Almost eight years ago, I left Seattle proper with little plan of return. It was time for a change and time to shake things up a bit. I’d been living in Seattle since college, working and playing music, and loved it, but needed to put a new perspective on things. Granted, I didn’t exactly leave the state; I barely even left King County. My path only took me as far as Tacoma for a couple of years and back up to Bothell for several more. (And most recently, a few more months in T-town.) I did, however, truly get a chance to experience more of the areas surrounding Seattle along with doing some great travel out of state and abroad.

Until recently, I’d been planning on buying a place in the Tacoma area and commuting to my job in Kirkland. However, after my most recent stay in Tacoma, I realized how much traffic has worsened in the last few years and that the daily commute just wasn’t mentally or physically sustainable. (So screamed my back. And my patience…)  I’d begun to formulate a plan on how to buy a place in the more expensive King County, including renting in the Bothell area in the meantime, when I received a very intriguing offer from two very dear friends. Long story short, I now find myself moving back to Seattle, back to the city I held dear for so many years, back to music and back to the many memories of good times – and bad.  And I am genuinely excited about it.

I know many things have changed since I’ve been gone – I’ve changed a bit myself. Places and people I took for granted as Seattle institutions have been replaced by the new and the shiny. But I know there are many things that remain the same and will always be quintessentially, Seattle. In the spirit of these holdouts, here’s a list of places I’m looking forward to having readily accessible in the very near future:

• Golden Gardens (You can have a bonfire!)
• Fisherman’s Terminal (Get your fish before it arrives at Pike Place)
• The Deluxe on Capitol Hill (Many nights and many good burgers…)
• Volunteer Park and Conservatory (The air in the Conservatory is truly magical)
• SAM
• First Thursdays Art Walk
• Pike Place Market (Specifically on weekday mornings)
• Hattie’s Hat (Morning, noon and night…)
• The Tractor Tavern (Playing or seeing shows – love the place)
• REI – The flagship store (Although, I still really miss the Capitol Hill location)
• Ravenna Park/Ravine (A hidden gem in the middle of the city)
• Greenlake (Stay in your lane!)
• MIGHTY-O DONUTS (They. Are. Delicious.)
• Zoka Coffee – Tangletown
• Seamonster Lounge (Amazing music – all the time!)
• Elysian Tangletown (And just the Tangletown neighborhood in general)
• Queen Mary for afternoon tea
• Discovery Park (Sprawling and beautiful)
• Lake Union (I AM finally going to rent a damn kayak…)
• Agua Verde (And after I kayak, I’ll eat here!)
• Voula’s Offshore Café (Or here…)
• Mike’s Chili Parlor (Eat there often. Bring Pepcid, but eat there often.)
• Brouwers (Sooo many dreamy Belgian brews…)
• The Arboretum (Magical. Especially the rhododendron forest)
• UW Campus
• Market House Meats (Two words: CORNED BEEF)
• SNAPPY DRAGON (Judy Fu FTW!!)
• Canon (Whiskey as far as the eye can see!)
• Radiator Whiskey (More whiskey!!)
• Seward Park (You can get lost in middle trails. Watch out for poison oak!)
• Harbor City (Dim sum in the ID)
• Salumi (If that line ever dies down)
• The Five Point (24/7 culinary and general life debauchery)
• All the great neighborhoods – Each one is its own little universe:
  • Georgetown
  • Capitol Hill
  • International District
  • Wallingford/Greenlake
  • Ballard
  • Fremont
  • Queen Anne
  • Phinney Ridge
  • The list goes on…

While I was away – RIP Seattle of my youth:

• People’s Pub (Goodbye delicious fried pickles and spätzle…)
• Spaghetti Factory (Why, Seattle – WHY??? Since I was a child…)
• The Hurricane (And The Doghouse before it…)
• B&O Espresso (Partially responsible for my caffeine addiction. And the reason my Birks are still sticky from a caramel mocha milkshake debacle…)
• 13 Coins on Boren (Ohhhh, the debaucherous late nights…)
• El Puerco Llrone (NOOOOoooooOOOoooooo!!! Farewell amazing carnitas…)
• The Waterfront (As it used to be…)
• Sunset Bowl (Happened while I was still in Seattle, but I still haven’t gotten over it…)
• And I’m sure there are many more… 😦

Sigh… Sunset Bowl, I miss you…

But hey, glass half full – I’m looking forward to checking out all the new things Seattle has to offer.

Greetings, Seattle!  I’m BACK!!!  >;-)