Belltown Seattle
(0 votes) (report abuse)
The Radio Bedlam 'Stage'
Last night I went to check out Radio Bedlam. If you haven't already heard, Radio Bedlam is the Tuesday night open-mic extravaganza put on by the guys at Bedlam Coffee.
If you haven't been to Bedlam yet, 1) shame on you, and 2) you should go! What I love about Bedlam is that it has its freedom to be fiercely local and decidedly Belltown. It reminds me of the coffee places back home in Nebraska where you could chill or study all day and the coffee shops stayed open late enough for you to get things done or wrap up that conversation. Moreover, there are plenty of board games and enough engagement in the community to make you feel like you're at home there.
That whole vibe seems to carry over into the open-mic feel. The couch area gives way to a smattering of mics and an old guitar amp head to give it some volume. The tables and chairs get pushed around a little bit to afford some seating around the stage, but otherwise it still feels pretty low-key and unassuming. It is consistent with Bedlam's local feel, and at least some of the artists can run home to grab and instrument and get back before anybody notices there was no music happening. Last night's event seemed less attended as the previous one I had been to, both by musicians and by audience members. However, I did get a chance to talk to one of the musicians who has been at each one since it has started.
Here at BelltownPeople.com, we have thrown around some grand ideas of profiling various characters in Belltown to help our readers learn more about their neighbors and the identities that make up our 'hood.' So here's a crack at it.
Bear in mind, I'm a geek that works on web sites--not a journalist. This won't be an article straight out of Spin, but hopefully it's fun anyway.
Meet Jonny from Massachusetts. He's been running with this Radio Bedlam thing since it has started, and he generally opens his set by describing his music as "acoustic, loud crappy folk-punk." Listening to his songs kind of feels like running the whole time, but it evokes a good mood anyway.
David: So how long have you been playing?
Jonny: I've been playing probably all my life. When I was little kid, I was like 5, my dad had an electric guitar and I started messing around with that. Ever since then I've been playing music and writing songs.
D: Did your dad teach you or what?
J: I taught myself.
D: What does your dad play?
J: He played electric guitar a little bit, but he mostly did crappy karaoke stuff.
D: So do you claim any influences?
J: Influences are a lot of politically-driven folk bands. One of my favorite bands would probably be Rosa--they're from a little town in Texas I believe. Mischief Brews is another good band. Anything that can kind of get to you, I guess.
D: So you seem to like to write songs that carry messages, yourself. How do you come up with your material? What do you try to say?
J: Basically, like, with the society we're living in now, basically you have control for yourself over yourself. Nobody can control you. Don't let people try to tell you how things are and how things should be when you yourself should know how to live your own life. Living free without issues of rent and having a job you don't like and paying rent for a place you don't like--like I do! I have a crappy job and a crappy apartment.
D: Eh, you do what you gotta do to get by pretty much.
J: Yeah, basically.
D: Cool. So do you think music is a good way to communicate that kind of thing then?
J: The best way. I believe music is an international voice that everyone knows. It doesn't matter what kind of music it is.
D: I remember when I was younger and various artists were coming out carrying useless messages, and a lot of kids listen to that stuff. I realized music could be a powerful weapon used the wrong way. People eat that up.
J: Yeah, most of my songs have the message that you're never alone, and there's always someone out there that feels the same way as you do. And that's kind of the hopeless romantic kind of music that I play.
D: What other instruments and styles do you play? We already talked about banjo and guitar obviously.
J: A lot folk music. I was in punk bands when I was younger. 3 chord progression punk bands and crappy stuff. That was in Montana. I guess I play ukelale, and a little bit of banjo, and a little bit of piano. But mostly I stick to guitar.
D: How long have you been in Seattle?
J: 3 months.
D: 3 months in Seattle. That's cool. Do you feel like you're getting your way around and meeting people and stuff?
J: A little bit. I hang out here (Bedlam) a lot, and it's like my second home. I run into people and stuff. It feels really community driven and I love it.
Jonny has music on Last.fm and at MySpace if you want to check some of his stuff out. I believe he recorded some of his performance last night, but you'll have to ask him about demos and the like. I shot video of one of my favorite songs he does on my phone, but the thing crapped out or something and I regrettably don't have the video. If only I worked in the technology industry and knew how to do this stuff...
Other than that, who I can only assume was Dion Vox (found out by poking around on the Internet) from Ramona The Band showed up early on (note: I edited the article to reflect her name after looking up the band. It turns out not writing things down is bad habit). She just sang without any accompaniment. I walked in right when she started her last song, but right away I took note of her smooth voice that left you mesmerized in a sort of haunting way. I suppose if jazz ever learned how to be intimidating, then it would kind of remind me of that. I mean that in a good way, if that's not clear. I only got to hear the one song, but I talked with her a little bit and she handed me a card before she took off. Hopefully she comes back next week and hopefully I don't waste the first half hour napping off the work day again.
So that's it for the Radio Bedlam write-up. If you're a musician, I encourage you to come be a part of this event and the character of Belltown. If you like hearing people try not to be awkward and nervous as they play for strangers, you should come too!
Also, side note, but I tried a Mate Latte last night made with milk and "Yerba Mate" tea ("mah-teh", not "mait"...in case you don't want to sound like me, aka an idiot). If you like Chai at all, give this a shot. I really enjoyed it.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
From Stroupe Condo Blog
Representatives of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty unveiled the opening of its Residential & Resort Showroom at 2715 1st Avenue in downtown Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Mike Good, chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC and Dean Jones, managing member of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty addressed guests during a private reception last night; declaring expansion plans throughout the Pacific Rim and noting Seattle as a critical gateway to the United States.
more
Read More
Previous
(0 votes) (report abuse)
I suppose it's alright to talk about Clever Bottle now that the Seattle Metropolitan picked it up. Sometimes I like to see places with neighborhood character get overlooked for a little while before they're swarmed by the masses (hello Bathtub Gin) . If you haven't been to CB yet, give it a shot. It's a perfect place to start a date or enjoy some good conversation.
Clever Bottle is a wine bar entirely appropriate for the present era: it’s simple, creatively conceived, living within its means.
There is no liquor here, just wine (mostly Washington, fairly priced), beer, and mixed drinks made with wine and beer. Ambiance is achieved via glass bottles backlit by votive candles in small globular enclosures—more affordable, I suspect, than those ubiquitous Glassy Baby.
The food is sourced from nearby Pike Place Market, and choices do not require a lot of thought or negotiation....
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Friday 6:00 pm--Meeting Announcement Letter
I got home from work on Friday and found a rolled-up note in my door handle. This has been fairly common as the apartment managers keep us posted on various construction activities and other community events. However, this one was not from the McGuire staff but instead was from the engineering firm running the show on the investigatory work that had been going on for a few months. I might point out that the verbiage was consistently "investigatory" and "exploratory" work, so there was a long-standing indication they were looking for something.
The note stated that the firm had concluded their investigations and needed to share the findings with the residents. They asked us to attend either one of two meetings on Saturday at 10 am or 2 pm, and also offered a third meeting which I believe took place this evening.
That was about all it said. Anybody I have talked to agreed with me that the note was pretty ominous, but I think everybody had an idea that something epic was going to happen.
Saturday 10 am--The First Meeting
I went to the first meeting the next morning. We met in the hall of the Carpenter's Union on the ground floor of the McGuire structure. I won't bother going through the names, but there were representatives from Kennedy Associates--the real estate investment consultants who I believe ran the investigation--as well as a representative from the City of Seattle. The apartment management staff was there as well.
The meeting started as the president of Kennedy Associates read us a portion of the press release that was made available to the public later that afternoon. In summary, they announced they had found construction details too expensive to repair and there were plans to vacate the building. They were quick to assure us there was no imminent danger, but that it would be a good idea to be out of there in 2011 and beyond.
They shared with us that they took the results of their study to the city and together they made the decision to vacate the building.
Saturday 11:00 am--Apartment Hunting
Well, my Saturday plans quickly changed. A few of my neighbors and I walked around armed with the information provided to us in the meeting and checked out apartments. I actually found a place at the Centennial at 3rd and Wall that morning, and a few of my friends from the McGuire did too. I'm sure that will be a pretty easy move. Apparently the Centennial signed a ton of leases this weekend (I've heard numbers ranging from 9 to 20), but I'm sure many of the nearby apartment complexes felt the rush.
General Reaction
There was a fairly mixed reaction among the various residents. Obviously many were pretty upset. More than I expected were pretty optimistic and pleased with the efforts to help us transition out of the building. The McGuire is a pretty diverse building, but there are a lot of people closer to my age and it seems like most of the younger people I talked to had great attitudes. There are already talks of having demolition parties and other going-away events. For the number of units in the building, there was actually a pretty good community in there and many of us found new places either in the same apartment complexes or are committed to staying in Belltown.
My Experiences
Those are the basic facts that I suppose you can read just about anywhere. I'll spare you the stuff you can read on the news. In the past few days, I have noticed just about anybody who has anything to say about the situation is really only interested in hearing something negative or trying to paint everybody in the worst colors they can find. I am going to try to be different for the rest of this article and share with you the experience I have had so far. I thought everybody involved dealt with us as residents as professionally and respectfully as they could given the situation.
Those railing on the apartment management and the fact that ads are still running and that people have moved in recently should note they weren't made aware of the decision to vacate until shortly before we were informed. Moreover, many of the people on staff live in the building.
As a resident, I feel pretty well taken care of. One of the priorities for the plan they presented was to help residents move out and find new places to live as efficiently and orderly as possible. As most of you may have read already, we are getting incentives to move out sooner rather than later. Frankly, I think this is a pretty solid move given that they aren't legally required to that at all. The apartment staff has shifted all of their focus into helping residents find new apartments, schedule moving considerations, and help us transition out in any way they can.
This is definitely not a fun thing for the residents or the apartment managers. This is a pretty bad thing for the owners and investors, and a really bad thing for Seattle. But the McGuire has been my home since I have been here and it has served me well. Even with the scaffolding, it was a great place to live and I'll miss it. But life goes on and so will Seattle.
That is about all I can think to say right now. Hopefully that wasn't dreadfully boring. Feel free to leave questions in the comments if you are still awake and I will do what I can to answer them.
PEACE
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Belltown People likes to feature these wine tastings because it's a great way to meet people that live in your neighborhood. Tonights event looks pretty interesting. This is the first time I can remember them featuring Sake.
Bring your Seattle Cellars tasting glass and come join us tonight, April 8, from 5 - 7pm, as we present Sake! Our favorite and most charming sake sommelier, Hideyo Seek, will join us to share a variety of delicious sake for your educational enjoyment:
- Hou Hou Shou Sparkling Sake
- Kasumi Tsuru "Crane of Kasumi" Ginjo
- Yuki No Bosha Junmai Ginjo
- Rihaku "Dreamy Cloud" Junmai Nigori
- Hakutsuru Plum Wine
Click here to link to Kelly's Seattle Wine Examiner blog posting, "An Introduction to Japanese Sake."
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Three BAWM sites will be featuring TV-Tommyvision’s work tonight
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Show Title: A Feminist Eclat
Show Duration: March 13 - April 4, 2010
Opening Reception Saturday March 13, 6PM, as part of the Belltown ArtWalk www.belltownartwalk.com
Juliette Fretté exhibits her primitivist paintings with a brilliancy or success of effort which attracts admiration or applause; eclat. Her first exhibit at Form/Space Atelier, Ms. Fretté is more widely known as the feminist columnist for Examiner.com Ms. Fretté, a resident of northern California, will be traveling to Seattle for the vernissage and is scheduled to make paintings in the atelier while she is visiting.
The organizing principles for this exhibit originate with exhibit Curator Paul Pauper, founder and Director of Form/Space Atelier. Pauper's prime organizing principle embraces the idea of curating artists first, and the the marks artists make secondarily. As this precept applies to the upcoming exhibit of Juliette Fretté's paintings, Pauper began thinking in terms of an exhibit by a feminist artist timed to coincide with International Women's Day March 8th. His research into artists defining themselves as feminists led him to data about Juliette Fretté. As more was revealed during the initial inquiry, it became evident that Juliette Fretté would be the only artist capable of fulfilling the entire vision being espoused by Pauper for an exhibit by a feminist artist. Additionally, Pauper's curation has been associated indivisibly with artists who use figuration, found in imagery of the paintings of Juliette Fretté, and in other aspects, notably Fretté's career as a model, as it applies to the curation scheme of this exhibit.
As research deepened and broadened, Pauper established contact with Juliette Fretté, and Fretté became an equal partner in the process of building the finalized organizing principles for the March 2010 exhibit. Specifically, Pauper and Fretté established the number of Fretté's art objects that could be most effectively exhibited, details regarding exhibit systems, framing the artwork, the potential for Fretté to create artwork in situ while in Seattle (Fretté is currently based in California), and moving the artwork and packaging and promotion of the exhibit. Artist and Curator made every effort to nurture a synergistic approach to building the exhibit.
As the organizing principles were established, Fretté and Pauper began to think in terms of establishing a narrative to support the exhibit. Pauper interviewed Fretté, included below. Additional corollary narrative is being written and will be available by the time of the exhibit March 2010, packaged together with archival materials such as previous interviews and the artist's parallel narratives regarding her artwork.
Pauper: What inspires your paintings?
Fretté: I find that the painting 'itch' often gets me going in terms of creating a new piece. In terms of what inspires me, I would say that certain events in my life can definitely influence the images that materialize. As every painting is entirely improvised, the end result is always a surprise. Otherwise, I would say that my work has spiritual and otherworldly muses :)
Pauper: What does painting make you feel?
Fretté: Painting forces me live in the moment unlike anything else. I find that painting is actually an addiction for me -- once I begin a new piece, it usually demands my attention until every detail is fully expressed.
Pauper: Who do you respect as an artist?
Fretté: I love the work of several artists. Growing up, my favorite artist was Ora Tamir, whose work is spiritual, passionate, and surreal. But my taste is relatively broad and I also enjoy the work of the celebrated pinup artist Olivia de Berardinas.
Pauper: Have Any Heroes in General?
Fretté: Heroes? Well, there are a lot of people that I respect, including every inspirational figure from Oprah to J.K. Rowling to Da Vinci to Barack Obama (and maybe Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Pauper: Can You Think of Any People Who Need Cultural Enlightenment?
Fretté: Everybody! We all need to constantly immerse and enrich ourselves with culture, innovation, creativity, and progress.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
If you live in Belltown, chances are you see the Space Needle every time you walk outside, as it is literally in our backyard, but have you ever actually been to the top?
I often hear from local Satellites that the Space Needle is lame, too touristy or too expensive. While, yes, it is quite pricey to reach the top ($17/ per adult!) for a view that is not much higher than some of our condo rooftops it is still a wonderfully novel piece of Seattle. In fact, when have you seen a post card of the Seattle skyline that does not include the Needle?
For me, it is a bit different. I still get giddy when I see the Space Needle. I often take a picture when I am near it, or far from it. For me, it serves as a reminder of how I was able to move here, as I had wanted to for so long, and reminds me I am home. Plus, if you ever have been to the top, you probably know it is one of the best places in Seattle to watch the sunset over the Olympic mountains! Imagine how impressed your date will be when you bring him/her to the top of the Needle for a drink and sunset?
Now you can forget the high prices and take advantage of the Space Needles discounted annual pass! Today is the last day where you can buy an annual pass for just $29.99 (regularly $59.99.) That is less than the price of two tickets!
Here is what it includes, straight from the Space Needles website:
Take advantage of this fantastic offer, exclusive to friends of the Needle...360° x 365: Space Needle Individual Annual Pass
$29.99 (regularly $59.99)Through March 11, get our new Individual Annual Pass at $30 OFF!
Get one visit to the top each day, for 365 days, to enjoy the circular sensation that is the Space Needle Observation Deck. Other benefits include:- Up to two (2) general admission tickets per day may be purchased at 50% off.
- Use of the group sales/will call window at the ticket booth to reduce waiting time.
- Offers at SkyCity Restaurant, SpaceBase Gift Shop and SpaceShots.
- One additional complimentary Observation Deck ticket per quarter.
To purchase your annual pass, visit the Space Needle's Website!
(0 votes) (report abuse)
If you are a Seattlite, I am sure you know at least one Michigan transplant. It is no secret that the State of Michigan, and Detroit in particular, has been one of the hardest hit by our recent economic crisis. Michiganders are moving out of the state in droves to find better employment opportunities and many find their way to the Seattle area.
I am one of these many Detroiters now located in Seattle and while I love it here so much, every now and then I need a reminder of home. I get so excited when the Tigers or Lions play here (miss those Pistons coming here!!) and love catching sports games, Detroit bands, amongst other Michigan things with my fellow Michigan transplants.
Well, I can add two more taste of home to my list… Coney Dogs & Vernors cocktails!
Now if you have yet to try a Detroit Coney (also, sometimes referred to as a Michigan Coney) you are in for a treat. You start with a Koegel Hot Dog, top it with Detroit style chili (bean free), diced white onions and top it off with yellow mustard. Always wash it down with a Vernors Ginger Ale.
So, while Leo’s or Angelo’s have not decided to franchise into Seattle (for now), one local Belltown establishment has flown in the authentic ingredients, straight from Detroit, for your tasting pleasure. You can get this tasty treat every Monday night Del Rey for just $3. In addition, Del Rey will be serving $4 Vernors cocktails (Vernors & Vanila Stoli is my favorite drink ever) and will be playing the best jams from Detroit artists such as The White Stripes, Madonna, Motown, Bob Seger and everything in-between.
Del Rey is located at 2332 1st Avenue at Battery. Detroit Rock City Monday is every Monday from 4pm to Midnight. Del Rey offers Belltown residents a 10% discount on regular priced items.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Show Title: Trombones Bleu
Show Duration: February 12 – March 7, 2010
Matthew Kandegas exhibits his third and final solo show at Form/Space Atelier. Kandegas moved to Vaasa, Finland January 1, to join an intentional community of Suomi (Lapplanders) endeavoring to re-establish Suomi customs, language and culture in an urban milieu ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korsholm ). The community has built in the city a lichen farm, which, as fodder, will sustain a herd of caribou. Kandegas will retain representation by Form/Space Atelier at the request of his collectors located in Seattle, though as of press time, Kandegas was unable to say whether he would continue to create new paintings while in Finland, but said the move to Scandinavia was “permanent and irrevocable…”.
Matthew Kandegas has been described as a Post-Minimalist painter, his subjects have been figural in response to stadium rock, but in the last decade he has created only images of paperclips. Curator Paul Pauper discovered Kandegas during research for organizing a performative spectacle exhibition of Kyle MacDonald at Form/Space Atelier in November of 2007. MacDonald is an artist and author of One Red Paperclip… , an account of MacDonald’s success in trading 14 times from a simple paperclip to a two-bedroom house.
Form/Space Atelier donated a Kandegas painting from his series Trombones Jeunes to Strangercrombie 2009, his work is also in the collections of MacDonald, Lindsey Daniel, The Low Income Housing Institute, Cascade People’s Center and several other charitable organizations.
Trombones Bleu translated from the French is blue paperclips, the paintings exhibited are the latest series which began with Trombones Rouge (red paperclips) followed by Trombones Jeune (yellow paperclips). Trombones Bleu are oil on panel, mostly large scale (4 feet by 9 feet) oriented portrait.
Form/Space Atelier Website>http://www.formspaceatelier.com
New BAWMsite! Belltown Art Walk & More http://www.belltownartwalk.com
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Coming to the Gilt Edge Society Salon, March 12th, for a month long show featuring over 40 reasonably priced pieces of TV-TommyVision’s work, meet the artist from 6pm-8pm during BAWM, Belltown Art Walk & More!
TV-TommyVision
Born 1952 Newark, NJ, USA
This self-taught “Outsider Artist” creates mixed media mosaics with images evoked from his fantasies, daydreams and nightmares. TV uses a vast array of materials including broken tile, stones, coins, sea glass, river rocks, glass globules, seashells, glass jewels, pieces of metal, slate, stained glass, broken dishes, terra cotta and sea stones, many of which he has found in his travels to 22 countries. He also paints on found canvas, metal trays, wooden dollies, satellite dishes and other found objects.
visit TV-TommyVision’s Website >http://www.tv-tommyvision.net
Gilt Edge Society Website>http://www.giltedgesociety.com
New BAWMsite! Belltown Art Walk & More http://www.belltownartwalk.com
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Kim's Homemade will begin a new late night "service" offering at Cafe Lieto lovingly called Biscuit Bitch. Kim promises to be serving "food your mom would want you to eat" until 2:30 am. Who knows if your mom would be alright with you hanging out with a biscuit lady past your bedtime though. Kim's biscuits look worth a nibble and at five whole dollars, it's not going to set you back too far to give them a try.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Your fears can be cast into the fire. CJ's, the much beloved restuarant on the corner of 1st & Cedar, is not being remodeled into yet another tapas joint. CJ's has long been one of my favorite Belltown breakfast spots. It's hard to beat their scrambles early in the morning. The only inconvenience about the place is usually the massive line of little piggies waiting for their turn at the trough! But, man is it worth it!
I just got off the phone with someone at the restaurant and they calmed me down. CJ's is reopening tomorrow after being closed for the last week. They cleaned up a bit and remodeled some too. The most important part, the food, remains the same.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Then it would probably be a little something like The Warehouse Sale, which is coming to the Seattle Center October 30th. If you enjoy being caught in a crushing sea of fashion conscious people, then this is the event you've been patiently waiting for. Don't hesitate, your discounted image perfection requires a free RSVP.
What: The largest fashion sale event on the road.
Where: Seattle Center, Exhibition Hall. Free with R.S.V.P. online. When: Oct. 30 & 31. Fri., 2-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Why: Monarchy, True Religion, Rock & Republic, William Rast, BCBG, and more up to 80 percent off. Thanks to the DailyCandy for the tip on this one.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Hey folks! Well I just realized I can post things on here, but by way of introduction, perhaps I should mention I'm the new kid from Nebraska who moved to Belltown back in June. So far I just love it here and I'm having a blast getting involved and exploring my community some more.
So on that note, I wanted to share an opportunity I bumped into here.
What do you like to do on the weekends?
Do you like to go out and check out new art and films? (I heard Seattle does)
Would you rather sit on your butt and watch movies? (I know I do)
Would you be interested in going to an event that lets you do both? (WHAT!?)
Perhaps you should check out The Damah Film Festival!
What the heck is that?
A good question for the FAQ Page indeed.
Where is it and when do I show up?
October 2-3 at the Seattle Center. The tickets and schedule page might be helpful to you.
Where can I watch a sweet flash video so I don't have to read?
Um, here actually:
Damah Film Festival 2009 Promo from Damah Film Festival on Vimeo.
So that's all I have. I think I'm volunteering at this thing on Friday night, and I'd love to see some of you there!
(0 votes) (report abuse)
43 brand new Gallery condos are on the chopping block this Sunday in Belltown. Are these auctions a good deal? SeattleCondoReview has put together a cheat sheet of the sorts. It seems that the premier units in past auctions go for respectable prices, while the second tier units are usually quite a steal.
I suppose this is only to be expected. The real question is whether this glut of dumped inventory will set a new equilibrium price for Belltown real estate? We'll be sure to feature the results of the auction here - so stay tuned and good luck!
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Another successful Belltown Community Council event, the Belltown Pet Parade at the Olympic Sculpture Park brought in dozens and dozens dogs in all shapes and sizes, along with a few ferrets and a very talkative bird. Pets were judged on cuteness, ugliness, size, and talent, with winners receiving gifts from local pet shops. You can decide for yourself who won each category by looking through our gallery of pictures from the event.
(1 votes) (report abuse)
Do you have ideas on how to make Belltown a better place to live and work? Would you like to know what's going on in the community?
- How will the Bell St. Boulevard be designed?
- What's the latest community initiatives that will affect Belltown?
- Who are the city government leaders that pay attention to Belltown's concerns?
If you're even mildly interested in Belltown, you should really make the time to show up to the Belltown Community Council meeting. The next meeting is this Wednesday - 7PM at the Olympic Sculpture Park (Paccar Pavilion, main building)
Make sure you opinion is heard!
2901 Western Ave., Seattle
(Corner of Broad & Western)
PACCAR Pavilion, Main Building
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Perhaps you have heard of Restaurant.com? They are known for offering discounted gift cards to local restaurants. Often these gift cards can save you about 60% on food (and sometimes drinks) at your favorite venues.
Right now they have a special offer that is valid until September 13th at 9:00pm. Use Coupon Code "NINETY" and get a $25.00 gift card for $1 or a $100 gift card for $4.
Like with all good things most restaurants exclude happy hour or alcohol and have a minimum amount ($35 dollar minimum for the $25 dollar gift card and $200 minimum for the $100 gift card) but those minimums can be easily reached. Bottom line it's like a great coupon deal at some of your local restaurants!
There are 74 participating restaurants within 5 miles of 98121. Check them out here!
Happy Dining!!
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Hat tip to Belltowngeek for this one...
Over the last several weeks, the corner of 2nd and Bell has been torn down, cleaned up and is now already being built up. A clue from the twittersphere lead us to check out the bare side of Wasabi Bistro, where removed concrete has revealed a piece of Belltown history in the form of a logo from "Elliott Addressing Machine Co." Here's what Seattle Department of Neighorhoods had to say about it...
This modest building was built in 1950, when construction was recovering after World War II. It is of concrete construction with very large display windows and Roman brick trim, typical of the 1950s. It originally housed office and showrooms for two business machine companies, Diebold and Elliott Addressing Machine. These were typical of the types of businesses that located in Belltown at the time so that they could be close to their customers in downtown office buildings. Much of the facade has been covered with brightly-painted plywood.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Tula's is a neighborhood icon. As such, I'm embarassed to say I can count the times I've been inside on one hand. According to an article in the Weekly way back in January, they were hurting. I doubt things have really brightened up considering we're continuing a downward plunge in nearly every economic indicator. Next Wednesday, Travis Shook makes his comeback to Seattle. All about Jazz has the story of this performer who seemed headed for stardom, only to watch his dreams evaporate into a misguided story of drug and alcohol induced failure. From AllAboutJazz “I'm 40 and I feel a lot more comfortable with myself now," said Shook, a fixture on the Seattle jazz scene in the early 1990s and once considered one of the greatest jazz musicians of his generation. “That's all that matters to me. Musically, I'm a much better player than I was. But the main thing is that I'm comfortable with myself. That was my biggest hurdle." For most, that would seem a small accomplishment, but for Shook, who experienced meteoric success and sudden failure, who was addicted to alcohol and drugs, who was virtually unemployable for a number of years, this is not an insignificant step. “Comeback," is the word he settled on. Shook will perform next Wednesday night with his trio at Tula's Restaurant & Nightclub in Belltown, his first performance in Seattle in about five years.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
From our friends at Seattle Cellars
Buongiorno and hello! Come join us this Thursday evening, September 3, from 5 - 7pm for a really fun and interesting comparison of three different Italian varietals. We will have pairs of wines comparing Italian versions to Northwest versions of the same varietal - they can be very different - which ones will you prefer? The six selections include:
- Pinot Grigio: 2007 Pighin (Friuli) vs. 2008 Ponzi (Willamette Valley)
- Barbera: 2006 Michele Chiarlo "Le Orme" (Asti) vs. 2007 Desert Wind (Columbia Valley)
- Muscat: 2008 Michele Chiarlo "Nivole" (Asti) vs. 2007 Sylvan Ridge (Oregon)
Why not keep the mood going by having dinner at one of our neighborhood restaurants?
- Branzino. 2429 2nd Avenue at Wall. (206) 728-5181.
- La Vita e Bella. 2411 2nd Avenue, between Wall and Battery. (206) 441-5322.
- La Fontana Siciliana. 120 Blanchard, between 1st and 2nd. (206) 441-1045.
(0 votes) (report abuse)
TheCookbookChronicles paid a visit to (stalked) Belltown's new Bang Bang Cafe that we profiled a couple weeks ago. The tiny cafe is already gaining quite a reputation (5/5 Yelp) for delicious treats. Don't take our word for it, swing by and pay them a visit!
From CookBookChronicles
I went down there at 11am today and Miki said she had sold out of the ham scones already. So I bought an almond scone, and a sticky bun for good measure (yum). The scones are just as good as I remember–super crunchy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside. They aren’t the almost under-baked, feather-light variety, but the type that’s got a bit more body, due to the few extra minutes in the oven that give them that glorious crust. In addition to baked goods, they also have a case full of prepared foods. When I looked up the address yesterday on Yelp, I’d read that a poster claimed Bang Bang served the “Best Vegan Mac n Cheese in the City”, and I told the sisters so. A small bowl soon appeared at my table…If you’re a regular reader on this blog, it should come as no shock that I’m a huge fan of meat. And yet, this mac n cheese was so flavorful…so, un-vegan in my (admittedly myopic) opinion.
...
So there you have it–my vote for the best scone in Seattle, and a thumbs up for a delicious vegan dish that you’ll enjoy, whether you’re vegan or not.
(P.S. Miki and Yuki are the sweetest sisters, and I wish them the best in their new endeavor!)
(0 votes) (report abuse)
Our neighborhood favorite cupcakery continues to rack up the accolades. This time Seattle Weekly's "Voracious" sings the praises of Yellow Leaf's Vanilla Toffee Cupcake. If you don't remember, Yellow Leaf was voted the winner of our very own Belltown Underground Cupcake Off. Congrats guys! Seriously, if you haven't tried Yellow Leaf yet, repent and make haste. Your mouth will thank you later.
From Seattle Weekly - Voracious
5. Vanilla toffee cupcake ($2.95), The Yellow Leaf Cupcake Co., 2209 Fourth Ave., theyellowleafcupcake.com. Yeah, there's vanilla in the cake batter and the scoop of frosting, but Yellow Leaf -- the bakery we'd name Most Likely to Take Chances -- tops this cake with crumbled toffee so it bakes into a crunchy caramel layer. The Belltown bakery uses an Italian buttercream frosting for its cupcakes, and the lighter, satiny frosting looks great but can sometimes feel too insubstantial to match the bottom. Not with this one. (Another favorite right now: white chocolate pretzel.)
