Where to Drink (and Hoist a Stein) for Oktoberfest
Honor German tradition with a boatload of brews and Bavarian meats at these six events across town.
By Jaime Archer 9/20/2017 at 8:30am
eattleites celebrated with a cold one (or two or three) at last year’s Fremont Oktoberfest.
IMAGE: BOLD HAT PRODUCTIONS
Way back in 1810, Germans celebrated the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen with a festival and horse races. In the following years, small beer stands and a carousel were added to the jubilee. Fast forward 200 years and Oktoberfest is still going strong. While most of us are unable to afford a ticket to Munich, Washington has its own slew of Oktoberfest events—alas, with fewer horse races. Here are a few that have us polishing our novelty steins in anticipation...
Sept 21–Oct 1
Rhein Haus
This Capitol Hill beer hall channels Oktoberfest vibes yearlong with bratwurst, schnitzels, and a lengthy menu of German-sourced beers, but September means even more Bavarian eats and music. The biergarten will host a pig roast on September 21, with live music on September 23 and 30. Then Rhein Haus will do a traditional firkin keg tapping on September 29, put on an eating contest on September 30 (winner gets a swag bag, trophy, and a donation to a charity of their choice), and will entertain kiddos with a puppet show on October 1.
Sept 22–24
Fremont Oktoberfest
Get your lederhosen to the dry cleaners stat because Fremont’s Oktoberfest is just around the corner. The fest stretches the entire weekend, kicking off with a Led Zeppelin tribute band followed by a stein hoisting competition. Ziegler’s bratwurst and curly fries will be aplenty, as will pretzels, and—of course—there will be more than 80 craft beers. Other activities include a Miss Buxom beauty contest on Friday at 8pm, chainsaw pumpkin carving on Sunday at 2pm, and a slate of kid’s events. Friday and Saturday are strictly 21-plus, but kids are welcome on Sunday (and free with a paying adult). Tickets range from $20–$50.
Sept 22–24
Kirkland Oktoberfest
Human foosball and Hungry Hungry Hippos? Check. Stein racing and keg rolling? Check. Cornhole and beer pong? Kirkland’s Oktoberfest has those too. There will be a beer garden with German classics (Paulaner, anyone?) as well as local favorites like Maelstrom and Chainline. And it wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without some Bavarian meats, served up at Sausagehaus. On Sunday, Kirkland will host a set of wiener dog races, and kids are welcome to watch (and add to) the adorableness. The rest of the weekend, however, the biergarten is strictly 21 and over. One-day tickets start at $25 and a three-day pass is $60.
Sept 22–Oct 21
Queen Anne Beerhall
Queen Anne doesn’t mess around—the beerhall is prepped for a lengthy Oktoberfest, which includes two kegs of Paulaner Munchen Wiesn Bier, an impressive feat given that there’s only six kegs of the good stuff in the entire state. A confit hog head platter will also be available every Friday and Saturday. If a pig’s noggin isn’t really your cup of tea, you can also grab roast pork on October 14 and 15, or munch on wood-roasted lamb on September 30 and October 21. Also on the agenda: a performance by the Speakeasy Jazz Cats on September 22, beer yoga on September 23, and Kidtoberfest on September 24. Prost!
Sept 30
Tacoma Oktoberfest
After you’ve recovered from your first beer-centric weekend, get ready for round two at Dystopian State Brewing Company on September 30. Wingman, Odd Otter, Harmon, 7 Seas, and Tacoma Brewing Company are all invited to the festivities, and will bring their best Oktoberfest-themed beers. Free 0.5 liter steins will be given out to the first 10 guests to arrive, and will also be for sale for latecomers. The beer starts flowing at 2pm, and if you’re hell-bent on getting that stein, you can pre-purchase it along with two fills for just $15.
Oct 6–8
Oktoberfest Northwest
Sure, the Washington State Fair closes its gates September 24, but come October 6 the fairgrounds will open for Oktoberfest Northwest, the event that invented Hammerschlagen. Hammer-what? Apparently it’s a game in which you attempt to drive a nail into a cross section of wood faster than your opponents. Other not-to-be-missed events: performances by Queen of Oktoberfest, Manuela Horn, a stein dash 5K (with beer pit stops), and a root beer run. The “festhalle” will pour six German and Austrian beers and an unfiltered cider from Seattle Cider Company. Tickets range from $6–$60; kids are free, but only welcome until 6pm on Friday and Saturday.
20 Northwest Day Trips to Make the Most of Fall
Fall foliage, haunted parks, enchanted islands, unforgettable museums—all less than two hours from Seattle.
By Allison Williams 9/19/2016 at 1:47pm Published in the October 2016 issue of Seattle Met
Ride the Rails in Elbe
1 hour, 30 minutes
The Mount Rainier Railroad has been around forever, chugging dutifully along seven miles of track outside the national park, but since 2013 the museum on the Mineral end of the rails has gotten an upgrade. Check out a 99-ton Heisler locomotive that used to haul lumber, and this year Christmas brings a whole ride in salute to The Polar Express. If the experience is just too damn charming, top it off with a stop in Mineral’s Headquarters Tavern, a 112-year-old bar so divey that Rainier is the fanciest beer on the menu. mrsr.com
IMAGE: ALLENS PHOTOGRAPHIC
Throw back in Centralia
1 hour, 20 minutes
George Washington may be an American founding father, but another George Washington—son of a slave, Oregon Trail voyager—founded Centralia in the 1870s. The rail and coal town now specializes in vintage, with a retro pool hall at McMenamins Olympic Club and the restored 1930 Fox Theater. But the Shady Lady, an antique store filled with oddities, has the firmest grasp on the past—above the shop is a red-walled bordello museum. Bonus: Amtrak trains from Seattle’s King Street Station stop in the middle of town. cityofcentralia.com
Get lost in Tacoma
50 minutes
The outer loop of Five Mile Drive, the winding road that circles Tacoma’s Point Defiance, closes to cars for a few hours before noon—ideal for a haunted walk through morning fog. Too few visitors wander beyond the peninsula’s (admittedly excellent) zoo, but the hiking trails, picnic spots, and living museum at Fort Nisqually are all worth the few extra miles by foot or afternoon drive. metroparkstacoma.org/five-mile-drive
Tee up on Whidbey Island
1 hour, 30 minutes including ferry
It makes sense that Island Greens Golf Course operates on the honor system, with a drop box for cash attached to a tree and a motley assortment of clubs for the taking and returning. After all, golf is all about having enough honor to stay silent through your opponent’s swing and not cheat when the ball stupidly defies gravity on the fifth putt in a row. The par-3 model limits the number of soul-killing bogeys, and dogs are welcome. whidbeyislandgreens.com
Declare Pumpkin War in Lake Stevens
35 minutes
With pumpkins as ammo, the Carleton Farms cannons lob squash in a graceful arc over their Everett-area cornfields, sometimes aiming just right to get a big splash into Ebey Slough. Though most of the other fall activities are less destructive—hayrides, three different corn mazes meticulously mapped and planted months in advance—there’s also zombie paintball, which similarly plays to the anarchic autumn demographic. carletonfarm.com
Eat pure in Leavenworth
2 hours
What does the mind behind now shuttered vegetarian restaurant Sutra have to offer Leavenworth, home of the bratwurst? There’s Mana, not from heaven but from the farm-to-table kitchen of Colin Patterson. Dinner at the new spot includes, gasp, meat—but only in one or two of the eight courses, and on opening weekend in August nearly half of diners requested vegan or vegetarian versions. Mana’s 1903 farmhouse predates the Bavarian town takeover, so the prix-fixe experience won’t have much German flair. manamountain.com
Suncadia ResortIMAGE: ELAINE EUGENIO
Soak up in Roslyn
1 hour, 25 minutes
Though they’re called mineral baths, let’s love the outdoor pools at Suncadia Resort’s Glade Spring Spa for what they truly are: rocky little hot tubs scattered through a leafy private garden with a sauna cabin. The hotel also offers motor scooter tours of Roslyn’s historic downtown, of Northern Exposurefame. Spa day passes are available by reservation only on Saturdays. suncadiaresort.com
Leaf peep in Central Washington
1 hour, 45 minutes
When the doom of autumn descends on the coast, the enlightened hightail it across the mountains of Blewett Pass, to where the sun always shines and the streets are paved in gold. Or rather the sun is often shining and Highway 97 is lined in the golden needles of western larch. Leaf viewing is at its prime on this route between Cle Elum and Leavenworth, and temperatures are usually mild enough for a hike into the Teanaway district or on the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail.
Face fall in Union
1 hour, 40 minutes
Become the very pumpkin spice latte you crave with a rejuvenating pumpkin facial in the Spa at Alderbrook or a free pumpkin hand massage in the hotel lobby on Monday afternoons. The Hood Canal lodge has plenty of Olympic Peninsula outdoor fun—the hiking, the boating—but excels at rainy-day entertainment. The spa has a Finnish sauna, a steam room, and an indoor swimming pool, and the hotel offers a day pass for access to the game room lined with Xboxes, big screens, and leather chairs. alderbrookresort.com
IMAGE: COURTESY ALDERBROOK SPA
Dive deep in Keyport
1 hour 30 minutes including ferry
The small Kitsap town of Keyport calls itself Torpedo Town USA, longtime home to one of the navy’s two undersea warfare centers. All things submarine are celebrated at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum, where torpedoes the size of small whales hang from the ceiling and the navy’s first deep-submergence vehicle is parked outside. Tamp down the claustrophobia for this fall’s temporary exhibit on submarine accident rescue. The waterfront Keyport Mercantile—the Merc—nearby is known for teriyaki Tuesdays. navalunderseamuseum.org
Haunt history on Whidbey Island
1 hour, 30 minutes including ferry
The stone batteries of the nineteenth-century Fort Casey Historical State Park are so ideal for Instagram pics and epic games of tag that it’s easy to forget why the Whidbey fortress was built. It was called the “triangle of fire”: Casey, plus Forts Flagler and Worden on the Olympic Peninsula, were meant to protect Puget Sound using guns that could lob ammo eight miles. Today jets from Naval Station Whidbey Island roar overhead, and we’ve still never been invaded; the fort’s lighthouse is used for interpretive tours while radar and GPS do the heavy lifting. parks.state.wa.us/505/fort-casey
The Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey, backdropped by a western view of the Puget Sound
IMAGE: ALISON KLEIN
Get lit in Port Townsend
1 hour, 55 minutes including ferry
The lighting fixtures at the Kelly Art Deco Light Museum in Port Townsend hark back to a time when the style meant flappers and illegal cocktails. Though the main floor of Vintage Hardware and Lighting is a store full of gold leaf and stained glass shades, upstairs is an exhibit of more than 400 rare chandeliers and sconces. In a walkable town so Victorian it’s practically a city-size dollhouse, it’s a reminder that the twentieth century had its charms. (Psst: Spend a full day in Port Townsend! Here’s our itinerary.)
Redefine breakfast in Snoqualmie
30 minutes
Course one: pastries; a perfectly reasonable start to breakfast. Course two: pancakes and Devonshire cream; enjoy, but don’t get cocky. Course three: steel-cut oats and biscuits hand-drizzled with honey—it’s getting serious now. Course four: bacon, sausage, and eggs. It’s okay to be beaten by the Salish Lodge Country Breakfast, the hotel’s hundred-year-old tradition; the megameal was crafted for fur trappers and mountain men. It’s served till 2pm daily, and at least there’s a waterfall view until you can move again. salishlodge.com
Salute Seinfeld in Tacoma
45 minutes
What do you do when you feel like you should leave home, but you really want to watch reruns on TBS while eating Doritos dust from the bottom of the bag? Solution: Little Jerry’s, a Tacoma diner that pays homage to the sitcom Seinfeld. The chairs are red vinyl, the floor is white tile, and the TVs are tuned to reruns. Some dishes are named after the show’s infinitely quotable lines. Why? The owner just likes Seinfeld. Seems appropriate for a show about nothing. 253-474-2435
Embrace Americana in La Conner
1 hour, 15 minutes
The town of La Conner brings an artsy bent to the middle of Skagit Valley’s rolling agricultural fields. Downtown is lined with art galleries, and the town’s grandest nineteenth-century mansion holds the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum. While there are lots of homespun local patterns on display, the exhibits reach around the Pacific Rim for decorated textiles. laconnerquilts.org
Go wild in Tenino
1 hour, 15 minutes
Wolves get a bad rap—blame Little Red Riding Hood, or the fact that they eat livestock and house cats—but Wolf Haven International in tiny Tenino manages to give sanctuary to captive-born wolves and the occasional wolf dog or coyote. On 50-minute walking tours of the facility in rural Thurston County, staff share the details of wolf life (even the gory ones, like how they collect local roadkill to feed residents). Reserve in advance for the weekend-only tours in fall. wolfhaven.org
Hail the Vikings in Poulsbo
1 hour 15 minutes, including ferry
Here’s how nuts this Kitsap town is about its Norwegian heritage: Every festival, bike race, and souvenir shop harks back to Viking culture (and plastic horned helmets). There’s a 12-foot-tall Viking statue at one end of town. The colorful Poulsbo downtown is dotted with shops, Scandinavian murals, and a fine indie bookstore, and the central Sluys Bakery is famous for sugary smiley-face cookies and grinning gingerbread men. Since the Vikings were such a famously cheerful culture. cityofpoulsbo.com
Prep for ski season in Snoqualmie Pass
50 minutes
The room that holds the new Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum is the size of a small coffee shop, but it crams in so much snow culture you’ll be doing a snow dance on the way out the door. There’s a map of all the state’s forgotten and discarded ski areas (Mount Pilchuck had a chairlift?), creaky old wooden gear and high-tech lifesaving avalanche equipment, and videos of local Olympians, including a very cool explanation of how Paralympic skiers race while being near blind. wsssm.org
Migrate to Mount Vernon
1 hour, 15 minutes
The eight-mile delta where the Skagit River dumps into Puget Sound is exciting for an unexpected reason: eelgrass. Lots and lots of eelgrass, like 9,000 acres of the stuff. While the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and its grass are pretty enough in a boggy, undulating kind of way, they’re more notable for being the habitat for migrating birds (the reserve can see half a million ducks at once). Prime bird time starts in October. The visitor center, on an old farm, has hands-on exhibits for the kids. ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/padillabay
Play detective in Tacoma
35 minutes
The biggest manuscript collection in the world is in a dated little ex–American Legion building in Tacoma. Kind of. The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum is part of the nationwide network of Karpeles repositories that collectively hold the record in a string of museums from Duluth to Charleston. Tacoma’s free outpost displays a few dozen historic documents at a time, including the navigator log from the Enola Gay and Emperor Hirohito’s formal World War II surrender. The shabby but distinguished little museum is an oddity and a treat on the edge of leafy Wright Park. rain.org/~karpeles
Prolong Summer at These 6 Tiki Spots
Fall is coming, but there’s still some summer left—raise a glass (or coconut) at one of these most tropical of establishments.
By Rosin Saez 8/28/2017 at 1:55pm | Courtesy of Seattlemet.com
Sun Liquor landed on Seattle Met’s round up Best Bars on Capitol Hill.
IMAGE: SARAH FLOTARD
It feels appropriate to drink something out of a coconut or pineapple or flaming ceramic volcano during warmer months, yet these six tiki bars imbue tropical vibes all year round. Before summer truly leaves us, or even as fall sets in, hunker down in paradise, preferably by way of something rum-based.
Ballard, with its maritime heritage and preponderance of craft cocktails, might be the missing link between Seattle and tiki. Here, some of the guys behind Ocho and Hazlewood have opened Hotel Albatross, where Edison bulbs dangle over bartenders affixing tiny umbrellas on orders of pineapply puka punch and the vibe is part Canon, part Cast Away. The bar food hops from puffy tacos to totchos to Instagrammable poke creations at its adjacent No Vancacy Poke raw bar. Original rum creations and drinks from America’s earliest tiki days are resurrected with perfect balance, yes, even the flaming volcano bowl for four.
This cocktail bar sibling to No Anchor and Rob Roy puts a modern spin on tiki, via sleek midcentury decor and a drink list that mixes classics (zombies, mai tais) with modern creations inspired by tropical flavors. Chef Jeffrey Vance’s food menu is heavy on crudo, fancy chips and dip, and dishes inspired by whatever spot on the globe currently holds court on the drink menu—every six months, Navy Strength celebrates the flavor profiles of a new country.
The palm-thatched, bamboo-adorned evolution of the No Bones About It vegan food truck has morphed into a fully formed coastal-inspired plant-based restaurant in Ballard. Seattle has its fair share of dreary weather to be sure, so No Bones Beach Club was born, a bastion of tiki-inspired cocktails and an oasis of paradise. Truly, it doesn’t get more offbeat than vegan tiki bar: Surfboards hang on the walls, Blue Crush plays on the TV over the bar, and just about every table has a towering plate of nachos, with cashew and smoked poblano faux queso as a decadent stand-in for the real thing. It’s food even an omnivore can love, and you’d have to be made of stone to resist a boat drink (painkillers, jungle birds, a creamy coconut mojito) bedecked with a paper umbrella.
Tango’s rum-focused sibling bar exudes a languorous Havana vibe and fashions its signature spirit into a festive tiki drink, four perfectly balanced types of daiquiri on shaved ice, or something deep, dark, and moody as Papa Hemingway on a bad bender. Latin-tinged bar food includes spicy-sweet wings that are smoked, then fried, and tacos with sophisticated fillings like sauteed summer squash and pork dusted with peppery achiote. Save room for a sipping rum to finish off the night; a seat at the bar doubles as a fascinating seminar in the spirit’s regional nuances.
It was open for a decade in Queen Anne next door to its cocktail lounge sibling Tini Bigs. But in April, this longstanding tiki-karaoke bar—that would sling tropical drinks 365 days a year regardless of any chilly weather outside its doors—opened in its new home on Capitol Hill. Off East Olive Way, this den of Polynesian kitsch serve up island-themed bites and tiki cocktails fuel karaoke vocalists who sip on mai tais and daiquiris between renditions of REM’s “Creep” or “Hot in Herre” by Nelly.
With the Sun Liquor Distillery and Lounge on Pike/Pine no longer serving up its own eponymous batches of vodka, gin, and rum, it’s back to the original. This Sun Liquor, first of its name, is situated on that surprising block of food and drink among the lush trees and stately brick apartments on the north end of Summit—a den hidden in a forgotten corner of the tropics. The first Tuesday of every month is Tiki Tuesday, but you can’t help but feel like any given day at any given hour would birth the most thoughtful of tiki drinks. Take a daiquiri done right, for instance, made with Sun Liquor barrel-aged rum, fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, and ginger, straight up. No matter the time or weather in Seattle, find hints of paradise here: the tiki cocktails, the bamboo furniture, exotic wall murals of unknown locales.
The New Washington State Fair Foods, From Bugs to Bizarre Burgers
Ever want to eat a scorpion? If not, maybe stick to the scone-flavored treats.
BY: ALEXA PETERS | Posted September 1, 2017 | Courtesy of Seattlemag.com
Image Credit: Fisher Scones Facebook
Scone-flavored everything.
Some of us go to the Washington State Fair for the music (this year you’ll be able to see artists like Steven Tyler and Nickelback). Some of us go for the games and rides (can’t beat that Puyallup Ferris Wheel!). But most of us go to stuff our faces with food we can’t find anywhere else.
This year, alongside fan favorites like the Fisher scones and elephant ears, the fair—which runs Sept. 1-24 in Puyallup—is bringing some new edible delights that will shock and hopefully satisfy. Here are the most notable new yummies worth at least a curiosity order.
Fisher Scone Ice Cream
According to the fair website, 1.6 million Fisher scones with raspberry jam were served to fairgoers in 2015, and they’ve been around since the early 1900s. This year there’s a new variation on an old favorite—Fisher scone ice cream! The scones are so coveted during the fair, Fisher and fair staff are highly secretive about the ingredients of the new ice cream. “You’ll have to come taste it for yourself,” said Washington State Fair public relations manager Stacy Howard. The scone flavored ice cream will be sold at nine locations throughout the grounds. Keep in mind it will not be sold at the scone booths, though, only the dessert booths that Fisher owns.
Puyallup River Brewing’s Raspberry Scone Golden Ale
If scone-flavored ice cream isn’t enough to satisfy your scone cravings, wash it down with an exclusive raspberry scone beer from Puyallup River Brewing Co. “The way we get the biscuit flavor is by using biscuit malt and aromatic malts to make it sweeter, and there are tons of raspberries in it—just look at the color of it!” founder/brewer Eric Akeson says. The brew is a beautiful magenta will be sold at the End of Summer Bash in the Grandstand.
Watermelon from Stu’s Fresh Fruit
Stu’s Fresh Fruit is one of the best places to stop for a healthy option amid the caloric binge. Get your slices of watermelon juiced and put back in the rind with a straw, right across from International Village. Delicious!
Exotic Meats’ Grasshoppers, Scorpions and Kangaroo Sausage
Brand new last year, this adventurous food booth was the talk of the 2016 fair. Out-there favorites from last year—including alligator burgers, rabbit and python sausages—will return. But this year’s new additions are even more exotic: kangaroo sausage, chili roasted grasshoppers, BBQ crickets and even Manchurian scorpions. You can find the Exotic Meats booth (if you dare) in the International Village building.
Scoops Cookie Dough and Cake Batter
Located near the International Village, Scoops is a new booth this year. Their schtick: serving raw cookie dough and cake batter in a cup. All raw pastries are made with pasteurized eggs and are completely safe to eat raw, as if they were ice cream. Some of the flavors will include chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter/Reese’s Pieces cookie dough, s’mores cookie dough, brownie batter, and birthday cake batter.
Sasquatch Grill-Legendary Burgers
Stop by Sasquatch Grill to get their popular heart attack specialty—the bacon-stuffed burger loaded with pulled pork, coleslaw, pickles, onion rings, BBQ sauce—or try the Cheesy Philly Burger, a cheesesteak/cheeseburger hybrid topped with nacho cheese, caramelized peppers and onions, green chilies, provolone. Sasquatch Grill is taking over the food booth that used to be Cowgirl, down on the south end of the grounds by the End Zone Bar.
Hawaiian Grindz & Lumpia
Polynesian food is having something of a minor moment and the fair is devoting an entire booth to island eats. Look for pork lumpia, adobo pork sliders, chicken katsu with fried rice and Spam kimchi with fried rice.
Totally Shucked Roasted Corn's Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Corn
An old classic, corn on the cob, gets a creative junk-food facelift. At the Totally Shucked booth in the International Village, you will find Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Roasted Corn. Yes, you read that right. It’s roasted corn topped with mayonnaise and that delicious flavor of crunchy Cheetos.
Fiesta Mexicana's Mondo Burrito
There’s not much to say except that Fiesta Mexicana will now have a burrito the size of a newborn baby: 15 inches long and three pounds. If you’re really hungry, you can get the appropritely named Mondo Burrito near International Village.
Paella Pro
New this year will be another healthy-yet-festive option, perfect for those with dietary restrictions. Paella Pro prides themselves on ethically sourcing their ingredients for the paella it makes from scratch. They’ll peddle mixed paella with chorizo sausage, chicken and shrimp; lamb with white beans and Moroccan seasoning; and a vegan option with mushrooms, Kalamata olives and garbanzo beans. Look for Paella Pro in the International Village.
Seattle & Washington Labor Day Weekend Events: Concerts, Festivals, Parties, Food & Drink
The 2017 Labor Day Weekend takes place September 1-4th. There are many great Seattle and Washington events all weekend including festivals, free concerts, movies, and more. As always, we have a large list of events and tips for you to enjoy the city or travel.
2017 Seattle & Washington Labor Day Weekend Events:
- All Month: Everyone Wins Labor Day Weekend w/ Urban Adventure Quest’s Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure!
- August 31: Art in the Park @ South Lake Union | 10 a.m. – Dusk, Local Artists, Crafts (more info)
- August 31: Burien Thursday Farmers Market | Fresh Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers, Crafts, Food, Live Music, Free
- August 31: Tacoma’s Broadway Farmers Market | Downtown, Thursdays, May-October
- August 31: Queen Anne Farmers Market | Only Independent Farmers Market In Seattle
- August 31: Bellevue Thursday Farmers Market (more info)
- August 31: Pike Place Market Express | Pop Up Farmers Market @ South Lake Union
- August 31: Lake City Neighborhood Farmers Market | 3-7 p.m. (more info)
- September 1: Phinney Neighborhood Farmers Market | 3-7 p.m. (more info)
- September 1: Pike Place Market Express | Pop Up Farmers Market @ First Hill
- September 1: Bothell Farmers Market | In Season Locally Grown Produce, Live Music, Noon – 6 p.m. (more info)
- September 1: Washington Huskies @ Rutgers
- September 1: Madrona Friday Farmers Market | Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Entertainment
- September 1: Downtown Outdoor Summer Concerts – “Out To Lunch” | dAyron Jones
- September 1: Free First Friday @ Bellevue Art Museum | Free Admission 11AM-8PM
- September 1: Downtown Issaquah Art Walk | First Fridays, Live Music, Maps & Schedule
- September 1: Fremont Art Walk | First Fridays, Pizza, Beer, Wine
- September 1-3:: Waterfront Arts Market | July-September
- September 1-3: Pike Place Market Farmers Market | 80+ Washington Farmers, Cooking Demos, FAQs
- September 2: Free Outdoor Summer Concerts @ Ballard Locks | Seattle’s Totally Relaxed Ukulele Group
- September 2: Free Historic Paramount Theater Tour: 450,000+ Patrons Per Year | First Saturday Of Every Month
- September 2: Magnolia Neighborhood Farmers Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (more info)
- September 2: Edmonds Museum Summer Market | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (more info)
- September 2: University District Farmers Market | Open All Year Round Saturdays, Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Meat & More!
- September 2: Bellevue Saturday Farmers Market | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Free Parking (more info)
- September 2-3: Free Outdoor Summer Concerts @ Ballard Locks
- September 2-4: Bremerton Blackberry Festival | Seattle Labor Day Weekend, 15,000 Visitors, Vendors, Music, Food & More!
- September 3: Mac & Jack’s Weekend Brewery Tours | Free, African Amber, Serengeti Wheat, Blackcat Porter, Two Tun IPA
- September 3: Tacoma MMJ Farmers Market | 35 Vendors, 150+ Flower Varieties, High Grade Edibles & More, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (more info)
- September 3: Mercer Island Farmers Market | Sundays June – October, Fresh, Local Produce
- September 3: Ballard Sunday Farmers Market | Local Produce, Dairy, Wild Salmon, Artisan Foods
- September 3: Free Yoga at Saint Mark’s Cathedral | Capitol Hill
- September 3: Fremont Sunday Street Market: 150+ Vendors, Crafts, Antiques, Food, English-Style Pub, Chocolate Factory, & More
- September 3: South Tacoma Farmers Market | Fresh, Local Produce, Sundays June – September
- September 3: Broadway Sunday Farmers Market: 55+ Vendors, Local Produce/Meats, Honey, Eggs, Free
- September 4: Free Outdoor Summer Concerts @ Ballard Locks | Michael Clune & Sleep ’til Noon Band, Blues & Rock
Bumbershoot 2017
Images & Information Courtesy of Bumbershoot.com
Now approaching half a century, Bumbershoot is one of Seattle's largest cultural touchstones. Each year, thousands of people from across the country flock to Seattle Center to attend this acclaimed festival, which has become one of the biggest and most-loved contemporary festivals in North America, while having maintained its Northwest spirit and innovative roots. The name Bumbershoot was chosen both as a knowing nod of respect to our city’s most famous weather pattern, and a symbol of the overarching mission of this festival: to be an umbrella for all of the arts. Since 1972, Bumbershoot has been a multi-disciplinary arts festival showcasing the best of comedy, dance, film, literary arts, music, performing arts, theatre, visual arts and more. Spanning the Seattle Centergrounds, a campus originally created for the 1962 World’s Fair, Bumbershoot has continued its legacy of celebrating innovation and the search for what’s next.
425 Magazine reviews summer wines
By Shelby Rowe Moyer | August 23, 2017
Photo Courtesy of E. & J. Gallo Winery.
We’re not highly-acclaimed wine reviewers who can detect subtle notes of toasted hazelnut, but we’re certainly not strangers to a smile-inspiring glass of wine. We were asked to share our thoughts on this eclectic mix of wines, so we did what anyone would do, and broke out our corkscrews and crystal. You’re likely familiar with a few of these, and maybe you’ll find a new favorite.
Below photos by Rachel Coward.
A fruity, crisp wine that was refreshing to drink during our hot summer days. Paired really nicely with light BBQ-style snacks. The hints of strawberry inspired me to add a few summer berries as a garnish. — Nicole Logan, client service coordinator
Columbia Winery 2014 Chardonnay
As someone who isn’t much of a chardonnay fan, I really enjoyed this one from Columbia Winery. It is refreshing and fruity without being sweet or particularly oaky. A great pick for summer and crisp autumn evenings. — Erin Humphrey, graphic designer
The Provence region in southeast France is known as the quintessential region for rosé due to their near-perfect growing conditions, however, what is not often known is the region’s flowing hills covered in vibrant, aromatic fields of lavender. In French, “Fleur de Mer” means “Flower of the Sea”, a not-so-subtle nod to the region’s sea of lavender. This medium-bodied, coral pink-colored Rose has a soft texture and tastes of watermelon, cherry, Mediterranean herbs, a subtle citrus, and of course, a hint of the lavender for which it is named. — Joanna Kresge, staff writer
Barefoot has been my go-to for years for wine that’s tasty and isn’t fussy. I’m partial to sweeter wines, and this rosé delivered without being overwhelmingly sweet. The light, fruity flavor is complimentary to dinner and dessert. It’s described as having watermelon, strawberry, and sweet cherry flavors, with hints of nectarine, jasmine, and a sweet lime finish. — Shelby Rowe Moyer, staff writer
The Columbia Valley red blend was spicy and peppery, with cherry, vanilla, and a little bit of cola taste. It was easy to drink and paired perfectly with a Moroccan lamb tagine. The blackberry notes made it fruity and not too overpowering for a still-warm summer night. — Kirsten Erwin, art director
Apothic Limited Release 2016 Rosé
Rosé is the perfect summer drink, and Apothic’s Limited Release 2016 Rosé is no exception. This juicy wine is bursting with flavors like strawberry, watermelon, and raspberry, and at less than $20 a bottle, it’s the perfect refresher for a hot, summer day. I recommend pouring the chilled contents of the bottle into your favorite wine canteen and toting it to your favorite beach to sip seaside. Salud! — Margo Greenman, digital editor
This sparkling rosé is the perfect centerpiece for summer conversation between friends. To me, the boldest notes of the wine were Fuji apples and rose petals, and the liveliness of the bubbles makes it so refreshing. I added a dash of cranberry juice to lighten the flavor, but it’s also delicious on its own. I recommend pouring yourself a glass while perched on the deck as the sun is going down. — Shelby Rowe Moyer, staff writer.
Game On: Party Ideas for Seahawks Game Day
On a scale of 1 to 10, this party is a 12
By Julie Arnan | August 22, 2017
It’s football season. Whether you’re cheering on the Seahawks or your favorite college team, it’s essential to have a few great party ideas in your game-day playbook. When your team is on the road or you can’t make it to the game, bring the party home with easy team-themed sips, snacks, and desserts. I toasted spices and roasted pork tenderloin for a simple game-day brioche sandwich. My 12th Gal cocktail is sure to quench your game day thirst, plus we’ve got cold brews, Bloody Marys loaded with extras, and pretty little Jell-O shots that will score some points with guests. Oh yes — we’ve got game!
12th Gal Martini Drop
Try this handcrafted feminine and flirty, icy blue martini drop. It starts with a stunning shade of blue. The glass is dressed with mermaids and a saucy garnish of mint and fresh blueberries on diamond picks.
11/2 shots vodka
1/2 shots Blue Curacao liqueur
Splash of Chartreuse liqueur
½ shot mint simple syrup
¼ shot fresh lime juice
Put the ingredients into a shaker with plenty of ice; shake, strain, and serve.
Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Toasted Spices on Brioche
A trio of toasted spices turns up the heat on these yummy and easy brioche sandwiches. Add a hint of sweet roasted red pepper, tender bibb lettuce, and a trio of mustards for a winning game-day combo.
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 pork tenderloins
Olive oil
Salt and soy sauce to taste
Brioche buns
Bibb lettuce
Sliced roasted red peppers
- In a dry hot pan, toast a tablespoon each of ground cumin, coriander, and chili powder. The spices will brown up a bit, and become crazy fragrant. Set spices aside.
- Slather two pork tenderloins with olive oil, and coat in the toasted spices. Sprinkle with salt and about four dashes of soy sauce. Marinate overnight in the fridge.
- Bring pork to room temp, and roast in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes. Cool and thinly slice. Layer a few pieces onto brioche buns; add bibb lettuce and sliced roasted red peppers. Serve with an assortment of mustards. I like honey mustard, stone ground, and Dijon.
Customize Store-Bought Goodies
Purchase ice cream sandwiches. Buy wooden sticks at a local craft store, pop them into the sandwiches, and create laces with a tube of icing.
Spirited Jell-O Shots
Tipping the shot glass in a muffin tin makes these pretty little blue and white Jell-O Shots layers firm up on the diagonal. Here is a recipe I found that works well.
1 cup water
3 ounces blue Jell-O
3 packets gelatin
2 cups vodka
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
- In a saucepan, mix 1 cup of water and blue Jell-O and then sprinkle with the packet of gelatin. Let it hang out for a minute or so, and then whisk.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer. Pull it off the heat, and add 1 cup of vodka and whisk again. Pour the mixture into a small pitcher. Place shot glass in each muffin tin and tip it, then carefully pour the in the Jell-O mixture. Let it rest on the counter for about 25 minutes, then transfer to the fridge until it sets up completely.
- Once cooled, add one cup of milk to a clean pan and sprinkle with two packets of gelatin. Wait a minute, and then add sugar and whisk. Bring it to a simmer, and remove it from the heat. Add 1 cup of vodka, and whisk it again.
- Cool this second mixture. Upright the glasses. Then with a teaspoon, add the white mixture onto the blue layer, and return the shots to the fridge to chill.
Chips, Veggies, and Dip, Stadium Style
Create a guacamole playing field in a rectangular dish nestled into a larger rectangular dish. Layer in blue chips, sliced rainbow carrots, and multicolored peppers for the crowd.
Game Day Bloody Mary
This Bloody Mary is all about the extras. Keep it simple with a good store-purchased mix. Add 11/2 shots of vodka and a squeeze of fresh lime to a tall glass. Add ice, and top with mix and a splash of hot sauce! Create veggie bundles of celery, pickled asparagus, and beans all tied up with chives, and then add bacon. Always add bacon.
Raise the Bar
Frosty brewskis on ice never looked so good thanks to his and hers bottle cozies, palms, fresh flowers, faux fur, and a DIY PVC pipe goal post in gold.
True Colors
Hit up your favorite team stores and party stores for team-themed napkins, bottle openers, beer cozies, footballs, and pom poms, of course!
Blitz Blondie Bars
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flour
1 cup M&Ms (in your team colors), plus more
for the top
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper.
- Beat room temperature butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer until just creamy. Add one egg at a time, and beat until combined. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl, and then add that to the sugar mixture, a little at a time. Mix until just combined. Gently fold in the M&Ms.
- Press mixture into the baking pan. Add more M&Ms on top (because you can never have enough chocolate or spirit). Bake for about 20-25 minutes, cool, cut, eat, and cheer.
See Monica Hart’s design, recipe, and entertaining ideas in every issue of 425 magazine, and at lafamigliadesignllc.com.
Hair by Seven the Salon, senior stylist Chu.
Ingredients from Metropolitan Market, Kirkland. Glassware, tableware, serving pieces, and green mixer from Crate and Barrel at The Bellevue Collection. Crafting essentials from Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames, Redmond; Blue and white linens and green coasters from Hedge & Vine, Bellevue.
Here Are the Winners of Our Best Restaurants Readers' Choice Poll
Savvy Seattle magazine readers pick their top dining destinations in the city.
BY: SEATTLE MAGAZINE STAFF | FROM THE PRINT EDITION | SEPTEMBER 2017
Image Credit: Geoffrey Smith
Ba Bar's serious pho game wowed our readers.
Readers voted in droves in our annual Best Restaurants Readers' Choice Poll. After checking out their picks, see which restaurants our critics hailed as Seattle's finest here.
Best New Restaurant
JuneBaby
Ravenna, 2122 NE 65th St.; 206.257.4470
Best Neighborhood Restaurant
Cafe Lago
Montlake, 2305 24th Ave. E; 206.329.8005
Best Eastside Restaurant
Barking Frog
Woodinville, 14580 NE 145th St.; 425.424.2999
Best Rooftop Dining/Bar
Mbar
South Lake Union, 400 Fairview Ave. N; 206.457.8287
Best Cheap Eats
Dick’s Drive-In
multiple locations
Best Restaurant with Gluten-free Options
Capitol Cider
Capitol Hill, 818 E Pike St.; 206.397.3564
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Cafe Flora
Capitol Hill, 2901 E Madison St.; 206.325.9100
Best Juice Bar
Juicebox
Capitol Hill, 1517 12th Ave., No. 100; 206.607.7866
Best Brunch
Goldfinch Tavern
Pike Place, 99 Union St.; 206.749.7070
Best Independent Coffee Shop
Caffe Ladro
multiple locations
Best View
Ray’s Boathouse
Ballard, 6049 Seaview Ave. NW; 206.789.3770
Best Place for Outdoor Dining
Westward
Wallingford, 2501 N Northlake Way; 206.552.8215
Best Place to Dine Alone
Sushi Kappo Tamura
Eastlake, 2968 Eastlake Ave. E; 206.547.0937
Best Restaurant for Kids
Frelard Pizza Company
Fremont, 4010 Leary Way NW; 206.946.9966
Best Late Night Dining
13 Coins
multiple locations
Best Waitstaff/Service
Goldfinch Tavern
Pike Place, 99 Union St.; 206.749.7070
Best Splurge Restaurant
Canlis
East Queen Anne, 2576 Aurora Ave. N; 206.283.3313
Best Tasting Menu
Altura
Capitol Hill, 617 Broadway E; 206.402.6749
Best Sandwich
Un Bien
Ballard, 7302 1/2 15th Ave. NW; 206.588.2040 Shilshole, 6226 Seaview Ave. NW; 206.420.7545
Best Salads
Evergreens
multiple locations
Best Takeout
India Bistro
Ballard, 2301 NW Market St.; 206.783.5080
Best Burgers
Red Mill
multiple locations
Best Barbecue
Jack’s BBQ
Industrial District, 3924 Airport Way S; 206.467.4038
Best Pizza
Pagliacci Pizza
multiple locations
Best Oyster Bar
Taylor Shellfish Farms
multiple locations
Best Seafood
RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
Fremont, 4300 Fremont Ave. N; 206.557.7532
Best Sushi
Sushi Kashiba
Pike Place, 86 Pine St., No. 1; 206.441.8844
Best Poke
45th Stop N Shop Deli & Poke Bar
Wallingford, 2323 N 45th St.; 206.708.1882
Best Steak
Metropolitan Grill
Downtown, 820 Second Ave.; 206.624.3287
Best Fries
Luc
Miller Park, 2800 E Madison St.; 206.328.6645
Best Korean
Girin
Pioneer Square, 501 Stadium Place S; 206.257.4259
Best Chinese
Dough Zone
multiple locations
Best Thai
Little Uncle
Hilltop, 1523 E Madison St., No. 101; 206.549.6507
Best Indian
Aahaar
Snoqualmie, 7726 Center Blvd. SE, Suite 135; 425.888.5500
Best Middle Eastern
Mamnoon
Capitol Hill, 1508 Melrose Ave.; 206.906.9606
Best Vietnamese
Ba Bar
multiple locations
Best Pho
Pho Bac
multiple locations
Best French
Café Presse
First Hill, 1117 12th Ave.; 206.709.7674
Best Italian
Spinasse
Capitol Hill, 1531 14th Ave.; 206.251.7673
Best Food Truck
Nosh
location varies; 206.489.8712
Best Ice Cream
Molly Moon’s
multiple locations
Best Bakery
Bakery Nouveau
multiple locations
Best Doughnut Shop
Top Pot
multiple locations
Best Dessert
Hot Cakes
multiple locations
Best Cupcakes
Trophy Cupcakes
multiple locations
Best Cookies
Hello Robin
Miller Park, 522 19th Ave. E; 206.735.7970
Best Dive Bar
Ballard Smoke Shop
Ballard, 5439 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.784.6611
Best Sports Bar
Quality Athletics
Pioneer Square, 121 S King St.; 206.420.3015
Best Pop‐up Restaurant
Raised Doughnuts
Chinatown–International District, 510 Maynard Ave. S; 206.623.1776
Best Local Wine Tasting Room
JM Cellars
Woodinville, 14404 137th Place NE; 425.485.6508
Best Local Distillery
Woodinville Whiskey Co.
Woodinville, 14509 Redmond‐Woodinville Road NE; 425.486.1199
Best Cocktail Bar
Canon
First Hill, 928 12th Ave.; 206.552.9755
Best Neighborhood Pub
Mulleady’s
Interbay, 3055 21st Ave. W; 206.283.8843
Best Happy Hour
Fireside Room
First Hill, 900 Madison St.; 206.622.6400
Best Local Brewery
Reuben’s Brews
Ballard, 5010 14th Ave. NW; 206.784.2859
10 Great Seattle Spots to Watch the Solar Eclipse
Can't make it to Oregon? There are plenty of places in Seattle to watch this once-in-decades event.
BY: ALEXA PETERS | Posted August 16, 2017
Play hooky for an hour or two and find a Seattle spot to watch Monday's eclipse.
On Monday, Seattle will be at a great vantage point for the solar eclipse, starting at 9 a.m. and ending around 11:39 a.m. Though we won’t be able to see a total eclipse, from our angle 92 percent of the sun will be blocked.
For those of us not taking time off work to travel into the “path of totality” in Oregon where most of the organized events are going down (though the Pacific Science Center's hosting an official Seattle shindig), there are plenty of local parks, viewpoints, monuments and rooftops to see this astronomical wonder from. Here are 10 free or inexpensive places to watch the eclipse near downtown Seattle. Just don't forget those viewing glasses to protect your eyes!
Kerry Park in Queen Anne
The site of many wedding and prom photos, Kerry Park in Queen Anne gives visitors a panoramic view of the Seattle skyline that is postcard perfection. This will be an ideal but undoubtedly popular spot to see the eclipse from on Monday morning, so plan accordingly. Arrive early and park your car in the neighborhoods north of the park where parking is free and more available than in the park’s tiny lot.
Gasworks Park
For holidays with fireworks, Gasworks is a notorious Seattle viewing spot. Why should the eclipse be any different? Lay in the lush green grass or climb one of the old stacks from the former Seattle Gas Light plant that used to occupy the park to get one of the best views of the Seattle sky around. This will be another popular destination, so do plan accordingly. It’s best to park in the surrounding neighborhoods and walk down or Lyft to Gasworks. Bring a picnic and make it an early lunch.
Staircase next to Seattle Marriott Waterfront hotel
This outdoor staircase next to the Seattle Marriott Waterfront hotel on Alaskan Way carries you to the iconic Pike Place Market (where the new MarketFront could also offer sweet views) and faces the Seattle waterfront. The views during the climb are spectacular, but it is steep so keep that in mind if your party includes children or seniors. About halfway up the stairs there’s an overlook where you can pause and rest—perfect for the eclipse.
Public Rooftop Garden at Fourth and Madison
During weekday business hours, the public can access a rooftop garden at the Fourth and Madison Building (925 4th Ave.). To get to the garden, enter the building from 3rd Avenue, take the elevator to the seventh floor and exit the elevator through the right door. There, you will find a garden that wraps around three sides of the building—a great spot to watch the sky.
Smith Tower Observation Deck
The Smith Tower invites eclipse-watchers onto their open-air observation deck on Monday. They’ll offer specialty “eclipse” mimosas and coffee, as well as stunning 360-degree views of the city. Be sure to bring your own eclipse glasses, as they will not be provided. Capacity is 400 people, so it's first come first served. Tickets go on sale at 8:30 a.m. and run $15-$19 (save 10 percent by booking online).
Seattle’s Great Wheel
Bring your friends—each gondola on the Ferris wheel holds about eight people—and ride the Seattle Great Wheel at Pier 57 during the eclipse. The wheel opens at 10 a.m., but get there early: lines are always long and will be longer during a rare event. Tickets to ride the wheel are $9-$14.
Ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island
A unique way to experience the solar eclipse on Monday morning would be on one of Seattle’s quintessential ferries. The best views will be on the ferry to Bainbridge Island, which leaves from the downtown Seattle dock. Here is the WSDOT ferry schedule so you can plan your ride around the peak time for the eclipse.
Sky View Observatory
On the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center building, the Sky View Observatory offers a 360-degree view of Seattle. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 11pm, tickets are $10-$15 and kiddos under 5 get in free.
Discovery Park
For a quieter experience more immersed in nature, try hiking out to the lighthouse on the shores of Seattle's flagship park to catch the eclipse. Pack a lunch and stay the day if you're boss won't notice: Discovery Park offers views and hikes you can’t get anywhere else in town.
Belvedere Park
Located on Admiral Way in West Seattle, Belvedere Park’s viewpoint gives a staggering view across Elliot Bay. It’s a popular destination for wedding photos and ought to make for a scenic eclipse viewing spot. Take some time to appreciate the park’s historic totem pole, too, which was carved by a fifth generation descendent of Chief Seattle.
A Guide to August’s Rare Total Solar Eclipse
ARE WE ALL GONNA DIE?
Be ready: It’s the first in the continental U.S. since 1979, and won’t occur again until 2024.
By Allison Williams 6/12/2017 at 8:00am Published in the July 2017 issue of Seattle Met
THERE’S NOTHING MORE NATURAL than eclipses, which were reported in ancient history and cited in the Bible (check Amos 8:9). One occurs every 18 months, somewhere on the planet. But they only happen in the same specific spot every four centuries or so, and for a long time they were…confusing.
Some North American indigenous groups made noise to scare the sudden darkness away, while in Togo it was traditionally a time to resolve feuds, in hopes that the sun and the moon would make up. Public observatories have reported that in advance of eclipse events, they hear questions about whether the eclipse will hurt pregnant women or unborn children.
“You will understand why people sacrificed animals and people. It’s amazing to see a black hole in the sky,” says Tom Masterson at the Table Mountain Star Party. There’s scant evidence that the ancients of any continent went into a murderous frenzy during eclipses. Then again, this will be the first solar eclipse in the twenty-first century to take place along the I-5 corridor, which is already apocalyptic on a good day.
Eclipse Dos and Don’ts
- Don’t Assume you can drive into the path of totality a few hours before the event; the state of Oregon is expecting a million visitors within its borders, and even rural roads become clogged with drivers leading up to eclipses.
- Do Travel somewhere likely to have a cloudless day, like Eastern Washington. The eclipse will still be spectacular in places where it’s only partial (like Seattle), but the skies must be clear to get a good show.
- Don’t Try to photograph the eclipse if you’re a beginner and in the path of totality, advises star shutterbug and president of the Seattle Astronomical Society, Stephanie Anderson. “Totality is so brief, just go and experience it,” she says.
- Don’t Look at the eclipse without proper eyewear.
- Do Use glasses or simply watch shadows of the eclipse projected through a hole in a box or piece of paper—no special shades required.
10 Places to Celebrate National S’mores Day in Seattle All Weekend Long
A S'mores-gasbord of Options Ranging From Milkshakes to Macarons
If you close your eyes, you can almost pretend you're still at camp—especially if you get one of Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery's limited edition s'mores kits. COURTESY OF HOT CAKES
Thursday, August 10, is National S’mores Day, and to commemorate this momentous "holiday," we’ve compiled a s'mores-gasbord (sorry) of places that offer takes on everyone’s favorite childhood dessert—some of which are available year-round, and some of which are only available this weekend in honor of the occasion. The options below range from chocolate bars to milkshakes to cookies to actual s'mores, but it's hard to go wrong with graham crackers, marshmallows, smoke, and chocolate, so we're pretty sure they'll all be delicious.
1. S'mores Tart at Dahlia Bakery
Usually, a visit to the Dahlia Bakery means a huge slice of T. Doug’s triple coconut cream pie, coined “Seattle’s Favorite Dessert” by many. Not today, friends. Today you want the s’mores tart, a concoction of all things good and right in this world: chocolate ganache, a plump, smoky mallow, and a single homemade graham cracker nestled comfortably in the middle of it all. You could also try the s’mores ice cream, available at Dahlia Lounge, Palace Kitchen, Serious Pie, Serious Pie & Biscuit, and Etta’s.
2. “Mackles’more” at Hello Robin
Capitol Hill’s Hello Robin features the “Mackles'more” regularly—it’s a s'mores cookie with Theo chocolate chunks, and yes, it’s named after that Macklemore (also reportedly a Capitol Hill resident).
3. Limited Edition S’mores Kits at Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery
In honor of S’mores Day, Hot Cakes is bringing back its award-winning “s’mores kits” for one weekend only. The kits include all the ingredients you need for crafting your ideal s’more: cold-smoked chocolate, buttery graham crackers and house-made mallows (enough to make six total). They’ll be stocked in both Ballard and Capitol Hill shops starting today, while supplies last. You could also try Hot Cakes’ s’mores molten chocolate cake (roasted to order), the s’mores bar, or the s’mores cookie.
4. The S’mores Macaron at Lady Yum
Lady Yum has an impressive selection of macarons in every color and flavor, but one that is especially intriguing is the s’mores macaron. Dainty French delicacy meets scrappy, all-American amuse-bouche? It has all the trappings of a perfect hybrid.
5. S'more Cookie at Midnight Cookie Company
Fremont’s Midnight Cookie Co. is the perfect solution to your nighttime munchies, and it also just so happens that they have a special s’mores cookie on their regular menu. At $1.75, you can easily and affordably satiate your s’mores craving with this all-in-one masterpiece.
6. Complimentary Nightly S’mores at Shelter Lounge
Shelter Lounge in Ballard offers all the ingredients for making (free!) s’mores outside in its fire pit area. Anyone can have access to the nightly s’mores with the purchase of an entree.
7. The S’mores Sundae at Shug’s Soda Fountain
Shug’s Soda Fountain downtown has a cute, retro feel and a large variety of ice creams that may be transformed into sundaes. One of those elevated sundaes is the s’mores version, resplendent with marshmallows (toasted tableside—yes, really), graham cracker crumbles, and chocolate.
8. Chocolate Pie with Smoked Marshmallow at Slab Sandwiches
Slab features a year-round chocolate pie with smoked marshmallow—the perfect $6 mouth-pleaser after a meaty porchetta sandwich.
9. S’mores Days at Theo Chocolate
Theo is unveiling its new s'mores collection just in time for National S'mores Day, and besides the fact that the $5 goodies sound delicious (homemade organic graham crackers, marshmallows, and fresh Theo chocolate), the company is also donating $1 from each s'more to Mary's Place.
10. S’mores Ice Cream at Molly Moon's
Luckily for you, National S'mores Day sometimes becomes a National S'mores Month. For the rest of August, Molly Moon's will be scooping s'mores-flavored ice cream at each location, complete with graham cracker crust, marshmallow, and milk chocolate ganache. We hear there is a discernible "hint of smoked salt," and "torched marshmallow." Need we say more?
This was added after this post's original publication.
Need s'more advice about how to enjoy today's dessert of choice? Consider a few hints from the s’mores-happy, 1993 cult classic movie The Sandlot.
New 21-Plus Movie Theater With Full Bar, Restaurant Opens in Bellevue Cinemark's swankier new addition joins its regular Lincoln Square theaters.
BY: MAX ROSE | Posted August 3, 2017 | Courtesy of seattlemag.com
Image Credit: Provided by Cinemark Theatres
Inhale this burger while watching Ben Stiller's next terrible rom-com.
Just when you thought Lincoln Square was done with its summer expansion, Thursday welcomes the addition of a new 21-plus movie theater and lounge.
The Cinemark Reserve boasts ergonomic electric-powered recliners, a purportedly fancy digital projection setup, wall-to-wall screens and (best of all) a full bar. As if craft beer, wine and cocktails weren’t enough, the grown-up theater will also offer seat-side ordering service throughout showings, so you don’t have to miss Spider-Man web-tying bad guys to tee up sandwiches, salads, quesadillas and fish tacos (among other options) from the full kitchen.
And if you don’t have time for a flick, you can always kick back in the lounge or on the outside terrace to try out the drink and dining options.
“We’re looking forward to offering the downtown Bellevue community a brand new, luxury movie-going experience,” Cinemark CEO Mike Zoradi said in a statement. “[The theater gives] our guests a choice to dine at their seats, enjoy a relaxing dinner in our lobby lounge or grab a craft beer on the terrace after work.”
To kick off opening weekend, the new theater is offering a 2017 Cinemark refillable popcorn bucket and cup full of other Cinemark swag for the first 100 guests to purchase a ticket in the box office or present a receipt of their online purchase.
Tickets to Cinemark’s swankier new theater run $13-$20—not much more than the $10-18 it charges at its existing Lincoln Square theater.
To view movie show times, buy tickets and reserve seats, visit Cinemark.com or visit the box office on the third floor of Lincoln Square South. Don’t forget to hire a babysitter, since the new “luxury” theater—and dinner lounge and terrace—are 21-and-over.
It's been a rough year for Seattle movie theaters, with two beloved theaters closing in June. But the new Cinemark Reserve joins a crop of regional theaters with sweet amenities that put sticky-floored, stale-popcorn pushers to shame.
Seattle's Boozy Slushy Obsession Will Save Us From the Heat Wave. Here Are Our Faves
Keep cool with five of our favorite boozy slushies.
BY: AJ RATHBUN | Posted August 2, 2017 | Courtesy of seattlemag.com
Image Credit: Provided by No Bones Beach Club
Beat the heat with a piña colada at Ballard's vegan tiki bar No Bones Beach Club.
This week might be the hottest of the year and for those of us more acclimated to Seattle’s usually cooler climes that heat can be hard to beat.
One great remedy? The many boozy, icy, slushies that have popped up at bars around town. Cool it down with one of the below.
No Bones Beach Club: Piña Colada
One of the classic blended up beauties, the piña (it’s too hot for the full name) can lean towards dreck-y mush. But not when you escape to have it at this Ballard vegan haven. Here, it delivers a solid and lush dark rum base that shines through and fortifies while matching up with coconut, pineapple and a little sweetness. Rupert Holmes would love it. I dare you to try to drink just one. And no matter how sweltering, pair it with some of the best nachos in town.
Dino’s Tomato Pie: Bluth's Fortune
A creation of bar manager Jabriel Donohue that nods toward fruity, summertime favorites (as well as the comedically-delicious Arrested Development), this frothy number pairs up Novo Fogo Chameleon cachaça, Speed Craft passionfruit syrup (tangier than most), Giffard’s dreamy banana liqueur, crème of coconut and Angostura bitters. And lots of ice, naturally. It’s flavorful and fun, with a notable pink-purple coloring.
Bok a Bok: Soju Slushy
The Korean spirit soju isn’t naturally a fiery-weather pick. But when tropically wielded with fruit juices and blended with ice, it’s wonderfully refreshing. The ingredients within this White Center Korean fried chicken joint’s slushy machines change regularly, but during my last visit the mix harmonized lychees and passionfruit with the soju. If you’re one who likes to combine heat with heat, pair your slushy with the four-chili hot sauce.
Nacho Borracho: Avocado Margarita
This Capitol Hill hotspot usually has a variety of frosty choices, all of which can do the job when the temperature is creeping dangerously close to three digits. But the avocado marg provides something a little different for your summertime sipping, and sometimes changing things up helps take your mind off the sweat dripping down your back. Also, Nacho Borrcaho serves food until 1:30 a.m., in case you want to eat after sundown.
Heritage Distilling: Gin & Tonic Slushie
While you might think “bar” when searching out your glacial glee, Heritage does a slushy “bevandas” (Italian for “drinks”) menu every summer. While the Pineapple Upside Down Cake sounds delightfully dangerous, the gin & tonic slushy made with local Bradley’s Kina Tonic syrup and Heritage’s Elk Rider or Batch No. 12 gins is our pick. You’ll have to head to Gig Harbor, but and getting out of the city might in itself be cooling (provided you have AC).
Ballot Drop Box Locations
All Information Courtesy of Seattlegov.com
Return your ballot to a ballot drop-off location, no stamp required. Your ballot must be returned to a ballot drop-off location by 8 p.m. election day. Plan ahead to avoid lines.
24-hour drop boxes
Open 24 hours a day beginning July 13
Closes on election day, August 1, at 8 p.m.
* Drive-up ballot drop box
Auburn
Auburn Library
1102 Auburn Way South
Auburn, WA 98002
Get directions
Muckleshoot Tribe - Philip Starr Building
39015 172nd Avenue SE
Auburn, WA 98092
Get directions
Bellevue
Bellevue Regional Library
1111 110th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Get directions
Crossroads Shopping Center
(south entrance)
15600 NE 8th Street
Bellevue, WA 98008
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Bothell
Bothell City Hall
18415 101st Avenue NE
Bothell, WA 98011
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Burien
City of Burien - Town Square Park
(corner of 5th Ave SW and SW 152nd St)
400 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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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 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
Get directions 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
Get directions 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
Get directions Tahoma School District Building*
25720 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Rd SE
Maple Valley, WA 98038
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Mercer Island
Mercer Island Community and 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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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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Renton
Fairwood Library
17009 140th Avenue SE
Renton, WA 98058
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King County Elections*
919 SW Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
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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
Valley View Library
17850 Military Road South
SeaTac, WA 98188
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Seattle
Ballard Branch Library
Corner of NW 57th St and 22nd Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
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Beacon Hill Library
2821 Beacon Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144
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Boulevard Park Library
12015 Roseberg Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98168
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Broadview Library
12755 Greenwood Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133
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Chinatown-International District
Uwajimaya
619 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
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Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry Street
Seattle, WA 98122
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Green Lake Community Center
7201 East Green Lake Drive North
Seattle, WA 98115
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High Point Library
3411 SW Raymond Street
Seattle, WA 98126
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King County Administration Building
500 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
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Lake City Library
12501 28th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98125
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Magnolia Park*
1461 Magnolia Boulevard West
Seattle, WA 98199
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NewHolly Campus of Learners
7054 32nd Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
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North Seattle College
(south visitor lot access from N 95th St)
9600 College Way N
Seattle, WA 98103
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Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
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Rainier Community Center
4600 38th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
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Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building
(northeast corner) 1701 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122
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Skyway Library
12601 76th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98178
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South Park Library
8604 8th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
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University of Washington Campus
Schmitz Hall
(by north entrance on NE 41st St)
1400 NE Campus Parkway
Seattle, WA 98105
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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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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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Still Having Trouble Deciding on Votes? Find All Candidate Profiles Here
Ballots for the primary election are due Tuesday. It’s not too late to vote.
By Hayat Norimine 7/27/2017 at 9:14am | Courtesy of seattlemet.com
IMAGE: COURTESY OF KING COUNTY
Turnout for primary elections are historically low compared to the general elections, lower on off-years (odd-numbered years without presidential or mid-term elections). And this year voters may have an even tougher time deciding, with 21 candidates running for mayor, eight candidates running for an open at-large seat on the Seattle City Council (left open by Tim Burgess’s retirement).
But it’s not too late. Ballots are due Tuesday, and PubliCola is doing a press blitz for those who are still undecided at the 11th hour of voting. Questions largely focused on affordable housing, homelessness, and the city’s efforts at police accountability—three hot-button topics in this year’s election—but the profiles also give a taste of the candidates’ backgrounds and what they say their priorities would be in elected office.
Here are the profiles we’ve published so far. More will be coming Thursday and Friday. We prioritized the high-profile mayoral candidates first, those most likely to make it through the primary, with the goal of also profiling candidates who have raised or put more than $10,000 into their campaigns. Other candidates who have raised money and weren’t profiled: Gary Brose, Casey Carlisle, Greg Hamilton, James Norton Jr., Larry Oberto, and Jason Roberts.
Mayoral Candidates
Seattle City Council Position 8 Candidates
- Hisam Goueli
- Jon Grant
- Mac McGregor
- Teresa Mosqueda
- Sara Nelson
- Rudy Pantoja
- Sheley Secrest
- Charlene Strong
Updated July 29, 2017, at 1:47pm: This post contains links to other candidates not included in this list. Not all candidates PubliCola hoped to profile could be covered.
Seafair Weekend! What you need to know!
A Pacific Northwest tradition since 1950, Seafair Weekend is the culmination of the Seafair Festival. Dubbed by some as an unofficial Seattle holiday, this is the most anticipated event of summer. Seafair Weekend offers a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, tastes and action. With boat racing on the water, aerobatic performers in the sky, live music and delicious food on land, the best place to experience Seafair Weekend is at Genesee Park on Lake Washington!
Seafair Weekend features:
-Boeing Seafair Air Show
-Albert Lee Appliance Cup
-Hyperlite Seafair Wakeboard Experience
-Graham Trucking Seafair Cup
-and more!
New this year is the Aetna Kids' Zone that includes FREE Kids Rides and Inflatables Courtesy of Aetna. The Official Health Care Plan of Seafair Festival. Come meet Princess Elsa and Spider Man, face painting, balloon artists, and MORE! There will be shaded seating for parents.
Nominate your Favorite Teacher and School for Awesome Prizes at the Aetna Teacher Wall of Fame!
Water/Land Schedule
Friday – August 4th 8:00am – Gates Open
8:00 – 9:10am – Grand Prix World Hydroplane Testing
9:00am – 5:00pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience
9:10 – 10:30am – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:30 – 11:05am – West Coast F1 Powerboat Testing
11:05 – 11:20am – Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
11:20 – 11:45am – Hyperlite Wakeboard Grandstand Demonstration
12:00 pm - Navy Band Northwest
2:20 pm - Geoffrey Castle
2:40 – 3:20pm – West Coast F1 Powerboat Testing
4:00 pm - Future Shock
3:20 – 5:20pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
Saturday – August 5th 8:00am – Gates Open
8:00 – 10:00am – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
9:00am – 5:00pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience
9:00am – 4:45pm – Beach Water Polo Tournament
10:00 – 10:25am – West Coast F1 Powerboat Testing
10:25 – 11:05am – Grand Prix World Hydroplane Testing
11:00 am - Marina Christopher
11:10 – 11:25am – West Coast F1 Powerboat Heat 1
11:25 -11:40am – Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
11:40 – 11:55am - H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1A
11:55am – 12:10pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1B
12:00 pm - Navy Band Northwest
12:10 – 12:35pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Grandstand Demonstration
2:20 pm - Nolan Garrett
3:10 – 3:35pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Grandstand Demonstration
3:40 – 3:55am – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2A
4:00 pm - Andrew Landers
3:55 – 4:10pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2B
4:10 – 4:25pm – Grand Prix World Hydroplane Heat 1
4:25 – 4:40pm – West Coast F1 Powerboat Heat 2
4:40 – 5:45pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
Monster BMX Stunt Show
10:55 – 11:15am – Show 1
2:30 – 2:50pm – Show 2
4:20 – 4:40pm – Show 3
Sunday – August 6th 9:00am – Gates Open
9:00am – 3:45pm – Beach Water Polo Tournament
9:30 – 10:35am – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:00am – 4:00pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience
10:35 – 11:10am – Grand Prix World Hydroplane Testing
11:30 – 11:45am – Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
11:45am – 12:00pm – West Coast F1 Powerboat Heat 3
12:00 – 12:15pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3A
12:15 – 12:30pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3B
12:30 – 12:45pm – Grand Prix World Hydroplane Heat 2
12:45 – 12:55pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Grandstand Demonstration
3:35 – 4:00pm – Hyperlite Wakeboard Grandstand Demonstration
4:15 – 4:30pm – Grand Prix World Hydroplane Final
4:30 – 4:45pm – West Coast F1 Powerboat Final
4:45 – 5:00pm – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Final
5:00 – 5:15pm – Awards Ceremony
Monster BMX Stunt Show
10:55 – 11:15am – Show 1
2:30 – 2:50pm – Show 2
4:20 – 4:40pm – Show 3
Air Show Schedule
Friday – August 4th
11:40am - US Air Force A10 Flyover
11:45am - John Klatt - Screamin' Sasquatch Jet Waco
12:15pm - Brad Wursten - MXS-R Aerobatic Aircraft Teaser
12:30pm - US Coast Guard SAR Demo - MH65 Helicopter
12:45pm - PBY - Catalina - Flying Boat
12:55pm - Sean Tucker - Oracle Challenger
1:10pm - US Air Force - F22 Raptor Demonstration
1:30pm - US Navy - C130 Fat Albert
1:40pm - US Navy - Blue Angels - FA18 Demonstration
Saturday – August 5th
12:25pm - Brad Wursten - MXS-R Aerobatic Aircraft
12:30pm - John Klatt
12:50pm - US Air Force A10 Flyover
12:50pm - Sean Tucker - Oracle Challenger
1:10pm - US Air Force - F22 Raptor Demonstration
1:30pm - US Navy - C130 Fat Albert
1:40pm - US Navy - Blue Angels - FA18 Demonstration
2:30pm - John Klatt - Screamin' Sasquatch Jet Waco
2:45pm - Brad Wuesten - MXS-R Aerobatic Demonstration
3:00pm - US Coast Guard SAR Demo - MH65 Helicopter
3:15pm - PBY - Catalina - Flying Boat
Sunday – August 6th
12:55pm - Sean Tucker - Oracle Challenger
1:10pm - US Air Force - F22 Raptor Demonstration
1:30pm - US Navy - C130 Fat Albert
1:40pm - US Navy - Blue Angels - FA18 Demonstration
2:30pm - John Klatt - Screamin' Sasquatch Jet Waco
2:45pm - KC 46 Flyover
2:55pm - Brad Wursten - MXS-R Aerobatic Aircraft Teaser
3:10pm - US Air Force A10 Flyover
3:15pm - US Coast Guard SAR Demo - MH65 Helicopter
3:30pm - PBY - Catalina - Flying Boat
Ticket and Seating Information
Tickets are required at entry.
Free Friday
Skip the line and pick up your FREE FRIDAY tickets at the locations below.
Pick up a FREE FRIDAY general admission ticket at:
HomeStreet Bank
Albert Lee Appliance
One Main Financial
Locations and pickup schedules are available here!
General Admission
Single Day – Adults: $30 in advance, $40 at the gate Seniors/Youth: $10
- Purchase a General Admission ticket at the early-bird prices and pick your day when the time comes. Tickets are valid for either Saturday or Sunday.
- Purchase three-day tickets in advance and receive a discounted rate
Championship General Admission - $75 (valid all three days of Seafair Weekend)
- Includes a Pit Pass
Bleacher Seating
Single Day - $60
- Located directly on Lake Washington with prime views of the Albert Lee Appliance Seafair Cup and the Boeing Seafair Air Show
- New this year, bleachers are limited capacity general admission, first-come, first-served
Championship Bleacher Seating - $150 (valid all three days of Seafair Weekend)
- Purchase three-day tickets in advance and receive a discounted rate
- Includes a Pit Pass
Captain’s Club
Single Day - $150
Due to popular demand, Captain’s Club is back! Enjoy complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages in a private space with the best views of the start/finish line for the Albert Lee Appliance Seafair Cup.
- Ticket reserves a single seat at the front of the club with shared hospitality space at the back of the club.
- Tickets are available to the public beginning March 20.
- Purchase three-day tickets in advance and receive a discounted rate
- Includes a Pit Pass
Championship Captain’s Club - $400
Military & Boeing Employees
Boeing Employees & contractors and active duty, reserve, & retired military may enter Seafair Weekend Festival for free by presenting their Boeing or Military ID badge at the special Boeing & Military entry gate at Genesee Park.
Boeing employees & contractors and active duty, reserve, & retired military may also purchase additional reduced price general admission tickets for $20 per ticket, per day. Tickets can be purchased through the Boeing store or at the gate.
Purchase Tickets Here
Reserve Your Log Boom Spot Here
Neighborhood ticket information:
The Lure of La Dolce Vita at Sirena Gelato
By Denise Sakaki | July 25, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
Photos by Denise Sakaki
Sirens, the alluring sea creatures of mythology, tempted sailors with a haunting melody, drawing their ships toward rocky shores. Walking through the modern-day Kirkland waterfront neighborhood, your gaze will fall upon a finned tail, attached to a blond maiden holding a frozen dessert alongside the serpentine script reading, Sirena Gelato. Instead of a bewitching song, you’re hooked by the heady perfume of vanilla, hints of citrus, and a trace of toasted espresso. And you’ll be drawn in, not to rocky shores but rocky … road. Or at least something similar as you peer at the rows of swirled gelato, hopelessly fated with the epic task of deciding which flavor to choose.
Roman history brought Brian Ugurlu from the Pacific Northwest to the shores of Italy for a year during a study-abroad program as an undergrad at the University of Washington. However, it was the siren song of the Italian joy for life, la dolce vita, that lured him away from a future as a historian of Napoleonic Italy, and ignited a passion to bring traditional gelato to our shores. It’s been 12 years since he opened the first Sirena Gelato shop in the Fairhaven Historic District, a bustling waterfront area in Bellingham. A few years later, Ugurlu opened a second shop in Kirkland, which has been happily indulging the Eastside’s sweet tooth for over half a decade.
“I was in my 20s; I’d never heard of gelato before, most people in my class hadn’t either,” Ugurlu said of his time abroad. “In Italy, you eat gelato three or four times a day. They eat it for breakfast there — put fruit on it — they eat it all the time! I was thinking, we have to do this in America!”
He remembers sending his parents enthusiastic emails about putting together a gelato shop upon his return from Italy. Raised in a family of hotel and restaurant managers and owners, it was a perfect fit, perhaps spun by the Fates themselves. So he set out to educate himself. A third generation gelato maker from Venice taught Ugurlu a traditional family recipe, which, combined with his own experience of living in Europe, helped him develop the gelato base he uses now.
Years ago, gelato was considered exotic to American palates, and Sirena Gelato was a part of its sweet education process. “People would say, ‘What is it? Is it hot? Is it cold? Is it whipped cream? Is it Jell-O?’” he said. “I didn’t have a model for what a gelato shop should be. We’ve all had ice cream, but back in 2005, gelato was harder to come by. We had to make it up as we went along; what flavors worked, what didn’t. It was a steep learning curve to get to where we are now.”
Gelato vs. ice cream — so what’s the difference? He explains: “It’s made with milk instead of cream, and as a result, it has much less fat (and) less calories. The machine whips it very fast and sucks the air out. It’s (denser) than ice cream. It also contains less sugar; most traditional gelato flavors aren’t sweet.” The result is a dessert that’s so rich it ribbons and swirls like a satin bow with a distinctive sheen. Sirena’s commitment to tradition produces something complex from the simplicity of milk and cane sugar. Unlike frozen custard, there are no eggs in a gelato base, and that leaves a sweet and pristine blank canvas to infuse with whatever flavors one desires.
“The reaction I get from customers is, ‘Wow! That really tastes like hazelnut!’ or ‘That lemon is very lemony!’” Ugurlu said. “I think we live in a time where so much is artificial, or people are making a product where they put just a little flavor in. But my philosophy is we go 110 percent. With pistachio, we load it with pistachios; you get that saturation point where there’s no mistaking what you’re eating.” He describes a customer favorite, the Oreo cookie gelato, as “cement-grade,” explaining how whole cookies are churned into the base, crushed, and mixed in, but it never loses the identity of what it is. The same goes for all the flavors; jammy fruit swirls and chunks of nuts are visible, giving the gelato a textural, rustic beauty that celebrates ingredients. It retains that Old World tradition, as Ugurlu recalls of his days in Italy, “You definitely eat with your eyes.”
Local palates inspired many of Sirena Gelato’s flavors. Along with Oreo cookies, cake batter is popular, and he also makes gelato bars and cookie sandwiches. “I try to Americanize it in some ways, make the flavors accessible,” he said, while keeping Italian favorites like roasted pistachio; hazelnut; and stracciatella, a delicate version of chocolate chip ice cream using fine shavings of chocolate. But don’t think gelato is a dessert too grown-up to have fun. He admits to a mad scientist streak, experimenting with flavors. ”I’m always getting crazy ideas. We tried buttered popcorn, and pancakes with syrup.” History is rooted in Sirena Gelato’s foundation, but a love of dessert is its siren song.
Washington's New E-DUI Law: What You Can And Cannot Do
Images and Information Courtesy of wadrivetozero.com
No More Excuses.
Beginning July 23, 2017, it will be against the law for Washington drivers to use hand-held cell phones while they are driving. This includes all electronic devices, even tablets, laptops and video games. Tickets for driving while using hand-held electronics will go on your record and be reported to your insurance provider.
No Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving
- Even when stopped in traffic or at a traffic light
- No typing messages or accessing information
- No watching videos or using cameras
You CAN Use Your Device If You Are:
- Hands-free (such as using Bluetooth) and can start use by a single touch or swipe without holding the phone
- Parked or out-of-the-flow of traffic
- Starting your GPS or music before you drive
- Contacting emergency services
Electronics DUI (E-DUI) Ticket Cost
A Driving Under the Influence of Electronics ticket, an E-DUI, is the type of ticket drivers will receive if pulled over for using a hand-held electronic device while driving. The cost for receiving an E-DUI increases with each infraction. All violations will be available to your insurance company.
First E-DUI – $136
Second E-DUI (within 5 years) – $234
Not Included in the Law
- Transit and emergency vehicle drivers are exempt. Drivers of commercial vehicles must follow federal laws.
- Two-way radio, citizens band radio, or amateur radio equipment are not included in the law.
Dangerously Distracted
You can also get a $99 ticket for other types of distractions such as grooming, smoking, eating, or reading if the activity interferes with safe driving, and you are pulled over for another traffic offense.
Why?
- Fatalities from distracted driving increased 32 percent from 2014 to 2015 in Washington.
- 71 percent of distracted drivers engage in the most dangerous distraction, cell phone use behind the wheel
- One out of four crashes involves cell phone use just prior to the crash.
Can’t resist? Pass your phone to the passenger, put it in the glove box, or turn it off before you drive.
How to Survive the Gastro Chaos of Seattle's 400,000-Person Food Fest
Don't let this mega food fest intimidate you—you got this.
BY: CHELSEA LIN | Posted July 20, 2017
Image Credit: Bite of Seattle You need this in your weekend plans.
Like parenthood or law school or a bite of a ghost pepper, you should not embark upon the Bite of Seattle food fest this weekend without knowing what you’re getting yourself into. Three days. Four hundred thousand people. More than 60 restaurants and specialty food companies. Craft beer and wine. Chef demos, musical performances and likely a mad case of heartburn followed by a next-day hangover. All in the shadow of the Space Needle.
Bite of Seattle laughs at your little neighborhood street fest.
But because this is what we do, we’ve put together a primer for your food fest adventure. Follow along for optimal enjoyment:
Go on Friday.
Our hypothesis is that fewer guests will visit Friday (July 21), so if you dislike waiting in line for meat on a stick as much as we do, play hookie and head over around lunch. Stay all day: On Friday night, they’re showing everyone’s favorite ‘80s flick Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for free at the Mural Lawn Stage at 8:30 p.m. The weather should be lovely, you don’t have to pack your own picnic because you will have been eating all day. Plus, there’s a beer garden.
Splurge on VIP access.
Before you ask, “But why would I pay to get into a free festival?” look at the benefits that come with access to The Bite Cooks! lounge: an exclusive rooftop bar, meet-and-greet with local chefs like Loulay’s Thierry Rautureau and Megan Coombes of Altstadt (one of our fave bars to catch a Sounders game), special snacks and a view of both the chef demos and the live music on the Fisher Stage. Also, and this is crucial: This area is 21 and over only. Each ticket is $25 to $45 ($5 of which goes to Food Lifeline) and allows you access for a few hours—check out the lineup here.
Have a culinary game plan.
OK, there’s simply no way to eat your way through this entire festival, even if you attend all three days (and your cardiologist doesn’t advise you to do that). We recommend sticking with the just-a-bite options, which are all under $3.75, if you want to enjoy the maximum amount of different tastes. Larger featured dishes are still under $10, and arguably sound more delicious. A few we wouldn’t miss: Afghan Delicious’ kabuli pulow combo, Bai Tong Thai’s pad thai, Simply Soulful’s fried catfish and Biringer Farms’ legendary strawberry shortcake. Save room for the food trucks—we’ve been especially excited to try Tabassum, an Uzbek food truck that’s been making the rounds.
Don’t drink too much.
For obvious reasons. Even so, taking public trans is a great idea for multiple reasons—you can drink more than you should and you won’t have to pay an exorbitant amount for parking.
We won’t even get into the performance schedule—here’s a lineup if that’s your thing. Now go forth and eat!
Bite of Seattle runs July 21-23 at Seattle Center.