Our Favorite Seattle, WA, Restaurants

A list (with address, phone numbers, web sites (if available), and our personal notes) of our favorite Seattle restaurants is up.

You might think, and it would be totally fair to think this, that we plan trips around eating.  While not exactly true, we do enjoy eating locally wherever we go (with one exception).  As  you will notice if you look at the Pre-Travel Research Tool in the Travel list,we have certain favorite restaurants we look for (a kind of a challenge to get to them all) and certain favorite types of restaurants (like German or brew pubs) we also seek out.

Part of our research for a new trip location also includes using our networks -- alumni directories, my personal Facebook account, local friends, and hotel personnel -- to seek out treasures to try.  Our philosophy is:  "It can only be bad once."  Thus, you will notice that we only listed restaurants we like and return to each year.  And, we'll continue to update the list -- I have a nagging feeling I've forgotten one or two. 

For Seattle, the first restaurant we tried was based on a recommendation from a friend who had lived there.  It was so good (food, service, great view) that we ate there three times!  And, we've made a habit to call our friend from the restaurant each trip to the restaurant to thank him.

We tried another restaurant based on a food road trip on one of the PBS' cooking shows.  Several restaurants were based on looks or smells.  One restaurant we might not have found on our own or given it a second look, except that several staff at the Inn at the Market recommended it.  Another restaurant we now enjoy has the double bonus of having a former Albuquerque, NM, favorite bartender working there as a server.  We celebrated his engagement the last time we were there, at the restaurant.

Now, alas, we have so many favorites, we "have" to eat smaller meals but visit more restaurants each day -- a rough way to vacation...but heck, someone has to do it.

Will work on neat bars in Seattle, next.  There are several places that have great atmosphere, friendly bartenders, and a nice selection of bottles at the bartender's disposal.  Sometimes, it's just nice to chill for a bit in cool place.

New Content and Going Public

I've added our list of favorite Albuquerque, New Mexico, restaurants.  This is the list we share with friends who are visiting.  Working on similar restaurant lists for San Diego, CA, and Seattle-Puyallup-Tacoma-Enumclaw, WA.

I have also "gone public" -- added the blog site (and my puny Youtube site) to my facebook information and in my e-mail signature.

I have another "movie" scripted; need to set up and take the pictures to integrate.  It will be about getting better positioning of layers on cards.

A work in progress....progressing.

I made a "video"!

Since I don't have a video camera, yet, but wanted to share this technique, I fiddled around with pictures and Microsoft Movie Maker.  After several false starts, I got it done, and managed to load it up to my Youtube channel (named, surprise, surprise, craftytravelfrog).

It's there on Youtube, called BigBackgroundStamp 0001, but I haven't figured out how to use the Blogger video gadget to display the video.  So, click on BigBackgroundStamp 0001 to see it.

Phew!

CraftyTravelFrog Blog Rules, version 1

One has to have some rules at the beginning -- otherwise, one ends up making up rules on the fly and confusing everyone (at the least).

Rules are not (as far as CTF is concerned) cast in concrete.  Something that sounds like a good idea turns out to be not so good.  Something that didn't seem like it would be a big deal, turns out to be one.

1. Keep it respectful, readable, and clean -- My posts and your comments.  I am a grammar and spelling freak (so, of course, something of mine will end up being spelled incorrectly or ungrammatical). 
2. Keep it on topic -- nothing too personal -- My posts .  That's not what this blog is about.  I'm not planning on sharing every aspect of my life; just those things that might be useful to others.
3. Keep it honest -- My posts.  I will say if we didn't have a good experience somewhere but will do my best to provide the context and allow that maybe that (event, person, store) wasn't having their best day.  See rule #1.
4. Keep it accurate.  To the best of my ability, all links will work and be current.  I won't link to something I haven't tried, visited, or used.
1. That might mean I haven't necessarily ordered a product from a site but have enjoyed their videos or blogs.  See rule # 3.
5. Keep things safe.   I will not identify when I am on travel.  Trip reports will be posted after we are back home.  I'm sure you can understand why.

My first post...

I suppose every new blog has to have "the first post"; so here's mine.

I do like to travel and friends ask me for my tips and suggestions on the places my DH and I have visited.  Will share those in the (future) travel section.

I started making cards (under serious adult supervision of the best Stampin' Up demonstrator, Kathy Morgan) about three years ago and am continuing to grow and learn.  Will be dipping into altering projects along this creative journey and will share what I've learned (good, bad, and ugly) in the (future) crafting section.

I have sewed in the past and am working on getting back into that; I also want to begin quilting.  I promise to share in the (future) fabric section.

And, when it's not 100 degrees, I love to cook and bake.  Now that I'm not working, I will be starting a sourdough starter and playing with that.  With just a spousal unit, we don't need all the results of the baking -- so we share with a couple of favorite restaurants.  Will share our local favorites in the (future) New Mexico section.

This blog is a work in progress -- heck, I'm a work in progress.  I've kept the format pretty simple to start and will add and configure things as I go.  I'll be working up some "CraftyTravelFrog Blog rules" to help me govern myself and how the blog is presented.  That will be in a future posting and saved as a document somewhere on the blog (as soon as I can figure out how to do that).


Be patient with me -- I'm learning this stuff as I go!