Aleta Thompson

I has an opportunity last week to revisit a favorite restaurant, Andaluca, located in the Mayflower Hotel near Westlake Center. It had been a few years since I had been there, and I was glad to see that the interior was just as warm and cozy as ever, the service exceptional and the food an innovative mix of Mediterranean with a Spanish flair. They are participating in the Dine Around Seattle ...

I visited the Taberna del Alabardero twice recently and it was a wonderful dining experience both times! My first visit was lunch, where I shared the paella with friends. Our waiter was Juan, whose service was both friendly and professional. When he learned that my birthday was being celebrated, he brought out tiny pastries with the plate adorned in caramel sauce script spelling out Happy Bir ...

Tom Brokaw was in town recently on his book tour for the recently released book about the impact of the Sixties. He was interviewed by David Brewster in front of a packed house at Seattle's Town Hall. This is a terrific venue for lectures, debates and other cultural events, and their calendar lists their upcoming events. Before the event, my friends and I stopped by the nearby Sorrento Hotel ...

Another fine weekend in Seattle for culture vultures! Saturday night was the opening night of Seattle Opera's production of Iphigenia in Tauris, which was co-produced with The Metropolitan Opera of New York. Local Microsoft millionare Charles Simonyi underwrote this effort through his Fund for the Arts and Sciences. Way to go, Charlie! Sunday was another musical feast with first concert of t ...

Jazz Alley hosted singer-songwriter Michael Franks last week to several sold out shows, and I was fortunate to snag a table for his last night in Seattle. I'd never heard him perform live before, and was plesantly surprised that his voice was just how I'd remembered it from his varous recordings...it was as if he was performing in a studio! Great show!

I attended a lovely dinner party at a private home on Capitol Hill Saturday evening where the attendees were treated to a reading by Sherman Alexie, noted northwest author. Sherman, who is a wonderful speaker, whom I have heard before at an event at Town Hall, read one story from Ten Little Indians, his collection of short stories. It was a wonderful story about a down-and-out person who spi ...

If you have a taste for the exotic, but are nervous about making a trip outside the country, may I suggest that you journey north of Ballard and tie your camel outside the KASBAH AUTHENTIC MOROCCAN RESTAURANT. Step inside this establishment and you are immediately transported to Marrakesh where fez-wearing waiters tend to your culinary demands. Ever since trying cous cous at an Algerian cafe ...

Just have to give some acknowledgement to my friend Lucille Barnard. Lucille is an avid tennis player who runs a tennis group which plays at the Robinswood tennis courts in Bellevue. A few years ago she mentioned that she had a goal of playing tennis in the senior Olympics. Last week I learned that she had, in fact, taken a silver in tennis at the Washington State Official Olympic Senior Game ...

Ballard used to be a sleepy Seattle neighborhood better known for its lutefisk than its lattes. But that all started changing a few years ago when its relatively less expensive housing prices started attracting the young and the hip. Now one would be hard-pressed to find a Ballard cottage or condo for under $400k. Last Saturday night was hot, and a perfect night for dining outdoors. Since I h ...

Last Saturday night I attended the opening night of Der Rozencavalier, the current production of the Seattle Opera. The opera operates out of McCaw Hall, which is a fabulous venue for both the opera and the ballet. The opera by Richard Strauss has really beautiful music and the performances were outstanding. Only problem was that too many opera fans showed up at the venue's cafe, and they ran ...