4554 NE 41st Web I didn't think I'd ever post about a park bathroom, because for the most part, they're pretty terrible. I see a lot of them, because my preferred form of exercise is long walks. In a good week, I get in about 40 miles. I have to stop by park bathrooms a lot. The first one I noticed that was actually nice is at Seward Park, and I've been meaning to take some pictures there, but the one at Laurelhurst Park is the nicest one I've seen so far and the first one that made me think, I gotta post this. I was really surprised to find two single-occupancy bathrooms in the bottom of a building there. Unheard of! Sure, it's a little grim inside, but consider the category. Being able to lock the door--hell, even having a door!--is quite luxurious. When you exit, you're treated to a sweeping view, and just off to the right is a nice fire pit. There is one problem, though. It's a problem with all park bathrooms, actually. There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to their schedule. I took these pictures on a Friday, but when I came back on the following Sunday, they were locked. Isn't Sunday a day that more people would probably visit? I just kept walking and found the weird, giant portapotty at Magnusson Park. At least at Green Lake, there are several, and about half seem to always be open, but it sucks when the only one is locked.
106 1st Ave N web / Yelp I've avoided Hula Hula for a while because I really liked Watertown, the club that used to be in that space. The layout was cool, they had fun music nights, and the decor was great. I especially liked the iridescent purple booths. They were also the only club that I knew about that was non-smoking before there was a smoking ban. I was sad to see it go, and didn't feel like there was really a reason to check out its replacement. But we had just come out of the King Tut exhibit and were having a couple of drinks at Bandits and needed to find some dinner. I noticed Hula Hula on Google Maps and liked what I saw on the menu. As it turns out, it was happy hour, and that entire menu was half off! I love a good happy hour like that. We shared almond stuffed dates, mac and cheese, a beet salad, and the buffalo chicken flatbread, and it was all great. The happy hour isn't available during Key Arena events. I don't blame them. I didn't have a woman with me to send into the ladies' room, but the men's is cool. I really like urinals that go all the way down to the floor. My pet peeve is a row of what's become the standard size, where one has to be low in case someone's not tall enough to reach the others. It's ugly and dumb. Plus, if you get stuck using the short one, you have to aim carefully or risk peeing on the top of it. And the floors around the higher ones get filthy. As I've mentioned before, I like when bathrooms in dark venues are also dark. It's terrible to be blinded going in and out of them when they're too bright. Hula Hula's easy to get to from a lot of areas. From Capitol Hill, take the 8, or get home to Ballard or West Seattle on the Rapid Ride. That's a measure of a good happy hour, if you can get home on one bus. And even if you can't make it in time for happy hour, the menu's still pretty reasonable. But you should consider skipping early out of work to get there. That'll make you happy.
113 Blanchard web / Yelp An old friend and coworker I recently reconnected with via Facebook checks in from Spur constantly, and I hadn't given it much thought until I started searching for molecular gastronomy in Seattle. Spur comes up in many articles about modern techniques, so I decided it was time to go after finally seeing The Hobbit at Cinerama yesterday. The food is amazing. That's really all there is to say. Don't go if you're starving or really drunk, as it's likely the small, composed plates will just annoy you. Go when you want to experience daring, great flavors, and be sure to take a friend or two who will trade bites. I managed to taste three appetizers, three entrees, and three desserts, and all nine were great. And I'm not normally a dessert person, but I'll be ordering one any time I return. I didn't want to take too many pictures in the restaurant, but had to grab one at the bar. There are two unisex bathrooms, though only the first one has a urinal. And a really cool faucet. The second one's got the same basin style, but not the cool old-timey faucet. So, grab the first bathroom if it's available. Both have washcloths instead of paper towels, which is really nice. Especially if you've splashed around a bit and want to clean up after yourself. I've started doing that as often as possible ever since I flew Iceland Air and saw the sign in the airplane bathroom asking passengers to do that as a courtesy for everyone else. It's nice to leave things as you find them when you can. Check out Spur next time you want to have a wonderful, impressive dinner. Especially if you want to take me.
