Posted by
Aubrey in
cheapie,
freebie,
locally on
September 28, 2010 |
no responses One of the best things about living in Seattle is exploring the different neighborhoods that make up our fair city. Each one has it’s own certain je ne sais quoi- some kind of quirky personality that sets it apart. Even better, EVERY neighborhood has secret treasures in the form of awesome deals. Neighborhood Spotlight will be a semi-regular column that highlights our favorite 5 deals (we shoot for a $5 limit but reserve the right to occasionally stray from that) in every neighborhood across the city. We’ve already covered Ballard. Next up- Queen Anne.
I know Queen Anne has a reputation for being a bit snooty- the multi-million dollar houses on Highland and plethora of stay-at-home moms populating the streets probably don’t help any. But yay-today will help you hunt down the deals, even in the land of the bourgeois. So you’ve got $5 in your pocket- how can you keep yourself entertained?
- Climb some stairs! Upper and Lower Queen Anne are linked by a lovely, labyrinthine system of staircases. Want to explore, see some pretty views AND get some excercise? Head to Queen Anne Books (show some love for the indy bookseller, people), plunk down $5 for a beautiful (and waterproof!) booklet that maps out the stairs that make up this neighborhood.
- Eat some really good ice cream! Parfait Ice Cream is my FAVORITE ice cream in the city. And Wink Cupcakes in Queen Anne is the ONLY place in Seattle where you can get their frozen deliciousness (try the Ballard Bee- it’s made with local honey and it’s as good as it sounds) without chasing their truck down across the city. A scoop of ice cream is well under $5 (and even more yummy if you just finished climbing those stairs).
- Drink a $1.50 Stumptown latte at Eat Local. Eat Local sells frozen meals featuring organic, local ingredients, but the real steal here is their lattes. $1 each, all day, every day. (And if you’ve got some extra cash, you can pick up some organic butternut squash risotto for dinner later. Yum!)
- Pretend you’re a tourist at Kerry Park. It’s cliche, but Kerry Park has one of the most amazing views in any city anywhere- there’s a reason why they use it on Grey’s Anatomy so often. If you’re anywhere on top of the hill, just follow the tour buses to Highland and 3rd Ave West and take in the view. And if the tourists are too much for you, then walk down the street to Parson’s Gardens, a magical little park that the tourists never seem to be able to find. There you can have a picnic or just pretend you’re Mary Lennox (that’s a Secret Garden reference if you’re not as nerdy as me).
- Sample some chocolate at Chocopolis. Chocopolis is more than just a chocolate shop- it’s a chocolate shop with a happy hour. That’s right, on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-7 pm you can wander in and savor some FREE samples of ultra-luxe chocolates. And if that doesn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, buy one of their incredible truffles or get a cup of their real-deal, gloriously thick drinking chocolate for only $3.95.
- And finally, just to flex some muscle, I’m adding in a 6th cheapie that’s actually $6- if you find yourself in Lower Queen Anne on a weekday morning, treat yourself to a $6 breakfast at Toulouse Petit. Every Monday-Friday, from 9-11 am, EVERY plate on their breakfast menu is only $6. And trust me, Tuesdays are MUCH better when you’re eating Duck Confit Hash for only $6.
So that’s my inside scoop on Queen Anne! Did I miss something? Let us know in the comments below! Next time we’ll be covering Fremont- if you have any tips or can’t miss deals there, drop us a note on facebook or talk to us on twitter. The more you tell us, the more we know!
Leave a Reply
