I had so much fun checking out a play here at ArtsWest and it reminded me how much we need the…read morearts! I wanted to specifically see the Matt and Ben show and saw on a poster that it was being performed at ArtsWest, a venue I had never been to before. But what a treasure this was! Located in the Junction neighborhood in West Seattle, it's on the main drag where many of the businesses are, so street parking is your jam here. We came to see a show here on a Sunday afternoon and were told that when we came 15 minutes early, we could hang out or just show up right when the show is to start. It's nice to know that you don't have to be here early like at most places. It's not a huge space for performing arts, as it's on the smaller size. But that really just adds to its charm. I imagine that many people who visit here are frequent flyers, making this place much more of a gem. They do have a refreshments area right when you enter the building, where they serve alcohol, snacks and coffee and tea. The play was a lot of fun, lots of laughs from the crowd and even the actors, and since it's an intimate space, even if you sit furthest away from the stage, you'll easily be able to see the performance. I'd recommend getting tickets ahead of time for a show. When we came, every seat was taken. For the play we saw on a Sunday afternoon, in the front row in the center section, it was about $45, which you can purchase online. I'd be interested to see what future shows they have here as I'm so glad to have discovered this treasured community space.

What a lovely gem set in West Seattle. Parking was easy…read more Really enjoyed Sunset Baby! The cast was excellent and engaged the audience from the first moment they walked on the stage. I was happy that the theater was willing to approach a bold topic and the audience appeared to enjoy it thoroughly. Every seat in the theater has a great vantage point and tickets prices are very reasonable.

I bought Salsa lessons with Balorico for my wife as a birthday present. We had recently taken a…read morethree week trip to Cuba and fallen in love with Salsa music and dancing and were eager to learn how to dance Salsa ourselves. After doing some research about classes offered in the South Seattle area I landed on Balorico and booked a beginners package with Vanessa Villalobos. At first I really liked Vanessa and was optimistic about what we would learn under her guidance, but would unfortunately find her teaching style frustrating and ultimately discouraging. Vanessa uses a rapid-fire method, introducing a new dance step, running it a few times, and then quickly moving on. I have some experience with dance lessons and am used to strongly incorporating a move into our muscle memory before moving on, which was an opportunity I rarely got with Vanessa. What was increasingly aggravating were her regular proclamations that we were "getting it!" or excited announcements like, "You got it!"... as I looked around at my fellow students that seldom seemed like the case. It was my impression that the majority of my fellow students were equally lost. Overall, I felt very rushed through this course and was so unhappy with it that we didn't even bother to go to the final class. In addition to not feeling like we were being effectively taught Salsa, Vanessa was regularly promoting other classes and events as constantly up-sales. Considering my frustrations with the class this was particularly irksome. I feel the focus should have been on delivering what we had already paid for. Vanessa clearly knows how to dance Salsa and while it was fun to watch her execute moves I don't feel she was very good at passing that knowledge on to beginners. Perhaps her methods are better suited for more advanced students, but I wouldn't recommend her for those starting out.

OK, so I decided to surprise my partner with salsa lessons before our commitment ceremony. She…read morewanted to do a first dance and I always wanted to learn how to lead, so... Thankfully, Balorico came up when I searched for lessons in the West Seattle area. Vanessa (the instructor) really put me at ease from the start (I can be shy and a little neurotic). She is incredibly good at breaking down the steps/movements in ways that are appropriate to your style of learning. She is very good at knowing when one should be challenged further and when to pull back. She pays very close attention to detail and hey, she even laughs at my lame jokes-my partner and I are full of those. How she gets thru a lesson with the two of us I will never know, but we always have a great time and somehow she managed to make us look pretty damn good. It's really cool to see how much pride she takes in what we learn. There is genuine excitement when she sees that we are putting things together. I really can't say enough. We got a lot of compliments on our dance and that was really cool, but even cooler still is the fact that I can't wait to learn more.

Recently checked out Tim's on Sunday! We were craving burgers and our friends who were Vegan…read morerecommended this spot as it has good food and a good vegan menu as well. We walked in and due to this is a music event space there was a concert going on. We decided to order and the bar and sit outside. Cute bar and good vibes. We ordered two vegans burgers, one beef burger and buffalos wings. We also got loaded tots with vegan cheese. All in all everything was very good. The wings were a bit over done. But the vegan entrees were surprising delicious. I've never been to a dive bar that serves vegan food and this was fun and cool to check out different spots. I would come here again and recommend it to any vegans who love a good dive bar!

Great warm and laid back atmosphere. I came in for their vegan tacos and fell in love!…read more I will be back the next time I'm in the area

My daughter started playing guitar here and has learned so much while having fun at the same time…read more Having teachers that are passionate about their craft is so helpful with teaching kids. Everyone is super friendly, loves engaging kids in playing their instruments and working together. These are not just music teachers, they are artists, musicians, people who want to share their love of music with others.

This place rocks! (Too dad joke-ish?)…read more I have been an adult student for about 9 months here and I have learned a lot. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgable but more importantly they have patience and positivity. I look forward to continuing lessons here and will definitely recommend this place to friends in the area. Rock on!

My friends and I attended Brooklyn's comedy show last week. It was so funny that we couldn't get…read moreenough of it. Brooklyn was very unpredictable, spontaneous and witty during her performance. She was able to engage the crowd and made everyone laugh by making improv jokes. Brooklyn's energy on the stage is infectious - you won't want the show to stop!!

From the owner: Brooklyn Comedy Live is interactive improv stand up comedian. Every show is new different and one…read moreof a kind. It's largely based on audience suggestions and interaction. Perfect entertainment for weddings, corporate events, holiday parties, and more.

This is one of those places I find myself humming Bikini Kill when I think about it…read more It's a free little carnival in the heart of Georgetown on the second Saturday in June and it really fits in with the neighborhood - nice and weird! There are several stages with different events throughout the day so you can pick and choose your own adventure! I really liked the fact that almost all of the vendors were local and weren't selling DH Gate/MLM garbage. There are a lot of bars and restaurants to choose from in this area and they bring in a bunch of food trucks as well, because it wouldn't be a carnival without fried food and games! Seemed like things changed fairly rapidly throughout the day so it's a great idea to come early and plan to stay for the duration of the event! There are even after parties to keep the fun going if you're so inclined.

Since this is our first Georgetown Carnival I can't say whether it's the best or the worst but I do…read moreknow I had a really good time. This is a fun event, but take a city bus because finding a place to park will take a lot of time and could cause frustration. A pretty cool place to check it out. ABOUT: The Georgetown Carnival is a free, multidisciplinary arts festival held on the second Saturday of June each year since 2006. Colorful contemporary art complements traditional circus and performing arts in several venues throughout the neighborhood. Acrobats, stilt walkers, jugglers, creative carnival games and confections appeal to visitors of all ages. Interactive visual arts exhibitions combine with diverse music, theater, dance, literary and media arts in a wide variety of urban environments. DAY/TIME: Saturday, Noon to 10PM LOCATION (Airport Way S): from S Lucille to S Bailey PARKING: Can be quite difficult

If you are looking for a school that equips children for the tools they need in an increasingly…read moreunstable world, this is it! And they do it , while providing a fun, caring and strong community for all. Westside school moved into a permanent home a few years ago and hired a new head of school a few years before the pandemic. These changes have supported the school into a solid place for a child to learn and be amongst others. The balance between academics and Social emotional skills is good and the school has a wealth of talented and dedicated teachers and staff who care about education, the world and making positive change. There is nothing better than seeing my child run to school every morning. We have been there 4 years and I was hesitant to go to an independent school at first. I didn't grow up rich and was concerned. This is truly a great community of people who want to make a difference in the world and value children being seen for who they are.

I feel grateful that my children have the opportunity to be part of the Westside community. Great…read moreteachers, great learning and the other parents are cool too. I'm truly impressed.

A Hidden Gem in White Center. Wolfpack Cellars is hands down one of the best neighborhood wine…read morespots around. If you're anywhere near West Seattle, Burien, or White Center, it's worth going out of your way to visit. First off, the vibe is perfect. It somehow manages to feel cozy and intimate while also being a little sexy and elevated, the kind of place you can stop by casually with your dog after a walk or stay for hours catching up with friends over great wine. One of the things that really makes Wolfpack special is the hospitality. One of the owners, James, is always there and always incredibly welcoming and friendly. You can tell how much care goes into the place and it creates such a warm, neighborhood feel. The wine is fantastic across the board. The sparkling rosé is a must-order, it's seriously amazing. We also love their whites and the Syrahs, but honestly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They also have great non-alcoholic options and frosé, which makes it easy for everyone to enjoy. Another thing I love is how connected they are to the community. You can join the Wolfpack Wine Club for exclusive events, but they also host tons of fun events open to the neighborhood, things like puppy socials, Feather & Pages nights, wine & ice events, and more. It always feels lively without being crowded. It's also dog-friendly and kid-friendly, which is rare for a wine spot and makes it feel like a true community gathering place. Great wine, amazing people, and a vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. Wolfpack Cellars is one of White Center's absolute gems.

One of the best assets of my neighborhood. Truly excellent wine and even better hospitality…read more Their wines are world class and a great representation of the incredible plot a across Eastern Washington combined with craftsmanship. Stop in and have a convo with James, the winemaker, and he will answer any questions you may have about their process. Wolfpack is a winemaker to watch. (Also, you can bring dogs and even kids to the winery, so there is no reason not to stop by and give it a try.)

I'm a 73-year-old recent widow who was looking for a new activity. I hadn't sewn in over 50 years…read moreand didn't even own a sewing machine, but I decided to sign up for a class with Katie. What a great decision. Katie is a wonderful teacher, sewing machines were provided and I quickly fell in love with quilting. The class was welcoming, encouraging and I enjoyed learning a new skill. I'm now working on my second quilt, with the goal of donating to hospitals. This experience has given me a relaxing activity and a new chapter in my life. I am so grateful that I took that first step, and I highly recommend this class to anyone-especially those who think it's too late to try something new.

Katie teaches children. My 12 year old granddaughter has taken 3 classes and has has sewn a basket…read more& 2 zipper pouches. They are beautiful. My granddaughter is so proud of what she has made and really enjoys going and learning from Katie. I took sewing classes at middle school in the 1960's and I'm so glad Katie is teaching the art of sewing to kids.