Best Mid-Week Date Night

My husband and I have been on the go busy with work and family.  We thought we needed a date night to catch up and spend some time together and could only do it on Wednesday night so we went for it.  We decided to try out some places we had never been to before in Madison Park.  First stop was...

The Madison Park Conservatory Bar- I have heard this is an excellent restaurant, but we just went upstairs to the cool bar for a pre-dinner drink.  The bar was very cool, all wood and with elegant old-fashioned style.  The cocktails were excellent and the bar tender was very friendly.  You  can get a feel of how neat it is from the pictures below.

followed by dinner at...

LUC-  I was pleasantly surprised with LUC.  The building and sign were very cute and the inside was bustling with a good crowd.  My husband and I sat near the window and liked the ambience and vibe.  The wait staff was excellent and my husband and I enjoyed a nice bottle of wine and our dinner.  I had the halibut special, perfect, and my husband of course had steak.  We enjoyed the dark, romantic, yet fun restaurant.  We were also excited when the chef came up to our table and asked how everything was.  He is a cute, French man and this was a nice touch.  Read more about the chef and his interesting story here.

Best Wineries near Seattle

I'm from California so when I think of wine country, I think of Napa Valley, but my husband calls Woodinville "wine country" where we have found some excellent wines, wineries and tasting rooms.  The unique thing about Woodinville is you get to meet all of the wine makers, hear their story and listen to how passionate they are about their wine.

JM Cellars- This is the closest it comes to Napa Valley in Washington.  The JM Cellars property is gorgeous from the meticulous landscaping to the beautiful decor inside.  There is a wood burning firepit as you walk in to the tasting room which is lit up with candles and features chunky wood decor with mirrors and lanterns covering the walls. 

JM is a family owned winery run by husband and wife, John and Peggy.  They have put their whole life into making JM a reality and have done an excellent job.  JM usually has a Chardonnay that is very tasty and has several red wine varietals that are very pleasant.  This is a must check out place in Woodinville.  Also a perfect venue for events, my husband and I are actually planning to have a joint birthday party there together.

Mark Ryan- Mark Ryan is a very well-known winemaker and does a fantastic job at it.  He has a tasteful and alternative decorated tasting room in Woodinville with rock posters on the wall and a showcase motorcycle in the middle of the room.  Mark also has a wonderful Chardonnay and the best red wines.  He names his wines after Pearl Jam songs.  Some of our favorites include Lonely Heart and Dead Horse.

Sparkman Cellars- Sparkman is a small tasting room with beautiful art on the walls and is very family friendly.  They offer juice boxes for the kids and have a play area in the corner with books, toys and a coloring table.  Very nice when you bring your two year old along wine tasting with you.  The staff is over the top nice and fun as well.  They have a large variety of wines and my husbands favorite is Kingpin, a big yummy cab.

Novelty Hill/Januik- I wouldn't say Novelty Hill/Januik has the best wines, but the venue is super cool.  It is very urban and modern including a neat gas fireplace on the wall and a fun bocci court outside.  The tasting room is big and they offer really good wood fire pizza.  This is the perfect place to go on a sunny day, get a group together and sit outside with a few bottles of wine and some pizza.  You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, watch folks place bocci ball and sip your wine in the sun.  A very nice overall experience.

Best Activity for you and your Toddler in Seattle

I stay really busy with my 2 year old.  We have tried out several local activities and have a few favorites that we have stuck with.  Check these programs out when you have a chance.

Lil' Kickers at Arena Sports- I grew up playing soccer and so when I saw that my son could start playing soccer when he turned 18 months I jumped on the opportunity to get him enrolled in the Lil' Kickers program and he loves it!  The class is once a week for almost a hour and the parents are involved helping their children with instructions.  The kids play a lot of games with the coach, learn to kick, score goals and catch bubbles with soccer cones:).  At the end they play a game with a parachute, sing songs and do a team cheer.  It is hysterical to watch and I am so happy my son is a Lil Kicker.  Oh, another plus is that the classes are heald inside at the newly renovated, heated Magnuson Arena Sports.

Safe and Sound Swim- Another fun, indoor activity to do with your little one.  Safe and Sound Swim is an indoor pool that has parent/infant (6-36 months) swim lessons.  The facility is located on Westlake just outside of Fremont.  The staff is very friendly and the pool area is nice.  You have to swim with your kiddo, but it is a blast to see them play in the water, learn introductory swim strokes and get fully dunked under the water without being scared.

Best Workout with your Baby or Toddler in Seattle

Working out becomes challenging when you start building a family.  You can't just head off to the gym or go on a run whenever you want to.  When my son turned 6 weeks I joined Stroller Strides which is a program that allows you to get a great overall body workout with your baby.  The baby stays in the stroller and you run, jump, squat, perform resistance tube exercises and a whole lot more to get you to break a sweat and get into or back into shape.  You also end up meeting other moms and there are fun activities planned for the kids after class.

Best Hotels in Downtown Seattle

My husband and I often want to go on vacation, but only have one free night and don't want to be too far away from our kids so we take staycations and hang out in downtown Seattle and then stay at a hotel for one night.  Here are our favorite downtown Seattle hotels.

Four Seasons Seattle- You can't go wrong by staying at the Four Seasons.  I love the Four Seasons Seattle.  It is so relaxing, perfect and well done in every way.  The lobby is gorgeous with fantastic wood walls and a gas fireplace to greet you.  The bar looks out at the water and is so cozy serving delicious, unique drinks and food.  The spa/gym is excellent and they have a wonderful heated pool and firepit outside with a water view.  The rooms are spacious and chic with tv's built into the bathroom mirror for a fun amenity.  My favorite place to stay in Seattle.

Inn at the Market- Seattle's only boutique hotel in Pike Place Market is very romantic.  The rooms are cozy and have a sureal view of the market and the water.  The hotel also has a roof top deck where you can see an amazing sunset and lounge areas to enjoy some snacks and drinks.

Hotel Andra- Hotel Andra is a simplistic, modern, artsy hotel that is a relaxing place to stay in Seattle.  The rooms are very affordable, stylish and comfortable.  We also like to eat next door at Lola, a Tom Douglas Greek inspired gem.  This is where my husband and I had our first date so we like to go back a lot and then stay at Hotel Andra for a little break.

Best Coffee Shop for Working Remote

Peet's (Fremont)- Peet's coffee is good no matter where you are, but the Peet's in Fremont is also a good place to work.  They have an upstairs that has comfortable chairs and tables to sit down for awhile and work.  Outlets are available and free wifi.  You can get away with having a phone conversation and it is never too busy that you can't concentrate.

Third Place Books (Ravenna)- This is a great spot to hang out and get some work done.  During the day it is pretty quiet with other folks working or having a philisophic conversation.  There is plenty of seating and outlets for your laptop.  They also have free wifi, a must.  While you work you can enjoy a tasty cappucino or even get some great Greek food from the restaurant inside, Vios.  The also have a huge selection of books if you want to grab one on your way out.

Best Romantic Restaurants in Seattle

Chez Shea- Chez Shea lives up to its beautiful name offering an impressive, unforgetable dining experience.  They serve excellent, French inspired Northwest regional cuisine.  The service is superb and the courses and timing are well thought out so you have non-rushed, enjoyable dinner. 

The restaurant has beautiful white trimmed windows that look out onto the glowing Pike Place Market sign accompanied by a water view.  Each table has red tulips on it and the restaurant is laid out so you feel like you are having a private, intimate dinner.

I have been to Chez Shea 5 times and have always loved what I order.  My favorites are the dungeones crab salad and the pan seared sea scallops.

Chez Shea is also a great place to grab a pre-dinner drink if you are waiting for your table next door at Matt's in the Market.

Canlis- It doesn't get better than Canlis.  The experience is over the top, extraordinary and flawless.  When you go to Canlis, you feel like you have escaped and are at an exclusive, mountain resort outside of Seattle.  Canlis attire is classy and dressy and a wonderful place to go for a special occasion.  The experience starts off with their valet car service.  Doors are opened for you, jackets taken and you are whisked off to your table or to the bar to have a drink while listening to a live piano player.

The menu is very extensive and all of the food is delicious.  The wine list is as big as a novel and amazing as well.  The service is the best and there is never a dull moment, small treats from the chef are brought out, your wine glass is always full and unique preparation of certain meals is done in front of  you.

The restaurant is gorgeous with tall ceilings, dark wood molding, fire places and an excellent view.  Canlis is a must, you'll absolutely love it and not want the night to end.

Serafina- Written about in previous blog.

Place Pigalle- Written about in previous blog.

Best New Restaurants in Seattle

As I get older and with 3 kids, I am more serious about that one night my husband and I get to go out to dinner with eachother.  I am always tempted to go to the places I already know I love so the night is perfect, but there is something fun about trying a new place.  It always seems risky though.  I have had some of those savored nights out turn into a dissappointment because of the way the restaurants are missportrayed online as "hot spots" or "new and notable" and don't meet up to my expectations.  A lot of times these places have bad service, are too crowded, have a few bad seating options, ambience is off and/or the portions are too small.
With that said, I have found a few new gems in Seattle that will make your one needed night out spectacular and well worth it!
Staple and Fancy- I was unexpectedly impressed with Staple and Fancy.  The restaurant is located in Ballard, love Ballard, but Staple and Fancy is on the very end of the strip so from the outside you don't get the warmth and comfort of the heart of the Ballard strip.  Once you walk in, however, the warmth, cool, urban ambience and comfort is all laid out before your eyes.  You can have a fabulous cocktail at the bar while an older, sophisticated gentleman takes your order and is very knowledgeable about all of the beverages being poured or you can have an amazing dining experience in the restaurant just off to the side of the bar.  My husband and I do both.

The menu is likeably simple, but everything on it is full of flavor and delight.  The last time my husband and I went there, we decided to branch out and do the chef tasters menu.  Basically you get brought out courses upon courses of whatever the chef wants you to have.  You can give some criteria of your palate, but it is mainly for the adventurous foodie that doesn't have any diet restrictions (for the night that is).  We were served fried anchovies, halibut, clams, more seafood, butternut squash raviolli (favorite), beef tenderloin, more food and then a raspberry cheescake to top it off.  It was unbelievable with the variety and a lot of fun not knowing what was coming next.

Staple and Fancy is perfect for a date night with your spouse, but also a new date night with someone special or even couples night out.  An overall wonderful experience everytime.

Book Bindery- Book Bindery has to be my all time favorite new restaurant in Seattle.  The venue is BEAUTIFUL and has soo much character.  The restaurant is next to a winery, Almquist Family Vintners, which adds a definite uniqueness and personality to the space.  My husband and I have done a few tastings at the winery, but I recommend going straight into Book Bindery and having a drink at the classy, chunky, white granite bar and ordering a perfect drink from "Bill".  All of the cocktails are done to taste and they also have beautiful, old fashioned champagne glasses (of course with good champagne inside).

After your pre-dinner drink, you will be escorted to a table either in the main dining room or in the greenhouse dining area.  Both are very different and enjoyable.  My favorite is the main dining room.  In the main dining room you get to enjoy a window of wine barrels looking into the winery, a perfectly constructed rustic wood ceiling, white molding as big as you could ever imagine with shelves of books and decor making you feel like you are in a luxurious reading room.  Not to mention the views of the waterway.  Ambience is an A+.

It is always amazing when you get the ambience you picture, but the service and food at Book Bindery matched with the ambience make this my perfect dining experience.  The staff is very passionate about the restaurant, they all take on different roles and are in synch to make your dining experience seemless.  The food and presentation of it is also very exquisite.  I always order the scallops and my husband always orders the beef (aka Grilled Mishima Ranch “Flavor Curve”).  I recommended ordering a few starters to make the meal complete.  My husband and I have splurged on dessert and we recommend the Smore's or Cheese Plate.

Cheers and have fun at the Book Bindery.  Oh, one more thing, Canlis is on most people's way to Book Bindery so it is fun to have a pre or post-dinner drink there as well.  It completes a perfect evening out.

Mistral Kitchen- I was a little hesitant about Mistral Kitchen being in the new, trendy Southlake Union district, evolvement, but I am glad we decided to try it.  I love the door and entrance, but that doesn't mean much.  Good thing I also loved the decor inside, the service, food and experience.  My all time favorite was when my husband said that they poured a huge glass of scotch.  I took a good look and said "no they didn't, you have an ice cube the size of a tennis ball in your drink."  They hand carve huge ice cubes and that was a fun, different touch.  They have several different dining options for your experience preference and the food is above extraordinary.

Best Boutiques in Seattle

If you are sick of the standard stores (Jcrew, Banana Republic, Gap) and are looking for something fun to wear, I love the following boutiques.

Horseshoe- Horseshoe is located on the Ballard strip and has a big selection of stylish pieces.  I love their jeans and have found some really cute tops and dresses there.  They also sell cowboy boots if that fits your style.

Le Amis- Located in Fremont is similar to horseshoe, but has more of a classy, sophisticated selection.

Burnt Sugar- Also located in fremont is a fun gift and accesory boutique.  They have fun cards, paper, books, shoes, makeup, etc.  It is the type of place where you can find the perfect gift for a dear friend.

Portage Bay Goods- Another cool boutique in Fremont.  They have an awesome selection of unique cards and a huge selection of funny gifts and toys.

Best Restaurants When Pregnant in Seattle

I was the pregnant lady that missed going out and having a "real" cocktail. I love getting dressed up and going out to eat with my husband. When I was pregnant I had a great time and still felt sexy at the following restaurants.

Serafina- What pregnant lady doesn't like the best lasagna and Italian food in Seattle? Serafina has plentiful portions and the restaurant is beautiful decorated warmly with twinkly lights. The wait staff is top notch and they keep the same faces around for years. The restaurant also has live music on the weekends. Check out their music calendar.

 

Oh and last, but not least, Serafina has a menu of virgin cocktails that make the experience very fun. There is just something cool about holding a martini or champagne glass no matter what is in it.

 

Place Pigalle- Usually I make the reservations, but my amazing husband can take credit for this one.  I spend a lot of time researching and finding the perfect restaurant to go out to in Seattle when we have the opportunity and never came across Place Pigalle.  I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived.  The restaurant is in the heart of Pike Place Market, one of my favorite spots, and has a beautiful view and lovely patio.  My husband and I sat outside and enjoyed their flavorful, french cuisine looking out at Elliott Bay and Olympic Mountain.  Of course they also served my favorite German non-alcoholic beer during pregnancy, Bitburger Drive (a yummy 92 calories per bottle).

Black Bottle- Sounds so plain, but this place is full of energy and modern buzz.  Black Bottle is located in trendy Belltown and is very hip.  The decor is simple, yet stylish, and contemporary.  The bar is full of after work happy hour goers, but you can also have an intimate small plate meal at one of the tables.  My husband like the sitting at the bar where all of the action is.  The menu has a great variety of dishes to order from and the food is local and tasty!  The bartender also made me a special virgin cocktail with lavendar and lemon, it was so delicious.