seattle

While away for the past week visiting my hometown of Seattle, WA, I labored daily on the sad fact that I had not posted much on my site in a while. My trips back home always keep me busy with seeing friends and family and visiting my old hangouts (the University of Washington district, Capitol Hill and this time up north in Bellingham, near the Canadian border, where my very adorable (and very loud) niece and nephew live).

Lake Washington near the U of Washington

At a beach in Bellingham, WA looking across to British Columbia, Canada

An old boat at the Semiahmoo Resort just outside Bellingham

Unlike most of my visits back home, not to mention like most days in general in Seattle, the weather was nice this time, yes–nice. It wasn’t the 90+ degrees that I have been used to the past couple weeks here in the NE, but it was in the low 70′s and not a drop of rain fell (I know, pinch me, right?) These “dry spells”–even the short ones– I think apply some sort of magical spell on the locals and expats like myself because during them, one questions why they would ever complain about Seattle. Surrounded by a natural fortress of mountains in every direction with the ocean and lakes populating the city and surrounding suburbs, the air is clean, the people are friendly and the atmosphere feels organic–as though you can’t imagine NOT buying your veggies, fruit and even meats fresh from the local markets while dressing in your Birkenstock’s and fleece (& I am so not making fun-this is a very comfortable attire, one I had to sort of give up when moving back east to save myself from the horrified looks and assumptions that I was some sort of modern day hippie–a label I was quite proud to have while living in Seattle).

view of Mt Rainier over Lake Union. Photo credit: Tim Knight

Of course, these moments of sun are short lived and even the most die-hard Seattlite will tell you that at times, the weather can be a real downer. Many of my friends have been inflicted with severe vitamin D deficiency requiring prescription level meds (and if you are reading this right now and finding yourself getting angry at this statement–don’t blame me, blame the lack of sun and get thee to a doctor for some prescription Vit-D pills) and large vacation bills to take them away from Seattle to seek sun (a Seattle local and friend of mine told me on this recent trip she wished her family could go geo-caching (a very popular hobby/sport in the Pacific NW) for Sun).

So–to celebrate the nice weather while I was there I felt it only necessary to broadcast that fact to help offset the common belief that the sun doesn’t come out much in my home town.
In fact– here is the weather forecast for the next few days. Is that partly sunny, or partly cloudy? I never did learn the difference of this common Seattle forecast.

Being a native of the great city of Seattle, I feel its my duty to give my readers some insight on a perfect Seattle day. Forget the Pike Place Market and Space Needle tour and grab your fleece, your birkenstocks (socks optional), your messenger bag and enjoy your day–local style.

1. Start your day with sleeping in– to hopefully beat the early morning rain showers (common during the Spring in Seattle) and then head to the U District (University of Washington area) for some wandering on the gorgeous campus. See the noted architecture of the buildings and the blooming quad, get in some shopping on the ‘Ave (excellent thrift store The Red Light ) plus a coffee must stop at the Ugly Mug Cafe on 43rd (you thought I’d send you to a Starbucks, didn’t you?).

2. After getting your caffeine buzz on and working up an appetite shopping, hoof it up to 45th for an unforgettable lunch at a Seattle landmark: Dick’s Drive-In. (Order recommendation: Deluxe, Fry, two tarters, a ketchup and a chocolate shake). Man, I am hungry just thinking about it.

the quad on the UW Campus

Dick’s

3. After the U Dist, head south just a bit to experience a legendary Seattle store: Archie McPhee’s. Archie’s was originally located in Ballard (more on that in a second) and has recently moved to the nearby Wallingford area to bump elbows with other sweet stores like my favorite travel store Wide World Books.
At Archie’s you’ll find all of the ’80′s candy you miss (candy cigarettes, ring pops and pop rocks) as well as the necessary household items such as bacon bandages, backwards clocks, pickle soap and my personal favorite, nunzilla wind-up toys, that shoot adorable sparks from the mouth.

4. To curb the candy buzz and giddy feeling from buying things you don’t need but can’t resist, take a leisurely stroll to peaceful Ballard–just down the way from Archie’s. Ballard, once its own city, a few decades ago was enveloped into Seattle proper. Ballard has kept its individuality though boasting the largest Norwegian population in the US (outside of Minnesota that is) and a bustling main street with sweet mom and pop shops, a movie theatre and and the nearby Ballard Locks where you can easily become hypnotized by the methodological process of water rising and falling as boats pass from Lake Washington/Lake Union into the Puget Sound and vice versa. The fish ladder at the locks, where the world famous Washington Salmon swim their hearts out, is very calming and entertaining–and FREE.

5. After the tranquil visit to the locks and surrounding gardens, press on past the lure of fish and chips at nearby stands (way too pricy) and head to the Tractor Tavern just a few short blocks away. Let the Tractor serve you up a locally brewed beer while you scan the upcoming live band list. Not only does the Tractor host big name bands, but also up and coming acts in their intimate venue. My claim to fame, or not, with the Tractor is that some friends from work were heading there for a happy hour cocktail years back and I passed on the invite just to find out the next morning that the unheard of band playing that night was Pearl Jam under a cover name. (Dammit– it still hurts like it was yesterday.)

6. After a few beers at the Tractor you’re probably feeling nice and loose so grab a cab and head straight to the Virginia Inn– another Seattle Landmark.
You may recognize this bar as the one from the movie Singles, where Matt Dillon’s character brainstormed with his “band mates” (real life Pearl Jam members). Sit in “their” booth and order another local beer or something a bit more crazy ’cause now you are in the Belltown area of Seattle, officially the newest “hip” place to be. Sit here a while and take in the scene.

7. Hungry? Probably. Close out your evening by dining on a Seattle staple: Sushi.
The Wasabi Bistro is just a block away from the Virginia Inn and is famous for its fresh Japanese fusion menu. They have a long happy hour (until 6 every night) and live music Sunday through Thursday. Order some sake, feast on some of their sushi roll specials (so fresh you may have seen these fish at the locks earlier) and enjoy the fact that you are in Seattle– a very friendly, walkable, green city that will always welcome you back.