54. Best in-person travel agency
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We may work for dot-coms, but that doesn't mean we want to schedule all our travel through them. After accumulating such Web-related bruises as an unplanned red-eye to Chicago, a nonrefundable pair of tickets to a suddenly war-torn country, zero customer service, and a credit-card number that somehow fell into the hands of a serial shopper in Phoenix, you want some person-to-person interaction when booking your next trip. With 14 branches in western Washington, Doug Fox Travel (800-368-4369) is Seattle's best bet for smooth sailing. Lisa Bear, Doug Fox's marketing manger, points out the 55-year-old agency's pluses: They offer longevity, qualified agents, and, most importantly, reliability. Unlike the dot-coms, Bear says, "We're here when things don't go 100 percent." For you Internet junkies, worry not—Doug Fox has its own Web site: www.dougfoxtravel.com. Runners-up in the race to further World Wide Travel—not the World Wide Web—include Bloodhound Travel (second) and Mutual Travel (third).
55. Best independent shoe store
In Seattle, shoes tend toward the sensible. Clogs, people, it's all about clogs! That's about what our readers said, too, by voting the Woolly Mammoth (4303 University Wy NE, 632-3254), purveyor of comfortable soles, the best in this category. It outpaced the other finishers, the modern and high-styling Ped and John Fluevog, which came in second and third, respectively. Let it be said that for those who do a fair amount of hoofing it, comfort rules. At least locals are eschewing their Manolo Blahniks in favor of other, more practical sole mates. On a more serious note, we at the Weekly would like to pause to acknowledge the late Pat Andre, who founded this neighborhood shoe store a quarter-century ago, and whose devoted wife and employees continue, literally, in his footsteps.
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 Bow down and worship the Tip Wizard! I am supreme! I am all-powerful! Hail my omniscience and cloak of many colors!
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56. Best grocery store checkout line
Need you ask? QFC walked away with this one. If there's one thing to add in describing the fine Quality Food Center checkout experience, it's that they know what reading material we, the customers, demand. The latest People is a must, as is some version of a fashion magazine that screams it has the answer to trimming that nagging cellulite, as well as the saga of what some minor celebrity had to suffer through to get her Hollywood Hills bungalow restored to its former charm. We don't really notice the Tic Tacs anymore; we just want to pass the time before we have to talk to someone who has the authority to scan our food and help us get the heck out of there. Safeway and Thriftway tied for second, probably because they both end in "way." Larry's Market raked in enough votes for third place, which isn't really a surprise; don't you like having discounted champagne as an impulse option?
57. Best aerobics instructor
There's more to aerobics than a pair of leg warmers, a leotard, a bottle of water, and an upbeat CD collection. In the words of RuPaul, "You better work," and you need an aerobics instructor who knows just how to work you. Seattle's made it clear that they want Trisha Murphy of Pumakicks Conditioning Club (4554 California SW, 938-4119) to sculpt their calves and abs and turn that big ol' butt into a bootay of beauty. A Seattle native and an aerobics instructor for eight years, Murphy recently transformed Pumakicks from an empty 4,200-square-foot space into a kick-ass club that features eight instructors and 30 classes per week. After speaking with numerous clients who've lost weight and gained happiness, the best aerobics instructor in Seattle has discovered what's best about her job: "You have an effect on people's lives." Since aerobics training is, in Murphy's words, "a positive, positive environment," hopefully this year's runners-up—jazzy Dale Merrill from Spectrum Dance (second) and rock-solid Cliff from the Vault (third)—will accept their slots with a smile.
Rick Dahms |
Trisha Murphy
aerobics instructor, Pumakicks Conditioning Club
* Mornings Live on KCPQ-13: This show represents everything new and fresh in our community. Christine Chen is an awesome representation of young female professionals. The entire cast brings something to the table.
* Snoqualmie Pass: On a bright sunny day, there is nothing more incredible than the beauty our mountains have to offer. Even on a not-so-sunny day.
* Diversity: A child raised in Seattle has a unique opportunity to meet people of all ethnicities, origins, sexual preferences, etc. We create loving children in our community if we give them the gift of diverse relations.
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58. Best car detailing
If you have a couple of hours to spare and your car has just barely survived the rainy season (i.e., the floors are always damp), putt on over to Elephant Car Wash (616 Battery, 441-6776; six other locations) and bow to the rotating pink elephant. The local landmark predictably drove readers to vote it tops, and we wholeheartedly agree. Pull in, place your order (the Gold Package will last you well into the next rainy season), and partake in the ritual known as Awaiting Your Car's Makeover. Even the dingiest Dodge will gleam like a Rolls after getting some much-needed attention from brushes, suds, wax, spray, and vacuums. Like we said, worship at the mighty pink elephant! Pay your respects! Those homebodies among you refuse to pay a nickel when they can stay home and do it themselves, which was the second-place winner. Others who decided to leave their own driveways headed to Chester Dorsey's Auto Salon, which ranked third.
59. Best diaper service
