up and coming...

Question:
Which Seattle neighborhood seems to be one big construction site?

Answer:
South Lake Union

Get ready people. I say in about 1 year after the dust has settled and the scaffolding has been taken down- that South Lake Union is going to be one hopping place. And when that happens and some fine Sunday you are wondering around the nice new shiny streets tired and hungry and broke, crawl on over to South Lake Grill. You probably know the basics of the food there since they are under the same ownership as Greenlake Bar and Grill, and Eastlake Bar and Grill. Nothing super fancy but everything is always really good (especially the salmon).

So what is the deal with Sunday's there you ask? THE WHOLE MENU IS HALF OFF! ALL DAY! EVERY SUNDAY! (this does not include drinks). So in honor of today (Sunday) go to South Lake Grill (on the corner of Thomas and Fairview) and eat two meals for the price of one!

Delicious De-Luxe

De-Luxe on the corner of Roy & Broadway in Capitol Hill is AWESOME! Let me list the reasons why:

1) They have the typical 4-6 happy hour with $3.50 beer and $3 wells and half-off appetizers, but what makes this place better than the rest is that the food is phenomenal and the people who work there and some of the nicest people ever.

2) On Sundays, they have half off bottle of wines, which is great for those who love wine.

3) On Wednesday nights, they have $4.99 burger and fries. Apparently they have amazing burgers (I don't know because I don't eat red meat). This also includes their veggie burger and the very yum chicken burger.

The atmosphere of this place isn't uppity at all, it feels really low key and mellow. Also, there is a pretty cool theatre next door, which shows independent films. Have a cheap meal and go see a movie, perfect!

peace,
smruti

if your going to sit somewhere for 8 hours, it best be havin a view!

I have many techniques that I try to tell myself are helpful when attempting to write a paper. This week alone (and its only Tuesday) I have told myself:

-"Stef, you cannot eat any food until you at least start this paper"
-"Stef, you cannot check your email, facebook, woot, steepandcheap, or any other time wasting website until you are at least on page 8"
-"Stef, you cannot go to the bathroom until you finish this paper"

That last one was a little extreme- but it kept me working! The kindest of all of these techniques is to tell myself i will stay at a coffee shop until I am done with my papers. It is especially kind when the coffee shop happens to be Bauhaus Books & Coffee.

I have never bought a book there, but they do have a whole huge wall full of them. I am not sure anyone has ever actually bought a book there though. I am not really even sure the books that are on that wall are real. But, "books" is for sure on the blue neon sign that glows on the corner of Pine and Melrose, in Capitol Hill.

But the books they have there are not the ones I am reading during my long visits anyways. And I have had my fill of beverages. I always go with the tea option when I know I am going to be there studying for a long time. Thats because I am a cheap grad student and I can refil the same teabag with hot water like 3 or 4 times and only pay for one beverage. They have a really great Black Vanilla tea that I love. I have had their coffee beverages before (americanos and lattes) and they know their stuff. And, they also have good snacks, like the molasses cookie.

The atmosphere is as hip as can be. There are 2 floors of seating, and both are almost always packed out, but just wait a few minutes and stare people down and you'll get a seat. What is really amazing is that from almost every single table in the house you can look out the huge windows and see:

1.the space needle
2. the Olympic mountains
3. the Seattle skyline

And that my friends, is amazing. I kid you not that I am not often there under 4 or 5 hours, so the view is a must. What is also a must is late operating house- which Bauhaus has- being open from 1am everyday of the week.

Ok, seriously can you ask for more? I challenge you to find something better.

Keeping w/The Happy Hour Theme

Casuelita's, close to school [Western & Vine]
HH = 4-7
$2 Wells
$3 Beers
$5 Entrees (Jerk Chicken Sandwich, Ribs, etc.)...that are good

Good atmosphere, Caribbean music + snacks, and very proximal to the mhgs.

*not to turn this into a Happy Hour blog, but i'd def. send you there when you can get 2 drinks + a meal for under $10*

cjT

Cucina de Happy Hour

I fear posting this because this means more people, like yourself, will listen to my wise words and dance right onto a bar stool beside me.

Where am I speaking of, you ask?

Well its still a secret (until I type its hiddenness right onto the world wide web)…

So keep it quiet…

I am talking about CUCINA DE RA.

Mars Hill Students, you must know this place. Up until now you walked your way to the Edgewater for their tiny portions and overpriced drinks, or you marched up the hill to grab some spinach and artichoke dip at Belltown Bistro (which is undeniably delicious). But now you can walk three blocks to Belltown’s best happy hour.

From 4-6:30 (4-close on Sunday and Monday) you can sit down at the bar on the corner of Broad and Western for a delicious, and filling happy hour menu. This 4-star Italian restaurant has a great selection of wine and a vast food menu. The Bruschetta ($5) with eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers is delicious. The grilled chicken sandwich ($7) is filling and comes on a crusty yet soft Italian roll. The burger comes on the same roll and is only five dollars. You can get calamari, meatballs, salads (which my wife and I agree are delicious), and much more…ALL FOR UNDER EIGHT DOLLARS!

So instead of eating the same generic macaroni and cheese, or choking down another Spicy Oriental Wing, make your way to the quaint Cucina de Ra and enjoy a local atmosphere with great food and even better prices.

cup o' joe bar

It is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting at a table in front of a huge window that has bright yellow leaves dancing across it. The sun is shining through the trees and creating elegant shadows on everything around me. It is a busy place so I am lucky that I snagged this spot. I am drinking my iced soy chi and listening to Feist- both things that seemed to fit this environment perfectly and make my heart burst with a moment of joy that reminds me that life is great and everything is going to be ok. Where is this little piece of Seattle heaven I speak of you ask? It is none other then Joe Bar, the super artsy, off the beaten path and always crowded café in Capitol Hill. I also hesitate to tell you about it because if you come here you might take my seat. So let’s just say if I show up and you are here- we have to share a table… and you should buy me a crepe.

Yes- they have crepes, and while this summer I got the real deal in Paris- these puppies are not too shabby. The smell of the freshly made crepes is currently filling the two little rooms and upstairs balcony that make up the inside seating, with a fresh bakery smell. They also have really great paninis and salads that are super fresh and always seem to hit the spot. One day while writing a paper here I tried the caprese and loved it. And of course they have coffee that is well made with really great foam. Today that didn’t charge me extra for soy which I really respect because I mean why should I have to pay more for a sensitive gut?? I pay enough for that trust me. I can’t honestly remember if it’s a normal thing for them to not charge though, so it could just be my lucky day.

The downers to Joe Bar are: it is always busy and hard to find a seat, parking is a bitch, and its only open until 9:30pm so that ex’s out late night paper writing. However, if you find yourself looking for a place with the most delightful atmosphere, good food, and good drink- this is the place to be. I cannot say enough about the big windows that look out onto huge trees, the apple green walls covered in local art, and the balcony seats perfect for people watching everyone below. So if that is what you are looking for, find a parking spot close to Roy and Broadway (at that weird intersection), find a seat, and order me up a nutella cinnamon and sugar crepe with whip cream.

high five.

So I’ve felt all this pressure to think of my absolute FAVORITE Seattle place to blog about in my first contribution – but that just isn’t working for me. So, instead – I’m just going to throw a few places out there. Equal opportunity, people. ☺

1. Brouwers (Fremont). A bit obvious, but seriously – YUM! With 50 taps and 100 bottled beers from all over the world – you just can’t go wrong.

2. Purple (Downtown). This wine bar has a few locations, but the downtown one is beautiful with a central staircase that spirals around the floor to ceiling wine collection. It’s classy (but not pretentious) and has got a quintessential Seattle-vibe, with huge windows to let in what little sunlight there is, but an outdoorsy, dark and rainy kind of atmosphere. Try the Writer’s Block (red), or their baked brie appetizer– it’s wonderful!

3. Damselfly. (Ballard) Okay, so I hate to even alert the masses to this one, but I feel obligated to share the good news. A little boutique with a funky, yet wearable selection, and its affordable!? Damselfly is a tiny little door in Old Ballard, but consistently gets in pretty, new clothes.

4. Diamond Nails. (Queen Anne) Don’t bother with the manicure, but their pedicures are fast, affordable, and come complete with a leg massage – all for $15!

5. The 5 Spot. (Queen Anne) –The entire restaurant morphs into something new a few different times a year. Every few months they change the menu to feature a different area of American cuisine… Chicago style pizza, Hawaiian fare, and right now it’s “Harvest Festival” – I’m assuming lots of pumpkin pie and apple cider! They have a late night happy hour ($1 PBR) and is a great place to meet up with friends.