With the Loonie soaring past the greenback, we decided to follow the herd of Canucks south of the border for a weekend of discount shopping. After spending the better part of a day digging through piles of purses and fighting our fellow countrymen for last season’s must-haves, we bid a somewhat exhausted farewell to the world of bargain bedlam in Tulalip and set our sights on Seattle.
Birthplace of Starbucks, Jimi Hendrix and the grunge movement, Seattle promises an eclectic mix of hip districts brimming with boho boutiques, chic shops, budding culinary gems, urbane wine bars and cozy cafés. For three-days we toured, dined and danced our way through the Belltown, Capitol Hill and Queen Anne districts to seek out Seattle’s top sites, spots and shops.
Belltown
This once seedy neighbourhood, home to industrial sites, used-car dealerships and low-rent apartments, is now a vibrant shopping and nightlife district sprinkled with luxury condominiums, live-work lofts and the occasional dive bar, which helps to retain the area’s gritty history.
Cool, hard-to-find labels and custom threads are found at Kuhlman’s under the Ace Hotel, where hipster tailor and owner Ian Khulman creates and recreates unique pieces to fit your style. Screened tees, perfectly-sized custom jeans and beautifully tailored suits for guys and gals are some of the fine finds at Khulman’s.
Baby & Co, on the border of Belltown has been a Seattle staple since 1978. Posh lines from international fashion houses are hand selected by couturier veteran Jill Donnelly, who worked under the original owners Baby and Uri before taking the helm of this unconventional and trendsetting shop.
For something that sparkles and shines, check out the contemporary handmade jewellery at Fancy. Owned by dynamic duo Sally Brock and Erich Ginder, both of whom are accomplished designers and savvy businesswomen, Fancy offers an array of custom pieces made from ethically sourced, recycled and repurposed metals, and semi-precious and precious gemstones.
Given that Belltown is host to some of the region’s finest culinary masters, we booked a tour with Seattle Food Tours to quench our thirst for local knowledge and fill our bellies with some of Seattle’s delicious dishes. The two-and-a-half hour walking tour includes a colourful, comedic commentary on Belltown’s history and a visit to six restaurants. Highlights of this $46 tour included sushi at the two-time James Bear nominee Shiro Kashiba’s restaurant Shiro’s, and the legendary Frontier Room for critically acclaimed barbeque in a country-chic setting.
Belltown also boasts a happening happy hour and nightlife scene. Après-shopping, head to Rob Roy between 4 and 7 pm for half-price food, $1.00 of any drinks and free Goldfish Crackers. Classic cocktails served with panache, retro-chic decor and a home-style menu featuring Devilled Eggs, Pork Tamales and Mac & Cheese draw a consistent after-work and late night crowd.
End the night with muddled martinis and dancing at Karma Martini Lounge. Try the Plum Blossom with fresh black plum, ginger, tangelo, lime, Grey Goose vodka and Cointreau; or Sweet Revenge, a muddled delight with jalapeño, lime mango vodka, passion fruit rum and mango puree.
Capitol Hill
Artsy, indie and free-spirited best describes the Capitol Hill district of Seattle. Northeast of the downtown core this area, which was at the forefront of the grunge movement, offers a plethora of small coffee bars, book stores, galleries, shops and eateries.
With over 150,000 titles in stock, the family-owned Elliot Bay Book Company has won a place in the hearts of Seattle locals and visitors alike. Grab a coffee at the in-store cafe and browse through the wide selection of best-sellers, hand-bound books and signed first editions, or attend one of the many weekly readings by local and international authors.
Retail Therapy, a shopper’s nirvana flogs an assortment of unique wares from around the globe. In addition to silky slips, cheeky cosmetics and handmade jewellery, this quirky boutique features an art gallery in the back that showcases local up-and-coming artists.
To add a bit of culture to your trip visit the Asian Art Museum in Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park. Housed in a restored Art Deco building, the museum’s large collection includes tapestries, ceramics and stone-carvings from China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia. Admission is $7, and complimentary on the first Thursday of each month.
Forgo the afternoon coffee house and stop for a glass of wine at The Local Vine. Offering a selection of more than 100 wines by the glass, this wine bar is the perfect place to unwind after taking in the sites. We felt at home sipping on a chilled glass of chardonnay, snacking on tapas and using the free Wi-Fi to update our Facebook status.
Another foodie favourite on the Hill is the modern-Mexican restaurant Barrio. The Rock Shrimp Ceviche, Dungeness Crab Chile Relleno with butternut squash and dry-cured chorizo and melt-in-your-mouth Churros with Xocalatl Chocolate earned our heartfelt recommendation.
After dinner head to The Chapel for a Cucumber Kamikaze, and dancing on weekends. Located in a historic mortuary, where Bruce Lee’s funeral took place, The Chapel offers a moody, intimate setting with 1920’s architecture and sleek furnishings.
Queen Anne
The Queen Anne district is a mélange of grand 19th century architecture, stylish restaurants and famed Seattle attractions. Upper Queen Anne is a charming residential community with historic homes, tree lined streets and parks, quaint shops and spectacular city views. In the Lower Queen Anne you’ll find tourist hot spots like the Space Needle, Children’s Museum and Pacific Science Centre.
In the heart of the Queen Anne, is Seattle’s only community-organized farmers market. Each Thursday afternoon in June through October, local producers gather to sell freshly baked breads, heirloom vegetables, organic cheeses, wine and a variety of gourmet prepared food. Live music, chef demonstrations and book signings add to the celebratory atmosphere of this neighbourhood block party.
Music is engrained in the Seattle culture, and anyone with an appreciation for sweet sounds should definitely visit the Experience Music Project across from the Space Needle. This cutting-edge audio sensory museum includes interactive exhibits on the legendary Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana and other music icons, as well as an incredible collection of industry memorabilia. The $15 ticket price also includes admission to the Science Fiction Museum, which is scheduled to open an Avatar Exhibition in June. Until then sci-fi fans will have to make do with the retro Battlestar Galactica exhibit.
As cheese and chocolate lovers we were thrilled with The Melting Pot fondue restaurant. Our sinfully delicious and decadent ‘Big Night Out’ four-course meal started with bread dipped in a gooey concoction of melted cheese and wine. The second course was salad (this helped to reduce the guilt associated with eating a vat of cheese), followed by a steak and seafood entree, which we masterfully cooked in Coq au Vin. We somehow managed to save room for Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fondue, and even restrained ourselves from licking the pot.
We closed the evening at Chopstix Duelling Piano Bar for an electric, thrilling, fast fingered ivory tickling performance. The crowd’s energy at Chopstix competes with the melodic battle as each opponent attempts to outplay the other on back-to-back grand pianos. Blood red walls and a black and white checkerboard floor add to the nostalgic blues bar feel. By midnight you’ll be dancing, cheering and singing along to the rock-and-roll classics once belted out by Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elton John.
Arrival’s Tips Before You Go
We chose to stay at the luxurious and centrally-located Hyatt at Olive 8. As the first LEED certified hotel in Seattle, Olive 8 offers chic, modern rooms with iPod docking stations, an indoor-pool and eco-friendly spa and restaurant. A great way to save on Seattle site-seeing is to purchase a$59 City Pass, which includes admission to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Harbour Tour and the Experience Music Project.
Belltown
Seattle Food Tours: www.seattlefoodtours.com
Rob Roy: www.robroyseattle.com
Karma Martini Lounge: www.karmamartinilounge.com
Capitol Hill
Asian Art Museum: www.seattleartmuseum.org
The Local Vine: www.thelocalvine.com
Barrio: www.barriorestaurant.com
The Chapel Bar: www.thechapelbar.com
Queen Anne
Queen Anne Farmers Market: www.qafma.org
Experience Music Project: www.empsfm.org
Seattle General
Seattle Tourism: www.visitseattle.org
City Pass: www.citypass.com/seattle
Hyatt at Olive 8: www.olive8.hyatt.com
