Mark's "Go" List

I'll use this page for any neat things I find that I really recommend.

Go Eat Breakfast:

At the Original Pancake House in Kirkland. It's pretty standard diner type fare, nothing crazy gourmet like the Brown Bag, but their food is good. If you have several people consider splitting their Apple Pancake at the table. It's like a big apple pastry and is incredibly yummy. Their regular pancakes that come with entrees like bacon and eggs are surprisingly yummy too. If you go on a weekend make sure to call ahead (425.827.7575) and get your name on the list because the wait is often up to an hour. When you call ask to be seated on the "A" side because that's where the windows are and it's much nicer.
At the Chow Foods Restaurants:
- The Coastal Kitchen up on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Yuppy fare in a cool environment. Their number is 206.322.1145.
- The Hi-Life in Ballard. It's in a cool 1911 firehouse and you must try their "Fancy French Toast". It's Vanilla custard dipped Columbia bread griddled and topped with espresso-mascarpone & sugared hazelnuts and it is incredible! Their number is 206.784.7272.
- The 5-Spot on Queen Anne is very similar to the others with a great atmosphere and excellent food. (206.285.SPOT)
- You'll notice they also have "Atlas Foods" and "Endolyne Joe's". I've never tried Endolyne Joe's but have been really disappointed with "Atlas Foods" the last several times we went.

Go Eat Dinner:

At the Icon Grille in Seattle. It's high end comfort food in a great atmosphere. I highly recommend their artichoke dip (but ask for extra crostini), their fried chicken (even split between two people), their Green Envy martini (yeah, a girl drink), and Christi loves splitting a macaroni and cheese across the table. I also recommend their cookbook. I love making the walnut fried brie, and the potato wrapped halibut. Their number is 206.441.6330.
At Palisade in Magnolia over in Seattle. They have great seafood and stunning views of the Seattle skyline. (206.285.1000)

Go Listen To:

Bullet in a Bible, by Green Day. It's their new live album from the American Idiot tour and it is incredible. Very punk, very fun, and outstanding workout music.
Anything by Mark Knopfler. He's the former lead singer for Dire Straits and I like everything he does.

Go Read:

Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie. Christi and I saw one of the inventors of the game Cranium present once and he said it was outstanding. It talks about releasing your creativity at work and avoiding the bureaucracy to increase your productivity while still driving the goals of the company.
Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams, by DeMarco and Lister. I read this early on in my career at Microsoft and it really helped define how I approach managing knowledge workers. I highly recommend it. It might remind you that you're managing people, not numbers.