About 10 days ago, two dear friends came to visit for the weekend. Both avid photographers, they ended up with well over 300 shots apiece of our fair city. I thought it would be interesting to share some of the photos they took to give you a perspective on what visitors to Seattle (at least two of them) find interesting. Most of the photos are after the jump, but here’s one of two bald eagles perched on an anchored ship.

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I just got back from a whirlwind of a trip to NYC. Years and years ago, I actually lived in Midtown and racked up a pretty penny in credit card debt because of it. Now, I just like to visit every now and then. But I thought I should share my take on which city is better (in my opionion).

Airports: Seattle wins

• Sea-Tac: I know in a previous post I mentioned my distaste for Sea-Tac. I since realized I’m a dumbfuck and have come to love their cleanliness, their easy going attitudes and if you go on a Saturday at 7am you won’t have to wait on any lines at all.
  
• JFK: Normally, I wouldn’t fly into JFK but for whatever reason this was either the cheapest or the most direct way to get to New York. When I got off to use the bathroom I was petrified. Old stinky bathrooms, with kids crying and doors that wouldn’t lock properly. Never mind the fact that an Italian dad slapped his kid for just standing there. I knew I arrived in New York, and immediately wanted to go back home.

Food: Tie

• Seattle: I think that Seattle has had some great new restaurants lately. Since I live here, get Daily Candy and know a thing or two I have an advantage over tourists who will probably just go to Wild Ginger and never know the glory that is Rancho Bravo or Lunchbox Laboratory. There are some major disappointments though. Like, for a city that has some of the freshest fish, I have yet been to an amazing fish place. I think Tom Douglas is overrated. And don’t even talk to me about Jewish Deli’s or a decent slice of pizza.
  
• New York: Sure, they always say everything is just great there. But I kinda think it’s all hype. For instance, I think Boston has a better Little Italy. And Vancouver has a better Chinatown. Granted I didn’t go to Balthazar (although I’ve been) or Tavern on the Green (I’ve also been and it’s a huge waste of money), but I did go to bodegas, one decent sushi joint and enough Jewish delis to get my fill for the year. I bought one unmemorable black and white cookie at Zaro’s (if you want a Jewy bakery chain that delivers, place your bets on Juniors instead) and then one very memorable one at Mother’s (in the Bronx). Liebman’s Deli had a reasonably priced, and not famously stuffed pastrami sandwich. And I did get to go to my FAVORITE pizza place ever near Columbia on 110th and Broadway. But my $6 hot dog at the Yankees game pissed me off more than filled my tummy with goodness. And besides Mother’s black and white cookie and the pizza, the most memorable food I had was a one scoop of Butterfinger fro-yo at Tasti Dlite. Basically, the things we don’t have in Seattle are great in New York but you can also hit some real duds. A lot.

Transit: New York wins

• New York: Hands down, the subways, buses and everything else are just easier to follow in NYC. You get one little map and you can just figure it out.
  
• Seattle: In Seattle, even the bus drivers don’t really know where they’re going. And the maps (if they’re even there) at the bus stops are in Japanese. The maps on the bus are even worse, because they don’t actually show you ever stop they make. The only way I get around Seattle is on the bus and so I’m dependent on our Trip Planner and I know that if I’m going somewhere I haven’t been to before than I sit up front and tell the driver to tell me when to get off. These are the tricks you learn when living here, but if a tourist came to to Seattle, I can only imagine how confusing getting around would be for them.

Bums: Seattle wins

• Seattle: Okay, maybe the bums only live in Capitol Hill, Downtown, Pioneer Square and University Village but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t get asked for money or a cigarette. And I don’t even smoke.
  
• New York: Surprisingly, they were missing from this week of tourist fun. Maybe it was the unbearable heat that made them scatter deep into the bushes, but I simply didn’t see many of them. Only one dude made his speech on the train about how he can’t pay for rent, but even he smelled decent enough and didn’t look like he had the crazies. Just shove a Real Change in his hand and he might actually get a buck from me.

People: Seattle wins

• Seattle: I love that Seattle doesn’t have loads of people living here (yet). Because the more people in a city, the more suffocating it gets. In Seattle, you can escape the noise. You don’t hear cabs at all hours. You can go through your whole day without hearing a car honk. And I love this.
  
• New York: When I lived here in my early 20s, I loved the people, the life, the noise. But even after my 3 month stint, I just wanted to relax. Maybe go to a zen garden without my discman (before ipods were invented) and just be. You just can’t do this in Manhattan. And so, for me, this is the biggest reason why I only go to visit and not to live. Because after a week of all that noise and all the people, I just want to curl up in a ball and hide.

Sights: New York wins

• Seattle: I actually kinda think Seattle wins, but to be fair New York really does have so much to see and do. Almost too much. I like Seattle for their breathtaking views of the city and their abundance of parks, but when it comes to old buildings and cool sculptures I think Seattle lacks. I’m much more into older buildings, rather than obscure sculptures of an ampersand. The modern styles of our library are nice, but the older libraries are nicer. And there just aren’t enough big museums here for me.
  
• New York: Museums. Check. Old buildings with character. Check. A great big park in the middle of it all. Check. Check. Like I said, there’s almost too much in New York. But that can also be a good thing.

Overall: Seattle

• I’m biased of course, but I just love it here. Seattle was the first place I moved to where I didn’t know anyone. And I was scared and excited. And as I was driving into the city, it was the first time I said out loud, “I’m gonna live here forever.” It’s only been a little over 2 years, but so far Seattle hasn’t disappointed me yet.

After much delay at the border I arrived in Seattle just as the last of the rush hour traffic was dying off. Driving via memorized Google guidance, I leave the I5 in search of my hotel The Roosevelt. As I’m checking in I get upgraded from a single room to a queen, which upon inspection seems to simply mean that my bed is larger because the room itself is tiny.

I debate phoning down to the front desk to inquire as to which Roosevelt the hotel is named after, I need to know these things if I’m going to dress appropriately for the evening since Franklin and Theodore are very different styles. A Google search lets me know that it is Theodore, so I don’t bother unpacking my monocle.

My friend, also named Jeff, meets me about an hour later. We’re friends from high school, and he’s one of the few of my friends who’ve made a move to the United States and managed to make it stick. He works in Redmond, but lives in Seattle so I trust him with our evening plans.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have, we end up at Von’s a fake New York style bar that’s attached to the hotel. Yes, my local Seattle Sherpa had guided me to the hotel bar.

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_{photo courtesy of Gary VanDenBerg [flickr]}

One of my good friends recently came to visit for a week, and wanting to show her the best of Seattle, I concocted what I thought would be the optimal itinerary for her trip, to show her the best of Seattle.

Day 1: Visit Snoqualmie Falls on the drive in, meet at Gasworks Park in the afternoon, take photos. Get guest settled in at apartment/hotel/etc. Have dinner at Chinook’s at the Fisherman’s Terminal.

Day 2: Drive all over the Olympic Peninsula, checking out the rainforest, beaches, etc. Get home in time to meet friends at Brouwer’s for dinner and beer.

Day 3: Go to the EMP, wander down to Pike Place Market, kayak around Lake Union/Portage Bay, go to Blue C Sushi for dinner.

Day 4: Let guest sleep in, quick tour of UW, including Safeco Tower and Suzzallo Library. Dinner at Smith at a Metblogs meetup. Visit the locks, preferably before it gets too dark to see the fish ladder. Concert at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard.

Day 5: Back downtown to have lunch at Pan Africa, check out more of the Market, visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe, have some happy hour food at Ivar’s. Go to Hothouse Spa on Capitol Hill (well, unless you’re a guy, in which case… I have no idea). Drink some coffee at Caffe Vita, visit Kerry Park once it gets dark.

Day 6, weekend: Walk around Fremont, visit the Troll, have brunch at Silence-Heart-Nest. Go to Skagit Valley Tulip Festival on coldest, snowiest day of the year- take photos with frozen fingers. Visit La Conner and Mt. Vernon.

Day 7, weekend: Have brunch at Portage Bay Cafe. Visit Fremont Sunday Market. Head over to Ballard to check out Archie McPhee and other shops, eat a cupcake or two at Cupcake Royale, end the night at Zoka.

Granted, some of these ideas are seasonal, and some specific to my guest’s interests (And I should mention that I had grand plans to take her up to the San Juans camping the second weekend until that hailstorm from Hades blew in)… but I’m curious if anyone had any additions, subtractions or suggestions for any future trip itineraries- what’d I miss?

This morning brought a story and video on Seattle from Matt Gross, Frugal Traveler for The New York Times. The video is basically a montage of Matt’s meals at various local restaurants including The Triple Door, Cascadia, Brasa, and Little Chinook’s. Of course, any travel video that left out Pike Place Market would be incomplete so it makes an appearance, too. The highlight of the video has to be the short profile of Musical House on Harvard [mhoh] which looks like a fantastic B & B on Capitol Hill that I had no idea existed.

For a so-called frugal traveler, it amazes me Matt couldn’t spend less than $392.00 for the weekend. However, it’s likely a New Yorker’s definition of frugal is different from mine.

[nyt video; nyt story].

(Video, unfortunately, unembeddable).

Photo by yvettemn via [Flickr]

DAYS UNTIL HALLOWEEN:

13

DRINK:

Ghost Cocktail

1 1/4 oz. Smirnoff Vanilla Twist
1/4 oz. Half and Half
1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
1/2 oz. Godiva White
Garnish: white chocolate shavings

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with white chocolate shavings.

EAT:

Ghostly Shepard’s Pie

Mmm. Mashed potatoes. I recently saw them listed as a comfort food for fall that should be avoided if you’re watching the ole waist line. But, what’s the fun in that? This classic Shepard’s Pie recipe is made extra spooky with mashed potato ghosts with eyes made of peas. Super cheesy, but then again, it’s Halloween so cheesy is allowed.

GO:

Take a one-hour walking tour through haunted Pike Place destinations with Pike Place Ghost Tours, offered Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, starting today. The tour takes you through haunted happenings and restaurants in Pike Place, including The Can Can, Chez Shea, Il Bistro and Kell’s Irish Pub–each with their own spooky ghostly story that is “not suitable for children under six.” Tours meet at the pig in the Market a few minutes before 6 p.m. and are $15.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Hosting out-of-towners? Visiting Seattle? Take these not-so conventional tours of our Emerald City:

Savor Seattle Food Tour: Apparently, even the locals are raving about the Savor Seattle Food Tour through the Pike Place Market. [site] [site] And while you certainly can stumble from booth to booth on your own and make a lunch of it (I’ve been doing it for years as a local), why not join this organized glimpse at a little of everything the Market offers. Tours last for two hours and include a stop at an infamous Tom Douglas hot spot and tastes of local wines, cheeses, seafood, produce, donuts, etc. The tour even includes treats such as a dinning guide, seasonal recipes and “Repeat Visitor” discount card. (Offered daily rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., $39 per person)

Seattle Run Tours: Seattle is one of the top 10 healthiest cities in the nation, so jump on the Seattleite bandwagon and jog your way through our city! Jogging tours are offered for beginning and advanced levels and cover popular tourist destinations, including the waterfront, Seattle Art Museum, Pioneer Square, the Olympic Sculpture Park, Fremont, Gas Works Park, Experience Music Project, the Seattle Center and Space Needle, etc. The price of the running tour includes a T-shirt and water bottle, and 5 percent of proceeds are donated to Seattle Children’s Hospital. (Email to book desired tour dates, $50 per person)

See Seattle’s Walking Tours and Events’ Mystery and Scavenger Hunt: This tour challenges you to search for Seattle’s quirks, secrets and trivia, and claims it is a “quest for the famous and infamous, the historic and hysteric” of Seattle. Sound fun? Now, decide if you want to take the tour on foot or in a limo, and sign up. The contest is designed so that Seattleites do not have an advantage over Seattle visitors, and covers 16 different search areas, including places such as the Pike Place Market, and questions such as, “The Perennial Tea Room sells the blend of tea that was thrown overboard at the Boston Tea Party. What name do they sell it under?” (Two-hour tours offered year-round for $20.00 per person, $400.00 minimum plus Washington state sales tax. Limo services not included in the price.)
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I would love to say that what I like best about Piroshky, Piroshky … is its name. Just look at the ellipsis. It implies that they wanted to keep saying “piroshky” but they were stopped by either common sense or the fact that they ran out of sign space. But actually, I really like their food.

I know someone who fell in love with Seattle on the first day of his first visit … he had a latte, he had a Moscow roll from Piroshky, Piroshky…, he had a blue sky, and all in all, he had a perfectly wonderful day. Now he lives here, and any guest of his has the opportunity to either eat a pastry from Piroshky … or watch him eat one.
But isn’t it a great name? Piroshky, piroshky, piroshky, piroshky, piroshky …

Visitors to Seattle are ready to be dazzled by coffee … but I’ll only let ‘em go to a Starbucks twice - once to a “regular” one so they can see how much more food, goodies, and cool stuff we get with our “home field advantage” and once to the Pike Place Market original Starbucks coffee shop.



It’s fun to see people blink at the original logo (LOVE the original logo) take a picture of the pig made of coffee beans that stands over the entrance, and … I swear one day I will successfully remember to buy an original Starbucks coffee shop card on a day when the cards are in stock and the charger-upper machine is working. But for a Starbucks fan from afar, that card’s got storytelling clout back home. Trust me, it’s true.

More on where to take guests who have come to stay with you, but have no idea what they’d like to see (MMTyler adventures, Part 2)



The Space Needle is the King Poobah of the High Profile Touristy Spots - in a nutshell, if going up high sounds thrilling, this is the tourist spot for you. If not, choose your day wisely: assume you’re only going to go up once, and that day should be a clear day, preferably one where you can see Mt. Rainier. For it to be the best experience, of course, you really want to go up with someone who knows the town well and can dish out a little trivia talk about what you’re seeing. If you’re supposed to be the funny and knowledgeable tour guide, well … maybe you should wait another year or two.