Ruston Soda Shop

Don's Ruston Market and Deli is home to an adorable 1940s-style soda shop and although we weren't alive in the 40s, we can safely say you step back in time when you sit down at that counter and order a root beer float or a milkshake. It doesn't matter your age, you spin on the stool and when you look over the menu and decide between a float, milkshake, or banana split all stress melts away and you are suddenly a kid again. We decided on a good ol' fashioned coke float, and it did not disappoint. 

This shop has been here since 1917 when it was a simple general store. If you are bad at math, let us point out that means this little shop is turning 100 next year. Ruston is close to Tacoma and this little shop sits close to Commencement Bay and Point Defiance Park, which means it's the perfect place to stop for an afternoon treat after a day exploring outside. So get your butt over there, it's not only fun, it's a little slice of history!

The soda shop boasts an impressive display of Coke bottles from years past.

Take twirl on the counter

This pretty mural is painted on the side of the soda shop

Buy The Glass: 5 Great Glasses of White Under $10 at Pike Place Market

Note to readers: We have two fairly low standards for our wine:  it tastes good and gets us a buzz. We realize this is not necessarily the “right” way to view wine so we brought in expert Amy Dickson to give you the lowdown. You might see her popping up on the blog as a guest writer every once in a while! 

White wine is perfect for a sunny, warm day

Last week’s weather warmed so significantly and quickly, my palate skipped right over desiring a glass of rosé and straight to white. I decided to nip down to Pike Place Market to see what glass pours could quench my thirst without breaking the bank. I’ll need those extra pennies for true rosé season soon.

Here are my suggestions for five outstanding glasses of white wine at Pike Place Market, all under $10 a pour.

Le Pichet: Patrice Colin Blanc Vendômois, 2014

Coteaux du Vendomois, Loire, France, 12.5%, $7.50 per glass

At Le Pichet, the proprietors expect and encourage you to order a glass of wine with, well, everything. That’s why the daily menu includes 11 white glass pours under the $10 price point, with most hovering around $7.50. With a demi-pichet (a small jug of wine) holding two glasses for a dollar less, it’s easy to explore these food-friendly wines over lunch with a date. 

After a stimulating flight of five delicious whites, I settled on this Chenin Blanc. Tart, lightly aromatic, and with a hint of both spice and minerality on the finish, this wine likes food and can pair with most menu items at Le Pichet. Go wild and order one of everything.

Tip From Behind the Bar: Nearly all wines on the menu are organic, sustainably grown, and are often women-owned wineries. 

The Tasting Room: Naches Heights Vineyard, Pinot Gris, 2014

Naches Heights AVA, Washington, 13.8%, $7 per glass

The Tasting Room, hidden in Post Alley at the Market, specializes in serving some of Washington state’s hard-to-find artisan wines. With a substantial list offering drinkers anything from small taste flights to full bottles, it’s a great place to discover the 13 AVAs of Washington — especially on the patio when the sun is shining.

I worked my way through an appetizing flight of wines, but I had to say, the pinot gris was my favorite. The wine was star bright, clean, and of a strong character.  I’ll be back to enjoy a chilled bottle on that patio as we ease into the summer months. 

Tip From Behind the Bar: Wherever possible, the grapes at Naches Heights Vineyards are grown using organic or biodynamic practices. Grown in a high altitude volcanic soil vineyard, these grapes translate to a wine displaying citrus, honeysuckle, and pear notes. It hits on the front and mid palate, making it easy to drink with food or on its own.

Radiator Whiskey: Domaine Labbe, Vin de Savoie, 2012

Savoie, French Alps, 12%, $9 per glass

Who goes to a whiskey bar to order a glass of white wine? This lady right here. Located in the heart of Pike Place Market, Radiator Whiskey offers an extensive list of potent potables with a focus on brown water and barrel-aged cocktails. Don’t let that stop you oenophiles out there as I promise you can find a delicious glass of white.

Made from 100% Jacquère grapes, Vin de Savoie tends to be a fairly neutral mountain wine. However my glass was palate cleansing, cool, and showed dense minerality. We are talking like “licking wet stones in a rain storm.” This wine cuts through fat and that’s a great glass pour at a place that also serves a smoked half pig head. I am not saying to pair these two together, but if you need a refresher after a meal like that, Vin de Savoie is your friend. It was a good accompaniment to my dish of tater tots topped with gravy and egg.

Tip From Behind the Bar: On warm days they flip the windows open in a unique manner, spilling in sunshine. Wonderful for sipping white wine in warm weather.

Steelhead Diner: Parejas Cellars, Albarino, 2013

Dutchman Vineyards, Yakima, WA, 13%, $9 per glass

“Nothing south of Oregon — Nothing east of Idaho.” With a tagline like this, you know it’s PNW hyperlocal at Steelhead Diner. I was delighted to see eight glasses of white wine at the sub-$10 price point. I explored a chardonnay, a pinot gris, and a riesling before settling on the albarino.

This is a smooth, crisp, and very tart dry white wine. You’ll encounter scents of pear, apricot, and spice. It has a clean, long-lasting finish. This traditional Spanish/Portuguese varietal is doing well in Washington soil and is best friends with shellfish. Maybe give it a whirl with the Naughty Clams or Paella dish?

Tip From Behind the Bar: Steelhead’s menu (and wines) change all the time based on season and availability, so if you want to try this glass pour, scuttle on in.

Chocolate Box: Waitsburg Cellars, ‘Three’ White, 2013

Boushey Vineyards, Yakima, WA,  12%, $26 per bottle ($6.50 per glass)

Half a block off the main market drag is Chocolate Box, a seemingly twee chocolate shop selling truffles, chocolates (edible or sipping varieties), and a ton of wine. Yes, that’s right: WINE. The back end of the shop is part tasting bar / part bodega with one entire wall devoted to Northwest boutique wines. The friendly staff at Chocolate Box will even help you pair your wines to some of the delectable truffles found in the shop.

I put together a unique flight of Washington wines and after sipping through the varietals, I fell in love with the Waitsburg Cellars blend. Composed of 53% Grenache Blanc, 40% Marsanne, and 7% Picpoul, this is a new world wine coming from the Yakima AVA, but in an old world style. Slightly vegetal, this wine tastes of pink grapefruit pith and Meyer lemon. I agree with the winemakers that this wine has the grip and structure of a French blend and I would be interested in setting a bottle down for a year or two to see how it develops.

Then again, I might not be able to wait that long as summer seems to be knocking at our doors already.

Tip From Behind the Bar: They sell only by the taste or the bottle, but you’ll quickly see that a small taste will lead you to the right bottle in no time. 

Do you have a favorite glass of white wine at the Market? Let us know and we’ll be happy to try it as well. Enjoy your spring and Salud!

Special thanks to Marcel at Le Pichet, Wendy at The Tasting Room, Sarah at Radiator Whiskey, Tony at Steelhead Diner, and Christopher at The Chocolate Box for their wealth of knowledge they lent to making this post possible. 

Amy L. Dickson is a communications professional, freelance writer, and contributor to Rain or Shine Guides. She’s currently training at the NW Wine Academy for her Level 1 sommelier certification. Follow her at @amyldickson75

5 Best Cocktails of Pike Place Market

Whether you are a local getting off work at 5:00 PM or a visitor looking for a great drink to unwind after a day of sightseeing, there is no better place in the city to go for a cocktail than Pike Place Market.

We spent the last month sampling drinks at all the restaurants and bars around the market to find the best to recommend. It was trying at times, talking to nice bartenders and sampling different artisan concoctions, but we did it for you, readers, we did it for you.

Left: Rachel's Ginger Beer Boozey Float, Top Right: Jarr Bar El Cochino, Bottom Right: Place Pigalle La Salle

Here are our top five cocktails of Pike Place Market:

1. Radiator Whiskey: Guns and Rosemary

This gin-based cocktail is great for any time of year. Bonus points for its name.

2. Jarr Bar: El Cochino

The El Cochino is a hearty vodka cocktail and the chorizo-wrapped pipparas doubles as a nice snack.

3. Place Pigalle: La Salle

This (pink) cocktail is served with a view of Puget Sound. A favorite for the ladies!

4. Jarr Bar: Westside

The Westside is refreshing and light. Cucumber, basil, mint, and lime make it a bright green.

5. Rachel's Ginger Beer: Dark & Stormy Boozey Float

Do ice cream floats count as cocktails? We don't care. It is making this list because it is De-licious. 

Honorable Mention:

Best Bang for Your Buck: El Borracho's El Cheapo

This margarita costs $4 and packs a punch!

Seattle St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl

Rejoice, the calendar has brought around another holiday devoted to drinking. We will dye the beer green, and in some really Irish cities, we will dye large bodies of water green as well.* 

[Green heart + Beer mugs clinking]

If you are planning on going out and toasting a delicious green lager to your Irish brethren and St. Patrick for all he did** we have put together a downtown Seattle Pub Crawl that is guaranteed to show you a good time. 

First stop, Fado. 810 1st Ave. Seattle, WA 98104

Doors open at 7:30 AM for "Kegs and Eggs." If you aren't there with a beer in hand, well then you just aren't fully committed to this holiday. Live entertainment all day plus a cool atmosphere makes Fado one of the best spots in the city to "Paddy hard."

Next up, Owl N Thistle. 808 Post Ave. Seattle, WA 98104

Just down the alley is your next bar, Owl N Thistle. This one is the smallest and dirtiest, but that might make it the best. Live music starts at 1:30 PM, so mosey on over after you've drank your way through lunch at Fado.

End the tour at Kells. 1916 Post Alley Seattle, WA 98101

People come from all over the world for Kells' St. Patricks Day so be ready for crowds. The good thing is, everyone is usually drunk before mid day, so you are bound to make some friends! This party keeps going until the early morning so come prepared for a late night.

*Is that bad for the water? We always wonder but never want to be Debbie Downers on our Chicago friend’s Instagram posts, so we just always put the green heart emoji with a beer clinking emoji.

**Let’s be honest no one knows who St. Patrick is. Luckily we have Wikipedia. Keep reading, it gets really interesting when he banishes all the snakes from Ireland.