Seattle TravelGram

The Pike Place Market, with its famous flying fish and numerous vendors, has a history that includes much more than meets the eye. The Market Ghost Tour will show you a darker side of the market that even the most die-hard market fan does not yet know. Let the wonderful guides show you the spookier side of Seattle’s most famous tourist attraction.

A twilight walk through a deserted main promenade reveals the past of Post Alley. Behind the infamous gum wall, the Market Theatre is supposed to be haunted by children who passed away during the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 where 1,600 in the Seattle area died.  The Market Theatre reserves five seats for those ghostly visitors.

You’ll pass the old LaSalle Hotel and hear stories of the infamous brothel governess, Nellie, who had the sailors lining up for a block and has since become the inspiration for Pike Pub and Brewery’s organic brew; Naughty Nellie.

Further into the night, the tale of Princess Angeline, the daughter of Chief Sealth, and her beautiful plum trees reveals that the entire market was likely built atop a Duwamish Indian burial site. To this day Princess Angeline is as a perpetual wanderer of the market.

The Market Ghost Tour is full of many more tales to incite your imagination. Be sure to ask your guide about the sub basement of Kells Irish Pub…or shall I say the Mortuary, which is proposed to be the most haunted place in Seattle.  

The Market Ghost Tour is part of the 2010 Seattle TourSaver where there is over 100 2-for-1 coupons with over $8,000 in savings on tours, attractions, museums and hotels.

By Sara Palmer

Seattleites love their seafood and expect freshness and excellence when making their restaurant choice. Recently Blueacre, a new restaurant opened in downtown Seattle and offers a great variety of sustainable fish, oysters, and other seafood. Owners Kevin and Therresa Davis have created a menu with New Orleans flair by offering Seafood & Andouille Sausage Gumbo and other southern inspired dishes. Chef Kevin’s food combines best quality ingredients, clean combinations and fabulous flavors.

Blueacre is open for lunch, dinner, brunch and has a wonderfully creative happy hour menu.

Blueacre is located in the Downtown Retail Core and is walking distance to the Waterfront, Belltown and Pike Place Market, theaters and shopping.

Propeller Heads, it’s time to get up and close to over 60 vintage aircraft. Children and adults will experience the roar of the engines as some vintage plains fly overhead at the 2nd annual Vintage Aircraft Weekend at Paine Field.

Sixty classic birds are expected the weekend of September 25^th-27^th at the Future of Flight in Everett. Meet pilots, restoration mechanics, and historians who will present information on the historical significance of the aircraft with stories of important events.

There will be good food along with many family friendly experiences so plan on making a day of this great event.

Car Shows, Rodeo, Horse Shows, Quilting and Produce Displays all have their place at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe through September 6th.   A family favorite is always 4-H events and programs which go on through out the fair.

The Grandstand Concert line-up brings in some really big headliners from Los Lobos to Howie Mandel.

The Evergreen State Fairgrounds are located one mile west of Monroe, WA; 14 miles east of Everett, on US2.

September 4-6 come to Seattle Center to have fun at the 40^th annual Bubmershoot® Festival. This is a huge  Music & Arts Festival that draws artists representing the best in music, film, comedy, spoken word, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts over Labor Day weekend.

One ticket gets you onto the festival grounds each day and from there the world of Bumbershoot is yours to explore. Experience groundbreaking local, national, and international artists in all arts disciplines and musical genres at a variety of large and small, indoor and unique outdoor venues.

Participate in hands-on activities throughout the Festival and enjoy music, theatre, dance, comedy, literary arts, visual arts and more all in the same day. Bumbershoot also features a variety of food, merchandise, and urban craft vendors throughout Bumbershoot grounds—there’s plenty to eat, see, and do all weekend long.

Hotel Ändra is welcoming Picasso at the Seattle Art Museum by offering a VIP package that is an experience in itself.  Guests will receive overnight accommodations for two, two VIP tickets to the exhibit (allowing you to skip the line and reserve a viewing time), drinks and appetizers in Lola for scintillating post-SAM discussion ($25 credit, also applicable toward breakfast, lunch or dinner), a beautiful full-color catalogue of the Picasso exhibit: PICASSO: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, and a late check-out of 2pm which will allow perhaps for another viewing, or a stroll through the city. 

This is a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts to see a landmark exhibition of the work of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Iconic works from virtually every phase of Picasso’s legenday career will be on display. The collection is from of the Musée National Picasso which is an art gallery located in the Hôtel Salé in rue de Thorigny, in Paris. The Musée National Picasso is the largest and most important repository of the artist’s work in the world.

Pablo Picasso’s world-renowned works will be on display at the Seattle Art Museum from October 2010 through January 2011. Make your plans now to see this amazing collection at the SAM, and be sure to book your reservations at now for the VIP package at Hotel Ändra.

We had a great walk through Paris with Terrance Gelenter. He showed us his city “Through an Ex-Pat’s Eyes”. Very cool stuff. Check out the video.

The neighborhood of Ballard has become the “new” place to wine and dine. There are so many wonderful new and old restaurants to choose from that sometimes you just need a tip on some of the best kept secrets. Bonus:  in Ballard you don’t have to be panhandled on every corner, the nightlife is quiet and respectful and its family friendly while still being trendy.

The Jolly Roger Taproom on 1111 NW Ballard Way, is a wonderful brew pub open 7 days per week with fantastic lunch and dinner food. Thier happy hour is also worth checking out.

The Maritime Pacific beers are considered by beer aficionados to be some of the best in Seattle.  Thier handcrafted ales and lagers enhance the traditional recipes to produce unique beers for the Northwest taste.  A fleet of year-round favorites are specialty seasonal beers, providing the enthusiast with an ever-changing choice of beverage. With your choices of Flagship Red Alt Ale to Old Seattle Lager, there is something to please your individual tastes. I had a glass of their Imperial IPA at 7.5% alc/vol for lunch along with a delicious Avocado & Crab Croissant and I was pleasantly full and happy.

Yesterday Alaska Airline launched a new promotion with great deals around the country and today American, Continental, Delta and United have matched Alaska’s rates.

Continental, Delta, and United have all matched portions of Alaska Airline’s expansive new sale from $29 one-way. With more than 75 destinations on sale, you’ll find bargains from multiple airlines for travel into December. Get the travel bug and book some bargain flights now.

Alaska Airlines cut fares on nonstop flights to West Coast cities from Seattle, Portland, Boise and Spokane. These are the lowest fares so far on these routes for fall travel.

 The sale fares are valid Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays Sept. 8 – Dec. 15.

 Sample fares from Seattle (each way):

- Spokane … $39

- San Jose … $69

- Vancouver … $93

Look into your fall and winter travel plans and see if you can save some cash.