Madrona
“There aren’t many places in the world where you can walk down the street and glimpse one city’s skyline to your right, and another to your left. I think about this whenever I make my way down 34th Avenue, catching alternating glimpses of Bellevue and downtown Seattle in between blocks of beautiful old houses. I moved to Madrona in 2012, not knowing much about the neighborhood, worried I’d find it a little slow after apartment life on Capitol Hill. Instead I found a tight community and some destination worthy shops, parks, and businesses that just happen to be down the street.
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M A D R O N A C O N T R I B U T O R A L L E C I A V E R M I L L I O N
Allecia Vermillion is only the third editor in chief in Seattle Met’s history. She previously spent eight years overseeing all things food and drink for the magazine, from cover packages to restaurant reviews, and narrative long-form features to breaking blog news. These days, Allecia continues to write restaurant reviews alongside her EIC duties.
In 2015 she received the magazine’s first-ever James Beard Award nomination for the origin story of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte (“OMFG It’s the PSL”); the feature was also included in the book Best Food Writing 2015. She was a James Beard finalist again, in 2016, for her profile about the rise and fall of a promising chef (“The Brief, Extraordinary Life of Cody Spafford”).
Allecia grew up in Portland, Oregon, but began her journalism life as a newspaper reporter in the Chicago suburbs, later launching Eater Seattle as the founding editor before landing at Seattle Met in 2011. She has an English degree from Washington University (no, the one in St. Louis) and a masters in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two young kids.
B O T T L E H O U S E
Incredibly friendly service meets an impeccable menu of wines (and oh man, that patio). Bonus: the menu of snacks and small places is surprisingly great. I also enjoy checking out the pop-up tastings at Wildridge Winery, which occupies the first-floor garage.
H I T C H C O C K
My obsession with this jewelbox of a boutique is partly a function of its statement necklaces, scarves and rings. But partly a function of owner Erica Nelson-Sheehan, a megawatt reminder of why we shop local. Her spot-on recommendations come in handy when my husband shows up looking for gift ideas.
V E R I T E / C U P C A K E R O Y A L E
Basically the neighborhood’s living room, this outpost lacks the sheen and style of some of the newer Cupcake Royale locations. That’s precisely why I like it.
R E D C O W
Ethan Stowell’s steak-iest restaurant is a versatile neighborhood hangout. We hit up happy hour in the bar, bring the kids in for burgers and steak frites, or hover outside before doors open during summer to score a seat on the patio..
V E N D E M M I A
A go-to for casual dinners (usually pasta and my beloved snap pea and Dungeness crab salad) but for a more special occasion, the chef’s counter does a fantastic tasting menu for $50 apiece.
E A S T A N C H O R S E A F O O D
Vendemmia’s sibling market sells pristine seafood, but I’m all about the lunch menu, and a plate of oysters and glass of rose by those big front windows.
M A D R O N A P A R K
While I log plenty of weekend hours with my kids at Madrona Playfield up on 34th, this beachfront park with a very similar name packs a surprising amount of beach culture (swimming, sand, picnic grills, a quaint old shelter, watery vistas) into a woodsy setting on Lake Washington Boulevard.