Just a sandal’s throw away from the vegan pizzeria Pizza Pi and not one but two head shops, is Sidecar for Pigs Peace. I like to call this area Little Woodstock. Sidecar, a vegan goods store owned by the Pigs Peace Sanctuary, is a vegan treasure trove run by wonderful people working for a worthy cause. All proceeds go to the non-profit Pigs Peace Sanctuary, which provides amnesty to abused and abandoned animals and spreads “the message of compassion and respect for all animals.” Sidecar packs a lot into their tiny space, including packaged vegan snacks, canned soups and proteins, frozen entrees and delicious sandwiches made fresh every day. If you’re wary of feeding mystery meat to Fido, check out their line of vegan pet food. And they don’t just cater to the stomach. They also offer various and sundry guilt-free wares from adorable handmade wallets and bags to greeting cards. It’s a little known fact in the omnivore world that vegans are experts at desert-making. So even if you don’t abstain from the dairy, you will have no regrets about stopping in for some chocolate or a donut. The little piggies will be glad you did.

5270 University Way NE 98105
206-523-9060
www.sidecarforpigspeace.com

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May 29, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Everybody knows that kids can be cruel to one another, particularly when it comes to dress. A wise Prince once sung about the dangers of letting your parents choose your clothes, risking ridicule by your peers. If you don’t want to be counted among the parents who “just don’t understand,” make sure your offspring is fashionable from day one. Your youngster can be the hippest baby around, sporting a Johnny Cash or Radiohead onesie. Dress your little girl in a leopard print coat over a rockabilly style dress. Don your little boy in a racing stripe jacket and Beastie Boys T. And don’t even get me started on shoes. How I wish I could have pink kitty heads on MY Mary Janes. Sizes run up to six so your little juniors will get a great head start in the cool department. After that, they’re on their own.

6405 Roosevelt Way NE 98115
206-522-4322
www.poptots.net

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May 12, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

I passed by it a hundred times without a second glance. With a name like New China Express, what could possibly be unusual about it? It sounds like the sort of bland Chinese you would find in the food court at the mall. But one day, when I got a menu in the mail, I added it to my delivery menus pile. And then the day came that I was too hungover to leave the house. I needed food brought to me STAT! Chinese was the way forward. And then my eyes fell upon the all important word combination: “New China Express–Free delivery.” Well, why not? What’s the worst that could happen? I ignored exploring the answers to this question and picked up the phone. 25 minutes later, a modern-day apothecary arrived on my doorstep carrying the Tofu with Soft Egg rice and some golden egg rolls. It smelled amazing and tasted even better. It was a miracle cure in a Styrofoam box. I’ll be honest. I haven’t ordered from New China Express under ordinary circumstances. But I can personally attest to their usefulness after an errant Saturday night.

4232 University Way NE 98105
206-632-5833

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May 8, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

In terms of being a bar with a moderately European beer selection as well as convenient locale for a drink pre or post movie at the Guild, Murphy’s succeeds. In fact, that’s the only time you’ll really want to go to Murphy’s–when it’s convenient. Otherwise, it’s an unremarkable destination. It’s a cookie cutter Irish-themed bar with large TVs broadcasting “the game” and cozy looking couches in front of a stately fireplace. There are usually plenty of quaint “pub-like” seats available for spur-of-the-moment visits. They serve their beers in a “proper pint glass” and they have prerequisite signs for Guinness and Jameson. But there is nothing REALLY Irish about Murphy’s at all and it makes the place feel dead inside. On top of that the service is PAINFULLY slow. You would do well to order two drinks at a time, especially if you have somewhere to be. This is not an exaggeration and is universally agreed upon by every Murphy’s patron I have ever met. Also, don’t be fooled by their full menu of allegedly spot-hitting food like grilled cheese and burgers. You’d think it would be impossible to screw up melting cheese onto toasted bread. You’d be wrong.

1928 N 45th St 98103
206-634-2110
www.murphyseattle.com

X-Posted from Not For Tourists.

May 7, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

In December, 2007 another system joined the ranks of Seattle novelty transportation (already populated by the monorail and the waterfront trolley). It was originally called the South Lake Union Trolley, bringing opponents of the $10.5 million joke more fodder for the clever t-shirt cannon. “Ride the S.L.U.T.” t-shirts sold out in record time. Sadly, those behind the S.L.U.T. caught on to the unfortunate acronym and changed the name to the Seattle Streetcar. However, they still wouldn’t admit to it being a colossal waste of time and money. Construction seriously gacked up the already congested downtown traffic for a year and a half to build the 2.5 mile line that crawls from Fred Hutch to Westlake Center. People have reported being able to watch that stretch faster.

I curse that little S.L.U.T. on a daily basis as it runs through my walk signal, preventing me from getting to the only real public transportation this city has: the Metro bus. How many times did we vote for and were ultimately denied an expansive monorail system again? I guess they learned their lesson. Don’t ask the people what they want. Tell them.

www.seattlestreetcar.org

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May 5, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: 1 Comment

X-Posted from Not For Tourists.

Lovers of kitsch (myself included) can’t help but be drawn in by the fifties-style blue exterior of this converted gas station. Continue to delight in the knick-knack adorned walls and velvet paintings of the interior. If you’re like me, you may also recognize their Ikea chairs. But the sign outside Blue Onion Bistro isn’t boasting “Seattle’s Most Comfortable Dining Room.” No, no. It’s “Seattle’s Best Comfort Food.” That is, if “comfort” is code for “greasy.” Blue Onion’s menu of traditional down-home cooking is served for dinner (excluding Monday) and weekend brunch. Dishes like Chicken Fried Steak and Hotdog Mac and Cheese Bake are delicious for the first couple of bites, but soon become overwhelming if you aren’t used to that much oil. If you decide to clean your plate, know that the meatloaf you just inhaled is going to take up residence in your stomach for the next 12 hours. The vegetarian dishes aren’t exempt from the oil-sploitation either. If your mama raised you on heavy cooking, you’ll feel right at home at the Blue Onion. But I prefer to get my comfort from a bento box.

5801 Roosevelt Way NE 98105
206-729-0579
http://www.theblueonionbistro.com

March 28, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: 2 Comments

X-Posted from Not For Tourists.

If 5000 square feet of games and booze is hell, I’m happy to go there. OK, so I suppose that in the full swing of UW’s school year, the inferno does lap at your nerves a bit. But when school’s out, the adults can fully enjoy all that Dante’s has to offer. And it offers much. Every night of the week is dedicated to some sort of big-kid merriment: Karaoke Mondays, Beer pong Tuesdays, Trivia Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays with PBR specials. The weekend is reserved for DJs and live music. Most Saturdays, you can hear DJ Motor spin decent hip hop. On Sundays, cheer for the local sports teams while scarfing down the manna that is their Nacho Fiesta Bowl. And, like any bar between NE 42nd and Ravenna, Dante’s attracts the most colorful of drunk folk, so even without students, there’s nary a dull moment. Bonus: Apparently, Dante’s was a favorite hangout of lady-killer Ted Bundy. Discuss.

5300 Roosevelt Way NE 98105
206-525-1300
http://www.myspace.com/dantesseattle

March 18, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

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Local food god Tom Douglas owns Belltown with his unique gourmet twists on everyday foodstuffs. The man is so beloved by his patrons that he could probably start a cult. I might even be among those who would happily slurp his Kool-Aid cocktail. Serious Pies, his take on the family pizza joint, is no deviation from his food mastery. The menu is small but won’t fail to please any palate. The brick oven pizza crust, made next door in the Dahlia Bakery, is crisped to perfection. The toppings, both in terms of flavor and quantity, are in perfect harmony. If you are a fan of truffles, you will absolutely devour the roasted chanterelles and truffle cheese pizza. More extensive is their beer and wine list which is set to compliment any order. The family-style seating is a little cozy but makes the upscale food seem a little more accessible. One pie, along with an appetizer, comfortably serves two, making this the perfect casual date spot. The two of you can discuss theories about their logo and what exactly the little guy has caught on fire.

316 Virginia St 98121
206-838-7388
http://tomdouglas.com/serious/index.html

March 17, 2008
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment