SEATTLE

(includes Ballard, Bellevue & Mercer Island)

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
●Ancient Grounds – 1220 1^st Avenue (Downtown); 206-749-0747; voiceplaces.com/ancient-grounds-seattle-2876110-l; coffeehouse.
●Bakery Nouveau – 4737 California Avenue, SW (West Seattle); 206-923-0534; bakerynouveau.com; both pastries and pizza; try twice-baked almond croissant, chocolate praline, and/or phoenix.
●Bluebird Microcreamery – 1205 East Pike Street, #1A (Capitol Hill, between 13^th & 12^th Avenues; 206-588-1079; facebook.com/bluebirdseattle; ice cream.
●Café Besalu – 5909 24^th Avenue, NW (Ballard); 206-789-1463; cafebesalu.com; pain au chocolat, strawberry Danish, and/or hazelnut twist.
●Columbia City Bakery – 4865 Rainier Avenue South (Columbia City); 206-723-6023; columbiacitybakery.com; good breakfast pastries; try bostok (Eastern European toast with orange and almond cream).
●Dahlia Bakery – 2001 4^th Avenue (Belltown); 206-441-4540; tomdouglas.com.
●Eltana – 1538 12^th Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-724-0660; eltana.com; try zaatar, Middle-Eastern spice blend-type bagel.
●Espresso Vivace Sidewalk Bar – 321 Broadway Avenue East (Capitol Hill); 206-860-5869; espressovivace.com; try ristretto shot.
●Fonte Coffee & Wine Bar – 1321 1^st Avenue (Downtown); 206-777-6193; fontecoffee.com; Chad & Kurt’s favorite coffee shop in whole world.
●Full Tilt Ice Cream – 9629 16^th Avenue, SW (Columbia City); 206-767-4811; fulltilticecream.com; try ube; other locations.
●General Porpoise – 1020 East Union Street; 206-900-8770; gpdoughnuts.com; really good doughnuts (yeast & egg variety) & coffee.
●Macrina Bakery – 1943 1^st Avenue South (Belltown); 206-623-0919; macrinabakery.com; try Macrina Casera (“of this house”), made with organic, wild starter (made of grapes) and/or oatmeal bread (good for sandwiches).
●Mighty-O Donuts – 2110 North 55^th Street (Wallingford); 206-547-0335; mighty.com; dairy- and egg-free; transfat and cholesterol-free; try lemon poppy seed and spiced cake with maple glaze.
●Milstead & Co. – 770 North 34^th Street (Fremont); 206-659-4814; milsteadandco.com; exquisitely crafted coffee.
●MistralKitchen – 2020 Westlake Avenue (Belltown); 206-623-1922; mistral-kitchen.com; try ultra brownie with peanut butter ice cream.
●Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee – 607 South Main Street (International District); 206-515-4000; panamahotelseattle.com; Japanese steamed bean paste and rice treats.
●Starbucks – 1912 Pike Place (Downtown); 206-448-8762; starbucks.com; 1^st Starbucks ever.
●Theo Chocolate – 3400 Phinney Avenue North (Fremont); 206-632-5100; theochocolate.com; excellent hot chocolate, too.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
●ART Restaurant & Lounge – 99 Union Street (Downtown); 206-749-7070; artrestaurantseattle.com; excellent cocktails and innovative décor.
●Bar Ferd’nand – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-682-1333; ferdinandthebar.com; wine bar and shop at Melrose Market.
●Bar Melusine – 1060 East Union Street (Capitol Hill); 206-900-8808; barmelusine.com; oyster bar; have dinner next door at Bateau.
●Barboza – 925 East Pike Street (Capitol Hill); 206-709-9442; neumos.com; more intimate, swanky music lounge, downstairs from Neumo’s.
●Barnacle – 4743 Ballard Avenue Northwest (Ballard, at Walrus & Carpenter); 206-395-9227; thewalrusbar.com; most people use aperitivo bar to drink while waiting but it is destination in itself.
●Brave Horse Tavern – 310 Terry Avenue North (South Lake Union, between Harrison and Thomas Streets); 206-971-0717; bravehorsetavern.com; beer hall.
●Brimmer & Heeltap – 425 Northwest Market Street (Ballard); 206-420-2534; brimmerandheeltap.com; neighborhood pub offering inventive bistro fare in Pacific Northwest-themed space.
●Fonte Coffee & Wine Bar – 1321 1^st Avenue (Downtown); 206-777-6193; fontecoffee.com; Chad & Kurt’s favorite coffee shop in whole world.
●Knee High Stocking Co. – 1356 East Olive Way (Capitol Hill); 206-979-7049; kneehighstocking.com; make reservation by text for this “cocktail culture” experience.
●Neumo’s – 925 East Pike Street (Capitol Hill); 206-709-9442; neumos.com; leading club for indie bands (known as Moe’s in 90s).
●Percy’s & Co. – 5233 Ballard Avenue NW (Ballard); 206-420-3750; percysseattle.com; apothecary-inspired cocktails & Southern/Creole menu; old-timey feel with brick & wood throughout.
●Still Liquor – 1524 Minor Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-467-4075; stillliquor.com; cocktails and wine in industrial atmosphere.
●Sun Liquor – 514 East Pike Street (Capitol Hill); 206-720-1600; sunliquor.com; among few American distilleries offering drink and food; scratch cocktails.
●Tavern Law – 1406 12^th Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-322-9734; tavernlaw.com; general area easily accessed; hidden upstairs sanctum by reservation.
●Tini Bigs – 100 Denny Way (Queen Anne); 206-284-0931; tinybigs.com; low-lit cocktail bar pours well-crafted specialty drinks in generous 10-oz. martini glasses.
●Unicorn Bar – 1118 East Pike Street (Capitol Bar); 206-325-6492; unicornseattle.com; aptly-named carnival-themed bar; features arcade & claw machine, as well as photo booth.
●Zig Zag Café – 1501 Western Avenue, #202 (Downtown); 206-625-1146; zigzagseattle.com; excellent drinks; grab booth; secluded lounge behind Pike Place Market; famous for Diablo (tequila, cassis, lime, and ginger ale).



FOOD TRUCKS
●Marination Mobile – marinationmobile.com; various locations; try kimchi quesadilla.



HOTELS
●Ace Hotel – 2423 1^st Avenue (Belltown); 206-448-4721; acehotel.com/seattle; party of stylish boutique chain; high fashion if somewhat Spartan.
●Hotel Andra – 2000 4^th Avenue (Belltown); 206-448-8600 or 877-448-8600; hotelandra.com; boutique.
●Arctic Club Hotel – 700 3^rd Avenue (Financial District, at Cherry Street); 206-340-0340 or 800-600-7775; arcticclubhotel.com; National Register of Historic Places structure, designed in 1916 for Arctic Club members (Alaskan gold rush veterans); tiny elevator takes you to lobby; uneven service; check out “Dome Room,” with “northern lights-inspired” ceiling.
●Hotel Bellevue – 11200 Southeast 6^th Street (Bellevue); 425-454-4424 or 800-579-1110; thehotelbellevue.com.
●Edgewater – 2411 Alaskan Way, Pier 67 (Downtown, Waterfront); 206-728-7000 or 800-624-0670; edgewaterhotel.com; among my favorite hotels in world; all rooms have fireplaces; on water; super modern.
●Fairmont Olympic Hotel – 411 University Street (Downtown); 206-621-1700 or 888-363-5022; fairmont.com; beautiful.
●Inn at El Gaucho – 2505 1^st Avenue (Belltown); 206-728-1337; elgaucho.com/inn.elgaucho/contact.htm.
●Hotel 1000 – 1000 1^st Avenue (Downtown); 206-957-1000 or 877-315-1088; hotel1000seattle.com; futuristic.
●Pan Pacific – 2125 Terry Avenue (Belltown); 206-264-8111 or 877-324-4856; panpacific.com; just blocks from Seattle’s retail hub and Experience Music Project, 160-room hotel offers eye-of-space-needle views of city; modern-organic décor; rooms luxurious; Whole Foods right downstairs; book executive king room for balcony facing both Space Needle and Lake Union.



RESTAURANTS
●Anchovies & Olives – 1550 15^th Avenue (Capitol Hill, between Madison Street & Pine Street); 206-838-8080; anchoviesandolives.com; Seattle’s best seafood restaurant.
●Aqua – 2801 Alaskan Way, Pier 70 (Belltown); 206-956-9171; elgaucho.com/Aqua-by-El-Gaucho.html; stunning waterfront location.
●ART Restaurant & Lounge – 99 Union Street (Downtown); 206-749-7070; artrestaurantseattle.com; excellent cocktails and innovative décor.
●Ba Bar – 550 12^th Ave (Capitol Hill); 206-328-2030; babarseattle.com; comfort Vietnamese food and icy cocktails; order lemongrass chicken and/or oxtail pho; also, great croissants & macarons.
●Bar Sajor – 323 Occidental Avenue South (Pioneer Square, between Jackson & Main Streets); 206- 682-1117; barsajor.com; windows vault skyward, amid punky-rococo wall hangings; wood-burning oven where rib eyes burnished to perfection; great cocktails.
●Bastille Café & Bar – 5307 Ballard Avenue, NW (Ballard); 206-453-5014; bastilleseattle.com; grows much of own produce.
●Bateau – 1060 East Union Street (Capitol Hill, between 11^th & 10^th Avenues); 206-900-8699; restaurantbateau.com; steakhouse; worth special trip.
●Book Bindery – 198 Nickerson Street (Queen Anne); 206-283-2665; bookbinderyrestaurant.com; modern American restaurant located by Ship Canal in former book binding factory; try Oregon lamb rack with ricotta gnocchi.
●Brave Horse Tavern – 310 Terry Avenue North (South Lake Union, between Harrison and Thomas Streets); 206-971-0717; bravehorsetavern.com; try brick-oven pretzels.
●Café Juanita – 9702 NE 120^th Place (Kirkland): 425-823-1505; cafejuanita.com; northern Italian cuisine.
●Café Presse – 1117 12^th Avenue (1^st Hill); 206-709-7674; cafepresseseattle.com; approximates Parisian sidewalk café, complete with chalkboard listing of week’s soccer matches.
●Canlis – 2576 Aurora Avenue North (Queen Anne); 206-283-3313; canlis.com; 180-degree Cascade Mountains, city, and Lake Union views; Seattle institution since 1950; next generation Canlis sons makes sure that everything’s perfect; chef Jason Franey (ex of NYC’s Eleven Madison Park) reinterprets Pacific Northwest classics, turning out outstanding, perfectly executed meals.
●Corson Building – 5609 Corson Avenue (Georgetown); 206-762-3330; thecorsonbuilding.com; fresh, seasonal, tasty fare; communal tables; reservations essential; check website for feel.
●Il Corvo Pasta – 217 James Street (Pioneer Square); 206-538-0999; ilcorvopasta.com; handmade pastas; rich meat ragus and bright pestos.
●Dahlia Lounge – 2001 4^th Avenue (Belltown); 206-682-4142; tomdouglas.com; fantastic, locally-sourced menu.
●Dai Tai Fung – 2621 Northeast 46^th Street (University Village); 206-525-0958; uvillage.com/din-tai-fung; Chinese dumpling house.
●Damn the Weather – 116 1^st Avenue South; 206-946-1283; damntheweather.com; for Caesar Salad sandwich; upscale gastropub doles out gourmet bar menu.
●Delancey – 1415 Northwest 70^th Street (Ballard); 206-838-1960; delanceyseattle.com; wood-fire pizza project.
●Dinette – 1514 East Olive Way (Capitol Hill); 206-328-2282; dinetteseattle.com; quintessential neighborhood restaurant; European comfort food.
●El Gaucho – 2505 1^st Avenue (Belltown); 206-728-1337; elgaucho.com; steakhouse with open grill; live piano music.
●Heidelberg Haus – 2122 Northeast 65^th Street; 206-466-5369; seattle-eats-german.com; virtually everything homemade.
●Joule – 3506 Stone Way North (Wallingford); 206-632-5685; joulerestaurant.com; wildly good, radically original food; entire menu section devoted to steaks (best of which is tenderloin with funky preserved tofu & fried shallots on top); short rib with grilled kimchi is good choice, as are several vegetable dishes, such as gai lan with walnut pesto & potatoes roasted in miso brown butter.
●Lark – 926 12^th Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-323-5275; larkseattle.com.
●Little Uncle – 1509 East Madison Street (Downtown); 206-329-1503; littleuncleseattle.com; Thai; tiny; get take out and eat at nearby Cal Anderson Park.
●London Plane – 300 Occidental Avenue South (Pioneer Square); 206-624-1374; thelondonplaneseattle.com; wine bar with small plates; also, wine store.
●Lunchbox Laboratory – 989 112^th Avenue, NE (Bellevue); 425-505-2676; lunchboxlaboratory.com; tiny burger-shake joint; try Dork burger with Boston cream shake.
●Madison Park Conservatory – 1927 43^rd Avenue East (Madison Park); 206-324-9701; madisonparkconservatory.com; Lake Washington views; expensive but worth it; New American food.
●Mamnoon – 1508 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-906-9606; mamnoonrestaurant.com; seasonal Middle Eastern cuisine.
●Maneki – 304 6^th Avenue South (International District); 206-622-2631; manekirestaurant.com; city’s oldest Japanese restaurant; excellent sushi; order silvery aji sashimi, tako-yaki (savory octopus-filled doughnut holes), black cod collar miso, and matsutake-mushroom hot pot.
●Marination Ma Kai – 1660 Harbor Avenue Southwest (West Seattle); 206-328-8226; marinationmobile.com; Hawaiian-Korean; raucous; unbelievable views.
●Marination Mobile – 1660 Harbor Avenue Southwest (West Seattle); 206-328-8226; marinationmobile.com; Korean-Latino fusion food truck; locations vary.
●Matt’s in Market – 94 Pike Street, Suite 32 (Downtown); 206-467-7909; mattsinthemarket.com; cozy bistro that builds menu around daily plenty; postcard views at tables under arched windows overlooking iconic “Public Market” sign.
●MistralKitchen – 2020 Westlake Avenue (Belltown); 206-623-1922; mistral-kitchen.com; try ultra brownie with peanut butter ice cream.
●Miyabi Forty Fifth – 2208 North 45^th Street (Wallingford); 206-632-4545; miyabi45th.com; traditional Japanese teuchi soba; chef makes each batch buckwheat noodles by hand; try seiro style, cold with hot dipping sauce on side.
●Monsoon – 615 19^th Avenue East (Capitol Hill); 206-325-2111; monsoonrestaurants.com/seattle; swanky Vietnamese.
●Poppy – 622 Broadway East (Capitol Hill); 206-324-1108; poppyseattle.com; Indian-inspired elegant food.
●Quinn’s Pub – 1001 East Pike Street (Capitol Hill); 206-325-7711; quinnspubseattle.com; dim gastropub that serves hearty dishes like braised oxtail and wild boar sloppy joes; obscure beers.
●Rain Shadow Meats – 1531 Melrose Avenue (Pioneer Square); 206-467-6328; rainshadowmeats.com; butcher shop that serves lunch; sandwiches.
●Revel – 403 North 36^th Street (Fremont); 206-547-2040; revelseattle.com; Korean food; make sure to try trademark ice cream sandwich.
●RockCreek Seafood & Spirits – 4300 Fremont Avenue North (Fremont); 206-557-7532; rockcreekseattle.com; airy, bi-level, cabinlike; sustainable seafood from worldwide sources; open for dinner 7 days weekly (4 p.m., serving food until midnight) and brunch from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays & Sundays; check out mural, huge photo-mural of wooded river with rocks.
●Salumi – 309 3^rd Avenue South (Pioneer Square); 206-223-0817; salumicuredmeats.com; owned by Mario Batali’s dad; try culatello.
●Seatown – 2010 Western Avenue (Downtown, near Pike Market); 206-436-0390; tomdouglas.com; oysters, rotisserie meats, and seafood.
●Sitka & Spruce – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-324-0662; sitkaandspruce.com; perfect for people-watching; popular Melrose Market spot; often long wait.
●Six Seven – 2411 Alaskan Way, Pier 67 (Downtown, Waterfront, at Edgewater Hotel); 206-269-4575; edgewaterhotel.com/seattle-six-seven-restaurant.aspx; beautiful views and outdoor seating; local seafood.
●Skillet Diner – 1400 East Union Street (Capitol Hill); 206-420-7297; skilletstreetfood.com; try cornmeal waffles with maple-braised pork belly.
●Spinasse – 1531 14^th Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-251-7673; spinasse.com; family-style, hand-cut egg pasta.
●Stopsky’s Delicatessen – 3016 78^th Avenue, SE (Mercer Island); 206-236-4564; stopskysdelicatessen.com; try Latkes Benedict.
●Sun Liquor – 514 East Pike Street (Capitol Hill); 206-720-1600; sunliquor.com; among few American distilleries offering drink and food; burgers.
●13 Coins Restaurant – 125 Boren Avenue North (Downtown); 206-382-1313; 13coins.com; great breakfasts.
●Tilikum Place Café – 407 Cedar Street (Belltown); 206-282-4830; tilikumplacecafe.com; try butternut squash soup.
●Tilth – 1411 North 45^th Street (Wallingford); 206-633-0801; tilthrestaurant.com; perfect Seattle restaurant: in little cottage with well-sourced ingredients; everything available in half-portions.
●Urban Enoteca – 4130 1^st Avenue South (SODO); 206-467-9463; urbanenoteca.com; 20K' square warehouse dedicated to boutique Washington wines.
●Volunteer Park Café & Marketplace – 1501 17^th Avenue East (Capitol Hill); 206-328-3155; alwaysfreshgoodness.com; once considered Seattle’s best kept secret; breakfast, lunch, dinner; great cookies.
●Walrus & Carpenter – 4743 Ballard Avenue Northwest (Ballard); 206-395-9227; thewalrusbar.com; although bills itself as oyster bar, is much more.
●Westward & Little Gull – 2501 North Northlake Way (Wallingford); 206-552-8215; westwardseattle.com; food & drinks on water.
●Whale Wins – 3506 Stone Way North (Wallingford); 206-632-9425; thewhalewins.com; vegetable-focused, wood-oven eatery.



SERVICES
●Ferry to Victoria – 2701 Alaskan Way, Pier 69 (Waterfront, Administration); 206-448-5000 or 800-888-2535; clippervacations.com/ferry; 3 hours; then 2 hours by bus (partly on ferry) to Vancouver; magnificent journey.
●Harnn Natural Home Spa – 115A Bellevue Square (Bellevue); 425-467-6300; harnnusa.com; spa; ask for Himalaya Magnolia body scrub; try to buy black rice soap (often sold out).



SHOPPING
●Andaluz – 4908 Rainier Avenue South (Columbia City); 206-760-1900; andaluzseattle.com; eccentric bric-a-brac, like cashmere wristwarmers.
●Calf & Kid – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-467-5447; calfandkid.blogspot.com; tiny cheese shop at Melrose Market.
●Elliott Bay Book Co. – 101 South Main Street (Columbia City); 206-624-6660; elliottbaybook.com; worn wooden shelves filled with new and used books.
●Kedai Makan – 1510 East Olive Way (Capitol Hill, between Denny Way & Summit Avenue); 206-422-4647; kedaimakanseattle.com; Malaysian; in former brick-&-mortar store; take-out to enjoy in nearby Volunteer Park.
●Ketch – 5317 Ballard Avenue (Ballard, between Vernon Place and 22^nd Avenue); 206-402-4589; ketchshop.com; women’s clothing boutique.
●Greg Kucera Gallery – 212 3^rd Avenue (Pioneer Square); 206-624-0770; gregkucera.com; modern sculpture and mixed media works.
●London Plane – 300 Occidental Avenue South (Pioneer Square); 206-624-1374; thelondonplaneseattle.com; wine store; also, wine bar with small plates.
●Marx Foods – 144 Western Avenue West (Queen Anne); 206-447-1818; marxfoods.com; chefs from around world shop here for rare ingredients.
●Marigold & Mint – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-682-3111; marigoldandmint.com; fragrance-focused establishment, selling flowers, Japanese garden tools, fresh herbs, artisanal chocolate bars, and vegetable seedlings (from family farm).
●Melrose Market – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); melrosemarketseattle.com; features some of city’s best independent food purveyors, as well as shops and bar-restaurant.
●Nube Green – 921 East Pine Street (Capitol Hill); 206-402-4515; nubegreen.com; clothing, gifts & homewares.
●Pete’s Wine Shop – 58 East Lynn Street (Eastlake); 206-322-2660; peteswineshop.com.
●Picnic – 6801 Greenwood Avenue North (Phinney Ridge); 206-453-5867; picnicseattle.com; wine shop, cafe & food market; offers wine by bottle & glass and diverse charcuterie & cheese items; get take-out and go to Seattle Zoo or Woodland Park.
●Rain Shadow Meats – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-467-6382; rainshadowmeats.com; great butcher at Melrose Market.
●Salumi Artisan Cured Meats – 309 3^rd Avenue South (Pioneer Square); 206-223-0817; salumicuredmeats.com.
●Sonic Boom Records – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-568-2666; sonicboomrecords.com; Northwest and independent releases; at Melrose Market.
●Sugarpill – 900 East Pine Street (Capitol Hill); 206-322-7455; sugarpillseattle.com; modern-day apothecary.
●Sun Liquor – 514 East Pike Street (Capitol Hill); 206-720-1600; sunliquor.com; among few American distilleries offering drink and food; herbs, spices & teas.
●Totokaelo – 1523 10^th Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-623-3582; totokaelo.com; men’s and women’s accessories and clothing.
●Velouria – 1501-1535 Melrose Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-623-1130; shopvelouria.tripod.com; fashion boutique at Melrose Market that carries indie and young labels.
●Ye Olde Curiosity Shop – 1001 Alaskan Way; 206-682-5844; yeoldecuriosityshop.com; taxidermy.



SIGHTS & SITES
●Ballard Locks – 3015 Northwest 54^th Street (between North 32^nd Avenue & Market Street); 206-783-7059 or 206-684-2489; seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm; full name is Hiram M. Chittenden Locks; built in 1911, providing link for boats between Puget Sound (salt water) & Ship Canal (fresh water), which connects eastward to Lakes Union and Washington; watch watercraft pass as lock water levels adjust; also popular is fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water, and to navigate locks; glass panels below water-line make possible to watch fish as they swim through ladder; just north of locks is Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden.
●Brandes House – 2202 212^th Avenue Southeast (Sammamish); nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/WA/King/state.html; Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian home; not open to public.
●Cal Anderson Park – 1635 11^th Avenue (Capitol Hill); 206-684-4075; seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?id=3102; wading pool.
●Center for Wooden Boats – 1010 Valley Street (South Lake Union); 206-382-2628; cwb.org; rent rowboats to float along Lake Union; can stop at mosaic-dotted park halfway up eastern shore.
●Chapel of St. Ignatius, Seattle – East Marion Street & 12^th Avenue East (Capitol Hill, at Seattle University); 206/296-6075; www2.seattleu.edu/missionministry/chapel; Architect Steven Holl chose “Gathering of Different Lights” as guiding concept for chapel design; metaphor describes Seattle University’s mission and also refers St. Ignatius’ vision of spiritual life as comprising many interior lights and darknesses, which he called consolations and desolations; Holl conceived of chapel as “7 bottles of light in stone box,” with each bottle or vessel of light corresponding to focal aspect of Catholic worship; light passes through each bottle in specific building area to define physical and spiritual spaces with pools of clear and colored light.
●Chihuly Garden & Glass – 303 Harrison Street (Queen Anne, at 1962 World’s Fair site); 206-753-4940; chihulygardenandglass.com; indoor/outdoor exhibition space.
●Columbia City Gallery – 4864 Rainier Avenue South (Columbia City); 206-760-9843; columbiacitygallery.com; mixed-media cooperative that offers works by local artists, including glassworkers.
●EMP – 325 5^th Avenue North (Queen Anne); 206-770-2700; empmuseum.org; Frank Gehry-designed, abstract representation of electric guitars; museum dedicated to rock & roll and science fiction.
●Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden – 3015 Northwest 54^th Street (between North 32^nd Avenue & Market Street); 206-783-7059; nws.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/LocksandDams/ChittendenLocks/BotanicalGarden.aspx; located on Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks grounds; after locks built in 1911, landscape architect US Army Engineer Corps member Carl English transformed construction site into English landscape-style garden; spent 43 years planting and tending gardens; today they contain more than 500 species and 1.5K varieties of plants from around world, including fan palms, oaks, Mexican pines, rhododendrons, and roses.
●Olympic Sculpture Park – 2901 Western Avenue (Belltown); 206-654-3100; seattleartmuseum.org; 9-acre gallery along Elliott Bay.
●Seattle Asian Art Museum – 1400 East Prospect Street (Capitol Hill); 206-654-3100; seattleartmuseum.org; Isamu Noguchi’s doughnut-shaped, onyx sculpture is work on which Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun based; also, climb nearby water tower for city views.
●Seattle Central Library – 1000 4^th Avenue (Downtown); 206-386-4636; spl.org; designed by Rem Koolhaas; stunning glass and steel exterior.
●Seattle Symphony – 200 University Street (Downtown); 206-215-4700; seattlesymphony.org.
●Volunteer Park Conservatory – 1400 East Galer Street (Capitol Hill); 206-684-4743; volunteerparkconservatory.org; city’s stateliest park; glistening greenhouse fashioned after London’s Crystal Palace; cactus room and 4 other houses; each month features different flower.
●Woodland Park Zoo – 601 North 59^th Street (Phinney Ridge); 206-548-2500; zoo.org.