Seattle Local Custom Tips by joiwatani Top 5 Page for this destination

Making reservations at restaurants in Seattle

It is best to make reservations to restaurants in Seattle especially in fine dining especially on Fridays and Saturdays. People in Seattle like to go dining on Fridays after work.

Millionaires in Seattle

There are more than 4,000 millionaires in the City of Seattle and two billionaires. But, one of the things that you will notice in Seattle is that you will not see any rich people flashing and showing off their wealth.

Most of the people here got rich because of the "dot coms" (computers and websites) and they rather donate their money to the community, hospitals, good causes, non-profit organizations, etc. rather than splurging on luxurious and expensive things.

Bill and Melinda Gates not only donate to the whole world through their Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation but they are also benefactors to the Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Woodland Park Zoo, etc.

Most of the hospitals in Seattle and nearby towns have lump sum donations from millionaires and billionaires.

Paul Allen, another billionaire, established the Music Museum Project so he can share his love of music to the public.

Most of the millionaires here have passions of great causes and spend their money on saving lives and making the earth a better place to live in.

As a resident here, I had seen many millionaires and interacted with them. Only few have big egos and they don't flash their wealth by getting nice cars, yachts, planes or live in outrageously luxurious mansions! Most of their passions on their down time is having to get their commercial pilot's license!

The Torchlight Parade/Seafair Parade

Every year, the residents of Seattle pack their coolers, folding chairs, quilts and go to downtown Seattle to watch the Seafair Parade.

The Seafair Parade is the start of the many activities and events throughout Seattle for the summer. It starts with the boat race at Lake Washington, Fiesta sa Nayon Festival, Bon Odori Festival, Bite of Seattle, Chinese Festival etc.

The Torchlight parade is very nice to watch. It usually starts at 6:00 pm with a marathon race then followed by the parade of police officers in flashing motobikes. The police exhibit their nice police motorbikes. Then the long parade continues until 11 pm. Children enjoy the parade of the Pirates of Seattle, the Filipino Drill Team, the long Chinese Dragon and the Chinese Drill Team, the Firefighters Band of Seattle, the Grand Marshalls float, the Boeing Float, the Koreans Team, the Sikh Association of Washington, the Japanese-American Team, UW marching band, etc.

The parade ends at the end of downtown Seattle.

The Homeless People in Seattle

There are many homeless people in Seattle because of migration and immigration. Some come here for jobs. When their seasonal jobs are out in other states, they come to Seattle.

There is a shelter downtown on Third Avenue, close to the King County Courthouse where the homeless people go to sleep at night. There is also the Pioneer Square Clinic, where the homeless people go for their health problems. So, the homeless people tend to stay in downtown Seattle for their daily food, health and shelter comfort.

On Broadway Street, there is another Gospel Mission, where the homeless people get packed lunches and warm dinners. The volunteers distribute cooked and warm meals and during these distribution "times", the homeless people gather and flock here.

There are many problems that come from the homelessness: crimes, drug-trafficking, prostitution, health problems like STD/HIV, etc.

My daughter Rainier volunteers during the Holiday season and feed the homeless people. She was still nine years old when she was doing this. She does this with her friends. Sometimes, she puts a table at the front of grocery stores and ask for can goods. She then gives this to the poor people via the Food Banks.

The rest of the family volunteer for the battered women. During the holidays, we cook turkey and our best food and bring them to the shelter for battered women. We serve the meals over there and we eat with them...This is my way of telling my children how lucky they are. It's an experience for them.

As for me, I volunteer 480 hours sometimes to the protection of abused children. I go to court and be the voice of the children who can't even speak.

Anyway, the worst part for the homeless people here is during the winter time when the shelters can't accomodate the homeless people. When it gets really, really cold, some die.

The city has put some "tent cities" but these create more problems to the neighborhood so they instead put shelters in the city! The homeless people tend to wander around and become a nuisance to the city or suburb residents.

Bring a small umbrella Seattle Weather Review

They say it rains a lot in Seattle! That's so true! We got used to it already except that our drivers don't. So be careful driving!

So, when you come to Seattle, choose the right season then you don't have to bring an umbrella. The best time to come to Seattle is the month of July, August and September. It is bright and sunny but, sometimes, it still rains!

The malls here provide umbrellas especially when you are shopping at the university village. Those yellow umbrellas, however, needed to be returned at any store. Those umbrellas are only used to cover you when you shop from one store to another store. They are not meant to be brought home!

Ordering coffee Coffee Craze Review

I haven't realize that Seattlelites have unique customs. But, come to think of it, Seattlelites do!

The people here are caffeineted - for lack of a better word. The residents here drink their coffee strong. And, they have lots of choices when they drink coffee.

When coming to Seattle, you will be surprised how many coffee stands we have. There are those little tiny houses called coffee stands at almost every gasoline station or parking lot and the regulars like the Tully's Coffee Shop, The Seattle's Best or to Starbucks.

Also, you will probably spend a lot of time looking at the menu of just ordering coffee alone.

It seems like every corner in Seattle has a coffee shop like those I mentioned above.

When ordering, we can distinguish or pinpoint who is not from Seattle or who is a tourist or visitor just by the way they order coffee.

Here's how you order coffee in Seattle at Starbucks:

1. Pick what kind of drink (coffee, mocha) you like
2. Do you like it in small, medium, tall, or benti cup?
2. Do you like caffeineted or decaffeineted?
3. Do you like it with white sugar, brown sugar or sugar free?
4. Do you like it with milk, half and half, or cream?
5. When ordering it, do you like it drip? (This is cheape because they get the cup and don't grind the coffee. They just get it from the big thermos).
6. Do you like the cream with foam or no foam?

On average, a Seattlelite employee downtown spends $400 a month on coffee alone. Yes, it's true! Being a Seattlelite, I already know that. Starbucks originated in Seattle!

I know how to order coffee, the Seattlelite-style but most of the time and to save money, I bring my own coffee at work. I have those thermos/cups that I bought from Starbucks and just pour my coffee with cream and sugar and come to work!