A few weeks ago my wife and I went to Portalis Wine Bar for a birthday part. It is a super cool place located in the Ballard area of Seattle, with a different twist on drinking wine than you might be used to, so I thought I'd give you a quick review of Seattle restaurant Portalis Wine Bar.
Portalis Wine bar is located, as I said, in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, specifically at 5205 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA. It is nestled in a downtown area comprised of several different restaurants and bars, and is the perfect place to begin a night out on the town, relax with a bottle of wine, or hang out with friends. As I mentioned, we had the opportunity to go there for a birthday party, so a group of about 12 of us met there to celebrate.
When you first walk in to Portalis Wine Bar, the first thing you'll notice is that is looks a little bit like a normal Seattle bar and a little bit like the wine section of QFC all wrapped into one. But don't worry, it is supposed to look like that (you don't think you're in QFC when you're there, but there are hundreds of bottles of wine set up for your perusal). That's is the "thing" Portalis wine is known for - you have the opportunity, if you want, to hand select the wine you want to drink for the night. Each wine is identified by name, region, and price, and also has its rating, so you can know if you are getting a "good" bottle or not (although I have to admit, I am not the wine connoisseur - that is my wife).
Once you pick your bottle, you take it to your table, and they open it for you. There is a corking fee for the bottle, like most places, except Wednesday, which is a cork free fee day! In addition to booze, Portalis has a decent food selection, including all the cheese you care to eat. But, be careful if you have a large group of people going - the place probably accommodates, at best 30-40 people. Our 12 people crammed into one side of the bar and it was pretty tight.
In any event, if you love wine, love Seattle, and want to have a good time in Ballard, check out Portalis wine bar. It won't disappoint.
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Wednesday
Seattle Salon and Hair Cut | Margi David Salon
Seems like I just can't get back to reviewing Seattle restaurants and bars anymore. I've just been doing too much other stuff and want to write about it. So, without further adieu, as the title suggests, I have another Seattle salon review (two Seattle salon reviews in one week is a little weird, but it's on the list, so in it goes). As a little background, this Seattle hair cut review is of my "regular" hair cut place (I am a boy, so saying salon all the time is a little weird - I'm going to stick with it throughout the rest of this post, but just know that it makes me feel a little funny).
Margi David Salon (their website is a little slow - but check it out if you are curious) is located in the East Lake neighborhood of Seattle and from what I've heard has a reputation as a pretty solid, fairly high end salon. I heard about it through my brother-in-law and wife, who both go there on a regular basis to get their hair done. The brother-in-law, like me, typically just gets a haircut, for around $40, and the wifey gets the whole shebang - cut and color, for I think about $150. I've been pleased every time I've gone there, so I thought I'd let you all know about it in case you were looking for a nice place to get a hair cut.
After you find Margi David Salon (which, I must admit, was a little difficult for me the first couple of times - parking is in between the Margi David building and another building, and the spaces are tight) and go in, you'll immediately notice two things: (1) they want to be really cool; and (2) they are interested in making you feel great while you are there. The salon has a pretty cool vibe about it (but there is no DJ, like the other Seattle salon), is clean, and the stylists are generally young and in a good mood.
Jason has been my stylist every time. He cuts my brother-in-laws hair, does a really good job, and is really interested in his profession. This isn't the place where you get in and out in 20 minutes with a quick trim. Expect to take at least 45 minutes, even for a guy's cut, but expect to be looking pretty good when you leave. Jason was profiled in a Seattle magazine recently, which I thought was pretty cool, and he and the other stylists make frequent trips to New York to get the best training available. Bottom line, if you want a good cut, check these guys out.
I guess there isn't much else to say about Margi David Salon. The staff is polite and knowledgeable, the rates are competitive, and the aesthetic is good. If you are new to Seattle and looking for a great hair cut or style, give Margi David Salon a call and book an appointment with Jason. You won't be disappointed.
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Have you been here too? Don't let me be the only one to review this great Seattle hot spot. Let everyone know what you thought by leaving a comment.
Margi David Salon (their website is a little slow - but check it out if you are curious) is located in the East Lake neighborhood of Seattle and from what I've heard has a reputation as a pretty solid, fairly high end salon. I heard about it through my brother-in-law and wife, who both go there on a regular basis to get their hair done. The brother-in-law, like me, typically just gets a haircut, for around $40, and the wifey gets the whole shebang - cut and color, for I think about $150. I've been pleased every time I've gone there, so I thought I'd let you all know about it in case you were looking for a nice place to get a hair cut.
After you find Margi David Salon (which, I must admit, was a little difficult for me the first couple of times - parking is in between the Margi David building and another building, and the spaces are tight) and go in, you'll immediately notice two things: (1) they want to be really cool; and (2) they are interested in making you feel great while you are there. The salon has a pretty cool vibe about it (but there is no DJ, like the other Seattle salon), is clean, and the stylists are generally young and in a good mood.
Jason has been my stylist every time. He cuts my brother-in-laws hair, does a really good job, and is really interested in his profession. This isn't the place where you get in and out in 20 minutes with a quick trim. Expect to take at least 45 minutes, even for a guy's cut, but expect to be looking pretty good when you leave. Jason was profiled in a Seattle magazine recently, which I thought was pretty cool, and he and the other stylists make frequent trips to New York to get the best training available. Bottom line, if you want a good cut, check these guys out.
I guess there isn't much else to say about Margi David Salon. The staff is polite and knowledgeable, the rates are competitive, and the aesthetic is good. If you are new to Seattle and looking for a great hair cut or style, give Margi David Salon a call and book an appointment with Jason. You won't be disappointed.
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Have you been here too? Don't let me be the only one to review this great Seattle hot spot. Let everyone know what you thought by leaving a comment.
Monday
Seattle Banks | KeyBank
As you all know, I am a relatively new transfer to Seattle. This is one of the reasons I decided to make up this site reviewing everything Seattle. I wanted to let others know what to expect when moving to Seattle, and give those visiting Seattle a guide to some fun things to do while here (or at least some great Seattle bars and restaurants to hang out at while in the area). I'm so pumped that the weather has begun to change too, so I can start researching and rolling out my best patio bars and restaurants in Seattle. Stay tuned for those reviews.One of the first things you need to find, unless you have a national chain (which I personally don't like from a customer service standpoint) is a bank (photo above courtesy of www.ushistory.org). And that held true for my wife and I too. In Kansas, we had a bank we used that was regional that provided all the things we needed: great customer service; great loan rates; great security; and online banking. So, when looking for a good Seattle bank we wanted to keep with those same qualities. I had to look no farther than KeyBank to find exactly what we needed, and I must say I'm more than happy.
Even though funds are protected by the FDIC, in today's day and age it is important to have a bank that is run fiscally responsibly and promotes great customer service. In looking at KeyBank's website and talking to people in the area that used them, it was easy to see that they were a great choice.
At KeyBank in Seattle, we have a couple of checking accounts, including a business checking account. We decided not to open a savings account because with brick and mortar banks in today's world, their interest rates just can't compare with online banks (we have several savings accounts through ING). Setup of the accounts was easy, bank personnel were always very kind and courteous, and we have had absolutely no problem with any of our banking needs.
Additionally, their online presence is very well managed and their website is very easy to navigate. You can sign on to your account and see your current balance, pending and posted transactions, and old checks. And if you have any questions about the other services they offer, their website has much if not all of the information you might need. And if not you can just stop in at one of their branches and ask for help - I haven't ever had a hard time getting in touch with someone to talk to with any Seattle banking questions I had.
In the end, if you are new to the Seattle area and are looking for a good bank, I don't think you can go wrong with KeyBank, particularly with your normal, every day banking needs. They have great customer service, have a great online presence, and provide everything you need (and the checking is free, I might add). So welcome to Seattle, enjoy this great spring/summer weather, and come back to see great Seattle bar and restaurant reviews.
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Have you been here too? Don't let me be the only one to review this great Seattle hot spot. Let everyone know what you thought by leaving a comment.
Wednesday
Seattle Salons | Seven Salon
Looks like this will be two in a row for failing to review a Seattle restaurant or bar. But don't worry, there are many more of those in the cue waiting to be written and thrown up on here. My review today is of Seven Salon, located in Pacific Place in downtown Seattle.
Let me begin by telling you how I got to the point of getting my hair cut there. I am a traditional guy's guy. Although that doesn't necessarily mean I need to go to a barbershop to get my hair cut (I can, after all, appreciate a great hair cut), it does mean that I wait until my hair is extremely long for my taste before I even call to schedule a hair cut. Yesterday was no different. In fact, my hair had gotten mangy enough that my wife even commented that I needed to get a hair cut. So I put it on my to do list.
For the past five months or so since I've been here (I only moved to Seattle in November, following my wife as she took a great job) I'd been going to Margi David Salon in East Lake, and I'd been more than happy. Jason had been my hair cutter, I liked him, and I planned on going back. But on Monday my wife called me and said she'd gotten a coupon for a free hair cut from Seven Salon in Seattle. I honestly had never heard of them before (I am a guy, after all), but when I asked my wife, she said they had the reputation for being one of the better hair salons in Seattle. The coupon expired yesterday, so she wanted to know if I'd be interested. I said sure, sign me up.
So, yesterday I strolled into 7 Salon in downtown Seattle (second floor of Pacific Place) hoping that this wasn't some mall hair place that would buzz me and shoo me out the door in 20 minutes. They knew I was coming in on a coupon, so I was also worried I might get second class treatment. I couldn't have been more wrong.
First, 7 salon, once you walk in, gives off no mall hair joint vibe at all. There is a lot of wood, some flowing water, a very minimalist setup, and people all over the place just waiting to help. Once I filled out the informational card I was sent back with an associate to get my robe (guys, just an FYI, when they give you the robe and ask if you want to go into the changing room, politely decline unless you have something on you don't want to get hair on - they don't actually want you to take all of your clothes of), given a bottle of water and a little chocolate and told to sit and wait for Riley, my stylist, to come and get me.
Before I get much further, let me tell you that 7 salon has pulled out all the stops on making your hair cut much more of an experience than a chore. First, they have a full time barista on staff that can make pretty much whatever you want. I don't drink coffee (remember, I'm from the midwest!) but they've got a full on Starbucks setup right there in the Salon! And second, they have a DJ. You heard me correctly, a DJ. And he spins records all day long. I thought maybe it was just music pumped in on a CD or satellite radio. But nope, there is an actual DJ working full time just to make your Seattle hair styling experience a little more enjoyable.
Okay, back to the haircut. Riley, my stylist, was pretty cool. Riley was a she, in case you were wondering, about 24 years old, and very nice and talkative. 7 salon has got a nice mix of your artsy hair stylist types and your more traditional hair stylist types (I probably just offended everyone by saying that, but you know what I mean). Riley was more the traditional type. No colorful hair, no piercings. And her real name isn't Riley. I won't tell you what it is, but she shares the same name with someone that was already working there when she joined up, so to avoid confusion, she picked a different name. I actually kind of like it. It's the same name as my cat.
Anyway, the haircut was great. She did a great job, gave me a wash and a little style, and sent me to the cash register. I must admit, I think they did a great job with their service, even though I had a coupon for a free cut. Everyone was extremely professional but not stuffy. For a Seattle hair salon it has a great vibe - I could almost see myself hanging out there and having a cocktail if it was available. But, I will tell you, I asked what a cut normally costs, and $65 was the answer. Now, that is not astronomical, but for me it is definitely on the high side. You Microsoft and Boeing employees won't have any trouble affording this, but others might. But I would say that if you want to pamper yourself a little bit, give 7 salon in downtown Seattle a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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Have you been here too? Don't let me be the only one to review this great Seattle hot spot. Let everyone know what you thought by leaving a comment.
Let me begin by telling you how I got to the point of getting my hair cut there. I am a traditional guy's guy. Although that doesn't necessarily mean I need to go to a barbershop to get my hair cut (I can, after all, appreciate a great hair cut), it does mean that I wait until my hair is extremely long for my taste before I even call to schedule a hair cut. Yesterday was no different. In fact, my hair had gotten mangy enough that my wife even commented that I needed to get a hair cut. So I put it on my to do list.
For the past five months or so since I've been here (I only moved to Seattle in November, following my wife as she took a great job) I'd been going to Margi David Salon in East Lake, and I'd been more than happy. Jason had been my hair cutter, I liked him, and I planned on going back. But on Monday my wife called me and said she'd gotten a coupon for a free hair cut from Seven Salon in Seattle. I honestly had never heard of them before (I am a guy, after all), but when I asked my wife, she said they had the reputation for being one of the better hair salons in Seattle. The coupon expired yesterday, so she wanted to know if I'd be interested. I said sure, sign me up.
So, yesterday I strolled into 7 Salon in downtown Seattle (second floor of Pacific Place) hoping that this wasn't some mall hair place that would buzz me and shoo me out the door in 20 minutes. They knew I was coming in on a coupon, so I was also worried I might get second class treatment. I couldn't have been more wrong.
First, 7 salon, once you walk in, gives off no mall hair joint vibe at all. There is a lot of wood, some flowing water, a very minimalist setup, and people all over the place just waiting to help. Once I filled out the informational card I was sent back with an associate to get my robe (guys, just an FYI, when they give you the robe and ask if you want to go into the changing room, politely decline unless you have something on you don't want to get hair on - they don't actually want you to take all of your clothes of), given a bottle of water and a little chocolate and told to sit and wait for Riley, my stylist, to come and get me.
Before I get much further, let me tell you that 7 salon has pulled out all the stops on making your hair cut much more of an experience than a chore. First, they have a full time barista on staff that can make pretty much whatever you want. I don't drink coffee (remember, I'm from the midwest!) but they've got a full on Starbucks setup right there in the Salon! And second, they have a DJ. You heard me correctly, a DJ. And he spins records all day long. I thought maybe it was just music pumped in on a CD or satellite radio. But nope, there is an actual DJ working full time just to make your Seattle hair styling experience a little more enjoyable.
Okay, back to the haircut. Riley, my stylist, was pretty cool. Riley was a she, in case you were wondering, about 24 years old, and very nice and talkative. 7 salon has got a nice mix of your artsy hair stylist types and your more traditional hair stylist types (I probably just offended everyone by saying that, but you know what I mean). Riley was more the traditional type. No colorful hair, no piercings. And her real name isn't Riley. I won't tell you what it is, but she shares the same name with someone that was already working there when she joined up, so to avoid confusion, she picked a different name. I actually kind of like it. It's the same name as my cat.
Anyway, the haircut was great. She did a great job, gave me a wash and a little style, and sent me to the cash register. I must admit, I think they did a great job with their service, even though I had a coupon for a free cut. Everyone was extremely professional but not stuffy. For a Seattle hair salon it has a great vibe - I could almost see myself hanging out there and having a cocktail if it was available. But, I will tell you, I asked what a cut normally costs, and $65 was the answer. Now, that is not astronomical, but for me it is definitely on the high side. You Microsoft and Boeing employees won't have any trouble affording this, but others might. But I would say that if you want to pamper yourself a little bit, give 7 salon in downtown Seattle a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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Have you been here too? Don't let me be the only one to review this great Seattle hot spot. Let everyone know what you thought by leaving a comment.
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