The Backside of Pike Place Market

The literal backside of the famous Public Market sign.

Most people know about the bustling main entrance of Pike Place Market. It has the giant neon sign and fishmongers chucking fish to tourists. A lot of people never venture past this part of Pike Place Market, some don't even know more of the market exists. We are here to guide you to the "backside" of the market (we know it isn't the most charming name, but it really is the backside!) because there are some real gems over there. These places are all along the Western Ave. portion of Pike Place Market. You can reach Western Ave. by an elevator down a hallway flanked by the delicious Pike Place Bakery and Pike Pit BBQ. Take the elevator to Level 1 and you are ready to check out our list! 

The very long staircase to the top of the market.

Pretty red doors at Pike Place Press.

Pike Street Press

This letterpress printing shop makes the most attractive and cool (yes, it's cool, there is no other word) paper goods! We shop here for all our notebook, greeting card, and poster needs! 

Zig Zag Cafe

Zig Zag is Seattle-famous for their cocktails. The bartenders will treat the creation of your cocktail like an art. They also serve dinner late until 1AM, so if you are hungry and it's late head over for a bite.

Mmmm...gelato!

Procopio Gelateria

Is there anyone that doesn't love gelato? Didn't think so. Which means we don't need to sell this place, they make delicious, creamy, desserts. Enough said.

Brooke Westlund Gallery

This Seattle abstract artist does bold work that just screams to be placed in your home. She has some great Seattle-inspired pieces as well as amazing floral paintings. The best part about her studio is she also offers classes! You can gather a group of friends and make your own paintings with the help of this talented, local artist. 

Don't miss the cans of seafood at JarrBar.

JarrBar

JarrBar is one of our favorite watering holes. They serve up amazing cocktails (see a couple here in our post about the best cocktails of pike place market) and have a great wine list to compliment their small plates, which are all traditional Spanish/Portuguese foods. We did an entire post about this place we love it so much.

Stacks and stacks of amazing pottery at The Spanish Table.

The Spanish Table

Update: Shop Closed. This bright shop on Western is fairly large and has a great selection of specialty products from Spain. The staff are friendly and helpful and always send us away with something new to try. And so far we have loved every item! 

Paris Grocery

This French grocery store is a great place for cheese! After you sample some cheese, select some to overeat later (what is it about good cheese? We just can't stop eating it even when we know we are consuming something really expensive that should be savored) and explore the rest of the shop. They have beautiful dishware and packaged foods from France along with all the best French cookbooks. We have had our eye on this one for a while. 

Ugly Baby and La Ru

This shop is weird. It is amazing. You will laugh and wonder what the heck kind of crazy imagination thought up all this stuff, but that is the beauty of this craft store. It's absurdly beautiful and makes us all appreciate the quirky stuff in the world that brings a smile to your face. We covered a fundraising event they hosted for Seattle Animal Shelter - check it out if you love bunnies. 

Every spice you could possibly need and ones you didn't know you needed.

World Spice Merchants

The smell alone is a good enough reason to go in this shop. Once inside the awesome staff and wall-to-wall spices will keep you curiously exploring for a while. They have a great selection of cookbooks and can help you find even the most obscure spice for that recipe you've been wanting to make! 

Billie the Market Piggy Bank (Rachel's cousin).

Billie the Pig

Billie the Pig is located at the bottom of the market steps and serves as a piggy bank to raise money for the Pike Place Market Foundation and great photo opportunity. If you need some inspiration here is our awesome selfie:

Billie Selfie!

Hidden Henry mural.

Insider Tip: Hidden Henry Mural

Guys, get excited. We found another great Henry Mural located on the Pike Street Hillclimb off Western Ave. (to see where you can find other murals check this out.). If you are heading down the stairs it is off to your left at the first landing. Enjoy this adorable public art!

Seattle Art: Henry Murals

Henry (full name Ryan Henry Ward) has been brightening up our city since 2008. How so? With quirky, whimsical murals depicting fantasy characters and wide eyed creatures on colorful backdrops all over the walls of Seattle. He has over 200 murals painted on various surfaces around town and unlike many street artists he always works under the permission of the owner of the wall.

Elephants found at Value Village at 8532 15th Ave. NW

Camel found at Value Village at 8532 15th Ave. NW

Space Lizard found in a residential alley at 8016 20th Ave. NW

 If you are trying to find the deeper meaning behind his art you don't have to. This isn't Banksy trying to make you question the decency of humans, Ward stated in a Seattle Pi Interview, 

"My message is cheerfulness and brightness," Ward said, "and encouraging a fun-loving spirit."

Which is definitely a message we can get behind!

Walrus on a bike found at 8th Ave NW and NW 67th St.

Double camel found on 8th Ave NW

You have probably seen a Henry Mural if you have explored the city much and you might not have known it was one of many created by Henry and if you haven't seen these works of art in person yet, we found a handy-dandy map to start you on your journey!  

HENRY MURAL MAP

While the map is not a complete list, it is a good starting point. We have discovered some of the murals listed on the map have been painted over (sad face), but don't worry the majority are still around!

Interested in buying his art? You can find out more on his website here.

Tree gnome found at 7010 8th Ave

Sasquatch found on Fremont Ave. N.

Flower details at the Value Village mural

You'll know it's a Henry artwork by his signature

Pretty in Pink: The Continued Rise of Rosé in the Northwest

Picture by Amy L. Dickson: Beckham Estate Vineyards 2014 Oregon rosé made from pinot noir; $12/glass at Heartwood Provisions.

Earlier this week I wandered into Heartwood Provisions in downtown Seattle and was handed a short happy hour menu at the bar. A quick scan left me defeated: “What? No rosé on the glass pour menu?” The bartender laughed and said, “Actually, we have two!”

My kind of place.

The sun has returned full force to the Pacific Northwest and with it, rosé season. If we were in Europe right now, positively everyone would be sipping cool glasses of blushy wine. And while the Northwest may be well known for peppery syrah, hearty cabs, and inky malbecs, we can use those gorgeous grapes to make rosé.

Once maligned and misunderstood, (a colleague of mine went so far as to say he would never understand why people like to mix red and white wine together?!?!?), rosé is going through a renaissance in North America. No longer confused with the sweet, cloying horror that is white zinfandel, rosé is a sophisticated drink. A pleasurable drink. Here are a few solid reasons why it’s easy to drink pink these days:

1. Rosé wines, whether imported from Europe or home grown in the PNW, are fairly affordable. Sometimes very affordable. The French import I’ve been scooping up weekly at Fred Meyer comes in at $8.99 and is lovely on its own or as a base for an orange and pomegranate sangria.

2.    The balanced acidity means that rosé plays nicely with so many foods, especially ones you want to eat on a warm summer day: salami, salmon, olives, grilled vegetables, prosciutto, and melon…the list goes on and is ideal for a picnic.

3.    When you buy a bottle of rosé, you have a fairly good idea of what it will taste like. They range from fruity to savory, but flavors like melon, strawberry, and sometimes a little bit of pepper can all be in there.

4.    There’s no need to keep these pretty bottles in the cellar — they don’t really get better with age, so enjoy immediately.

5.    Rosé can be made in any wine-growing region of the world, so the supply is definitely there, even though most rosé wines still come from France.

Not sure about rosé? Maybe you’d like to try a few first? You’re not alone and that’s why Seattle Uncorked’s 14th Annual Rosé Revival event sells out nearly every year. Held at Ray’s Boathouse on the evening of May 26, 2016, you can take in the sunset as you sample wines from more than 30 northwest and international wineries debuting their summer favorites. 

Find something you like? There’s a wine store on site for you to buy. General admission tickets are only $35 and VIP access is $50. All proceeds from the event support Save Our Wild Salmon.

I’ve attended in years past and have always come away with new or interesting bottles. I’d say they are down in my cellar, but I’d be lying — it’s time for me to go stock up for summer as well.

See you there and Salud!

Past Rosé Revival photo by Nityia Design

Past Rosé Revival photo by Nityia Design

Past Rosé Revival photo by Nityia Design

Amy L. Dickson is a communications professional, freelance writer, and contributor to Rain or Shine Guides. She’s currently training at the NW Wine Academy for her Level 1 sommelier certification. Follow her at @amyldickson75.

The Best Donut Shops in the PNW

Ahhhh America. The Land of the Brave, Home of the Free. 

Some may argue, try to tear us down, but let us stand tall and proud, for we are responsible for one of the greatest inventions of all time. That's right, it is our obligation to correct those nay-sayers because America is responsible for the creation of the donut. 

So the next time you hear someone stating how America is not great, drive to one of the below locations, buy a donut, bring it back, and stuff it in their mouths. Don't worry, they might initially be surprised and possibly even angry, but as that sugary, flaky dough melts in their mouths they will smile and say thank you. 

Seattle/Tacoma Favorites

1. Mighty-O Donuts

MIghty-O started up in Seattle in 2000 with the foundation to create an all-organic donut, which wasn't being done by anyone else at the time. Now they are sold all over the city and have a unique niche, being completely vegan. Nice! 

2. General Porpoise

General Porpoise joins the ranks of Renee Erickson foodie spots in Seattle, and it is definitely up to par. All the donuts are filled with delicious, no, decadant stuffings and you will find yourself wanting to lick the powdered sugar topping off the plate to keep it from ending.

3. Daily Dozen Donuts

This Pike Place Market establishment bakes fresh, mini donuts throughout the day for tourists who don't know what they have stumbled upon and locals who come back every day to fuel their addiction. Put yourself in one of these categories and get down there now. Cinnamon sugar is the best.

4. Rodeo Donuts

Rodeo Donuts was born in the bakery of Cupcake Royale, a place we trust deeply for all our sugary cravings. Their idea? Take donuts to the next level. With unique, fresh ingredients used every day and donuts served fresh out of the fryer (man we love that phrase) they succeed every. single. time.

5. Legendary Donuts

This shop in Tacoma is filled to the brim with over-sized sugary cakes. You can find something for everyone with their huge variety of flavors (with fun names too such as the Fred Flintstone and the Chubby Checker), no matter what you pick be sure to plan a couple hours after eating for your sugar coma. 

Vancouver Favorites

1. Harmony Donut Shop

You would miss it if it weren't for the sign!

So warm, so fresh.

This shop in North Vancouver is easy to miss in an unassuming strip mall, but seriously, don't miss it. The donuts are amazing, but the shop itself makes it an unforgettable experience. It is covered floor to ceiling and corner to corner in antique collectables from action figures to scooters. You could dig around for hours!

2. Honey Doughnuts and Goodies

Crispy outside, squishy honey inside! MMmmmm.

Honey Doughnuts in Deep Cove serves up these unique, honey soaked doughnuts as their specialty. Each bite oozes sweet honey. Winney the Poo would destroy their display case to get to all these puppies. Yum.

3. Cartem Donuterie

Photo: Cartem Donuterie Facebook

First, we love that this place uses the term donuterie, and we instantly have faith they will provide top notch treats. Then you see their flavors and you can't wait to come back enough times to try them all. Or you could just get one of everything. We love donuts more than Christmas, we won't judge.

Portland Favorites

1. Blue Star Donuts

Photo: Erin Jackson

Let us just leave you a list of some of Blue Stars made from scratch starting at 3AM everyday donuts: Blueberry Bourbon Basil, Chocolate Almond Ganache, Cointrea Infused Creme Brulee, Passionfruit Cocoa Nib...do we need to go on? Okay, fine. Lemon Poppy Buttermilk, Marionberry Pepper Jam....

2. Voodoo Doughnut

Photo: Mike McGraw

This place is famous for a reason. Key things you need to know. Cash only. Open 24/7. You can get married here. Go make some bad decisions. 

3. Sesame Donuts

Photo: Nick Zukin

This is your place to get the traditional but delicious donuts you know and love. And just saying the Internet says scientific research shows that people who eat Sesame Donuts have a much higher I.Q. than those who eat other brands. Truth.

Hungry yet?