Coffee Town Seattle’s
signature beverage comes in myriad forms. The rampant availability of
whole bean, latte, espresso, and basic drip created a coffee craze even
before Starbucks went global. Though Seattelites love their streetside
espresso carts and neighborhood cafés, the city is also home to
Starbucks and its major competitors, Tully’s and Seattle’s Best Coffee.
Cold coffee
Gardening Gardeners
take advantage of the weather to grow astounding varieties of plants
and trees that thrive in the mist and drizzle. Despite the short growing
season, there’s enough sunshine to keep urban pea patches and botanical
gardens as thick and green as the rainforests are tall. Kites at GasWorks Park A favorite gathering spot is a hill overlooking Lake Union at GasWorks Park. The wind patterns at this point attract kite flyers of all ages. Public Art Public art seems to grow like weeds, particularly in Fremont.
Even bus tours cruise by the incongruous collection here — dinosaur
topiaries, a Volkswagen-crushing troll under a highway, and a statue of
Lenin, from the former Soviet Union. Other installations include Waiting for the Interurban, depicting bored commuters. Code Warriors Microsoft,
its supporting vendors, and upstart competitors still employ thousands
of computer programmers and developers. Writing the killer application
inspires many an entrepreneur. The laptop user at the café table next to
yours may well be the next software mogul. Greenlake Jogs
Greenlake
attracts health and nature-conscious visitors from around the city. A
verdant setting and wide 2.8-mile (4.5-km) path encircling the lake
attracts walkers, runners, bikers, and babystroller-pushing parents come
rain or shine.
Visitors at Greenlake
Boaters on Greenlake
Readings & Lectures Many
authors make their home here, and historical fiction, music biography,
and science fiction are just a few popular genres that have taken root.
Pioneer Square’s Elliott Bay Book Company sponsors one of the region’s most treasured reading and lecture series. Historic Preservation Seattle maintains a vital link to its past through architecture, due to the remarkable success of its preservationists. Pike Place Market is one shining example, and several downtown theaters and 19th-century structures in Pioneer Square have achieved landmark status. Seattle neighborhoods reveal several restored Craftsman-style homes. Boating An
aerial view of Seattle reveals that this town practically floats in a
vast watershed. Natural and man-made canals, rivers, lakes, and
estuaries abound. Pleasure boats and commercial ships of all kinds ply
the waterways of one of the busiest and most picturesque maritime
communities in the United States. Civil Unrest When
the WTO met in Seattle in 1999, thousands of demonstrators turned the
city upside down. But that was only the most recent chapter in a long
history of civil disobedience. In the early 20th century, the
International Workers of the World unionized logging and mining
industries. Violent riots erupted in 1916 in Everett and in 1919 in
Centralia, cities to the north and south of Seattle.
Top 10 Cafés
B&O Espresso A destination for coffee, complete meals, and rich desserts piled high. Caffé Lladro This local chain captures the basic espresso requirements: consistent pours and loyal clientele. Zeitgeist They make exceptional espresso and also sponsor art shows. 171 S Jackson 206 583 0497
Fremont Coffee Company You’ll see denizens using Wifi technology with their laptops. The coffee is superb. Lighthouse Roasters They make rich drinks from freshly roasted coffee beans. Allegro Espresso Bar Keeps students, professors, and locals stoked on caffeine brewed to perfection. 4214 University Way 206 633 3030
Herkimer Coffee A tastefully designed café in the quiet Greenwood neighborhood has a faithful following seven days a week. 7320 Greenwood N 206 784 0202
Tea House Kuan Yin Offers fine teas and an ambience that’s more Zen than zippy.
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