Visiting Seattle and Portland - what to see/do?

[CeeCee_C]

Hi all -

I'm going to be in Seattle for a nerd convention (yes. it's absolutely true - www.geekgirlcon.com) this coming weekend.

I'll also be visiting friends in Portland early next week.

Dusty Strings in Fremont is one of my favorite places and it's a "must visit" for me.

Are there any other, similar places in Seattle and/or Portland?

And are there any weekly open jams that I might attend?

Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

Thanks,

[Josh Levine]

Portland is pretty low on the quality mandos. There is a good beginner/intermediate level jam on Sundays at Biddy Mcgraws from 2-5.

[JeffD]

Well depending on how much you like old time string band music, The Tallboys play at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard on Mondays I think. There is a lot of other cool music there and the schedule is on line.

There used to be an old time jam at the Conor Byrne Pub, also in Ballard, on certain Tuesdays, but I don't think it happens any more. They have had some cool music too.

That's my $0.02

If you get hungry or thirsty in Seattle its your own fault.

[Pete Braccio]

Cool convention! I just sent that link up to my daughter in Seattle.

Ya just never know what you'll stumble across on the Cafe.

Sorry I can't help you with the music hunt, but I always try to go to The Elliott Bay Bookstore when in Seattle. Twice Sold Tales (a used bookstore) was also added to the "must visit list" the last time I was in town.

[mrmando]

You could drop in on a Seattle Mandolin Orchestra rehearsal. We always welcome guests. http://seattlemandolin.org

[delsbrother]

Portland Japanese Garden (bring your hiking shoes)
Bridge City Tools (bring your wallet)

[Michael Neverisky]

Nerd, huh? In Seattle check out Gasworks Park... there is something of a Steam Punk vibe to the place that I really like. On the music front you might track down the Canote Brothers. Fine and fun old-time music and I think they host a regular string band session.


Watch out for that troll in Freemont!

[Gary Leonard]

On your trip to Dusty Strings, I would add a walk around Fremont, visit the troll, and head down to Gas Works park, one of he best views of the City. I lived in Fremont for a year and a half in 2000, and still miss it.

[Late to the Party]

CeeCee

There is an old time jam (beginner/intremediate) at Dusty Strings on Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30. Typically not too many mandolins, but maybe some day mandolins will outnumber fiddles. Hope to see you there.

[mandroid]

Portland music company has a whole basement full of music in print in it's downtown store
531 SE Martin Luther King Blvd
http://www.portlandmusiccompany.com/...eet_Music.html

... way out on the Coast .

[jlsmando]

If you are in Seattle .. then Hop on a quick ferry to VICTORIA BC .. if you haven't been there you are close enough to make it worthwhile .. every Sunday night there is a GREAT bluegrass thing happening in one of the amazing downtown pubs you'll ever visit .. AND Victoria is about the nicest prettiest city on the planet ! I'm not kidding !!

SWANS BREWPUB & Hotel - harbor front in Victoria .. the pub is a short 5 minute walk from the ferry I would guess .. tho you'd have to check on that .. as most ferries stop right at the downtown in front of the famous EMPRESS HOTEL .. they have a great music most nights in the Brew Pub .. but bluegrass every Sunday starting at 830 PM

http://swanshotel.com/brew-pub/swans-brewery

The Swans hotel there is very VERY NICE too .. with the exchange rate you could spend the night for $80 usd .

http://swanshotel.com/

Here's a 2-3 hour ferry that leaves Seattle at Pier 69 and goes direct into Victoria's inner harbor downtown:

http://www.clippervacations.com/seattle-victoria-ferry/

Couldn't help myself .. since I'm a HUGE Victoria fan .. Go for it !!!

[Coffee Guy]

Come up to Timberline on Mt Hood and check it out. you'll recognize the outside due to its presence in the movie the Shining. Lots of cool stuff up Mt. Hood way. I would also definitely try to make it to hood river. Stop into my shop Coffee House 26 in Welches and say hi. Portland isn't what its ALL about. Lots of neat things to see.

[Bill McCall]

Theo chocolates in Seattle has great tours, samples and free. Need a reservation. Powell books for your nerdiness. Chinese gardens for peacefulness. No good acoustic store, but you can get a cowgirl fix at Portland outdoor store.

[Pete Martin]

A number of bluegrass jams in Seattle. Check out the Seattle Bluegrass Meetup page for more info.

For live music 2 friends and I play near Seattle Center at the Tin Lizzie Lounge every Thursday night from 9:00 to 11:30. There is often a jam after.

[mrmando]

From Seattle it's only an 11-hour, 20-minute flight to Beijing! How could you resist — the deep-fried scorpions are delicious!

[MikeEdgerton]

I realize I haven't lived in Portland in over30 years but when did 531 SE Martin Luther King Blvd move to downtown Portland? When I grew up there downtown was on the other side of the river.

[Explorer]

From Seattle it's only an 11-hour, 20-minute flight to Beijing! How could you resist — the deep-fried scorpions are delicious!

Since you live in Seattle, and as you question someone's will to resist, I have to wonder how often you give in to temptation....

[mrmando]

Since you live in Seattle, and as you question someone's will to resist, I have to wonder how often you give in to temptation....

I have them flown in live (I know a guy) and fry my own.

[MikeEdgerton]

Alaska King Scorpions? Those puppies are huge.

[j. condino]

Living there in the past for almost 20 years, when it really comes down to it, they are both just big dirty cities with waaayyyyyyyy to many people. Sure, they may rank high points on the big dirty city comparison charts, but the whole reason to fly from Ct to the Pacific northwest is to get out and enjoy everything outside of the cities!!!!!!!!

[mrmando]

the whole reason to fly from Ct to the Pacific northwest is to get out and enjoy everything outside of the cities!!!!!!!!

The rain, the mud, and the white supremacists?

[DocSheehy]

If the weather is nice, it's hard to beat a ferry ride out to Bainbridge Island and back. You get out on the water with lots to see and round trip is less than $5 (or at least it used to be.)

[j. condino]

The rain, the mud, and the white supremacists?

No different in the Carolinas!

[foldedpath]

The rain, the mud, and the white supremacists?

Hey now, it's not all bad outside the city. I only drive into Seattle when I have to, for an airport drop-off or pickup. The traffic reminds me way too much of Miami, where I used to live... although the drivers aren't as suicidal and well-armed. There are some cool concerts there worth attending, but it's been a while. The last one I went to was Lunasa at the Triple Door.

Over here on the Olympic Peninsula in Port Townsend is the land of old hippies-in-retirement and roving bands of young ukulele-playing transients in the summer. We've got the Centrum Fiddle Tunes, Blues, and Jazz festivals in the summer and the Choro thing in the Winter. You just can't earn a living out here, so it helps if you're retired, dealing in real estate, or living low-profile on a boat.

We're in the rain shadow from the Olympics, so not so much mud. Not as dry as Sequim (tag line: old people, and their parents), but it's half the rainfall of Seattle.

There is a lot of Swedish and Scottish trad out there in the northern outskirts around Poulsbo and Mt. Vernon. It astounds me how much Scottish music tradition is kept alive out here. Must be the similar weather to the UK... although if this year is any indication, we're headed into a different weather regime in the next few years (hush.. don't tell the Californian emigrants).

[mrmando]

It astounds me how much Scottish music tradition is kept alive out here.

Well, we have an Aberdeen and a Fife, for starters.