Now, all you have to do is find it! Here's a hint - well, a map actually... but we don't want it to be impossible! We are on panel 120.
If you find it, take a selfie with it and tag us on Instagram @uglybabyshop. Make sure you use #MyMarketCharm so The Market Foundation (@pikeplacemarketfoundation) gets to see how cute you are too. Who knows, maybe you'll end up with a gift card for our online store!
]]>Alexa, the founder of Foamy Wader is the hardest working person I know. She designs and makes delicate jewelry inspired by the sea. Gorgeous and lightweight. Her shop is on Whidbey Island.
A cool store in a mall? No way. YES way! The Handmade Showroom features art, clothing, greeting cards and more - all designed and made by independent artists. It's HUGE and full of great stuff!
I'm obsessed with socks and if you are too - you'll love this store that is basically all socks. Fun fact: The same lady who opened Monster (our sister store) also opened The Sock Monster. She doesn't own either one anymore - but that's okay because now she's a super smart scientist. She's basically good at everything. Holly! Holly! Holly! (chant with me....)
Our other store! Monster is located in the Ballard neighborhood and there we feature the work of over 100 independent artists. We also teach art and craft classes & rent button makers. C'mon!
Really, really, really cool sewing supplies and notions.
Hands down my favorite art supply store in the whole city.
All the cool letterpress loot.
Doughnut cats. Yeah. Doughnut cats. You'll see.
This is where all the books live.
It's weird. It's full of dumb stuff. You can buy a bag of tiny, plastic babies there. Please, do just that.
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What we love:
What we love:
What we love:
What we love:
What we love:
I come here when I'm missing my dad. It reminds me of the diners that he took me to when I was a kid so it's almost like getting to have breakfast with him again. If I had to describe it, I'd say it's where sailors would go to eat breakfast if that makes sense at all to you. I almost always get scrambled eggs with avocado slices.
Coffee & Korean-American deliciousness. Plus, I just like the vibe of the whole place. It's got good energy AND good food.
It's bonkers what a huge selection they have. Basically any kind of sandwich you can think of - and you can buy them by the 1/2. Any kind of salad. Mac & cheese. Baked potatoes. SO MANY OPTIONS and they are all delicious. Plus, a huge bonus is that they're basically the only reasonably priced spot in Pike Place Market (sorry everywhere else!). I pretty much guarantee you'll get to the check out and think to yourself, "Really? That's it? For all this?" Five stars. Gold stars.
The halibut sandwich or salad is my go to. Actually, I think it's the only thing I've ever eaten here. I can't say enough good things about this place and the only downside is how hard it is to tell people how to get there. I'll try though: It's on the sixth floor of Pike Place Market. The main level. If you're standing inside the Market looking out toward the cobblestone street - and the guys who throw fish are to your right - walk to your left until you see their sign.
Their food is great. The people are excellent. The vibe is golden. Be prepared to wait in line a bit because they make their food to order and a lot of people wanna eat it. The Bitchwiches are all amazing. The grits are amazing. The coffee is amazing. Kimmie Spice, the owner, is someone to admire. We lived above the 1st and Stewart location when Kimmie started offering late night biscuits and sharing a kitchen with the coffee shop owner in that spot. And from there - she's built a bitchy biscuit empire. I like her. You will too. But more important: You'll like her biscuits.
Love poke? You'll love FOB. I made the mistake of trying poke for the first time at FOB and then I thought that all poke places would be equally amazing. I was wrong. So wrong. After trying out like five other spots - I realized that FOB is just way, way, way better. If you've never tried poke - give it a shot. They have cooked options and a huge buffet of delicious things to add. Try Tamago!
Delicious, local ingredients. Amazing breakfasts.
Eggs! Eggs! Eggs!
More b-fast & more.
Delicious, comfort Mexican dishes.
Pizza! Pizza! Plus, they make one with potatoes so I love them and they can do no wrong.
]]>On two separate occasions people have thrown rocks through our windows. Once, to steal an old ipad that didn't even hold a charge and another time to just cause general chaos.
Both times they left the rock behind so now they are ours. They are each for sale in the shop for $1000 and $2000 respectively - the cost to repair the shop after each of the scenarios.
People always ask, "Are they REALLY for sale?" or "Do they really cost that much?" Yes and yes. When someone buys a rock of destruction, we will donate the funds in full to Treehouse for Kids - a local nonprofit serving youth in foster care. That's our way of turning something stupid and crappy into something good.
Now, rich people: Let's talk rocks. According to a customer who seemed to know what they were talking about, these are definitely basalt rocks and could be Columbia River basalt. Does that make them more valuable? Maybe!
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If you want the most bang for your buck, you'll head to 2nd Avenue in Belltown.
There, you'll find probably the last two blocks of cool, older Seattle bars all lined up in a row. Literally within stumbling distance of each other! Which is lucky because - well - you'll see.
Rendezvous: I used to go here before it got remodeled into a classy lady. It's 100% less scary now. Plus, they have two theaters and host bands, comedy & theater shows, films & burlesque. Check their calendar.
Shorty's: Pinball and vintage arcade games. I'm all about Centipede - but I'm kinda old. Also, HOT DOGS!
Rocco's: If you like your drinks with a side of pizza, think Rocco's. You can also just grab a slice to go if you get snack-ey before heading home.
Now, walk a block or two in another direction and you end up at:
Jupiter Bar: A great space that hosted a weekly drawing night called Drawnk - you know - before the worldwide viral pandemic took over. Any bar that supports artists is a good one in my book.
Sonya's: Just a really nice, chill bar that doesn't have the bonkers energy of some of the Belltown spots. Doug and I used to live right above it and spent many a night there.
If you want to finish off your visit to Pike Place Market with a nice drink, try these fine establishments:
Jarr Bar: Our neighbor on Western Avenue - on the back side of the Market. It's just as hard to find as our store - but if you find the sidewalk chalk unicorns that lead you from the gum wall right to our door - you'll also find Jarr Bar.
Zig Zag Cafe: 100% guarantee you won't find it without asking someone for directions.
Alibi Room: In the same alley as the Gum Wall - across from the theater entrance is a door. Open it. That's the Alibi Room. They have excellent pizza and calzones too.
Are you like us and wanna play complicated strategic board games while you get a little tipsy? These two bars ENCOURAGE game playing.
Mox Boarding House: Plus, they have a huge board game store attached called Card Kingdom. You can borrow a game to play for the night before you decide if you want to invest your dollars in your own set.
Teku Tavern: Huge tables and tons of beer on tap. Bring your game and your friends and camp out. They also have huge coolers of bottles so you can also pick up some things to go.
You can't really visit Seattle without checking out Capitol Hill. It's where I lived when I first moved to Seattle way back in 1999. Email had only been around for a few years. Imagine that.
Unicorn & Narwhal: I mean. They are carnival themed. Plus, Unicorn BALLS and Narwhal BALLS are both on the menu. You don't want to miss this place. It's 100% worth the experience & they have fun stuff happening in the Narwhal downstairs. Go.
HoneyHole: Sandwiches. So many sandwiches. Eat one.
Would you rather drink coffee?
Personally, I'm (Rosalie) obsesssed with coffee. Yes, there's an extra S there. That's how much I like it. My love of coffee is what inspired the Shower Art piece that says, "Coffee makes my pussy tingle." Is it autobiographical? I'll never tell. Oh wait, I just did.
I like really, really, really strong black coffee. Light roast is not for me. There are about one million coffee shops in Seattle. The ones on this list are my very favorite and I have no way to rank them. I love them all the same.
Espresso Vivache: I just freaking love this place.
Victrola Cafe: I just freaking love this place.
Little Oddfellows: I just freaking love this place.
Caffe Vita: I just freaking love this place.
Uptown Espresso: I just freaking love this place.
Chocolati Cafe: I just freaking love this place.
Ada's Technical Books and Cafe: I just freaking love this place.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery: Yes, I like Starbucks. Shoot me. Look, they're nothing if not consistent. Am I sending you to the original Starbucks? No. It's just like all the other Starbucks. It's fine - but like nothing super amazing. This place IS super amazing. It's like a coffee mansion. No, maybe a coffee palace? It's big and it's filled with coffee. You'll see.
Need a fix while you're visiting the Pike Place Market?
Ghost Alley Espresso: Delicious. Plus, if you find the unicorns drawn in chalk on the sidewalk - they'll lead you right to our door. Trust me - you'll need the help to find us. Get a coffee for the journey. You won't regret it.
The Crumpet Shop: Like your coffee just black and simple? Hands down The Crumpet Shop serves up the best black coffee in the city. I've tried to recreate it. I've bought the same beans even. Doesn't come close. I don't know what they're doing in there - but I like it!
Okay. I guess I went a little more in depth on this adventure than I had planned. Try them all! Then, maybe go drink a glass of water or two. I don't have any recommendations for where to get that. You're on your own.
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