Adam "Last Chance To Dance No-Pants, Perchance" C.'s Profile

Do your homework: These guys are connected with Costco, so naturally I thought they would offer a reasonable price. They came out to do a free estimate.
On the bright side, they suggested I just install gutters, but that I avoid the costly Leaf Guard tops, since the trees aren't very close to my house. The bid, less the guards? $5006 before Costco discount, $4105 if I took a $400 discount as a Costco debit card.
I had several other companies come out for bids. They ranged $1200-$3500. The LeafGuard prices are nothing short of insane. I wound up with Pacific Star Gutter Services who did a great job for $1500. Buyer beware.

Don't let their Lynnwood address deter you: these guys serve Seattle, the East Side, and up north.
I live in a 1907 Craftsman style home. The gutters are supported by the ends of the rafters, which are visible and part of the architectural style. Unfortunately, the rafter tails were built when gutters were much shallower than they are today. For nearly 10 years, I have looked on and off for a gutter company which could install seamless 4" k-line gutters, as opposed to deeper gutters which would require removal of the rafter tails.
I have a whole notebook full of estimates, ranging from $1,300-$4,500 (for Leaf Guard via Costco, WITHOUT the added expense of the actual Leaf Guard screens. Outrageous.)
Pacific Star came in with a big of $1,500 taxes and everything included, and also including 3" round downspouts which are a little more expensive than the rectangular ones you see in modern houses.
Pacific Star was really easy to work with. As opposed to most contracting companies, they are technologically savvy, and were able to email bids and negotiate details and scheduling via email as well.
On the day of the install, the contractors were friendly and polite. They were done by the time I got home that day.
The only downside is that their ladders left smudges all over the house. But I'm having it painted soon anyway, so I don't care.
Now, the only problem is that the water flows so efficiently down the gutters that I can hear it splashing and gurgling at night when it rains. I can live with that!

I stopped in to The Neighbor Lady with a couple of friends on what I believe was their first night open to the public. On second thought, it might not actually have been open to the public, as I later noticed a small handwritten sign taped to a wall that said "private party" but in any case, we were kindly welcomed.
I've lived a few blocks from this location for many years. Thompson's Point Of View, while host to some good misadventures, did not feature noteworthy food, and in later years became a magnet for vagrants, shysters, pushers, and other ne'er-do-wells. Certainly, a nice, warm, neighbor lady will fix those problems.
The entry to the building has been moved, removing the prison-like bars which secured the former entrance. The walls feature darkly-stained wainscoting and retro fleur-de-lis wallpaper. Comfortable wood booths surround a nice pool table and a wraparound bar. The bar, and in general the entire layout of the building, follows the pattern of the original (and now the current) Twilight Exit, which is owned by the same people. The booze is stored above the bar in a metal structure which provides visibility into what's available. There are two cocktail-style arcade games, including Qbert, a couple of pinball machines, and a couple of standup arcade games, including Mortal Kombat II and Ms Pac Man. There's a jukebox, and a stately ladies' leg lamp in the corner. The same style lamp you'll remember from A Christmas Carol.
We weren't drinking this night, so we stuck to food and soft drinks. I had the muffaletta sandwich which came on tasty foccacia and had a good olive tapenade. I had the crosscut fries, which score points for being fresh-cut. The fries initially arrived underdone, and after returning them, they came back still a bit underdone. I'll chalk that up to first night kinks. The meats were A+ however there was so much of one of the salamis that it was a little too dense. In any case, tasty plate for about  $10. My friends ordered a rocket salad, a chicken breast entree, and some ravioli. I never asked how it was, but it disappeared quickly, so must have been good enough.
The clientele was exactly what you'd expect if you've been to any of the previous incarnations of the Twilight Exit: a Puch moped parked out front, lots of beards, tattoos, and jovial and friendly folks.
With a warm, inviting atmosphere and lots of fun things to do inside, I'm so glad The Neighbor Lady has moved to our neighborhood. I kinda want to come over with a plate of cookies for her, to welcome her to the hood.

Yarmarka has been tucked into the dark corner of Pike Place Market for decades, but it has so few reviews compared with the other places in the Market. With a solid 4-star average, that means you've found a little gem among the tourist traps.
Standing at the counter at Yarmarka feels like you're looking into someone's kitchen. No, not a fancy kitchen with Wolf and JennAir appliances, not some fancy chef's kitchen, but with several pots a-steaming' at any given moment, it feels like you're looking into some average family's kitchen. And in the typical family kitchen is where you find typical family recipes. Nothing too fancy, tried and true recipes, served with love. That's Yarmarka.
Having tried several of the entrees, I can tell you the pierogies, cabbage rolls,  and pelmeni, are all good choices. My coworkers love the stroganoff.  My grandmother makes cabbage rolls a little sweeter, but that could be a regional variation or something.
Every entree comes with, I think, as many salads and sides as you want, all included. Considering that this isn't light fare, that means you're getting a great deal out of the meal too.
I tend to prefer the vinaigrette salad, the borscht (which is light years better than the purple water sold at Piroshky Piroshky) and one of their perfectly light and fluffy rolls. Go ahead, get some horseradish too. Try it on some stuff.
The spicy carrots are tasty, but made with sesame oil, they seem like they'd be more appropriate at an Asian restaurant.
The ladies that work here have always been great for some chit-chat, letting us taste some samples, and managing our numerous orders.  
I read a disappointed review about their piroshky, so I suggest this: Go to Piroshky Piroshky for piroshkys. Go to Yarmarka for borscht and the other dishes.
And while one person said it is cash-only, that is NOT true. I use a credit card every time I go there. And I will go there again!

I'm a lover of lamburgers. Here, it was well balanced with harissa and cool cucumber raita. A little but of arugula for some spice. The presentation is excellent: The burger stands alone. Just a simple burger on a flat plate and paper. A very clean burger, nothing hanging out the sides, just perfect symmetry. A lightly buttered bun. A solid 4.5 star lamburger. I've had them a little better, but it probably involved gorgonzola.  
We had the truffle oil potato skins which were crispy and tasty, sprinkled with a little grated cheese.
The fries were disappointing. I think they were a little undercooked in the center: the potato was too firm.
Who thinks of putting a sundae on top of a Top Pot doughnut? They deserve a pat on the back. It was delicious, and perfect to share among 3.
Definitely tasty for that twice a year where I order a burger!

Cutters. When was the last time you thought of going to Cutters? For me, it had been years. I was lucky enough to be invited to the preview of Cutters Crabhouse, the update to the old standby Cutters Bayhouse.With a significant remodel, Cutters has shed its formerly-dated appearance is now a modern and comfortable restaurant atmosphere. I didn't have any particular expectations before arriving. When I'd last visited the Bayhouse we ate well, but the food didn't stand out in my memory. I'll remember the salmon I had at the new Cutters Crabhouse though.
The restaurant is still surrounded on three sides by enormous windows, affording a great, unobstructed view of Puget Sound and the Olympics in the distance. The dated plaid maroon colors are gone, replaced by a very tasteful burnt sienna and sand theme. The staff was courteous and hip, and the overall vibe was pleasant.
Freshly baked and piping hot sourdough bread was brought to our table quickly, with a cup each of whipped butter and smoked salmon aioli. For a starter, I had the clam chowder which came with delicious bacon crumbles on it. I had the salmon entree which featured a perfect balance of a tangy lemon-butter sauce and a little bit of that grill flavor. The salmon was laid on a bed of grilled potatoes and veggies, which were covered by green beans and a bit of fresh crab. Perfect balance, and beautiful presentation, far more attractive than what I see in photos from the old restaurant. Definitely the best salmon entree I have had in a long time. For dessert we had a chocolate and caramel mousse, served with vanilla cookies and fresh whipped cream.
All told, every item was delicious, and the updated dining room makes the place a lot more appealing than it once was. Definitely worth checking out, and a great place to take visitors who need to catch a Seattle sunset over Puget Sound.

Highly dubious snail-mail chain letters, requesting that money be sent to this address, supposedly to benefit some unnamed destitute Jewish lender, come from this address. I suspect that the business itself is a sham, as are the contents of the unsolicited chain letter. If the business is real, I would avoid it on the basis of the unsolicited mails alone.

With a jambon et fromage baguette and a savory pastry tucked into a paper sack, I exited the Le Panier and stepped into a bight blue winter day. The sun flashed directly into my eyes, blinding me as I joined the swirling crowd on the sidewalk. At that instant, accordion music reached my ears and a weak tendril of someone's cigarette smoke entered my nose. For just a moment I was in Europe again.

I don't get why my coworkers waited almost two months before introducing me to this place. It's a winner: very European in the sense that the sandwiches are made in the morning and on display in a glass case. Choose the one you want and they'll warm it up on a panini press.
I had the chicken & goat cheese (wouldn't "chicken & chevre" be a better name?) and it was tasty. The goat cheese was so mild that I couldn't taste it quite enough, but the greens and the rest of the works was tasty enough.
The price point is good: $6 for plenty of sandwich. As a coworker asked when seeing some folks return from Subway: "why would you go to Subway when you could get something 10 times better for only $1 more?"
Can't argue with that.

I've only been to this location of Zaina once, and have only had one thing: the chicken shawarma. I will return to try other dishes, as I notice this one hasn't been reviewed, and the gyros and falafel get much better reviews. That said, the chicken shawarma sucked.
The line moved at a reasonable pace, and the guy working the till was friendly. He asked whether I wanted my sandwich spicy, medium or mild, and I chose the former. A woman set to work warming a pita and scooping ingredients out of chafing pans to fill the pita. As she passed it to me, I had to confirm that it was indeed chicken: the meat was so dark that I thought it might be beef or lamb from a distance.
When I got back to work to eat, the sandwich was sloppy enough, but just not particularly good. It definitely wasn't spicy, the chicken was actually white meat but was so tough it broke my plastic fork, and while it had flavor, it wasn't very good. If you want a chicken shawarma that will knock your socks off, go to Shawarma King in the U District, and put the hot sauce on that. This? Total disappointment.
Don't make the mistake I made: order falafel or gyros instead.