The Matador (2221 NW Market St): Ballard's lustiest straight meat market--olé!

Hattie's Hat (5231 Ballard Ave NW): Beloved haunt of older (meaning "over 25") hipsters, who don't mind heavy smoke if it's offset with booze and good diner food.

Sunset Tavern (5433 Ballard Ave NW): Eloquently described by a passionate regular as "the Cha Cha with less self-conscious irony, transported to Ballard," the Sunset facilitates integration of patrons with movie nights, live music, and other topics of pre-sex conversation.

Natural Habitats

Thaiku (5410 Ballard Ave NW): Yummy food, semi-relaxed atmosphere, plus those yohimbe drinks (they only allow two per customer) pack an aphrodisiac punch.

Sonic Boom Records (2209 NW Market St) and

Golden Gardens Park (Seaview Ave NW): Home to the world's two greatest conversation-starters--records and sunsets.

Fred Meyer parking lot (915 NW 45th St), southwest end: Home to horny fishermen, fresh off the boat from the nearby marina, plus half-naked scuba students waiting for "a ride."