Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to Do in the International District

November 10, 11:07 PMSeattle Newcomer ExaminerShiwani Srivastava

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Seattle's International District
Courtesy www.seattle.gov

Back for more?  Well then, welcome to lucky number seven in our series on exploring Seattle.  Next stop, the International District -- something of an enigma, slightly confusing, but always exhilarating.  FYI, you won't really hear Seattleites call it Chinatown thanks to its diversity, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese businesses ... just to name a few.

So if you find yourself here with a hankering for some seafood and/or noodles, make a day of it, and explore what this neighborhood has to offer beyond the restaurants:

1.) Wing Luke Asian Museum + Art Galleries - The Wing Luke is more than just an art museum -- it's also a tour through the history of the Pacific Northwest's Asian communities.  It's recently renovated, and the new building is very impressive ... but be sure to make time to check out some of the nearby art galleries, too.

2.) Uwajimaya + Shopping -  Find your favorite Asian foods (and ones you've never even heard of) at Uwajimaya -- an 80-year-old community staple in Seattle.  Afterward, grab a cream puff at Beard Papa and walk off the calories as you scour the neighborhood by foot to see what fun finds and deals you can dig up.

3.) Dim Sum + Tea - Nothing kicks off Sunday quite like a dim sum brunch.  Lines can be long on the weekends, so get to your restaurant of choice early (Jade Garden is a personal fave) or be prepared to wait.  Finish off your early afternoon with some tea at the historical Panama Hotel or the famous Seattle Best Tea.

4.) Karaoke + Late-Night Dining - Your experience of the I.D. isn't complete unless you've sang karaoke in front of a group of strangers and gone out for moo shu pork at 2 a.m.  Personally, a good night involves belting out Bon Jovi at Bush Garden and wrapping things up with a late-night meal at Sea Garden.

So make your way to the International District for a day (and night) you won't forget.

For more info: Missed the other parts of this series? No problem. It's never to late to start exploring:
Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to Do in the U-District
Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to Do in Fremont
Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to Do in Capitol Hill
Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to Do in Belltown
Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to Do in Queen Anne
Seattle 101: Four Fun Things to do in Ballard