UW President Ana Mari Cauce Shares Her Favorite Seattle Spots
Image: Karagh Byrne
Ana Mari Cauce loves the brunches at Ray’s Cafe in Ballard and the Ivar’s Salmon House near the University of Washington, where she has served as president since 2015. The waterfront views, the fresh food. But she has never tried the scallops or the shrimp. Cauce is allergic to shellfish. Still, she says, she’ll try it one day. “All my friends know this. For my last meal, I want dungeness crab. When I’m at that point of no return, give me some dungeness crab.”
Cauce was born in Havana, grew up in Miami, and arrived at UW in 1986 as a professor of psychology. Since then, she’s fully embraced Seattle and the Pacific Northwest lifestyle. When we asked her where she likes to celebrate special occasions, her first answer was “outdoors.” Here Cauce, who recently announced her upcoming retirement, shares a few of her Seattle favorites—outdoors and in.
Image: Karagh Byrne
Building on Campus
It’s hard not to say Suzzallo. There’s a lot of beautiful buildings on campus. I love our new Population Health building. But Suzzallo, the library, there’s just nothing like it. I took my nephew up there, and of course, like everyone else, he thinks Harry Potter.
Hidden Gem
There’s this little spot. If you’re looking at Drumheller Fountain, it’s kind of southwest of there. It’s like a little park. It’s just a bunch of trees, and there’s a few benches to stop and sit. And what’s really cool is that in the spring, it’s a heron rookery. And you can look up and see the nests and see the herons.
Favorite Store
Actually, it’s Nordstrom Rack. I both go to the one in Northgate that’s near my house, and also the one downtown. I grew up pinching pennies, and I have a heck of a hard time paying full price for clothes. What’s nice about Nordstrom Rack is you get really high quality. It’s usually a season behind, but who cares?
Favorite U-District Restaurant
On the Ave, it’s Shultzy’s. I love sausage, and they have the best sweet potato fries. If you’re talking about the overall district, I really like Din Tai Fung in U-Village, and on campus it’s Off the Rez at the Burke.
Place to Celebrate a Special Occasion
What soothes me and most excites me is the outdoors. But if I want to do something indoors, there’s no place like Canlis. I also really like Place Pigalle in Pike Place Market. It has a beautiful view.
Place to Get Outside
What I love about Seattle is if you don’t have time to really go away-away, there’s nothing quite like the Olympic Peninsula, nothing like the islands, Carkeek Park. Magnuson, the Arboretum. I love walking in the Arboretum. There are so many places where you can just, you know, walk.
Favorite Intersection
Right when you come into the Arboretum there’s this little circle. You’ve got a couple of really neat coffee shops on one end. You’ve got the Arboretum here. You have the Japanese Garden. And, you know, you have a gas station, too.
Place to Take Tourists
When I have friends from out of town, if they have the time I often like to take them up to Snoqualmie Falls because it’s just so majestic. If we want to stay closer, it’s usually Seattle Center or Pike Place Market.
Image: Karagh Byrne
Local Musician
For me it’s still Jimi Hendrix. One of the things that’s most fun that I do get to do as president is I get to be on the field at football games. And when they start playing “Purple Haze,” it’s like ahhhhhh!
Way to Get around Town
I really do like walking. Before I had this job—my house is in North Seattle—I could actually bike in on the Burke-Gilman. Quite frankly now I just don’t have the time do that.
