November 2010
Scoop: Chef Blaine Wetzel on Lummi Island
World-class Chef Blaine Wetzel magically appears on Lummi Island at the Willows Inn.
It’s not every day that a chef hailing from the best restaurant in the world—according to this year’s prestigious S. Pellegrino awards—decides to relocate to our neck of the woods, let alone plant himself in a destination as unlikely as tiny Lummi Island. Chef Blaine Wetzel has done just that: He left Copenhagen’s renowned Noma…
Carnivore’s Guide: Best Steakhouses in Seattle
The mouthwatering promise of really good meat at a steakhouse
There is nothing quite like dinner at a steakhouse. The sense of occasion, the mouthwatering promise of really good meat, tip-top service and splurging on that excellent bottle of red—it all adds up to a special night out. Lucky us, we went to them all so you can better decide which fits your style. The…
Cheap Eats: Big Mario’s
Big Mario's brings a touch of the East Coast to Cap Hill
Wicked Slice: Another NYC-style pizzeria joins the fold Need proof that the Neapolitan pizza craze is being supplanted? Last month, we heralded Fatty’s Corner Pizzeria in Greenwood; this month, it’s BIG MARIO’S, another New York City–style pizza joint, which opened in mid-July next to Caffé Vita on Capitol Hill. (Vita’s Mike McConnell is a co-owner.)…
Most Influential 2010: Dave Ross and Tom Douglas
Radio host Dave Ross and Restaurateur Tom Douglas show their patriotism and democracy
On April 1, Dave Ross, host of The Dave Ross Show on KIRO-FM, opened his morning broadcast with the news that One Reel, the nonprofit organization that runs the Fourth of July festivities at Lake Union, had failed to secure a corporate sponsor and was canceling the event. It was no April Fool’s joke. “It…
Sushi Kappo Tamura: Restaurant Review
Chef Taichi Kitamura's dedication to local and seasonal seafood translates to Kappo Tamura playing w
The last time we saw chef Taichi Kitamura, he was creating gorgeous plates for a lucky few diners at the hallowed Chiso Kappo above Fremont’s Chiso Sushi. There, his manner was subdued, respectful. It didn’t seem as if he was having very much fun. At Sushi Kappo Tamura, which he opened in July, Kitamura shouts…
Sitka & Spruce: Restaurant Review
An utterly brilliant showcase for the nationally renowned chef Matt Dillon.
After everyone got over the quirky charm of such a good chef (Matt Dillon) cooking in such an unexpected place (an Eastlake strip mall), Sitka & Spruce’s near-windowless and somewhat claustrophobic dining room became something to accept, rather than something to praise. Now, however, having relocated to Capitol Hill’s Melrose Market in late May, Sitka…
Grey Matters: Expense Account
Seattle is trying to build pricey new roads while it struggles to fill potholes in the existing ones
A weird contradiction of our times is that we the public are pulled toward two opposite extremes. Specifically, we are exhorted to take on ginormous new public projects while cutting back on almost everything the government does that is actually useful, albeit unglamorous. The downtown Seattle deep-bore tunnel, the expansion of the 520 bridge over…
Style: Tailor Made with James Todd
Gene Juarez's James Todd adds a spirited twist to the Tom Ford skinny suit with pops of pattern
WHY WE LOVE HIS LOOK: It’s only fitting that James Todd has “creative” embedded in his job title. As a creative director for Gene Juarez Salons, Todd’s artistic vision extends from sleek haircuts to his thoughtful approach to suiting. “I’m notoriously formal,” he jokes about his trademark weekday attire, typically a luxe suit accented with…
Hot Button: How Green is Thy Lumber?
Seattle's green building community questions which wood is good enough
Say you’re an environmentally conscious consumer looking to build a new deck. You head to Dunn Lumber on Lake Union and stare at seemingly identical stacks of lumber. Which is the most eco-friendly? It’s hard to tell. Should you just buy the most expensive wood and assume it must be the greenest? What about that…
Shopping Around: November’s Shopping Finds
Our top shopping finds for the month
Wax OnWhen pressed on the inspiration for his new line of apparel and bags, 27-year-old Green Lake–based designer Mike Jolley looks straight down—at his tin-cloth Filson coat, passed down to him by his grandfather. A descendant of cotton farmers, Jolley has taken heritage to heart with the recent debut of his Legacy Clothing “Prospector 2011”…
Health: Fred Hutch provides phone service
Under contract with the National Cancer Institute, Fred Hutch provides a service vital to people see
Special CallingUnder contract with the National Cancer Institute, Fred Hutch provides a service vital to people seeking communication and compassion. The calls come in from anywhere and everywhere, landing in a quiet warren of cubicles inside a South Lake Union building. “I just found out I have Stage 4 cancer in my throat,” drawls a…
Parental Guidance: November
Local News, Tips, and Products for Families
The Quickie Holiday PicSlacker parents who have put off taking this year’s family holiday photo (and whose Type-A neighbors did it in September!) will be happy to know that Seattle photographer Sara Adamski (photosbysara.com) has them covered. Call it a drive-through holiday picture service, where all you do is show up at a local park…