An Almost Perfect Day in Seattle

An Almost Perfect Day in Seattle

SEATTLE, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle is famous for gorgeous summer days that seem to last forever-ideal weather to take part in a cultural feast downtown, with everything from an architecturally daring library to a cirque-cum-dinner-party at Teatro ZinZanni.

Now that you've arrived, choose a hotel that caters to your wildest design dreams. Every guestroom door at the art-obsessed Hotel Max (www.hotelmaxseattle.com; 620 Stewart Street) features a floor-to-ceiling photograph by a local artist. Head to the Charles Peterson (of Screaming Life fame) floor if you want a life-sized Kurt Cobain adorning your boudoir.

Seattle's well-known Nordic heritage prevails at the Hotel Andra (www.hotelandra.com; 2000 Fourth Avenue) with its clean-lined Scandinavian design. For a lower-budget option, try the trendy Ace Hotel (www.theacehotel.com; 2423 First Avenue), a modernist army barracks with Motel 6 prices.

Rise and shine! Breakfast is brain food so why not start your cultural adventure at The Library Bistro (www.librarybistro.com; 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) serving classic American cuisine amongst the kind of grown-up decor (high-backed booths and lots of oak) that makes you feel serious and smart.

Besides a great mac-and-cheese with shaved-fennel-and-apple salad, the Bistro has the virtue of being close to the Central Public Library (www.spl.org; 1000 Fourth Avenue; tour information line: 206-733-9609). The striking stack of steel and glass designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas is controversial, groundbreaking and very, very cool. You can take a tour (be warned-sign-up begins when the library opens and the tours often fill up) or get a latte at the coffee cart outside and just wander (the cart is run by FareStart, an organization which teaches foodservice skills to the formerly homeless).

Continue your cerebral sojourn at the Frye Art Museum (www.fryemuseum.org) on First Hill (you might want to catch a cab). Known previously for its staid devotion to realist paintings of cows and cornfields, in 2004 the Frye hired curator Robin Held from the Henry Art Gallery. In the past two years Held has put up some of the most exciting exhibitions in the city including work by Slovenian rabble-rousers NSK and pop-surrealist painter of meat Mark Ryden.

Head back downtown to the Ticket/Ticket booth on the fourth floor of Pacific Place (www.pacificplaceseattle.com; Sixth Avenue & Pine Street) which has half-price day-of-show tickets to many of Seattle's best performing arts venues-as well as for events ranging from comedy to cruises to concerts.

See if you can get tickets to what's playing at A Contemporary Theater, a.k.a. ACT (http://www.acttheatre.org/; Kreielsheimer Place, 700 Union Street). ACT is the edgiest of Seattle's big three regional theatres. Its gorgeous marble building actually contains several theaters; The mainstage will features works this summer by post-modern luminaries Christopher Durang and Alice Childress, while in its smaller venues offers shows like Late Night Catechism and Defending the Caveman.

Catch a pre-show dinner at Il Fornaio (www.ilfornaio.com; 600 Pine Street -- in the same building as Ticket/Ticket). Here they serve authentic Italian dishes like Salmone alla Piastra (griddled salmon filets with lemon sauce) and Pesto alla Genovese (traditional basil pesto) from a festive open kitchen. Be sure to see if they're running their "Festa Regionale" specials featuring cuisine from a particular region of Italy; this summer they cover Sardegna, Campania and Veneto.

Another great entertainment option is Teatro ZinZanni (www.dreams.zinzanni.org; 2301 Sixth Avenue), the place to go if you prefer your entertainment with cocktail in hand-and prefer your waiters to double as acrobats and clowns. It's a three-hour whirlwind of comedy, music, and European-style circus acts that transform a turn-of-the-century Belgian circus tent into a self-contained alternate reality. You won't need dinner beforehand, however-the show comes with a 5-course meal by Northwest super-chef Tom Douglas and tickets range from $99 to $115 per person.

For two more almost perfect days in Seattle, a calendar and photos to match, log onto www.pacificplaceseattle.com/mediaart/

Source: Gruman & Nicoll Co.

CONTACT: Margaret G. Nicoll of Gruman & Nicoll Co., +1-425-451-4387, or
margaret@gruman-nicoll.com

Web site: http://www.pacificplaceseattle.com/
http://www.hotelmaxseattle.com/
http://www.hotelandra.com/
http://www.theacehotel.com/
http://www.librarybistro.com/
http://www.spl.org/
http://www.fryemuseum.org/
http://www.acttheatre.org/
http://www.ilfornaio.com/
http://www.dreams.zinzanni.org/

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