Seattle

Table of Contents

An eating tour

After waiting 5 years, I finally visited Seattle. A longer story condensed into a paragraph: In 2019, I was looking to move to a tech hub city. See the sights; dive into more tech culture. I had two job offers—Seattle and Austin. A quick look at cost of living, and I chose Austin and said “I’ll visit Seattle” …and then 2020 kicked off: Covid, shut downs, layoffs, moves, and finally—I was able to get out there.

I fully embraced the tourist experience, and saw as much as I could fit in.

Tangletown Public House

Location -> https://maps.app.goo.gl/qzDWCZgqpwDPQvaq8

I landed. Got an Uber to my Airbnb, and checked out the spots around me. After about 6 hours of traveling I was up for something I could get to with a nice walk. At the corner of N. 55th St. and Kenwood Pl N. I found Tangletown.

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Google Maps -> https://maps.app.goo.gl/qzDWCZgqpwDPQvaq8 Menu -> https://www.tangletownpublichouse.com/menu

This place was exactly what I needed. Easy, simple, hearty food, good drink. The perfect find after flying across the country. I walked in, the hostess greeted me, and said pick any table you want—this place is already perfect.

I started with the Aging Barrels old fashioned which was great. Nothing exciting about it, but that in no way means anything negative. It’s made with Elijah Craig. There ya go 🤷‍♂️

I ordered the TangleTown burger: a basic 1/3 lb burger with Provolone and fries. The whole thing came with a side of cold pickled veggies (cauliflower, onions, and carrots). Living in the South, this was kind of weird, but I liked it. Some cold, freshness to contrast the rest of the plate.

For dessert, I tried the espresso martini—my first one, actually. Chocolatey, smooth, and well-balanced.

Zoka Coffee Roaster & Tea Company

Location -> https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZJj2CFSgRQ9S8LdB7

This place. I went back multiple times. I don’t know if it’s normal to have a “regular coffee place” on a week-long vacation, but this became it for me.

Mighty ‘O Donuts

Location ->

Mighty O’ was the other shop I would frequent in the mornings to fuel-up before the day’s adventures. I’m careful to say the other “shop”, because this place serves coffee but is first and foremost a donut shop.

Pike Place Market

  • apple cider
  • grilled salmon
  • Beecher’s mac ‘n cheese
  • frozen greek yogurt place

Local Breweries

Freemont Brewery

Flying Bike

Flying Bike was a great place right off Greenwood Ave. An airy spot, a great beer selection, and I loved the street side seating. It seems like it would be noisy, but late in the evening it made for great people-watching.

While this place doesn’t serve food, if you want a good bite, walk next door to Halcyon for some bar bites that hit the spot.

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So much great food

Seattle surprised me with so much incredible food. After all of that great food though I needed to get out and burn it off. What better way than to go for a hike.

A Walk in Tech

Several years ago, I wrote a school paper on the relationship between tech and general society. It wasn’t a great paper, but it was full of questions and observations I’ve continued to ponder some 15 years later.

Also… I have finally taken a trip to visit Seattle. A city I’ve been looking forward to exploring since 2019 when I chose a job in Austin versus one in the rainy city. The cost of living made the choice for me. I vowed to visit. And then…the 2020 pandemic kicked off shortly after. But I’m here now, four years later.

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So, how do these two ideas (experiences?) fit together? Across this trip I’ve noticed how intimately small tech advancements, conveniences are intertwined to make this a better experience. Well, “better” in my experience, perhaps this is more normative for others.

— writing this on the last night…

Sitting in Pacific Inn, drinking a whiskey Coke. Indie grunge rock is playing. The pub is a buzz with chatter. The bartenders’ commentary drifts in and out as they dance from one side of the bar to the other. My whiskey Coke will be empty soon as I eavesdrop on alternating conversations, never entirely catching each one, but apparently the vagabond in the alley outback has crossed a line.

This is my third night here this week. It’s exactly what I was looking for. A neighborhood place, open late, modest, humble. Locals vying in the reviews for it to have the best fish and chips completes the picture. I’m sitting at the bar with my laptop open writing this, and no one cares. I love this place.

Eating Through Seattle

Day 1—Saturday

Tangletown Public House

Day 2—Sunday

  • Pacific Inn: fish and chips

Pike’s Place Market

  • apple cider
  • Jack’s Fish Spot (verify?)

Day 3—Monday

Day 4—Tuesday

  • Dick’s burgers
  • The 5 Point Cafe (french dip + au jus, jojos, and an old fashioned)

Day 5—Wednesday

  • Laredo’s: Mexican, fish tacos
  • Murphy’s Pub
  • Dick’s again, huckleberry ice cream

Day 6—Thursday

  • Coffeeholic: Vietnamese coffee
  • Pike Place
    • apple cider
    • Beecher’s: mac ‘n cheese
    • Hellenika: frozen yogurt

Day 7—Friday

  • Kinza (teriayki in Gig Harbor)
  • Susanne’s (coffee in Gig Harbor)
  • Ba Bar (Vietnamese, lemongrass vermicelli)