Best Library RedoNever mind Rem Koolhaas’ new Central Library, branch libraries are where many of us get our regular book fix. Out of the plethora of new and remodeled outposts, the NORTH EAST BRANCH LIBRARY is a gem. Architectural firm Miller/Hull has graciously extended Paul Thiry’s original 1954 design, itself an excellent example of Northwest modernism with understated references to Asian styles. Completed last summer, the new/old building is now a pleasure to use. Inside, the fittings are a cheerful mix of retro chic (especially the boomerang upholstery patterns on the chairs and couches) and accessible technology, like the “self-serve checkout” desk. With twice as much space as the original building, there are now separate areas for little kids (with miniature chairs) and teen holdings, as well as several alcoves for quiet reading. Though still somewhat overflowing with inventory, the North East Branch looks to continue its status as the branch with the highest circulation. It is indeed a “clean, well-lighted place” with room for books and the people who read them. —Sandra Kurtz 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7539, www.spl.org.Best Salvage BlogThe entry for March 24 on Rob Zverina’s photo-based blog, www.zverina.com, shows two empty rooms in a gorgeous Craftsman home. The text underneath tells you to “touch picture” to see the “after” photo, which shows the room partially but carefully demolished. Because Zverina’s photos and accompanying text are so evocative, your instinct is to actually reach up and touch the screen—although, of course, he means only for you to mouse over it. Not all of Zverina’s entries chronicle the salvage work he does with the Ballard-based recyclers/resellers ReStore, but those that do (about half) poignantly get at the waste and destruction of our consumer-driven society. The others just show that his life is more interesting and thoughtful than yours. —Laura Cassidy www.zverina.com.Best Legal CardroomThere are lots of glitzy new local non- Indian casinos where a swell young crowd playing Texas Hold ‘Em is all the rage. But DEBBY’S DRIFT ON INN ROADHOUSE AND CASINO is that familiar, comfortable joint where serious players go to lose—not that you don’t win over the short run, but, mental health–wise, it’s better to think of poker as entertainment you pay for, or the price of stool rental. With Las Vegas and what seem like 24-hour poker channels feeding the craze, card playing has gotten out of hand: In 2000, there were 4,500 licensed individual card dealers in Washington state; today there are more than 14,000. Texas Hold ‘Em, first popularized by the World Series of Poker events, is on the table at the Drift, but so is the studied game of five-card stud. Better still, cheap drinks are available 20 hours a day. Still, if it’s glitter you’re after, the adjoining Club Hollywood Casino—also owned by the Mitchell family—includes two more floors of gaming, eating, piano lounging, and a stunning display of Hollywood memorabilia.—Rick Anderson 16708 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline, 206-546-8040.Best Upholstery (and More) ShopMarilyn Murphy has been putting a chic, contemporary spin on recycled sofas and chairs for the past 12 years. Her client list has included some of Seattle’s most famous musicians—names you’d recognize if she were willing to divulge them. But don’t go to her West Seattle shop, MURPHY’S FURNITURE STUDIO, to get her to name-drop. Go instead to peruse the most colorful, original selection of new and vintage fabrics in town (no Herculon plaids here) and to let Murphy and her partner, Alex Bazemore, help you define the style of furnishings that’s right for you. While you’re at it, check out the low-priced, high-fashion handbags, jewelry, and secondhand clothing Murphy and Bazemore have recently added to their inventory. —Lynn Jacobson 2940 S.W. Avalon Way, 206-937-6070.Best Hands-On Fashion Designer”People inspire me to make something that they will look beautiful in,” says Donna Baxter, owner and designer of Elsie Katz Couture. Swathing her clientele in luscious apparel since 2000, she lives by the belief that “you don’t need an occasion to dress or feel pretty.” She leads by example, wearing prom dresses to the supermarket, and designs her clothing to inspire women to twirl and feel feminine. Baxter’s vintage- inspired work is handcrafted by her “fingers of gold” posse, which consists of a master draper, two stitchers, and a master tailor. All designs are pinned and cut on the model and basted by hand, in true “old-school couture” fashion. All finished articles are numbered (never more than 25 are assembled), so that they retain their value and uniqueness. “It’s really a selfish thing for me. I get so much pleasure out of seeing people twirling and feeling beautiful,” says Baxter. And feel beautiful they do. She’ll open a downtown showroom this summer and will offer made-to-measure pieces. She also sells to a number of boutiques. And celebs—her clients include Sharon Stone, Paris Hilton, and Eva Longoria.—Darby Reed 1424 Fourth Ave., Suite 1004, 206- 625-1200, www.elsiekatzcouture.com.Best Blackberry Picking SiteIt’s hot and sticky, and the forecast promises more of the same. Let’s go pick blackberries! These sweet, plump darlings of the DIY crowd are good for jam, sauce, cobbler, and snacking (sometimes right off the vine). What the savvy Seattle blackberry picker wants is an area where the berries aren’t sprayed, don’t suck up all kinds of pollution, and aren’t overrun with crowds of rival pickers. Previously known only to neighborhood families, a secret passed down from generation to generation, there’s a stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail across from Magnuson Park, around Northeast 74th Street, where there’s a bounty of fruit. Walkers watch them grow. Bicycle commuters predict their ripe arrival. Crowds come to pick them, leaving the vines cleaned off for pickers-come-lately. It’s an annual rite of summer, generally beginning in early August (depending on weather conditions). Missed your chance there? Keep pedaling along the BGT. Still out of luck? I’m not even breathing a hint about the Seattle City Light right of way that I visit. (Well, maybe for next year.)—Joanne Garrett www.cityofseattle.net/parks.Best Handmade Furniture StoreIn stark contrast to IKEA is Henrybuilt, which endeavors to have materials and designs last. And when the kitchen systems and assorted furniture pieces look this good, why on earth would you get rid of them? With a nod to the modernists, Henrybuilt’s pieces are sleek and uncomplicated; with a nod to the neomods, they are constructed of sustainable, eco-friendly resources (bamboo, water-based finishes). But just look at how that table there meets its corners, how it spreads out so smoothly, how the sheen isn’t showy, just soft and glossy. It’s so nice to have the best of all worlds. —Laura Cassidy 913 Western Ave., 206-624-9270, www.henrybuilt.com.Best Family OutingWhen a venue or form of entertainment bills itself as “family-friendly,” it usually means “child-friendly”— fun for the tots and at best bearable for their adult companions. (Think Madagascar .) But EMERALD DOWNS truly appeals to all ages, with pony rides, ice cream, and fresh air for the kids; and horse racing, microbrews, and generous smoking areas for grown-ups. For an extra educational dimension, spend some time teaching your youngster how to calculate odds. Parking is free; admission is $4 for adults, free for kids 17 and under; even the concessions are reasonably priced (and no, you are not required to bet). Think about it: If someone’s going to introduce your precious offspring to the joys of gambling, booze, and cigarettes, shouldn’t it be you?—Lynn Jacobson 2300 Emerald Downs Dr., Auburn, 253-288-7000, www.emdowns.com.Best Green Fuel SourceWhat do the deep fryer at your local burger joint and your car have in common? Free fuel, if you’re a lucky Frybrid vehicle owner. Unbeknownst to me, any diesel engine can run entirely on pure vegetable oil. However, its higher viscosity will eventually clog injectors and fuel lines. That’s why Frybrid Alternative Fuel Systems, established this year, has created a system that allows a standard diesel engine to switch between the two fuel sources. Initially, the engine draws from the regular diesel gas tank; after it warms up sufficiently to heat the vegetable oil (thereby decreasing its viscosity), the engine automatically switches over. Before parking a Frybrid-equipped vehicle, you hit the “purge” button to switch it back to diesel, which cleans the lines again. The phenomenal thing about this fuel substitute is that it is readily available and usually free. Restaurants generally pay to dispose of their used cooking oil. So, they are typically more than agreeable to someone taking it off their hands without a disposal fee. (Granted, you need an at-home filtering system before pouring the stuff in your car, but one can be made for less than $200 with standard hardware-store items.) Frybrid offers installation services, as well as kits and spare parts for cars already converted.—Darby Reed 1218 10th Ave., 206-322-6242, www.frybrid.com.Best Craft FairI Heart Rummage is not your gramma’s crafts fair, with an average of 40 vendors selling handmade wares the first Sunday of each month at the Crocodile Cafe. Hipsters swig Bloody Marys over brunch, while a DJ soundtracks the shopping, which frequently fills both of the club’s main rooms. The vibe is friendly, and designers sometimes swap goods among themselves (e.g., a pair of sparkly earrings for a felt brooch, or a poster for a belt), while customers admire one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, and art. From work that represents stores like Agent X and Velouria to items you can’t find anywhere else, this confab is a who’s who of the local DIY cognoscenti.—Rachel Shimp Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Ave., www.iheartrummage.com.