Day 1. Clam Chowder from Ivar’s and a second helping at Pike Place Chowder and watched Super 8 on the iMax at Seattle Center.

Day 2. Explored Ballard. Bought shoes at Dolce Vita, had delicious halibut tacos and watermelon fresca at La Carta de Oaxaca, indulged in gelato at D’Ambrosio, amazed/stunned by the displays at Curtis Steiner, grabbed toiletries and chatted with a nice salesperson at Blackbird, watched boats pass at Ballard Locks, watched salmon traverse the fish ladder, grabbed slow-roasted pork sandwiches at Paseo, reconnected with my high school friend at Molly Moon (the salted caramel is to die for!), and ended with Beginners at the Harvard Exit Theater in Capitol Hill.

Day 3. Brunch at Portage Bay Cafe, spent time in the reading room at the light-flooded Seattle Public Library designed by Rem Koolhaas, browsed and pined at Totokaelo, Cajun lunch (gumbo, battered catfish po’ boy) at Kingfish Cafe, dragged everyone to Molly Moon for a second helping.

This guide from Design*Sponge helped a lot.