There is no doubt that, to most of Seattle, Ballard is simply inconvenient. But this geographical circumstance is what makes Ballard the independent, quirky neighborhood that it is. All the necessary amenities can be found here — minus most corporate retail giants. Diane McCrae, owner of Venue, compares Ballard to a European town — "people can walk around, see a lot of cafes and independent businesses."

Once known for its aging population, new growth has sprung in the past few years and a younger population is moving in. New bussiness, like Cupcake Royale, OKOK and Venue, are incorporated between institutions like Hattie's Hat and the Tractor Tavern.

This neighborhood, though perhaps stranded northwest of Seattle, is definitely worth a ride on Metro bus 44. — Louise Foster

OKOK

OKOK

www.weareokok.com

You know that ultra-hip friend/brother/significant other who has everything but has a birthday coming up? OKOK is the answer to this dilemma —and so much more.

An open retail space and gallery, with carefully arranged books, art and design objects and other curios, this is a hard place to capture accurately with words. Originally known as a toy store full of eccentric oddities, OKOK is a recent transplant from Capitol Hill. In their new space, the business aims to provide a showcase for beginning, unknown artists. The Ballard space is three times as large, allowing for a gallery, concerts or even a dinner, if the owners so desire.

But it's more than a gallery. Not quite as kitschy as Archie McPhee and not nearly as crowded, the type of artifact found at OKOK follows only a vague theme. Eric Fisher, graphic designer and general Renaissance man around the store, hesitates to generalize the merchandise, saying "its just cool stuff — stuff we'd want to buy."

More specifically, owners Charlie and Amanda Kitchings look for "rare, more unique books, objects and prints," Fisher said.

OKOK caters to different subculture than you'll find in most of Seattle — an authentic blending of art and design that has a look similar to, but more genuine than, the pre-packaged-raw aesthetic of Urban Outfitters.

OKOK, which participates in The Ballard Art walk each month, is displaying a show in conjunction with J & L books titled The Stable, which consists of 48 works by different artists and varying medium. This store, a bit outside the main drag, is totally worth the extra few blocks.

— Louise Foster

Epilogue Books

Epilogue Books

www.epiloguebooks.com

Whether you're recovering from a hard day's night of drinking, or in the market for a happy ending of the fictional variety, Epilogue Books is a great way to start your day.

In addition to a library-quiet atmosphere suffused with plenty of natural lighting, you'll be gently greeted by the smell of the espresso counter's high-quality caffeine and a great selection of new and used books, most of which are in top-notch condition.

True, it's no Half Price Books when it comes to value (Bukowski for a buck, where can you go wrong?), but you're still likely to find something unexpected that's worth holding onto — even if it's just a tiny bit of sobriety and a mass of glued together trees, pureed and pressed down flat like so many hearts.

— Christian Nelson

Mr. Spot's Chai House

Mr. Spot's Chai House

www.chaihouse.com

Tranquil. Inviting. Decorous. Socially conscious. Bjork-friendly.

These are just a few of the words one could use to describe Mr. Spot's Chai House, an oasis of Zen in the bustling, youthful burg of Ballard.

In addition to selling chai-based beverages, vegan desserts, incense, teapots and much more, the Chai House serves as host to a wide variety of events, including live music from around the globe, comedy, open mic nights and a secular Sunday service hosted by general manager Beth Sarver (a.k.a. the Reverend Betty Propaganda).

Nate Moore, a chai-rista at Mr. Spot's, said that the services are unpredictable and can get a bit lively.

"One time we were doing free association and the word Reverend Betty chose was 'vanity.' I yelled out 'vanity builds character;' a statement which someone on the other side of the counter took issue with."

Raised in a Christian family, Sarver can appreciate the sense of community such fellowship provides.

"I felt the need to create a forum for those who might not feel comfortable in a traditional service," Sarver said. "It's more political than religious. And more artistic and creative than political."

Evidence of this adorns the walls. Each month, the Chai House features a professional artist. However, for March, Reverend Betty started an anti-war project open to the general public. One painting appears to compare ideal diplomacy to a cat whereas others are considerably more abstract. Sarver hopes that eventually the display will find audience, if not favor with, President Bush.

Although world peace may be a long shot, Reverend Betty and the Chai House certainly seem to have succeeded in creating a sturdy little vessel in which to ride the waves.

— Christian Nelson

Egan's Ballard Jam House

Egan's Ballard Jam House

www.ballardjamhouse.com

All-ages venues are a rare commodity in Seattle, let alone in Ballard, where quality musical offerings are pretty much limited to The Sunset and Tractor taverns.

Enter Egan's Ballard Jam House, a classy yet casual all-ages option, founded and owned by UW virtual reality researcher Suzanne Weghorst. Inspired by her son's tenor sax studies, Weghorst opened the club in the hopes that it would help preserve the music, history and culture of jazz.

Tuesday through Saturday, the Jam House holds workshops and performances (cover is generally $5-10), featuring both experienced and novice musicians alike.

Lacking a hard liquor license would only seem to help the venue achieve its goal of passing down tradition to a younger (and more sober) generation of jazz musicians and connoisseurs. In addition to a diverse menu, which includes relatively reasonably priced gumbo, salmon, hummus, lasagna, cheese samplers and much more, the venue's restaurant still sells a nice variety of beer and wine. So pop that cork and put on some Charlie Parker.

— Christian Nelson

New Madam K's Pizza Bistro

Capitalizing on — or perhaps helping to define — Ballard's status as Seattle's newest "new bohemia," Madame K's Pizza Bistro parlays scandalous city lore into a scandalously fun dining experience.

Jazz music floats throughout the bistro like its waitresses, adorned in tastefully slinky dresses, moving gracefully from one tightly packed table to the next. The atmosphere is wholly unified and consistent; boas, chandeliers, rows of hanging dresses and paintings cover every square inch of wall and table space; old-fashioned signage contains such appetizing bits of wisdom as "Sex is good for you! I recommend it over apples every day."

The bistro — which, rumor has it, used to be a brothel back in the day — appears quite small when one first enters. Fortunately, however, there is a generous amount of seating in the back and patrons are encouraged to pass through quickly (no breakfast served here, buddy).

Also worth mentioning are the extremely clean and classy restrooms. Even the men's lounge contains gilded mirrors, lamps and an extra chair for — what? Putting one's shoes back on, perhaps?

Oh, yes, and then there's the food. How could one possibly forget that?

At $15.25 for an eight-incher, the establishment's cheapest pie available is the Pizza Rita. So, for those working on a student's budget and light appetite, the Choke Your Artie Dip ($7.75) might be a better choice. Perfectly greasy and piping hot, this appetizer is likely to elicit a sigh from even the most uptight patron.

Were cost not a concern, however, it doesn't take a very experienced eye to see that Madame K's pies are heels and necklaces above the hardened, tough-as-nails fare offered by, say, Zeek's Pizza.

The best option to wash it all down with is Madame K's popular Berrilicious Sangria, a great bargain at $5.25 a pint, overflowing with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Bottom line? For a great, alternative dating experience, Madame K's is tops.

— Christian Nelson

Tractor Tavern

As far as passive listening goes, the Tractor Tavern is right up there with the best of them. Nearly every day of the week it has high-quality performances from obscure, local musicians to nationally known, big name acts.

The Tractor's central focus is country music; however, many sub-genres, such as folk-rock, alt-country, celtgrass, pop, funk, jazz and much more, branch out, forming the spokes that keep the venue rockin' and rollin' along quite nicely.

Its layout is a bit like an inverted, southern-fried Chop Suey, with a bar along the left wall, a large, slightly raised dance floor to the right and sparse seating all around. Cowboy boots dangle in a row across the ceiling with minimalist farmland artifacts adorning the walls.

Tragically, the bar lacks any trademark drinks — a definite red flag for any truly adventurous and interactive alcoholic — although the bartender did say that a member of The Paperboys named a drink Dilapidated Beauty, after one of their albums. Unfortunately, she couldn't remember what was in it. Something tropical.

Additionally, the crowd, though respectably large, didn't quite know how to use their numbers, letting the dance floor go to waste.

For a laid-back evening of booze and inexpensive background music, The Tractor Tavern is a safe bet. If, on the other hand, you're looking for more of an interactive, lively night on the town, then be sure to check their online schedule (www.tractortavern.com) for rockabilly nights and specific acts of interest.

— Christian Nelson

Venue

Venue

www.venueballard.com/

Venue might seem like any other crafty boutique — and there are a few in Ballard — but wander around for a few minutes, and you will realize that it's a bit different. First, the items you will find are not the same as you might find at Fireworks, or any number of independent craft galleries. What makes them unique is their collection —only local artists are showcased at Venue.

The second thing you might notice is a bunch of open rooms around the back of the space. Each of these eight spaces houses an artist's studio. All artists who work out of Venue are also on display on the retail floor, which makes for an authentic experience for the casual shopper or more serious art patron. Shoppers are encouraged to wander through the entire space, able to peek in studios and even chat with the artists.

Venue is relatively new to the neighborhood, born in July 2005 out of owner Diane McCrae's own need for a studio away from home and a place to show her work.

Venue also offers classes such as truffle-making and Polaroid image & emulsion transfer, and participates in the monthly Ballard Art Walk. Details can be found on its Web site.

— Louise Foster