Seeking: éclairs, J-beauty, and a Hogwarts Library
+ a hidden vintage shop that's only open twice a month
Spring has sprung and that means I have been venturing outside my South Seattle bubble! You’ll find recs below for North Seattle this week which I’ll try to continue exploring + featuring since I know this community is spread out all over the city.
As you might have noticed, I’ve been putting together these longer guides lately because that’s what I dream of landing in my inbox:
But I’m curious how you feel about them?👇 I know it can be kind of a lot for an email… which is why I’m currently working on a better way to display the information.
I’m pretty excited by what I’ve come up with and I think it will be really helpful, but it might be something that I turn on paid subscriptions for since it will take quite a bit of work to create and maintain. The newsletter in its standard structure (gems, radar, events) will always remain free, but for those who crave MORE and are planning freaks like me, I want to offer an upgraded way to interact with the content I’m putting together.
Without giving too much away yet, think of a dashboard you can bookmark that would include:
A calendar with all the spring/summer events I’ve shared so far
Seasonal checklists to keep track of everything you want to do
An organized database of everything I’ve featured in this newsletter
My inbox is always open for any other comments or questions! For now, let’s get into this week’s features.
*This post is a little long, so don’t forget to expand if it gets cut off in your email!
💎 Local gems
Work Shop | West Seattle
This small shop filled with unique finds is only open ~2x/month, but worth planning a visit to. When I peeked through the windows I could see gorgeous rattan pieces, ceramics, and a pile of Fjällräven backpacks for $24 a pop. There was a sign on the door that advertised their next opening on the following Saturday. When I returned, I was amazed by the veritable treasure trove of items (woven market baskets! vintage Coach bags! kimonos! teak bowls for $8! vintage cameras!) and ended up taking home a bamboo tray for $10. Their next opening is this Saturday from 11 am - 4 pm, but you can stay up to date on future openings via their Instagram.
Panterelli | West Seattle
After hitting up Work Shop, I recommend stopping at Panterelli for some of the best choux pastry you’ll ever eat (choux is a type of pastry dough, but Panterelli specializes in éclairs and cream puffs). My dad gave me this tip because he’s a big fan of the owner, Jacques, who previously operated Pizzeria Credo (it closed last fall). You can hear Jacques’ story here, but he claims he’s making choux that is as good as or better than what you can find in Paris. And you know what, I believe him! We got the pistachio choux that Jacques dipped and decorated in front of us and it was truly incredible.
They’re open Tuesday - Sunday from 7:30 am - 3 pm and also serve espresso drinks. A great stop to make after the West Seattle Farmers Market on Sundays, too!
Seattle Asian Art Museum | Capitol Hill
This was my first time at the SAAM and it was a lovely way to spend a weekend morning. The Art Deco building is a stunning setting for the art on display. I’d been wanting to see the newest exhibit of Tacoma-based artist Anida Yoeu Ali here after seeing pictures of her winding, orange “Buddhist Bug,” and it didn’t disappoint.
Her art is intended to “disrupt ideas around otherness” and invite viewers to “wander, witness, and joyfully experience moments that transcend the ordinary.” Her use of textiles is rooted in her Cham-Muslim refugee migration experience which makes her art feel tactile and also a little spooky.
Aside from this exhibit, I loved the ancient artifacts on display and all the gorgeous ceramics. It’s a smaller museum, so you can see everything in about an hour. A ticket costs $18 but you can get free entry on the first Thursday of every month (like today!).
If you want more of Ali’s work, she will be performing her piece The Red Chador on June 1st at all three of SAM’s sites over the course of the day.
Reiwatakiya | U District
I stumbled across this Japanese beauty + cosmetic shop when I was walking down the Ave last weekend and I felt like I was transported back to Tokyo for a second (they even had a doorbell greeting in Japanese). They stock most of my favorite J-beauty finds, as well as fun things like Pokemon tissues, miniatures, and Hello Kitty coin purses. The prices are about as twice as expensive as what you’d get in Japan, but it’s more convenient than ordering from somewhere like YesStyle or Stylevana which have more competitive pricing but require more patience. DM me if you want tips on what to get there!
The Reading Room at Suzzallo and Allen Libraries | U District
Aka the “Hogwarts” library, I stopped in last weekend while wandering through the cherry blossoms on campus and have decided this will 100% be my next coworking spot. The Reading Room is on the third floor and is the only “silent study area,” so you can power through your checklist here. If you want a more chatty environment, the entire library is open to the public and there’s a surprisingly cool Starbucks on the first floor where you could also cowork or grab some fuel. The library is open 8 am - 8 pm Monday - Thursday with more limited hours on Friday and Sunday which you can view here.
👀 On my radar
Deep Sea Sugar + Salt | Georgetown
Lately, I’ve been craving a really good slice of cake. I’d heard that Deep Sea’s cakes were crème de la crème, but they only sold full-size cakes which were both spendy and often sold out. They’ve now moved to a bigger location and offer both slices and cupcakes which solves my problem! This month their specials are Triple Coconut Mousse and Banana Boston Cream, but the entire menu made my mouth water. A slice will run you about $10-11 (they’re big) with cupcakes at $6 each. I read that weekends are busy, so it’s best to go early or during the week.
Seattle Rep | Uptown
Whenever I go to the ballet, I see cool people heading into Seattle Rep. They just released their 2024/25 season and the lineup looks pretty good! Most of them are comedies with unique plots and six of the seven productions will be built by the Seattle Rep crew to “spotlight the expertise of local artisans, actors, directors, and more.”
While the new season looks promising, the next performance in this season caught my eye: Together Again, Again. It stars Drag Race winner Jinx Monsoon and local performer Major Scales and is set in the future after the sun has exploded, a dystopian nightmare has been realized, and the world has been taken over by aliens. I’m intrigued! It runs from May 31st to June 23rd and tickets range from $50-180.
📆 This weekend’s events
Free First Thursday | Thursday, 4/4 | Various locations | Free
Jokes at the Junction | Thursday, 4/4 | West Seattle | $10
The Moth StorySLAM | Thursday, 4/4 | Fremont | $15
Pioneer Square Art Walk | Thursday, 4/4 | Pioneer Square | Free
Aqui Mercado | Friday, 4/5 | Pioneer Square | $35-40
The Veronicas | Friday, 4/5 | Downtown | $35-40
Geraldine DeRuiter: Feminism and Food | Friday, 4/5 | Downtown | $5-25 sliding scale
Whose Live Anyway? | Saturday, 4/6 | Belltown | $40-80
Taco Libre Truck Showdown | Saturday, 4/6 | Magnuson | $15-25
Cutie Fest | Sunday, 4/7 | Capitol Hill | Free
Multi-day:
Spring Shot: Homegrown | 4/4 - 4/6 | Capitol Hill | $10-50 sliding scale
Moisture Festival | 4/4 - 4/7 | Capitol Hill | $45-60
Boylesque Festival | 4/5 - 4/6 | Downtown | $30-55
Seagaze Fest | 4/5 - 4/6 | Ballard | $20
Seattle Deaf Film Festival 2024 | 4/5 - 4/22 | Capitol Hill | $15-400
What’s next:
4/13 | The new Green Lake Community Boathouse is complete and they're hosting a grand opening to celebrate. One cool update: the boathouse is now fully accessible, making the launch of Seattle’s first public adaptive rowing program and expansion of a para canoeing program possible.
4/27 | There are a few tickets left for Daybreaker’s Peace Tour, a morning dance party hosted at the Daybreak Cultural Center.
5/2 - 5/30 | Previous Seattle Snapshot feature Judy Lee has been working on her project My Name Story for the past two years and it’s finally debuting next month in Pioneer Square!
5/23 | NPR favorite Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is coming to the Paramount.
9/1 | Tacoma is going to be hosting Daytrippin in Paradise featuring Iration & Pepper at Dune Peninsula Park. I’ve never been, but the venue is on the water and looks like a great place to spend a summer day. Added to the summer guide:
🚨 ICYMI
Pike Place Market released their master plan draft which is now up for approval. Japanese Udon chain Marugame Udon is coming to Seattle and opening a location at Westfield Southcenter. Big yikes — a cougar was spotted in Magnolia. A few restaurant closures: Champagne Diner’s last day of service is April 7th, Araya’s Place closed its Madison Park location, Flying Squirrel Pizza in Georgetown closed its last location, and Conor Byrne in Ballard closed up at the end of March. In better news, Seattle has five semifinalists up for James Beard awards this year.
🧰️ Seattle Toolkit
A few of my favorite resources to stay tuned in to what’s happening around the city:
Everout - Events & things to do
SEAToday - Daily Seattle newsletter
The Nudge Seattle - Text-based event planner
The Intentionalist - Discover + support local small businesses
Your turn!
What are you seeking this week? What do you already have planned? Share it with us in the comments ⬇️
I read about Anida Yoeu Ali's work in the Stranger recently and found it so compelling. Perhaps a future trip to the museum is in order!
re: cake - I highly recommend Sugar Bakery. The original location (that I worked at 13 years ago under the original owner) is on First Hill and they have a second location in Lower Queen Anne just around the corner from Seattle Rep on Republican. The red velvet is my favorite version of it. Their croissants are A+ as well in my opinion.