Seattle: the home of Frasier, Grunge and Culture.
BY SARAH HAMILTON
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Lying south of the Canadian border, Seattle is Washington state’s jewel, in an unassuming crown. Without the glitz and hype of Los Angeles or the bustle of New York: Seattle is often overshadowed by America’s other great cities. However, this northern gem is definitely worth exploring. Set on a beautiful coast against a backdrop of mountains you won’t be disappointed. Seattle still hangs on to its rugged grunge edge, but this only adds to the charm.
TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT
Arriving at the airport couldn’t be easier. Take a quick elevator ride up to either bus 194 (from the south end of baggage claim, door 2) to downtown or grab a yellow cab. A taxi ride will typically cost you $25 – $30 and take around 25 minutes.
TRAVEL IN AND AROUND THE CITY
Getting around the city is no problem; with green electric buses running every few minutes.
HOTELS AND HOSTELS
For a good cheap place to stay, head to the Green Tortoise Hostel on Pike Street, share a 4 bed dorm for $20 a night. With free Wi-Fi, computers, breakfast and dinner twice a week, this place is a favourite with many travellers. For somewhere a little more comfortable, try the Mayflower Park Hotel just two blocks down on Olive Way. Here a room will set you back around $200 a night.
SHOPPING AND STARBUCKS
Go shopping between Pike Street and Olive Way. There is a Macy’s here (don’t forget to show your passport for a discount), an Old Navy, Abercrombie and Fitch and lots more. However, a shopping trip to Seattle wouldn’t be complete without a walk around the famous Pike Place Market. Bustling with locals, fresh fruit, fish, cakes, cookies and coffee you could spend all day here, eating, drinking and shopping.
This area is big on coffee culture and was in fact the birth town of the first ever Starbucks (find it about 200 metres along the main stretch). On Sundays this area hosts BBQ grills but for an even heartier meal head to Pike Place Brewery and try micro ale while you’re there – the vintage cider is pretty good too!
THE HOME OF GRUNGE
Seattle, with a little help from the late Kurt Cobain became the grunge city of the nineties. This is still reflected in the cities nightlife: where gigs occur almost every night. Be sure to check out the listings for The Showbox and Crocodile Café for the best bands. There are some brilliant clubs in Seattle but ignore the well advertised Pioneer Square bar crawl where you pay one (rather pricey) cover charge of $20 for five venues, and instead head to Capitol Hill for a true Seattle night out.
ART AND CULTURE
Seattle is home to some of the world’s finest art museums and exhibitions. Enjoy the Seattle Art Museum on University Way or the Olympic Sculpture Park and admire the modern sculptures in this awesome setting. Music fans should head to the ‘Experience Music Project’ an awe inspiring building; which houses a fine selection of Jimi Hendrix guitars, Kurt Cobain hand written lyrics and lots more. For those who prefer science fiction, pay homage to the original E.T, costumes from Planet of the Apes and plastic Coneheads at the Sc-fi museum downstairs. Finish your day trip with a ride on the Space Needle and admire the views across and beyond Seattle.
A London Guide for the Man About Town
BY VERITY DOUGLAS
“Behind every successful man, lies a very surprised woman” but with this guide you can leave her astonished for all the right reasons…
10. JAMES SMITH & SONS UMBRELLAS LTD.
Every man about town, especially London town, knows that travelling without an umbrella is about at logical as wearing a white shirt to an Italian restaurant. With British weather the mainstay of London small talk, rain constitutes almost 90% of chat within the city and as such, it is far more pleasant to conduct these conversations from under the shelter of something other than a soggy ‘London Paper’. James Smith & Sons Umbrellas Ltd., have been in the business since 1830 and specialise in those quintessentially English, ’stiff-upper-lip’ confections, that have been on the arms of bankers since banking began.
A classic city umbrella costs from £135 but cost per use will be virtually zero. I, and the rest of London, guarantee it.
9. SMYTHSON OF BOND STREET
“Look at that subtle off-white colouring, The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark!” American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis
For a business card that would make Patrick Bateman cry into his cocktail, Smythson of Bond Street is the place to go. With a personalised stationery service you can order anything from 50 to 500 cards, depending on your popularity (and your bank balance). Just be careful who you show it to…
Visit Smythson for more information, or pop into any of their bespoke stationery salons.
8. FOX OF ST. JAMES
Being in the ‘Big Smoke’ sometimes calls for a ‘big smoke’. JJ Fox have been providing the finest cigars to the smokers of London for over 200 years. Plus, as one of the very few places in London to be excempt from the smoking ban, you can spark up inside to try before you buy.
7. GEORGE BESPOKE TAILORS
While the name might not be up there in the Savile Row hall of fame, it is certainly worth be-friending George and his team of Bespoke Tailors. Lurking streets away from London’s “golden mile of tailoring”, this tiny basement workroom offers made-to-measure, without the made-to-measure price tag. Starting from £460 for a fully canvassed two piece suit, you can select every detail from the lining to the buttons. It’s a snip at twice the price!
George Bespoke Tailors, 143, Cleveland Street, London, W1P 5PH. Tel: 0207 388 6886
6. INTELLIGENCE SQUARED
Now you’ve got the style you need the substance. Intelligence Squared organise regular debates and lectures with some of the most high profile political and scientific figures from around the world. There are controversial topics up for discussion, from the (weird and wonderful) world of the male psyche, to arguments about the Catholic church. It’s food for thought. (more…)
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