TWCL

[Montanto]

Hi all with Emerald City just a week away I figured I'd start the sound off as well as suggest some downtown tips for all of you just coming in. I'm going to be at table C12 at Artist Alley plugging Rhapsodies. I've just got most of my swag sent to me already and now my biggest concern is finding a table buddy on time.

Now for Seattle .. The most obvious thing you'll want to know about is Food. Obviously anything at the convention center should be avoided it's not just the prices it's the fact that everything there will be huge lines and all of us there on business just won't have the time. The closest options are:

Ralph's Grocery and Deli on 4th Ave, Seattle, WA (across the street from the Cinerama)
Kress IGA on 1427 3rd Ave
The New Downtown Target on 1401 2nd Ave and of course Pike Place Market.

I've been to Ralph's once or twice it's a bit posh but good. I would avoid the IGA it's one of those places I like to think is designed solely for gauging yuppies. I checked out the Target recently. Their grocery section seems to be designed around people needing to eat on the run but the prices seem to be about average. As for the Market there are always a lot of interesting options there at various prices. I haven't shopped there recently enough to be able to recommend anything. but one of the few perks of Emerald City being early this year is the tourist season hasn't officially started so the market shouldn't be too crowded for people who are just there to shop.

If you're willing to take a little more time for a better deal I will suggest the QFC on Pike and Broadway. Just walk up Pike (that's the street the convention center straddles) and you should make it in 15 minutes. The other Market I will recommend is Uwajimaya in the International District 600 5th Avenue South. It has a very good selection of Chinese food, Sushi and Vietnamese Sandwiches. You can probably walk to it in 15 minutes but better yet it's right on the International Districts Bus tunnel (You can enter the Bus Tunnel at the downtown Nordstrom's on Pine street) Unfortunately Downtown Seattle no longer has it's ride free zone but 1.25 for the round trip should be worth it to save on food.

That what I've got so far look forward to hearing what my fellow Seattleites have to add.
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