Any must-see/must-dos for a 3-day Seattle visit?

[Patiod]

DU was so amazingly helpful with my LA vacation, that I thought I'd see what you can do for Seattle

I'll be staying in the Kirkland/Bellevue area, and will have a car. Will be there Dec 1,2,3 (actually, I'll be there earlier, but working 14 hours/day until then). I'll be on my own $ (not expense account) so thrifty suggestions are especially appreciated.

For instance, and suggestions for good, cheap sushi?

Hopefully, will get the chance to meet up with DU's own JulieRB, who will have some ideas too.

[Missy Vixen]

1. Patiod, I'm so sorry I haven't written back yet

I'm in the throes of www.nanowrimo.org.

I will think up some stuff and definitely get a mail out to you sooner than later.

I apologize. :cry:

Julie

[Patiod]

21. No worries! Just so you have the date saved on yr calendar!

This should be fun - I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully you'll have all your nanowrimo stuff done by the last day of Novel Writing Month.

The only think that's going to be tough is packing. I HATE to check luggage, but it might be tough to put 4 days of business clothing and 3 days of casual in one bag....

[Goblinmonger]

2. Are you a vegetarian?

If so, there is a fabulous restaurant we went to when we went to Seattle this summer. Vegetarian Bistro in Chinatown. Can't remember the street, but is is about two blocks from the big Asian market.

[Patiod]

19. Not a vegetarian, but I eat at vegetarian restaurants

I especially like vegetarian Chinese. Thanks for the recc!

[flamingyouth]

25. Mmmm - that's on S. King St, off Maynard

And it's very delicious! :9

We were just thinking - we haven't been there for a while. :9

[Missy Vixen]

3. Hey, Seattle lounge lizards

How would some of you feel about a return trip to Ohana with Patiod? I'll set it up if people are interested.

Patiod? Would you like to meet some more of Seattle's DU'ers?

Julie

[SeattleGirl]

6. I'd be up for that!

:bounce:

[Patiod]

14. That sounds great! I'll be there over a weekend

Would love to meet some Seattle folks!!!

JulieRB is actually the only person on DU I've ever met in person.

[MrCoffee]

4. ride the Bainbridge Island Ferry...

you get the best views of the city from the water, and it's the cheapest way to go. plus, when you get off on Bainbridge, you can walk around and see some of the cool things there, then hop right back on.

That, and a walking tour of Fremont. The Fremont Troll is a must-see

[Patiod]

16. The ferry is on my list - the price looked right

What's the Fremont Troll?

[Aristus]

31. This is the Fremont Troll:

A unique piece of urban artwork located underneath the Aurora Bridge. BTW, that is a real VW Beetle grasped in its claw.

[Zomby Woof]

5. Everyone else will say Pioneer Square or Pike Place Market

Or of course, the Seattle Center with the Space Needle. I enjoy those places, and usually took visiting friends to at least the former two... but as an alternative...

Here were my favorite Seattle hangouts in the 15 years I lived there:

The Owl and Thistle, a genuine Irish pub across from the Federal Building downtown.

I enjoyed great micros and played pool at Dutch Ned's near Pioneer Square.

And don't forget the Blue Moon Tavern in the University District, which was a favorite haunt of Jack Kerouac's. They have open-mike poetry readings and occasional forums on literature, art, and politics.

My favorite Thai joint was the Tup Tim Thai in Lower Queen Anne. Great Malaysian food can be found at Pike Place, and so can a damn fine bowl of chili (Zagat-rated, lol). You can get decent sushi almost anywhere, but you might as well go to the International District, Seattle's Asian neighborhood. :9

Cafe Messiah is the best indie coffee place in the city, and the only reason to go near the vastly overrated Capitol Hill district.

Have fun! :-)

[MrCoffee]

7. owl & thistle is ok, but i'm fond of Fado just down the block...

they let me sneak in on my lunch break to watch the World Cup.

[Zomby Woof]

8. As long as you avoid the upscale Tir Na Nog

The best St. Patrick's Day I ever spent was back in '96 at the Owl & Thistle. The house band was on fire (they're old Boston Irish musicians), and the setting was perfect. When I worked in the Fed Building back in '98-'99, I used to drop in after work for a cigar and a Guinness by the front window, and read.

[SeattleGirl]

9. Fado has great food.

Have not eaten at Owl & Thistle, though, so can't compare the two, but I did like the food at Fado.

[Zomby Woof]

11. No one goes to the O&T for food

Unless you count Guinness as a food group like I do. :P

They make a functional beef stew and some ordinary fish and chips, but really... it was the authentic atmosphere and the Jameson's which kept me coming back.

Never set foot in Fado, but remember walking by it more times than I can count. :-)

[Patiod]

18. The idea of Pike Place Market gives me the willies

For months, my company had scheduled a motivational day for the employees, and when the day arrived we all got copies of some stupid business motivational book based on the people at Pike Place Market and how they throw fish at each other, and then we all received a plush stuffed fish. In addition to REALLY hating business motivational seminars, I was feeling some REALLY weird vibes from management that day.

The very next day, 12 of us were let go.

Big pile of stuffed plush fish by the boss' office

So bad associations there...:scared:

[greatauntoftriplets]

23. That's funny....my sister had that book and lent it to me.

:eyes:

There is lots more to Pike Place Market than the fish throwers. It is a terrific people-watching experience.

[Patiod]

27. I'm sure I'll end up visiting, but will try to avoid fish throwers

I'm sure there's plenty of good cheap eats there, too!

[Zomby Woof]

30. Pike Place can wash those vibes away

It's a great market, with fantastic 'old Seattle' vibes. The byzantine network of floors and stores is a good way to kill an afternoon exploring.

Sorry they put you throught that corporate bullshit. x( But don't let them win! Despite my alternative recommendations above, you can't go wrong with a few hours at the Pike Place Market. :-)

[Patiod]

32. It's definitely on my list for Friday

But I know I'll break out in hives if I see anyone throwing fish.

[LisaM]

10. Owl'n'Thistle - like it better than Fado

It's more working class, I guess is the word.

I never go the Eastside, so I don't know what's over there, but it's a fun time to go the the Space Needle, because it's all decorated and when you rotate around, you can see all the decorated boats.

[crim son]

12. You MUST watch my BIL do the morning show on KCPQ.

As delightful as he is on television, he is much more so in person. I love my BIL (no, not that way)!!!

[Patiod]

15. Will do!

Nice to have a weekday AND weekend off.

[matcom]

13. SOteric

see? :think: do?

:hide:

[SOteric]

28. Oo, you are getting such a spanking.

:spank:

[LeftyMom]

17. MightyO donuts!

:woohoo:

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. Pike Place Market is great fun.

Three days isn't a lot of time, but if you can drive a bit to the east in the Cascades (which are worth a drive through...though uncertain about December weather), visit Snoqualmie Falls.

[Patiod]

22. Thanks - I might be tired of walking by Sunday

So a little drive might be cool.

[Goblinmonger]

24. Those falls are beautiful

Plus it is where Twin Peaks was filmed. You can go get some cherry pie and coffee as dark as midnight on a moonlit night.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. There's a statue of Lenin on a street corner somewhere.

Fremont area, I think? That's something different.

[SeattleGirl]

36. Yes, the statue is in Fremont.

[GOPisEvil]

29. Go see the Fremont Troll!!!

He lives right under the Aurora Avenue Bridge. He's HUGH!!1! That's a neat little neighborhood, too. Stopping by to see the troll would take just a few minutes or so.

[SeattleGirl]

35. Self-delete

[Missy Vixen]

33. Okay, here's info about Ohana

Patiod, will Saturday or Sunday work better for you?

http://www.ohanabelltown.com

Unfortunately, they're not open for lunch, but they do open at 4 PM on Saturday. This might give Patiod an earlier evening. (Yeah, I've been through that East Coast jet lag, it isn't FUN.) Ohana's food's pretty good, and it's also Umbrella Drinks Central.

I'll have to ask the others on the thread, but I think the best place we've ever gone for sushi is I Love Sushi in Bellevue. (Rumor has it that Ichiro hangs out there, too.) What do the rest of you think?

Julie

[SeattleGirl]

37. The menu at Ohana looks good

I don't do sushi, though. Does I Love Sushi have other options on the menu?

[leftofthedial]

34. SeattleGirl

that place where they throw the fish around

the umbrella store