OPENINGS AROUND THE SOUND
A look at the area's new stores
Posted September 2006
First hotel-condo combo opens in Seattle
Madison Tower, an upscale hotel set atop 47 luxury condos in downtown Seattle, opened in June along with BOKA Kitchen + Bar. The mixed-use building is the first of many future examples in the Seattle area of a luxury hotel and condominium sharing the same address.
Those who purchased homes beginning at 805 square feet and starting in the $500,000 range can avail themselves of the selected hotel services including concierge services, fitness center, business center, valet parking and housekeeping services for common areas. Permanent residents can draw on other hotel amenities on a fee basis.
Hotel 1000's lobby is dominated by a dramatic open fire pit and tall windows looking out on the bustling streetscape. A full-service spa is on-site and, in a first for Seattle-area hotels, a golf club allows members to experience the top 50 PGA courses through a virtual reality simulator. To ensure a full selection of reds, whites and champagnes, the hotel's wince cellar accommodates 2,000 plus bottles of wine. The pet-friendly Hotel 1000 accomodates animals up to 40 pounds in any room while the owners can walk, jog or play with their pets in a designated area on top of the building.
Beyond those amenities, the hotel staff promises to tailor the in-room experience to each resident. For example, returning visitors to the 120-room hotel are greeted with rooms set to the guest's temperature preference and art suited to the guest's liking.
The technology-forward rooms feature high-definition televisions, audio/visual hubs for hooking up personal electronics along and an electronically operated screen between room and bath.
BOKA Kitchen + Bar is a 100-seat restaurant on the base floor of Madison Tower. Reservations are accepted during the lunch and dinner hours when the chefs prepare urban American food blended with world-class cuisine. Selections include "my father-in-law's lamb chops" and "mojito N.W."
House of Blues brings color to Seattle's Paramount Theatre
House of Blues plans to expand in Seattle with a multi-story entertainment venue adjacent to The Paramount Theatre.
To attract concert goers and foodies from far and wide, the Seattle location is set to include a restaurant that draws on Southern food, a bar and an invitation-only Foundation Room for dinner and entertaining events. A folk-inspired design theme will include elements from one of the country's largest folk art collections.
The House of Blues has long used The Paramount Theatre venue to attract concertgoers. Over the past six years, dozens of events have appeared on the Seattle stage. When the addition of The Paramount Tower is complete in 2007, the House of Blues will offer those attending shows at the adjacent theatre the opportunity to dine prior to an evening show.
Shortly after the joint agreement between The Paramount and House of Blues, Live Nation announced the acquisition of the Los Angeles-based HOB Entertainment, the operator of the House of Blues. The merger, which includes 10 branded clubs and a total of 18 concert locations around the United States, won't disrupt the Seattle-area deal. Live Nation, owner of 153 venues around the world, carried out nearly 30,000 events in 2005.
Pike Place Market expands with Zaab Thai restaurant
Zaab, a new quick-serve Thai restaurant, opened in Pike Place Market's main arcade in March.
The eatery serves an abundance of Thai wraps, salads and entrees like fish cakes and coconut shrimp.
Pike Place Public Market is considered a must-do by out-of-town guests and locals alike, playing host to more than 1.2 million Western Washington adults in the past year. More than 60 restaurants call the market home along with 140 other businesses, 190 artisans and 120 farmers. Next year marks the market's centennial.