Talk about a city building a big ego: another set of "Best of..." awards have been bestowed to some of Seattle's finest culinary talent in Travel + Leisure Magazine's "50 Best New U.S. Restaurants." The judges were set on finding restaurants and chefs that owned a sense of culinary ambition--okay, crazy enough to dare to open in a shaky economy--who also brought a warm, welcoming and innovative approach when it came time to cooking a meal. Entire list of restaurants after the jump. more ›

While we're all still reveling in the Academy Awards, the restaurant industry is honoring its finest as well. A slew of local chefs are semifinalists for James Beard Foundation restaurant and chef awards [pdf], with nominees to be announced on March 23. more ›

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• WaMu really can't catch a break. The Belltowner and PhinneyWood report that their neighborhood WaMu branches were robbed over the weekend.
• Mid Beacon Hill explores "cheap South End fun," including a place that should be on the hipster street-of-dreams, and the Museum of Communications. Being a tourist in your own city is totally fun, so the idea of being a tourist in your own neighborhood strikes us as completely delightful.
• So that's why we didn't have power on Saturday night in the CD. Of course, since we had no power we couldn't log on to check Central District News for updates, but it's nice to know now.

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COME ON AND SAFARI WITH ME: Seattlest's first concert of note was the Beach Boys at the Brevard County Fair in Central Florida. We walked into a trash can, and somehow that's the part of the night we most remember. John Stamos was there playing the bongos. Otherwise, we couldn't really tell you much about the show. That was 20 years ago. So, we have to kind of Salute the Boys (sans Brian Wilson) for still playing shows. Tonight's performance will benefit Children's Hospital. So you can get your "Kokomo" on and support a good cause at the same time. more ›

• According to the Belltowner, Belltown's latest Japanese street food restaurant, Kushibar, opened to full tables today.
• The latest North-Broadway-almost-10th-Avenue restaurant is opening next week. Will Poppy succeed or fail?
• Kirkland's downtown is having its first sidewalk sale this weekend. Here's to hoping for some summer days for shopping.