Seattle Gems: Bakeman's

The Soup Nazi is a someone we all know and love from the days of Seinfeld. The nervousness on Jerry and George's faces as they approach the counter to order, the shout of "No soup for you!" and George's soup being snatched from his hands. Classic comedy. 

Well you can live their hilarious experience right here in Seattle. Bakeman's in Pioneer Square is a cheap, cafeteria style lunch spot where the ordering moves FAST and if you slow down the process they will not be happy. Owner, Jason Wang, shoots options for sides and drinks at you rapid fire once you reach the register and you better believe he will have opinions about your decisions. 

Oh and don't make the mistake of pulling out your credit card. Obviously, they only accept cash. 

Besides the pure joy you feel when you make it through the ordering process ("I am AMAZING. I just successfully ordered a sandwich without being yelled at!") their sandwiches are delicious and dirt cheap! Their bread and butter is definitely the turkey with cranberry, but we are suckers for the meatloaf too. 

Alright, god speed, best of luck, you got this. Now GO GO GO. 

The incredible turkey sandwich with cranberry

The meatloaf sandwich. We never said it looked pretty, but it tastes amazing!

Bakeman's cafeteria

The intimating ordering counter

Seattle Neighborhoods: Greenwood

Bus stop art

Seattle has a crazy amount of cool neighborhoods. There are the big hitters, Fremont, Ballard, Capitol Hill. Then there are the ones that fly a bit more under the radar, but have just as much, if not more, to offer. Phinney Ridge, Ravenna, Georgetown, and the one we are featuring today, Greenwood. 

In March many of you probably heard about the tragic gas leak that lead to an explosion that completely demolished three businesses in Greenwood and damaged dozens of other businesses in the surrounding area. After the explosion, stories of kindness and compassion started to spread. Coyle's owner, Rachel, firing up her kitchen to bake for the first responders. Muralists came and painted the ugly plywood that covered so many broken windows and doors to bring some vibrancy to a dismal situation. Countless Seattleites donated funds to get the Greenwood neighborhood back on their feet. 

Now, almost 6 months later, Greenwood is going strong and although it is missing 3 staples, there are still a ton of amazing businesses up and down Greenwood Ave. that have earned their stripes as Seattle establishments. And a few other newbies that have wiggled their way into our hearts too! 

Let's start at the north end of Greenwood Ave and work our way south through our favorite spots! 

North Star Diner

Get your greasy breakfast/lunch/dinner/late night here! It isn't anything to write home about, but it might remind you of home and sometimes that hits the spot. 

Hounds Tooth Public House

Full transparency: we know the owner. This is your spot to get some safe bar food and a good stiff drink while you watch the game. The staff is friendly and they have a great happy hour. Also, we have to mention one menu item: Frito Pie. If you don't know what this is, you haven't lived. 

Flying Bike Brewery

Flying Bike Brewery

This is not only a Greenwood favorite, it is one of our favorite breweries in Seattle. It is a coop, which is awesome and results in super original and diverse beers on tap AND the staff is so friendly. Grab a pint, order some loaded fries from Munch Cafe (located next door, served to your table), and grab a board game for the table! Handicap accessible, dog and kid friendly! Everyone is welcome, go! 

Naked Brewing

This is your big hitting brewery in the neighborhood. Full restaurant with a huge draft list (RoS Tip: Quittin' Time IPA) for your drinking pleasure! They also have a large event room where they screen films and host events. Check out the calendar here. 

Luna Azul tacos and margaritas!

Luna Azul

This is the place in Greenwood for authentic, homemade, delicious Latino food. Their happy hours = yes. Their tacos = YES, and their margaritas = YESSSS. The prices are low so you can try a bunch! 

Teacher's Lounge

This place is our favorite to grab a cocktail in Greenwood. The owners will create you something original if you ask, but their menu is great too if you don't like surprises. The bar's theme will bring you back to your days in elementary school and the scoop of cookie dough you can order off their menu will be the icing on the cake!

The cool, torn walls of Gainsbourg

Gainsbourg's poutine

Gainsbourg

This is a dark, romantic french spot that we love for their great small plates. You can sample so much delicious food for a great price and their cocktails go spot on with the atmosphere. 

Space Travel Supply Co.

Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co.

This is a unique shop on Greenwood Ave. Walking past you wouldn't know it was devoted to mentoring Seattle youth to become better communicators. Sales from their storefront help support their tutoring programs to help kids read and write. The swag is cool and the cause is right, don't miss this spot!

Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe

This coffee shop has delicious sweet and savory options and a great philosophy around food we definitely feel we can get behind. We love the honesty! The soul-warming coffee doesn't hurt either! 

Great selection at Couth Buzzard Books

Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Bueno

You might not venture into this place without an invitation (the name is weird, we know), but we are here to tell you that it is a gem! They offer a great selection of new and used books. There is a LEGIT cafe inside and their events calendar is full of programs they host to support the Seattle community and their creativity. 5 stars.

The Yard

The Yard is our go to when we want some patio dining. It is a bar/mexican joint and they have a cool ambience (think communal tables, exposed brick, rough around the edges kinda place), decent menu, and good drink selection. 

Coyle's Bakeshop

This place started in our favorite bookstore, Book Larder, and eventually found its permanent home on Greenwood Ave. We have no doubt (and also pray) that this will be a place we can go to in Seattle for decades to come. Why are we so confident? The owner, Rachel Coyle, merged a croissant with a pretzel (name: cretzel) and if that wasn't enough she created apricot mustard to pair with it. It's famous, it's delicious, and it's instagramable. What more do you need for a long and prosperous business life these days? Ok, but seriously, everything in this bakery is beautiful and mouthwatering-delicious. It is one of the best and it shouldn't be missed. 

And a few others, right off Greenwood Ave, that are worth the teeny tiny detour! 

Gorditos

Home of the Baby Burrito! Gorditos boasts "healthy mexican food" but we doubt if you eat their entire Burrito Grande (literally the size of a newborn baby) your body will thank you. We usually go with the chicken nachos or the smaller burritos. 

The Cozy Nut

This is a relatively new spot in Greenwood, but every neighborhood needs one of these bars. It's cozy, classic, and has Rainer for cheap. Come as you are, with your group of friends, pull up some chairs and throw some back. 

Taproot Theatre

This intimidate theatre always has spot-on, quality performances (plays and musicals!) and is a great place to experience Seattle culture without the big price tag. While you might feel a little squished in the seats, we love that the actors move throughout the theater and audience, which really draws you in to the performance. There is a little cafe next door where you can get beer and wine before and after the show.

Greenwood boasts one of our favorite Henry murals

Places We Love: Cinebarre

It's Friday night, the week has been long and tiring and all you want is to sink into a cushy seat and watch the newest Blockbuster. One problem, popcorn and a soda just isn't what you are craving. Maybe it's a cheeseburger, or wine or a vodka tonic or a shot of tequila, and you know what? That's okay! Especially since Seattle has wonderful movie theaters like Cinebarre and Big Picture that will serve you the food and alcoholic beverage of your choice right to your movie seat! 

The movie posters will take you on a trip down memory lane! 

Cinebarre is located in Montlake Terrace, right off of I-5 and has a great bar and menu to get you started. You can arrive early and get an appetizer and first drink in the lobby or you can arrive right when the movie is starting and get all the same food/drinks in the theater while you watch. It is just your preference! 

If there is ever an option to doing something with or without wine, always go with wine. 

The decor/vibe is decent considering it's owned by a giant chain (Regal) and the menu matches with all the items named after movies or movie characters (i.e. The Italian Job =  Pepperoni Pizza and Half Baked = Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies). 

Insider Tip: Don't see huge blockbusters here on an opening weekend. It is crazy crowded so they will struggle to get you your order, which is frustrating. We like Cinebarre for matinees or more obscure, low-key movies. 

The lobby bar

CenturyLink Field and Our Love for the Seahawks

While the Rain or Shine Guides team was technically born and raised in the Midwest, we consider ourselves Seattleites, and that means our love for the Seahawks runs deep. Having held season tickets for the last 10 years, we have been with the team for many highs, a few lows and that time Marshawn Lynch ran so hard and far he caused a minor earthquake. With the season in full swing, we thought we would give you all the information you need to make a day at Century Link Field a success. Face paint optional.

Know Before You Go

Century Link Field is located in south downtown and is easily accessible by public transportation. The light rail and multiple bus options stops at Stadium Station Tunnel and the Sounder train heads up from Tacoma stopping at the stadium as well. If you want to park, there are plenty of options, but expect to pay anywhere from $35 - $50.

You’ll be required to go through security and bags are not allowed in the stadium unless they are 100% clear. You can buy clear bags online here, but we like to travel light! Stick your cell phone and wallet in your pocket, and now you can have a beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other!

On game day, Utah Avenue becomes “Hawk Alley” and is filled with fans tailgating. If you are visiting (or just don’t want the hassle), it’s still fun to walk down and see all the crazy costumes, feel the spirit, and hope that someone throws a burger your way.

Inside The Stadium

Come hungry because there are some amazing food options! We recommend Rain Shadow Meats, Stadium Signature Nachos, Beecher’s, or Kraken Congee. You might be lured in by Ezel’s chicken and waffles, but we tried it and the waffles were hard as rock. You’ve been warned.

Nachos!

Looks pretty, tastes bad

It’s best to come a half hour before the game because the pre-game show is awesome! The Sea Gals perform, a Seattle celebrity raises the 12th Man flag, an actual seahawk flies through the stadium, the starting defense or offense runs through a tunnel lit up by fireworks, and there is enthusiasm, excitement, and heckling of the other team.

The pre-game spectacle

Seattle is known for rain and chances are there will be games where it is, in fact, raining. Only part of the stadium is covered (the 300 section mostly), so make sure you check your seat location and the weather beforehand and dress appropriately.

All hail Richard Sherman!

Century Link Field is the second loudest stadium in the NFL (darn you Kansas City for taking the title from us), but we DO hold the record for causing the most number of false starts! Come prepared to YELL and CHEER, but never, ever while the Seahawks offense is on the field at the beginning of a play. This is cheering 101. If you are under the age of 5, might we recommend investing in these.

We’ll be at the stadium cheering the team on all year, and hopefully we’ll see you there! GO HAWKS!