Cindy R

BEST Indie Theater 7 Gables

BEST Museum Seattle Art Museum

BEST Theater Venue Crest Cinema

A $3 movie is almost always a good movie--or at least a good-enough movie.

The Crest features mainstream, arthouse, and other movies.

They're not all to my taste, but they're a good selection that's (almost) always worth the money.

BEST Dealerships Carter Subaru, Shoreline-North Seattle

BEST Repair Specialty Motors

Excellent, honest, extremely professional. Can always count on these guys to do it right the first time.

BEST Massage Laurie Brunner Skandalis

Therapeutic, relaxing, wonderful. Have been going for fibromyalgia, injuries, and other problems for more than 10 years. Never fails to help me feel a lot better.

BEST Breakfast Mae's Phinney Ridge Café

BEST Burger Red Mill Burgers

BEST Burrito El Camion

Autentico absolutamente y delicioso tambien. Can't go wrong with El Camion, one of my favorite restaurants in any category.

BEST Food Truck El Camion

Autentico y delicioso. A major treat at a minor price. My favorite Mexican food in the city.

BEST Greasy Spoon Mae's Phinney Ridge Café

BEST Healthy Lunch Julia's Restaurant

BEST Pizza Pagliacci Pizza

BEST Eyewear Eyes on Fremont

BEST Vintage and Resale Value Village

BEST Asian Fusion Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon

Try the homemade noodles and other pasta, such as gyoza!

BEST Brunch Chinook's at Salmon Bay

My favorite place for brunch and seafood. For brunch, expect endless homemade scones with orange butter and excellent coffee to fill out any meal.

BEST Chinese Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon

Try the homemade noodles and other pasta, such as gyoza!

BEST Indian Cedars Restaurant

BEST Japanese Toyodas

Perfect and crammed with happy diners. Zagat rated.

BEST Mediterranean Continental Resturant and Pastry Shop

BEST Seafood Chinook's at Salmon Bay

This place was originally a sooty-windowed shack serving excellent seafood for the most-knowledgeable crowd--fishermen at Fishermen's Terminal.

And it still is.

Chinook's is the real deal in seafood done right. Makes Ivar's look like a bland, tasteless joke.

Fabulous soups, brunch, and desserts, too.

BEST Sushi I Love Sushi

The freshest and most-expertly made (despite the stupid name).

BEST Thai Chaiyo Thai Cuisine

Consistenly excellent over the past 10 years. Try the superb green curry.

BEST Vegetarian Flowers Bar and Restaurant

Try the all-you-can-eat vegan and vegetarian lunch special.

BEST Vietnamese Than Brothers Pho

Broth is aromatic, finely seasoned, and irresistable. Well-supplied with plenty of meats or vegetables and mung bean sprouts, fresh basil, optional hot sauces. Even the cream puff is good (which surprised me, actually).

Now Than Brothers on both 99, in Shoreline, and The Ave, in the U District, are regular eateries for us.

BEST Sporting Goods REI

I'd love to give this vote to a smaller business, but REI is really the only place to get the best equipment and the widest selection.

Try both REIoutlet.com (/outlet/) and the bargain basement in the Flagship Store (222 Yale St.) for the best deals.

The bargain basement has heavily discounted, often new or nearly new returns at terrifically low prices.

I've gotten much of my best biking, backpacking, and all-purpose gear at these places.

BEST Favorite Local Charity Ideal Seattle

Innovative and effective way to raise money for great causes. They sell discounts, as does Groupon and other online daily deal groups, but they disburse the money to worthy charities.

BEST Local Podcast The Garden Professors

Scientific gardening information translated for home gardeners and anyone else who loves plants. Well-informed, fun, and interactive blog and new podcast.

BEST Doctor Dr. Birgit Grimlund

She's up-to-date on the latest medical information, even on esoteric subjects.

Patient, kind, and caring, she answers all questions and takes the whole person into consideration.

She's also happy to research whatever she doesn't already know.

BEST Local Radio Personality Ciscoe Morris

Oooh la-la! The real deal in gardening advice with a genuine flair for amusing.

BEST Dog Park Animals Reign Pet Sitting and House Sitting

BEST Doggie Daycare Animals Reign Pet Sitting and House Sitting

BEST Pet Sitting Animals Reign Pet Sitting and House Sitting

BEST Pet Supplies Maser's Grooming and Pet Boutique

Best prices (and info) on dog food.

If you can't make it to Kenmore, be sure that your own pet store matches their prices.

I also like Pet Pros, and they match Maser's prices plus have excellent, intelligent, helpful staff.

BEST Bookstore Elliott Bay Book Company

BEST Shopping Center Seattle Premium Outlets

Deals, deals, deals!

And they're all easily accessible, in a tightly spun area, so you don't have to run all over a parking lot to get around.

BEST Bakery Family Donut Shop

BEST Cheese Shop The Cheese Cellar

BEST Chocolate Theo Chocolate

BEST Coffee Shop Diva Espresso

BEST Desserts 60th Street Desserts

BEST Donuts Family Donut Shop

BEST Tea House Tea House Kuan Yin

BEST Venue University of Washington Botanic Gardens

Built after a 2001 firebombing, Merrill Hall is one of the greenest buildings around.

Its innovations include reused materials, green energy systems, a green roof demo, and more.

See /projects/0611_Merrill_Hall.asp for more info.

BEST Biggest Public Eyesore Alaskan Way Viaduct

Ugh. Hideous and dangerous--what a combo. Stay off it if you can.

BEST Local Event Fremont Fair & Solstice Parade

When the police politely turn their backs to the parade and chat with the crowd, you know the fun is about to begin--with Dykes on Bikes, stiltwalkers, naked people painted as artwork, and all sorts of quirky amusements.

Pure Seattle.

BEST Story of the Year The Ferry workers abusing the system & wasting our money!