March 20, 2019

The Best of Maple Leaf: Dining, Socializing, Shopping

There is abundant charm to be found around Maple Leaf, from its absolutely adorable homes to its friendly local businesses. It’s a neighborhood for those who want quiet streets, greenery, and convenient access to downtown. This will only get more convenient when the nearby Northgate and Roosevelt Light Rail Stations open, on target for 2021. Don’t wait until then to explore this great Seattle neighborhood if you haven’t already. Here are some of things we and Maple Leaf residents love about their neighborhood. The Eats Maple Leaf saw big changes to its dining and drinking scene in the last year. First, The Shambles opened in January 2018, and has seen huge success. It’s a butcher shop that serves up amazing charcuterie and beer. Their recent addition of a weekend brunch (which runs until 4pm) has proved another smash hit. (Wagyu steak and eggs? Yes please.) And just because meat is… Read More »

March 5, 2019

The Sweet Life in Bitter Lake: A Home for Nature Lovers

So named for the 19-acre lake nestled in the center of the neighborhood, Bitter Lake boomed during Seattle’s early years. Its old-growth forests were cut down and an amusement park went up, but today it is back to being a quiet, forested area. It is close to busier areas, such as Northgate and Greenwood, while insulated from their noise. Here are some of the reasons why Seattle home buyers who love natural beauty find Bitter Lake so irresistible. The Interurban Trail is at your doorstep The north end of the Interurban Trail links Seattle with Everett, Mukilteo and the Whidbey Island Ferry, starting from the Fremont Bridge. Much of it is a paved trail, with bike lanes and sharrows when it joins with main roads, as it does in Bitter Lake. Runners can take the trail north and south for scenic jogging, and cyclists can get to the ferry for… Read More »

February 25, 2019

Team Diva’s Guide to Relocating to Seattle

So you are relocating to Seattle… Please tell me that you have been warned about our “Seattle Freeze.” We are notorious for not being an outgoing city, and we will be frank: Finding your crew takes time and work. You’ll need to get over yourself and talk to strangers. Some of Team Diva’s closest friends were folks we met by striking up a weird conversation or two at a coffee shop, a show, in a class, etc. Below are some things to keep in mind if you are relocating to Seattle.   Basic Questions to Ask Yourself Before Relocating to Seattle Relocating to Seattle can bring some sticker shock if you are coming from a less expensive city. Alternatively, it can feel like a relief you are coming from San Francisco. Beyond the home prices, there are some key items to keep in mind when trying to figure out where to… Read More »

January 30, 2019

Post-Viadoom: Live it Up in Belltown and Lower Queen Anne

  From Pioneer Square to Lower Queen Anne, the Seattle waterfront is changing. Will it become a truly public space or a playground for rich developers? It’s hard-to-say, but right now we’re particularly curious about Belltown. The old Battery Street Tunnel connected the viaduct to 99, so even in the viaduct days, the traffic went under a lot of this part of town. The new tunnel will stretch from SoDo to South Lake Union, bypassing downtown entirely. For us, this is a prime time to hype the great scene found in Belltown and Lower Queen Anne. No viaduct and no tunnel mean no excuses for not exploring these vibrant Seattle neighborhoods when you are already passing by.   Great Waterfront Dining The north end of the waterfront is home to two great waterfront dining destinations, The Edgewater Hotel and Aqua. The hotel’s bar and restaurant, Six Seven (on pier 67),… Read More »

January 16, 2019

Broadway North: A Full Day of Fun, Food, and Fashionable Finds

So much has changed on Capitol Hill in recent years, and a lot of the buzz is around Pike/Pine. What was formerly Auto Row is where you’ll find the neighborhood’s highest density of large beer houses and breweries, galleries and arts venues. Some of our favorite spots have been there for decades, but many blocks would be unrecognizable ten years ago. Central to Capitol Hill is Cal Anderson Park and the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station, where Olive Way and John Street collide at Broadway. We think it’s interesting (and refreshing) that north of that intersection, Broadway hasn’t changed so drastically. In fact, the queer, bohemian energy we love so much is still brimming on these blocks. It has it all, from rowdy dives to exceptional fine dining, to boutique shopping. Here’s a FULL day itinerary to show you what we mean.   View this post on Instagram   A… Read More »

January 16, 2019

The Entertainer’s Guide to Columbia City: Our Top 5

Whether you are preparing a holiday feast or an impromptu movie night, Columbia City has everything a host needs. Sure, Seattle has lots of great main streets and retail havens. But few are quite as compact, efficient and friendly as good old Columbia City. Here are five shops that make putting together a spread for guests fast and easy. Vino Verite Even when they were on Capitol Hill, we loved Vino Verite. We have relied on this shop many times to source wines for events of all sizes, from galas to girls’ nights. Their top-notch, edited selection is fun to browse by yourself, but don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations. The staff is as friendly as they are knowledgeable. PCC PCC maybe be a national behemoth co-op, but each location is a little different. The Columbia City PCC is bright, capacious and has killer hot bars and salad bars. If… Read More »

January 10, 2019

Winter in West Seattle: Five Spots to Help You Get Cozy

Over in West Seattle, there are so many cute spots to get cozy. Instead of moping at home, a change of scenery or some good take-out can help lighten the mood. You may already know about the good stuff in the Junction, but what about the area around Delridge and White Center? These areas are overlooked by people from outside West Seattle, but much beloved by those who know better. Here are five spots that offer warm treats, comfy seats, and fun crowds. Skylark Cafe This eclectic venue doubles as a cafe and music venue. Deli-style eats during the week, brunch on the weekend, Taco Tuesdays, cocktails at night: Skylark Cafe has a little of everything. Near nightly events include Trivia Mondays, live music, and the drag extravaganza, West End Girls on the last Saturday of each month. Moonshot Coffee The aesthetic at Moonshot Coffee has that ubiquitous minimalist cafe… Read More »

November 29, 2018

Your Offbeat Seattle Holiday Arts and Performance Guide

We aren’t anti-holiday here at Team Diva. Not in the least. We can’t wait to see all the cute photo ops from Diva Dwellers taking their families to events like Winterfest at Seattle Center. But you don’t have to be a Grinch to want some variety in your schedule, especially if you don’t have kids yourself. Seattle has a lot going on year round, but in December the big annual holiday events can drown out the rest. We’re here to boost signal for the good stuff. Here’s are some of the happenings that offer something different this December, for a more holistic holiday experience. They include some very special public events that are completely unrelated to the holidays and that you absolutely won’t want to miss. Dance T.U.P.A.C. Premieres The Urban Nutcracker, November 30 – December 2 Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (T.U.P.A.C.) provides community classes and pre-professional classical ballet training to… Read More »

November 15, 2018

Thanksgiving 2018: Let’s Talk Turkey, Wine & Politics

We love Thanksgiving, and we are usually hosting a large crowd. This year, we’ll be spending it on the Hood Canal with our niece and a few close friends, and we’re happy for that, too. Over the years, we have offered advice annually on where to find the best meats and wines in town. This year will be no different, but because we’re feeling good after the #BlueWave, we have some other goodies for you as well. Let the festivities begin! Thanksgiving Comes Early This Year Thanksgiving falls as early as it can this year, on November 22nd, and we’re thinking people will be caught unprepared for that reason. Don’t be one of them. If you are hosting an omnivorous crowd, make sure to get your entrees in order well in advance. This is especially true if you are going through a proper butcher. If you are hosting a vegetarian… Read More »

November 1, 2018

Finding the Best of the Northwest in North Greenwood

Greenwood Avenue is a particularly useful thoroughfare that cuts through north Seattle parallel to highway 99. It starts in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood and cuts all the way up to Seattle’s northern limits. It divides the Broadview and Bitter Lake neighborhoods at north, but it is also the spine of the Greenwood neighborhood—hence the name. The junction at 105th and connects to Crown Hill and 15th Ave via Holman Road, so there are many ways to get there. It’s also just a quick drive to Carkeek Park, so it’s a great place to explore in North Seattle. Driving by, you might not think much of it, because it doesn’t advertise itself as some glitzy destination. You won’t believe all the hidden gems tucked in this compact micro-neighborhood. Our favorite things in north Greenwood. Buy Local for Cheap at Lenny’s Produce Feel like dining in? Do your grocery run at Lenny’s… Read More »