It cannot be easy, being green, shade-grown and responsible. It cannot be easy, being the butt of endless Dunkin Donuts commercials. It cannot be easy, watching McDonalds roll out espresso machines. It cannot be easy, being Starbucks. Evangelist-in-chief Howard Schultz roundly denies that Starbucks is losing its way. "Our best days are ahead of us," he says. To prove it, an extravagant product launch of a new blend, Pike Place (named for the company's......

After Seattlest arrived at the office today, saw all of these big white trailers across the street, and had our little "Well, this is unusual" moment of tilted equilibrium, we got curious. Is this another episode of our friendly German invasion of last August? Not so, apparently. We asked the security guard in our lobby if he knew what was up. He said, "They're going to shoot a movie today." Then he smiled and said,......

We’ve been watching the price of Cascadia’s happy hour hamburgers climb steadily. They were the best bargain at a buck each, but then doubled to two and are now, what, like ten bucks each? (Sadness obscures sanity.) Walk the other way from Pike Place Market, and if you can deal with a chain restaurant, you’ll find bigger burgers at McCormick and Schmick’s for just under two bucks each. And they come with cheese, lettuce,......

The 4th Annual Care for the Market luncheon, held yesterday at The Paramount Theatre, was a wake-up call for us. When we think of Pike Place Market, we picture ourselves gorging on Beecher's macaroni and cheese. We envision ourselves carrying bundles of ginormous dahlias, sampling oh-my-god-these-are-good peaches, and listening to the funky sounds of street musicians. We don't necessarily think of meals and housing for low-income senior citizens, childcare for those who can't otherwise......

When Seattlest worked closer to Pike Place Market, the obvious lunchtime choice was between crumbly, delectable tamales or hearty gyros. Now that we find ourselves in Sodo 40 hours a week, we've had to venture out and blaze a new lunch hour trail. Our heart, mind, and friend's recommendations led us to Smarty Pants, only five minutes away (plus a few, due to an inconveniently placed train)... We now believe in love again, Seattle, and......

Still lamenting Seattle’s lack of quality xiao long bao, Seattlest picked up a copy of A World of Dumplings and decided we’d start making them on our own. (Refining the recipe will take time, so don’t hold your breath on a restaurant opening anytime soon.). While thumbing through the book, we stumbled upon a recipe for our old pal, pelmeni. We discovered these Eastern European dumplings a few years ago while traveling in Juneau.......

M. Coy Books on Pine is closing, and, because we spent hours and hours there as a teenager without buying anything, we're feeling a bit jerk-ish for not having patronized the place more in adulthood. Founder Michael Coy (yeah, he founded Bailey/Coy, too) sure knows how to make us feel like a tool. He tells the P-I: "We're going to miss interaction with our customers, but we will not miss waking up in the middle......

While the city goes about with itself, Seattlest spends countless hours in an ivory tower somewhere between Pike Place Market and the Lusty Lady. We pace the floor with a hunched back, wringing our hands, wrinkling our nose and whispering, "what, what, what... is the meaning of this?" Location: 2nd and Pine. Old purpose: parking lot next to Macy's Garage. New purpose: Huge gaping hole. For at least six months now, we've walked past this......

Lunch today, walked down to a nearby grocery/deli for the best sandwich in the world (Pike Place Special). Who takes our order? Mr. Derek Fudesco of The Cave Singers, PGMG, etc... We say, Hey, you're Derek right? He says, Yeah. We say, Loving The Cave Singers, great album. He smiles real big and says, Thanks. Couple minutes later, we're walking by with our beverage. Derek says, Jack? We reply, Yes? (And we're thinking, Holy shit,......

Braiden Rex-Johnson's new book, Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining, is a fine complement to Kurt Dammeier's Pure Flavor (reviewed by Seattlest back in August). Affectionate portraits of leading players: wine makers Bob Betz Kay Simon, Harry McWatters; unique restaurants, cooking techniques, recipes. Rex-Johnson, a familiar name whose previous books include the iconic Pike Place Market Cookbook, writes a food & wine column for Wine Press Northwest and served as food editor at Seattle Homes &......

Did you know that there's only one credible real-estate industry voice in Seattle? It's a marketing firm in town that works with real estate developers. We've learned this from reading Aubrey Cohen's real estate reporting in the Seattle P-I. Here's a search on articles containing the exact phrase "Williams Marketing" -- they're quoted in at least one article per month since last November. (Who are the schmoes paying the P-I for ads when there's so......

Seattle condo, or Baltimore project? "Through the wire" by Seattlest Flickr pool contributor onejen adds a grittier perspective to Pike Place residences. (Fans of the Wire might want to check out this profile of David Simon in the most recent New Yorker...)......

Our country is in restaurant danger. In many parts of America, pizza is Pizza Hut, Mexican food is Taco Bell, and chicken is Kentucky-fried. YUM. That’s not praise, but the stock symbol of Tricon Global Restaurants, which represents that trio and is trying to reintroduce Taco Bell into Mexico after failure the first time. (Will renaming the tacos “tacostadas” and adding French fries to the menu add to the Americana appeal?) For many Americans, cheesecake......

It’s so great, they had to name it twice. Before you start belting out “New York, New York,” think again. We’re in Seattle, and we’re talking about one of New Yorker Anthony Bourdain’s favorite local eateries: Piroshky, Piroshky. Piroshky, Piroshky is easy to find. Follow your nose as it detects the sweet butter aroma that prevails over the other super smells at Pike Place Market, and you’ll soon be in line with others eager to......

It's not Yeats's centre that cannot hold, it's the right wing. For some time now, to quote The Second Coming,The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. The Dems betray us with wimpishness while the radio rethugs rush to attack phony soldiers. Further signs of unraveling: GOP house organ WSJ discovers that business interests no longer trust the GOP. Smart, those corporate business guys. Like all bullies, they can......

This past Friday, Steinbrueck Park was the site of a free, four-hour concert that punctuated Pike Place Market’s Centennial Celebration. It was a great time to be a proud, passionate Seattleite. A wonderful time to be a frugal tourist. And, despite a tiny bit of Pearl Jam-overpromising by Party promoters, a perfect time to be Seattlest. As people started to pour into the area, claiming spots in what little grass was left by the freshly-erected......

Pike Place Market’s very public Centennial Celebration wraps up this Friday, the 100th anniversary of its onion-borne existence. As with any freshly-minted centenarian, the Market will dawdle obliviously amid the avid attention of family, friends, and Willard Scott the press. To commemorate the milestone, there will be stage performances, special presentations and, as we noted earlier this week, other activities taking place from 9am on. But the candles won’t truly be lit until around......

Our land, this inlet on the western coast of the North American continent, is a fortunate one, endowed with natural riches and settled by people who do not confuse prosperity with moral superiority. Modesty becomes us; we do not flaunt our advantages. With pleasure, then, we open Kurt Dammeier's new book, Pure Flavor, which celebrates our region's bounty and offers some suggestions for simple preparations that enhance the pleasure this fare brings to our senses.......

When family’s in town, Seattlest usually troops to Pike Place Market so the out-of-towners can say they saw our city’s bustling bazaar. Though we’re not repeatedly thrilled by it, the Market is a sense-assaulting place to burn an afternoon with all-ages, crowd-tolerant kin. But it’s something else entirely beyond the northernmost booth or on the exit stairs facing the viaduct. It’s a trashy, scare-little-cousin-Susie jungle out there. Even now, with the Centennial Celebration in......

There's a film crew all set up and shooting some kind of car/shoot 'em up scene right now at 1st and Stewart. We noticed them from our office perched high above the director's chair and ran down to get some shots of our own. When we asked a woman who looked like part of the crew what they're filming, she rubbed her eyes wearily and said in a thick German accent, "German television." Um, OK.......

Yesterday we were down at Pike Place Market feasting on a Three Girls Bakery sandwich and on the way out we spotted the Seafair Pirates making their rounds. "Pardon us, pirates coming through!" they said, making their way through the molasses-like flow of tourists which we thought was probably not authentic pirate behavior. (We wouldn't be completely outraged if a pirate lopped off a head or two of the sidewalk-gawking variety of tourist who's astonished......

Oh, how we hates them! Alright, we don't hate Greenpeace. Especially not the organization as a whole. When they're not out foolishly trying to save fierce man-eating whales, Greenpeace does a lot of good in the world. Happy happy joy joy. We do, however, hate their "street team" or whatever you might call them. May we suggest "clipboard toting nuisance squad"? Seattlest works downtown so we do a fair amount of walking everyday from Pike......

According to the rental car's dashboard digits, it's 11:11 on 07 07 07, the temperature is 22.2 degrees and we've driven 333.3 kilometers since leaving Paris. What does it all mean? That would be the coincidence of crossing paths with Seattle chef Kerry Sear at the bustling Saturday market in Beaune, of all places. Normally, he's leading tours of the Pike Place Market, then returning to Cascadia to make lunch for the gang. But he's......

-- Seattle's got one. Where else can you find a Starbucks with a La Marzocco espresso machine? -- Ironically, he was flying into town for a Goldfinger reenactment event. -- Let's move more of our commute to the water, suggests West Seattle Blog. -- Turns out it's crowded at the Pike Place Market. Plan your produce trips accordingly. -- Seattle's home to a half restaurant? And you have to try it, along with 10......

Too disturbing for the Market? Lemme tell ya, we think this whole Pigs on Parade thing has gotten out of hand. You know the concept: local artists create fiberglass scultpures based on Ur-piggy Rachel, eventually sold to raise money for the Pike Place Market Foundation. One such sculptor is Colin Reedy, an Oregon furniture designer whose previous contributions include a couple of ride-em "Pork Choppers." This particular creation, titled "Prosciutto and Melon Pig," ought......

Yes, we're Folklife enthusiasts. Where else can you get a funnel cake, a hip-hop spitfest, a latin dance party, and a contest for liars, all in one place? We quoted Prince in the headline because we wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at Folklife this year. There is so much shit going on this weekend, and you don't have to drive all the way to the silly Gorge and pay through your nose......

"What's left with character in this city is the Pike Place Market and a couple of stores, and that's it." More classic Seattle grit is closing up shop. Central Loan & Gun Exchange downtown? Exit, stage gentrification. Seattlest expects another round of the ever-fascinating debate on Seattle identity: Greater Seattle vs. Lesser Seattle, mossback vs. booster, REI vs. Macy's, McQ vs. Singles. Lusty Lady vs. Four Seasons (oh wait -- they struck a balance).......

As previously mentioned, it's Cheese Weekend! The Seattle Cheese Festival is now in its third year at Pike Place Market, and this weekend will be our third time in attendance. From the amount of growth we saw between years one and two (in both vendors and audience), we're expecting that this year's event will be bigger than ever. Sure, there's educational cheese lectures and cooking demonstrations and a cheese-themed scavenger hunt for the kids,......

Down on phony farms, up for the real thing. Disturbing news in the New York Times: a middle-class family raising chickens in Manhattan. Disturbing news in the Wall Street Journal: developing suburban housing tracts as pseudo-farms. Whatever happened to real farms? Well, close to home, one of Washington's foremost producers of goat cheese, Quillisascut Farms is offering farm-stays to beginning chefs. What a great way for to start out: seeing the food grow, getting close......

Donna Giordano, a 25-year veteran of the of the grocery wars, has a lot to say about what's for dinner. As president of QFC, she runs 77 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon. But QFC is part of the giant Kroger Corp, and only a tiny part at that, so she has to convince the bean counters back in Cincinnati that Seattle shoppers care about quality. The newest QFC, which opened this week at 5th and......