The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Record Stores & Unique Food
KirbyPuckett
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hello, not only will this be my first PAX, but also my first trip to the northern west coast -- I'm from Pittsburgh, PA so it's quite a hike.
Anyways, since I'll be in the Seattle area for what could presumably be my first and last time I'd like to check a handful of things out. Two of my favorite things to do in other parts of the countries are visit their record stores and eat food that's unique to the region.
For the former, I'm looking for something that specializes in indie-rock, hip-hop and ESPECIALLY vinyl. I'm assuming since Seattle was the hot bed for rock music in the 90s and with a plethora of booming indie acts today that there has to be some great music shops in the area. Can anyone give me any information on them or point me in the right direction?
As for my tummy, what kind of food is Seattle known for? I'd rather not eat fast food or generic places that I can find at home while I'm on vacation. To give you an example of what I'm looking for -- if you come to Pittsburgh you HAVE to eat at Primanti's. It's a sandwich shop where each sandwich comes with fries and coleslaw between the Italian bread. It's hard to type how wonderful they taste, but I'm sure you get the point.
Thanks for you help!
Anyways, since I'll be in the Seattle area for what could presumably be my first and last time I'd like to check a handful of things out. Two of my favorite things to do in other parts of the countries are visit their record stores and eat food that's unique to the region.
For the former, I'm looking for something that specializes in indie-rock, hip-hop and ESPECIALLY vinyl. I'm assuming since Seattle was the hot bed for rock music in the 90s and with a plethora of booming indie acts today that there has to be some great music shops in the area. Can anyone give me any information on them or point me in the right direction?
As for my tummy, what kind of food is Seattle known for? I'd rather not eat fast food or generic places that I can find at home while I'm on vacation. To give you an example of what I'm looking for -- if you come to Pittsburgh you HAVE to eat at Primanti's. It's a sandwich shop where each sandwich comes with fries and coleslaw between the Italian bread. It's hard to type how wonderful they taste, but I'm sure you get the point.
Thanks for you help!
KirbyPuckett on
0
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
If you want a nice sit-down experience ($10 - $30) you might try Anthony's Pier 66 on the waterfront. Anthony's was started in the suburbs of Seattle and has a lot of locations now... they are a nice place, but quite casual, not stuffy feeling (you won't find many stuffy feeling restraunts in Seattle).
Also on the waterfront is Ivar's Acres of Clams on Pier 54. Ivar's has a chain on the west coast of "seafood bars" which are basically fast-food type fish & chips places. But they also have 3 real restraunts in the Seattle area... Ivar's Acres of Clams is the original, founded in 1938.
Both these are located on Piers on the Seattle waterfront... you could walk it if you wanted to devote some time, but if you're looking for a quick lunch or dinner trip during PAX and don't want to miss too much of the convention, it'd be a pretty cheap cab ride, and any cabbie should know these spots.
Also, if anyone is traveling with a few freinds and wants to have a classy dinner, or have a great dinner with your special lady (or special guy) I'd suggest Salty's on Alki Beach. Everyone thinks the Space Needle has the best views... it doesn't. The Space Needle has mediocre food, horrid service, and a rotating view... that's about it. Salty's is located across the bay and looks back at Seattle... a one of a kind view and as I understand it, great food.
I don't have time to check their prices right now, but you can find it on the site... during the summer you can take a water taxi there from one of the Piers... or if you're staying at one of the right hotels, they'll come pick you up for free (not including optional tip) limo. If you plan on hitting Salty's, I'd call ahead to make the reservation before you get in town.
Easy Street http://www.buymusichere.net/stores/easystreet/enter.html
Sonic Boom http://www.sonicboomrecords.com/
These are the two best record stores in Seattle.
Cellophane Square (used to be great but I hear they were bought by a big chain, and I haven’t been there since then)
Food:
We have a very eclectic selection of restaurants, of course we are famous for our fresh fish, and there is plenty of that to be had in town. But the true Seattle food is Thai. We have more Thai food per block than Thailand I would guess. There is also lots of great Japanese/Sushi, Chinese (the Ho Ho located just south of downtown is a Chinese restaurant in Bruce Lee’s old Kung Fu studio), Indian, Ethiopian, and Vietnamese Pho houses. And if you are dying for some southern food, try Hattie’s Hat or Pig Iron.
We have those here in Cleveland too, only they're called Panini's
Cleveland...always copying Pittsburgh! I frequent the mistake by the lake quite a bit and I've never heard of that. I think I'll be there on Thursday, perhaps I'll look it up. Is there one near the Grog Shop?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
take a day, go to Fremont, eat Taco Del Mar for lunch in the shadow of the Lenin statue (because TDM is fucking awesome and you don't have it in PA. Also, eating next to a giant statue of Lenin is just super). Then just walk down the street to Sonic Boom, they've got a pretty stellar vinyl selection, old, new, used, you name it.
Then hit Capitol Hill for Dick's at night for dinner and just walk around to the numerous record stores on Broadway. Plus then when you're all done shopping you can hit the cool bars for some hot drinkings!
twitterfacebooksteamsomemusicofminetoomuchgunshegeekshow
The neighborhood of which you speak is the illustrious Ballard, the neighborhood which most vocally protests that it ever became part of Seattle at all. Occasionallly on the anniversary of the day they were annexed, Ballardites will decorate their enclave with black ribbons, and you might also spot bumper stickers that proclaim 'Free Ballard!' (My mom, who was raised there, gave me a 'Free Ballard!' hat once.) It's all mostly a joke.
To the OP:
However, all this talk of Mexican food is making me ill. While I'm sure my parents could point you to good Mexican places, Seattle really doesn't shine for its Mexican food nor should it (we border Canada for chrissake). Aside from Seafood (where I'm particular to Chinook's, one of the lesser known Anthony's operations), Seattle probably should be best appreciated for its Asian cuisine. If you get into the International District (which shouldn't be missed in any case), check out Shanghai Garden or Bush Garden for Chinese or Japanese dinners respectively. They are the best in the state in my opinion. Fuji Sushi is good, as is Umi Sake House in Belltown (with the best nihonshu/sake selection I know of). If you can find time for a more brunch-time meal, the International District is probably the only place for 100 miles you can find good Dim Sum, for which I recommend China Gate, Honey Court or House of Hong. Seattle's Best Tea on King St. is as the name suggests.
Edit: I am rather neutral tward Thai, but if you must, Racha in Queen Anne is the place to go.
Edit edit: Also, best burgers in town: Maggie Bluff's in the basement of Palisade. I can't believe I've lived here for two decades and never known about it until last month. Their burgers are indescribable... the pinnacle of the artform, IMO.
I also maintain that the best diner in the area is Beth's Cafe.
Unfortunately, it's a bit of drive away from the convention center (85th and Greenwood, which Google says is 7 miles away).
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I can pack away one of the hugeass burritos. A mere mortal would be advised to share with someone else :P
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
"Burritos are roughly the size of a Duraflame log, so share or plan on having lots of tasty leftovers. "
haha :P
n00bs and their inability to eat a whole one themselves.
RAWR
Heeeeey, not all of us are giants like you! ;P I have a scaled down tummy so as to fit in my 5'1" self
Im going to be getting off the WCT having eaten only sandwhiches in the past 35+ hours. Im not saying ill finish a whole one. But perhaps maybe I am.;-)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
If you consider "I had about a cup of salsa left" to be finished, then I'm not a n00b.
Yeah ive done that before too. Its intense :P
Eggs are damn filling though and I haven't been able to finish a whole one though in any decent length of time.
Best food in all of Seattle? Agua Verde, which is a mexican joint just down the street from the University of Washington. Just google it, and you will find it.
Coolest record store? Err, this gets a bit tougher, but there are several awesome ones in and around the u-district as well. This is where you should hang out, this is where you will find a lot of both of what you are looking for.
Try washing that down with their Six Dollar Shake.
It's like a chocolate shake that has peanut putter and BROWNIES mixed in. It's like drinking a cake or something.
Dilettante?
http://www.dilettante.com/
A little net cafe on 9th & Pike... very close to the convention center (actually in the building complex) and being that it is a net cafe & serves handy peices of meat in bread... it would seem a logical choice for PAX goers.
Worst. Hotdog. Ever. Although that was awhile ago... I thought "oh this might be good for a quick lunch snack"... wrong.
This year since PAX is not in the burbs you aren't limited to 3 restraunts and a subway... go eat real food
Description:
Sausage in patty and link form
Bacon pancakes/waffles
Fresh squeezed (viscous) orange juice
Reservations can be made
PS3: Mentok || Steam: mentok1982 || Diablo 3: mentok1982#1212
Links: GPUReview.com My IGN activity My IGN Blog [H]ard|Forum
Did you realize that Cyberdogs is a vegeterian hotdog place? Maybe you were expecting real meat :P
I hope you saw my post on the first page re: Chinese food. After midnight you want Beth's, Minnie's, or 13 Coins.
Ugh, Minnie's... worst service evar. The Hurricane will help too, even if their service is not so hot at least there's booze. But Beth's is fantastic even if far from home base at the convention center. Seattle isn't so good for late night eateries unless you can brave the last minute rush at one of the Dick's Drive-in locations or you love waiting in drive-thru lines at Jack in the Box.
Stock up on Hot Pockets.
As for Seattle not being good for late night, have you ever even been to 13 Coins? I mean christ, 24 hr. filet mignon. Honey Court, House of Hong and Umi Sake House are also open as late as Dick's (til 2 am) on Fri-Sat. Although for cheap + good burgers Dick's is the place to be. If you have transport, it may be worth going to one of the more obscure ones like the Lake City neighborhood to avoid the crowd of bums and weirdos at the Broadway one.
There is also a 24 hr. place I haven't had a chance to try yet: Five Point Cafe, which is apparently the oldest 24 hr. restaurant in the city, est. 1929. Has quite a reputation for being rough around the edges.
It's very possible I have horribly bad luck with my dining experiences at Minnie's. I've only been to the Downtown location a handful of times, but every time I've been there I've felt invisible. Maybe it was my seating assignment (I have a penchant for getting "the new guy"), or maybe it's just my rotten luck. Most of my experiences however were at the short lived Capitol Hill location. I swear to Jimmy my friend and I sat there for a half hour waiting for our COFFEE after being seated. I still believe to this day that as soon as we got our food the staff was either shooting up in the back room or went home, because we didn't see another soul the rest of the night.
13 Coins has even been bad to me, I got the rawest of raw burgers there one night, even after I asked for it medium.
The Five Point is FANTASTIC however, as the service is prompt, but they don't take any shit. Patrons love abuse for some reason (I am currently in the service industry at least one night a week).
Another suggestion is The Mecca on lower Queene Anne: awesome greasy spoon type food in a tiny "cozy" diner.
I guess I'm wrong about late-night food in Seattle... I just don't get out as much as I used to.