Belltown

Chef at Seattle's Lampreia sets out to make not a bigger eatery, but a better one

Nancy Leson — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Scott Carsberg has come far since he first stood behind a professional stove — at the tender age of 17. Since then, he's cooked beside European chef-mentors Andreas Hellrigl and Gunter Seeger here and abroad. He's gained well-deserved national attention and won the 2006 "Best Chef" award from the James Beard Foundation. But later this year, when Carsberg packs up his fancy French Morice stove and relocates his Belltown restaurant, he won't be going far at all.

See Patton Oswalt at the Moore this weekend

Geoff Carter — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:57:06 -0700

Patton Oswalt is my kind of human being. He claims that his "geekiness is getting in the way of his nerdiness." He uses "The Dukes of Hazzard" as a political metaphor. He believes that the KFC "bowl" meal will bring civilization to an end. And he wants to invent time travel just so he can "kill George Lucas with a shovel, before he can make the prequels."

For that last one alone, I truly believe that should run him for governor.

Happy Birthday to Macrina Bakery and free cookies to us

Cody Ellerd — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:44:12 -0700

If Macrina is on your list of errands this week, today is the day to do it. To celebrate their 15th birthday, they're handing out a free brown sugar shortbread cookie to everyone who walks in the door.

Get set for a frenzy of fashion events Friday night

Alison Brownrigg — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:41:30 -0700

Maybe it's the way the stars have aligned or the particular phase of the moon. Whatever it is, it's causing local folks to plan big fashionable parties on Aug. 22. Three separate events are happening in Seattle that night, collectively featuring a fashion superstar, an award-winning designer, local boutiques and deft-fingered DJs.

Spur rides into Belltown, serving grub and drinks with a pioneer spirit

Cody Ellerd — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:48:18 -0700

With the arrival of Belltown's latest nosh spot, Spur, it's high time for the term "gastropub" to secure its place in Seattle's lexicon. It comes to us via London, where the Eagle, the world's first gastropub, distinguished itself nearly 20 years ago as a public house that served high-quality food a step above the basic pub grub.

Couple apply for Crocodile Cafe liquor license

Andrew Matson — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

There's new hope, Crocodile Cafe mourners: Marcus and Sheila Charles have applied for the liquor license attached to the beloved club, and the approval process is under way.

The Croc, at Second Avenue and Blanchard Street in Belltown, closed suddenly in December. It was Seattle's best and most famous rock club. Marcus Charles owns the Bad Juju, a bar on the same block.

Take advantage of local beauty bargains because a slumping economy is no excuse for a bad hair day

Monica Fischer — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:59:38 -0700

Remember that Pantene commercial in which a showering, toweling and blow-drying Kelly LeBrock begged us not to hate her because she was beautiful?

I couldn't stand those commercials, but not because LeBrock was gorgeous. They irked me because I knew that LeBrock wasn't lathering, rinsing and repeating at home with Pantene.

Think globally, buy locally…give a dog a bone

Brandie Ahlgren — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:27:21 -0700

Treats have saved my bacon on many occasions. They got me through puppy training. They helped coax Scout back into the car after she escaped in a grocery store parking lot. And, they were used to bribe Ziggy into ignoring the cat.

Fortunately for me, in this day and age of "think globally, buy locally" the choices are seemingly endless for Seattle-area treat hounds.

Belltown gallery Roq la Rue celebrates 10 years of lowbrow art

Geoff Carter — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:10:25 -0700

A while back I interviewed Kirsten Anderson, the owner of Roq la Rue gallery and author of "Pop Surrealism -- The Rise of Underground Art," which is a great book on the lowbrow/pop surrealist movement and a must to have if you wanna know anything about anything.

Kirsten was nothing if not gracious in answering my stupid questions, including the inevitable why.

Conviviality is the house special at Belltown's Branzino

Cody Ellerd — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:05:20 -0700

When I go out to eat, I love being treated like a guinea pig. Waiting for my four friends the other night at Branzino, a new Italian seafood joint in Belltown, I saddled up to the bar, where a bartender was plucking leaves from the stem of a mysterious bright-green herb. I asked for a cocktail menu, and instead got one of my favorite propositions: Let me try something out on you. If you don't like it, it's on me.