Will be going to the Seattle area at the end of the month for 6 days and was wondering if anyone has recommendations for the local sites and good restaurants in the area.
Thanks in advance.
Mel N.

Try PM'ing Tomtuttle if you don't hear back directly here.

Jason

The Sci-Fi Museum and Hall of Fame is in Seattle.

If you like sushi, Seattle has quite a few stellar places. Here are a couple that I have visited.

http://www.ilovesushi.com/stores.htm
http://www.wasabibistro.biz/

If you like a good beer selection, check out Tap House Grill:

http://www.taphousegrill.com/

Mel, I'd love to join you for a meal or something if we can make our schedules mesh.

Don't miss the Museum of Flight.

Are you a beer guy? If so, there are many wonderful brewpubs.

Best steak is at Metropolitan Grill. It will exceed your expectations, but bring money.

The Experience Music Project is right next to the Scifi museum. Go there. It's great. Not far from the Space Needle, which is a really expensive elevator ride worth every penny on a decent day.

It's worth walking around Pike Place Market.

I'll try to find some other stuff and post later or tomorrow.

Hope you have fun! Send me a PM.

Sorry, Tom, but I have to point out that the Space Needle is not anywhere near as tall as is depicted in just about every Seattle advert, postcard, and marketing item that I have seen. Still looks cool, but it isn't as tall as you may have been led to believe.

Ummm, just cause you have a small space needle is no reason to make fun of Tom's.

Nice one.

The observation deck is only 520 feet high, but what makes it nice is that it is somewhat removed (north of) the city core. You can easily see Elliott Bay, Lake Washington, Lake Union, Vashon Island, Puget Sound, etc. So, it's not the height, it's the perspective on the beautiful landscape that makes it special.

Plus, it is conveniently located near the Experience Music Project.

Jimi Hendrix was one of the first to use a guitar as a phallus, so I guess that's appropo.

Don't walk around the neighborhood surrounding the needle. Unless it's changed since I was there ten years ago, it's not one to wander around in. I had a couple confrontations walking between the needle and Pikes. The food at the needle was nasty as well. Great veiw though....

I love to wander around Pikes. I've found some pretty good food there too.

The plot goes deeper:

Tom's saying it's not the size, but the way it's used that makes it so very special.

Really, doesn't every guy with a short needle try the same argument?

Some go so far as to call it a a landmark as opposed to a needle.

Mel, as has been mentioned, the Pike Place Market is a fascinating place. We stayed a few days at the Inn At The Market, with a view overlooking the Market and the Bay.

Regina Spektor at Pike Place Market

I doubt you'll run into her there, but you know I had to post it.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Hopefully this info will keep me out of trouble for the next week. Looks like I may be leaving today instead of tomorrow. Tom PM me if you still want to meet up
Mel N.

I just wanted to thank Mel for taking some time out of his adventure to join me for dinner last night. We had a wonderful visit, and I now know much more about Junior Hockey than I ever thought prudent, although I still lack Mel's passion. We dined on some lovely fresh seafood, and I developed a renewed case of Axiom equipment envy.

Mostly, my joy and wonder over the fine people who gather here was renewed.

Thank you, Mel!

Junior Hockey... Yeah, I bet earing about the Oilers all night long can be tedious!

WHL junior hockey team in Edmonton are the Oil Kings in case anyone is interested.

Did he learn lots about swimming?

Hmmm. Actually though, I think that back in the late 70's the Edmonton Oilers were indeed a WHL team. I only recall this because the emergence of the Oilers into the NHL in (79 maybe,) brought with it the emerging legend which was Wayne Gretzky.

WHL then meant World Hockey League (out of which 5 teams merged with the NHL in 79--Oilers, Jets, Nordiques, Whalers and one I cannot remember just now). Jakewash was refering to the Western Hockey League which is of the same caliber as OHL and LHJMQ).

CORRECTION: Actually, it was the World Hockey Association.... (WHA)

Ahhh Gotcha.
I'm an East Coaster so I declare intellectual negligence on that basis.

It's Ok Murph, we understand.

The OHL, LHJMQ and the WHL make up the Canadian Major Junior Hockey league.

I knew that.

Now.

Better a Wheat King than an Oil King. Probably the only team in this province that could make me want to go work for a sports team again.

Bren R.

Thanks Tom for taking the time to meet up with me. Now that your a hockey expert you can start attending Thunderbird games
Mel N.

I was familiar with the OHL and Quebec League but the WHL did trip me up.. Here in Atlantic Canada, we have seven teams in the LHJMQ.

Although you made me think twice on that one too because my home province is primarily anglophone, so we call it the reverse "QMJHL or Quebec Major Junior Hockey League" instead of the "Ligue de Hockey Junior Majeur du Quebec."

Crazy French people, always saying everything backwards.

?tahW

And there's no such thing as a French death metal song... even the Sex Pistols lose their edge when it's L'Anarchie pour Le U.K. of course, I also don't think it's possible to write a German love song.

Bren R.

I beg to differ!

Ein prosit, ein prosit....

Now there is true love.

Wuv, twoo wuv....

A prostate, a prostate?

I think you proved my point.

(Honestly though, it's a drink or a toast, no?)

Bren R.

Love of beer!