The Seattle Traveler

Planning a way home when you’ve been out partying is the smart thing to do.  But despite good intentions, sometimes things don’t go according to plan.  That’s when Anna can help.
The Anna Armstrong White Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) created Anna’ Ride Home to help make it a little easier for you for those times that maybe your planning was quite on spot. 
Anna’s Ride Home is a partnership between local bars and taxi companies with the sole goal of getting people home safely and off the road.  Bar staff is trained to recognize when a patron may need …read more

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Now that Christmas is behind us, have you made your plans for New Year’s Eve?  The options narrow with each passing day, but even if you’ve waited till the last minute, here are some ideas to help you ring in 2009.

Make reservations for dinner out.  Ok, all the really great spots may be booked up (or maybe not given the economy right now).  I’d suggest taking a look at Open Table and see what is available.  (This is a great site for reservations any time of year.)
Fireworks at the Space Needle.  You may still be able to get …read more

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If all the Seattle snow kept your from finishing up (or starting) your holiday shopping, you have roughly 24 hours to pull it together and look like a hero.  Then you can smugly say, “Why yes, I did finish all my holiday shopping early this year!”
Going to the mall is probably going to make you crazy, and you’ll wind up buying something that you don’t really want just to get out of there.  Instead, consider these local Seattle-area businesses that can offer really wonderful, and thoughtful, local gifts:

Starbuck’s gift card – You can find one on every street corner, …read more

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Details:  The Fairmont Olympic Hotel (411 University Street, downtown) is one of my favorite places during the holiday season.  They have lots of holiday events for all ages, and the hotel is beautifully decorated.
It’s also a great place to introduce a child to a little dress up holiday fun.  Even though this is a very formal hotel, they are quite welcoming to kids, with lots of options for them to enjoy.
Last weekend, after a busy day in the city, I stopped off for a little holiday cheer in the hotel lobby.  Among the beautifully decorated trees, gingerbread displays, and …read more

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When it comes to Holiday decorating, the elves at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel are some of the most creative around town.  With events like the Festival of Trees, the Teddy Bear Suite, and the gingerbread display, it you aren’t in the holiday spirit – well, you may just be related to Scrooge!
It seems like each year the displays are bigger and better, so here’s a peek at what you can expect this year:

Teddy Bear Suite – November 26th – December 26th, 10 am – 7 pm.  A popular holiday stop off for thousands of visitors every holiday season, the …read more

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It’s easy to think of farmers markets a summertime occurrence, offering up all those delicious fruits and vegetables.  And it’s true, that many markets go dark as the summer ends and our rainy season begins.
We do, however, have a few markets that are open year round, bringing fresh produce and artisan food to savvy shoppers.
The long standing Pike Place Market is a year round location for fresh produce, seafood and meats, as wells as crafts, and handiwork.  It’s spread out over a number of floors and nooks and crannies, so plan on doing a little exploration as you make …read more

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One of my favorite Seattle restaurants, Place Pigalle in the Pike Place Market, is having a great fall dinner promotion.  It’s offering a special Autumn Prix Fixe Menu running for 35 days for a cost of $35/person ($50 with wine pairing added).
The special offers choices for each course, allowing you to pick your favorite or try something new.

First course:  Oysters on the half shell with pomegranate mignonette or Duck confit raviolo,flageolet beans and sage jus.
Second Course:  Grilled radicchio salad with prosciutto, taleggio cheese and a balsamic reduction or Roasted beet salad with baby arugula and chevre de boucheron.
Third Course:  …read more

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If your taste in Halloween treats run a little more gourmet than caramel apples, gummy worms, and candy bars, Chateau Ste. Michelle offers an All Hallow’s Eve Dinner in its historic Manor House.  The Ste. Michelle dinners are part of its special events calendars and are always popular with Seattle area foodies.
Incorporated into the gourmet meal and wine pairings will be the stories about the legends and history of the Chateau Ste. Michelle property.  Could the manor house be haunted?  Will there be an uninvited guest or two at the dinner?
Location:  Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 NE 145th Street, Woodinville …read more

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While the Pacific Northwest may have become know for its wines and wineries, Seattle is also a beer kind of place, with some nice tasting brews along with fun brew pubs and interesting breweries and brewing methods.
On Capital Hill, you’ll find the Elysian Brewing Company with both a full service restaurant and bar and a 20-barrel brewing facility.  A walk by will give you a nice look at both.  The menu contains lots of the usual pub grub, but also offers some vegan options as well.  I’d suggest trying the Steak Frites, grilled sliced flank steak server over french …read more

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When it comes to finding a Paella pan, there’s no better place than the Spanish Table.  You’ll find the perfect sized pan there – whether you’ll be serving just yourself or a crowd of 200.  (That’s a 40-serving stainless steel paella pan in the photo, and it sells for $500.)
You can browse through other beautiful cookware, or tease your taste buds with some tasty morsels, all part of the wonderful collection of items from Spain and Portugal.  There is also a nice selection of tableware items, a small collection of music, and I’ve found some great cookbooks (both for …read more

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