http://instantincrowd.com Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:56:17 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By Stevi Costa In 2009, Central Connecticut University released a study evaluating the most literate cities in America, based on the number of bookstores, periodical publishing resources, newspaper circulation, library resources, the average level of education among residents and availability of Internet resources. Seattle topped the list, claiming the title of ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=150 By Stevi Costa The retail space at 6108 Phinney Ave. N. that currently houses Sasquatch Studios was empty only five months ago. In fact, it had been empty for about five years before Sacha Maxwell moved in, transforming what Maxwell described as "a black hole in the neighborhood" into a vibrant, ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=142 By Stevi Costa When the Aster Coffee Lounge opened its doors in the street-level retail space of a new condo development at 5615 24th Ave NW in Ballard, owner Beth Scribner said that her neighbors were a little wary, but quickly changed their minds when they realized that an independent coffee ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=135 By Stevi Costa Melissa Feveyear wants to bring the flower back. It's not as though flowers have disappeared from the world, but Feveyear's focus on sustainability in her floral designs strives to make sure that the flower never goes away. Feveyear grew up around the floral industry, and eventually, after spending some ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=116 By Stevi Costa Sip & Ship is not your typical shipping center. Owners Diana and Steve Naramore are quite aware that their business, which combines a mail and dispatch center with a gift shop and coffee house, is not the norm. The idea for the shop came from Diana Naramore's time ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=108 By Stevi Costa The Wedgwood Broiler has been a neighborhood institution since the area's developer, Albert Balch, designed the restaurant building in 1965. What today is the lounge area of the Broiler was originally the limits of the restaurant – then called Sir Wedgwood. Changes were afoot for the Broiler only ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=85 By Stevi Costa Samir Alawar has been a fixture on the U-District's 43rd Street for 31 years. At 18, he emigrated from Lebanon to go into business with his older brother. The two owned and operated Cedars Restaurant for 29 years and then Samir decided to start something new . . ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=74 By Stevi Costa It's not every day that you see a hair salon decorated with motorcycles and flames, but that's the theme of Sammy Mar's Helmet Head salon in Georgetown. Mar was tired of working cookie-cutter corporate jobs and went to beauty school, after which she grew disappointed with the kind ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=60 By Stevi Costa Guanaco's Tacos Pupuseria is one of only a handful of restaurants featuring El Salvadoran cuisine in the Seattle area. Doubly unique, it's the only one of these rare dining establishments with plans for expansion. After two and a half years in business at Guanaco's U-District location at 4106 ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=54 By Stevi Costa Capitol Hill’s resident gourmet hot dog joint, Po Dogs, opened its doors on Nov. 14, 2009. Since the restaurant broke ground in the reclaimed auto shop it calls home at 1009 E. Union St., owner Laura Olson has been working non-stop. From preparing the space, to picking out the ... http://instantincrowd.com/?p=46