One Day Wander

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Description:

With its wrought-iron gates, courtyard of palm trees, and plush seating in the octagonal Fireside Room, the Sorrento, which first opened its doors in 1909, has a classic elegance and old-world atmosphere. The guest rooms here are among the finest in the city: No two are alike, and while most are set up for business travelers, this hotel also makes a great choice for vacationers. Although more than half the units are suites, many provide little more space than you get in a standard room, so you may not want to splurge on an upgrade here. The hotel is set high on First Hill, yet downtown is only a few (steep) blocks away. If you'd rather not walk, there's a complimentary shuttle service in a vintage London taxi cab. The hotel's dining room has the feel of a 1950s supper club, and in the Fireside Room, you can get light meals, afternoon tea, and cocktails and catch live jazz at night.

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Description:

Pike Place Market, originally a farmers market, was founded in 1907 when housewives complained that middlemen were raising the price of produce. The market allowed shoppers to buy directly from producers and thus save on grocery bills. For several decades, the market thrived. However, World War II deprived the market of nearly half its farmers when Japanese Americans were moved to internment camps. With the postwar flight to the suburbs, the market was never able to recover from the war years, and by the 1960s, the market was no longer the popular spot it had been. When it was announced that the site was being eyed for a major redevelopment project, a grass-roots movement arose to save the 9-acre market and eventually, the market was declared a National Historic District.

Today the market is once again bustling, but the 100 or so farmers and fishmongers who set up shop on the premises are only a small part of the attraction. More than 150 local craftspeople and artists can be found here, selling their creations as street performers serenade milling crowds. Hundreds of small specialty shops are scattered throughout the market, plus dozens of restaurants, including some of the city's best. At the information booth almost directly below the large PIKE PLACE MARKET sign, you can pick up a free map and guide to the market. Keep an eye out for low-flying fish at the Pike Place Fish stall, and be sure to save some change for Rachel, the market's giant charity piggy bank.

Victor Steinbrueck Park, at the north end of the market at the intersection of Pike Place, Virginia Street, and Western Avenue, is a popular lounging area for both the homeless and those just looking for a grassy spot in the sun. In the park, you'll see two 50-foot-tall totem poles.

To get a glimpse behind the scenes at the market and learn all about its history, you can take a 1-hour guided Market Heritage Tour (tel. 206/774-5249 for information and reservations). Tours are offered Wednesday through Friday and Sunday at 11am; the cost is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and children under 18. Reservations are required and should be made at least a day in advance (by 4pm on Fri for Sun tours). Tours depart from the market's Information Booth at the corner of Pike Street and First Avenue.

The market's "Gum Wall" is a bit of a sticky subject. No one can agree whether it is art or just a disgusting form of litter. Maybe you'll have to decide for yourself. You'll find the chewing-gum-covered wall just down Pike Street (actually a cobbled alley) from the market information booth. The wall is across the street from the Alibi Room bar.

Also, if you're going to be in town in October, consider attending the annual Feast at the Market (tel. 206/461-6935, ext. 160; www.pikemed.org/feast), a showcase for food from market restaurants.

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Our Local Expert Says:

This museum is internationally recognized for its excellent collection of Asian, African and Native American art, and for its fine collection of modern art produced by Pacific Northwest artists. The permanent collection includes 21,000 pieces, and while it doesn't have huge collections of European art, it does have plentiful local art and wonderful visiting exhibits. The museum is centrally located downtown near the waterfront and Pike Place Market.

Description:

Seattle Art Museum has recently expanded and the new building houses a much more extensive and impressive collection of modern art in addition to world class collections of Native American, European, African and Asian art. The permanent collection is housed in a bright airy corridor, and spans several floors. Modern pieces playfully juxtapose traditional European works; an Andy Warhol shares space with a John Singleton Copeland and touring exhibits occupy the original structure. Brancusi and Botticelli anchor the second floor. If you've been disappointed by the original Seattle Art Museum, don't let your first exposure prevent you from experiencing the new Seattle Art Museum, the collection is outstanding and the arrangement of the art is in itself a creative endeavor.

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Description:

Built for the 1962 World's Fair, this 605-foot towering structure may also rate as one of the nation's most recognized structures...and one of its most overrated tourist traps.  The $22 adult day-and-night ticket is about as steep as the Needle itself, and one's wait in line will often exceed the time spent at the top.  The views are free and just as impressive atop the Columbia Tower nearby on Fifth Avenue.

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Description:

On First Hill not far from downtown Seattle, this museum is primarily an exhibit space for the extensive personal art collection of Charles and Emma Frye, Seattle pioneers who began collecting art in the 1890s. The collection focuses on late-19th-century and early-20th-century representational art by European and American painters, with works by Andrew Wyeth, Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper, Albert Bierstadt, and Pablo Picasso, as well as a large collection of engravings by Winslow Homer. In addition to galleries filled with works from the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year.

Description:

Licorous, whose original name means, "tempting the appetite" and "relishing good food," is an ultimate spot that serves great, affordable food and cocktails. The chefs prepare a variety of dishes that are available for order late into the night. Their cocktail menu is diverse and you might even get to enjoy an original mix as the bartender often experiments with new concoctions. Licorous is uniquely decorated in orange and salmon colors that creates an atmosphere of escape from the outer world.

Description:

You wouldn't think to look at it, but this little neighborhood restaurant on a somewhat run-down back street on Capitol Hill has an impressive pedigree. Chef Jonathan Sundstrom formerly headed the kitchen at the W Seattle's Earth & Ocean restaurant, but Sundstrom fled the downtown financial district in favor of the 'hoods and opened this far more casual bistro. The menu consists of dozens of small plates that you should assemble into a meal to fit your appetite. The menu changes with the seasons, and it pays to be adventurous. You might try carpaccio of yellowtail with preserved lemons and green olives, seared foie gras with rhubarb and spring onions, or rabbit salad with asparagus and herbs. Cheese lovers take note: The cheese list here is one of the best in the city, and whether you order some as an appetizer or as an end to your meal, be sure to try something off this list.

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Our Local Expert Says:

The most sublime bar in Seattle, hidden from the general public just off Madison on Boren, this lounge has high ceilings lit by chandeliers and flanked by a long green vinyl bench where the local hipsters sip on martinis and cocktails made with fresh squeezed juice. The walls are covered by works by local artists and the bartenders are always happy to snap a polaroid of you and your friends.

Description:

Described by the owners as a 'five-year performance art installation with a full bar', you just know that the place is going to be nothing short of unique. This eclectic loungey hangout is a Mecca for the creative arty crowd in Seattle. You are free to write, draw, act or interact with other patrons, whatever your creative heart desires! The velvet curtains, dark corners and large chandeliers - all add to your sense of impending drama. After you get used to the slightly weird atmosphere, indulge in the great variety of alcohol and nightly specials of drinks and appetizers that this place offers.