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Mitchelli's, Photo by Sedat Uysal
We've already covered things that you can do for free in Seattle, and there are a lot, but we want even more options. We are Seattleites. We change plans on a dime, make up our minds about what we're doing at the last minute, and there better be a big list to choose from. And while we're at it, there's a recession on, so let's make it cheap.
Skylark Café & Club
Live music four nights a week with no cover charge. None. This intimate West Seattle venue located just off the Delridge exit showcases three new and emerging bands each night, Thursday through Sunday nights, and whoever does the booking knows what to look for, because for the most part these bands aren't just a few unpolished friends who aren't really ready to graduate from playing in a basement. Sunday night is an all ages show. Food is served until 1 a.m. and features comfortable and somewhat upscale diner food like chicken tenders, baked ziti, hamburgers and quesadillas. I can highly recommend the grilled cheese with provolone, cheddar, sliced tomatoes and basil leaves, as well as the tater tots. Get them with cheese. The Skylark also serves brunch on the weekends.
Town Hall
From big names to intimate performances, Town Hall offers a stunning array of cultural events. Some are free, some are priced like a rock concert. What I like to focus on is the vast array of $5 events. Tickets for these lectures and presentations are available on Brown Paper Tickets and with a service fee will cost you $6.12. That beats Ticketmaster any day. Just a few of the things coming up:
- Future of Health: Christine Gleason: Tales from the NICU. Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 7:30 – 9pm
- Tony Horwitz: Rediscovering a Lost Century. Monday, May 11, 2009 | 7:30 – 9pm
- Peter Ward: Life is a Killer. Tuesday, May 12, 2009 | 7:30 – 9pm
- Tamim Ansary: U.S.-Middle East Relations. Thursday, May 14, 2009 | 7:30 – 9pm
- Jim McDermott & Ron Reagan: Winning Health Care for All. Saturday, May 16, 2009 | 12 – 2pm
History House
If you love old photographs look no further. It's fascinating to walk the photographic exhibits here and see Seattle in all its old glory. The sculpture garden outside is very nicely done and they have concerts by local artists in the summer, but this is worth a visit any time of year. Especially with admission set at one dollar.
Happy Hour
Sadly, Mitchelli's, my favorite cheap happy hour restaurant, closed due to the recession. Happily, Examiner has an entire category of Bars & Clubs and many of the topics highlight some of the best happy hour deals in the city. A good happy hour can substitute for dinner at a fraction of the price.
Japanese Garden
The Arboretum is a beautiful, and free, place to wander, but for just $5 you can enter a whole different world of enchantment in the Japanese Garden. Cross bridges, check out the Emperor's Gate, feed the koi, don't scare the turtles and experience a Zen moment or two.
Swedish Cultural Center
Not just for Swedes! The non-profit Scandinavian cultural center offers a variety of regular and special events from free to low cost. On the first Sunday of every month is an $8 Swedish Pancake breakfast with plenty of food, Swedish coffee, music and folk dancing. On Friday, February 20th at 7 p.m. Knute Berger will be signing his book 'Pugetopolis: A Mossback Takes on Growth Addicts, Weather Wimps, and the Myth of Seattle Nice.' And, "Friday, Apr. 24. Scandinavian Folkdancing. Music by the well-loved Folk Voice Band. Waltzes, hambos and more. SCC members $7, public $9.
E-mail for more information. Music starts at 8 p.m." Even a $45 yearly membership is a good deal considering all the weekly and monthly events.
Don't miss the second article in this series - More Really Cheap Things to do in Seattle - you wouldn't believe all the options you have!
Comments
I love the list. Thanks for sharing. I'm often the one who gets tagged to give the Seattle tour to relatives visiting from other locations.
Here are a few on my list that you may want to add to yours:
1. Monorail ride. Park at the Space Needle and hop on the Monorail. We're used to it, but it's awesome to see the looks on your out of towner relatives faces.
2. Walk down to Pike Place Market. Sure, it's a tourist trap, but when you're walking people around the city, it's a place they've seen in movies, and they'll love it.
3. Walk down to the Main Seattle Public Library. This building is simply amazing. Be sure to find the red room, it's hidden, and take a picture of them standing on the stairs before taking the escalators all the way to the top (11th floor) and walking over to the perch looking out over the empty space in the library (those with vertigo need not do this) and see the awesome pattern on the first floor from way up.
4. See Seattle from the top. Columbia Tower has an observation deck up at the top. It costs a few bucks to take the two elevator rides up to the top. Fantastic views on clear days.
5. Smith Tower. The observation deck is only open on the weekends, and after March the China Room is open too. It's an awesome bit of history everyone needs to see.
6. Ride the monorail back to the Space Needle and do the Duck Tour. These boats are old WWII boats and if you have kids along, they'll love riding around in a vehicle that also is a boat! It's amazing how many people from this area have never seen Seattle from the water. It's something everyone ought to experience.
7. The Ballard Locks. This is one of my favorite places to see. It has a nice park with paved trails and lots of lawn for kids that love to run around. In the Spring, the flower gardens are impressive. Watch the locks and then walk over to the Army Corps of Engineers building (the awesome old building right there next to the locks) and be sure to go inside and see all of the old pictures of them building the locks. Also, don't be shy, walk up the stairs to the second level for even more pictures. This building, and the locks date back to WWI.
8. The Aurora Bridge Troll. It's a nightmare finding parking to stop and see the Troll, but it's been in movies and lets face it, not everyone has a troll under their bridge! Every family member I've taken up to see the Troll has been impressed.
Well that's a few more that I could pull off the top of my head. There are a million awesome things to do in this city. Sharing lists like this is something we all ought to do.
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