Online, Mail Voter Registration Deadline Is Monday In Washington

Monday is the last day Washington residents can register to vote online or by mail. In-person registrations are accepted through March 10.

The 2020 presidential primary concludes on March 10 at 8 p.m. (Shutterstock)

By Lucas Combos, Patch Staff Mar 1, 2020 12:20 pm PT | Updated Mar 1, 2020 12:48 pm PT | Courtesy of Patch.com

RENTON, WA — Monday is the last day Washingtonians can register to vote online or by mail ahead of the 2020 presidential primary election. Those who miss the March 2 deadline can still register in-person through Election Day, March 10.

According to the Secretary of State, more than 686,000 ballots had been received by Friday.

This year's primary has some notable differences from previous elections, including the requirement that each voter must fill in a party declaration box. According to elections officials, doing so does not register you with a party, but the selection is public record. Failing to check one of the party options, or any attempt to modify the language used, will make a ballot subject to rejection or challenge.

KING 5 reports more than 36,000 ballots had been flagged for failing to follow the party selection rule by Friday, including 11,000 ballots in King County.

Elections officials said the party choice requirement is unique to this primary and will not be used during the general election. The language used in the declarations were written by the state political parties.

The other major change to be aware of this year: for the first time, the state Democratic party is using the results from the primary to assign its delegates for the national convention. In prior elections, Washington democrats relied on the caucus system.

To be eligible to vote, you must be:

• A citizen of the United States

• A legal resident of Washington state

• At least 18 years old by Election Day

• Not under the authority of the Department of Corrections

• Not disqualified from voting due to a court order

King County Voting Links:

Check your voter registration status online.
Review a sample ballot for the March 10 primary.
Find an election center or the nearest ballot dropbox.

Pierce County Voting Links:

Check your voter registration status online.
Review instructions for voting in the March 10 primary in Pierce County.
Find your nearest ballot dropbox.

Castle celebrates 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day show at Kirkland Performance Center

The annual celebration will be March 17.

By Madison Miller | Friday, February 28, 2020 8:30am | Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com

Time can’t slow Geoffrey Castle down.

The electric violinist has been a Celtic music staple on the Eastside and beyond for years.

He’s best known for his annual St. Patrick’s Day and Celtic Christmas celebrations at the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC).

This St. Patrick’s Day marks his 15th annual celebration.

“Where does the time go? Feels like yesterday,” Castle said with a chuckle. “It feels great, though. I feel like every year builds on the one before and we do better and better shows each time.”

KPC executive director Jeff Lockhart has known and performed with Castle for years.

“We love having him each year,” Lockhart said. “We get to see the master violinist at work. He’s so fantastic every year.”

Castle always brings new surprises each year. This year, he said audiences can look forward to hearing new arrangements as well as new dancers.

“The band has been working on some new arrangements that I’m really excited about,” he said. “Don’t worry, we’ll still have the classic Irish drinking songs we all love.”

For years, Castle has performed with the Seattle Irish Dance Company. However, this year’s celebration will feature an Irish dance company from Portland.

“I’m really excited to have them,” he said. “It’ll be so much fun.”

Castle said he’s proud of how far his band has come over the years.

“I feel like the band has really gelled,” he said. “We’ve been building our repertoire and we’re feeling more like a band.”

Castle has released 12 albums. His latest album, “Celtic Night,” was released in 2017.

As a long-term KPC performer, Castle said he feels like he’s become an ambassador for Kirkland.

“I’d do anything to support KPC and this great city,” he said.

Castle’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration will be at 7 p.m. on March 17. To learn more about this event, visit tinyurl.com/yx8xfvqt.

To learn more about Castle, visit his website at www.GeoffreyCastle.com.

The 100 Best Things to Eat in the Seattle Area Right Now: Seafood Edition

A seafood lover’s bucket list: The region’s 100 best dishes to eat now

BY: CHELSEA LIN & NAOMI TOMKY | FROM THE PRINT EDITION | FEBRUARY 2020 | Courtesy of SeattleMag.com

Image Credit: All photographs by Alex Crook

Black cod curry at Rupee Bar

his article appears in print in the February 2020 issue, as part of the 100 Best Things To Eat Seafood Edition. Click here to subscribe.

Let’s play a little game called “name Seattle’s most iconic ingredient.” Is it a rosy, glistening salmon fillet? The mighty oyster, slurped with a bubbly chaser? The giggle-inducing yet tasty geoduck? We dare you to name one that isn’t seafood.

The ubiquity of finfish and shellfish in Seattle is the reason we decided to challenge ourselves with putting together an all-seafood edition of our annual favorite dishes feature. Unsurprisingly, we ended up with more than 100 menu items worthy of a shoutout. Some of them are repeats from last year’s version of the city’s best eats—No Anchor’s smoked mussels are still great, even after chef Jeff Vance’s departure; and we found out that Opus Co.’s fish with kasu risotto is just as good with sablefish as it is with salmon. But we’re most excited about introducing you to some newcomers, such as Paju, The Ruby Brink and Rupee Bar—spots so new we’ve never written about them before and which happen to be making excellent seafood dishes.

As you peruse our picks below, note that not all of these dishes are available all the time. That’s a good thing: You should have the same patience waiting for halibut to show up on menus in the spring as you do for asparagus. But keep this as your definitive guide to the best seafood around town. And if you’re the sort who recoils at the sight of an oyster, well, there’s always next year.

Geoduck sashimi
Taylor Shellfish
The simple, thinly sliced geoduck ($12) served at this family operation’s Melrose Market oyster bar, which serves pretty much only chilled seafood (unlike its other locations), comes with only a bit of soy sauce and a dab of wasabi. Multiple locations

Camarones al tequila
Señor Moose
Folks flock to this colorful Mexican restaurant, particularly for the generous brunch plates. But this delightful dish—creamy, saucy shrimp served with rice and black beans ($18.95)—is better suited for lunch or dinner. Ballard

Honey walnut prawns
Peony Kitchen
Clearly this refined Bellevue restaurant didn’t invent the Americanized Chinese classic that is honey walnut prawns, but it has perfected it: Plump, batter-dipped tiger prawns are coated in a modestly sweet and creamy sauce, with the best part being the candied walnuts ($13 lunch, $19 dinner). Bellevue

Moules marinière
Maximilien
The mussels at this Market hideaway are the simplest of pleasures ($22). Savored from the patio, which looks out over Elliott Bay, the local bivalves taste only of butter, wine and the salt water below. Pike Place Market

Cioppino
Jack’s Fish Spot
This fish market/eatery may have origins in California, but we’re not above honoring a great import, especially when it features such a bounty of fresh fish, as in this peppery tomato-based soup ($5.49/bowl) from what has become a Pike Place staple. Pike Place Market

SHRIMP SHACK: Peony Kitchen’s honey walnut prawns get a sweet boost from diced honeydew

Smoked and pickled mussels
No Anchor
A crowd favorite for good reason: intriguing, addictive mussels ($11) tasting of both smoke and vinegar, perfect to pair with one of the bar’s unusual beers. Belltown

Hangtown fry
The Wandering Goose
Oysters may not be an obvious breakfast choice, but when fried to a perfect crisp and crowning the Hangtown fry ($14)—a plate of browned potatoes, poached eggs and a slab of pork belly—at this cozy all-day café, they’re exactly right. Capitol Hill

Sea urchin
L’Oursin
The namesake of this charming French bistro (l’oursin is “sea urchin” in French) should be on every table, served here on the half shell with bread and good butter ($18). Ask for the best natural wine to pair with it. Central District

Seafood tower
Vinnie’s Wine and Raw Bar
Your best bet at this new business from prolific bar owners Anu and Chris Elford is to go all in on the seafood tower ($98): an actual bi-level tower overflowing with the best bits of whatever is on the menu, such as raw oysters and chilled spot prawns; sweet, buttery scallops; and small portions of other dishes, such as salmon pastrami with crème fraîche, octopus terrine or clam and geoduck ceviche. Belltown

Buffalo-style oysters
Saltwater Fish House and Oyster Bar
You should always order the mussels when you’re anywhere near Penn Cove, but you should also get these fresh, cornmeal-dredged, barely fried oysters tossed in house-made buffalo sauce, whether in a po’ boy ($21), atop a pile of fries ($20) or just as an appetizer ($16.50). Langley, Whidbey Island

Horns of Plenty
Roquette
The menu of snacks at this swanky new Belltown cocktail bar is short but sweet, but you only want one thing anyway: the Horns of Plenty ($70), which is simply an ounce of Russian osetra caviar, crème fraîche and Bugles, those old-school corn snacks of road trips past. Belltown

BAR FOOD: Pair your cocktail at Roquette with the Horns of Plenty (yes, those are Bugles!)

Buttered Dungeness crab, charred rice cake, tarragon
Samara
This is not a crab cake, but rather a heap of generously buttered crab weighing down a delicately smoky patty of rice, all accented by a pop of bright green pureed tarragon ($23)—it’s the best dish at this lovely new neighborhood spot. Sunset Hill

Point Judith calamari ‘Kari Out’
RockCreek
The entire menu at this essential seafood restaurant is spectacular, but start your meal with the well-seasoned, deep-fried perfection of this calamari ($16), served in a tongue-in-cheek takeout box for dining in. Fremont

Sardines on toast
The Whale Wins
Leave it to this beautiful, bright Fremont restaurant to make the sort of dish you could probably make at home but wouldn’t be able to execute with such panache: a thick slice of toasted Sea Wolf bread, slathered in curried tomato mayo and topped with shaved fennel and Matiz tinned sardines ($14). Fremont

Maine lobster roll
Bar Harbor
As far as we’re concerned, Connecticut style is the only way to get your lobster roll (market price) at this popular lunch destination: knuckle and claw meat tossed in clarified butter, stuffed into a split-top white roll custom-made for this purpose. South Lake Union

Thiebou djeun
La Teranga
If you’ve never had the national dish of Senegal—a hearty stew of tilapia, tomatoes, carrots, cassava and eggplant served over broken rice ($14.50)—experience it here. Columbia City

Oyster pancake
Looking for Chai
Popular in Taiwan but originating in the Chaozhou region of China, this dish is a kind of omelet-pancake mashup, thickened with tapioca starch for a great chew and dotted with oysters ($6.95). This hip bubble tea spot, located in a strip mall, does a good version. Edmonds

Joe’s Special
Ono Poke
The assortment of ultrafresh poke at this humble spot looks so good you’ll want to order it all; luckily, you can with this sampler bowl ($21), named for an ambitious customer and featuring a little of everything they have in the case that day, from spicy salmon to tender octopus. Edmonds

Purple savory clams

The Shambles
It’s known as a destination for serious carnivores, but this neighborhood highlight does a great job with seafood, too. Try these gorgeous purple clams ($16) with pork belly and tofu in an umami-rich kimchi broth so good you’ll want to lick the bowl. Maple Leaf

Caramelized sea scallops
Copine
Last year we called out this quiet, under-the-radar Ballard gem for an excellent crab salad; this year, we celebrate the perfect sear on the sea scallops ($29), regardless of what seasonal produce accompanies them. Ballard

TO PERFECTION: Copine’s sea scallops arrive with an optimal sear

Sablefish
Ray’s Boathouse
Should you find yourself at this iconic restaurant overlooking Shilshole Bay, you should absolutely order the signature sablefish (more commonly known as black cod, $46), whether house-smoked or marinated in sake kasu and grilled over applewood. Ballard

Crab cakes
Etta’s
Experience a true Seattle moment by dining on Tom Douglas’ iconic crab cakes ($26.50 for one, $39.50 for two) while taking in the views of Pike Place Market from this charming little bistro. Pike Place Market

Waterfall snapper
Kin Len
Fried bite-size morsels of snapper ($28) are the perfect vehicle for maximum enjoyment of the sour, salty, funky spicy sauce that gives this dish a kick. Wrap a piece in one of the accompanying lettuce leaves, top with herbs and enjoy the ride. Fremont

Spaghetti nero
Tavolàta
Chef Ethan Stowell’s first temple to pasta is still our favorite, with two locations to serve your extruded-pasta needs; when it’s available, get the spaghetti nero ($26), a squid ink pasta unctuous with soft leeks and uni butter, improved with the addition of delicate geoduck. Multiple locations

Fish and kasu risotto
Opus Co.
The day’s fresh fish ($24) comes seared with crispy skin over an innovative “risotto”—really more of a savory sauce—made from kasu, a by-product of brewing sake, at this beloved, intimate neighborhood restaurant. Greenwood

Chirashi bowl
Fremont Bowl
Everyone’s favorite dish at this Japanese-influenced spot is a rainbow of raw sashimi-sliced fish, chopped tuna and eel, along with all the necessary accoutrements—wasabi and citrusy yuzu kosho—over warm rice ($14.95). Fremont

House sauce crawfish boil
Crawfish House
Whether flown in each day from Louisiana or caught locally, fresh crawfish ($10.99/pound) are the priority at this giant, barebones White Center spot. The diminutive crustaceans come spiced to your desired level, from “Chillin’” to “Can’t feel my mouth.” White Center

The Fish
Mean Sandwich
A wild ride of rambunctious flavors, this deli’s innovative fish sandwich ($12) stars fancy tinned sardines, along with the satisfying crunch of celery root slaw and a jolt of flavor from fried lemons and pickled jalapeños. Ballard

Catfish and grits
Junebaby
Swim toward the South with an impressively crispy semolina-crusted catfish ($23), served over a creamy bed of cheese grits. Ravenna

Poutine of the Sea
White Swan Public House
Think of it as the comfort food of a Canadian mermaid: thick, rich chowder ($17) poured over crispy french fries and studded with clams and bacon. Best enjoyed from a window seat overlooking Lake Union. South Lake Union

COMFORT FOOD: Poutine of the Sea from White Swan Public House features hearty chowder and bacon

Mussels
Bar del Corso
Arranged almost like the petals of a flower, the black shells bloom open to reveal plump mussels ($11) inside, heavy with the flavors of the garlic, fennel and pancetta with which they were cooked. A perfect opener for pizza at this South End favorite. Beacon Hill

Geoduck fried rice
Joule
Leave it to chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi to create a rare chance to try a cooked version of the Northwest’s most famous (infamous?) clam, stirred into an aromatic fried rice ($17) with leeks and pickled pork rinds. Fremont

Pan-fried cornmeal-crusted catfish sandwich
Matt’s in the Market
Soft potato bread stuffed with a plank of crispy catfish ($16) gets a boost of flavor from sambal mayonnaise and texture from shredded lettuce. Downtown

New Haven
Independent Pizzeria
The chopped clams and parsley sprinkled over the garlic oil base of this thin but chewy, charry-bubbled pizza ($16) earn this family-friendly pizzeria the same kind of spotlight shone on its sibling restaurant, Dacha Diner. Madison Park

House special rice roll
Hong Kong Dim Sum
You won’t want to miss this dim sum dish: soft rice noodles wrapped around crispy fried noodles and a jumble of tiny shrimp and corn for a riot of textures ($7.50). Haller Lake

Smoked sprats
Vif
This all-day café excels at simple, balanced dishes. In this offering, robust, oily little fish ($9.75) meet their match in the cool creaminess of labneh and the heartiness of Sea Wolf rye bread, with pickled beets cutting through the richness. Fremont

Poke bowl
45th Stop N Shop & Poke Bar
The shop that popularized poke in Seattle now has a second location, but thankfully it hasn’t outgrown the use of pristine fish and balanced sauces in its poke ($13). Wallingford and South Lake Union

Herring Under Fur Coat
Dacha Diner
Everyone loves this Eastern European restaurant’s khachapuri, but don’t miss this Russian salad ($13), which looks more like a dessert. The colors come from the layers of potatoes, carrots, beets and eggs, and the delightful flavor derives from the oil-cured herring. Capitol Hill

EAT THE RAINBOW: Herring Under Fur Coat is a popular Russian salad, done well at Dacha Diner

Hae dop bop
Red Bowls
Before raw fish popped up in every poke shop around town, you could find a Korean variation at this lightning-fast shop, which sates its long lines of customers with simple but satisfying spicy raw fish salad ($10.59) over rice. Downtown

Sea urchin
Seattle Fish Guys
Fresh sea urchins ($13) need a bit of cracking and cleaning, so plan a few extra minutes to slurp one down when you stop in at this seafood shop. Central District

Spicy hot fish fillet on romaine lettuce
Chiang’s Gourmet
From this unassuming Chinese restaurant’s “Szechuan Heaven” menu section comes this version of the classic water-boiled fish ($21), served like a stew, thick and red with mild spice, soft fish and yes, the odd (but tasty) cooked romaine. Maple Leaf

Crab fried rice
Noodle Hut
This tiny suburban strip mall eatery quietly turns out some of the best Thai food in town, including the crab fried rice ($12.95)—heavy on the crustacean and light on the cooking, resulting in tender meat and egg. Edmonds

Kinilaw
Archipelago
Chef Aaron Verzosa expertly interprets Filipino flavors and dishes with Northwest ingredients, as he does in this verjus-cured scallop (or fish, depending on the evening) dish, creatively served over a sardine tin representing Filipino immigrant cannery workers (part of the $130 tasting menu). Hillman City

From the ocean
Pasta Casalinga
Sourcing right from its Market neighbors, this little pasta corner features a new rotating seafood special ($13) every two weeks, ranging from spaghetti with squid and squid ink to steelhead with leeks over paccheri. Pike Place Market

Lobster coconut curry
Kathakali
Thick, creamy curry is poured over a large lobster tail ($24) at this Eastside spot, which features the big flavors and seafood specialties of southern India. Kirkland

Tostadas de atún
El Sirenito
Raw slices of gleaming, gem-colored ahi ($13) are tucked into a pillow of creamy avocado mousse and sandwiched between a crisp fried tortilla and a frizzle of fried leeks at this Mexico City–style seafood bar, brought to you by the same folks who own neighboring Fonda La Catrina. Georgetown

Rotating fish special
Homer
Northwest seafood meets Middle Eastern flavor in all the items on this charming restaurant’s menu, including in the rotating fish specials ($24), which could feature lingcod with red chermoula or salmon with preserved lemons and za’atar. Beacon Hill

Tinned fish trio
The Ruby Brink
A plate of top-notch canned fish ($12) with lemon mayonnaise and house-made emmer cracker shows that this restaurant is so much more than its in-house butcher shop. Vashon Island
Hên xúc bánh da
Tamarind Tree
A dinner-plate-size, black-sesame-studded rice cracker dominates this dish, but it’s just the tool for scooping up the hundreds of tiny, pinhead-size clams ($11) marinated in a delightful assortment of alliums, herbs and chilies. Chinatown–International District

Ganjang gejang jungsik
Sam Oh Jung Restaurant
Pickled crabs ($31.99) soaked in salty soy sauce and topped with crunchy peppers and dollops of their own creamy fat present a seafood texture rarely seen around here, accompanied by an intense jolt of flavor. Lynnwood

Wood-grilled octopus
Pomerol
Chef Preeti Agarwal calls on her Indian background and diverse sources of cooking inspiration to bring intrigue to French classics, like this charred tentacle served over chickpea confit with roasted garlic aioli ($22). Fremont

Sea snails
Ba Bar
The epitome of simplicity on the plate, these snails ($16) have actually seen a long simmer in white wine with fresh tarragon and thyme, so they barely need the lemon aioli or ginger fish sauce that come with them. Multiple locations

Wild peony shrimp
Dolar Shop
Among the luxurious offerings at this temple to Chinese hot pot cuisine is this circular arrangement of six enormous shrimp ($39.99) facing skyward around flowers, ready for a light bath in boiling broth. Bellevue

Shrimp aguachile
Sushinola
Spicy and sharp with fresh lime juice, this raw dish ($19.99), typical of Mexico’s Sinaloa state cuisine, comes dressed in a banging blended chile sauce. Kent

Albacore tuna rice bowl
Revel
Bitter escarole and bright fennel kimchi boost the subtle flavor of the albacore, and an egg yolk sauce brings it all together in this signature Rachel Yang dish ($17), available at the restaurant’s new (old) home. Fremont

Wild Alaskan smoked salmon benedict
The Fat Hen
Perfectly runny poached eggs and house-made sunshine-lemon hollandaise sauce drip over a jumble of fish chunks and toasted English muffin ($17.50) at this quaint, light-filled café. Ballard

HAPPY HOUR: Find $2 oysters like these at Shuckers from 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays

SHUCK IT
Seattle didn’t invent happy hour, but selling fresh shucked oysters at steep savings is a time-honored tradition here. An oyster happy hour makes an affordable entry point for rookies while offering the perfect opportunity to feed an insatiable slurper without going broke. And with the Northwest’s prodigious and pristine supply, the words “discount raw shellfish” don’t have to strike fear in the hearts of oyster lovers, as these five spots prove.

Shuckers
3–5 p.m. weekdays, $2 each. Downtown

Frank’s Oyster House
5–6:30 and 10–11 p.m., Tuesday–Saturday, $2 each. Ravenna

The Brooklyn
4–6 p.m. every day, $2 each. Downtown

Coastal Kitchen
3–10 p.m. Tuesdays, $1 each; 3–10 p.m. Thursdays, $1.25 each; 3–6 and 9–10 p.m. daily, $1.50 each. Capitol Hill

Elliott’s Oyster House
3–6 p.m. weekdays, $2 each. Downtown

BATTER UP: Proper Fish does fish and chips the real-deal British way, with a single massive fillet

TO FRY A FISH
According to a Polish proverb, to taste good, fish must swim three times: in water, butter and wine. But for many fish lovers, the alternative version would be in water, batter and oil. The satisfaction of cracking through a crisp crust—be it of beer batter or panko breading—to reveal tender, flaky fish is one of the greatest culinary pleasures in the world. Thankfully, Seattle is full of both impeccably classic versions and exciting spins on fried fish.

Proper Fish
This place is as proper as tea with the queen, right down to serving the beer-batter-dipped, fried cod ($16) in faux newspaper with minted mushy peas. Bainbridge Island

Marination Ma Kai
The Korean flavor and the Hawaiian flair of this seaside shack show in the combination of beer-battered- and panko-encrusted pollock ($13.75), served with a choice of miso or kimchi tartar sauces. West Seattle

Burien Fish House
You have a choice of cod, salmon, halibut, etc., either beer-batter-dipped or panko-breaded. Go for the Captains Platter, which has one piece of each ($15). Burien

Pacific Inn Pub
The hint of spices in the batter causes this signature dish ($9.50) to sing, making an accompanying pint almost a requirement. Fremont

The Market
A huge single fillet of batter-dipped rockfish ($16) is served British-style with fries and minty peas. Edmonds

TASTY RETREAT: Sushi from Wataru, best ordered omakase-style

COUNTER SERVICENowhere does our bounty of seafood shine so brightly as at a sushi restaurant, where quality ingredients and freshness are de rigueur. The ideal way to get in on the best catches of the day is to turn your meal over to the whim of the chef. Sit at the counter, be prepared to pay market price (read: quite a lot, but worth every penny), order the omakase and await a parade of delights at these favorite spots.

Sushi Kappo Tamura
Traditional omakase served at the counter. Choose “counter seating” when booking a reservation online to ensure you’re in the right place. Eastlake

Sushi Kashiba
Traditional omakase served at the counter. Reservations not accepted for the sushi bar; join the line outside and wait your turn. Pike Place Market

Wataru
Traditional omakase at the counter served at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. nightly. Reservations taken up to four months in advance. Ravenna; wataruseattle.com

By Tae
Meal includes three hand rolls plus a couple of bonus dishes. Reservations taken only on the day of and by signing up in person—get there early in the morning for the best shot at scoring a seat. Capitol Hill

Taneda
Tasting menu includes a combination of sushi and kaiseki dishes. Reservations taken up to 60 days in advance. Capitol Hill

SanKai
Traditional omakase served at the counter. Reservations required; call 425.412.3417 to reserve. Edmonds

Mashiko
Variety of tasting menus available, but most elaborate omakase (honkaku) served only at the counter. Be sure to indicate that reservation is for omakase when booking online. West Seattle

LITTLE FISH: Piquillos and anchovies at Jarr Bar pair perfectly with dainty cocktails

ODE TO THE ANCHOVYThese small, salty fishies top every kid’s list of greatest food fears, but there’s much to love about the anchovy. Cured with salt and packed in oil or marinated in vinegar, the mild anchovy turns into an embodiment of savoriness, improving everything from sauces to salads to your sad desk lunch. Discover what you may have been missing out on by trying these great bites.

Kale Caesar salad
Skillet
This stellar, simple salad ($12), topped with boquerones (vinegar-marinated anchovies), is almost as popular as this little empire’s bacon-jam-slathered burger. Multiple locations

Puttanesca pizza
Bar Taglio
Between the capers and the anchovy-laden sauce topping this new pizzeria’s Roman-style square puttanesca slice ($8), expect an explosion of umami flavor. Downtown

Bread plate
Carrello
At Altura chef Nathan Lockwood’s latest venture, anchovies come as a pasta topping on pappardelle with tripe and oxtail ragu ($18), with spicy roasted brassica vegetables ($17) and on small plates ($3–$11) served from a rolling cart. But they are at their finest in oil with garlic as bagna cauda on the bread plate ($8). Capitol Hill

Piquillos and anchovies
Jarr Bar
Pair a glass of excellent sherry with a plate of oil-cured anchovies and perky piquillo peppers ($13) at this petite cocktail bar, where tinned fish is the focus of the menu. Pike Place Market

Som tum mua
Bangrak Market
A little of everything goes into this funky, spicy salad ($14)—green papaya, baby crab, fermented fish, herbs, vermicelli and the star, crispy anchovies—at this colorful Belltown Thai spot. Belltown

State of the City: ‘We’re seeing the booming still’

Blake Peterson/staff photo Mayor Penny Sweet gave an address at a Feb. 13 Kirkland Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Kirkland mayor addresses infrastructure improvements, finding small-town balance.

By Blake Peterson | Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com

If Mayor Penny Sweet could describe Kirkland with one word in 2020, she would use “focused.”

On Feb. 13, at a Kirkland Chamber of Commerce business luncheon, Sweet gave a State of the City Address that touched on what the city had accomplished in 2019, what it is looking forward to, and more.

“Last year, I told you that the state of the city was booming … and the fact is that 2019 was an exceptional year,” said Sweet, who used the chamber’s 100th anniversary, Google’s growth in the city and business expansions as examples. “It seemed nearly that we couldn’t top it. And yet we have.”

Sweet underlined that the chamber has grown to 558 members — making it the most active chamber of commerce on the Eastside — and the expansions of key developments at Google, Northwest University and EvergreenHealth in the Kirkland area.

“The mix of jobs, housing and services is exactly the type of growth that we want and it is happening in urban centers, served by frequent and reliable transit exactly where we want it,” the mayor said.

In 2020, Sweet said, Kirkland will be implementing the new phases of its work plan as well as beginning construction on the Totem Lake Connector Bridge, the Totem Lake Park and Boardwalk, and several Juanita Beach renovations. A new fire station will be opened. Sweet also talked about the continued development of the Northeast 85th Street Bus Rapid Transit station and the implementation of resources brought on by the voter-approved Prop. 1, which increases police services in the city.

“Over the next six years, we will complete the largest set of infrastructure improvements in Kirkland’s history,” Sweet said. “We’re seeing the booming still.”

But there is a “risk and a price to pay for all of the choices that we make,” Sweet said.

“If we want to prevent this boom from becoming a bust, we must stay the course of finding and maintaining the right balance,” she said. “We must balance the metropolitan energy that is attracting thousands of residents with a small-town feel that is so important to so many that already live here.”

A major talking point in Sweet’s address: finding a middle ground between major growth and the preservation of what the city already has.

Councilmember Kelli Curtis, Mayor Penny Sweet and Councilmember Amy Falcone at the luncheon. Photo courtesy city of Kirkland

“We must balance the success of creating thousands of high-paying technology and aerospace jobs with solutions for the skyrocketing costs of housing,” she said. “We must balance the need to invest in infrastructure and services our residents deserve and expect with the challenging physical reality we face. We must balance environmental protection with quality of life. And most importantly, we must bounce back the blessings of prosperity and effects of income inequality and serving the growing number of those who are challenged to make ends meet or in need, or those who struggle with addiction, mental illness and homelessness.”

Sweet said that it was important to continue to work to ensure that Kirkland is an inclusive community where everything is examined “through a new lens of equity and inclusion, particularly in communities that are historically marginalized.” She brought up the city’s investment in things like implicit bias training for city employees and police officers and ongoing social-justice-focused events — such as the educational series called Kirkland Talks About Racism — as examples of ways this goal is being seen through.

Sweet invoked the development of the city’s comprehensive plan as being crucial to making words turn to action. One of the difficulties highlighted in her address was financial sustainability. In 2021, Sweet noted, the city will annually lose some $4 million of state support due to the annexation of sales tax credit. While the city has progressed with its goal of filling gaps with new revenues and through Kirkland Urban and the Village at Totem Lake, Sweet emphasized that the big amount of growth in Kirkland has led to increased demand of numerous resources, like planning and parks.

“This year, we will be engaging our entire community on the tough choices we will need to make to balance our budget,” Sweet said. “These choices will affect all of you, which means we will need your help. Some initiatives you may like…some initiatives you may not like.”

The mayor said that the city will ensure that it continues to work with the community and local businesses as these discussions come.

In her speech, Sweet praised her fellow councilmembers and underscored her commitment to Kirkland. At the end of her address, she received a standing ovation from the chamber.

“I have a long-standing passion for this community, and I believe that we are, in fact, the best city in the world to live, work and play,” Sweet said. “I will do everything that I can while I’m still around to make sure it stays that way…We’re taking on ambitious tasks in 2020. We are focused, but we are bold.”

30 Seattle Dinners Worthy of a Valentine’s Day Date

Nearly every restaurant in town has a Valentine’s Day menu. Here are spots that keep it romantic all year long—and especially so on February 14.

By Seattle Met Staff 2/4/2020 at 9:30am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com

Capitol Hill’s Adana keeps it cozy. Image: Stephanie Forrer

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

Hitchcock

The surest, most efficient way to blow the minds of out-of-town visitors: A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for a dinner of oysters and foie gras at Brendan McGill’s original restaurant. These days, McGill serves pork only from his own Shady Acres farm; the charcuterie plate might come layered with lonza, coppa, or a dollop of rillettes, made from his Mangalitsa hogs.

BALLARD

Brimmer and Heeltap 

When we weren’t looking, Ballard’s gently Asian bistro quietly became one of the most ambitious Mexican-influenced restaurants in town. Credit to owner Jen Doak for being unafraid to shift continents when Angela Ortez-Davis replaced original chef Mike Whisenhunt. Ortez-Davis likes to surprise: Chicharrones are actually pork confit with delicate threads of crunch, and a Mexican take on pasta might sound dubious until you experience perfect tagliatelle coated with an achiote-spiced take on cream sauce, topped with crunchy pepitas. The charming farmhouse vibe remains thankfully the same. 

Stoneburner

The dining room off the Hotel Ballard lobby is peak James Weimann and Deming Maclise, two restaurateurs unafraid to import giant light fixtures, even chunks of schoolhouse ceiling or factory window to deliver dining room drama. Culinary drama comes courtesy of chef Jason Stoneburner, whose menu of pizza, pasta, and an unexpectedly lavish vegetable lineup balances the elegant with the accessible.

Cafe Munir

Seattle used to be full of global treasures run with care in neighborhood storefronts by homecooking expats. Now there are only a few, one of the best being this Lebanese mom-and-pop with lovely Middle Eastern food. Prices are strikingly low for the shared hummus plates (try the one topped with lamb and pinenuts), mezze dips and spreads, meat and vegetable kebabs, and family-style platters, which one enjoys in an intimate room with arched doorways, white tablecloths, and pretty filigree light pendants. The perfect date night.

BEACON HILL

Bar del Corso

Here the great potable export of Italy—gin, vermouth rosso, Campari—reigns as the presumptive dinner cocktail: “Negronis for the whole table?” the servers are known to ask, unbidden. That’s one reason crowds arrive well before opening for seats at Jerry Corso’s no-reservation dining room on Beacon Hill. The menu is short, the dining room and back patio packed, but Bar del Corso remains one of our city’s most indispensable Italian restaurants because everything is done with such precision, such warmth, the answer to every question is inevitably yes.

CAPITOL HILL

Adana

In 2017 chef Shota Nakajima heeded the city’s cry for more casual fare and recast his more formal and classically Japanese kaiseki restaurant from Naka to Adana. He retained the aspects most important to him, namely the choose-your-own coursed menu and a reverence for Pacific Northwest ingredients and seasons. But the new dash of Japanese comfort food, much of it based on recipes from his mom, layers personal connection atop Nakajima’s already-formidable culinary skills.

Altura

When it opened in 2011, Seattle Met’s first-ever Restaurant of the Year served three-, four-, or five-course menus that mixed and matched artful pasta with starters and mains that still felt rustic despite consistently deep finesse. Since then, chef Nathan Lockwood has shifted to a tasting menu-only format that takes Northwest ingredients—ramps, madrone bark, shigoku oysters—in astonishing and elegant directions. Its core remains the same: down to earth service, a smart wine list, and a rare blend of modesty and blazing self-assurance. Easily one of the city’s best meals for a special occasion.

Cascina Spinasse

The rustic Italian farmstead with the trestle tables and wrought iron chandeliers serves the best pasta in Pike/Pine, maybe even Seattle: rich hand-cut Piedmontese egg-yolk noodles, buttery delicate strands of tajarin. The pastas all achieve density and delicacy, but meat dishes, from rabbit to angelic heritage pork, can also be extraordinary. Think earthy, long stewed, rough cut, boldly flavored—and careful. Chef Stuart Lane carries on the legacy and the quality of one of the city’s most impressive Italian restaurants. 

Lark

When Seattle culinary statesman John Sundstrom relocated his restaurant from smaller quarters to this sophisticated, starlit space, Lark leveled up. The long menu remains studded with old faves, and everything from service to wine to kitchen execution exudes the confidence of place that’s been at this for a while. 

Mamnoon

Wassef and Racha Haroun’s urbane low-lit Syrian/Lebanese dining room still stuns, consistently, with food that tastes like it was made by a Syrian grandmother. Flavors we don’t see nearly enough—pomegranate molasses in the bright muhammara dip, fenugreek in the heartbreakingly tender braised lamb—coupled with the kitchen’s mastery (particularly with breads and pastries), make this one of Seattle’s legitimately exhilarating dining experiences. 

Marjorie

In 2010 the cozy Belltown original gave way to its current windowy quarters on the edge of Capitol Hill. Owner Donna Moodie, one of the city’s genuine hosts, has warmed the room’s hard edges with pillows and exuberant color on azure walls. The menu plays globe-trotting homage to Italy (porchetta, housemade gnocchi), India (tikka masala chicken), and the American South (in the past, a juicy pork shank with grits and greens and red-eye gravy); the dessert menu may go beyond the bourbon brioche bread pudding, but we never have.

CHINATOWN/INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT

Tamarind Tree

This elegant restaurant, tucked in the back of a Little Saigon parking lot, has the sort of long, ranging menu that provokes unease. A seven-course beef tasting, muc nhoi thit (grilled squid stuffed with ground pork), banh mi hap (a steamed baguette)...on and on for pages. How could a kitchen execute all this and keep its ingredients fresh? That concern will fade as soon as you taste those squid—the right sort of chewy and every shade of savory—or the ecstatically, herbally fresh green mango salad.  

CENTRAL DISTRICT

L’Oursin

Parisian bistros inspired this den of wood wainscoting and curved brass chairs at 14th and Jefferson, but chef JJ Proville recasts classic French dishes with inherently Northwest players—dungeness, lingcod, coonstripe prawns—much like Netflix might reboot a great European TV series, but with more creme fraiche. The arctic char tartare would land L’Oursin among the city’s best restaurants even before you factor in the bar program. His business partner, Zac Overman, and the luminous wine brain of Kathryn Olson fill the marquee-lit bar with surprising cocktails and natural wines with the most entertaining tasting notes in town. 

COLUMBIA CITY

La Medusa

The apotheosis of the neighborhood restaurant, La Medusa was the first to mark Columbia City a culinary destination and has kept it so since 1997, with consistent bowls of squid ink spaghetti vongole or the original owner’s grandmother’s recipe for flavor-packed wilted greens. The restaurant’s been through a few proprietors since then, and the chalkboard menu changes on the regular, but sardine pasta, with pine nuts, olives, fennel, and saffron, is forever the standard-bearer in this cozy room.

DOWNTOWN

Loulay

Soaring, lushly appointed, luxuriously open day and night, pinned to a prime corner of downtown—Thierry Rautureau’s three-level showpiece with the vivid walls and white booths and the buzzing bar is one of a very few dining destinations in the downtown microclimate around Sixth and Union. Which is why it will surprise some that in addition to the prettily composed French plates, it’s mostly down to earth, with locavore priorities and a come-as-you-are welcome from the restaurateur who invented it.

RN74

Restaurateur Michael Mina busted the myth that national names can’t succeed in Seattle (he is from Ellensburg, after all). He did it with a downtown outpost of his erstwhile San Francisco wine restaurant, marrying lovely platings with a vast bottle list that boasts plenty of Washington cred—the “Last Bottle” wine board clacks out updates whenever the cellar’s down to just one.

FREMONT

Art of the Table

The larger quarters on Stone Way offer the same setup as its sun-streaked Fremont predecessor: tasting menu dinners (seven to nine courses) Fridays and Saturdays—you can choose a la carte on other nights—but that $125-ish menu is a deal, given chef-owner Dustin Ronspies’s gifts. A committed seasonalist, a salad maestro, a lover of braised meats, a textural artist. These are memorable dinners, in an under-the-radar treasure.

Kamonegi

There’s so much backstory to the delicate noodles that chef Mutsuko Soma makes by hand via centuries-old methods at her Fremont soba restaurant, it’s easy to overlook the basic fact of eating here: The food is really flipping fun. The lineup of eight-ish soba dishes takes the occasional culinary liberty with classic combinations; Japanese chefs weren’t making soba with duck meatballs or curry with gooey mozzarella centuries ago, but in Soma’s hands it all makes sense. Kamonegi took over the original Art of the Table space, as well as its legacy for making unlikely magic in a tiny, awkwardly shaped space. No wonder it’s always hopping. 

GREENWOOD

FlintCreek Cattle Co.

Seattle Met’s 2017 Restaurant of the Year: A game meat destination with cattle in the name, from a chef previously defined by fish. Here Eric Donnelly, the chef who also gives us innovative seafood at RockCreek, presents less-common meats like bison, boar, and duck in a 1926 brick building with the sort of bilevel grandeur that cries out for midcentury chandeliers and a showy central bar. Preparations cast game meat in familiar tableaus (venison in a rich pate, tender wild boar sugo over gnocchi) designed to win over diners iffy on these proteins, but a menu of beautiful steaks ensure diehard beef eaters won’t go away hungry. 

MADRONA

Vendemmia

“Pasta, seafood, and vegetables.” Brian Clevenger’s philosophy is pretty simple, as restaurant concepts go, but then factor in the flawless fish and produce. Clevenger’s got a knack for memorable combos and a brain equally devoted to culinary technique and the prosaics of cost management. This formula explains why his original and best restaurant, Vendemmia, remains reliably busy. It’s a little Italian, a little Northwest; equally game for a Valentine’s Day dinner or a spontaneous Tuesday night.

PHINNEY

Opus Co.

Chef and owner Mark Schroder wedged a custom wood-fired grill into a tiny space to make food that flits between his Midwestern upbringing and Korean-inflected training. Those flames deliver shareable plates of pork belly in fermented molasses, or a kale salad that will stand out in memory against the thousand other kale salads in town. The menu’s tiny, but most diners wisely go for the Opus Feast, a deal of a tasting menu that summons its inspirations everywhere from banchan to lamb spam.

PIKE PLACE MARKET

Matt’s in the Market

Dan Bugge’s restaurant on the second floor of Pike Place Market is the closest thing Seattle has to an essential restaurant. Named for its original owner, Matt’s effortlessly combines Seattle’s winningest charms: views over market rooftops to the bay, freshest seafood, straightforward friendliness. Current chef Matt Fortner (yep, the name is pure coincidence) has taken the globally inflected menu in a subtly Italian direction.

Cafe Campagne

After all these years, Seattle’s equivalent of Paris cafe culture still perches on Post Alley in Pike Place Market. Here chef Daisley Gordon does right by essential dishes—quiche, pan-roasted chicken, oeufs en meurette—and instills in his kitchen the sort of perfectionism that renders even the simplest asparagus salad or steak frites memorable. 

PIONEER SQUARE

Damn the Weather

Inside, all dim and brick-lined, the place unites brainy cocktails with a changing menu of sly small plates: That tender fish, with its crunchy golden exterior and accompanying beet agrodolce, would be the envy of far fancier restaurant kitchens. So would the burrata, transformed from mound of cheese to proper composed dish via a salad of radicchio, pistachios, and bread crumbs. 

QUEEN ANNE

How to Cook a Wolf

One of Ethan Stowell’s OG restaurants, with its wood-wrapped interior atop Queen Anne, illustrates how the restaurateur became a household name in his hometown: clever pastas, Italian-meets-Northwest crudos, and an attentive staff. In a restaurant this small, hospitality is a job for both front and back of house, and chef Nicole Matson’s love of vegan and pescatarian dining has proved a surprisingly inspired fit for a restaurant that finds beauty in simple, often vegetal ingredients.

Eden Hill

Maximalism reigns in chef Maximillian Petty’s 24-seat dining room atop Queen Anne hill. Dishes like his crispy pig head candy bar reveal a chef able to master a multitude of moving parts. Petty’s combo of cerebral wit and skill is all over the menu, which recently changed to a tasting menu­-only format, in contrast with the more casual Eden Hill Provisions he and wife Jennifer opened down the street.

RAVENNA

JuneBaby

Chef Edouardo Jordan cemented his fine-dining cred at Salare, then things got personal. His subsequent restaurant is a thoughtful telling of Southern food, from crowd-pleasers like biscuits and Sunday-only fried chicken to more culturally nuanced fare like chitlins and oxtail. A few seasonal dishes hint at Jordan’s high-end training, while desserts like bourbon dark chocolate bread pudding and hummingbird cake make you want to hunt down the pastry chef and hug her tenderly. There’s a reason JuneBaby is on the national radar.

SOUTH LAKE UNION 

Deep Dive

Renee Erickson’s nod to the midcentury Manhattan hotel bar, tucked at the base of the Amazon Spheres, took on an almost Lewis Carroll feel once she turned friend and virtuoso curator Curtis Steiner loose to fill the many shelves and curio cabinets with vintage naturalist specimens and elegant oddities. This high-end cocktail haunt feels like a dim and moody alter ego for a chef who usually specializes in whitewashed and winsome, but the food menu, in its curling script, is undeniably Erickson (and as broad as what you’ll find in most of her restaurants).

WALLINGFORD

Tilth

In 2006, Maria Hines instilled the town’s most stringent organic policy in a converted Wallingford bungalow. Hines and her crew seem to rise to the occasion of those sourcing constraints, delivering elegant paeans to the season in both a la carte and tasting menu form. Vegan and vegetarian versions just might be the town’s best bet for plant-based special occasions. 

VARIOUS

Tavolàta

Ethan Stowell’s eldest restaurant is also his most overtly Italian, home to fresh housemade pastas, tossed simply with elegant enhancements. We should note that we’ve never seen the concrete-and-wood, lofted urban hotspot with the windows that open onto the Second Avenue sidewalk not slammed: The big communal table in the center fills up fast, and the energy is irresistible. A second location on Pike/Pine replicates the original’s vibe.

First Wine Walk of the Year Set for Feb. 7

The theme is “All You Need is Love.”

By Blake Peterson | Wednesday, January 22, 2020 8:30am | Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com

Photo courtesy of Kirkland Downtown Association From the February 2017 Kirkland wine walk, which had a similar “I Heart Kirkland” theme.

The Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Kirkland Downtown Association and Seattle Uncorked, is putting on its first “All You Need is Love”-themed wine walk from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 7.

Starting at 5 p.m. for early-entry ticket holders, participants check in at the Heathman Hotel, which is located on Kirkland Avenue. Walkers will receive a map card, a glass that comes with 14 tasting tickets and a bag from an event sponsor.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase their tickets early because wine walk events frequently sell out ahead of the event. General admission tickets are $30. Early-bird “beat the crowd” tickets are priced at $40.

Fifteen stores and 16 wineries are participating. Who takes part is narrowed down by a mixture of businesses reaching out to the event’s coordinators and vice versa. If a participant decides to buy a bottle of wine during the event, it can be dropped off at Hallmark Realty (101 Lake Street) and then picked up once the wine walk is over.

Jennifer Dean, the director of operations and finance at the chamber, said that ticket-buyers are free to map out the event as they please.

Dean said that wine walk events, which happen throughout the year with different themes, dependably attract hundreds to the downtown area, which is beneficial to community members and its businesses.

“It brings 400 to 500 people to downtown Kirkland… People get festive and dress up, which is always fun to see,” Dean said.

Dean said that residents have voiced a particular enjoyment of the Valentine’s Day-centric wine walks because of their theme. The last wine walk event was at the end of 2019 and was holiday-themed.

This year, the biggest challenge of coordinating the event was the looming possibility of bad weather, Dean said.

“We don’t need any more snow,” she said with a laugh.

Following the wine walk, the Kirkland Chamber’s next major event is the “Lights, Camera, Auction!” gala on Saturday, April 4. The next wine walk is set for June 5, with two more on Oct. 23 and Nov. 20.

Dean said she’s most looking forward to seeing the community come downtown and get festive for the activities.

“It brings out the people to the community and supports the businesses especially during the wintertime… it gives them a reason to get out,” she said. “[I enjoy when] people come out and get dressed up — it makes it fun.”

For more information about the event, go to the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce’s website (https://bit.ly/3aj9H61).

Topgolf Brings Innovative Lounge Concept to Kirkland

By Antoinette Alexander | January 23, 2020 | Courtesy of 425Magazine.com

Opening in downtown Kirkland on Jan. 24 is a new, indoor lounge concept featuring an upscale bar and restaurant, an elevated virtual gaming experience, and an expansive outdoor patio offering panoramic views.

Topgolf, from global sports entertainment company Topgolf Entertainment Group, features digital screens and a selection of digital multi-sport games and experiences. Guests can choose from more than 80 digital championship golf courses using a microchipped golf ball and simulator screen. Additional games include Zombie Dodgeball, hockey, baseball and football challenges, and popular carnival games. The bar and restaurant focuses on craft cocktails and locally curated dishes and spirits.

“Lounge by Topgolf demonstrates Topgolf’s constant pursuit of the unexpected with an all-indoor, virtual experience different from anything else we’ve created,” stated Topgolf Entertainment Group executive chairman Erik Anderson. “With Greater Seattle being a center for all things tech, I can’t think of a better location for the first Lounge by Topgolf. We use proprietary Topgolf Swing Suite technology to bring our guests exciting virtual games, all while enjoying locally curated food and beverage selections under a digital sky. Being a proud Seattle-area native, I am excited we’re opening the first venue of this concept in my backyard.”

Where to Eat New Year’s Eve 2019

From blowout tasting menus to three budget-friendly courses at a pizza joint.

By Annika Lindburg  12/18/2019 at 9:00am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com

Brimmer and Heeltap tries to blow the roof off.

IMAGE: COURTESY WILL FOSTER

Addo

• On the menu: Seven-courses focusing on luxury ingredients like caviar, shellfish, jamon, king crab, truffle, beef, and dessert.

• The draw: The second seating ends with a literal bang—fireworks, that is.

• The cost: $125 6:30 seating, $250 9pm seating.

Brimmer and Heeltap

• On the menu: Beet-cured salmon, oysters, pumpkin soup, mandarin sorbet, cotechino modena, and garibaldi biscuit.

• The draw: Enter the new decade lighter by writing down what you’d like to let go of from 2019, stuffing it in a paper-mache doll and burning it at midnight.

• The cost: $75.

Carrello 

• On the menu: Oysters, porchetta, and hand cut chittara served from a flaming wheel of parmesan cheese. 

• The draw: Food’s served from Carrello’s armada of roving carts.

• The cost: $75.

Central Smoke

• On the menu: Whole alligator, boiled crawfish, seafood gumbo, braised collard greens, broad bean succotash, cajun pickled green beans, sweet cornbread, and king cake.

• The draw: In case you missed it—whole alligator, smoked in a bacon lattice.

• The cost: $68.

Conversation

• On the menu: Oysters, then an app (scallops, gnocchi, or squash soup), an entree (butternut squash risotto, halibut, short rib, or salmon), and a dessert (vanilla, chocolate, or raspberry mousse).

• The draw: You can opt for an upstairs New Years Eve party at the Nest—with a rooftop DJ and a midnight champagne toast. 

• The cost: $70 for dinner, $150 for the party (which includes a $25 credit for dinner).

Cortina

• On the menu: A four-course tasting menu with celery root panna cotta to share, a pasta dish like strozzapreti nero geoduck, and one main course of black cod, New York strip with pommes puree or rutabaga steak. Meyer lemon cheesecake, tiramisu, or chocolate sorbet for dessert.

• The draw: Multiple seating options—main dining room, the lounge, and window tables. 

• The cost: $85.

Deep Dive

• On the menu: Oyster with caviar, scallop crudo, caramelized onion ravioli, crab cakes, black cod with mushrooms, and chocolate cremeux tart.

• The draw: Every course is paired with a cocktail, spirit, wine, or beer. 

• The cost: $150.

Goldfinch Tavern

• On the menu: Black truffle risotto, entrees from scallop and lobster to cauliflower steak, and eggnog cheesecake or boozy triple chocolate mousse.

• The draw: Views of Elliott Bay, a DJ, a champagne toast at midnight, and party favors.

• The cost: $110 per adult, $25 per kid. 

You’ll find such a toast at most restaurants on this list, including Heartwood Provisions.

IMAGE: COURTESY CATHERINE TONNER/ HEARTWOOD PROVISIONS

Heartwood Provisions

• On the menu: Five-course menu of prawns, mushroom soup, sturgeon, venison, and chocolate mousse.

• The draw: A very special cocktail for $50. The Good as Gold contains Darroze 12 Year Old Armagnac, Green Chartreuse V.E.P., and 2001 Hugel Riesling VT. 

• The cost: $95 (not including cocktail). 

Hitchcock

• On the menu: Eight-course meal with celery root puree, fried beef bone marrow, sweet potato terrine, cotechino sausage, weathervane scallop, wood-fired cauliflower, sous-vide mangalitsa pork loin, and mignardises.

• The draw: A destination dinner on Bainbridge Island (that’s still very easy to get to).

• The cost: $120. 

Lark

• On the menu: A four-course dinner with options like seared la belle foie gras, yellowtail crudo, arctic char, and dungeness crab risotto nero. To finish, a Meyer lemon parfait.

• The draw: A seat beneath the PNW institution’s twinkling ceiling lights. 

• The cost: $130 per person, optional wine pairing for $70 per person.

Le Coin

• On the menu: A four-course menu with chestnut soup, wagyu beef tartare, roasted duck breast, and pavlova.

• The draw: A la carte supplements include roasted foie gras, local Washington oysters, and a seafood display.

• The cost: $85.

L’Oursin

• On the menu: Virginica oysters with apple and cider mignonette, scallops with beurre demi-sel and clam vinaigrette, crab consommé, octopus basquaise, black cod, creme brulee. 

• The draw: A five-course meal with stops in different French regions—from Normandy to the Loire Valley.

• The cost: $150, optional wine pairings for $75.

Maximilien

• On the menu: Duck soup, oysters, chilean sea bass, or stuffed quail with foie gras, house salad, and chocolate and cherry cake.

• The draw: A trio of vocals, violin, and accordion, along with a five-course early menu and a seven-course late menu.

• The cost: $90 early, $110 late.

Plenty of Clouds

• On the menu: Shrimp and squid, fried squash, lotus root, noodles with beef, Lionhead meatballs, and fried rice. Assorted sweets and a limited a la carte menu also available.

• The draw: A personalized menu for those with allergies and dietary restrictions is available for $35. Dungeness crab and whole fish are available for an additional cost. 

• The cost: $48.

Red Cow

• On the menu: Dishes include corned beef tongue, pork cheek rillette, Parisian gnocchi, and gingerbread profiteroles. 

• The draw: French fare in the heart of Madrona with $40 supplements like chateaubriand, pommes puree, and haricots verts. 

• The cost: $85.

RN74′s escargot.

IMAGE: COURTESY RN74

RN74

• On the menu: Hamachi crudo, escargot, bartlett pear and brussels sprouts salad or little gem salad, lobster pot pie or black sea bass, duck breast or wagyu beef tenderloin, citrus pavlova or chocolate cake.

• The draw: Complimentary champagne for a toast at midnight.

• The cost: $125.

Samara

• On the menu: Dungeness crab, sunchokes, and duck, among others.

• The draw: Celebratory supplements like black truffle and bomba rice cake, caviar, and a foie gras terrine. Special bottle list of Champagnes.

• The cost: $7–$36.

Sitka and Spruce

• On the menu: Oysters, scallops, beef, black cod, waterfowl, and an homage to Jerry Traunfeld’s pear “edulis.”

• The draw: A farewell NYE Toast Party in Melrose Market with a live DJ and open bar as the famed Seattle restaurant celebrates its last night.

• The cost: $350.

Southpaw

• On the menu: First course—prosciutto with arugula, romaine heart salad with grana, or Italian wedding soup. Second course—spaghetti and meatballs, pepperoni or margherita pizza, or eggplant parmesan. Third course—lemon sorbet, zeppole, or tiramisu sundae.

• The draw: A budget-friendly New Year’s Eve dinner.

• The cost: $35.

Tarsan i Jane

• On the menu: Seven-courses with lobster, sea urchin, and caviar. Cured ham and deep-sea prawn available for extra. 

• The draw: A seat at one of the more innovative—and singular—restaurants in the city.

• The cost: $215.

Tutta Bella

• On the menu: Four-courses with Taylor clams, pear and arugula salad, capannina pizza, and torta caprese cake.

• The draw: Great view of the Space Needle fireworks show, live music, a Prosecco toast at midnight. All ages welcome. 

• The cost: $95 dinner and show, $50 general admission plus, $30 general admission. 

Walrus and The Carpenter

• On the menu: Blue pool oysters, rye blini, beef carpaccio, agnolotti, black cod, and dessert.

• The draw: You can further splurge on special cocktails, wine pairings, champagne, and caviar.

• The cost: $125.

13 Seattle New Year’s Eve Parties to Check Out

Fireworks? Check. Champagne? Check. Local bands that channel Led Zeppelin to bring down the Showbox? Yep, that too.

By Seattle Met Staff  12/19/2019 at 9:00am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com

Midnight fireworks are set off next to the Space Needle and above Chihuly Garden and Glass.

IMAGE: COURTESY CHIHULY STUDIO © ROD MAR

Año Nuevo en el Latin GalaToast a fitting end to a crazy year with La Hora Loca (“The Crazy Hour”) in SoDo. Salsa band Orquesta Cambalache will get you on your feet after a two-hour buffet catered by Cafe Con Leche. Champagne tops off the night. Club Sur, $40–$80

Artist Home’s New Year’s Eve CelebrationThe nonprofit behind the Timber! and Timbrrr! music festivals, Artist Home is an organization you can count on to book consistently excellent bands (even when you haven’t heard of them). This year, for its eighth New Year’s celebration, local staples Naked Giants (colossal garage punk), Pickwick (indie R&B), and Prom Queen (slinky 1960s doo-wop rock) will hop on stage to sing cover songs, backed by the “Artist Home All-Star Band.” Tractor Tavern, $40 

Black and White Ball
Riffing on Truman Capote’s famed party, the Women’s University Club hosts “The Party of the Century,” with a black carpet, dessert bar, and four music rooms—piano, jazz/R&B, dance tunes, and 17-piece orchestra. You can also buy into an absinthe fountain (because why not), a cigar bar, and tarot card readers. The Women’s University Club, $110

Bollywood NYESouth Asian music, dancing, and food land in Georgetown for this sixth annual NYE party. Beats by DJ Sznaina and DJ Gabbar and a projection video wall with funky visuals will set the stage for traditional Bollywood dance moves and mingling. Blue Ribbon will have a cash bar and Indian food to snack on. Seattle Design Center, $40

Fireworks Harbor CruiseFeeling a little wishy-washy about New Year’s Eve plans? Jump on board Emerald City Party Boat’s firework cruise. Check out the full bar and both dance floors before heading onto the large bow and deck for panoramic skyline and firework views. Look your best: A professional photographer will make the rounds to capture candid moments throughout the night. Emerald City Party Boats, $135

New Year’s Eve at Cafe RacerAt Cafe Racer you can trip into the new decade with The Whags (psych-funk), Shed, and Kilcid Band (psych pop). The cafe becomes 21 plus at 10:30. Entry includes bubbles at midnight and hors d’oeuvres. Cafe Racer, $15

One Night in OsakaAt this pop-up, Seattle-based Japanese chefs like Kamonegi’s Mutsuko Soma and Adana’s Shota Nakajima create the feel of Osaka’s streets. They’ll preview dishes served at Nakajima’s upcoming new Osakan restaurant, Taku. Standard tickets include four drinks and six food items, a DJ, and a surprise entertainment guest. Yes to fancy dress—black and gold encouraged—and prepare to switch out bubbles for a Japanese liquor or brew. 415 Westlake, $167

Prohibition New Year’s EveThe 1920s roar into Fremont’s wine and whiskey bar to herald the 2020s, with prohibition-era cocktails, champagne flights, a sparkling wine toast at midnight, and music. Want a pricier reservation with a three-course dinner and a bottle of Grand Cru Champagne? Treat yourself. The Barrel Thief, $10–$120

Roaring 20’s New Years Eve Karaoke Party
Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne along with all-night karaoke and live performances by retro pop art performance artists L80 and drag performer Jackie Hell. Crescent Lounge, Free  

Choose Your Own Adventure at Seattle Center One distinct perk of Seattle Center’s after-hours parties: Front-row seats for watching fireworks. You can, of course, hang out near the Needle for free ... Or, you can dance to live or DJ’d music and toast midnight champagne at the Pacific Science Center, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), or Chihuly Garden and Glass. Chihuly will host tours, while the Pacific Science Center and MoPOP will have exhibits open for display and play including the Science Center’s laser shows and MoPOP’s comedy theatre. Drinks and snacks are a given. Seattle Center, Free–$227 

Thunderpussy: New Year’s EveIf you want to end the decade with a showcase of the city’s best Led Zepplin-esque rock bands, all soaring vocals and scorching riffs, Thunderpussy’s second NYE blowout at the Showbox is your best bet. This year, Bear Axe, also channeling the Zep, opens—as do a couple takes on PNW punk: Trash Fire and the Constant Lovers. Showbox, $30

A Seattle Dining Guide for Christmas Eve and Day

Ditch the kitchen for these festive feasts.

By Annika Lindburg  12/12/2019 at 10:00am | Courtesy of Seattlemet.com

Lark’s sophisticated, starlit space.

IMAGE: COURTESY ZACK BENT

Altura

The Broadway Italian restaurant’s tasting menu includes mediterranean mussels, wagyu tenderloin, and duck brodo. Need we say more? $157, Christmas Eve

Andaluca

Go full noel with a special—partridge with grilled speckled pear or venison saddle loin. Or try anything off the full menu. A la carte, Christmas Eve & Day

Bar Taglio

Chef Brendan McGill’s five-course dinner has a little something for everyone—oysters, pork shoulder, salmon, pizza, and napoleon or hazelnut almond dacquoise. $75, Christmas Eve 

Barking Frog

Willow Lodge’s restaurant’s four-course tasting menu highlights include: scotch egg with arugula, seared meru sea bass, and wild mushroom risotto. For dessert, egg nog pudding or chocolate flourless cake. $125, Christmas Eve & Day

Bookstore Bar

Nestled inside the Alexis hotel, executive chef Dan Matthiesen serves up a holiday meal of prime rib, potato gratin, creamed spinach, and au jus. The regular brunch menu and limited dinner menu are also available. $38, Christmas Eve

Dunbar Room

For those dreaming of Thanksgiving in December, a carving station of roasted turkey, prime rib, and steelhead with sides of mashed potatoes, yams, and rolls should do the trick. Six desserts and a complimentary glass of bubbles guarantee to leave you as full as Santa. $100, Christmas Eve & Day

Shaker and Spear’s oysters.

IMAGE: COURTESY AUBRIE PICK

Goldfinch Tavern

Escape the in-laws and eat here for every meal. Appetizers are family-style, with options like oysters and a winter vegetable salad. Select one entree like black cod or lobster ravioli and a chocolate peppermint tart or hot chocolate for dessert. Brunch is buffet-style, with options like mac and cheese bites with ham, grilled lamb chop, and ginger spice bread pudding. Christmas Eve dinner $95, Christmas brunch $65, Christmas dinner $135

Heartwood Provisions

The New American restaurant offers a four-course chef’s menu of halibut, bone marrow, beef cheek bourguignon, followed by a chamomile cake. $75, Christmas Eve

Il Nido

How about Christmas Eve in a 1904 log cabin? This West Seattle Italian restaurant serves a prix fixe menu, which leans toward the sea—geoduck, oysters, anchovies, branzino, sardinian crackers, and scallop ravioli—and finishes with cannoli or gianduja chocolate. $100, Christmas Eve

Lark

Chef John Sundstrom’s fine-dining meal offers options for each of its three courses. First: oysters, burrata, or foie gras. Then: scallops, duck breast, steak, or mushroom pasta. And for dessert: blood orange sorbet, quince tart, or dark chocolate persimmon pudding. $80, Christmas Eve

Maximilien

Eat like the French with quail lollipop, lobster bisque, beef wellington, and a yule log chocolate cake. From 5:30–8:30 your meal will be accompanied by an accordionist. $85, Christmas Eve

Tulio’s burrata with heirloom tomatoes, basil salt, micro basil and trampetti.

IMAGE: COURTESY MICHELLE GEE

Mamnoon

The two bastions of wonderful Syrian and Lebanese food—Capitol Hill’s Mamnoon and Dexter Triangle’s Mamnoon Street—present their standard menus on Christmas Eve. No matter: Their food always feels like a gift. A la carte

Plenty of Clouds

The Capitol Hill Chinese restaurant has a family-style feast and a limited a la carte menu. Assorted noodles and fried rice dishes, meatballs, shrimp, and squid make for a unique dinner. You can add fish or crab for extra. $48, Christmas Eve

Rider

Nothing says Christmas Eve quite like a 22oz bone-in prime rib eye, or Alaskan king crab legs, or proper caviar service with toasted brioche, creme fraiche, and cured duck egg yolks. Special sides, like king crab mash potatoes, run equally decadent. Or just add black truffles to whatever you want. A la carte, Christmas Eve

Shaker and Spear

The Belltown restaurant offers its regular menu along with a $30 bouillabaisse special for a twist on the traditional Italian American Christmas fare. A la carte, Christmas Eve

The Lakehouse

After Christmas shopping at Bellevue’s Lincoln Square, recharge with a three-course meal. Options include roasted squash salad, pumpkin soup, winter vegetable pot pie, and chinook salmon. Choose from chocolate ganache cake, roasted caramel apple, butterscotch pudding, or pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. $74, Christmas Eve & Day

Tulio

A Southern Italian celebration of seven simple seafood dishes from fish soup, to steelhead crudo, to crab spaghetti. A la carte, Christmas Eve

Seattle Holiday Event Guide 2019

From lit cruises to glittering mazes to takes on wintry burlesque, here are the 32 events to catch this season.

By Seattle Met Staff  11/26/2019 at 8:00am

It’s time for Wildlights, an animal-themed light festival at the Woodland Park Zoo this holiday season.

IMAGE: COURTESY WOODLAND PARK ZOO / JEREMY DWYER-LINDGREN

Nov 22–Dec 29
Enchant Christmas
The maze of lights returns for a second year, bringing with it an ice-skating rink, special food and drinks, a Christmas market, and, of course, Santa. T-Mobile Park, $20–$33

Nov 23–Dec 31
Museum of Glass Fire and Ice Festival
At Tacoma’s Museum of Glass, you can create your own glass pumpkin, ornament, snowman, or paperweight. Also at this multi-day winter-themed festival: night markets, visiting artists, a Nutcracker performance, and a Christmas recital. Tacoma, $12–$60 

Nov 23–Jan 1
Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village
The Sheraton’s Gingerbread Village (which raises funds for juvenile diabetes research) takes, well, a village. Chefs from the Sheraton, local architects, and children use thousands of pounds of dough, icing, and candy to make life-sized gingerbread houses, variations on the theme of “Elf Life.” Sheraton Grand Seattle, Free 

Nov 29–Dec 24
Miracle on 2nd and Sippin’ Santa at Vinnie’s
Rob Roy, Belltown’s consistently excellent and constantly nonchalant lounge, again gets seasonal: a holiday cocktail list, soundtrack, and a good deal of fake snow. Want something warmer? Its sibling bar, Vinnie’s, offers a tiki take on Christmas starting November 26. Rob Roy, A la carte; Vinnie’s, A la carte 

Nov 29–Dec 23
Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival
Have yourself a nautical noel on the Puget Sound, surrounded by other lit vessels, choirs, and a reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. For those 21-and-over, a separate ship offers rotating weekly themes like an “Ugly Sweater Party” and “Tipsy Christmas Carols.” Want to stay on shore? You can see from there, too. Argosy Cruises, $42–$68 

Nov 29–Dec 22
Christmas at the Mansion
Puyallup Historical Society dresses up the Meeker Mansion in Victorian-style decorations. You can wander through on your own or call ahead to secure a tour guide. Meeker Mansion, $6 

Nov 29–Dec 24
Christmastown: A Holiday Noir
Want all the tropes of film noir filtered through a yuletide lens? In Christmastown, detective Nick Holiday sleuths for Big Red—who’s Santa, not a femme fatale. But there’s one of those, too. Seattle Public Theater, $17–$34 

Nov 29–Dec 22
Elf: The Musical
In this musical adaptation of the beloved Will Ferrell movie, everyone’s favorite human-elf hits the streets of New York in search of his real father. Tacoma Musical Playhouse, $31 

Nov 29–Jan 4
Lumaze
This twinkling maze of lights also hosts live entertainment, a holiday train ride, local vendors, and even a visit with the big man himself. Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, $15–$20 

The Blue Christmas cocktail at Vinnie’s for its Sippin’ Santa popup.

IMAGE: COURTESY RANDY SMITH

Nov 29–Dec 24
Snowflake Lane
Bellevue’s nightly outdoor parade dances into its fifteenth year with toy drummers and “jingle belle” dancers, illuminated floats, fake snow, and music. Bellevue, Free 

Nov 29–Jan 5
Wildlights at the Zoo
At this light festival animals are on display, warm drinks are available by the fire, and if you want the winter experience without the freezing temperatures, the Snowmazium—with its faux snowballs—is the place to be. Woodland Park Zoo, $15 

Nov 30–Dec 31
Garden d’Lights
At Bellevue’s Botanical Garden, over 500,000 lights become plants, flowers, birds, and animals in a three-quarters of a mile route. Select nights have live music. Bellevue Botanical Garden, $5 

Sat, Nov 30
MOHAI Greet the Season
The holiday season means train time at MOHAI. In addition to a scavenger hunt, the whole family can check out a showing of miniature model trains by the National Model Railroad Association. If locomotives don’t move you, the entire park is geared up for the season, including the Historic Ships Wharf and Center for Wooden Boats. MOHAI, Included in $22 admission 

Dec 1–31
Salt and Straw Holiday Series
We don’t care if it’s already freezing outside: holiday flavors in ice cream form sound just fine, be they gingerbread cookie dough (dusted with crushed gingerbread cookies) or the vegan cinnamon chai spiced eggnog. Salt and Straw, A la carte 

Thu, Dec 5
A John Waters Christmas
The Father Christmas of Filth returns with his yearly one-man show. Gird yourself for festive transgressions. Neptune Theatre, $35–$45 

Thu, Dec 5
Howlidays
Dress your dog in holiday gear and bring it to Nord Alley at Pioneer Square for canine friendly pop ups. Holiday music will set the mood while you pose for a caricature with your dog. Thirsty? Flatstick Pub knocks a dollar off pints. Nord Alley, Free 

Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker returns to the Triple Door.

IMAGE: COURTESY ANGELA STERLING

Dec 5–Jan 5
Wonderland
Who’s to say cabaret—with its naughty streak, its glitter, its rosy cheeks—isn’t inherently festive? Certainly not the Can Can, Pike Place Market’s subterranean delight. Can Can Culinary Cabaret, $45–$55 

Sat, Dec 7
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
Your best worst holiday sweater can get a workout in this crawl through the 12 bars of Christmas. It’s put on by the SantaCon people. You’ve been duly warned. Start near First and Pike, $5–$30  

Sun, Dec 8
Addo Themed Brunch: Nightmare Before Christmas
Chef Eric Rivera comes up with a spooky-meets-jolly brunch inspired by Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. While the food remains secret, guests can expect a decorated venue befitting the famed holiday crossover. Addo, $40 

Sun, Dec 8
Holiday Craft Cocktail Class
Goldfinch Tavern’s Wesley Johnston and Ray Stencel teach attendees to make three gin cocktails and then pair each drink with food from the restaurant’s chef, Emmanuel Calderon. Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, $40 

Sun, Dec 8
Hanukkah Community Concert and Celebration
Seattle’s Chava Mirel and Bay Area cantorial soloist Elana Jagoda share the bill at this concert, which includes latkes and games. Stroum Jewish Community Center, $15 

Dec 12–29
Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker
If you like PNB’s take on The Nutcracker well enough but think it needs something—maybe that’s table-side food and drink, or a grinding jazz band, or pasties and glitter—Verlaine and McCann’s annual Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker has you covered, even as its spirited cast takes it all off. The Triple Door, $42–$85 

Dec 13–24
Sugar Plum Gary
Santa meets Satan in Emmett Montgomery’s one man show. The local comedian takes to the stage in a red onesie and doles out an act both absurd and faintly evil. “Christmas in five words,” he grumbles through a huge beard. “He sees you when you’re sleeping.” 18th and Union, $18–23 

Sat, Dec 14
Handmade Holiday Market
This seventh annual market hosts an array of vendors from puppy treats to wooden creations to handcrafted candles—all from local artists and makers. Second Use Building Materials, Free 

Sat, Dec 14
Holiday Market
The Northwest African American Museum hosts black businesses and vendors at its market. Expect apothecary, African textiles, literature, and prints. Northwest African American Museum, Free 

Sat, Dec 14
Seattle SantaCon
Santa Claus is coming to town—likely 2,000 of them, most of whom will be schnockered. If you want to join them, arrive anytime between noon to midnight in your holiday garb to receive a wristband and get free admission to certain venues, cocktail specials, and live entertainment. Various locations, $5–$30 

The Snow Day in South Lake Union pairs beer, food trucks, and a photo booth to ring in the season.

IMAGE: COURTESY POLITE SOCIETY / YVONNE CHAN

Dec 14–Jan 20
Snow Day SLU
Need a generalist holiday party for the family? South Lake Union’s Snow Day has a beer garden, food trucks, crafts for kids, and a snow globe photo booth. Denny Park, Free 

Mon, Dec 16
Kidd Valley Giving Tree
Head to Kidd Valley and pick a child’s wish to fulfill from their giving tree. Bring donations back by December 16, which will benefit Childhaven, an organization dedicated to ending child abuse and neglect. Monetary donations are also welcome. Various Kidd Valley locations, Free 

Dec 20–22
Handel’s Messiah
George Frideric Handel’s Messiah is as quintessentially Christmas as any carol. And when 50-some psalm-centered movements begin to run together, conductor Matthew Halls will lead the Seattle Symphony and Chorale in the incomparable Hallelujah chorus. Benaroya Hall, $26–$90 

Sat, Dec 21
Holiday Fun Run
This multi-distance fun run—choose 5k, 10k, or 15k—loops through Magnuson Park then rewards you with a holiday sweater contest and a cider and hot chocolate bar. Magnuson Park, $10–$46 

Sun, Dec 22
Grand Menorah Lighting
The first night of Hanukkah kicks off with this sundown celebration in Volunteer Park, hosted by the Chabad of Capitol Hill and the Central District. Volunteer Park, Free 

Spend Your Saturdays at the Kirkland Urban Winter Festival

By Melissa McCarthy | November 27, 2019 | Courtesy of 425Magazine.com

Photo by __ drz __ on Unsplash

We have another amazing event to add to your holiday to-do list: The Kirkland Urban Winter Festival. Shopping destination Kirkland Urban is hosting free, all-ages activities to bring the community together for the rest of the season. Starting this Saturday, Nov. 30, and running every Saturday through Dec. 21, this Eastside celebration promises to deliver some serious holiday spirit.

Activities range from arts and crafts projects, to entertaining movies and music, and even photos with Santa. Pet lovers can enjoy the special “Santa Paws” photo opportunity on Dec. 14. For adults 21 and over, there will be a beer, cider, and wine garden during the events on Dec. 7 and 21. Check out the full list of holiday happenings here:

SATURDAY, NOV. 30, 2-8 P.M.

• 2–5 p.m.: Themed arts and crafts, music, face painting, balloon art, snow globe making, photos with Santa, and a snow machine.

• 5:30–8 p.m.: Screening of a family-friendly, holiday-themed movie and fresh popcorn.

SATURDAY, DEC. 7, 2-9 P.M.

• 2–5 p.m.: Themed arts and crafts, music, balloon art, glitter tattoos, and a snow machine.

• 6:30–9 p.m.: 21+ beer and wine garden.

SATURDAY, DEC. 14, 2-8 P.M.

• 2–5 p.m.: Pet-themed arts and crafts, music, balloon art, glitter airbrush tattoos, snow globe- making, sing-a-longs, and pet photos with “Santa Paws.”

• 5:30–8 p.m.: Screening of a family-friendly, holiday-themed movie and fresh popcorn.

SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2-9 P.M.

• 2–5 p.m.: Themed arts and crafts, music, face painting, balloon art, glitter tattoos, snow globe- making, ornament-making, sing-a-longs, and photos with Santa.

• 6:30–9 p.m.: 21+ beer and wine garden.

For more information about the Kirkland Urban Winter Festival, visit this website.

Sea-Tac Braces For 1 Million Travelers Over Thanksgiving Week

Find the busiest travel days, peak airport congestion times, and a few reminders for the 2019 Thanksgiving week in Western Washington.

By Lucas Combos, Patch Staff

Nov 18, 2019 5:46 pm PT | Updated Nov 18, 2019 5:49 pm PT | Courtesy of Patch.com

The day before Thanksgiving is projected to be the busiest of the holiday travel week. (Shutterstock / Kenneth Sponsler)

SEA-TAC AIRPORT, WA — With a busy Thanksgiving travel week nearly upon us, Sea-Tac Airport is sharing some updated tips to keep things running as smoothly as possible over the holiday. More than one million travelers are expected to pass through Sea-Tac between Monday, November 25 and Monday, December 2, according to airport estimates. Phase 2 of a 693,000 square-foot expansion project will not be ready for passengers until 2021.

Busiest Upcoming Holiday Travel Days at Sea-Tac
Wednesday, Nov. 27: 163,500 passengers
Sunday, Dec. 1: 150,000 passengers
Tuesday, Nov. 26: 143,500 passengers
Monday, Dec. 2: 142,500 passengers
Friday, Nov. 22: 140,000 passengers

Peak Congestion Times
Departures:
4:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Arrivals:
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Holiday Travel Tips from Sea-Tac

• To circumvent peak congestion times, drop off passengers on the Arrivals level during morning travel hours. During evenings, meet passengers on the Departures level.

• Download the airport's updated app to see the latest wait times and get a jump on planning using the interactive map.

• Check the City of SeaTac website for any planned road work that may require a detour or additional time.

• Arrive two hours early for domestic flights, and three hours earlier for international travel.

• Review TSA security protocol to prevent delays at checkpoints.

View more holiday travel hacks on the airport's Traveler Tips website.

Where to Get Your Thanksgiving Dinner Fix This Year

From turkey feasts to plant-based meals to takeaway pumpkin pies, these spots in or beyond the city have you covered this holiday.

By Courtney Cummings  11/14/2019 at 8:50am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com

Plum Bistro brings vegan delights to a pretty meat heavy holiday.

IMAGE: WILDERN DESIGN AND ELIZABETH RUDGE PHOTOGRAPHY

Whether you simply don’t feel like spending an absurd number of hours in the kitchen or you just want to spice things up this year, these essential Thanksgiving day spots have your back when it comes to cooking.

Classic Dinners

Ascend Prime Steak and Sushi

Why settle for just dinner when you can have T-day brunch too? The Bellevue fine dining restaurant takes classics like citrus-brined turkey, candied sweet potato, truffle deviled eggs, and pumpkin nitro ice cream and gives them new life at its brunch event from 9:30 to 4:30. $35–$95

SPONSORED

How to Vacation Without Leaving Seattle

Relax and rejuvenate with a staycation at downtown’s Hyatt Regency Seattle.

Presented by Hyatt Regency Seattle

Bookstore Bar and Cafe

The beautiful Alexis Hotel’s staple eatery serves a special plate from chef Dan Matthiesen alongside the classic menus for a day. Turkey roulade, porcini mushroom smashed potatoes, sausage bread pudding, and cranberry gastrique are available noon until 8. $38

Conversation

Nestled at the base of the Thompson Hotel, this fine dining venture hosts a Friendsgiving feast to give diners the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones. A three-course meal consisting of your choice of roasted turkey, salmon, or squash, soup or kale salad, and finished off with, you guessed it, pumpkin pie. Sides are, of course, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or a classic stuffing. $40–$90

Daniel’s Broiler

For dinner with a view the prime steakhouse offers three Thanksgiving menus at the Leschi, South Lake Union, and Bellevue locations, plus a buffet option downtown. That means endless stuffing and gravy, caramelized yams, roasted vegetables, dinner rolls—BRB, drooling. Children are welcome and those under six eat for free. $20–$60

Maximilien

The Pike Place Market bistro serves a classic dinner with a French take for T-day. Six courses of eats with squash bisque, roasted pheasant, sweet potato pancakes, and pumpkin flan. $85

Outlier

Whether it’s apple and endive salad, pork longanisa, or vegetable fried rice with braised turkey legs and thighs, something just slightly untraditional awaits at the Hotel Monaco’s resident restaurant. The buffet runs from noon to 8. $25–$65

Plum Bistro 

Seattle’s favorite plant-based restaurant brings three veggie meals to a pretty meaty holiday. Fig and frisse salad, garlic bacon-ish green beans, maple glazed seitan roast with cornbread stuffing and, a caramel pumpkin cheesecake. The infamous Mac ‘n’ Yease still makes an appearance. There’s even a gluten free option: butternut squash soup, pan-fried brussels, and fig pastry with coffee cardamom ice cream. Order in or eat out. $62–$68

Ray’s

The dockside duo, Ray’s Cafe and Ray’s Boathouse each bring something new to the holiday menu. The upstairs cafe offers a buffet with fresh oysters, snow crab, turkey, salmon, and prime rib while the downstairs restaurant brings a seasonal fall three-course meal to life for the occasion. $33–$65

Rider

If you’re one of those people who wishes every meal could be a turkey day dinner, Rider is the place for you. On top of hosting a holiday meal, the Hotel Theodore’s downtown destination offers a holiday turkey sandwich all month long. Smoked and roasted turkey breast on sourdough bread with wild mushroom stuffing, orange coriander cranberry sauce, shaved brussels, and cherry reserve. A la carte

Samara

Eric Anderson’s Sunset Hill establishment takes only the best parts of a really good Thanksgiving meal and combines them for its main event: a warm meal by a roasting fire (the one from the open kitchen, that is), plenty of options for everybody in the family (grilled beats, sourdough stuffing, kabocha squash), and someone else to clear your dishes and clean up afterwards. $65

Shaker and Spear

Executive chef Carolynn Spence combines old and new for her holiday menu. The downtown restaurant’s usual dinner offerings are still available so don’t fret—so dreamy seafood can still be your Thanksgiving meal. But Spence will bring in a traditional turkey plate special: sage roasted turkey alongside sausage stuffing, and mashed potatoes and gravy. $30

Tilth

This four-course meal made of all organic ingredients just might make you feel the slightest bit better as you dive in for seconds of the baked brie tartlet or macaroni and cheese. Braised beef brisket makes an appearance alongside cauliflower steak for entrees and the dessert finds new ground with a Theo chocolate cake and pumpkin cashew coconut cheesecake. $90

Urbane

The comfort food staple of downtown lives up to its reputation during its full-on turkey dinner. Roasted pumpkin bisque, turkey breast in brown butter with chive mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie tart accompanied by ice cream and salted caramel. We’re thankful this is the holiday of indulgence. $15–$55

Order Out

Bakery Nouveau

Everyone knows that half the appeal of Thanksgiving is, of course, the dessert. Bakery Nouveau has you covered with an array of treats. Think four different pies (pumpkin, pecan, chocolate pecan, Dutch apple), two different pumpkin cheesecakes, an apple spice cake, plus brioche and pioneer rolls for sides. Pro tip: just nod when grandma asks if you made this yourself. A la carte

Jack’s BBQ

For a smoked meal that you can still eat at home, Jack’s BBQ roasts 120 birds (don’t worry, they’re turkeys) and auctions them off to help ease the cooking burden. Preorder one and pick it up on Thanksgiving alongside a la carte items to round out the meal—garlic truffle mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, pecan pie. A la carte

Salt and Straw

The November flavors of this Portland-based ice cream shop come in the form of an actual Thanksgiving meal. Start off with the sweet potato casserole with maple pecans flavor, then move on to the roasted peach and sage cornbread stuffing one. Next up is the salted caramel Thanksgiving turkey (with real turkey skins in the ice cream) before the blood orange cranberry sauce. Finally, finish your ice cream meal off with the spiced goat cheese and pumpkin pie flavor. Uh, yum? A la carte

Out of Town

Alderbrook Resort and Spa

This luxurious resort on the Hood Canal invites you to get away for the holiday and enjoy a buffet-style meal in its midst. Nothing out of the ordinary here: squash cream soup, sweet potatoes, turkey, pumpkin pie cheesecake. Stick around for the weekend to catch a glimpse of the tree lighting ceremony the next night. $25–$65

Willows Lodge

For a shorter drive that still gets you out of the city, Willows Lodge in Woodinville brings classics like turkey and prime rib together with seafood specials like jumbo poached prawns for a turkey day feast. $35–$70

While Away the Rainy Season in Kirkland

By Zoe Branch | November 9, 2019 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com

David Schott via Flickr

Kirkland: homey, quaint, and full of things to do. In the summer months, the downtown area is bustling with people exploring around, popping into the many coffee houses, consignment stores, and unique shops — take Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop, for example — all clustered conveniently close to one another. 

With the chilly months settling in, you’re probably looking for a warm place to settle in and forget about the rain. Here are some of our favorite places in the city to curl up and get cozy.

Courtesy Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen

TO EAT: ISARN THAI SOUL KITCHEN 

Courtesy Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen

When the rain starts, there’s nothing we love more than a delicious, savory, and hearty meal. Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen should be on your list of local places to stop in for lots of options in that category. Its dinner menu features items hot off the grill — fresh squid and lamb satay skewers — and healthy, flavorful soups, but our favorites are their creamy curries. We recommend the Chu Chi Red Curry, which is similar to a classic red curry but is enhanced with flavorful herbs and sliced kaffir lime leaves.

TO IMBIBE: MAELSTROM BREWING COMPANY

A fabulous microbrewery in its own right, Maelstrom Brewing Company might be considered a hidden gem with its industrial location in a warehouse district right off the 405. Many locals, however, laud this intimate spot as the best brewery on the Eastside. Why? It has an awesome selection of beers and ciders, all with varied flavor profiles, as well as the kind of comfort food — homemade soft pretzels with salt and stoneground mustard — that really hits the spot. TIP: Maelstrom Brewing also is kid- and dog-friendly, making it the perfect option for, well, just about anyone. 

TO CAFFEINATE: THRULINE COFFEE CO. 

Tucked away on Lake Street, Thruline Coffee Co. has a humble and friendly vibe that’s apparent right when you walk through the door. With lots of seating that extends far back, personable staff, and drip coffee that’s self-serve (and you get a free refill, to boot), this is our favorite place to hole up on a rainy day with a good book. 

Maybe the best part of the coffee shop is the walls: They’re covered end to end in black and white photos of the coffee shop’s regulars, taken by two amateur photographers who also are regulars.

Courtesy Paint and Sip Studio

TO PLAY: CANVAS PAINT AND SIP 

Grab a date or a group of friends, and spend an evening honing your creative side at Canvas Paint and Sip. Winter workshops include a DIY tutorial to make a personalized wooden Christmas countdown calendar, family-friendly sessions where kiddos can learn to paint Santa or a snowman, and adult classes that result in your own painted rendition of a Christmas tree. Classes range from $25 to $45, with alcohol available for purchase. 

TO BE ENTERTAINED: KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER 

This intimate, 394-seat nonprofit theater is a true asset to the city in terms of unique and fresh entertainment options. November’s calendar includes such variety as Investor Sharks NW, Rise Up, the Hamilton Tribute Band, Warren Millers’ Timeless, and the Seattle International Comedy Competition. 

VOTE - November 5th, 2019 - Ballot Drop Boxes

Ballot drop boxes

Return your ballot to a ballot drop box. Your ballot must be returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. election day. Plan ahead to avoid lines.

24-hour drop boxes

Open 24 hours a day beginning October 17
Closes on election day, November 5 at 8:00 p.m.
* Drive-up ballot drop box

Auburn

Auburn Library
1102 Auburn Way South
Auburn, WA 98002
Directions to Auburn Library

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Auburn Park & Ride
101 15th Street NE
Auburn, WA 98001
Directions to Auburn Park & Ride

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Muckleshoot Tribe - Philip Starr Building
39015 172nd Avenue SE
Auburn, WA 98092
Directions to Muckleshoot Tribe - Philip Starr Building

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Bellevue

Bellevue Library
1111 110th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Directions to Bellevue Library

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Crossroads Shopping Center
(south entrance)
15600 NE 8th Street
Bellevue, WA 98008
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Newport Way Library
14250 SE Newport Way
Bellevue, WA 98006
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Bothell

Bothell City Hall
18415 101st Avenue NE
Bothell, WA 98011
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Burien

Boulevard Park Library
12015 Roseberg Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98168
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Burien Town Square Park
(corner of 5th Avenue SW and SW 152nd Street)
480 SW 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98166
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Covington

Covington Library
27100 164th Avenue SE
Covington, WA 98042
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Des Moines

Highline College*
(entrance across from 27th Ave S)
2400 S 240th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
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Duvall

Duvall Police Department/Depot Park*
26225 NE Burhen Way
Duvall, WA 98019
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Enumclaw

Enumclaw Library
1700 1st Street
Enumclaw, WA 98022
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Fall City

Fall City Library
33415 SE 42nd Place
Fall City, WA 98024
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Federal Way

Federal Way 320th Library
848 S 320th Street
Federal Way, WA 98003
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Federal Way City Hall
33325 8th Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003
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Issaquah

Issaquah City Hall
130 E Sunset Way
Issaquah, WA 98027
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Kenmore

Kenmore City Hall
18120 68th Avenue NE
Kenmore, WA 98028
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Kent

Kentridge High School
12430 SE 208th Street
Kent, WA 98031
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Regional Justice Center
(near parking garage entrance)
401 4th Avenue N
Kent, WA 98032
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Kirkland

Kingsgate Library
12315 NE 143rd Street
Kirkland, WA 98034
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Kirkland City Hall
123 5th Avenue
Kirkland, WA 98033
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Lake Forest Park

Lake Forest Park City Hall
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
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Maple Valley

Hobart Food Market
20250 276th Avenue SE
Maple Valley, WA 98038
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Tahoma School District Building*
25720 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Rd SE
Maple Valley, WA 98038
Directions to Tahoma School District Building*

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Mercer Island

Mercer Island Community & Event Center
8236 SE 24th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
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Newcastle

Newcastle City Hall
12835 Newcastle Way
Newcastle, WA 98056
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Normandy Park

Normandy Park Towne Center
19901 1st Avenue South
Normandy Park, WA 98148
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North Bend

North Bend Library
115 E 4th Street
North Bend, WA 98045
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Pacific

Algona-Pacific Library
255 Ellingson Road
Pacific, WA 98047
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Redmond

Redmond City Hall*
15670 NE 85th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
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Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village*
6505 176th Avenue NE
Redmond, WA 98052
Directions to Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village*

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Renton

Fairwood Library
17009 140th Avenue SE
Renton, WA 98058
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King County Elections*
919 SW Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Directions to King County Elections*

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Renton Public Health Center*
3201 NE 7th Street
Renton, WA 98056
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Sammamish

Sammamish City Hall
801 228th Avenue SE
Sammamish, WA 98075
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SeaTac

Angle Lake Transit Station
19955 28th Avenue S
SeaTac, WA 98188
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Valley View Library
17850 Military Road South
SeaTac, WA 98188
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Seattle

Ballard

Ballard Branch Library
Corner of NW 57th St and 22nd Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
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Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill Library
2821 Beacon Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144
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NewHolly Neighborhood Campus
7054 32nd Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
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Broadview/Greenwood

Broadview Library
12755 Greenwood Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133
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Bryn Mawr-Skyway

Skyway Library
12601 76th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98178
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Capitol Hill

Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building
(northeast corner)
1701 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122
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Central District

Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry Street
Seattle, WA 98122
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Chinatown/International District

Uwajimaya
619 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
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Columbia City

Rainier Community Center
4600 38th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
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Downtown

King County Administration Building
500 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
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Fremont/Wallingford

Waterway 19 Park (next to Gas Works Park)
2119 N Northlake Way
Seattle, WA 98103
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Green Lake/Phinney

Green Lake Community Center
7201 East Green Lake Drive North
Seattle, WA 98115
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Lake City

Lake City Library
12501 28th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98125
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Magnolia

Magnolia Park*
1461 Magnolia Boulevard West
Seattle, WA 98199
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Northgate

North Seattle College
(south visitor lot access from N 95th St)
9600 College Way N
Seattle, WA 98103
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Queen Anne

Seattle Pacific University Bookstore*
310 W Bertona Street
Seattle, WA 98119
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Rainier Valley

Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98118
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Sandpoint/Laurelhurst

Magnuson Park/The Brig*
6344 NE 74th Street
Seattle, WA 98115
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South Lake Union

South Lake Union
310 Terry Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
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South Park

South Park Library
8604 8th Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98108
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University District

University of Washington Campus
Schmitz Hall
(by north entrance on NE 41st Street)
1410 NE Campus Parkway
Seattle, WA 98195
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West Seattle/Delridge

Alaska Junction
Corner of SW Alaska Street and 44th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116
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High Point Library
3411 SW Raymond Street
Seattle, WA 98126
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White Center

White Center Library
1409 SW 107th Street
Seattle, WA 98146
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Shoreline

Shoreline Library
345 NE 175th Street
Shoreline, WA 98155
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Shoreline Park & Ride
18821 Aurora Avenue N
Shoreline, WA 98133
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Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie Library
7824 Center Boulevard SE
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
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Tukwila

Tukwila Community Center*
12424 42nd Avenue South
Tukwila, WA 98168
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Vashon

Vashon Library
17210 Vashon Hwy SW
Vashon, WA 98070
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Woodinville

Woodinville Library
17105 Avondale Road NE
Woodinville, WA 98072
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A Cold Week On Tap For Washington, High Winds Into Tuesday

Overnight lows will be near or below freezing in most areas this week, and a wind advisory begins Monday night.

By Lucas Combos, Patch Staff

Oct 28, 2019 2:59 pm ET | Updated Oct 29, 2019 12:20 pm ET | Courtesy of Patch.com

A colder-than-normal week will see high winds Monday night and Tuesday. (Shutterstock)

SEATTLE, WA — October will leave us on a chilly note this week, with overnight lows forecasted near or below freezing and a blustery night expected Monday into Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service, gusts in Seattle and Tacoma are projected in the 20-25 mph range, but the highest winds are expected in the Cascade Foothills and East Puget Sound Lowlands. Enumclaw and North Bend are expected to see gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range.

According to NWS Seattle, gusts will create difficult driving conditions for high-profile vehicles, and the possibility of some downed trees or branches could spur localized power outages. Everyone is encouraged to secure outdoor objects and take precautions to prepare property for freezing conditions. A wind advisory began at 10 p.m. Monday, but winds are expected to ease Tuesday afternoon.

Temperatures recorded Monday morning were already several degrees below normal. Lows Tuesday morning were forecast at 29 degrees for Tacoma, 34 degrees for Seattle and 30 degrees for Everett, with temperatures in the mountain passes projected in the teens. Forecasters said the windchill factor Tuesday morning could land in the 15 to 25-degrees range in many areas. Wednesday morning will be even more frigid, with lows in Tacoma at 20 degrees and 28 degrees in Kent, Seattle and Everett.

Wine + Candy Pairings for Halloween

By 425 staff | October 7, 2019 | Courtesy of 425Magazine.com

Courtesy Brad Johnson/Tinte Cellars

When the folks over at Tinte Cellars in Woodinville learned that 9 out of 10 parents snatch Halloween candy from their kids’ bags, they decided to come up with a wine and candy pairing for those parents. After all — if you helped with the costume (yes), walked the neighborhood streets trick-or-treating (yes) and shuttled the kids around to spooky events all month long (yes), you deserve a cut of the loot — and nice glass of wine. So now the question is: What goes best with Snickers? Here is your guide!

2018 Tinte Cellars Sauvignon Blanc +  Skittles

2018 Tinte Cellars Viognier + Butterfinger

2015 William Church Cabernet Franc + Twix

2016 Cuillin Hills RB-16 + M&Ms

2015 William Church 2Spires + Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

2015 William Church Lewis Syrah + Snickers

Are Your Kids Stingy?

Head to Hallowine at Tinte Cellars on Oct. 25-27 and sample the pairing suggestions at both of the two Woodinville tasting rooms – Hollywood Hills, 1445 Woodinville-Redmond Rd. or Woodinville Warehouse District, 19495 144th Ave. N.E., Suite A-100.

The Best PNW Fall Road Trips

Explore hidden gems this season from the Cascades to the Oregon Coast

BY: DANIELLE CENTONI, JENNY CUNNINGHAM, CHELSEA LIN, HILARY MEYERSON, CHRIS ROBINSON AND VIRGINIA SMYTH | FROM THE PRINT EDITION | OCTOBER 2019

Fall colors and a view of Oregon's Mount Hood

This article appears in print in the October 2019 issue, as part of the Fall Road Trips cover story. Click here to subscribe. Courtesy of SeattleMag.com

Arguably, one of the best parts of living in Seattle is escaping it—for short spells, of course. While we love urban life, knowing that a wealth of water, mountains and charming small towns are just a relatively short drive away makes dealing with the general chaos that comes with a busy life in a dense urban setting more bearable. This year’s fall road trips tap into all of that nearby abundance.

You can take any of these nine trips in a weekend or over a few hours yet still achieve the sense of rejuvenation that usually comes with much longer vacations. Keep this list in your back pocket for an unexpectedly free weekend or a mental health day. After all, what could be better for your sanity than a day spent wandering, playing, eating well and recharging? Whether you take to the road in pursuit of a good restaurant or a good trailhead, we’ve got you covered.

Washington State’s Red Mountain and Richland Are a Wine Lover’s Paradise 
A Road Trip to the Oregon Coast Is the Perfect Weekend Getaway 
Hit the Road to Centralia and Chehalis for a Charming Old-school Getaway 
Central Oregon Wilderness Offers Ancient Forests and Mountain Views 
Whidbey Island’s Langley Is the Perfect Out-of-town Dining Destination 
The Best Day Trip Outside of Seattle 
Find Great Puget Sound Beaches and Outdoor Recreation on Camano Island 
A Weekend Trip to Bellingham Promises Excellent Brews and Outdoor Excursions 
Venetian Gondola Tours Are the Best Way to Explore Gig Harbor

A Guide to Seattle’s Full-Blown Pumpkin Spice Mania

To rank all things pumpkin spice would be quite the undertaking; but here, in no particular order, are some of the city’s most intriguing options.

By Courtney Cummings  10/8/2019 at 9:00am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com

Ellenos brings back its pumpkin pie flavor for fall.

IMAGE: COURTESY ELLENOS REAL GREEK YOGURT

With the return of the pumpkin spice latte—courtesy of our local coffee giant—this time of year brings out the basic in all of us. But the now-classic blend of spices extends far beyond Starbucks: From the sweets we’re dying to check out to some less conventional options, here’s a glimpse of Seattle’s pumpkin scene.

Ellenos Yogurt

Arguably one of the most legit pumpkin spice things on this list, Ellenos’s pumpkin pie yogurt makes its annual debut once again. The base is the same as always, yogurt and honey, but then it starts to get interesting when they swirl in pumpkin spice. At the Georgetown and Pike Place shops, the creamy dollop comes topped with chunks of actual pumpkin pie—but don’t worry, it’s yogurt so it’s still healthy...maybe.

Hello Robin

This October, Robin Wehl’s staple Seattle bakery combined its classic chocolate chip cookie with a dash of pumpkin, and thus a pumpkin spice chocolate chip flavor was born. Sans eggs, the little handheld treat is great both on its own or in sandwich form. Feeling adventurous? Wehl suggests pairing the new chocolate caramel pretzel ice cream with one pumpkin spice and one molasses cookie—a chocolate pumpkin pretzel, if you will.

Juicebox Cafe  

Shockingly close to, but not quite a PSL, the annual pumpkin shake at Capitol Hill’s cafe of inspired clean eating blends pepita date milk with Himalayan sea salt and a pumpkin compote (spiced pumpkin butter, dates, cinnamon, nutmeg). Add a shot of coffee and you’re that much closer to the drink that must not be named.

Lady Yum

More cookie news: This Kirkland-born macaron hub serves a pumpkin spice version in all its fall glory. Pumpkin butter meets clove, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in the buttercream, all nestled between a bright orange shell. There are a few other worthy fall-themed flavors, too, like pear frangipane, butterbeer, and apple cobbler.

The seasonal sundae at Molly Moon’s combines pumpkin clove ice cream with hot fudge and housemade whip cream.

IMAGE: COURTESY MOLLY MOON’S

Molly Moon’s

Bye, salty toffee—the homegrown ice cream empire has flipped the calendar to its October flavors, including the new pumpkin clove (drool) and the great pumpkin sundae (double drool). Both are made with real pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and, duh, cloves. November’s roster continues the theme with pumpkin cheesecake. (Flavor changeovers happen on the first of the month.)

Seattle Cider Company

This one has definitely sparked our interest, but the seasonal pumpkin cider at Seattle’s original cidery has us a little wary, too. The drink has hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and, of course, pumpkin, all of which pairs perfectly, so we hear, with sharp cheddar or carrot cake. Actually, it might just sound like liquid pumpkin pie. Count us really intrigued.

Top Pot Doughnuts

The pumpkin old fashioned at Seattle’s go-to doughnut chain debuted in 2008, before pumpkin spice became full-on synonymous with fall. Canned (but real!) pumpkin flavors this twist on a classic treat; they even double down with a pumpkin spice glaze. More doughnut shops have since followed in Top Pot’s footsteps, including Mighty-O and Raised Doughnuts, where it’s available on Sundays only.