Escape to the Islands
Baby it’s cold outside—but not at the Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House (200 Second Ave N, Seattle Center, 206-443-2001; pacsci.org), where maintaining the fragile and exotic insect and plant life means temperatures hover in the low but humid 80s every day of the year. Tiptoe through on the afternoon of January 30, then wing up to the Hawai’i General Store and Gallery (258 NE 45th St, Wallingford, 206-633-5233; hawaiigeneralstore.net) where the plumeria, orchid, and tuberose leis arrive fresh every week from Honolulu. Dinner will be jerk chicken with banana salsa around the corner at Luau (2253 N 56th St, Wallingford, 206-633-5828; luaupolynesianlounge.com).
And then, the main event: Barlett Sher’s Tony-winning revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific at the 5th Avenue Theatre (January 29–February 21, 2010, 1308 Fifth Ave, Downtown, 206-625-1900, 5thavenue.org). The songs will wash over you like a warm tide, but the production looks with clear eyes at essentially good people in a time of war who try to make themselves into better citizens of the world. When the curtain falls, let the wind steer you into Vessel (1312 Fifth Ave, Downtown, 206-652-0521; vesselseattle.com) for a Nui Nui—a classic cocktail of the tiki variety made with rum, cinnamon and vanilla syrups, pimento dram, bitters, and orange and lime juices. The cold night outside will seem an illusion.
Ace the Taste
Something you may hear yourself uttering after an afternoon with Richard Kinssies: “I’m loving the honeyed diesel on the nose of that riesling.”
Ready to talk the talk? Sign up for Mastering the Art of Wine Tasting at the Seattle Wine School (946 Elliott Ave W, Interbay, 206-285-1129; seattlewineoutlet.com), a small classroom inside the seasoned sommelier’s Interbay outpost of his Seattle Wine Outlet. In the four-hour session, Kinssies breaks out the bottles and instructs you on every stage of the sip, from swirl to spit. “Wine is only intimidating,” he points out, “when it is in your mouth and you don’t know what to do.”
After class, select artisan cheeses that complement your favorite grapes at The Calf and Kid (calfandkid.blogspot.com), and invite friends over to help with your homework.
Published: November 2009
Hola and Good afternoon
My name is CESAR AUGUSTO PISCOYA ANGELES from PERU.
I am Architect and work in The Royal Tombs of SIPAN Museum here in my city CHICLAYO.
Visiting Seattle some days in march and i want know if can help me and learn about Seattle (buildings, museums,places, parks, etc) architecture and tecnology in the construction.
I want know how much price is this tour or maybe i can help and change information about me work here.
Thank you very much and hope a answer soon.
Greetings
Cesar
Old Thyme Aviation’s okay, but it’s insanely expensive for what they offer. There are other, better vintage ride options around Seattle for much cheaper.