The Other Flavors of Seattle!

It’s a wonderful thing to be a foodie in the Pacific Northwest. We are blessed with plenty of fresh ingredients that is accessible through Pike Place Market and regular farmers’ markets in different neighborhoods. Apart from this bounty, one can also find a variety of little shops and restaurants that carry amazing food from all over the globe. One such shop is the Market Spice inside the Pike Place Market. It can easily be overwhelming when one walks in there; all the delightful smells that suddenly surround a person.

Many of us have made or bought bread rolls to accompany meat or pasta dishes. For the most part, we all have flavored them with garlic, some fresh and some powdered, cheese, and probably rosemary. The recipe that follows is a little bit of a change by adding some sumac and za’atar.

Sumac Rolls
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 room temperature pizza/bread dough, roughly 28 ounces, proofed and oiled
1 tbsp. garlic powder, divided
1 tbsp. za’atar, divided
1 tbsp. fresh oregano leaves, divided
½ cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped and divided
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Red chili flakes, to taste
1 stick of salted butter
¼ cup grated Parmigiano or Pecorino or Asiago, plus more for serving
Sumac, for serving
Flaky sea salt, for serving

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease a non-stick baking pan or 12-inch cast-iron skillet with olive oil. Be sure to coat all the way up the sides.
2. Roll dough into a rectangular shape and cut equally into 12 strips.
3. Dust with half each of the garlic powder, za’atar, oregano and parsley. Add salt, black pepper and red chili flake to taste. Roll the strips into ropes making sure all the seasoning sticks.
4. Tie a loose knot in each rope and set it into the prepared skillet. Tuck any floppy ends underneath each knot. Repeat for all 12 knots, arranging so they fill the pan. Do not worry if they are not clustered tightly together; that will happen as they proof. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and set it in a warm area. Let rise for about an hour.
5. When the knots are almost finished rising, melt butter in a saucepan or microwave. To the butter, add the remaining garlic powder, za’atar, oregano and parsley and salt, black pepper and red chili flake to taste. Whisk to combine and reserve.
6. When the knots are proofed, remove the plastic. Lightly brush the surface of the knots with the garlic-herb butter. Top with half the grated cheese and bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes or until tops begin to turn golden.
7. Remove knots from oven. Brush again with butter and bake an additional five to ten minutes until brown.
8. Remove knots from oven and brush a third time with the remaining butter. Be sure to get it into all the peaks and valleys; you want the entire surface to be shiny. Top with remaining grated cheese, sumac, and flaky sea salt to taste. Serve immediately with warm tomato sauce for dipping.

I hope that this recipe will inspire you to visit Market Spice and bring home some of these flavors. If not, I highly suggest going to these restaurants to enjoy them.
Al Basha Mediterranean Restaurant
Farvahar Persian Café
Mamnoon Street
Eggs and Plants
Petra Mediterranean Bistro

Bernadette
Yes, I travel for food…for amazing food.
Yes, I might just be a coffee junkie…in constant search of new coffee roasters to fuel myself.
Yes, I also love dogs…fine, most dogs!

Seattle’s Summer Season is Busy and Varied!

Seattle summers are already technically chock-a-block full of things to do and see. There is not a weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day that doesn’t have a fair, festival, street party or other happening. Visitors will find Seattle one of the most sun-centric places to visit, probably because we DON’T have sunshine 365! So when the days get longer, we get outside!

Photo credit The Seattle Times

With that being said, 2018 is going to be an epic-ly busy Seattle summer! The Fourth of July holiday coincides with Special Olympics 2018. Pearl Jam’s Home Shows occur in August, when the city is already filled to bursting with tourists and cruise ship traffic! A summer vacation in Seattle will be a highlight of your year. Plan now, and book now (with us or with another vacation rental or a hotel, as there is NOT enough lodging in the city for all the people who want to come) for the best lodging selection, especially around these busy dates!

Seattle Cruise Season 2018: 

The Northwest Cruise season will span from the first weekend in May through that last weekend of September. Cruises leave six days a week with cruise lines operating out of both Pier 66 and Pier 91. 216 trips left Seattle in 2017, with over 1.3 milliion passengers. Many passengers come in the day prior for their cruise, but many actually book a Seattle mini stay of 2 or 3 days as an add-on the cruise.  That is over 61,000 people a week in the city, just for cruises!

Seattle Mega-Concerts: 

Seattle summer music season can’t be matched.  Zootunes, Marymore, small venues and large, we cannot be beat when it comes to live music.  There are a couple of large acts coming this summer that will attract locals from outside Seattle, and many of these folks will need lodging.  Concerts that we anticipate selling out for are Taylor Swift (May 22), Kenny Chesney (July 7), Ed Sheeran (August 25), and of course, the biggest concert event of the summer, the Pearl Jam Home Shows (August 8 and 10).

Northwest FolkLife Festival 2018:

Sometimes considered locally as the little sister to Bumbershoot, FolkLife is a great music and arts festival occuring on the Seattle Center campus, and is my personal favorite of the two.  In 2018, it will host 5,000 diverse performers from 100+ local cultural communities and attract 250,000 attendees.  FolkLife has managed to remain FREE, which may be the bargain of the summer.  

Special Olympics 2018: 

The Seattle area is proud and honored to host the Special Olympics 2018. The event will take place over the first week of July 1-6. Events will take place all over the Puget Sound region.  VisitSeattle, our regiion’s tourism expert, announced late 2017 that there is not enough hotel rooms in Seattle to meet demand for this event. Much of this is due to the timing. With it taking place in the height of cruise ship season, and during the Independence Day holiday, Seattle will be full of people. If your plans have you in the city this week, make your lodging choices SOON!

Bumbershoot: 

Bumbershoot is Seattle’s annual "end of summer" party, and is ALWAYS a good time. Much more than a music festival, Bumbershoot combines visual arts, comedy and stagecraft along with just about every genre of music known to humankind. Lineups have not been announced as of this writting, but past headliners include national acts such as Lorde, Chance the Rapper, Chris Stapleton, and Elvis Costello. Advance Passes are currently on sale for $150 for all three days.

Traveling to Seattle with the Kids? We’ve got you covered!

Planning your family vacation to Seattle can be easily managed by taking a deep breath and following these simple tips and tricks for travel.

Packing for Seattle:
No matter the age of your child, be sure they pack clothing and footwear appropriate for Seattle’s seasonal weather and for the activities you have planned throughout the trip. Layers are good year ’round. If your child is still in diapers, over pack them for the flight but save yourself room in your checked luggage and just by more here in the city. 

Pro traveler tip: keep a supply of diapers and wipes in your main bag and the rest in a carry on.  These days, you should assume you will be delayed on your flight!

You know what your child needs as far as their essentials go (diapers, bottles, formula, and medication, for example). A little trick to keep your child entertained during the flight is give them their own smaller bag (light and easily carried) that is full of fun activities to pass the time. Coloring books, reading materials, crayons, a disposable camera, and stickers are all kid-friendly activities that will entertain for hours. Plus, many little ones will find the idea of their own bag thrilling in itself.

Pro traveler tip: be sure that you are the one packing this bag, especially for younger children!  Offer it as a special surprise just before you leave for the airport, already stocked.

Boarding the Plane to Seattle:
Security can be a pain. When the time comes, be sure that everyone is wearing easily removed shoes for quicker process. Before you board the plane, be sure that everyone has used the bathroom! A preschooler that needs to “potty” at take-offisstressfull for everyone involved! Also, it is best to find a spot near your terminal, but isn’t as crowed to let your little one(s) crawl and walk around. This allows them to burn off extra energy before board your flight!

Arriving in Seattle:
The great news is almost ALL of our Seattle vacation rental homes are kid friendly.  The ones that are better for big kids are clearly marked.  We also offer pack n plays and high chairs for our littlest guests at a very reasonable flat rate cost, 

If you need an item over than these two basics, we can work with baby rental companies–we recommend Happy Little Traveler–to have items waiting for you in your condo on arrival! 

Pro traveler tip:  Write your mobile phone number on your child’s arm or tummy with a permanent marker. It is super helpful if you get separated from your child.  For kiddos with sensitive skin, try the same idea on a strip of masking tape on the inside of their jacket.

5 Best Restaurants in Seattle’s Central District

Seattle’s Central District (known as the CD locally) is one of our older neighborhoods and located just east and south of downtown, making it convenient for foodie exploring.  This quiet neighborhood is racially and ethnically diverse, and a mix of turn of the century homes and new construction.  It’s an eclectic Seattle neighorhood with a long tradition of excellent food.

These are the five restaurants I am in love with this week!  Howeever, I am fickle, and these is so much good food in this neighborhood that next week, I mifght rearrange this, or add someone new.  

One of the Seattle’s Best Ethiopian Restaurants
Soft, chewy flatbread. Thick and spicy meat stew. Flavorful vegetables sprinkled with rich and flavorful spices. What your mouth is watering for right now is Ethiopian cuisine, and there are no better options in downtown Seattle than Assimba.. Located at 27th and East Cherry in the heart of the C.D.

Seattle is Rich in Great Thai Food!One of the best thai places in the city is also near 27th and East Cherry Lotus Thai Cuisine is a consistent favorite, serving tasty Thai dishes at the spice level of your preference. With a friendly atmosphere and a menu full of inexpensive options for a variety of palate preferences, this one is not to be missed. Try the Green Curry Chicken or the Drunken Noodles. You will not be disappointed. 

Seattle’s Chicken and Waffle Scene: If you’re not yet familiar with the tantalizing flavor profile that is the chicken-waffle combination, indulge for the first time at Nate’s Wings and Waffles. Order a surprising waffle with your favorite classic strips, a chicken waffle slider, wings, or a beef slider with sweet potato fries. No one’s going to judge you for choosing one American delicacy over another. In fact, they’ll be too busy dipping into their maple apple cider syrup to care.

Dive Bar Heaven If you’re looking for food and a good mood, you’re thinking of Twilight Exit, which is the other party in a longtime love affair with locals and visitors alike. Delicious Americana food and relatively inexpensive drinks abound, both on the patio and in the ‘70s-themed interior. Some say the best time to visit is a weekday evening, when you’ll be warmly greeted by diverse locals.

TIme for Dessert!  If you’re not intrigued by Peanut Butter and Berry Jam ice cream, don’t worry – monthly and seasonal flavors are the highlight, but they’re not forgoing the traditional delights at Central District Ice Cream Company. Here, you’re going to be enthralled with colorful cones and delectable ice cream sandwiches (two brown sugar cookies hugging pumpkin ice cream, for example). But you can also feast on chocolates, candies, milkshakes, and popsicles. Just head over now, or you’ll be daydreaming about this sweet indulgence all day long.

Remember, your downtown vacation rental home is just a hop, skip, and a jump from some of the best food you can imagine. When you’re out exploring for the day, grab a friend and hop on a bus, streetcar or Limebike and head on over to the Central District for an experience you won’t forget. After all, it’s time to treat yourself.

Looking to have some fun in the snow?

Seattle is not known for its snow—in truth an inch or two will close down the city. Literally. With that said, Seattle’s got a vibrant ski and snowboard community, and several ski areas within a few hours of downtown Seattle. Even those of us who refuse to strap on a pair of skis enjoy partaking in a winter wonderland once in a while.

Seattle has some fantastic, and educational, snowshoe hikes within two hours (normal driving times) from city center. These hikes are big kid friendly, but if you’ve got littler ones, or prefer riding versus hiking when it comes to your snow day fun, I’ve included some tubing hills close by as well.

First off, for safety: Make sure your personal vehicle or rental car is equipped for mountain driving. Wear layers, and stay away from cotton as when it gets wet, it stays wet, making it easy to become chilled. A waterproof outer layer, even a shell, will keep you comfortable. Light hiking boots or tennis shoes easily fit in the snowshoes used on the guided hikes. Use wool or polypropylene socks –they are going to make you the happiest. Also, for our lowland or warm region guests: Snow is serious business. If you are unfamiliar with the area, terrain, or abilities, do not go off on your own. Utilize a guided snowshoe walk, check weather conditions, and be safe.

Mount Rainier National Park for Snowshoeing and Tubing

Paradise is the place to be on winter weekends! The Paradise Visitors Center at Mount Rainer National Park can be a base of operations for both tubing and snowshoeing. The Paradise Snowplay area is open weekends through the end of March with a tubing hill (tubes or flexible plastic sliders only-no bladed sleds), and that coincides with FREE ranger-led snowshoe walks from the Paradise Visitor Center that leave at 11am and 1:30pm. Hikes are 1.8 miles long (a perfect distance, really) and are suitable for eight years of age and up. The best thing about this? Snowshoes are provided.

Two hours is our max drive time, but this can easily make a long day trip. Leave Seattle by 9am, arrive to Paradise by 11 or so, enjoy a day in a beautiful wonderland, and head back to the city at about 5pm. The visitor’s center does have food for sale. As this is within the National park, a entry fee is charged. Also, chains are required for any car driving into the park in winter.

Tubing and Snowshoeing Options at Snoqualmie Summit.

About 60 miles east of Seattle, right on Snoqualmie Pass, is the Hyak Snow Park. It has five sledding hills that are grooming several times a week, as well as cross country ski runs, snowshoeing trails (see caution above) and an open area for just general snow fun. The big draw of this area is that it is FREE to sled. The parking however, is not, and you will need a Discover Pass and a Snow Park day permit (currently $30 per car). It is also self catered. There are bathrooms here, but not much else, so you need to pack in your own snow gear, sleds and food. If this sounds a bit too rustic, backtrack the car just a few miles west to the Summit Tubing Center at Snoqualmie, with 12 groomed tube lanes, a motorized tow line, and a café on site. They charge by the two hour session, which will run you $25 a person, and they provide the tubes.

For snowshoeing, the US Forest Service guides six different snowshoe hikes in the area around Snoqualmie Summit. They ask for a suggested donation of $25 a person. Hikes occur Saturday and Sundays, and can be tailored for kids, photography, etc. Snowshoes are provided. Reservations are required. 

Snowshoeing at Crystal Mountain

Looking for a little bit fancier of an experience? For snowshoeing only (no tubing at this location) check out Crystal Mountain, about an hour southeast of Seattle. Every Saturday, through the end of March, Crystal offers Snowshoe and Dinner, or Snowshoe and Sip events. A little pricer, at $65 a head, but a unique and memorable experience. Start your hike with a chairlift ride up to the top of the Bullion Basin area and a two hour walk through beautiful forests, with epic views. Return to dinner, or select evenings, a featured winery. Snowshoes are provided and reservations are required.

Special Olympics Games 2018 Coming to Seattle July 2018

Seattle has the honor to host the United States Special Olympics 2018 on July 1-6.

North America has over half a million athletes participating in all 32 sports offered by Special Olympics, and while not all of those athletes are in the United States, the 2018 Special Olympic games in Seattle promises to be a huge event, with well over 4,000 athletes and coaches and 10,000 volunteers traveling to Seattle from all 50 states and Washington D.C..

The mission of the games: to showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities and the impact of Special Olympics through world-class competition, inspirational experiences, and modeling inclusion for all.

In addition to the games themselves, 2018 is the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics movement, and as such, there will be special ceremonies during the Seattle festivities to honor this great organization.

It is important to remember that these are real athletes who work very hard, train daily, and compete for the chance to attend these games, held every four years. Athletes participate in 14 Olympic type team and individual events, including golf, swimming, and tennis, among others.

Events will take place across the Puget Sound region including University of Washington, Angle Lake in Seatac, Celebration Park and King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Kenmore Lanes in Kenmore, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, Willows Run Golf Club in Redmond, and closing ceremonies at Lake Union Park here in downtown Seattle at South Lake Union. To attend any of these events, check out the schedule online.

Besides the athletes, coaches and volunteers, 10,000 family members and friends and 70,000 spectators are expected to attend. VisitSeattle, the area’s tourism expert, is saying there are not enough hotel rooms in Seattle to meet demand for this event.

Much of this is due to the timing. With it taking place in the height of cruise ship season, and during the Independence Day holiday, the city of Seattle will be full of people. Because of this, we encourage Special Olympic participants to book lodging as soon as possible! Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals offers one, two and three bedroom vacation homes, from efficient condos to four story townhomes, convenient to many of the Special Olympic venues.

Related, if you are cruise guest looking to enjoy the city before or after your cruise during this week, don’t hesitate in making your vacatioin rental choice!  

Special Olympics is looking for volunteers. All abilities are needed, from emergency management to logistics to operations.  All ages are welcome; kid volunteers under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult. If interested, please reach out at https://www.specialolympicsusagames.org/volunteer/  

Seattle’s Vibrant Jazz Scene is Belltown Based.

When most people think of Seattle’s vibrant music scene, the electric riffs of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar or legendary grunge acts like Nirvana, Soungarden and Pearl Jam come to mind. But Seattle also has a jazzier side. From classic to bebop to fusion, you can find a variety of venues to listen to some incredible jazz music. All within a stone’s throw from your Seattle vacation rental.

Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley:       Since 1979, Jazz Alley has been revered as one of the finest jazz clubs on the West Coast. Legendary acts like Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Pete Escovedo and Kenny G have all played the stage. In house instruments include a grand piano and a vintage Hammond B3 organ for kitschy jazz purists. Originally, a small bistro style club in the University District, they moved to their current Belltown location in 1985. The large, open layout with wrap-around balcony has the look of a glamorous vintage supper club yet still feels like an intimate jazz club. The back-alley entrance adds an old speakeasy vibe. The menu showcases a variety of Pacific Northwest seafood as well as succulent rib eye and other meat and poultry dishes. The daily Chef’s specials are also a flavorful bet. Their wine list has a great array of Washington wines as well. The servers are knowledgeable and can recommend a great food and wine pairing to elevate your meal. Reservations are recommended though dining isn’t necessary. There is a bar area with tables if you’d like to just have drinks while you watch the show. 2033 6th Avenue
https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/index.jsp

Tula’s
An intimate club in a lively section of Belltown, Tula’s features a variety of jazz from big band orchestras that cram the tiny stage to folky jazz to fusion artists. One unexpectedly good local act that has graced Tula’s stage many a times is The Grunge Trio. Led by pianist Dan Kramlich, these musicians play jazz versions of Grunge classics. You can enjoy a variety of locally sourced Pacific Northwest fare and potent cocktails as you sway to a smooth rendition of Smells Like Teen Spirit or more classical acts playing standard jazz numbers. Ticket prices depend on the day and show. For most acts on Friday and Saturday, if you book dinner reservations before 7:00PM you get $5.00 off the cover price. You can also grab a seat at the bar and take your pick from over fifty malt scotches while enjoying the show. 2214 2nd Avenue https://www.tulas.com/index.html

The Tasting Room is a rustic wine bar located near Pike Place market and our Newmark Tower properties. Most Friday nights feature live jazz music with no cover. Though sometimes in lieu of jazz, they’ll feature a Flamenco guitarist or live Tango. They offer a vast array of wine from boutique Washington wineries. While most evenings you can try their tasting wine flights, Friday they only serve up wines by the glass or bottle. They also have small plates to pair with the wine and accompany the music. 1924 Post Alley https://winesofwashington.com/

Vito’s
At this swanky mid-century club on First Hill—near our Vesper properties and a short Uber ride from our other properties—you can enjoy a plethora of live music five nights a week. Though be aware, their motto is: “Behaving badly since 1953.” Originally a spot known for its three-martini lunches, this joint now showcases local talent with most sets starting at 9:00PM and going until midnight; all without a cover charge. One standout local act that plays there is Kate Voss. Known for her Parisienne boudoir style jazz, she also does a sultry rendition of Beat It. The menu is classic Italian fare served family style. They also have a good wine list and some seriously strong libations. A perfect old school spot for a great vacation date night. 927 9th Avenue at Madison https://www.vitosseattle.com/

https://shop.nordstrom.com/store-details/nordstrom-downtown-seattle/Santa-Breakfast/81928

Tips to Avoid the Lines:
• Go as early in the holiday season as possible. The closer it gets to Christmas, the longer the lines become.
• Go first thing in the morning on a weekday, rather than a weekend.
• Arrive at least half an hour before Santa Lane opens, there will already be a line forming by the front door. There is a Starbucks right across the street, so one adult can wait in line, while the another takes kids over for a hot chocolate.
• If the line is hours long, give them your phone number and they will send you a text when it is time to come back. That way you can go have a delicious breakfast or lunch at the Nordstom’s Café while you wait.

When you arrive to Santa’s Lane, you are met by a Nordstrom’s “Elf” who offers you hot apple cider and your choice of a snicker doodle or chocolate chip cookie while you wait for your turn. When you are second in line, you are taken up to where Mrs. Claus is waiting with a candy cane and greets your child(ren) by name, immediately putting them at ease. When it is time to meet Santa, you have the option of sitting on Santa’s lap, or for some timid kids, they have a cute rocking horse next to Santa that they can sit on. While professional pictures are taken (packages starting around $25), they encourage you to take your own pictures with your cell phone or camera. Then Santa takes a few moments with each child to ask them what they would like. The experience is always magical.

Santa Lane, located on the corner of 6th and Pine, across the street from Pacific Place Mall, opens just after Thanksgiving weekend and runs until Christmas Eve. For hours of operation, please check the store’s website at

https://shop.nordstrom.com/store-details/nordstrom-downtown-seattle

Happy Holidays!

Winter Fishtival at the Seattle Aquarium:

Ringing in the New Year with little ones?  The Seattle Aquarium’s annual Winter Fishtival will be right up their alley!

Each year, in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the Aquarium puts on special activities that highlight Puget Sound’s diverse water creatures.  Each day a different animal is featured, and hands-on activites, diver shows, and more educate guests on the animal of the day.

This year, Undersea Gardens will be the “star of the day” and the Aquarium will have an extra-special activity on New Year’s Day. Twice, at 11am and again at 1pm, the Octonauts will appear!  This will be especially thrilling to the pre-school set, so plan accordinly.  All Fishtival activities are included in price of Aquarium admission,

El Chupacabra:

It’s always nice to have options!  Let’s face it, it’s probably too late to get into some of best viewing parties for fireworks in the area, so if you’d like to try to pull something together last minue, check out this great drinks and fresh Mexican place.  El Chupacabrfa is doing it up at two of their locations.  In South Lake Union, at 901 Fairview Avenue North. Food will be served until midnight, a happy hour will start at 10pm and their giant bay window has a great view of the Needle. Rince and repeat at their Alki spot, with an unimpeded view across Elliott Bay to the Needle. Best of all, no additional cover charge!  You could do a LOT worse!

Prohibition at the Barrel Thief:

This sounds like so much fun!  Want to dress up and paint the town on New Year’s?  Head just north of downtown Seattle to Fremont and party like it’s Prohibition at the Barrel Thief’s ’20s-themed bash, which will feature era-appropriate music, black and white gangster films with no sound playing in the background, a Prohibition-inspired cocktail menu, a champagne flight, and a midnight countdown with sparkling champagne toast included with an admission of just $5.  21 and over.

A Seattle Insider Bonus:  Watching the fireworks under the Space Needle is pretty special.  A word of warning, lots of people think so, or want to do it “at least once” so go prepared for crowds.  On the Seattle Center sampus, there is the annual free party, this year featuring a performance from Northwest pop cover band Sway, a light show, KEXP DJ-soundtracked dance party, and (the most important part) fireworks at midnight. If you want to skip the festivities and just make it to the Needle for the main event, Seattle Police close the roads directly around the Needle about 11:45pm.  Standing on Denny is a great way to be right in the middle of the fantastic show, and be able to make a quick get away when it’s over.

We shared similar information for the Thansgiving holiday.  Below, find a list of great food establishments that will be open for service on Christmas Day,

There are even a couple of places that offer vegetarian and/or gluten free options. We would like to help those of you who are not up to cooking a meal. In case the restaurants have made any changes, please call them directly to confirm price and hours of service.

Green Highlighs are glutan free or vegetarian,

Local 360 2231 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98121
• https://www.local360.org/
• Special Christmas Menu
• $28pp
• 11:00AM-9:00PM

Miller’s Guild 612 Stewart Street Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.millersguild.com/
• $95 Christmas Eve Dinner
• Reservations strongly recommended–vegetarian options.

Goldfinch Tavern (Four Seasons Hotel) 99 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.goldfinchtavern.com/
• 3-course menu–vegetarian options.

Frolik Kitchen & Cocktails 1415 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.destinationhotels.com/frolik-seattle
• Family style dinner
• $65 (adults) $22 (12 and under)

All Water Seafood and Oyster Bar (Hotel 1000) 1010 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98104
• https://www.loewshotels.com/hotel-1000-seattle/dining/restaurants
• Prix fixe menu
• Reservations highly recommended
• $75 $115 (wine pairing) ½ (12 and under)

Dunbar Room (Sorrento Hotel) 900 Madison Street Seattle, WA 98104
• https://hotelsorrento.com/food-drink#dunbar-room
• Christmas buffet 12:00PM-:8:00PM
• $77pp $35 (5-12yo) Free (4yo and under)
• Reservations only

Jimmy’s on Broadway 1100 Broadway Seattle, WA 98122
• https://jimmysonbroadway.com/
• 9:00AM-8:00PM
• Traditional Christmas repast
• $29pp

Lost Lake Café & Lounge 1505 Tenth Avenue Seattle, WA 98122
• https://www.lostlakecafe.com/
• Open 24 hours
• Special Christmas menu 10:00AM-10:00PM
• Limited breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu, no take out or reservations on Christmas, gluten free and vegetarian options.

Waterways Cruises 2441 N Northlake Way Seattle, WA 98103
• https://www.waterwayscruises.com/Thanksgiving-Day-Dinner-Cruise
• Christmas Eve dinner buffet and 2.5-hour cruise
• $95pp $74.95 (military/senior) $41 (5-12yo) free (4yo and under)
• Additional fees not included in price
• Reservations 206.429.4936A

The order of the list is closest to farthest from Belltown area; Local 360 being the nearest to most of our properties, and working out from there.

From all of us at Seatlte Oasis, however you celebrate, we wish you and yours a very happy holiday!

The Spirit of Seattle
The Spirit is Argosy’s lead ship. This is where all the action takes place throughout the cruise. There are a few different departure piers throughout the Seattle—downtown’s Pier 54, Lake Union, the Shilshole Marina in Ballard and the Leschi Marina. Here you’ll be able to take photos with Santa before boarding the ship. The main ship also offers a variety of activities for kids including Santa reading T’was the Night Before Christmas. There are also two performances by an on-board choir. In addition, a full- service bar has drinks and snacks for purchase. The main ship cruises tend to sell out fast, but you can also experience the festivities aboard a follow ship.

Follow Ships
These ships offer the same cruises as the Spirit of Seattle but do not feature all the activities that the main ship offers. In the follow ship, you will be sailing behind the main ship and will still get to experience all the dazzling lights and hear the Christmas choir performance emanating from the main ship’s sound systems. The follow ship cruises also feature a bar and snacks for sale and these cruises are usually less expensive.

Lake Union and The Parade of Boats
December 15th features the highlight evening of the Argosy Christmas Ships season. Lake Union will be ablaze with more than 60 boats lit to the hilt. Departing from Lake Union Park Dock, the boats make their way through the lake and into Fremont cut. Though tickets for the cruises are sold out, you can enjoy this sensational display shoreside at the Annual Parade of Boats Night official onshore viewing party at the Evanston Plaza in the Fremont Lake Union Center7:30-9:30. Admission is Free. https://www.argosycruises.com/argosy-cruises/2017-christmas-ship-shore-viewing/

Pier 55: The Puget Sound and Peninsula Adventure
You can board these ships at Pier 55 which is along the Seattle waterfront. This pier is super convenient and located a short uber ride or walk from our Belltown and downtown properties. There are also a lot of restaurants in the area, such as Elliott’s Oyster House and Ivars Acres of Clams to enjoy lunch or dinner before embarking on your holiday cruise.
But there is a downside to the convenience. This ship sails across Puget sound towards Port Orchard. Though the peninsula is a glittering site with a lot of dazzling ships and decorated waterfront homes, the ride itself can be incredibly rocky during winter. On one Christmas excursion, the water was so rough that passengers had a difficult time remaining upright and Santa turned green with a bout of sea-sickness. We’d recommend this voyage for the adventurous and not those traveling with small children or people with limited mobility.

The Ballard Locks Experience
This is our favorite cruise of the Christmas ships as you get to go through the famed Ballard Locks while witnessing a crowd of festive gatherers dotting the shore. It’s a magical experience to go through the locks while the choir sings all the classic holiday songs. This is a great cruise for kids as the water tends to be on the smoother side. You board the ship at the Shilshole Marina which is about a twenty-minute uber ride from our Belltown and Downtown properties.

Experience the Love Shoreside
If you are prone to seasickness or if boats aren’t your thing, you can also experience this spectacle on shore by going to the Ballard Locks. There you will see the Christmas ships come through the locks in all their infinite glory. You’ll get to experience the lights and will be treated to a twenty-minute performance by the ship’s onboard choir. It’s best to dress warm and bring a blanket. For added festivities bring a thermos of hot cocoa or filled with a warm adult beverage!

When Cooking Is NOT an Option For Thanksgiving!

Preparing for Thanksgiving dinner at home can be stressful enough. For us that would rather travel during a holiday, we certainly look forward to just enjoying our meals prepared for us. Unfortunately, it could be quite difficult to find a restaurant because most of them close on major holidays.

Seattle is a wonderful foodie city so, there are a handful choices on where to dine for Thanksgiving this year. There are even a couple of places that offer vegetarian and/ or vegan options. We would like to help those of you who are not up to cooking a meal. In case the restaurants have made any changes, please call them directly to confirm price and hours of service.

Green Highlighs are glutan free or vegan.

Local 360 2231 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98121
• https://www.local360.org/
• Thanksgiving plate
• $28pp
• 11:00AM-9:00PM

Miller’s Guild 612 Stewart Street Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.millersguild.com/
• $85 Thanksgiving dinner
• 4:00PM-10:00PM

RN74 1433 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/seattle/rn74-seattle/
• Prix fixe 3-course menu
• $75pp
• No regular menu is offered

Goldfinch Tavern (Four Seasons Hotel) 99 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.goldfinchtavern.com/
• 3-course menu

Il Fornaio 600 Pine Street Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.ilfornaio.com/seattle
• Traditional turkey dinner
• Regular menu offered (Italian)

Frolik Kitchen & Cocktails 1415 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.destinationhotels.com/frolik-seattle
• Family style dinner
• $65 (adults) $22 (12 and under)

Capital Grille
• https://www.thecapitalgrille.com/locations/wa/seattle/seattle/8030
• Thanksgiving dinner and regular menu
• 12:00PM-9:00PM
• $36pp $15 (kids)

Outlier 1101 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101
• https://www.outlierseattle.com/
• Thanksgiving buffet
• $75 (adults) $40 (kids)
• Seating from 2:00PM-8:00PM

All Water Seafood and Oyster Bar (Hotel 1000) 1010 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98104
• https://www.loewshotels.com/hotel-1000-seattle/dining/restaurants
• Prix fixe menu
• Reservations highly recommended
• $75 $115 (wine pairing) ½ (12 and under)

Dunbar Room (Sorrento Hotel) 900 Madison Street Seattle, WA 98104
• https://hotelsorrento.com/food-drink#dunbar-room
• Thanksgiving buffet 12:00PM-:00PM
• $77pp $35 (5-12yo) Free (4yo and under)
• Reservations only

Jimmy’s on Broadway 1100 Broadway Seattle, WA 98122
• https://jimmysonbroadway.com/
• 9:00AM-8:00PM
• Traditional Thanskgiving dinner
• $29pp

Lost Lake Café & Lounge 1505 Tenth Avenue Seattle, WA 98122
• https://www.lostlakecafe.com/
• Open 24 hours
• Thanksgiving menu 10:00AM-10:00PM
• Limited breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu

Café Flora 2901 E Madison Street Seattle, WA 98112
• https://cafeflora.com/
• Prix fixe menu $75pp (includes vegan & gluten free options for each course)
• $25 vegan and gluten free for kids
• Seating 1:00PM-7:30PM
• Reservations only 206.325.9100 x 3

Tilth 1411 N 45th Street Seattle, WA 98103
• https://www.mariahinesrestaurants.com/menu/tilth-thanksgiving/?activeTab=0
• Prix fixe menu $85 (adults)

Agrodolce 709 N 35th Street Seattle, WA 98103
• https://www.mariahinesrestaurants.com/menu/agrodolce-family-style-thanksgiving-2017/?activeTab=0
• Family style, 3 courses 6 dishes
• First seating at 2:30PM, last seating at 7:30PM
• Reservations required
• Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian options with advanced notice
• $70 (adults) $30 (13 and under)

Waterways Cruises 2441 N Northlake Way Seattle, WA 98103
• https://www.waterwayscruises.com/Thanksgiving-Day-Dinner-Cruise
• Thanksgiving dinner buffet and 2.5-hour cruise
• $82.95pp $74.95 (military/senior) $41 (5-12yo) free (4yo and under)
• Additional fees not included in price
• Reservations 206.429.4936A

The order of the list is closest to farthest from Belltown area; Local 360 up to the Outlier are within one mile. We hope you enjoy your visit to Seattle and have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!!!

Five Seattle Coffeeshops Not Named Starbucks

While Starbucks is a great standard in Seattle for a cup of joe, there are some fabulous options for local roasters and cafés that can satisfy even the truest of coffee connoisseurs. If you love a finely roaster bean, make sure you don’t limit your café experiences in the city to just the “original” Starbucks. Some of our top five choices include:

1. Bang Bang Café
https://bangbangcafe.blogspot.com/

Located in Belltown, this café serves delicious Lighthouse Roasters coffee, a Seattle roaster just north of downtown. In addition to great coffee, Bang Bag has a wonderful breakfast and lunch menu with lots of vegetarian and vegan friendly options.

2. Analog Coffee
https://analogcoffee.com/

Situated in Capitol Hill, Analog Coffee is a cool, modern café that uses a selection of local roasters. Their baristas are truly coffee experts and deliver a finely crafted espresso every time. In addition, right next door is their sister café, B-Side Foods, which serves smalls plates for breakfast and brunch.

3. Vivace Espresso
https://espressovivace.com/

With two Capitol Hill locations, and one café in South Lake Union (Across from the Flagship REI), this local roaster has some of the most delicious coffee in the city. The South Lake Union café also has a great kid-friendly area with toys and books to distract the littles, while you sip your espresso.

4. Caffe Umbria
https://caffeumbria.com/

Caffe Umbria offers an authentic European vibe, by creating Italian roasted coffee in Seattle’s Pioneer Square downtown. The café also serves pastries, panini sandwiches, gelato and fine Italian beer and wine.

5. Herkimer Coffee
https://herkimercoffee.com/

This local roaster has locations in South Lake Union, Phinney Ridge and the University District in Seattle. Herkimer buys only traditionally cultivated beans in order to promote sustainable growing techniques and, in addition, deliver a high quality product. Their café’s offer a small selection of locally baked goods as well.

Photo credits @herkimer coffee and @bangbangcafe

There are certain things that make us nostalgic of being at home. Snuggling in a warm blanket by the fireplace, pumpkins by the front door, hot chocolate in a mug, and the smell of baked apple pie are certainly memory triggers for moments of “a simple life.” October seems like a great time to go through the list to give us some warmth as the chill of fall start to set in. Thoughts of the upcoming holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, elevate the feeling even more.

Unfortunately, fireplaces are not standard in most of ourvacation homes (fireplaces on the TV or computer monitor do not count!). The upside, wrapping yourself with a blanket is easy enough to accomplish. Check!
Grabbing a couple of small pumpkins while at the Pike Place Market is painless. Gourds are a great way to add texture and visual interest when they are next to the pumpkins. Et voila! The dining table in your home just became more welcoming.

• Who Who doesn’t like chocolate?

For a tasty HOT CHOCOLATE, warm up about 2 cups of milk in a saucepan, add 5 oz. of high quality bittersweet chocolate (finely chopped)–I prefer the Fran’s baking bars–and whisk until melted. A tablespoon or two of sugar is always optional. More milk can be added to this mixture if the thickness is not to your liking. Pour in mugs. For something special, top with a small pinch of sea salt or cinnamon.

For those of you who are willing to have a longer moment, how about an easy apple dessert? Washington is known for our apples, so this is a fall treat that is a local favorite.

APPLE TART
Store bought pie crust but don’t be afraid to make your own
2-3 medium apples, peeled (optional), cored, and cut in uniform cubes or slices to bake evenly
(Honeycrisp, Gala, Jonagold, Fuji, Braeburn, Mutsu or a mix. Red Delicious gets too soft).  The great vendors at the Pike Place Market can assist you in selecting a fantastic local baking apple.
1 tablespoon vanilla (or 1 teaspoon cardamom)
2 tablespoons of powdered sugar (can substitute with granulated or brown sugar)
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven according to box directions.
Line or spray the backside of a sheet pan.
Lay pie crust on pan; remove from tin pan if it came in one.
Patch up any holes.
Toss apples with vanilla and sugar in a bowl, let sit for about 5 minutes.
Spoon apples in the middle of the crust.
Distribute filling evenly leaving a 2-inch edge. Fold the edges over the filling.
Add about 1/3 cup of the liquid from the apples.
Sprinkle crust edge with sugar crystals (can substitute with granulated sugar).
Bake until golden brown.

This tart tastes best when served warm or room temperature. It also makes an excellent “breakfast pastry”
for the next morning.

Now that you have made the apple tart, you have now set your minds in motion to make homey desserts for all the upcoming holidays; dark chocolate bundt cake for Halloween, pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, maybe sugar cookies or even a log cake for Christmas. Perhaps something as simple as adding a peppermint stick to a mug of hot chocolate to ring in the new year.

Revel
403 N 36th Street
Open for Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch

A fusion of comfort food, Revel brings a lineup of Asian street fare with an upscale twist. With a buzzing workshop kitchen and adjoined with the industrial-chic bar Quoin, Revel showcases its kitchen’s genius for layering flavors and textures. With a variety of lunch and dinner options, be sure to stick around for the fun and theme-y ice cream sandwiches, soda pops, and other delicious dessert items. The layout of Revel is more down market with subway tiles, hard chairs, and a youthfully informal vibe.

Rock Creek Seafood and Spirits
4300 Fremont Ave. N
Open Monday through Friday for dinner and Saturday for brunch and dinner

James Beard nominated Chef Eric Donnelly envisioned the perfect restaurant to encompass the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. This tribute to all things aquatic features baked oysters, exotic mutton snapper, and to-die-for ricotta beignets. Rumor has it Grammy Award-winning rap artist Macklemore is a regular, so you may get a side of star-spotting with your dinner.

Westward
2501 North Northlake Way
Open Monday through Friday for dinner and Weekends from 10 to 10

An approachable, all-day restaurant, Westward has a sprawling outdoor area with casual picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, and a lakeside view to take your breath away. Lunch, nibbles, dinner, and brunch are available. While their delightful and easy to follow website has a complete menu listing, the menu changes daily so you can be sure you’re always getting the freshest fare. The James Beard foundation awarded them Outstanding Restaurant Design Finalist.

Luckily, Seattle has plenty to do in the rainy weather. There are plenty of rain friendly outdoor activities in the area, but if you are looking for dry ideas, check out Seattle’s museum scene! Seattle has over 40 museums according to Wikipedia, and I’ve been to most of them. Each has its own special flavor and offerings, but the following are my five personal favorites, in no particular order.

MOPOP:

This is a fun, bright, energetic museum that leaves you smiling. This used to be called EMP (Experience Music Project) and the Science Fiction Museum and still has that emphasis, but with more. As of this writing, there are exhibits featuring the Seattle Super Bowl win (sorry guests, I’m a homer), Star Trek, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Hensen and David Bowie.

This museum has a great layout, super easy to drift from area to area or pick and choose as you like. Check out the Sound Lab, a great bit for kiddos where you get to play different instruments. Its location, on the Seattle Center campus, means a nice rainy day walk from most of our properties, and has a great café and fantastic stores with super cool merchandise. Allow 2-3 hours for a visit.

Seattle Pinball Museum:

Located in Seattle’s International District, at 508 Maynard Avenue S, this is the most interactive museum on my list, and another great activity if you have kids over seven in tow. Pay a flat rate entry fee ($12-20 at this time) for unlimited plays on up to 50 pinball machines. Machines range from modern to historic, and while outside food is not permitted, there is a snack bar on site with craft brews, vintage soda pop, and light munchies. Bonus for children of the 80s: on the second floor are a couple vintage video games. Pac Man, Astroids, Galaga are all available to play as part as the flat entry rate. Note that hours do fluctuate day to day, so check before you go. Also, kids under seven cannot play the games.

Seattle Klondike Gold Rush Museum:

This is a hidden gem that just doesn’t get as much love as it deserves. Located in Pioneer Square, at 319 Second Avenue, this is part of the National Park Service’s multi-location Klondike Gold Rush National Park, with a sister location in Skagway, AK. It is located in a historic brick building and the interior just glows with beautiful lighting, exposed brick and restored wood. It is my absolutely favorite museum space, in regard to ambiance. However, Klondike Gold Rush Museum is not just a pretty face. The park service showcases educational and historical exhibits of the gold rush that put Seattle on the map for the first time. Ever wonder how much you’d be worth, if you were gold? This is the place to find out! This is a small location, artifacts can be seen over two floors, and I would say 1-2 hours of your time is needed for a leisurely visit. For kids, they do have a Junior Ranger program here. And bonus, as of this writing, this is a FREE attraction.

Seattle Art Museum:

This fantastic art museum is full of light and space, making a walk through their galleries feel like the sun is shining, even on the greyest of Seattle days. Known as SAM, the Seattle Art Museum has three locations, the Olympic Sculpture Park, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and the flagship location at 1300 First Avenue. For rainy day purposes, we are going to concentrate on the First Avenue location, which is located one block south of the Pike Place Market. Their collection of NW First Nation art is world class. In addition, they have great collections of European and Contemporary art, and attract the best of the travelling collections to the city. I love the porcelain room personally. Allow 2-3 hours for a visit. First Thursdays are FREE but SAM has a suggested admission policy, which means pay what you will to view the SAM Collections and Installations. Pricing IS fixed for tickets that include the whatever travelling exhibit is in town.

Museum of Flight:

The Seattle Museum of Flight (9404 East Marginal Way, Seattle, 98108) is a world class museum for all things airplane. This is the only location on my list not in the downtown Seattle core. It can be reached easily by bus (route 124 on Second Avenue) or about a 20 minute Lyft or taxi ride. It is near the original Boeing location and the original Boeing factory, the “little red barn” was moved and restored on site. Great for kids, there are interactive exhibits, including an FA-18 cockpit you can explore, as well as classic and rare planes. Again, a café on-site makes a visit here relaxed. This is a 2-3 hour visit at least (true airplane aficionados could probably spend the day), with highlights being the Space Shuttle Trainer, original 747, a Concorde, and extensive WWI and WWII collections.

The Best Places for Wine Tasting in Seattle…

…Without Having to Schlep to Woodinville!

Washington state residents and visitors alike are sure lucky when it comes to an abundance of regional wines. From the quaint valleys of Yakima to the hustle and bustle of Woodinville you can experience a variety of varietals in some very picturesque places, all within a few hours’ drive. But one of the best aspects of visiting Seattle is that even if you are here for just a short stay, you can also experience a plethora of Washington wine tasting without ever having to leave downtown.

The Tasting Room; Wines of Washington (1924 Post Alley) https://www.winesofwashington.com/
Is located on charming Post Alley adjacent to the famed Pike Place market and a few short blocks from our Newmark Tower and Belltown Court properties. This tasting room offers over 60 wines from local winemakers throughout Washington State. Guests can experience wines through their tasting flights or purchase wines by the glass and bottle. Small plates are also available to pair with your vino. They have a happy hour Monday through Thursday from 5-7 with specials on wine and food. Friday nights feature live music or you can take in the views and people watch from their patio seating.

Also in the Pike Place area is the fabulous Italian specialty food and wine shop DeLaurenti (1435 1st Avenue.) https://delaurenti.com/ Every Saturday this gorgeous shop offers one of the most affordable wine tastings in all of Seattle. From 2PM-4PM you can sample regional and Italian wines in their upstairs wine cellar for only $2.00 a person. Some weekends feature cider or beer tastings instead of wine, but for 2 bucks any tasting is well worth it!

Robert Ramsay: (1629 Queen Anne Ave N. #102) https://robertramsay.com/ Located on quaint Upper Queen Anne hill, a quick uber or bus ride from any of our Belltown properties, the Robert Ramsay tasting room is dedicated to showcasing Rhone varietal wines. Winemaker Robert Ramsay Harris produces wines that are hearty and bold but very food friendly. The tasting room is open Tuesday through Sunday and features a daily happy hour.

Seattle Urban Works is home to 10 local winemakers. Located just south of the city center, in the Stadium District, or SODO, you can sample a whole lot of wine all under one roof. One of the notable tenants that is worth checking out is Kerloo Cellars (3911 1st Avenue South) https://www.kerloocellars.com/ Winemaker Ryan Crane showcases Rhone and Spanish varietals in a chic tasting space located in an otherwise industrial part of town a short uber ride away from all our Belltown and downtown properties.

Jet City (1136 South Albro Place) in the Georgetown neighborhood near SODO, is home to Washington’s renegade winemaker Charles Smith https://winesofsubstance.com/visit-us/ The expansive space that was once a Dr. Pepper bottling plant features two tasting rooms with his uscious wines and a view of the main runways of Boeing Field.

The Estates Wine Room https://www.estateswineroom.com/Tasting-Room
(307 Occidental Ave S in Pioneer Square)
Located on one of the most picturesque streets in all of Seattle, this tasting room offers wines from three Pacific Northwest wineries. Here you can sample varietals from Double Canyon in Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, Seven Hills Winery in Walla Walla Valley, Washington and Archery Summit in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Wine flights at this glamorous tasting room feature limited production and estate-grown wines. You can also purchase wines by the glass and bottles as souvenirs or to take back to enjoy at your home away from home.

Washington wines are world class, and these convenient-to-downtown Seattle locations for wine tasting means that you don’t have to dedicate an entire day to sample the bounty of our region! Salut!

Downtown Seattle for All Hallows Eve

Halloween is not just for the kiddos!  There are plenty of happens in downtown Seattle, including Belltown and Capitol Hill, to keep us grown-ups happy, and to make a Seattle Halloween a highlight of your trip.  From boozy treats to chocolate sweets, we’ve got you covered!

Halloween Pub Crawl 2017 is actually in its seventh year.  October 21 is the day, and this is a rip-roaring good time, with a costume contest, group photos, live entertainment and NO cover at participating bars.  It starts in downtown Seattle at noon, and goes 14 hours until 2am and ends in Pioneer Square.  Over 500 folks participate each year and this, really, is a highlight of the Halloween season.  You can join in at any time at any venue, and stop when you want.  Cash for the drinks is highly recommended! 

Photo credit Seattle Pipeline, Scott Foster

Pier Pressure Titanic Masquerade: This is Seattle’s best on-the-water Halloween Party.  Depart from Pier 55 for three hours of music and dancing, with two live DJs on three levels of the Spirit of Seattle yacht.  Costumes are required (that’s why it’s called a Masquerade, folks) and masks are preferred. Leave the kiddies at home, this is a 21+ event with a cash bar.

Seattle Thriller Dance:  An annual worldwide simultaneous dance event also known as Thrill the Word, this is a group dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller that will occur this year on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at 3:00 pm (on the dot) at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square.  While not officially a flash mob situation, if you know the moves, you can definitely participate on the fly. As a spectator, it is great fun to see people join up as the dance progresses!  See last year’s at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltq_xE27bCY  If you want to dance, arrive no later than 2:30pm, the dancing will start precisely at 3pm.  Zombie attire preferred but not required.

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show is a year ’round event, but does it up special for Halloween, and this event ALWAYS sells out, so if you are interested, don’t hesitate to book. This is a four course dinner where a comedic murder mystery plays out within the guests.  You don’t know who-dun-it, and the action takes place within the confines of the group.  Your table mate may be a mild mannered accountant from Kirkland, or the MURDERER! This venue does have a dress code (dressy casual) so be aware.  The crime will take place at the Crowne Plaza downtown Seattle. 

A bit further afield, but still less than 30 minutes by Uber is the Seattle Chocolates Haunted Factory Tour.  Available Thursdays through Saturdays October 18-28, this is fun tour of the Seattle Chocolates Flagship facility in Tukwila.  An interactive tour with puzzle elements makes this a cut above the usual factory tour, with a fun and spooky Halloween twist, and exposure to some of the best chocolate in the Seattle area. 

Nothing quite appeal to you, or rarin’ for more?  Check out even more great Seattle Halloween events at Seattle Pipeline’s Halloween page. Seattle Pipeline is my go-to for events in the area!

Whether you’re coming to town for vacation or business, packing for your Seattle trip is a major factor on how enjoyable your stay will be.

First, check the weather forecast a few days before you travel.  While our climate is mild and nine months of the year your wardrobe may not change, there is a week or so in the winter where snow threatens (sometimes it falls, most times it doesn’t) and our summers are increasingly warm in late July and August.

• Since Seattle can threaten rain, no matter the month, be sure to pack a rain resistant jacket.  A hooded is your best bet (more on that later).

• Consider layers, versus bunky sweaters.  Downtown can be cool, with breezes coming off Elliott Bay, then heat up in the afternoon, or when the breeze dies down or the sun peeks out from the clouds. Its more comfortable to be able to peel off, or add, thin layers as you need. Fleece makes a great warmth layer directly under that rain resistant shell. This actually eases the effort of packing a suitcase for Seattle, as those thinner layers are much easier to deal with.

• Our condos are in awesome locations where Seattle’s famous sites are close at hand.  Also, once you get a grip on the parking situation in downtown Seattle, you won’t WANT to move the rental car, LOL.  Comfortable walking shoes are a must.  Bring shoes that are water friendly, in case you splash through some puddles!
• Dark wash jeans will get you into all but the fanciest of restaurants in this city.  Tie-required establishments number less than ten in the entire city.   Seattle’s famously casual dress code means that means you can dress as swanky, or (almost) as casual as you want, and still enjoy Seattle’s fabulous food and arts scenes.
• Sunglasses are a must.  What, you say?  You’ve just prepped me for rain being possible every month of the year!  Yes, true.  But Seattle has often led the nation in sunglass purchases per capita, and boy they get used!

Why are sunglasses so important in our rain-filled climate?  Two main reasons, in my opinion.  We do tend to lose them. Frequently.  There is a period of time at the end of winter where it does feel like we may never see the sun again.   So, when it does reappear, we blink like moles and can’t remember for the life of us, where we last saw our sunglasses.

The other reason, and more applicable to you, our guest; sun glinting off wet pavement and directly into your eyeball HURTS. Save yourself, and bring your shades.

One Seattle Have-Not (Leave This at Home):

Don’t bother with an umbrella.  Yes, seriously.

Seattle is known for its rain, so I realize that this feels counter-intuitive.  But what is sometimes not mentioned is that Seattle, particularly downtown Seattle, can be on the breezy side.

Quite often this breezy climate is just enough to drive the rain on you, underneath your umbrella.  Occasionally, this breeze becomes rambunctious enough to actually cause havoc, and flip your umbrella inside out.  This is the main reason why the first point, above, is a rain jacket with a hood.

Also, if you just can’t live without an umbrella, we provide not one, but two, in every single one of our condos!

Packing your suitcase for Seattle is easy, and I hope the information provided above will make trip-prep at home a piece of cake!