ICWSM 

	Craig Hajduk

Hey Michael,

I live in the area so not into doing the tourist stuff, but would be happy to provide recos of things to check out.

	Michael Rhodes

Hi Craig,

It'd be great if you could give me a few recommendations for places to see in the area. Maybe as another comment which others can check out in case they are also looking for things to do?

Thanks!

	Craig Hajduk

You bet. I'll drop a few comments in with different ideas and that will hopefully get some things going.

One idea is to check out Snoqualmie Falls for a taste of what the area is like around Seattle. It's close to a national forest, the falls are beautiful, and there is a lodge with a spa there where you can grab a lunch, coffee, or even a massage. Out highway I-90 about 30 minutes from Seattle.

Hiking would be a little wet right now, but on your way back into Seattle you can stop at the REI flagship store - it's a huge outdoor store with a bike path and waterfall outside, and a rock climbing wall inside.

If it's not raining too hard, I think you can rent kayaks on South Lake Union or near the University and check out all the houseboats from the water. You might even find the one that was used for parts of the movie Sleepless In Seattle. It's a fun afternoon.

	Michael Rhodes

Hey Craig, thanks for the ideas, the falls sound lovely. They should be good for the weekend when I should have access to a car; do you have any suggestions for the times when I'll be without a car? Not quite sure where I'll be lodging in Seattle, so fairly central stuff would be safest, I guess...

	Craig Hajduk

A few quick thoughts:

Pike Place Market is a functioning public market in the heart of downtown. (It's where I do all my grocery shopping). There's way more in there than I could describe quickly, but here's what comes to mind:

1. There's a stand with an donut machine and great coffee (just ask someone where the donut machine stand is and they'll point you to it). You can get a bag of donuts made on the spot and a great cup (it's Caffe Vita, btw).
2. Now that you're ready, start exploring. There are a bunch of fishmongers, some of whom make a show by throwing fish around and teasing tourists. Their booth is easy to find because they'll be a huge crowd around them, and they shout a lot. Ask the guys about the closing of the Salmon fishery this year between Oregon and Mexico - it's big news, and I wonder what they'll say. Stop by Socios produce and get whatever they think tastes great right now. They have great stuff.
3. There are lots of street performers around, most of whom are regulars and a little eccentric. There's a gospel vocal group, a guy with a parrot, a piano player who carts an upright around, a bunch of guitarists, and occasionally, small theater/comedy groups.
4. There are a bunch of restaurants all over the market. Place Pigalle has a great water view (as does Lowell's which is cheaper), Beecher's cheese shop is cool, Le Panier has great croissants, Matt's in the Market is a great hole in the wall with good food, the original Starbucks is here, and on the far north side, there's Ettas, which was the first restaurant by our local celebrity chef/restaurateur Tom Douglas. Take your time poking in to all the booths. To be in the market, you either have to be unique/owner-operated, or be first of your kind. (So the Starbucks is OK).
5. Inside the market: you can go into the lower levels of the market and poke around the stores. I don't do it much, but there are a bunch of interesting little stores in there.

I'll post some other stuff later...