Seattle is nothing if not eclectic, and that’s good news for all you shopaholics. Whether your last name is Gates or you’re scrounging for dollars, Seattle provides plenty of opportunities for retail therapy.
Clothes
Some people think Seattle dresses too casually. Well, we’ve got news for them. What we lack in formality, we make up for in style. There is no shortage of clothes shopping in Seattle, and no matter where you are in this city; you will never be far from a cute boutique or funky thrift shop. If you like to go a little easy on your wallet, try Buffalo Exchange (Map 23, 26) and Crossroads Trading Company (Maps 17, 26), where you can buy and sell used, fashionable clothes from name brand designers. Going for a more vintage look? Head to Atlas Clothing Co (Map 4) or Red Light (Maps 17, 26). If you have a guilty conscience about your clothes (and a killer bod), try American Apparel (Maps 3, 17, 26) to sport some sweatshop-free duds. For those of you with money to burn, it’s all about the original Nordstrom (Map 3), For the penny pinchers, you can sometimes find the same stuff for less at cheap sister store the Nordstrom Rack (Map 3).
Music
Some cities have let the internet eat up all their music stores. But in Seattle, independent record shops are thriving. Maybe that whole grunge thing wasn’t so bad after all. Sonic Boom (Maps 4, 23) is a great place to see a live band and buy their music simultaneously. If you prefer to make your own music, you can get your gear cheap at Trading Musician (Map 31). For new and used tunes, any of these places will do you just fine: Easy Street Records (Map 15, 35), Jive Time Records (Map 24), Singles Going Steady (Map 1), Everyday Music (Map 20), and Bop Street Records (Map 23).
Don’t Toy With Me
Quality baubles and gadgets for the pre-pubescent crowd are easy to score in Seattle, thanks to progressively-minded toy stores like Curious Kidstuff (Map 35) and Magic Mouse (Map 7), but this is a city full of adults in various stages of arrested development and they demand to be catered to. Enter Schmancy (Map 3), a cozy boutique for vinyl and plush toys made for whimsical folk of voting age who need a cuddly T-bone steak doll or a sock monkey to get them through the night. Head out to Ballard to Archie McPhee’s (Map 23), a veritable supermarket of kitschy gag gifts and other wacky wares for adults who miss the thrill that only whoopee cushions and potato guns can provide. Speaking of adults and toys, Babeland (Map 4) up on Capitol Hill offers an utterly shame-free zone to casually shop for all manner of stimulating marital (or otherwise) aids—dildos, vibrators, leather whips, silicone sleeves, and how-to books are available in a clean, well-lit atmosphere with helpful sex-positive salespeople. Oh, didn’t think we’d go there, did you?
Eat, Drink, and Spend Money
Try the wieners at Uli’s Famous Sausage (Map 3) and grab some beer to go with it at Bottleworks (Map 25), where you’ll get drunk just looking at the selection. Pike Place Market (Map 3) is unbeatable when it comes to fresh seafood; just don’t go to the guys throwing fish around. That’s for tourists, which you are not. Go to Harry at Pure Food Fish (Map 3). While you’re down in the market load up on cheese at Beecher’s (Map 3), fresh dairy products at Pike Place Creamery (Map 3), and gelato at Bottega Italiana (Map 3). Ballard clings to its Scandinavian culinary heritage at Olsen’s (Map 23). Uwajimaya (Map 8, 46) is a wonderland of Asian food and gifts that can’t be missed. For all you wine snobs, Madison Park Cellars (Map 22) has got you covered. Fresh produce on your mind? Lenny’s Fruits and Vegetables (Map 33) is the place to be. You also can’t beat a farmer’s market. There is one in pretty much every neighborhood but the standouts are the University District market (Map 26) on Saturdays and the Ballard market (Map 23) on Sundays. They happen year-round, rain or shine. While you’re there, treat yourself to a scoop of bacon ice cream from Empire.
Mallrats
If you must patronize a mall, it’s good to know which to hit and which to avoid. Let’s start with the malls to avoid. Westlake Center (Map 3) is well-known as the most useless mall in Seattle. It is one of the two stops on the monorail which makes it a bona fide tourist trap. The other mall downtown, Pacific Place, is really nice, but with Tiffany’s, Cartier, and Coach only Amazon and Microsoft executives can afford to shop there. The mall for the masses is Northgate (Map 34). It appeals to the simple folk who enjoy the mindless pleasures of The Gap, Macy’s, JC Penney, and Express. Somewhere in between Northgate and Pacific Place is University Village (Map 26) with shops like Apple and Eileen Fisher. It is outdoors, but they provide shoppers with free yellow umbrellas while they stroll around. Other malls worth some consideration are Crossroads (Map 47) in Bellevue and Westfield Southcenter in south Seattle.
Cool Commercial Strips
If you’re looking to do some one-stop shopping, but can’t stand the soul-killing atmosphere of a mall, there are a number of funky and/or chic commercial strips in Seattle. Get yourself to: the Pike/Pine Corridor (Map 4), Broadway on Capitol Hill (Map 17), Ballard Avenue (Map 23), 36th Street & Fremont Avenue (Map 24), University Way (“The Ave”) in the U District (Map 26), and pretty much anywhere in Belltown (Map 1).
|
On Our Radar:
|
|
|
Friday, December 10, 2010
Posted By:
Katie Palmer
Photo:
Katie Palmer
Deluxe Junk
Seattle is infamous for the little hole-in-the-wall junk shops, so seeing a sign that reads "Peace, Deluxe Junk" was intriguing but not all too surprising. Inside it would be easy to spend awhile sifting through the actually cute vintage clothes, jewelry, decoration, globes, dolls, records, and all sorts of other "junk." The wooden floors creak and it smells musty with old stuff, but the chance of finding that one-of-a-kind doorknob or the final vintage comic book you've been searching for to complete your collection is worth the visit. After awhile the smell disappears, and you don't even notice it. Plus, a visit to Deluxe Junk will surely yield you someone else's junk, but it just may be your newest treasure, as the old saying goes.
|
|
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Posted By:
Katie Palmer
Photo:
Katie Palmer
Ophelia's Books
Walking in, the floor creaks and a cat sits on a pile of ancient books. Welcome to Ophelia's Books. Specializing in rare books and editions, there is a wide variety of affordable classics to modern works as well. It is easy to spend an hour...or a few among the small, two-story shop where you can choose to browse the awesome collection or play with the cats. With a few comfy chairs, Ophelia's offers an inviting place to sample some books and enjoy the people watching. Located in the Fremont District, there is undoubtedly a great cup of coffee within the block. So, grab a mocha and enjoy it among the classics to escape the rain for awhile.
|
|
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Posted By:
Jessica Baxter
Photo:
Jessica Baxter
Curtsy Bella
These days, you can pretty much buy anything on line. But Curtsy Bella remembers when customer service meant something. If you're in the market for a cute and quirky gift for your engaged friend, your pregnant friend or your girlfriend, 10 minutes of browsing the cleverly arranged displays will yield more viable options than you ever thought possible. Their fanciful inventory includes socks, hats, bags, jewelry, clothing, and plenty of knickknacks you can't live without. They also have a delightfully snarky greeting card selection to help express your sentiments. It's like an upscale Archie McPhee's you're your recipients will actually use the things you buy them. The easily overwhelmed can take advantage of their shopping service. Call or email with a little information and they'll work with you until they find the perfect gift to meet your needs. They'll even gift wrap it (in leopard print paper!) and ship next day or same day by courier. You'll look thoughtful, whimsical and timely. I'd say that you couldn't buy service like that. But you could. At Curtsy Bella.
|
|
Friday, August 27, 2010
Posted By:
Jessica Baxter
Photo:
Jessica Baxter
Bottega Italiana
People say gelato is better for you than ice cream but it sounds too good to be true. Still, when there's a gelato place in your neighborhood, it's difficult to stay away. Bottega Italiana follows suit with being irresistible, but they aren't exaggerating when they say that their gelato isn't bad for you. It's not as healthy as, say, a big bowl of spinach, but indulging isn't going to negate your time at the gym either. As if that weren't enough of an excuse, they use only natural, local and seasonal ingredients. Whether you've chosen to live dairy free, or nature chose for you, you can still enjoy one of their vegan fruit flavors. Those who can't say no to creamy goodness will be pleased as punch with one or more of their year-round flavors like hazelnut, pistachio, and caffe. If you feel the need to be responsible, you can make a meal out of it by adding a lunchtime pannini and real Italian espresso. But remember, it's low fat. So if you've had a hard day (or want to make a good day better), go ahead and get that double scoop. We won't judge.
|
|
Friday, July 02, 2010
Posted By:
Kelsey Albro
Photo:
Kelsey Albro
Zenith Supplies
Whether you're searching for just the right astrologically-themed birthday card for your best friend, need to restock your stash of ear candles, or are looking to buy 50 pounds of bath salts, Zenith Supplies is the place for you. For non-hippies out there, this place might be a little overwhelming, but after acclimatizing yourself to the paintings of Egyptian gods on the walls, you'll find that there are some great deals on quality stuff here. Priced for bulk-purchase by spa-owners and the like, Zenith also offers lots of ready-to-use beauty supplies, candles, and gifts for the drop in shopper. So, let your chakra flow, head to the Zenith, and get your hippie on. Your skin and your wallet will thank you.
|
See all Seattle / Shopping Radars...
|
|
|
NFT Top Picks:
Powered By Subgurim(http://googlemaps.subgurim.net). Google Maps ASP.NET
|
