Seattle Neighborhoods: Georgetown

Georgetown boasts that it is Seattle's oldest neighborhood, starting up in 1851. If you do the math that means they have had 166 years to cultivate something good. Anyone that is familiar with the area will tell you they have done just that. Georgetown is a place you can wander around for an enjoyable afternoon, going from coffee shop, to antique shops, to delicious restaurants, stumbling upon art and intrigue along the way. The people are friendly and seem to talk more and life is just a little bit more quiet down in this southern Seattle neighborhood. We are big fans. Let us take you around the main drag in our neighborhood guide covering Georgetown. 

Food and Drink

Ciudad's funky seating

Ciudad

Places that are this colorful and open always draw us in! Cuidad has a diverse menu and is great if you have meat lovers and vegetarians in your group. When the weather is nice you can enjoy a drink in their sunny, outdoor seating area. Don't miss this unique addition to the Georgetown scene! 

All City Coffee

All City Coffee

This quaint coffee shop is located right in the middle of everything in central Georgetown. It's inviting with its sofas and big windows that let in loads of light. They brew Cafe Vita beans to make some seriously tasty coffee and have a great assortment of pastries and snacks to choose from. 

Smartypants

Smartypants' crazy sandwich menu is the reason people come in, but the cool vibe you get once you're here, paired with the friendly staff is why people come back again and again. They have a great outdoor area you can enjoy when the weather is nice-ish (they do have some covered tables) and don't forget they have brunch with bloodys too! 

Square Knot Diner

Sometimes you just need a giant Bloody Mary and a side of greasy breakfast. If today is that day, head over to Square Knot. They will serve you up exactly what you are looking for. They have "classic diner" down to an art. From the menus to the plates to the food presentation. You'll be reminded of that place you used to go as a kid! 

Flying Squirrel Pizza

Flying Squirrel is one of our favorites in Seattle. Full disclosure there is one located a few blocks away from our office and therefore we might be biased. Nothing tastes better than a pizza after a long days work! But let us try to convince you. Flying Squirrel has traditional and modern pizzas, they have the best roasted olives as a starter and their logo is a squirrel with balloons tied to it. So moral of the story: It's delicious and squirrels are adorable. 

THE CONSERVATORY

The Conservatory is a little cafe in GT with a real character like only Seattle can pull off. We love those places you walk into and they surprise you with their style and decor. Check this place out for a memorable espresso (we love the hazelnut latte) and if you're lucky they might be hosting one of their art events too (calendar here)! 

STELLAR PIZZA

Like any self respecting pizza parlor Stellar makes their sauce and dough fresh every day. They have a classic sign that screams, "We make good pizza!" and you can drink an ice cold Rainier or a local craft beer while you eat your pie. It also doesn't hurt that their "Georgetowner" is legit what we order anytime we create our own pizza, it's like they know us on the deepest level. Try to find something wrong with the place. We dare you!

HITCHCOCK DELI

This is a place people in the know know about in Seattle. Especially if you are a fan of a good sandwich. Because Hitchcock Deli makes a mean sandwich. They have a little bit for everyone on the menu, but they specialize in cured and smoked meats. The cuban, corned beef, and pastrami are all crowd favorites. 

MACHINE HOUSE BREWING

Machine House serves up British style cask ales at cellar temperature, which means these pours might be a little warmer than you're used to. The good news is that higher temp actually brings out some pretty awesome flavors. They also have history in their favor. The building they brew in used to be occupied by Rainier back in the day.

Insider tip: Machine House is only one of several breweries in Georgetown, look forward to our Georgetown Brewery post, coming soon to hear about the rest!

Pork tacos from Fonda La Catrina

FONDA LA CATRINA

Every neighborhood needs a delicious Mexican restaurant. Period. Fonda La Catrina is Georgetown's answer to our love of tacos. Head in and get anything on the menu, it's all full of flavor and the meat will be tender and delicious. Oh and obviously don't finish ordering without getting a Mexican Coca Cola. It's real sugar, so that makes it healthy, right? 

Found on the sidewalk of Georgetown...what does it mean?!?!

9LB HAMMER

Everyone loves this dive bar for the friendly service and the free peanuts. In addition to the free peanuts, there is free shuffleboard. Does it get better than this? Well yes, yes it does. They also have Buck Hunter, so if you like shooting digital deer (or missing them in our case) you are going to be on cloud nine. 

CORSON BUILDLING

The Corson Building is in the same family of restaurants as The London Plane and Sitka and Spruce. If they are the queen and knight of the family, The Corson Building is King. They create one-of-a-kind meals every weekend for a small number of guests. It comes with a price tag, but the experience is worth every dime. 

Shopping

The beautiful Fran's Chocolate shop and HQ

Fran's Chocolate

If you are wondering if there is a heaven, the answer is yes. It's at the old Rainier Brewery on Airport Way S. A few years ago Fran's took over the building as their headquarters and it is now where they create all their delicious chocolate goodies. When you walk in the door you are greeted with a free salted caramel. After you savor it, head over to the cafe and get a hot chocolate. Then buy one of everything from the chocolate counter. 

Insider tip: They host a "Talk and Taste" every weekday at 11AM ($10) where you can tour and hear the history. If you are there at any other time, don't worry, just head to the back of the store and up the stairs. You can watch the chocolate making from a window! 

Search for odds and ends at the Trailer Park Mall

Trailer Park Mall

If you haven't been to the Trailer Park Mall in Georgetown you are missing out on a weird and wonderful place. Picture this: Old trailers (airstreams and campers), put together in a parking lot full of artisans selling their goods. You can get crafts, food, and antiques. Definitely don't miss the Alexandra's Macarons, they are TO DIE for. 

Georgetown Records

This is a great little gem in GT. Filling an old building with vinyl and music records is never a bad idea. Stop in any day and be greeted by the friendly owner who knows all the merchandise and browse the many racks of records. Odds are you'll find something you love (we bought an old school Grateful Dead album and it's awesome)!

Insider tip: They share a space with Fantagraphics Bookstore, which has some serious street cred in the world of comics and graphic novels. Don't miss their shop, whether you are a fan of the genre or not, it's a little piece of history! 

What are your favorite spots in Georgetown? We want to hear them in the comments! 

Georgetown neighborhood art

A scooter on a roof? Why not.

Rain or Shine on the Road: Las Vegas, Nevada

Oh Las Vegas. You crazy animal, you. We love you, but we hate you. We are pretty much done with you after three days, but you always know how to show us a good time. Now, we realize there is a ton of different ways to see Vegas. Our little guide is steering clear of the night clubs, pool parties, and over the top excess. We are pretty sure you can figure out how to get into some trouble if you choose (no judgement). Instead we are focusing on some lesser-known spots.

Stay

There are two main options when staying in Vegas. You can stay on the strip (option A), which is very large and, while walkable, will take you a while to maneuver. Staying on the strip gives you access to all of the big hotels, which are fun to stroll. You can also stay in downtown Vegas on Fremont Street (option B) , which is smaller and less crowded, but still has similar bells and whistles. We have given options for what to do in both areas. 

If you are wanting to stay on the strip, we like Mandalay Bay for two reasons. One, it has an amazing pool! The pool features a lazy river where you can rent rafts and float, and it also has a tide pool complete with a beach. Another perk of this hotel is it has a bar called the Skyfall Lounge located at the top of the Delano Hotel (on the same property). Due to the nature of the hotel’s location (at the end of the strip), Skyfall Lounge boasts impressive views of the strip in all its neon glory. It’s a great place to grab a pre-dinner drink. The only con to this hotel is that because it’s at the very end of the strip, you will have a long hike to casinos located farther down the strip or you’ll have to catch a cab.

If you would rather experience Fremont Street in downtown Vegas, you can’t go wrong with the classic Golden Nugget. This hotel is affordable, located right on the Fremont Experience strip and has a shark tank pool. That’s right, the pool has a shark tank right in the middle of it, and it features a slide that zips through the tank! 

Eat

The Golden Steer steakhouse is a real gem and on many Las Vegas best-of lists. It's a block from the strip at the very end by the Stratosphere and was a regular spot for Elvis, Sinatra, and Muhammad Ali. It has a definite old-school, lounge-y, dark feel to it and the food is outstanding. All of the steaks are winners, but make sure you get the house-made Caesar salad, which is made on the spot at your table with anchovies and an egg yolk.

Make sure to factor in time to grab a meal downtown at Eat. This restaurant is a must stop. Chef Natalie Young serves up delicious, high quality, soul food for breakfast and lunch at this super cute spot. We went for breakfast and had the shrimp and grits plus the truffled egg sandwich. Both were out of this world, and the coffee from Mothership Roastworks is smooth and delicious. 

We also like to grab a slice of pizza at Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan for lunch (it gets crowded late night, so lunch is best). This place is a true secret as it literally has no name, no signage, no website, and no phone number. It takes some serious sleuthing to find it, but it’s well worth the hunt. Head to the top floor of the Cosmopolitan (not the guest rooms, the top floor lobby which is the 3rd floor) and look for the hallway with pictures lining the walls. At the end of the hallway, you'll find this tiny little pizza spot with some of the city's best slices. You have to take the slices to go (there are only a few bar stools in the actual restaurant), but there are couches just outside the hallway where you can enjoy your pie.

Sushi Roku is located in Caesar’s and offers world class sushi. Enough said. We also love the shishito peppers!

If you are looking for another off-the-beaten-path dinner option, we love Casa Di Amore. You’ll have to take a cab or drive to this place, or they do offer free shuttle service to and from your hotel if you book early enough. It's worth the travel time! This is another laid back restaurant full of Italian classics. The restaurant is covered with interesting pictures of Vegas back in the days of the Rat Pack and a lounge singer covers classic tunes while you dine.

Our favorite place for a nightcap has to be The Peppermill. This restaurant/bar is located pretty close to Circus Circus at the end of the strip. To be honest, we have never eaten in the diner. We have heard great things about it, but we always beeline straight for the Fireside Lounge, which is attached to the restaurant. The lounge has a large fire pit in the middle of the bar surrounded by couches, and the whole lounge is decorated in crazy, bright pink flowers. The bartenders have been around forever and will serve you a stiff drink while you play video poker at the bar or watch one of the TVs showcasing music videos from every era. We go every time we are in town.

Do

After dinner, we like to head to the strip for a night of wandering and people watching. We like to watch the dancing fountains outside the Bellagio Hotel (a crowd favorite and free), and do a little bowling at Brooklyn Bowl, which is a bowling alley and concert venue! If you need a late night treat, the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM is located next to Brooklyn Bowl and a fun way to get dessert (yes, it is a essentially a cupcake vending machine, the future is here people!). Walking the strip provides endless entertainment as there is gambling around every corner, impersonators to photograph, and street musicians of every flavor.

Make a reservation for the Neon Museum during the day. This place is a museum/graveyard for all the old neon signs from Vegas' early days. It’s definitely a unique spot with plenty of photo-ops! We recommend making reservations as early as you can, as this place tends to book up quickly. You’ll have to grab a cab or drive to this location as it’s not walking distance from either downtown or the strip.

The strip is a great place to spend your afternoon and evening, but we also love the Fremont Experience. Fremont Street is like a mini strip. It’s outdoors, but it’s covered with air conditioning! It’s easily walkable (everything is much closer together than on the strip) and it has free bands, impersonators, sidewalk drinks, and, of course, gambling. They have the most spectacular light show starting at 9pm. It runs on the hour, every hour and is synced to songs from a variety of artists. They also have the Slotzilla Zip Line that runs the entire length of the Fremont Experience. There are two options: a lower, shorter zipline for $20 or a higher, longer zipline for $40. Go with the big one!

If you have a car and love art, you must drive the 10 miles into the desert to check out Ugo Rondinone’s public art installation called Seven Magic Mountain. The art features seven boulder-stacked totems painted in bright, day-glow colors. It’s beautiful and creates a shocking display against the dry desert landscape. It’s only going to be displayed for 2 years (ends May of 2018), so the time to go is now!

Container Park, a park filled with shops, restaurants and a playground for kids made entirely out of shipping containers. They have a lot of neat stores selling unique products and a crazy praying mantis sculpture out front that shoots fire from its antennas. Enough said. And if we’re on the subject of weird things, find the Berlin Wall while you are here! It's in the men's room located right inside the Main Street Station Casino. The wall behind the urinals is actual pieces of the real Berlin Wall (covered in Plexiglass to protect it from bathroom-users). It’s just one of those rare and weird things that makes Vegas so great.

Last but not least, there is always a ton of different shows to see. Our suggestion would be to catch any of the shows by Cirque du Soleil, shows so memorizing you’ll leave there in complete awe no matter which one you see!

Rain or Shine Guides 2017 Bucket List

Happy New Year!

It's 2017! 

It kind of came at us like a freight train and we are sitting here in the first week of January wondering how another year could have come and gone. 

To start this year off right we figured we would make a bucket list of all the things we want to make sure we do, big or small! 

Our 2017 Bucket List

1. Find #ThatNWBus at Palouse Falls 

People visiting Palouse Falls have started making a pitstop at an old abandoned school bus in the area and it is gaining fame on Instagram with the hashtag #thatNWbus. It's beautiful and run down and holds art from the people who have made the trek. Keep your eyes peeled on Highway 260 and you can visit too!

2. Float Green River

The Green River gorge in Auburn is supposed to be one of the most beautiful river canyons in Washington. You can start the beautiful float south of Seattle in Flaming Geyser State Park and take out at the SR18 Bridge. It should take you around 2.5 hours to complete, and we heard this is a very popular float filled with people partying, throwing back a few beers, and enjoying the sunshine. If you are looking for a quiet float, this might not be your spot.

3. Stay at the new McMenamins in Bothell

McMenamins is a PNW charm and their new location in Bothell is supposed to a be a great place for a little stay-cation. With a pool, restaurant, bar, movie theater, and outdoor grounds with fire pits, this place is great for relaxing, reading or hanging out with friends. It has something for everyone.

4. Try the iced cardamom coffee at Voxx

We fell in love with Fonte's cardamom latte and now we are moving on to the rumored deliciousness at Voxx Seattle Coffee, an iced cardamom coffee! We might save this one for the summer months.

5. Take a cooking class at Hipcooks

A good friend of ours recommended Hipcooks for great cooking classes in Seattle and ever since hearing the rave reviews on Bonnie and her cooking secrets we have been dying to get into one of her classes!

6. Zipline at Canopy Tours NW

It's one thing to hike through the beauty of the PNW, it's another to zip through it amongst the trees! We want to get in touch with our inner flying squirrel and check this out once it warms up!

7. Hike the ice caves

Up north in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Park near Silverton, WA you can hike a trail to view the Big Four Ice Caves. Not only are ice caves cool on their own (they just scream Game of Thrones battle scene), but Macklemore filmed his music video for "Can't Hold Us" here. Just oozing cool points now.

8.Visit Soap Lake

Soap Lake is located in Eastern Washington and has been used by early settlers for its healing purposes and therapeutic effects due to its extremely high mineral content. While we heard there isn't a whole lot going on here, the town is trying to attract tourism and has plans to install a 52,000 pound lava lamp as a roadside attraction. So, let's recap: soak in a lake for healing AND see a giant lava lamp? Sign us up.

9. Enjoy a drink and the view at Mbar.

Mbar is new to the Seattle scene and apparently has one of the best rooftop patios in the city! There is nothing we enjoy more than cocktails in the sun, so we will absolutely be here on the first semi-warm day of the year.

10. Search out the best Korean BBQ in the city

Who doesn't love roasted and delicious marinated meat? (Vegetarians probably don't but there aren't any of those in this duo, so we are just going to say 100% of people love Korean BBQ.) We are going to be on the hunt in 2017 to find the best. Apparently Lynnwood is known to have great Korean BBQ (who knew?). First stops will be Sul Lung Tang and Ka Won.

So those are our 10 bucket list items. What do you have on your bucket list this year? We would love to hear in the comments! 

Confetti gun fail

What To Do With Seattle's CityPass

For first time visitors to Seattle the CityPass is a great way to see some of Seattle's hottest attractions without paying top dollar. One adult pass costs $74 and gives you access to the: 

• Space Needle

• Seattle Aquarium

• Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

• Museum of Pop Culture   OR   Woodland Park Zoo

• Chihuly Garden and Glass   OR   Pacific Science Center 

If you were to go to five of those places (on adult tickets) you would pay around $140. Unlike some cities, the places on CityPass in Seattle are actually awesome places to visit so with the savings and the locations we definitely recommend it. You can visit them in whatever order you would like and it is valid for 9 days from the first time you use it. 

Now depending on how long you are in Seattle you might be able to do it all, but even if you only have time to visit three or four of the places you might still save money. Here is the order and places we would choose if we were doing the CityPass ourselves:

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour 

• Argosy gets you out on the water, which is worth the ticket price by itself in our opinion. You get to see the city from the Puget Sound and learn a ton about the history and culture of Seattle. They have indoor and outdoor seating so it's fun rain or shine. Also, there is a bar on the boat. 

Chihuly Garden and Glass

• Chihuly Garden and Glass is completely unique to Seattle. This museum brings to life the beauty of local artist Dale Chihuly and his glass blowing techniques. It is truly a spectacular place to visit.

MoPOP

• The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is that museum for people who don't normally like museums. It is full of rock memorabilia, props from famous sci-fi movies, and an entire room devoted to the Seahawks Super Bowl win! 

Space Needle

• This one doesn't need much of an explanation. It's one of Seattle's more noteworthy landmarks and the most visited place in the city. Head up to the observation deck to take in the city, mountains, and Puget Sound below.

Seattle Aquarium

• The aquarium is right on the waterfront and is a cool building full of local and not so local fishes and marine life. There is a ton to do around it on the waterfront, so try to plan some extra time while you are visiting to check out the Seattle Great Wheel and maybe take a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island.

If you are cramped for time to go to all the places, we would recommend skipping the aquarium, especially if you have been to one of the more famous ones like Atlanta, Vancouver, or Monterey because Seattle just won't compare. If you have time though, of course go, you can see otters and that is never a bad thing!

Another thing to note is if you have small children, the Woodland Park Zoo and Pacific Science Center would be better options than MoPOP and Chihuly, which are better for ages 13+. 

You might like these other blog posts about sightseeing in Seattle: 

• What To Do in Seattle Center
• Top 20 Places to Visit at Seattle's Waterfront
• The Best View in Seattle: Kerry Park