LowCountryIslander

A question for Seattle Fodorites...

I'll be spending 3.5 days in Seattle over the Labor Day weekend, arriving on a Saturday afternoon and leaving on a Wednesday morning.

I've been To Seattle twice before but never explored the Capitol Hill neighborhood and I've very keen to do so this time. I've been juggling around what daily activities I want to do and when I want to do them.

I was thinking I could go to the Seattle Asian Art Musuem on Sun. Sept. 3rd in the morning (they aren't open on Mon & Tues) and then maybe have brunch somewhere in Capitol Hill and after brunch browse in the local shops. But, since this would be a Sunday and a holiday weekend too, would the neighborhood shops be open in the afternoon?

hipvirgochick

I live on Capitol Hill and love the neighborhood. Yes, it should be pretty hoppin' Labor Day weekend. Bumbershoot is also that weekend so there will be a lot of activity around Seattle Center.

happytrailstoyou

Shops should be open.

If you want a special dinner, book a table at Poppy. The service is sometimes wanting, but the food is different and wonderful: http://poppyseattle.com/

One of our favorite places for lunch is Boom: http://www.boomnoodle.com/v2/

You may enjoy seeing a movie at The Egyptian or Harvard Exit--two interesting theaters.

The Frye Art Museum on nearby First Hill is a great place to spend time and admission is free: http://fryemuseum.org/

We like to walk downtown via Pike Street (interesting) and then catch the #10 or #43 at 4th and Pike Street if we don't feel like walking back.

You may find discounts at Goldstar for a cruise or event that interests you: http://www.goldstar.com/events/browse/98101

HTTY

LowCountryIslander

I knew I could count on Fodorites! Thanks!

Now I can plan to go to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma on that Monday!

HappyTrails...I've already checked out Poppy's website...looks pretty interesting. Was thinking of maybe doing Sunday brunch at Monsoon...any thoughts on that?

bardo1

Even better, if you don't a hotel yet (or if the one you have is can be cancelled), consider staying IN Capitol Hill - there are some very nice B&B's in the area. "Going local" affords the best Capitol hill experience, IMHO.

http://sbmansion.com
http://www.mildredsbnb.com/
https://sites.google.com/site/mozart...seattlebb/home
http://seattlehillhouse.com/

There are LOTS of GOOD restaurants in the area - my fave:
http://www.smithseattle.com/

There are many others along 15th between Mercer and Thomas.

hipvirgochick

Monsoon is good. Love Coastal Kitchen for brunch too. Kingfish Cafe is awesome for lunch or dinner. Agree with happytrails on Boom Noodle, lots of choices there and very tasty. Barrio is a nice place for happy hour and food.

happytrailstoyou

HappyTrails......Was thinking of maybe doing Sunday brunch at Monsoon...any thoughts on that?

Monsoon is a short walk from our house; it is very established and highly regarded. The food is good. We've been there a couple times but we don't like the dining room (gloomy) and on our visits the wait staff made a big show of lavishing attention on two or three tables while ignoring everybody else.

On Capitol Hill, we have friendly, cheerful service when we eat Japanese at HaNa or Boom, Korean at Kimchi, Vietnamese at Pho Cyclo, and Thai at Jamjuree.

We liked Coastal Kitchen twenty years ago. I used to go there regularly for a delicious plate of Hoppin' John Cakes served with several side dishes. That masterpiece was scratched from the menu a decade ago. The Coastal Kitchen menu changes every quarter to feature a different cuisine (currently Buenos Aires). This is well beyond the ability of the line cooks who work there, which is probably why brunch is their busiest meal (with crowds hanging out on the sidewalk).

Today we went to Lunchbox Laboratory which has been nationally recognized for its hamburgers. The burgers are good, but the dining room was too noisy for comfort and the simplest burger on the menu cost $14.50 with tax and 20% tip. It was served by a woman who tried four times to get us to buy a strawberry shake.

HTTY

PS My opinion of restaurants is colored by the fact that we are both very good cooks; we go to restaurants for a pleasant diversion and to eat food of the kind we don't cook or that is reported to be the best of its kind.

LowCountryIslander

Thanks for all the great recommendations and comments. They are very much appreciated.

Another question...I am aware there is a free ride area in the downtown area, but is there any type of transit pass geared toward visitors available in Seattle? I was just in San Francisco and made very good use of the 3 day Muni pass there and rode all over the city on buses/streetcars. I was wondering if Seattle had a similar type of pass? Also, if not, can bus tickets be purchased on buses, or can I buy tickets from a central location or even a ticket machine/kiosk?

Thanks!

happytrailstoyou

That SF pass is great. Seattle doesn't have one. Here is a link to all Seattle transit information: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ridefree.html

LowCountryIslander

Thanks for the link!