Welcome to Seattle from Laura Robeck

Favorite Place for Romantic Dinner

Old Spaghetti Factory

We love the this place. There is one downtown by the piers--romantic sunset walk along the water front, dinner for two...ahhh...

Address: 2801 Elliott Ave
Phone: (206) 441-7724
Website: www.osf.com

Mamma Melina's

This little Italian place just south of 50th on Roosevelt was really good and wasn't extremely pricey either. They apparently have a pianist to serenade your dinner, but we didn't get to enjoy that. I think we went too early--5 or 5:30.

Address: 4759 Roosevelt Way NE (University District)
Phone: (206) 632-2271
Website: www.mammamelina.com

Favorite Cheap Place to Eat

It's not seattle specific, but our fav is Wendy's. Best 99 cent menu ever! The only one i know of is on Lake City and about 120th.

Favorite Park

Carkeek

Some toys for kids, some nice fields, great hiking/walking park! I think you can even go down to the beach when the tide is out, but be careful not to get stuck down there when it comes back in.

Address: 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd (northwest Seattle)
Website: www.seattle.gov/PARKS/environment/carkeek.htm

Favorite walk

Carkeek park (see above) or promenade along Lake Washington in Magnison Park. Really, really beautiful in fall or on a clear day you can see Mt. Rainier across the lake. There's a nice big hill not too far off the promenade in Magnison that apparently is good for flying kites too.

Address for Magnuson Park: 7400 Sand Point Way NE

Favorite Day Trip/Weekend Getaway

Hiking and camping at Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park. Great hikes, some short loops for the kids too. Beautiful forests!

Ferry rides to San Juan Islands or across the sound to the Olympic peninsula. Beautiful hikes in those places too. We've hiked Hurricane Ridge (Olympic National Park) and camped at Salt Creek Park (get a chance to find a bunch of sea creatures in tide pools) on the peninsula. Note: be careful when using cell phone there, we got charged for roaming on a Canadian network.

I don't remember the exact hikes we did on the San Juan Islands, but the ferry ride through all the islands was most beautiful!

Website for Rainier National Park: www.mount.rainier.national-park.com
Website for San Juan Islands: www.guidetosanjuans.com
Website for Olympic Peninsula: www.olympicpeninsula.org

Favorite Rainy Day Activity

Relaxing on the couch, bundled in a blanket with a book in hand, at least when my daughter (17 months) is taking a nap otherwise doesn't work so well. =) Love hot chocolate too! But we don't always keep a supply in our cupboards, which is probably good considering how many rainy days there are here.

Welcome to Seattle from Jenne Alderks

Favorite Place for Romantic Dinner

Casa D'Italia

Address: 2615 NE 65th St
Phone: (206) 525-7747


The Melting Pot

Address: 14 Mercer St
Phone: (206) 378-1208
Website: www.meltingpot.com

Continental Restaurant and Pastry Shop

Address: 4549 University Way NE (University District)
Phone: (206) 632-4700

Favorite Cheap Place to Eat

Subway on 25th Ave

Favorite Restaurant for the Whole Family

Anywhere that will clean up after a toddler.

Favorite Park

Ravenna Park/Cowan Park

Address: 5520 Ravenna Ave. NE
Website: www.seattle.gov/PARKS/park_detail.asp?ID=391

Favorite Walk

The Nature Trails at Ravenna Park (see above).

Burke Gilman Trail to the UW Campus.

Website: www.seattle.gov/PARKS/BurkeGilman/bgtrail.htm

Favorite place to get ice cream

QFC (its cheaper and you get more!)

Favorite Book Store

Barnes and Noble at University Village.

Favorite Mexican Restaurant

Azteca

Address: 5025 25th Ave NE # 101 (University District)
Phone: (206) 524-2987
Website: www.aztecamex.com

Jalisco

Address: 1205 NE 65th St
Phone: (206) 524-0717

Favorite Thai Restaurant

The Thai-ger Room

Address: 4228 University Way NE (University District)
Phone: (206) 632-9299
Website: www.thaigerroom.com

Favorite Italian Restaurant

Casa D'Italia

Address: 2615 NE 65th St
Phone: (206) 525-7747

Favorite Greek Restaurant

Continental Restaurant and Pastry Shop

Address: 4549 University Way NE (University District)
Phone: (206) 632-4700

Favorite Irish Restaurant

Finn MacCool's

Address: 4217 University Way NE (University District)
Phone: (206) 675-0885
Website: wwwfinnmaccools.com

Favorite Toy Store

Kids Club

Address: 4530 Union Bay Pl NE # 130 (University District)
Phone: (206) 524-2553
Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: www.shopkidsclub.com

Favorite Festival

Irish Week at the Seattle Center

Website: www.irishclub.org/irwk.htm

Winter in Leavenworth

Favorite Day Trip

Hurricane Ridge

Located in the northern half of Olympic National Park.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth is a model of a Bavarian village that is located off Highway 2 in the mountains of Washington. I think its a 2 hour drive from Seattle. They have festivals throughout the year: May Faire, Oktoberfest, Winter Festival, etc. Its a place where German heritage and culture is celebrated. They have a website that you can find out more about.

Website: www.leavenworth.org/modules/pages/index.php?pageid=1

Favorite Weekend Getaway

Olympic National Park (SolDuc Resort)

Website: www.visitsolduc.com

Forks

Small town on the west side of Olympic National Park

Favorite rainy day activity

Stay in and make playdough (tip: use food extracts, herbs and essential oils for scents)

Splash in Puddles

Favorite Museum

The Children's Museum

Address: 305 Harrison St (Seattle Center)
Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Admission:

$7.50		Adults and Children.
$6.50		Grandparents.
$6.00		Groups of 10 plus
FREE		Children under the age of one.

Website: www.thechildrensmuseum.org

Favorite Christmas Festivity

Leavenworth (see above)

Favorite Fabric Store

Pacific Fabric Store

Address: 838 NE Northgate Way
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: www.pacificfabrics.com

Favorite Playground

The playground at Kids Club

Address: 4530 Union Bay Pl NE # 130 (University District)
Phone: (206) 524-2553
Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: www.shopkidsclub.com

Cowan Park

Address: 5520 Ravenna Ave. NE
Website: www.seattle.gov/PARKS/park_detail.asp?ID=391

Favorite Parent Groups

SAHM Seattle (yahoo)

NE Seattle Moms (yahoo)
http://parentsaroundseattle.blogspot.com

Favorite Community Services

Great Start

Playgroups, information meetings, childbirth education, parenting classes, seminars, referrals to maternity care providers.

Birth and Beyond

Classes on babywearing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, moms groups.

Address: 2610 E Madison St (Madison Valley)
Phone: (206) 324-4831
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: www.birthandbeyond.com

Recommended Midwives

Tracy McDaniel (Seattle Healing Arts)

Address: 6300 9th Avenue Northeast
Phone: (206) 522-5646
Website: www.seattlehealingarts.com

Suzanne Thompson (New Life Midwifery)

Address: 10357 14th Ave NW
Phone: (206) 365-5156

Molly Gray (Seattle Natural Family Medicine)

Address: 6300 9th Ave NE Suite 300
Phone: 206.363.5555
Website: www.snfm.net & www.OneSkyWellness.com

Recommended Chiropractor

Amy Vevoda at Lake Union Wellness

Address: 235 Westlake Ave N
Phone: (206) 749-5253
Website: www.lakeunionwellness.com

Recommended Massage

Stacey Taylor (in West Seattle)

She is in West Seattle and costs $45 1 for a 1 hour massage.

Favorite Baby Supplies Store

Birth and Beyond

Great place for clothing, nursing supplies, etc. Is near Capitol Hill.

Address: 2610 E Madison St (Madison Valley)
Phone: (206) 324-4831
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: www.birthandbeyond.com

Favorite Consignment Shop

Kids on 45th

Address: 1720 N 45th St
Phone: (206) 633-5437
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Welcome to Seattle from Sheila Herrick

Favorite Romantic Dinner

Anthony's Homeport

We love seafood and Anthony's, in Ballard, always has the freshest seafood. Not only is food great but also the ambiance and plus, it is by the water.

Address: 6135 Seaview Ave NW # 2B
Phone: (206) 783-0780
Website: www.anthonys.com

Favorite Cheap Place to Eat

Gorditos

This healthy Mexican place is in Greenwood.

Address: 213 N. 85th St.
Phone: 206 706-9352
Website: http://gorditoshealthymexicanfood.com



The Thai-ger Room

This is the best Thai food for the price :)

Address: 4228 University Way NE (University District)
Phone: (206) 632-9299
Website: www.thaigerroom.com

Favorite Restaurant for the Whole Family

Varlamos

I love this place! Seriously, ever since we moved in the area, we have gone every single month! They have the best pizza.

Address: 3617 NE 45th St
Phone: (206) 522-8515
Website: www.VarlamosPizza.com

Favorite Mexican Restaurant

Gorditos

This healthy Mexican place is in Greenwood.

Address: 213 N. 85th St.
Phone: 206 706-9352
Website: http://gorditoshealthymexicanfood.com

Favorite Thai Restaurant

Thai Ginger

When I was pregnant with Geoffrey, Karl and I would eat here three times a month which of course drove him crazy! I think the price is very reasonable for the good food. The one we've gone to is on Pacific Place (downtown).

Address: 600 Pine Street, Suite 406
Phone: (206) 749-9100
Website: www.thaiginger.com

Favorite Indian Restaurant

Cedars Restaurant

I love their mango curry. There is usually a long waiting line before you get seated so you should call for an appointment beforehand.

Address: 1319 NE 43rd St (University District)
Phone: (206) 632-7708

Favorite Beach

Matthew's beach on Sandpoint

I like it because it is close and it has park like feel to it because they have a big grassy area. Another one is Golden Gardens in Ballard. Love to hang out at this beach especially between the hours of 8-10 when the sun is just setting in the summer.

Address: 9300 51st Ave. NE
Website: www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=347

Favorite Asian Market

Uwajimaya

The one we go to is the flagship store in the International district at Foulee's in Beacon Hill.

Address: 600 5th Ave S
Website: www.uwajimaya.com

Welcome to Seattle from Shellie Ford

Favorite Place for Romantic Dinner as a Couple

There are several we enjoy, but a fun, less expensive option is lunch at Piatti's in U-Village. I think some of their menu changes seasonally, but last fall we really enjoyed their butternut squash soup. It was divine!

Favorite Cheap Place to Eat

We find coupons online for pizza from Papa Johns - I really enjoy their mushroom and tomato pizza.

Favorite Restaurant for the Whole Family

We have gone to Varlamos on 45th twice. It's a family owned restaurant. On Mondays you can get a Calzone with Salad for 1/2 price.

Favorite Park/Walk

We love walking through the ravine between Cowen Park and Ravenna Park. You feel like you escape the city for a while.

Favorite Book Store

All For Kids on Blakeley Ave. just past U-Village and the entrance to Blakeley Village (Student Housing).

Favorite Mexican/Thai/Italian/Indian etc. Restaurant

I happened to be the "fly on the wall" during a conversation at a girls dessert night - enrichment activity a couple of months ago and the topic of favorite restaurants came up. I called those who had something to share (not me) later to write it all down.

American

· Red Mill Burgers – by the Zoo on the corner towards Ballard

· NW Fish and Chips – The Ave.

· Macaroni Grill – Northgate Mall

· Jack's Grill – by Pro Aerobics on 45^th

· Coastal Kitchen – Capital Hill – 2 blocks E of Broadway

· The Melting Pot – Happy Hour is ½ off (b/t 4-6 and 9-11)

· Icon Grill – by Pacific Place

· Pegasus Pizza – on Alki Beach

Greek

· Costas – The Ave.

Indian

· Cedars – on Roosevelt

· Chutney's – Wallingford Center

Italian

· Ciao Bella – Near where 45^th turns into Sandpoint Way

· PerQue No – L on Marketplace going into Ballard?

· Ponti's

· Pomodoro's – Eastlake

· Salvatori's – on Roosevelt and N of Ravenna

Mexican

· Cactus – Madison Beach

· Gorditos – 1 block past Greenwood on 85^th on the L (Burrito Grande – wet (enchilada style) feeds the masses)

· Agua Verde – bottom of 15^th by the water behind UW

Thai

· Thai 65 – The Ave

· Oripin? – Queen Anne

· Jai Thai – Fremont

· Thai Ginger – Pacific Place (Tiger Tearless Steak)

· Thai Tom – The Ave.

Vietnamese

· Bambuza – up from the Downtown Cheesecake Factory

Favorite Day Trip

Anywhere up in the Cascades - to Snoqualmie Falls or to Asahel Curtis/Denny Creek for a little hike/nature walk to the falls. It's up the I-90 corridor before you get to the pass. It's a great little walk.

Favorite Weekend Getaway

Leavenworth

Favorite Rainy Day Activity

Go for a walk with our umbrella and splash in the puddles!

Favorite Museum

There are several great ones. We don't have a favorite yet.

Favorite Christmas Festivity

Natalie (our 5 y/o) loves and often throughout the years asks if we can go back to "Candycane Lane" - it's right by Ravenna Park and all the houses have lights - you just drive through and look, Each year they have a different theme.

Favorite Fabric Store

I usually drive over 520 to JoAnn's in Crossroads of Bellevue or go up to Pacific Fabrics on Northgate Way down from the mall.
etc. etc.

Welcome to Seattle from Vicky Petrini

My Favorite Restaurants

I LOVE food. I love good and authentic food, especially the one that's reasonably priced. So, I would like to share with you some of my favorite restaurants in Seattle.

--------------------------

Favorite Mexican "Restaurant"

Hidden Taco Truck on Rainier Avenue

Yes! It is a Taco TRUCK. It's indeed very hard to find one in the Northwest. Yet, this one is not only very authentic but they serve the most delicious Mexican food I've ever tried. In fact, that's the place where I started my appreciation towards Mexican food. I've brought a lot of friends there and they all fell in love with the place instantly. It's also a cheap eat. A little over $30 for four people including a satisfying dinner, drinks and left-over to take home.

I don't remember what my favorite food is called because I always just point to the picture. Yet, everything there is good. For those of you who are not afraid of strange food, they cook the cow stomach perfectly (I mean taste wise). Shredded pork in a taco is also one of my favorites (that I know how to name it).

Location: Rainier Ave S & Court St. The truck is parked at an abandoned parking lot. Kind of hidden, especially on a rainy day when they have a tent on. You may miss it easily. If you pass the Seattle Public Library Branch on Rainier when you are heading south, you already miss it. Then, turn around. When you see the first nice, new apartment building on your right with a Seattle Municipal Credit Union sign on the first floor of the building (not a very big sign), the truck should be on your left.

For the newbies in Seattle, this truck is in a kind of rustic neighborhood (that's part of the reason why it's so authentic). So, I recommend that you visit the truck for lunch instead of dinner.

Oh, remember, cash only.

------------------------
Favorite Seafood Restaurant
Chinook
It has yummy seafood and comfortable and family friendly dining environment. It's also right next to the water. You can have a little walk at the Fisherman's Terminal before or after your meal. Although this restaurant is very famous, it's pretty reasonably priced. I recommend the silver salmon. Just under $20 and you can enjoy Seattle's most famous seafood. That's my must-go stop when I have friends visit.
1900 West Nickerson Street Seattle, WA 98119
PH: (206) 283-4665 Fax: (206) 283-3705
http://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/info/chinooks.html

------------------------

Favorite Chocolate Cafe

The Dilettante on Broadway
http://www.dilettante.com/Default.aspx

Being an LDS in a coffee town sometimes can be annoying. This cafe provides a nice spot for LDS to gather with friends. The chocolate products they serve are quite good (although it's still not as good as European chocolate). This place serves the second best chocolate that I've had in the States. As a chocoholic who can eat chocolate with 90% coco with no sugar, I would rate it a 3.7 star out of 5.

This cafe was founded by an inactive member from our stake. At the back of the restaurant, there is a little family history with the history of the founding of the restaurant. The restaurant was found 1898 and the recipe was from France. So, it's kind of neat. Unfortunately, now, the restaurant started selling products that have coffee or alcohol. So, be careful when you order.

My favorite is a chocolate cake that's the size of a coffee cup. It's very rich and it melts right in your mouth with a little chocolate texture lingering for a little while. Sorry, I don't know the name of the cake but it's the only cake that size that is shown in the fridge.

Welcome to Seattle from Michele Lamb

Favorite Toy Store

Top Ten Toys in Greenwood. They have toys from infants through elementary school. Dress up, cds, instruments, games, puzzles, arts & crafts, construction, outdoor toys, etc. Located at 104 N 85th St (by Fred Meyer's on 85th).

Favorite Outdoor Activity

Another fun thing we like to do is rent canoes from the UW and paddled around under 520 and by the arboretum. It's a fun, easy way to get on the water and very peaceful even though you are close to 520! Here's some information on the Waterfront Activities Center from their website:

The center for water sports is located directly behind Husky Stadium on Union Bay and the Montlake Cut. Activities include canoe and rowboat rentals.

Canoe & Rowboat Rentals

UW Students	$4.00/hour
UW Faculty/Staff	$5.50/hour
UW Alumni	$7.00/hour
General Public	$7.50/hour

Cash or check ONLY (no debit cards!)
Call 543-9433 for more information.

Another fun place to rent kayaks is the Agua Verde Cafe & Paddle Club. 1303 NE Boat St in the University district on the ship canal. Mexican restaurant (usually crowded but moves pretty fast) with outdoor dining, rent kayaks around the back.

www.aguaverde.com

Favorite Tourist Attraction

The Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard - This is a fun, FREE place to walk around the gardens, look at the fish ladder when it's salmon season, watch the boats go through the locks, and have a picnic. (No bikes) It's a great place to take guests. The Locks are especially busy (which is good) on Friday and Sunday evenings when the boats are going out and coming in but anytime is a great time.

Welcome to Seattle from Andrea Bonaccorsi

Favorite place to get ice cream

Scoop du Jour in Madison Park.

Favorite toy store

Izilla’s on 12^th between Pike and Madison (Jude the owner is super friendly and always willing to help me pick out a gift) or Magic Mouse at 1^st and Yessler.

Favorite walk

The lake trail in the arboretum. Start at the MOHAI parking lot and walk along marsh and foster islands. It can be really wet so wearing rain boots isn’t a bad idea and late summer is best time.

Favorite book store

Elliott Bay Books.

Favorite Christmas Festivity

Lots of good ones in town but the gingerbread houses downtown are always fun. topped off with a ride on the carousel and a visit to the teddy bear suite at the Fairmount hotel (I don’t think it’s that great but my kids like it).

Favorite Thai Restaurant

Ayutthaya on Capital Hill.

Favorite Indian Restaurant

Chutney's on Capital Hill.

Favorite Italian Restaurant

Cafe Lago on 24th in Montlake.

Web site: www.cafelago.com

Favorite park

Discovery or Carkeek.