetters. It wasn't long before I felt comfortable because there were dancers and revelers of all makes and models. Some were your traditional dancer fare and others were dressed like they were going to the ballet or even to church.
The sanctuary was a concrete dance floor with steps for pews. Onlookers gathered around a circle, some hung back in the seats surrounding the scene. Mostly at the beginning regular dancers were preparing themselves and warming up for friendly competition. I noticed no one was sporting attitudes especially when a few dancers took the floor who looked nothing like the part. There was this dancer who sported a baseball cap, pleated chinos, and a polo. You could call his look business casual with a dancer twist. It was extremely apparent that he lived and breathed the music and movement because every 3-4 minutes he'd enter the circle like he'd planned it all week long.
The event is held every Monday night sponsored by Soul City Seattle and featuring various dancers from different crews such as Fraggle Rock. Most notable for fashion was this dancer with a plaid blazer and button up vest underneath. He rocked wing tipped shoes and a hat to match. His style was whacky, but he felt the beat. Women represented huge, which was proved by a main bout between a female dancer representing Fraggle Rock and a male dancer representing (I'm not sure). The battles resemble Capoeira-esque moves. The quarter finals featured 5 rounds of dance challenge. Nothing was for show besides the dancing. Everyone had a good attitude and you could tell people were there for the experience and the music not necessarily the drinks. In fact I barely saw anyone with a drink in their hand, oh there were some for sure, but most of the dancers who wanted a piece of the circle were dedicated to the rhythm. A few people looked really high, but I couldn't know for sure. Probably the most striking thing was that some of these dancers you'd see around Seattle on the street and you'd never think they mixed moves on a cement floor.
As for me I hung back on the fringes of the dance felonies being committed and watched with my jaw on the floor at long intervals. I took the whole scene in a noticed how everyone seemed to be friends, but not necessarily knowing each other before last night. I think that each one there could identify with a dancer on the floor and that indentification led to introduction. My favorite dancer of the night was a tall, skinny white guy with some dickies shorts on, black shirt, and black baseball cap on. He rocked retro Air Maxes and despite his skyscraper frame he broke ground in front of captivated onlookers for his birthday celebration. He went 5-7 rounds challenging dancers from all ends of the room. I wouldn't say he was the stand out winner, but most importantly was that he was out there showcasing his skills to a cheering audience.
We arrived at 10:40 pm and left around 1:40 pm. It was a solid night at a solid club with a solid DJ. I wasn't expecting such a skill on the turntables. Most everyone considers themselves a "DJ", but few understand what that means. A DJ must understand the crowd and feel the energy from the varied mix out in front of their. Without intimate knowledge of music, rythm, pattern, structure, and BASS a DJ fails to meet the demands of their audience. Quite possible the greatest thing a DJ can do is catch their audience off guard; to make them ask, "Did I just hear that transition?" The best part of a DJ's set is realizing that each beat and transition is planned well in advance and comes together specifically for that event only. No two sets would be the same. Although a set is well planned it is also strangely improvised at precisely the right time where your desire to dance and the "perfect" beat collide to dissolve your inhibitions. A little movement of the shoulder, a twitch of the hip and before you know it you're in the circle.
I didn't enter the circle last night and probably never will, but I'm assured in knowing that even if I had I'd be warmly welcomed despite my size, color, fashion, or dance style. In the circle you're graded on how well you execute your steps, but also applauded for how well you "entertain" your audience. Entertainment can be cheap or expensive, but on Monday nights at The War Room it's worth every penny regardless the value placed on the experience.
More info below:
http://www.soulcityseattle.com/mainFrame1.html
http://www.thewarroomseattle.com/
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A friend of mine suggested that we go to pesos one morning for breakfast because he heard it was a good one. We arrived that morning and the place was packed. I didn't realize that Peso's served...
A friend of mine suggested that we go to pesos one morning for breakfast because he heard it was a good one. We arrived that morning and the place was packed. I didn't realize that Peso's served breakfast. Breakfast is one of my favorite things in the world.
We had to put our names in and the hostess was really nice to take down our cell number so we could go scout out lower Queen Anne. About 5 minutes later we got the call and were seated. Our waitress was extremely attentive and kept refilling our coffee with delicious Cafe Vita.
The food was excellent and reasonably priced.I ordered the blueberry pancakes with a die of eggs and my friend ordered eggs benedict with hemplar bacon I believe it was.
As we ate and chatted people kept pouring in sitting in the dining area or heading over to the bar. I would suggest hitting this place up after a long night or taking visiting relatives for a good "urban" experience.
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Blackbird
Category:
Men's Clothing
5410 22nd ave NW
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) .54-7.2524
It's becoming more and more acceptable for men to be interested in grooming and looking good in clothing. Finally, women have a place to take their boyfriends/husbands to find jeans that don't have...
It's becoming more and more acceptable for men to be interested in grooming and looking good in clothing. Finally, women have a place to take their boyfriends/husbands to find jeans that don't have the saggy butt--a complaint by many women I've found concerning men's jeans. It is also a cool place because while you're there you'll notice other straight men browsing clothing. The stereotype is that only gay men know how to dress well and straight men need a lot of help so it is refreshing to see other straight men seeking out fashionable options. Gents: you'll need to get over the whole "this isn't manly" idea when visiting and possibly adjust your perception of what being a man truly is. I believe there is general discontent from certain females that men have gone too casual. My grandma thinks this is a disgrace as men in her day used to dress to impress.
My experience with Blackbird has been from their Fremont location. Immediately this store gained popularity with male friends of mine because at that time there wasn't a true men's boutique that catered to young professional men with an urban twist (not just suits, but casual streetwear)
I first met Suzy the mother of Nicole whom I later met and had a great discussion about brands and clothing. I purchased my first Coal hat there and was later invited to an exclusive sale (windows were covered with paper, a guest list, a bottle of water, and a survey) that was only available to past shoppers. It was at this sale that my Brown Sound jacket was on sale which I spied one of the first times I visited the boutique. I got it for a good deal and have been happy with it ever since.
The staff is really helpful and they make you feel really comfortable while shopping. Plus, they know and love the brands they carry so they can tell you all the backstory behind each brand and if Nicole is there she'll tell you why she bought the brand and even a bit about the politics that went into it.
For a guy who's the least bit interested in dressing well this is a great place to start. Fellas, there's more options out there than fleece and bad denim!
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Shiro's
Category:
Sushi
2401 2nd Ave
Seattle, Washington 98121
(206) 443-9844
Shiro's should be on everyone's sushi restaurant hit list. It has history, ambience, and a feeling of authenticity that you just can't get at Blue C.
From my experience sitting at the bar is...
Shiro's should be on everyone's sushi restaurant hit list. It has history, ambience, and a feeling of authenticity that you just can't get at Blue C.
From my experience sitting at the bar is ideal so you can see how sushi is made especially if you are new to sushi like i was.
Talking with the chefs and learning about where they came from is very interesting and unique. A friend recommended I should request the bar and then tell the chefs what my budget is and what my tastes are. Get there early after they open to skip the wait. From there the chefs begin to wow you with their artful creations often those that aren't on the menu. They also encourage you to try new things and it was the there I tried eel for the first time.
There also isn't a feeling of being rushed while seated at the bar because you're there for the experience too. Give yourself enough time to drink a Kirin, enjoy your sushi and then get some tea afterwards. Don't be afraid to talk to the chefs and ask questions. Partly I think that's why they are up there because they love interacting with people. When we were there we actually caught a glimpse of Shiro himself as he talked to what appeared to be a regular at the bar.
This is great for a date out of the norm and would be an excellent place to take out of town guests for a true Seattle experience.
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A few years ago my then girlfriend and I brought in some shoes to Dave Page in Fremont. We didn't know much about cobbling or what the process was for repairing shoes and that's how the employee on...
A few years ago my then girlfriend and I brought in some shoes to Dave Page in Fremont. We didn't know much about cobbling or what the process was for repairing shoes and that's how the employee on staff made us feel. I'm not sure if it was Dave Page or an assistant, but I was not impressed about how condescending he was when we asked some basic questions. I felt like we were putting him out by being there as if our questions weren't worth his time.
We left shoes for repair anyway inspite of his attitude because we had to get them repaired, but I think it was because we didn't know where else to go that was convenient. It's not everyday that people go to the cobbler and if your first experience is a negative one that doesn't help at all for future business. He may very well be the best cobbler in town for all I know, but he sure didn't act like it with class or with a helpful attitude.
I've thought about repairing some shoes since then and because of that experience I'll never go back there. From living in Magnolia I know there is a cobbler over there by the ACE Hardware, sorry I don't know the exact name.
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We used to have our offices close by PCC and so every day around 3:30 pm we would visit the bakery area for some of those Vegan chocolate chip/peanut butter cookies which are sure tough to beat in...
We used to have our offices close by PCC and so every day around 3:30 pm we would visit the bakery area for some of those Vegan chocolate chip/peanut butter cookies which are sure tough to beat in my experience--worth the $0.99 by far. Now that we've moved down the road on 36th it isn't as convenient.
I was there the other morning to get a breakfast burrito, which are a good tasty value for the price--around $3.50, varying by ingredients. I carefully picked out the best burrito that I could find and then wandered over to the drip coffee by the window. A few people were crowded around it and by the time I got up to the container it was out. To my surprise an employee was right behind me and said, "Oh is the coffee out?" And I was so bewildered because just as I was about to walk the container over to the counter an employee was right behind me taking it out of my hands. Plus, she had such a good attitude for the early morning even joking around in a theatrical voice.
As she took the empty container out of my hands she offered to make me an Americano (my favorite) instead--I hesitantly replied, "OK" still kind of bewildered. So I got my Americao + a theatrical accent and walked to the register. The reason code written on the cup for the cashier was "waiting."
The best part about that experience was that someone was right there addressing my problem and they solved it. I wouldn't of cared if I had to wait at all. Each time I got to PCC it is a good experience and I seem to leave with a skip in my step from the cheery service and good products.
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The Varsity Inn reminds me of that restaurant in Seinfeld (help me out with the name), but a lot smaller and the waitresses don't wear uniforms. Basically, this place is a mom & pop Denny's, but...
The Varsity Inn reminds me of that restaurant in Seinfeld (help me out with the name), but a lot smaller and the waitresses don't wear uniforms. Basically, this place is a mom & pop Denny's, but the food is way better maybe because it isn't a Denny's.
I was initially drawn in by the huge yellow banner outside that advertises an insanely cheap breakfast during the week, which was perfect for me as I was attending college at the time.
The atmosphere is comfortable and filled with locals most likely strolling in from up the street where ever they live for a leisurely breakfast. I've noticed many types of people here from the elderly to the hip.
The coffee refills are prompt and the food portions huge. My favorite is the Denver omlette because I've never wanted to try anything else although the menu has everything from steaks to oatmeal. There's bound to be something on there for everyone.
Most notably the place is unpretentious. The patrons visiting the restaurant aren't scensters or hipsters and don't seem to have any other agenda but to get a good meal and a fair price with some peace and quite to read the paper. No one seems to be in a hurry to leave.
Now I eat there with a group of friends and we make plans to get their right when it opens on Saturday, when it is the most alluring because it's quiet, not packed, and it's fun to watch what types of people steadily trickle in. After 8 a.m. on a Saturday the place tends to fill up, but I've never noticed a line like at some places in Seattle on a weekend.
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