To begin with, I like speed dating. It's fun, it's fast, and it's an interesting way to meet new…read morepeople. If nothing else, it's a really interesting experience - and I'm all about interesting experiences (get your mind out of the gutter). With that in mind, I went to try Tango Speed Dating. To be honest, the word "Tango" terrified me. I'm not a dancer, I've never taken a dance class, and everything I've seen about tango on TV suggests passion and fast moves and lots of (revealing) red clothing. I was happy to find that the Tango/dance themed ice breakers did not require me to move my hips in any Ricky Martin-like fashion. Instead they were easy, respectful dance-themed activities like guiding my partner around the dance floor while we talked. Pretty simple stuff, but I was surprised how much more comfortable I was with my partner after each game. It was a lot better than just sitting across from them and making small talk. A plus that the price includes a glass of wine and appetizer. I was a little confused by some of the other reviews, since it's clear that this wasn't a dance class. -1 star because I can't say I was hooked and will learn Tango now, but the event itself is fun and the people I met were nice. I'd definitely consider going again.

I was terrified to try this, but accompanied a friend as a favour. It was a pleasnat afternoon. No,…read morewe didn't meet the men of our dreams, & it was a little awkward, but some very nice men & women attended, we all laughed at ourselves a lot & Gabriela herself was wonderful. Calming, bright, attractive, her exercises (no, it wasn't actual tango dancing) were designed to build confidence & trust, & it was telling which partners elicited more ease. And the fee included a meal & drink, so that seemed very reasonable (tho I've never attended speed-dating before, but didn't think they came w/ snacks & beverages). I took a single beginners tango lesson from her later, so that is somewhat colouring my review. I might give speed dating a 3, because it's not 'my scene', but her tango lesson that other day a 5. And the 2 are intertwined to me, thus my 4 stars.

Just finished 6 weeks of Watercolor instruction with the brilliant and gracious Jenna Brechbiel…read moreguiding us every step of the way! So much fun! The WUC has a lively Arts program Just finished 6 weeks of Watercolor instruction with the brilliant and gracious Jenna Brechbiel- so much fun! There is a candy-dish of Arts classes awaiting at the WUC- I'm always tickled, I call it 'brain candy'!!

Attended a "Fempire" event here on Thursday night. Women owned and a beautiful facility. They…read moreoffer $15 valet parking but it is quite small so make sure to get there early for a parking spot. I lucked out. The valet attendant is a master at parking! Once inside I walked upstairs to a reception room with a fireplace and cozy seating. There was book signing in an adjacent room. Attentive service getting cocktails before dinner. The dining area is quite large and lovely. Food was fantastic. Staff was excellent. Served grilled Salmon, steamed veggies, a salad and a decadent dessert. Of course the hosts from PartnerTap made the event, but this was a perfect place for conversation, meeting folks and enjoying a great meal.

Stopped into Shorty's across the street from Bangrak after lunch and WOW... this place was a blast…read more It's quirky as hell and I mean that as a compliment. They've got tons of pinball machines, but the thing I absolutely LOVED were the booths with the pinball machines built right into the tables. I've never seen that before and immediately thought it was such a cool idea. Definitely the kind of spot you stop into for a drink and then end up hanging out way longer than you planned. Overall just a really fun little bar with a lot of character. I'd absolutely come back.

Love this bar. We have been here countless times and it's great vibes every time…read more Lots of regulars. Smoking area in front of the bar. They have games, an ATM to get quarters to play the games, free condoms box above the quarter ATM. And my favorite part a Photo Booth! A great bar to me has a Photo Booth, street fighter, and private booths. This has it all. Love how we can have fun playing games, taking pics, choosing a song, and having great conversations in the comfy booths. Service is helpful. One night one of the games ate our quarters up and never worked so we let the bartender know and a few minutes later he gave us our quarters back. Staff is efficient and keeps the bar clean picking up any left behind glasses quickly. The bar is quirky and fun. Private and comfy booths, and lots of clowns everywhere. Sad clowns, happy clowns, creepy clowns, and more clowns than you can count! The bathrooms are unisex with plenty of stickers to look at. Always hand soap and toilet paper available even when busy. Hard working staff! Some areas of the bar like near the bathrooms have flashy lights and makes it feel like you're at the circus. The vibe is laid back and care free. Have yet to try the food so no words on that quite yet! Always a great time at Shorty's. Literally one of my favorite bars! Highly recommend!

The Columbia tower is much taller than the space needle's so the views are incredible. The space is…read morenicely laid out and I appreciate that you can have a conversation without having to shout for the other people in your table to hear you. The food was good, expected, not mind blowing. I enjoyed the appetizers better than the main dish I ordered (salmon)

Decided to try this place during restaurant week. The menu looked intriguing and the view promised…read moreto be phenomenal. The food was good - the carrots had a terrific heat. The squash was cold, which wasn't bad, but didn't support the burrata that well. That being said, the cheese was terrific with the carrots. The mushrooms had a great chew, and while the grits were flavorful, they were lukewarm and got gluey towards the end of the meal. The salmon was perfectly cooked, as were the lentils. But once again, the sweet potatoes were lukewarm. This was the overriding theme for the meal: lukewarm. The view, though, did live up to the anticipation.

Rock Hall's Mount Grungemore is the " TEN CLUB " for Pearl Jam fans. Now for fans of Pearl Jam this…read moreis the fan club set to collect an annual fee for purpose of giving you early warning on tickets and selling you swag. For me I wouldn't donate a dime to these guys, but many still living in the 90's and haven't moved on yet well this is a cash cow for the band... Folks listen to what ya want ! Frank B is out !

Ok, I am a die-hard Pearl Jam fan. To be fair, I must admit that there are few things that spark…read morepassion within me like that band does. Laugh if you will, but it's true and I don't give a shit how dorky it is. I even have the obligatory tattoo to pay homage to my rock gods of choice. I signed up for their fan club (which has gone by a few names, but the tried and true is Ten Club) in 1996... this is after begging my mother to let me sign up for 4 years prior. 1996 is the year I opened my own checking account and no longer had to ask her permission for such things. Anyhow, the good folks who run it have been pretty good to me and my kin over the years. They have gotten me good seats to shows. They have sent me cherished Christmas singles, newsletters and given access to nerdy memorabilia I would have otherwise not had access to. I have counted on this club every tour and with their extreme kindness and usually awesome service, avoided Ticketmonster more often than not and seen 40+ shows, made more friends than I can count, had great adventures and spent more money than I care to admit in the process. We all count on them to maintain this high level of service and understanding of our addiction. They are prided for showing lots of respect for the fans and going above and beyond to nurse our PJ habits. Up until about a month ago, I wouldn't have said a single bad word about the club - they would have gotten a shining 5 stars and then some.... but then came Ed's April Fool's Tour, which was announced (and seemingly thrown together) in a last-minute sort of fashion. I won't get too negative here, because at the end of the day I still appreciate and love the club -- but I will give a quick overview of the disappointment that went down: the tour was announced, tickets went on sale days later (all at the same time and only online), servers could not handle traffic, fuckups ensued -- cards charged for tix that didn't exist, people locked out, emails ignored, mass hysteria, no statement from club -- sadness. The first tour in the 13 years I've been seeing their shows (and solo/side shows) where I had no access to tickets without going through scalpers. Total and complete disappointment. So for the poor planning and aftermath of that bit of lameness, I have to knock off a star. Maybe we're just spoiled, but nevertheless it bummed tons of faithful fans out. It's a snafu that can't be ignored. So four stars it is. All that aside, any self-respecting PJ nerd knows membership is mandatory... so get on it, if you haven't.

I have held 2 private events this year at the RC and would highly recommend booking with them!…read more Sasha Montalvo (the events coordinator i have worked with both times) is thorough, helpful, and very responsive. We have used the RC for two client appreciation/business development events and not only do we love it, our clients do too! The food is always great (a highlight is the appetizer bacon wrapped dates), the drinks are tasty and the bartenders are pleasant, and as an organizer I think the spaces are beautiful and perfectly decorated. My photos below are of the space for our most recent event in the Cutter Room. Thank you endlessly to all the staff that is always welcoming, professional, and helpful.

This tired aging gracious brick oasis survives amidst the sterile glistening glass skyscrapers of…read morestockbrokers and nearby unhinged zombies of the Seattle people's republic. It's members only, but isn't snooty or pretentious. They hire kind and professional uniformed staffers who go beyond the call of duty. Sit over tasty potstickers and French champagne perhaps at the grand upstairs bar late afternoon looking out at the grey rain - but avoid the (dprk airline tasting) beef and broccoli bowl and the $2 well burnt nuts. The food prices are kept wonderfully low. Clubs do want members to actually hangout. The club is an absolute haven and perfect for business lunches, cocktail hours, and weddings (a fireplace so big even NBA players could walk in), and to just get lost in thought in spacious quiet elegance in a place great-great-grandfathers lit cigars.

This place was actually recommended to me by one of the regulars at Rider, so of course I had to…read moresee what the hype was about! We came here right after our nice dinner at Musang, and the place was already packed when we arrived. You can definitely feel that lively Belltown energy the moment you walk in with dim lighting, chill music, and that cool, slightly hipster lounge vibe that fits perfectly in the neighborhood. The entire staff was already in full Halloween mode, and the bar was decked out with festive decorations everywhere even the drinks were themed! Lol. It was definitely a fun surprise to experience that early in the season. The service was fast, and the bartenders were super friendly and clearly passionate about what they do. Drinks were beautifully crafted, strong, balanced, and totally on theme! Overall, Rob Roy totally lives up to its reputation with great cocktails, fun atmosphere, quick service, and welcoming staff. Perfect spot for a nightcap after dinner or if you want to feel like a local in the heart of Belltown.

Rob Roy, located in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, is a celebrated cocktail bar that blends…read moremid-century chic with vintage bachelor-pad charm. Rob Roy offers a rotating menu of classics and inventive seasonal drinks, all made with premium spirits and house-made ingredients. The bar's commitment to quality has earned it national recognition from Esquire, Eater, and the James Beard Foundation. Rob Roy's intimate lounge setting, complete with plush seating and a curated soundtrack, makes it ideal for both quiet conversations and lively nights out. Food options are limited because the focus here is on the drinks. Expecting surf and turf? Rob Roy's got it, in the form of goldfish crackers and jerky. The rear hallway featured some excellent wallpaper, and the gender neutral bathroom had cocktail recipe graffiti. At the bar, I enjoyed a Selkie - a blend of whiskeys, gentian, banana, ginger, clarified lemon and honey, and bitters. It reminded me of how much I miss Patrice Bergeron, six-time Selke winner. Cheers.

This was one of the best coffees that I had in the Seattle area. My fiancé got a caramel latte and…read moreI got a Cortado and both were perfect. This is such a cool and unique coffee house. They lean in on community and outdoors by offering classes for people to come and learn or to rent gear. It also has taps for beer! If I lived in the area, this would be my go to spot. The place has ample seating for people come and work. The staff was welcoming. What's not to love!

Gearhouse is amazing…read more I stumbled onto the site while looking for gear rental. My friend was flying up from the Bay Area for a break, and we were looking to go on an overnight camping trip. He'd never backpacked before, and while I'd been a few times, I'd always gone with friends who had the gear and knew what they were doing. After hours of research on spring hikes, we chose a hard first hike, the Lakeshore Trail in Chelan. It trip was 17 miles with 3500ft elevation gain, which we we had to do as an overnight trip because of other commitments. When renting gear you have a few options. There are a number of online companies that will drop gear off at your house, but they never responded to my emails. I figure they don't really exist and their websites are phantoms. The real default in Seattle is REI. REI provides a great service, but the experience at Gearhouse is way better. REI only offers a la carte options, you have to cobble together a gear list and pick the right items. At Gearhouse, you don't have that labor. You have a conversation about the hike you are doing and some preferences about the items you want, and they pick out a full list for you. The gear they carry is better, on our trail we met a backpacker that regularly does 200+ mile trips, and she had the same ultralight gear we rented. For items they don't carry they'll provide recommendations for you to buy. It's a huge help. REI also requires you to clearly specify dates for pickup and drop-off and charges per day. Gearhouse has a six-day window for members. You can pick up gear a bit early when it's easy for you without worrying about a micro-cost for one extra day. And if you get back late or want to take an extra day on the hike, you don't have to worry about missing a drop-off. Also, each tent and sleeping combo is a bit different, so we literally set up the tent in the Gearhouse space before we left. When we got to our campground we had intense wind, and without that prep it would have been frustrating to get everything together on the spot. That's not something you get with most rental companies. Finally, remember the hours I spent planning a hike. Well, if I'd signed up to Gearhouse earlier, I would have saved that time. They're experts and they will sit and listen to what you want and help pick out the perfect hike. I know this review is effusive, but I'm being genuine. This is a great service run by real experts who care about their members, the outdoors, and making sure folks have a great experience.

Came here with a friend one late night and the ambience is just right. A handful of regulars, dive…read moreatmosphere, music not too loud and strong drinks. It's not a secret bar, but it has an unassuming look that I like and can be easily overlooked. Their tagline is "your favorite neighborhood art bar" which is appropriate as the bar is filled with art and decor that gets your attention. Much of the art is for sale, but definitely for someone who has a strong love for it and or deep pockets. The bar has been around since 2005 with an aim to build in the eyes of patrons for patrons. There is a fairly extensive menu of cocktails that carry a pricey tag, but are good. I simply opted for a couple Tom Collins, and it was excellent. Had me walking back kinda sideways. Definitely a gem of a drinking spot, perfect place to close out a night.

Great place for a well-crafted cocktail in a relaxed yet hip ambiance. It's as unpretentious as a…read moreneighborhood bar should be, but its style and character (and wall full of paintings) elevates it above a dive. Great place for a cocktail before or after a visit to the Frye or an event at Town Hall.