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"I produce the Salon of Shame and wrote Offbeat Bride."
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Review votes:
386 Useful, 149 Funny, and 190 Cool
Seattle, WA
Yelping SinceNovember 2006
Find Me In15th Ave, Capitol Hill
My HometownBainbridge Island, WA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I'm talking, writing, dancing, or staring at the wall
Why You Should Read My ReviewsBecause I'm a copywriter. This is what I do for a living.
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadOffbeat Bride -- er, then again, I wrote it!
My First ConcertNKOTB, 1987
My Favorite MovieRun Lola Run
DateSeattle, WA 98122
(206) 325-1126
Cafe Soleil
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Madrona/Leschi
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 325-0807
Oddfellows Cafe & Bar
Categories: Bars, American (New)
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 682-3458
Dr. Joseph Zimmer, DDS
Category: Dentists
Neighborhood: Downtown
After being a very happy customer for 5 years, I have to say that the quality of care at Dr. Zimmer's office has decreased in the last year or so ... I think due to the sheer volume of patients being treated at a time. While the level of care I used to receive was very good, very friendly, and super attentive, lately the Dr. always seems rushed.
This rushing may have contributed to my current SNAFU dental situation: an old filling fell out last fall. I went to get it re-done (appt #1), and was told that really it'd be better to come back and do a crown (appt #2). After a couple weeks, The crown started aching so I went back (appt #3), and was told that the crown process must have damaged the nerve, and was scheduled to come back for a root canal (appt #4).
[Side note: the root canal was hilarious: no one told me not to eat before the appointment, and so half-way through the procedure I puked all over the dentist. HA! That's what you get for not telling a patient not to eat before undergoing conscious sedation!]
A month after the root canal, the tool was pressure sensitive, so I went back (appt #5) and was told to wait and see if it improved.
Six months later (and now three months pregnant) the root canal started giving me serious pain, so I went back again to get it checked out (appt #6). I got an inexperienced dental assistant who kept screwing up my x-rays over and over and over -- after three failed x-rays, I got concerned about all the radiation exposure (xray + fetus = not advised) and he decided gave up.
That appointment confirmed that I needed to go back to have the root-canal repacked, which I did a week later (appt #7). This time I got a dental assistant who couldn't get me numb. It took her four shots, and I still wasn't fully numb -- "looks like the baby's sucking up all that medicine!" she joked ... um, yikes?
The dentist finally appeared and gets to work with barely a hello. Half way through the root canal re-treatment process, he's called away to do exams for other patients. In comes the original incompetent assistant to do another xray.
...Which he screwed up *again*! After a more experienced assistant showed the dude how to do his job correctly, I was told it would be another 10-20 minutes before the dentist came back because he was doing exams with three other patients (!!!). At this point, I would have walked out, if it weren't for the fact that my mouth was blocked open with a half-done root canal re-packing hanging out.
Finally the dentist returns, and gets back to work. Despite all the shots, all of a sudden I'm in INSANE amounts of root pain, he says "Oops, looks like we broke through there," and gives me yet another shot (my 6th? I lost count). At this point, I start crying and sob my way through the rest of the appointment, which was already running over half an hour over what I was scheduled for. (Hi, parking ticket!)
15 minutes later, the dentists gets me all cleaned up and informs me that I need to return for another 90 minute appointment because "this is slow going." In other words, he ran out of time ... so I had to come back for my 8th appointment.
They did make special efforts to accommodate my final appointment, but come on: EIGHT APPOINTMENTS to deal with complications from what was originally just an old filling falling out.
I still think it's the most stylish dentistry office in town, but gorgeous art and an amazing view isn't going to fix a crown I'm not sure I needed that turned into a failed root canal, and a rushed dentist with too many patients to attend to.
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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7/21/2008
Without a doubt, the most stylish dentist's office in town. Possibly the most stylish dentist on the left coast, and I say that having had my wisdom teeth removed by a guy in Beverly Hills who played russian dance music in the lobby. (...What? My insurance covered it!)
Walking into Dr. Zimmer's office is like walking into an airy loft where they just happen to do your teeth with the help of high tech flat panel monitors. White on white decor. Plants. Rooftop garden. Genuinely awesome modern art. (Seriously: when was the last time you even noticed the art at your dentist's office, let alone coveted it?)
And now they've added an upper mezzanine that feels like some Soho art loft, but with dental chairs. Today I gazed out at the rooftop gardens as Jill Scott crooned over the sound system. Everything so gorgeous and perfect that I almost forgot about the scraping of my teeth.
That said, I'm sure the place ain't cheap. I recommend it only to those with good dental insurance. Otherwise, you should take yourself to somewhere like Broadway Dental, where they're willing to work with your budget and give you a discount for paying cash.
But if you have good dental insurance, Dr Zimmer is absolutely the only dentist that feels like the best lofty art spa. I appreciate a dentist with an impeccable sense of interior design and aesthetics.
PS: As for the people freaking out about the office cat (which I actually haven't seen recently), I'm massively allergic and have never so much as sneezed at Dr. Zimmer's office. This isn't some hairy fleabag apartment with dirty carpeting, people. The office is impeccably clean and I challenge you to find a single cat hair. I may not be able to snorgle with the cat (the thought makes my eyes itch), but I love that it's there.
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 328-2747
Angel's Shoe Repair
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Other than those two times, every time I show up with a sadly f*cked up pair of shoes, he's fixed 'em for practically pennies and always with a smile. Seriously: I love having this place in the neighborhood. As others have noted, he's cash only -- but you can always run over to QFC across the street if you forget your dollars.
PS: Angel also duplicates keys! And don't tell him I said this, but he's known for being helpful with those DO NOT DUPLICATE front door keys that so many Seattle apartments have.
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(425) 697-3000
Olympus Spa
Categories: Day Spas, Massage, Skin Care, Nail Salons
1. Olympus is over-run with laminated signs. There are signs taped up *everywhere* telling you to do this, don't do this, please be quiet, flip this sign to say "occupied" if you're using the restroom, drink water, if you're wearing diapers you must have rubber pants over them [yes, really!], etc etc etc. On one particular wall in the tub room, I counted eight different signs!! Methinks someone at Olympus has gotten a laminating machine and doesn't know when to stop. The issue here is that for a profoundly relaxing environment, it's really distracting and unpleasant to be confronted at every turn with a red-lettered sign shouting at you in all caps. Yes, this is a silly quibble, but when you're trying to bliss out ... you need soothing, not ALL CAP RED LETTER SIGNS ON EVERY SINGLE WALL.
2. If you catch them on an especially busy day, you may encounter stray hairs ... Floating in the hot tubs, clinging to the sides of showers, curled around the drains of sinks. For the cost, I expect Olympus to be pretty clean ... and there have been a couple times when I've have some serious "Ew" moments, and I'm soooo not squeamish about this sort of thing.
Ultimately, these are quibbles though -- the whines of a regular customer who goes back over and over again because I love this place.
I will close this with a red-lettered laminated sign of my own: OLYMPUS SPA GIVES YOU FREE ADMISSION ON YOUR BIRTHDAY! Just show your ID and in you go! That doesn't cover any services, of course, but what better way to start your birthday than a couple hours of free soaking and resting at Olympus?
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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11/22/2006
Pure heaven and the ultimate local get-away for Seattle women. You arrive and are handed a robe, towel, and key for your locker. Your locker number becomes your identity for the day. Take off your shoes and stick them in the cubby that goes with your locker number, then head back into the spa and prepare to be amazed.
For anyone who's visited Olympus Spa's Tacoma location, you'll be surprised -- the Lynwood locale is clearly more upscale (and costs $5 more to get into). It's super nice with bamboo everywhere and artful interior design.
Take off your clothes, put on your robe and cute little shower cap (they're the great equalizers -- everyone looks goofy!) and then head into the main bathing room. You'll find four enormous tubs at different temperatures ranging from a cold dipping pool to a super hot 104 degree hot tub. There's a skylight so the room is filled with natural light, and a waterfall to drown out the chatter of your fellow guests. You'll find a steam room and a sauna.
I highly recommend doing the scrub -- it's NOT a gentle experience, but oh my god the payoff. You'll spend 40 minutes getting every crack and crevice of your body scoured by athletic Korean women who don't waste time with platitudes -- they're too busy scrubbing the f@#!ck out of your skin to be chatty. Afterwards, you'll feel smoother than you've ever imagined.
The in-house cafe has decent food, but nothing remarkable.
Be sure to bring magazines and books because the spa also features a half-dozen heated rooms where you can lounge, sweat, read, and relax.
My goal is always to stay at Olympus for as loooong as possible. If you stay for 6 hours, you really get your money's worth. It's a great place to hang out. PURE HEAVEN.
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 325-6429
Hillside Quickie's Cafe
Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
If you miss Healthy Hedon, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU FOR BRUNCH. Amazing! A friend and I split the seitan crepes (insane!) and the chocolate waffles (sweet but with a tang of salt -- SOO GOOOOOD) and pretty much I could not have been happier. They have mimosas too, and serve brunch until 4pm on Sundays! I'll be back.
Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 324-4144
Rainier Veterinary Hospital
Category: Veterinarians
Neighborhood: Central District
Extra bonus: despite now taking appointments, when I showed up this morning to have my dog's anal glands "expressed" (ew!) they were totally able to do it without an appointment. And it was only $15! love them.
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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4/18/2008
What can I say that hasn't already been said?
Yes, this is the best value veterinary care in town. You pay very little, and get very good, very personal care.
Yes, the office is tiny and very old. But it's clean and efficient.
No, you can't make an appointment, but the upside of that is that even though you might have to wait for an hour, they can almost always ALWAYS see you when you need them.
I have been consistently impressed with all the vets I've seen at Rainier Veterinary Hospital, and very happy with the care they've given me and my silly little dog. I recommend them highly to everyone.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 633-0801
Tilth
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Wallingford
Dinner #1:
AMAZING! After the amuse bouche We ordered round after round of small plates, split between myself and two friends. Each round was more amazing than the round before, and the small plates were perfect to get rich little tastes and then move on to the next one. FIVE STARS!
Dinner #2
Mediocre. It was the day after 4th of July (they'd been closed for the Holiday) and I think they were just down on their game. No amuse bouche. Any specials this evening, dear waiter? No. No specials. (!!!) This time, each member of my party ordered a large plate to eat themselves. In my opinion, the food is simply TOO RICH to eat an entire large plate on your own. I got overwhelmed and fatigued by the richness of my dish. Meh, three stars -- in part because I wasn't paying.
Brunch
Good! Service was super attentive and helpful, although I was a little sad that they had no chai, and no 2% or nonfat for my black tea. My companion and I ordered two dishes and one side, and had them come staggered, one dish at a time. Again, the richness was almost overwhelming -- the eggs sous vide were amazing, but I couldn't have eaten the whole thing myself, even though it wasn't large. The dungeness crab egg dish was also rich, and the french toast -- WOW. All very good, but holy moly. SO RICH. Our service failed a bit at the end (we waited for 20+ minutes for the paycheck), but overall it was a good meal. Four stars.
So, in summary ... a little inconsistent, and for godsake: GET THE SMALL DISHES AND SHARE! The food is so rich that you can get flavor fatigue if you eat too much of any one dish.
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 390-3953
SpaceTransform
Category: Interior Design
Neighborhood: West Seattle
I mean, anyone can come into your home, advise you to buy $10k in new furniture and decor, and then make your house look great. It takes a special kind of skill to take the furniture and home decor you've already got and make your space feel new and fresh and invigorated. That's what Gwen does, and it's awesome!
PS: The work Gwen did for our house was actually featured in the Seattle Times. Check it out! http://seattletimes.nw...
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 985-6870
Village Sushi
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
Neighborhood: University District
I've also found the service to be adorable and attentive. The space is cozy and can get crowded (and plz to note: no AC on those hot summer days) but it's all worth it once the magic of that seaweed salad hits your lips.
5 Lists
1. Easy seating at 11am -- we even got an outside table basking in the sun!
2. They have their own custom chai brew. No crappy Oregon Chai here!
3. My dish (garlic egg croissant sandwich) was delicious.
4. The owner came out to say hello -- and I watched her bus a table and water the roses out front using the left-over water from the table she was clearing. Awesome!
I'll definitely be back -- convenient, easy, delicious!