photo courtesy of Jessa T/ yelp

Finding fresh seafood in Seattle is definitely not a problem, what may turn out to be a problem is choosing just one venue for your sushi dining pleasure. Allow me to be of assistance. Shiro’s, Musashi’s, O’shan, Nishino and Shiku top my list (which also includes honorable mentions; Kisaku, Umi Sake House, Chiso, Wasabi Bistro and Mashiko.)

Here’s the rundown in no particular order: Unassuming Shiro’s in Belltown is a favorite of locals and once inside, you find a lively, friendly atmosphere driven by knowledgeable and chatty chefs serving up fresh, authentic sushi. Sit at the bar, go for the omakase and let the chefs walk you through it.

For fresh, quality sushi on the cheap without all the bells and whistles, try the chirashi or sukiyaki beef bowl at Musashi’s in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. It’s a tiny place that usually has a long wait but the portions are generous and the prices are unbeatable. FYI, this place is cash or check only.

On the flip-side, if you’re looking to step it up a notch and money is no object, make a reservation at Nishino in Madison Park. This contemporary, upscale restaurant is known for its traditional and innovative menu. Again, like Shiro’s, the sushi chefs here are the real deal and pride themselves on providing an experience- if you can’t decide, order the omakase and let them choose the best of the best for you.

O’shan and Shiku are both in Ballard but seem worlds apart- and let’s be honest, a neighborhood can’t have too many sushi restaurants. The spice of life, etc. etc. Anyway, O’shan is a small, modern, family-owned operation with a limited but wonderful menu and a comfortable and intimate vibe. Their service is always kind and friendly and they really do live up to their tag-line: Your Neighborhood Sushi Restaurant. Eat there once and they’ll remember you and your favorites from the menu.

Shiku is more of a hip, polished yet laid back nightspot, although they also have a weekend afternoon happy hour that’s not to be missed. Their extensive offerings include creative, non-traditional rolls, an interesting izakaya menu and a full bar complete with specialty cocktails.

Regardless of your preference in sushi styles, this list will get you started on a grand tour of Seattle’s seafood offerings. Go forth and conquer.

photo courtesy of bastilleseattle.com

Seattle cares about food and loves its breakfast. A quality list of breakfast/brunch places includes Café Presse, Portage Bay, Kingfish Cafe, The 5 Spot, Glo’s and Toulouse Petit in addition to these three standouts: Bastille in Ballard, The Dish Cafe in Fremont, and Volunteer Park Cafe in Capitol Hill.

If you’re looking for a leisurely break from the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market complete with pre-lunch cocktails in a visually beautiful setting, try Bastille Café & Bar. This French-infused black and white café incorporates veggies and herbs from its own rooftop garden into the menu (try the house made granola and fresh fruit, smoked king salmon with pickled Chantrelle mushrooms, soft egg and arugula, or the classic croque monsieur), has wonderful service and is not out of the question for those dining with children. If you can plan ahead, make a reservation. It does get busy but it’s worth the wait.

Next door to Ballard in Fremont, you can find 2011’s “Best Breakfast” in Seattle according to Seattle Weekly at The Dish, but only between 7am and 1:45pm (closed on Mondays, opens at 8am on Sundays.) This casual and cozy breakfast/lunch joint has all the homemade and delicious usual suspects to choose from and draws quite the crowd. Free coffee is served for those waiting patiently and happily outside and the down-to-earth service is always with a smile.

In North Capitol Hill, stop into the warm and inviting Volunteer Park Cafe, order your coffee, house made pastry or something more substantial at the counter from the savory local, sustainable menu and find a seat at the long communal table. The vintage charm and amazing comfort food will work their magic and you will find your day off to a great start.

“Best” lists are often a matter of taste and boil down to the particulars you’re looking for in an experience as opposed to ranking in order from awesome to crap. When you’re considering music venues in Seattle, you’ll be pleased to know that there are many “best” places to see your kind of music. So in no particular order, here are your bases. Consider them covered.

For the slightly lesser known to nearly obscure musicians and indie rock bands you’ve got The Crocodile. Newly remodeled and attached to a pretty sweet back bar serving wood-fired pizza and great drinks with friendly service, this Belltown venue has a nearly 20 year history of support for the alternative-grunge scene and the claim to fame of being the training wheels for Seattle natives Nirvana and Pearl Jam. This venue is loud, standing room only and damn crowded on a good night.

The more popular, better known but not always completely mainstream or famous acts can be found at the Showbox at the Market. It’s a fairly large (for Seattle) art deco venue right on First Avenue downtown that has several bars and some seating around the periphery of a decent size floor. They pride themselves on their varied list of past performers and fittingly, the venue remains pretty neutral as far as the types of genres you can catch there on any given night.

Nine blocks away at The Paramount Theater, run by the non-profit arts organization, Seattle Theatre Group, you can find the big, mainstream acts, comedians, performance artists, and broadway shows. The interior of the 1920‘s-built theater is breathtaking but the sound is clearly better on the floor. The opulent details provide the perfect backdrop for your experience when you’re there to see a legend perform and in keeping with this sacred-space sort of vibe, the ushers and security can be pretty strict- even when the band (Widespread Panic, for example) draws a rowdy but fun-loving crowd, loosening up is not on the agenda. Compared to other Paramounts or Fox Theaters, this one is decidedly pinched, but in the scheme of things here in Seattle, also crucial.

Northwest of downtown in the Ballard neighborhood, tucked away among the little shops, bars and restaurants along historic Ballard Avenue is The Tractor Tavern. Known for their high-quality booking standards, if you prefer your music served with a side of dive bar, this is your place. It’s loud, dirty and a little bit awkward but it makes for an authentic show-going experience if you’re into the local rock/funk/singer-songwriter/tribute band sort of thing. There’s not much seating and the bathroom line is a hassle, but the sound is good and sometimes you just need a venue that’s a little rough around the edges.

Rounding out this “best” (but by no means exhaustive) list is The Triple Door, a classy, spendy, state-of-the-art dinner theater venue featuring national and local performers in an intimate space. If the act could be described as an ensemble or a trio or if it fits in or near the categories of jazz or burlesque and beyond, you may find them here. Comprised mostly of several candle-lit half-moon booths, there’s not a bad seat in the house. The sound is spot on and so is the food. The asian-fusion menu is from their popular next door neighbor, Wild Ginger. This is the perfect place to take someone on a romantic date and treat them to some of the finer things for a night.

In Seattle, if you don’t own a boat, you need a friend who does. We, luckily, have such a friend.

We were fortunate enough to be taken out sailing on Puget Sound with friends and family for my husband’s birthday on a warm and sunny day in August. Our 38 foot sail boat left Shilshole Marina near Golden Gardens beach and park area that afternoon and drifted back just in time to watch the sunset behind the magnificent Olympic Mountain range. It really is an amazing way to spend the day.  As I’ve said before, you haven’t seen Seattle until you’ve seen it from the water.

This historic Seattle feature is a unique way to see the city and take the kids on a ride the whole family can enjoy. I thought this picture provided an interesting point of view for those curious about transit and the monorail.

The caption for this photo gives the following wikipedia.org description: “The Seattle Center Monorail is an elevated monorail line in Seattle, Washington, that runs a little over one mile along Fifth Avenue from Westlake Center in Downtown to Seattle Center in Lower Queen Anne. It claims to be the “only fully self-sufficient public transit system” in the United States, and with a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), to also be the fastest full-sized monorail in the country. Owned by the City of Seattle, the line has been operated by a private contractor, Seattle Monorail Services, since 1994. The monorail trains and their tracks were given historical landmark status by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board April 16, 2003.”

For more information about transit in Seattle, visit this guide to Seattle public transportation.

Second Annual “This Is Halloween”
From October 28th through the 31st at the Triple Door, catch the Can Can’s dazzling concoction of live music, cabaret, burlesque and film inspired by Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” and starring The Can Can Castaways, The Heavenly Spies, Orkestar Zirkonium and many more. $20 advance tickets, $25 at the door. 7pm shows are all ages, 10pm is 21 and up.

Fremont Oktoberfest
Participate in the Oktoberfest that USA Today and Orbitz.com voted as one of the best. The three-day fest features two stages with live music, Sunday Dogtoberfest activities, an Oktoberfest Village with Kids Area, 5K Run, and of course a Tasting Garden offering over 80 microbrews and german beers for the adults. A portion of the proceeds go towards funding local schools, art groups and community events. Advance tasting tickets are $20-$25 depending on the quantity of tokens selected. Non-tasting admission is $15 and kids are free.

EMP’s “Can’t Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film” Exhibition
Kicked off by “Fashionably Undead Bash: A Totally Killer Dance Party” (ages 21+) at Experience Music Project music and sci-fi museum’s Sky Church on October 1st, “Can’t Look Away” is an exploration into horror featuring a collection of iconic artifacts and memorabilia including the alien creature suit from the movie Alien and interactive highlights like Shadow Monsters and the Scream Booth where visitors are encouraged to scream on cue as they watch horror film footage in a soundproof booth while a camera captures the moment for all to see. This PG-13 exhibition begins October 2nd. Visit www.empmuseum.org for ticketing info.

Photo courtesy of thetripledoor.net

Photo courtesy of Jennifer C./Yelp

Paseo
Cuban Roast
Consuming a sandwich from this Caribbean hot spot is often described as a religious experience resulting in obsession. Their most popular is the Cuban; a heavenly combo of slow roasted marinaded pork shoulder, aioli, caramelized onions, romaine lettuce, pickled jalapenos, and fresh cilantro on a lightly toasted baguette. If that doesn’t blow your mind, try the spicy Sauteed Prawn sandwich. FYI: Sadly, both locations in Ballard and Fremont are closed on Sunday and Mondays.

Other Coast Cafe
Rajun Cajun
The popular sandwich is comprised of cajun-style turkey, Pepper Jack cheese, tomato, and onion with spicy salsa mayo and is served hot. I personally go for the custom-built approach because the ingredient options are so fantastic: everything from Soy Mozzarella, Smoked Gruyere, Pesto, Oregano and Beer n’ Bacon BBQ, not to mention the Homemade Meatballs…

Armandino’s Salumi
Pork Cheek Sandwich, among others.
This family operation has some serious history in Seattle and has garnered substantial love from the culinary scene. Located downtown, there is often a line right out the door around lunchtime but anyone will tell you it’s well worth the wait. But arrive anytime Saturday to Monday and you’ll be waiting awhile as their restaurant is only open Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 4pm. Pork Cheek seems to be most popular but really, you can’t make a bad decision.

The Honey Hole
The Gooch
This Capitol Hill spot supports local food products AND the late night dining needs of the Seattle public. A standout on the menu, The Gooch, combines tri-tip beef, red onions, Tillamook cheddar cheese, horseradish mayo, and a side of au jus all on a demi baguette. Plus with 5 vegetarian sandwich options (and a beer and wine list), everyone’s happy at the Honey Hole.

Tat’s Deli
Cheesesteak/ Tat’strami
Legendary cheesesteaks from a couple of East Coast boys looking to bring some authenticity to the sandwich game in Seattle. I could describe the sandwich, but all I really need to say is that transplants from Philly love this place. The owners pride themselves on using superior ingredients, right down to the bread it’s all sitting on, and it shows. Their pastrami is also a crowd favorite.

Kiss Cafe
Thanksgiving Hangover
First of all, the owners of this place are amazing. It’s a kid-friendly and dog-friendly spot with coffee, tons of fresh and healthy choices of sandwiches (both hot and cold), wraps, salads and many rotating bottled and canned beers to try. Everyone I talk to agrees with me that the Thanksgiving Hangover, made with turkey, cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and sprouts on toasted sourdough is always good, but there are so many choices here- why pick just one?

Photo courtesy of Todd Hobert/Flickr

Many Ballard staples have closed in the past 2 or 3 years (Madame K’s, Guitar Emporium, 20twenty, Epilogue Books, and Market Street Traders to name a few) and while several properties remain empty, taunting Ballardites with sheer possibility, so many more have transformed (read: upgraded) and re-opened- hopefully to stay.

Recent home to the latest and greatest highly acclaimed Ethan Stowell venture, Staple & Fancy, and Bon Appetit magazine’s number three Best New Restaurant in America for 2011, The Walrus and the Carpenter, Ballard has hands down stepped up it’s game. On the historic tree-lined Old Ballard Avenue, new and recent businesses including the popular hiker’s craft beer haven, The Noble Fir, farmer’s market family magnet D’Ambrosio Gelato, and the divey Harlow’s Saloon are joining standbys with new ownership such as Conor Byrne. Acme Rubber Stamp Co. replacement and soon to open BBQ joint, Bitterroot, offering exclusively American whiskeys, bourbons, and beers, and The Sexton, a mysterious restaurant/lounge in prime mid-Ballard Ave are particularly exciting as these locations have been desolate for some time. Just about a block west on Ballard’s main thoroughfare, The Market Arms pub opened in 2010 for the World Cup, replacing an antique store, and over on 49th st., partners Ryan Hilliard and Adam Merkl are busily preparing their freshly re-habed warehouse space for the grand opening of Hilliard’s, a micro-brewery and taproom. Perhaps most notably, another installment of the famous Red Mill burgers is slated to open this month in the old Totem House seafood and chowder shack, a Ballard landmark dating back over 70 years and unfortunate victim of the economy. Opening as Red Mill Totem House, Ballard managed the upgrade while staying true to what the neighborhood is at it’s core- a historic fishing town that’s not afraid to evolve.

This list just scratches the surface. Some boutiques barely make an impression before they post their “going out of business” signs and predicting how long a venture will last is something of a sport these days. I simply urge visitors to Seattle to check out the neighborhoods, Ballard in particular, for themselves and do it carefully. If you blink you might miss something.

A label stating “organic” used to translate as “healthy” in my mind, but other than lack of pesticides I didn’t give much thought to what it meant. “Local” made sense, of course, although I used to occasionally complain about the higher prices; again, without giving much thought to the other costs involved with buying imported food. “Sustainable” was the confusing one – I knew the definition, but I just didn’t grasp the concept of how vital it is that we grow and raise food in a way that can be maintained for the next generation, and the one after that, and the one after that.

As with many things in life, the best way to learn about something you don’t understand is to do it yourself.

That was what first struck me when I entered the Puyallup Fairgrounds for the Mother Earth News Fair, held June 4th and 5th, 2011. The DIY attitude. A group of onlookers huddled around a man explaining the properties of a clay oven, from how to make it to how to cook in it. Young couples eagerly taking notes as a woman lectures on how to find the best land for your own organic farm. Children seated at tables learning to make cheese. Not cheez. Not “cheese flavored singles.” Actual cheese, starting with cream.

I watched a cooking demo where a chef prepared a meal of chicken breast, corn, mixed potatoes and other veggies, all completely without salt, butter or oil – and it was delicious. In another demo, another cook demystified food preservation by canning blueberry jam. Around the corner and visitors were swapping seeds with farmers.

One of the highlights of all of this for me was the crowd – all ages were represented. The kids who sampled that butter-free, salt-free, oil-free meal loved it. They watched curds form and kneaded dough with the same intensity many children have when playing video games. And I honestly lost track of the number of middle-aged or older individuals I met who were getting out of the rat race to follow their farming dreams.

When I attend conferences, I always come away refreshed and energized as a writer. I left the Mother Earth News Fair with that same feeling – motivated to be even more involved in food, to educate myself further. Just yesterday, I harvested my first veggies – arugula, pok choi and herbs – from my urban garden. And it will only get better from here on out.

Interested in checking out the fair? The next one will be held at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael, California on September 3rd – 5th, 2011.

My visit to the fair was kindly paid for by Ogden Publications, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

[all photos courtesy of the author]

I headed over to Folklife Saturday afternoon to take a few shots.

Want to check it out for yourself? It’s not too late! Folklife is going on through Monday night!