School me on Seattle - pubs, attractions

frontier room…

Laser Floyd at the Pacific Science Center.

Most of this is regurgitated from suggestions I've sent friends but it's still worth a read. Downtown Seattle can be pretty suffocating this time of year with all the shopping. If you're keen to leave the penny loafer crowd behind, head towards Capitol Hill for drinks/food. It's a short walk and your Loonie will go way further.

A couple Capitol Hill beer bars worth mentioning:

The Elysian Brewery - Great beers and the food is pretty decent as well (a cab ride from downtown. (http://www.elysianbrewing.com/elysian.html)

McMenamins Six Arms - Halfway between Downtown and Capitol hill. I highly recommend the cajun tater tots to coat the stomach before heavy drinking. (http://www.mcmenamins.com/311-six-arms-home)

Linda's - This is by all accounts a pretty decent Seattle dive bar. Though, it's seemingly been taken over by fixie riding hipsters; if that's what you're into. Thought I'd throw it in because no pub list is complete without a dive bar.

Food suggestions:

machievelli - Super tasty cheap Italian with a killer atmosphere. I've gotten tossed on the house red and I really don't dig wine. (http://machiavellis.com/)

The Kingfish Cafe - A cab ride from downtown, but for my money, the best restaurant in Seattle. Authentic southern cooking in the PNW. It's in a quiet spot and the slow gumbo is fucking delectable. (http://thekingfishcafe.com/)

Finally, the Triple Door (http://tripledoor.com/) is downtown and a sic place to take in a show or some live jazz. In fact, you'll be overlapping with the highly regarded Land of Sweets - Burlesque Nutcracker.

FWIW, I'd stay away from the Cheesecake Factory unless you're with a group of 20.

though it is far from downtown a tour of the Boeing factory is well worth the drive

Check out the alibi room for some wicked pizza and beers. Directly across from the gum wall.

The seattle underground tour is pretty cool too.

if you are into punk / metal the Funhouse by the space needle is a good place
http://www.thefunhouseseattle.com/schedule.html
if you are not into it, then it might be an awful place.

Seriously. Do it. You'll be pissed if you don't!
http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com

Sounds fun, we might end up there on Saturday afternoon, weather dependent. Oddly enough my wife was open to the idea.

Thanks for the Capitol Hill recommendations, I think that either the The Elysian Brewery or the Triple Door will be on the bill for post-dinner Saturday night entertainment.

I'm also liking the idea of visiting the space needle while the better half is fabric shopping on Saturday morning.

thanks for all of the ideas so far

I've heard the Crab Pot is where to go eat seafood. I think you need reservations though. I haven't gone there - but have friends that were super excited about it.
http://www.thecrabpotseattle.com/

just got back from seattle a few weeks ago. Spent time at lindas as mentioned above. Sunday happy hour is pretty busy there. Worst toilets in the world though and lots of hipsters. in fact all of capitol hill is like that. Big Marios, Cha Cha, Bimbos, all cool with good drink specials and all really close together.

Serious Pie is an awesome pizza place downtown-ish. right by the Westin. Woodfired, small menu, lots of in house smoked meat, always busy. Lots of nice IPA's too.
We also ate at the pike place brewery. beer was good, food was meh. theres not much else around that area either at night…