Our conference location will give you some great food choices. Please be sure to check out my previous blog posts about places to eat on Queen Anne Hill/Seattle Center.
We will also be close to other neighborhoods, if you want to try going on a longer walk to eat, or even use the bus.
South Lake Union is a hot bed of restaurants these days, since Amazon.com just moved their headquarters to this part of Seattle. It's a close walk to get to South Lake Union. This link gives you a fantastic interactive map of places to eat. Notice on the map "Seattle Center tunnel." The walk from Seattle Center is just 10 minutes. The corner of Westlake Ave N and Harrison Street will boast my favorite collection of Tom Douglas fare- Dahlia Workshop a different style of bakery and night time prosciutto bar, Serious Pie (can you say Yukon Gold Potato pizza?) and Soul Wine wine shop. Another place I love is just right above Whole Foods, it is called Tutta Bella and features Neapolitan pizza. Other known fabulous places for those who want to spend a little more: Flying Fish, Chandler's Crabhouse (on Lake Union), and Daniel's Broiler (on Lake Union).
Looking toward downtown Seattle from our spot at Seattle Center, there are some great choices. - Tillikum Place Cafe sits close to the Space Needle and has a Euro vibe mixed with Northwest spirit. It's at 407 Cedar Street.
- El Gaucho is considered by many as the very best place in Seattle to eat. 2505 First Ave, downtown (take a cab or the bus).
- Marrakesh serves up Moroccan fare at 2334 Second Ave, downtown (take a cab or the bus).
- Waterfront Seafood Grill is located near the Olympic Sculpture Park at Pier 70. It has a view and is operated by the same people who run El Gaucho (mentioned above) so you get what you expect at $100 a plate!
- The best scallops I've had in my entire life was at Schucker's located in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown at 411 University Street . The attire is casual, and it's easy to get there by bus or cab.
-Katharine
Seattle’s Best Coffee Cafés  Richard Gilbert has compiled the following highly selective information about coffee cafés in Seattle, for anyone with a serious interest in coffee (and no, according to Richard, that does not include Starbucks, which began at Seattle’s Pike Place Market). Thanks, Richard, for this coffee advice. Looks like we may have to skip the Haiku North America conference and just spend our time drinking coffee!Below, you will find some recommendations of cafes to visit, with bus stop routes. Times noted are those by bus. The start point is about half a block from the Mar Queen hotel. Some of these cafes are recommended from "CoffeeGeek" forum members, as Richard has not been to all of them himself, however we use the blanket "I" to represent the coffee lover in general. Close and good: Cafe Ladro coffees are wonderful. Those of you staying at MarQueen Hotel have the pleasure of a Cafe Ladro right in your building!BEST Place - 40 minutes away: Herkimer Coffee: Awesome people, awesome espresso! Not exactly on a bus route, about 1.8 miles away—Herkimer is an amazing roaster.
5611 University Way NE Get there: Mercer St and Warren Ave N > 30 bus local (towards Sand Point University District) > NE 50th St and University Way NE (27 minutes, 22 stops) > Walk north 3½ long blocks on University Way NE > 5611 University Way NE 14 minutes away on South Lake Union: Espresso Vivace Alley 24: 227 Yale Ave N Get there: 8 bus local > Denny Way and Stewart St > NE on Stewart, left on Yale Avenue N > 250 feet 17 minutes away: Espresso Vivace: 321 Broadway Ave E This place is legendary. Get there: 8 bus local (towards Rainier Beach) > E Olive Way and Harvard Ave E > Vivace Espresso Bar at Brix, 532 Broadway Ave E
27 minutes away: Stumptown Roastery and Cafe is really worth visiting. At
Stumptown, "public coffee tastings held at 3pm every day." Yes Stumptown has arrived in Seattle from Portland, OR, but it is among the top three roasters in the US, and I (meaning actually "I") will want to visit ... 1115 12th Ave: Get there: Take the 2 Bus LOCAL towards Madrona Park Via E Union St. and get off at E Madison St & Madison CT.
Porchlight: 1515 14th Avenue. Get there: 8 bus local > E John St and 15th Ave E (16 minutes, 14 stops) > South on 14th (backtrack) and go 4 long blocks > 1515 14th Avenue If you get into downtown Seattle [which we’ll do during our Thursday monorail trip], try one of my favorites: Stella Coffees: 1224 1st Avenue, across from the Seattle Art Museum at 1st and University Get there: Queen Anne Ave N and W Mercer St > 1 bus local towards downtown Seattle > 3rd Ave and Union St > walk to 1224 1st Avenue
A smaller Stumptown location with no roastery: 616 East Pine
Up on Capitol Hill you will find great coffee, including Victrola: Of the three Victrola locations, hands down my favorite is Victrola Coffee Roasters—Roastery, at 310 E Pike Street. Also visit Victrola Coffee & Art, at 411 15th Ave E Seattle. Hours: 5:30 am to 11:00 pm. Get there: 8 Bus LOCAL (from the conference area) towards Rainier Beach, get off at E Denny Way & E Olive Way, and it's a 7 min, walk south to E Pike (total time 20 minutes).
Check out all the options on Capitol Hill- and there are many!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_%28Seattle%29#Coffeehouses
Caffe Ladro, Caffé Vita (two locations), Top Pot Doughnuts, Bauhaus Coffee, TnT Espresso, Café Dharwin, Espresso, Vivace Sidewalk Bar, Faire, Fuel Coffee, Insomniax (two locations), Joe Bar, Kaladi Brothers, Online Coffee (two locations), Uncle Elizabeth’s Internet Café, Stumptown Coffee (two locations), People’s Republic of Koffee, Victrola Coffee & Art (two locations), and new arrivals.For espresso hounds, check out: http://www.espressomap.com/.And also check out locally renowned Cupcake Royale (with locations throughout Seattle).Below, a map to Stumptown Roasters
 I have been tasked with planning and leading a ginko walk to Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle. This is going to be a wonderful kick off to your stay in the Emerald City, both in terms of seeing our beautiful scenery and being inspired by art and nature!
A ginko can help a poet connect to the world of nature. A person will walk, stroll or just "be" in nature, and is usually silent and observant.
Our ginko will take us on a half mile walk to Olympic Sculpture Park. I imagine we'll walk in a few small groups, depending on the speed and mobility of our groups. I have created a small walking map to the park, which I will give to everyone before we leave. The guide will remind you of the times to be places after our ginko, and give restaurant information to those who wish to eat out.
This park is operated by the Seattle Art Museum. The sculptures are all outdoors, but there is an indoor pavilion with restrooms and another exhibit (usually a large art installation of sorts). Go inside to pick up your map and guide for a $1 donation.
For those needing help getting around, there are a couple spots to park in the garage if you can't make the trip by foot. There is a price- $6 to park. You can borrow a wheelchair, but there are no advance reservations. The park had ADA accessible ramps and is graded to provide universal access.
"The Olympic Sculpture Park evolved out of a mutual commitment of the Seattle Art Museum and the Trust for Public Land to preserve downtown Seattle's last undeveloped waterfront property. From the beginning, the Seattle Art Museum aimed to restore the former industrial site, while providing a unique setting for outdoor sculpture and public use. The park’s innovative design achieved a wide range of environmental restoration goals, including brownfield redevelopment, creation of a salmon habitat, extensive use of native plantings and the capture and use of rainwater on site." -Olympic Sculpture Park WebsiteThis link will give you a great overview of the park's impressive design features.
Curious about some of the art and artists on display? Click here
If you're very excited, you can download the pdf below of the Olympic Sculpture Park Map and Guide!
-Katharine
As your blogging concierge, I thought I'd also point out some places you might be interested in checking out or dining at while in Seattle. Our two hotels are the MarQueen (located at 600 Queen Anne Ave N) and the Inn at Queen Anne (located at 505 First Ave N). Both are located close to our conference location at Seattle Center. Use the map above to follow along if you'd like. The "A" denotes the MarQueen.
The Melting Pot- fondue has always been hip! Check it out for dinner: 14 Mercer Street
I have also heard great things about Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge. Check out their website to view the menu, they have great happy hour prices! 601 Queen Anne Avenue North
A personal favorite, and open 9a.m. to 2 a.m. wonderful Mexican American food with a Northwest flair: Peso's Kitchen and Lounge located at 605 Queen Anne Avenue North
More coastal style Mexican food can be found at Blue Water Taco Grill 515 Queen Anne Avenue North
Racha Noodles and Thai Cuisine is a winner too! 23 Mercer Street
Shiki Japanese Restaurant 4 W Roy St, will get your your Sushi fix. You can find reviews on Urbanspoon and Yelp.
A Seattle institution: Dick's Drive In (not vegetarian friendly) 500 Queen Anne Avenue North
Mecca Cafe is your classic American diner food (and some may call a dive bar)... 526 Queen Anne Avenue North... reviews are on Yelp and Urbanspoon.
Get some BBQ at Floyd's Place located at 521 1st Avenue North- again reviews on Yelp and Urbanspoon.
Finally, you can also check out the chic Metropolitan Market (or Safeway Grocery Store) and get some yummy noms to take to a park (might I suggest Kerry Park, about a half mile from the hotels?). Met Market is at 100 Mercer Street
There are lots of places to eat around there, but this is a list to get you started!
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