Does anyone keep score on how many restaurants have resided at 1404 34th Ave. in Madrona?
It started with Plenty, the delightful, upscale grocery café that was a good idea, but maybe ahead of its time.
Then came Supreme, a clean and uncluttered restaurant, with original owner Tova Cubert at the door to meet and greet. The name stayed when ownership changed to Gordon Kushnick, who poured his enthusiasm into the restaurant, but not enough to sustain the concept.
Enter Sapphire. Here, the gem from Queen Anne opened its second location, but yet another ownership change from Andre Gipson to the new ownership and talent of Rick Fox and Rob Smith (Triangle Tavern and now Q on Queen Anne).
With it comes a new name: Drey's. This restaurant promises a menu of classic comforts and new favorites, a prominent bar featuring unique cocktails and the "penthouse shelf" with high-end liquor and a real, honest-to-goodness happy hour, from 4 to 7 p.m., so you can swing by on your way home from work.
Primo hour
Primo Kim, one of Seattle's legendary piano players, has found a home at the new piano bar at Daniel's Broiler at Leschi.
If you remember that cozy booth tucked in the corner, it's been replaced with a baby grand. The chatter among regulars is it's either love or hate, so for those who love to hear the tinkling ivories during dinner, make your reservations for anytime Wednesday through Saturday.
Madison Park resident and Schwartz Brothers executive chef Bradley Dickenson says it's been great for business.
FUN-raising in Washington Park
On a recent Friday evening at Chris and Katie McReynolds' home on McGilvra Boulevard East, an authentic taco truck was parked on the south side of the parking strip, cranking out delicious, soft tacos for the parents of the St. Joseph School's fourth-grade class.
Attendees of last fall's auction had raised the paddle at the annual fund-raiser, winning this outdoor private party on the lawn.
The concessionaires, who are typically set up in South Seattle, had a little trouble getting to the party. Without last-minute help from parent Dan Evans, the party would have been a dud.
First, the truck didn't start.
Once Dan got the motor going, they discovered the truck had a flat tire.
As soon as the grill heated up, so did the party, which went into the night.
Friends for coffee
The Madison Park coffee dilemma: You're friends with Tom O'Keefe, but there is more room for you to sit outside with your dog at Starbucks. Or, you know Howard Schultz, but prefer the blend at Tully's.
Usually this would not pose a problem unless you see both of them on the same day in front of their respective coffee shops on Madison Street (Tom, in a baseball cap, sitting outside with his G-class Mercedes parked close by, and Howard, running with his wife, Sheri, down the street).
The solution? Stop in at both, or head home to brew your own.
Scene and overheard
The new owner of the Roland Terry home on 41st Avenue East and East Highland Street is not tearing it down, but remodeling and planning to move in.
Steel beams spotted curbside indicate it's going to be a major project.
A new and somewhat apt term for the women barreling down Madison Street in oversized SUVs has been described as "latte assault vehicles" (LAV). You know you've spotted one when you see a gas guzzler that hovers over your car and is typically speeding at least 15 miles over the limit. In true LAV form, you'll see a latte in one hand and a cell phone in the other.
Get ready and be prepared for the year's crop of beach people (folks who don't live in the neighborhoods, but descend to the waterfront on 75-plus-degree days). Remember to shop early at the Leschi Mart and Bert's Red Apple before all the cold beer, ice and potato chips are gone.
Dolly West, an East-Central Seattle resident, has lived in Seattle for more than 25 years. She can be reached at mptimes@nwlink.com.[[In-content Ad]]
