Seattle Symphony
In a city where people attend every event in gortex jackets, birkenstocks, or hiking boots, the Symphony is one of few reasons here to dolled up for a nice evening out. The Symphony attracts world-renowned artists and plays both traditional classical music favorites as well as world premieres. Ticket prices for single performances are comparable to those in other major US cities, averaging about $50 for a decent seat. And what better place to feel elegant than by attending a concert at Benaroya Hall! The acoustics are impressive, and the layout beautiful, with gorgeous lighting and nine different types of wood adorning the walls for both acoustic and aesthetic reasons. You can tell there was a lot of thought put into the design of the entire building. Giving the Seattle Symphony this home really helped launch Seattle into the status of a major, cultured metropolitan US city.
Keepsake Cottage Fabrics
Keepsakes customers are those who take their quilting seriously. Unlike at Hancocks or other generic craft chains, you can find high-quality and specialized quilting tools here, not to mention unique fabrics for whatever your project requires. They also hold classes on quilting and applique for beginners and experts alike. This store is located in the Country Village area of Bothell too, so be sure to allow enough time to check out some of the other crafts and antique stores in the complex and have some fine tea at the tea house.
Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU)
Ive always been a fan of credit unions over banks, thanks to their services and fee structures. We have a credit union in another state, and being members of BECU allows us to deposit checks or withdraw directly into and from our other account with no fees. Actually, all you have to do to qualify as a member is be a WA state resident. Because of its size, BECU also has additional perks not offered by other credit unions, such as having a dedicated department to work with the Small Business Association to provide business loan support, an added benefit for members.
Honda Of Kirkland
Normally I dont head to dealers to fix my car, but Ive gotten such good service at Honda of Kirkland that theres no reason to look elsewhere. I didnt buy my car here, but the service Ive received has always been excellent, which, believe it or not, has not been the case at other Honda dealerships Ive tried in other places. If the service takes longer than your schedule allows, they will offer you a free rental (they gave me a new Honda Civic!) until your car is ready. Once, when I got a tune up, I asked them to fix a couple of other things on my car, which they did for free. Granted a tune up is no small change, but they could have easily charged me extra for the other requests, so I appreciated the thoughtfulness.
Ivory Wood Apartments
Ivorywood was built in 2000 and changed management a few times (its now run by Equity Residential). If you dont work for Microsoft or dont need to live in Redmond, you might want to try this complex, since youll easily pay at least $200 less per month for the same apartment. The complex comes with underground parking included, a 24-hour gym, and the office and maintenance staff has always been friendly and responsive. Sometimes a plus, access to Seattle can be easier since you just go around the lake instead of having to cross the bridges.
Marymoor Park
For all your outdoor recreational needs, head to Marymoor Park. They have rock climbing, a velodrome, organic gardens, soccer fields, a remote control airplane field, and of course, their famous off-leash dog park. During the summer they hold concerts in the evenings (this years headliner was Allison Kraus). As for the dog park, its 40 acres of romping fun, one of the very few dog parks in the area with access to water, every dogs dream!
V R Tveidt & Assoc
Tveidt since its one of the largest business brokers in the area. But from a buyers perspective, we were not overly impressed with either their listings or service. Their forms and agreements are more restricting than those of other business brokers, and they demand more detailed information upfront. Despite the additional requirements, their listings were not very interesting, so we were not sure at all what benefit we were getting in return as buyers. Sellers may feel differently. As usual, remember who brokers work for, and be sure not to limit yourself to just a few.
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
To be honest, this is a great museum for those who love science fiction. Several years ago, they had a Star Trek exhibit, and it was sold out for weeks. Theres a certain amount of self-selection going on, though, and as someone who does not like the genre at all, I would strongly recommend going elsewhere. Since there are so many museums built around Seattle Center on purpose, if you have guests coming to town, let them know they can pick and choose from among this one, the rock n roll/music museum, and the Pacific Science Center as several of these offer joint ticket pricing together.
Museum Of Flight
If I had to choose, this would be, hands-down, the must-see thing for everyone to see in Seattle. Forget the Space Needle. Forget Pike Place Market. And believe it or not, its even far better than the Air & Space Museum in DC. Its incredible collection and displays include the Concorde and SR-71 Blackbird. Even three hours is not enough time to see the whole museum, so plan on spending at least half the day and coming back in the future.
Salon Pecoaro
Ive been to this salon three or four times, each time with a different hairstylist. Since I always go for cuts (not color), Ive been satisfied with what theyve done. Theyve been able to accommodate me as a walk-in to get a maintenance trim, which makes it easy since theyre conveniently located, and I feel I can trust their skills more than someone at a Great Clips, for example. However, for a serious cut, I would still recommend going to Halo or another more established salon where you can establish a relationship with a hairstylist who specializes in your needs.