BOOKSTORES
Bailey/Coy Books
414 Broadway E, 323-8842
Capitol Hill's best bookstore for new titles. Featuring dense displays of mainstream fiction, poetry, history, and cultural criticism, and a great selection of gay and lesbian lit. Plus, the people who work there are really nice.
Beyond the Closet
518 E Pike, 322-4609
For the city's largest selection of gay and lesbian titles in all fields, head to Beyond the Closet, which stocks nothing else.
Elliott Bay Books
101 S Main, 624-6600
This huge source of new and used books, located in the heart of Pioneer Square, carries just about any popular title you could desire and hosts frequent in-store readings. Also, there's a cafe in the basement where you can get snacks.
Half Price Books
4709 Roosevelt Wy NE, 547-7859
Half Price Books is a strange store. Downstairs, the store has an odd collection of oversized art and coffee-table hardcovers, among which the occasional gem can be found. Upstairs, though, is where the treasure lies: Besides a surprisingly well-stocked fiction section, Half Price has one of the few selections of used computer books in the city. This is the first place to look if you're trying to school yourself in computer languages or other practical matters.
Left Bank Books
92 Pike St, 622-0195
The best source for left-leaning and radical magazines and workers' newspapers in the city, this downtown bookstore also features new and used books focusing on gender and cultural studies, politics, philosophy, and media studies. Pay in cash to avoid bothersome FBI surveillance.
Pistil Books
1013 E Pike St, 325-5401
The adorable Pistil is home to a full range of alternative readings of popular culture, with small but well-traveled sections on UFO sightings and the occult, modest fiction and biography sections, and a significant body of "alternative" magazine publishing engaged in various culture wars. (Plus, a stellar collection of '50s and '60s kitsch paperbacks.)
Twice Sold Tales
905 E John, 324-2421
1309 NE 45th St, 545-4226
3504 Fremont Ave N, 632-3759
This Capitol Hill store features the city's best selection of used history books along with a wide array of popular titles (the other locations are less reliable), and stays open all night on Fridays. Hint: Avoid if you're allergic to cats.
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE, 634-3400
The largest independent college bookstore in the country, University Bookstore features rows and rows of textbooks, but also a great selection of contemporary fiction. Don't forget to browse through the overflowing tables of heavily discounted remainders in the main hall.
FOOD
Bimbo's Bitchin' Burrito Kitchen
506 E Pine, 329-9978
The food at this beloved Capitol Hill institution arrives quickly, is cheap and generally filling, and is almost always delicious. You can usually get stuffed for around $5. Try the "downhome burrito" filled with chicken and mashed potatoes.
Continental Restaurant and Pastry Shop
4549 University Way NE, 632-4700
A great family-owned breakfast spot. Try the scrambled eggs, fries, and toast for under $5, or one of the Continental's equally cheap Greek specials.
Dick's Drive-In
115 Broadway E, 323-1300
111 NE 45th, 632-5125
9208 Holman Rd NW, 783-5233
500 Queen Anne Ave N, 285-5155
Greasy burgers, thick shakes, salty fries. What more do you need to know? You can feed yourself at Dick's with the change from under the sofa cushions. Plus, they're open till 2 am for the hungry drunken crowd.
Hot Mama's Pizza
700 E Pine St, 322-6444
Absolutely scrumptious pizza (from meat-packed monsters to inspired vegetarian delights) served by hard-rocking staffers who frequently scream cuss words at the top of their lungs.
Noble Palace
4214 University Way NE, 632-7248
This is the spot for cheap Chinese food in the U-District. The lunch special--steamed rice, an egg roll, a homemade pot sticker, and an entrée--is $5.
Pagliacci Pizza
4529 University Way NE
426 Broadway E
550 Queen Anne Ave N
Call 726-1717 for delivery
Pagliacci restaurants dish up good, standard pizza by the slice--an invaluable service for every busy, thrifty American citizen. Plus, you can get a Pagliacci pizza delivered to just about anywhere in the city.
Tandoor Indian Restaurant
5024 University Way NE, 523-7477
All the stuff you'd expect to find at an Indian buffet--for only $5.95. Except on Sunday, when it costs $6.95. Go figure.
Thai Tom
4543 University Way NE, 548-9548
Absolutely yummy Thai food (eat in or take out) right there on the big stinky Ave.
Zeek's Pizza
419 Denny Way, 448-6775
6000 Phinney Ave N, 789-0089
41 Dravis St, 285-6046
2108 65th Ave NE, 525-0250
If you don't live within Zeek's delivery range, you should steal a car and get your ass over to pick up a pie. The crust is crisp, the sauce tangy, and the roasted garlic to die for. Definitely one of the best pizzas in Seattle.
24-HOUR CAFES
Beth's Cafe
7311 Aurora Ave N, 782-5588
This place serves amazing 6- and 12-egg omelets, plus deliciously greasy hash browns. The service is quick and friendly, but if you do find yourself waiting, you can peruse the crayon art on the walls (or create a masterwork of your own).
Cafe Minnie's
First Ave at Denny, 448-6263
611 Broadway E, 860-1360
The ability to enjoy Minnie's hinges on your ability to tolerate frequently glacier-paced service and occasionally crappy food. Still, there's lots to choose from here: desserts, coffee, an especially good tomato-basil soup (served with warm rolls for under $4). Also, try the Dutch Babies, described by the staff as "a Dutch pancake that thinks it's a soufflé," for around $7.
Hurricane Cafe
2230 Seventh Ave, 623-5750
Smoky, dark, noisy, and crowded, this is the best place to grab a cheap breakfast at 3 am. Or 4 am.
COFFEEHOUSES
Allegro
4214 University Way NE, 633-3030
Mon-Fri 6:30 am-11 pm; Sat 7:30 am-11 pm; Sun 8:30 am-11 pm.
This place doesn't just offer some of the best coffee in town, it's huge, with smoking and non-smoking sections and an outdoor balcony.
Bauhaus
301 E Pine St, 625-1600
Mon-Fri 6 am-1 am; Sat-Sun 8 am-1 am
It can be difficult to find a seat in the upper-level smoking section of this cush cafe, but the cozy atmosphere (and the desserts) make it worth the effort.
Vivace
901 E Denny Way, 860-5869
Daily 6:30 am-11 pm
This charming coffeehouse--undoubtedly Capitol Hill's best--serves up delicious coffee drinks of a fetishistic perfection with a complete lack of snootiness. Dreamy!
Still Life
709 N 35th St, 547-9850
Daily 7:30 am-10 pm
This stylish Fremont joint is very relaxed--we're talking hippie relaxed. Besides coffee, Still Life serves homemade soups, pastries, and sandwiches.
BOOZE
Thanks to stingy state laws, there's only one game in town for buying bottled booze: Washington State Liquor Stores (check The Stranger's club listings each week for the best places to buy it by the glass). Liquor stores are located all over Seattle--and tend to be sterile, with the kind of florescent lighting that makes you feel like a criminal--but here are a few of the more convenient outlets. They're all open Mon-Sat 10 am-8 pm.12th and E Pine, 720-3459
408 Broadway E, 720-3458
3310 W McGraw, 298-4615
515 First N, 298-4616
1300 N 45th, 545-6781
TRANSPORTATION
Metro
www.metrokc.gov, BUS-TIME (287-8463)
Seattle's bus system leaves something to be desired if you're heading someplace exotic, like West Seattle. But in and around the heart of the city, service is consistent (there's also a downtown "ride free" zone).
Yellow Cab
622-6500
A cab will cost you, but sometimes a chauffeur is worth it. These guys are amazingly quick.
Recycled Cycles
1011 NE Boat St, 547-4491
An excellent store if you're looking to buy, sell, or consign a bike.
Velo Bike Shop
1535 11th Ave, 325-3292
Stop by Velo and buy a new bike or some fancy accessories when that student loan comes through.
CLOTHES
Buffalo Exchange
216 Broadway E, 860-4133
4546 University Way NE, 545-0175
Featuring used but surprisingly current fashions, Buffalo Exchange is the place to go for a black skirt or leopard handbag. You can also sell clothes you no longer want (though clerks will laugh out loud at outdated styles).
Red Light
4560 University Way NE, 545-4044
312 Broadway, 329-2200
A very trendy store featuring very trendy new and used clothing. They do have a great selection of vintage wear, though.
Value Village
1525 11th Ave, 322-7789
There are outlets farther out of the city, but the one in Capitol Hill is the one closest to our hearts. Great for cheap, cheap jeans and shirts--even furniture.
Goodwill Superstore
1400 S Lane, 329-1000
This freakishly enormous junk shop has everything you will ever need, and lots of stuff you won't.
MUSIC
Bedazzled Discs
4742 University Way NE, 985-2990
Great selection, good prices, and entire sections devoted to local labels Kill Rock Stars and K. Best of all, you can walk into Bedazzled with little over 10 bucks and go home with actual music. Praise the Lord!
Cellophane Square
4538 University Way NE, 684-2280
130 Broadway, 329-2202
The University Way store is much better than the Broadway outlet: You'll find a huge selection of new and used CDs, and there's also a corner of the store that occasionally serves as a stage for short acoustic sets.
Fallout Records Books & Comics
1506 E Olive Way, 323-2662
Located on the most awkward slant of Capitol Hill, this itty bitty store is loaded with the most important underground comics, a healthy stock of vinyl, and a historical display of old and current rock posters. And if you're a zine fiend, this is where you get your Cometbus.
Orpheum
618 Broadway, 322-6370
Capitol Hill's best and most beloved independent record store, featuring new and used CDs ranging from mainstream to indie to soul, along with great sale prices, a smashing collection of vinyl, and the occasional (and thrilling) in-store band appearance.
Singles Going Steady
2219 Second Ave, 441-7396
A well-curated (and surprisingly complete) downtown store that specializes in punk and indie 7-inches.
Sonic Boom
503 N 36th, 547-2666
This Fremont gem features a great selection of music, with a good strong emphasis on local bands.
Tower Records
4321 University Way NE, 632-1187
500 Mercer, 283-4456
Sure, they're a big bad chain. But they have simply EVERYTHING! The Mercer outlet, especially, has an amazing selection of box sets.
Wall of Sound
2237 Second Ave, 441-9880
This is the place to go if you're looking for something obscure, like the folk songs of Croatia.
RADIO
KCMU 90.3 FM
This is the only decent radio station in Seattle, playing independent and local rock, rap, alt-country, and other weirdness.
VIDEOS
Scarecrow Video
5030 Roosevelt Way NE, 524-8554
You really can't do better than this place. It's got an enormous selection of mainstream, obscure, foreign, and classic films. Also, this is where you can rent the timeless classic Hells Angels Forever.
(For movie houses, check The Stranger's Movie Times.)
HAIRCUTS
Rudy's Barbershop
4738 University Way NE, 527-5267
614 E Pine St, 329-3008
6415 Phinney N, 782-9861
89 Wall St, 448-8900
Sure, sometimes you walk away with hair that's a little crooked, and you do have to occasionally wait an hour to get that fucked-up cut--but who cares when you're getting a $10 buzz?
ABORTIONS
Planned Parenthood
2001 E Madison, 328-7700
No matter how ugly things get (and how many doctors are shot), this organization continues to provide abortions. Which, last time we checked, are still legal. Fees are figured on a sliding scale.
Aradia Women's Health Center1300 Spring St, 323-9388This feminist clinic caters to a variety of women's health needs, and offers lesbian health care.
OTHER HEALTH CARE
EMERGENCY ROOMS
Swedish
727 Broadway, 386-6000
Harborview Medical Center
325 Ninth Ave, 731-3000
Both of these are full-service hospitals. If you're unable to drive, call 911 and they'll pick you up.
University Health Centers
UW Medical Center, 548-3300
Seattle University Student Health Center, 296-6300
Seattle Pacific University Health Services, 281-2231
These places cater to students. These are also good places to go when you're looking to make some money as a guinea pig (see page 33).
Seattle AIDS Hotline
205-7837
You've got questions, they've got answers. Call here for information about HIV and other STDs.
LEGAL SERVICES
Public Defender
296-7662
Sure, these attorneys are over-worked and underpaid--but they're free. And they may just save your ass.
King County Jail
296-1234
If your friend Trevor was just hauled off for drunk driving or selling acid, he's probably here.
All City Bail Bonds
622-9999
If you've been sent to jail for drunk driving or selling acid, you want to call these guys to get out.
Metro Bail Bonds
381-3435
If Jail Busters' line is busy, call these folks.
BOOKSTORES
Bailey/Coy Books
414 Broadway E, 323-8842
Capitol Hill's best bookstore for new titles. Featuring dense displays of mainstream fiction, poetry, history, and cultural criticism, and a great selection of gay and lesbian lit. Plus, the people who work there are really nice.
Beyond the Closet
518 E Pike, 322-4609
For the city's largest selection of gay and lesbian titles in all fields, head to Beyond the Closet, which stocks nothing else.
Elliott Bay Books
101 S Main, 624-6600
This huge source of new and used books, located in the heart of Pioneer Square, carries just about any popular title you could desire and hosts frequent in-store readings. Also, there's a cafe in the basement where you can get snacks.
Half Price Books
4709 Roosevelt Wy NE, 547-7859
Half Price Books is a strange store. Downstairs, the store has an odd collection of oversized art and coffee-table hardcovers, among which the occasional gem can be found. Upstairs, though, is where the treasure lies: Besides a surprisingly well-stocked fiction section, Half Price has one of the few selections of used computer books in the city. This is the first place to look if you're trying to school yourself in computer languages or other practical matters.
Left Bank Books
92 Pike St, 622-0195
The best source for left-leaning and radical magazines and workers' newspapers in the city, this downtown bookstore also features new and used books focusing on gender and cultural studies, politics, philosophy, and media studies. Pay in cash to avoid bothersome FBI surveillance.
Pistil Books
1013 E Pike St, 325-5401
The adorable Pistil is home to a full range of alternative readings of popular culture, with small but well-traveled sections on UFO sightings and the occult, modest fiction and biography sections, and a significant body of "alternative" magazine publishing engaged in various culture wars. (Plus, a stellar collection of '50s and '60s kitsch paperbacks.)
Twice Sold Tales
905 E John, 324-2421
1309 NE 45th St, 545-4226
3504 Fremont Ave N, 632-3759
This Capitol Hill store features the city's best selection of used history books along with a wide array of popular titles (the other locations are less reliable), and stays open all night on Fridays. Hint: Avoid if you're allergic to cats.
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE, 634-3400
The largest independent college bookstore in the country, University Bookstore features rows and rows of textbooks, but also a great selection of contemporary fiction. Don't forget to browse through the overflowing tables of heavily discounted remainders in the main hall.
FOOD
Bimbo's Bitchin' Burrito Kitchen
506 E Pine, 329-9978
The food at this beloved Capitol Hill institution arrives quickly, is cheap and generally filling, and is almost always delicious. You can usually get stuffed for around $5. Try the "downhome burrito" filled with chicken and mashed potatoes.
Continental Restaurant and Pastry Shop
4549 University Way NE, 632-4700
A great family-owned breakfast spot. Try the scrambled eggs, fries, and toast for under $5, or one of the Continental's equally cheap Greek specials.
Dick's Drive-In
115 Broadway E, 323-1300
111 NE 45th, 632-5125
9208 Holman Rd NW, 783-5233
500 Queen Anne Ave N, 285-5155
Greasy burgers, thick shakes, salty fries. What more do you need to know? You can feed yourself at Dick's with the change from under the sofa cushions. Plus, they're open till 2 am for the hungry drunken crowd.
Hot Mama's Pizza
700 E Pine St, 322-6444
Absolutely scrumptious pizza (from meat-packed monsters to inspired vegetarian delights) served by hard-rocking staffers who frequently scream cuss words at the top of their lungs.
Noble Palace
4214 University Way NE, 632-7248
This is the spot for cheap Chinese food in the U-District. The lunch special--steamed rice, an egg roll, a homemade pot sticker, and an entrée--is $5.
Pagliacci Pizza
4529 University Way NE
426 Broadway E
550 Queen Anne Ave N
Call 726-1717 for delivery
Pagliacci restaurants dish up good, standard pizza by the slice--an invaluable service for every busy, thrifty American citizen. Plus, you can get a Pagliacci pizza delivered to just about anywhere in the city.
Tandoor Indian Restaurant
5024 University Way NE, 523-7477
All the stuff you'd expect to find at an Indian buffet--for only $5.95. Except on Sunday, when it costs $6.95. Go figure.
Thai Tom
4543 University Way NE, 548-9548
Absolutely yummy Thai food (eat in or take out) right there on the big stinky Ave.
Zeek's Pizza
419 Denny Way, 448-6775
6000 Phinney Ave N, 789-0089
41 Dravis St, 285-6046
2108 65th Ave NE, 525-0250
If you don't live within Zeek's delivery range, you should steal a car and get your ass over to pick up a pie. The crust is crisp, the sauce tangy, and the roasted garlic to die for. Definitely one of the best pizzas in Seattle.
24-HOUR CAFES
Beth's Cafe
7311 Aurora Ave N, 782-5588
This place serves amazing 6- and 12-egg omelets, plus deliciously greasy hash browns. The service is quick and friendly, but if you do find yourself waiting, you can peruse the crayon art on the walls (or create a masterwork of your own).
Cafe Minnie's
First Ave at Denny, 448-6263
611 Broadway E, 860-1360
The ability to enjoy Minnie's hinges on your ability to tolerate frequently glacier-paced service and occasionally crappy food. Still, there's lots to choose from here: desserts, coffee, an especially good tomato-basil soup (served with warm rolls for under $4). Also, try the Dutch Babies, described by the staff as "a Dutch pancake that thinks it's a soufflé," for around $7.
Hurricane Cafe
2230 Seventh Ave, 623-5750
Smoky, dark, noisy, and crowded, this is the best place to grab a cheap breakfast at 3 am. Or 4 am.
COFFEEHOUSES
Allegro
4214 University Way NE, 633-3030
Mon-Fri 6:30 am-11 pm; Sat 7:30 am-11 pm; Sun 8:30 am-11 pm.
This place doesn't just offer some of the best coffee in town, it's huge, with smoking and non-smoking sections and an outdoor balcony.
Bauhaus
301 E Pine St, 625-1600
Mon-Fri 6 am-1 am; Sat-Sun 8 am-1 am
It can be difficult to find a seat in the upper-level smoking section of this cush cafe, but the cozy atmosphere (and the desserts) make it worth the effort.
Vivace
901 E Denny Way, 860-5869
Daily 6:30 am-11 pm
This charming coffeehouse--undoubtedly Capitol Hill's best--serves up delicious coffee drinks of a fetishistic perfection with a complete lack of snootiness. Dreamy!
Still Life
709 N 35th St, 547-9850
Daily 7:30 am-10 pm
This stylish Fremont joint is very relaxed--we're talking hippie relaxed. Besides coffee, Still Life serves homemade soups, pastries, and sandwiches.
BOOZE
Thanks to stingy state laws, there's only one game in town for buying bottled booze: Washington State Liquor Stores (check The Stranger's club listings each week for the best places to buy it by the glass). Liquor stores are located all over Seattle--and tend to be sterile, with the kind of florescent lighting that makes you feel like a criminal--but here are a few of the more convenient outlets. They're all open Mon-Sat 10 am-8 pm.12th and E Pine, 720-3459
408 Broadway E, 720-3458
3310 W McGraw, 298-4615
515 First N, 298-4616
1300 N 45th, 545-6781
TRANSPORTATION
Metro
www.metrokc.gov, BUS-TIME (287-8463)
Seattle's bus system leaves something to be desired if you're heading someplace exotic, like West Seattle. But in and around the heart of the city, service is consistent (there's also a downtown "ride free" zone).
Yellow Cab
622-6500
A cab will cost you, but sometimes a chauffeur is worth it. These guys are amazingly quick.
Recycled Cycles
1011 NE Boat St, 547-4491
An excellent store if you're looking to buy, sell, or consign a bike.
Velo Bike Shop
1535 11th Ave, 325-3292
Stop by Velo and buy a new bike or some fancy accessories when that student loan comes through.
CLOTHES
Buffalo Exchange
216 Broadway E, 860-4133
4546 University Way NE, 545-0175
Featuring used but surprisingly current fashions, Buffalo Exchange is the place to go for a black skirt or leopard handbag. You can also sell clothes you no longer want (though clerks will laugh out loud at outdated styles).
Red Light
4560 University Way NE, 545-4044
312 Broadway, 329-2200
A very trendy store featuring very trendy new and used clothing. They do have a great selection of vintage wear, though.
Value Village
1525 11th Ave, 322-7789
There are outlets farther out of the city, but the one in Capitol Hill is the one closest to our hearts. Great for cheap, cheap jeans and shirts--even furniture.
Goodwill Superstore
1400 S Lane, 329-1000
This freakishly enormous junk shop has everything you will ever need, and lots of stuff you won't.
MUSIC
Bedazzled Discs
4742 University Way NE, 985-2990
Great selection, good prices, and entire sections devoted to local labels Kill Rock Stars and K. Best of all, you can walk into Bedazzled with little over 10 bucks and go home with actual music. Praise the Lord!
Cellophane Square
4538 University Way NE, 684-2280
130 Broadway, 329-2202
The University Way store is much better than the Broadway outlet: You'll find a huge selection of new and used CDs, and there's also a corner of the store that occasionally serves as a stage for short acoustic sets.
Fallout Records Books & Comics
1506 E Olive Way, 323-2662
Located on the most awkward slant of Capitol Hill, this itty bitty store is loaded with the most important underground comics, a healthy stock of vinyl, and a historical display of old and current rock posters. And if you're a zine fiend, this is where you get your Cometbus.
Orpheum
618 Broadway, 322-6370
Capitol Hill's best and most beloved independent record store, featuring new and used CDs ranging from mainstream to indie to soul, along with great sale prices, a smashing collection of vinyl, and the occasional (and thrilling) in-store band appearance.
Singles Going Steady
2219 Second Ave, 441-7396
A well-curated (and surprisingly complete) downtown store that specializes in punk and indie 7-inches.
Sonic Boom
503 N 36th, 547-2666
This Fremont gem features a great selection of music, with a good strong emphasis on local bands.
Tower Records
4321 University Way NE, 632-1187
500 Mercer, 283-4456
Sure, they're a big bad chain. But they have simply EVERYTHING! The Mercer outlet, especially, has an amazing selection of box sets.
Wall of Sound
2237 Second Ave, 441-9880
This is the place to go if you're looking for something obscure, like the folk songs of Croatia.
RADIO
KCMU 90.3 FM
This is the only decent radio station in Seattle, playing independent and local rock, rap, alt-country, and other weirdness.
VIDEOS
Scarecrow Video
5030 Roosevelt Way NE, 524-8554
You really can't do better than this place. It's got an enormous selection of mainstream, obscure, foreign, and classic films. Also, this is where you can rent the timeless classic Hells Angels Forever.
(For movie houses, check The Stranger's Movie Times.)
HAIRCUTS
Rudy's Barbershop
4738 University Way NE, 527-5267
614 E Pine St, 329-3008
6415 Phinney N, 782-9861
89 Wall St, 448-8900
Sure, sometimes you walk away with hair that's a little crooked, and you do have to occasionally wait an hour to get that fucked-up cut--but who cares when you're getting a $10 buzz?
ABORTIONS
Planned Parenthood
2001 E Madison, 328-7700
No matter how ugly things get (and how many doctors are shot), this organization continues to provide abortions. Which, last time we checked, are still legal. Fees are figured on a sliding scale.
Aradia Women's Health Center1300 Spring St, 323-9388This feminist clinic caters to a variety of women's health needs, and offers lesbian health care.
OTHER HEALTH CARE
EMERGENCY ROOMS
Swedish
727 Broadway, 386-6000
Harborview Medical Center
325 Ninth Ave, 731-3000
Both of these are full-service hospitals. If you're unable to drive, call 911 and they'll pick you up.
University Health Centers
UW Medical Center, 548-3300
Seattle University Student Health Center, 296-6300
Seattle Pacific University Health Services, 281-2231
These places cater to students. These are also good places to go when you're looking to make some money as a guinea pig (see page 33).
Seattle AIDS Hotline
205-7837
You've got questions, they've got answers. Call here for information about HIV and other STDs.
LEGAL SERVICES
Public Defender
296-7662
Sure, these attorneys are over-worked and underpaid--but they're free. And they may just save your ass.
King County Jail
296-1234
If your friend Trevor was just hauled off for drunk driving or selling acid, he's probably here.
All City Bail Bonds
622-9999
If you've been sent to jail for drunk driving or selling acid, you want to call these guys to get out.
Metro Bail Bonds
381-3435
