Seattle: shopping, art, kids, & misc.
shopping :: I'm no consumer let alone power shopper but I do have a few suggestions. If it's books you're looking for there's only one place in town to go: Elliott Bay Books in Pioneer Square. One or more author readings most days and a selection that can't be beat. I often search on Amazon but order through Elliott Bay. Support independent booksellers! For music I head to Wall of Sound on Capitol Hill. World music, avant garde, indie music, non-pop, and other stuff you won't find anywhere else. Yes, I'm a regular. Second choice? Easy Street, either location, West Seattle or Lower Queen Anne. Seattle has lots of farmers markets, one in each neighborhood it seems. There are two toy stores worth going out of your way for: Magic Mouse in Pioneer Square and Top Ten Toys up north. These are no Toys'R'Us clones but real toys stores. The kind I like to shop in. Oh, did I mention Archie McPhee? Now Idid!
kids :: The Seattle public parks are great. They're all over town, in great shape, and I can honestly say that none are really scary. The zoo, the aquarium, and the children's museum rock too. Parents love them as much as kids. You can rent the aquarium for birthday parties and I understand the zoo has a sleepover program. (I've rented the Vancouver Aquarium for a sleepover that changed my life in its own way.) I for one ain't no big fan of the Experience Music Project. Then again, I hate Paul Allen.
art :: There are several monthly art walks throughout Seattle. First Thursday in Pioneer Square and downtown, Fremont Art About first Fridays, Capital Hill Arts Orbit the first Saturday of the month, second Thursday in West Seattle, and Ballard's Art Walk on the second Saturday. Check both free weekly newspapers, The Stranger and The Seattle Weekly, for current shows and gallery listings. Me? I'm a photography nut (duh) so I make it a point to keep up with G. Gibson, Benham, and PCNW. To me the Seattle Art Museum is weak. The asian art collection in Volunteer Park is OK. If you're in Puget Sound don't forget the Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum which are next door to each other. I drive down regularly, they're that good.
misc. :: First things first: hotspots are everywhere, even the public libraries and some city buses. Yep. You can park outside the library and surf for free! Most cofeehouses are too and Seattle is full of them. Low tide at Alki is great because the water is incredibly clean for an urban area. Check the time tables and head for the park at 63rd Ave SW and Beach Dr. SW. Seattle dogs must be on a leash except for these off-leash areas for dogs. P-Patch gardens are exciting neighborhood garden plots throughout the city. Find local public schools. If you want to buy a house try Red Fin and Zillow. Great mapping and photos. While you're visiting the Emerald City, don't f*cking jaywalk or drive like you do at home. Traffic may be snarled but the Scandinavian influence in Skeedattle makes for predictability. As in Swiss-like regularity. Don't blow it by breaking the rules. I will try to hit you if you do and I'll laugh when I succeed.
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