Housing
After the eating, drinking, and merry-making, you're going to need a place to crash. The options available range from hotels to hostels and backyard camping to couch surfing. Some places to check out (or into):
The Moore Hotel
1926 2nd Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
Local 1.206.448.4851
Toll Free 1.800.421.5508 www.moorehotel.com
$39 for 2 people in 1 bed w/shared bathroom
$59 for 4 people in 2 x double w/own bathroom
Must have 10 total reservations to apply, so respond if interested. Only 5 min ride from the race course. Right in the center of the downtown festivities.
Best Western Executive Inn
200 Taylor Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 (206)448-9444 or 1-800-351-9444
They offered us $79.99 rooms that sleeps 4 (they don't care
how many per room but keep it reasonable) also they have made arrangements to
serve breakfast and lunch on the street in front of their hotel.
You must mention the CMWC 2003 to get the low rate can't be booked on
line and their web address is www.bwexec-inn.com.
The Green Tortoise Hostel
1525 Second Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
206.340.1222
www.greentortoise.net
Flat rate $18 per person, per night (CMWC Discount, Make sure to ask)
+ $20 refundable deposit per room
Hostelling International Seattle
84 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101
1-888-622-5443 or (206) 622-5443
www.hiseattle.org / reserve@hiseattle.org
$18 (tax incl.) per person in dormitory rooms ñ mention CMWC for the special.
Free breakfast every morning (includes bread, pastries, bagels, muffins, fruit, oj, coffee, tea).
All linens (sheets/blankets/pillows/towels) provided at no cost.
Secure, indoor bicycle storage available.
U.S. and International travelers welcome
NO DEPOSITS REQUIRED!
The Naval Armory has been secured for housing. It' a cool spot right on Lake Union with a park next door good for BBQ and
chillin'. It will be available Fri. 10pm-8am, Sat. 11pm-9am and Sun. 10pm-8am. This place is perfect for you to take a shower, lay out and crash. It is true though, everyone has to be out early each day. It's a multi-use facility and needs to be vacated quickly in the morning. Cost is $3 per night
with room for 200 folks. Shower facilities are included and it's 3 blocks from Consolidated Works, our main space on the racecourse. There is also a huge locked room to store your stuff 'till the next
night. You must have a wristband to use this facility.
We are also setting up a messenger couch surfing network - contact Megan at tw0thr33@hotmail.com (the 0 is a zero) or Justin at housing@cmwc03.com.
Bike routes
Let's start with bicycling in Seattle, since that's what we're here for.
few streets in town have bike lanes which are exclusively for bikes. Many
double as parking, or turning lanes as well, and are not any safer than
riding in the middle of the street. There are , however several bike trails
all over the city. A few of these are the Burke Gilman trail, the Duwamish
trail, I-90, and several others. Complete bicycling maps are available
for free at any bicycle shop.
Bars
When not riding for work or most common destination is the bar. So where
does the broke ass messenger drink? In Belltown: Shorty's, Lava Lounge,
Noc Noc, 5Point, Zaks, Crocodile, and Rendezvous. In Queen Anne: the Mecca,
Ozzies, Streamliner, Sorry Charlie's. On Capitol hill: Linda's, Chop Suey,
Cha Cha, Comet, Wild Rose, and many others. In Cascade: Cafe Venus and
the Mars Bar, Lobo, Graceland. There are also several bars downtown and
in Pioneer Square, although many of these bars attract the bone-head crowds.
Music
As many of these drinking establishments feature music, you're likely
to see band with messengers, former messengers, or at least friends of
messengers in the bands. Some of these groups include: Himsa, Audio Infidels,
Hint Hint, The Undisputed, Bloodhag, MeInfecto, Suicide Jack, The Seditionaries,
The Fucking Chachies, Slit Liquor, Milhous, and many others.
Beer
Seattle is home to a myriad variety of beers. Most of them "micro
brews". These are generally high octane and expensive. Listing all
of these brews would take up far to much space, but some of the killer
ones are: The Elysian, Big Time, Hale's, Maritime, Pyramid, Pike Place,
Redhook, Alki Ales, etc.etc. The local cheap beer situation is currently
dismal. Miller now owns the two old standbys Rainier, and Olympia and
brew them in a factory in Tumwater. The proud "R" of the old
Rainier brewery has sadly been replaced by a shameful "T" for
Tullys. In fact Georgetown, home of sad defunct brewery was once home
to five breweries (a long time ago). In any case, you're a messenger,
so you're likely to sample Seattle suds in vast Quantities. Beware, the
liquor laws in Washington State are strict as hell, which means no alcohol
sale after 2a.m. No open containers outside, and liquor sold only in liquor
stores and not on Sundays.
Food
You'll need to eat at some point, so here are some must eats and some
cheap eats. For starters, the local seafood must be sampled, especially
the oysters. All such mollusks can be found at the Pike Place Market.
Wild salmon will also be in season in September, so force some locals
to barbeque some for you. Cheap eats are not quite as cheap as elsewhere
in the world, but here are some options that don't include fast food chains.
Banh Mi other wise know as Vietnamese sandwich can be found everywhere
in the international district. They are tasty and cost only a dollar and
a half. Pho, a Vietnamese beef soup is also good. Than brothers is my
favorite, but it can be found everywhere as well. The Pike Place Market
has a couple good Mexican joints. On the cheap side is the Mexican grocery
which has burritos and tamales for change. El Puerco Lloron is slightly
more expensive, but our best authentic offering. Burgers? Go to Dick's,
Dome Burger, or Red Mill. But you can get them anywhere (this is America).
Shorty's is also a perennial favorite. The have beer, hot dogs, nachos,
video games, and pinball. Easily the best spot for pinball in town. Other
good restaurants are: Bernards, The Diner, Bimbo's Bitchen Burrito Kitchen,
2nd Ave Pizza, Catfish Corner, Yoshinobo, Blue water Burritos. Don't forget
the vegan resuraunts either, Bamboo Garden, Tea Pot, Green Cat Cafe, Vegete.
