Here is some information from bro and others on lodging in Seattle -SPUD The Devil's Highway From our local correspondant, bro: Just a note for those seeking budget hotels in the Seattle area - I know someone mentioned staying out at SeaTac for 50 bucks a night or so - the same can be done much closer to downtown, the u-district, and the various songfight action on Aurora Avenue North - also known as "the Devil's highway" - it used to be the main drag into town in those quaint days before the interstate highway system - The Marco Polo Motel comes to mind (Marco Polo Motel. 4114 Aurora Avenue N. Phone: 206-633-4090. $48 - $68) My parents have actually stayed at this motel - well, back in the mid-eighties when it was 15 - 20 years younger....and my Cousin Denise and her boyfriend Bob lived there for a time during their sojourn to Seattle in the mid-nineties - it is an okay joint with your basic motel accoutrements and about the price you would pay for a motel way out there at SeaTac...44th and Aurora is a short drive to both downtown and the U-district, and is right between the fashionable Wallingford District and the artsy Freemont District...also buses hurl down Aurora with great regularity for downtown, and it is also a piece of cake to get a bus to the U-district....so don't stay way the hell out at SeaTac - stay on the Devil's Highway!!! Also it's okay to bring your own grill and have BBQ parties in the parking lot of the Marco Polo - my Cousin Denise and her boyfriend Bob did that all the time and we met very many nice and unusual transients - and a couple of way scary ones - but that is another story.... The Green Tortoise From the local newpaper: Green Tortoise Hostel (206) 340-1222 It's the start of the summer tourist season, and backpackers traveling on the cheap from Poland or Japan or England or no-current-address are starting to descend here. Welcome to the Green Tortoise Hostel in downtown Seattle, where $20.50 a night — tax included — will get you a dorm bunkroom and all the eggs, toast, coffee and fresh fruit you can eat for breakfast...read entire article Chain Hotels Comfort Suites Downtown Seattle Center $89 601 Roy St. Seattle, Washington 98109 (206) 282-2600 Nothing special, but pretty well situated. You know, it's a Comfort Suites. There's one in your town, too. Seattle by the Space Needle Travelodge $69 7200 6th Ave. North Seattle, WA 98109 (888) 515-6375 2 blocks from the Seattle Center, Experience Music Project, Space Needle and the Monorail Terminal. LaQuinta Inn & Suites $70 2224 8th Avenue Seattle, Wa, Us 98121 (206) 624-6820 An airport hotel right downtown at Eighth and Bell. Imagine that. Best Western Executive Inn $82 200 Taylor Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 448-9444 This is by far the ugliest hotel in Seattle. This hotel brought down contemporary modernism all by itself. Nice Hotels Alexis Hotel $175 1007 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 624-4844 The boutique Alexis Hotel Seattle has presided elegantly in the heart of downtown Seattle since the turn of the last century. Spud, Bro, and Stubs used to eat lunch here twice a week when we were in the chips. Hotel Vintage Park $159 1100 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 624-8000 Hotel Vintage Park is the four star hotel, from the exquisite furnishings and crackling fireplace that grace the hotel charming lobby, to the sumptuous decor of each guestroom, the hotel have anticipated every detail of your stay to ensure that it will be a pleasurable experience. Hotel Monaco $170 1101 Fourth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98188 (206) 621-1770 The boutique Hotel Monaco Seattle is located in the vibrant heart of downtown, at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Spring Street. The luxury Hotel Monaco Seattle offers travelers the ultimate in boutique hotel style, comfort, and hospitality. It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping. Inn At The Market $185 86 Pine Street Seattle, Washington 98101 (800) 446-4484 The Inn at the Market Hotel Seattle is located within Pike Place Market, one of Seattle's most historic and popular attractions. Not only that, but Spud actually worked on the drawings, the roof deck, did one of the shops (the hair salon), and designed the owner's house! Support the Inn at the Market! Octothorpe Picks Mayflower Park Hotel $190-$210 405 Olive Way at 4th Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 206-623-8700 Word has it, from # friend Teri, who should know, is that this is the Hotel preferred by rockers appearing at many of the near-by venues in downtown Seattle. It has a very good bar, Oliver's, that still somehow feels like the smoky old joints that used to be all over downtown Seattle - maybe 'cause it is old, and smoky - old, but in a good way....it's a nice place to hang with giant windows looking out onto 4th and Olive, and free h'ordovres during happy hour. All the rooms were renovated just a year or so ago. The Mayflower also has a "Complimentary wine reception each Wednesday 4:30pm - 5:30pm " - I think the Vintage Park and the Monaco have those free wine deals every night...I'll check on that and get back to you.... Inn at Queen Ann 505 First Avenue North Seattle, Washington 98109 Tel: (206) 282-7357 Res: (800) 952-5043 This should technically be called the Inn at Lower Queen Anne. Lower Queen Anne is directly beneath Queen Anne - the highest hill in town, and with far more rich people in the neighborhood than LOWER Queen Ann. (Upper) Queen Anne is a lovely neighborhood with many giant old Victorian houses looking out onto sweeping views of the City and Sound. Lower Queen Anne doesn't have anything like that. It's lower, see. Which is why people that actually live in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood tend to call it the "Uptown" Neighborhood - which is what the neighborhood was originally called. Which is why you see many "Uptown" shops - Uptown Espresso, Uptown Cleaners, the Uptown Theatre, etc. - but nary a "Lower Queen Anne Cleaners" etc. - the term "Lower Queen Anne" was probably foisted onto an unwary public by realtors who wanted people to think they were actually buying a house in a toney rich top-of-the-hill neighborhood, instead of a close to down town neighborhood (It's just up from Downtown - i.e."Uptown") It is hard to think that this strategy ever worked for realtors as it is fairly apparent Lower Queen Anne is at the bottom of the hill, not the top, and also there are very few houses to buy there - it is mostly apartment buildings and condos. But where was I? Oh yes - back to: The Inn at Queen Anne This is another old apartment building that has been turned into a hotel in recent years. I have never seen the rooms here, but I suspect, that like the MarQueen, the kitchens are good sized - they used to be in apartments after all. The rates are fairly reasonable - this off their website: "For the super package rate of $299, stay three nights in deluxe accommodations and receive two CityPass adult admission tickets to six area attractions as well as a free appetizer in T.S. McHugh's restaurant." T.S. McHugh's is just around the corner from the Inn at Queen Anne. The Inn also sits directly across from the Seattle Center and so it is a short walk to the monorail and downtown. Well, downtown is itself a short walk away. The monorail doesn't actually run very far.... Camlin Hotel $79 1619 9th Avenue Seattle, Washington 98101 The Camlin Hotel Seattle is a superior, tourist class hotel located in downtown Seattle, built in 1925, the Camlin is a truly 'classic' hotel. It also starred as the "Cambridge" hotel in the film "Trouble in Mind". This will also be the last summer that it will be possible to experience the Camlin and the Camlin Cloud Room in all it's glory. The Camlin has been sold to a time-share vacation property company, which is shutting the hotel down for renovations. It is also shutting down completely the fabulous Cloud Room, which has been serving up drinks and cheesy piano-bar entertainment fro grateful Seattlites since 1949. The Cloud Room will be replaced by four luxury suites. This reporter feels that this is a crime, as no amount of luxury can replace the fabulous Cloud Room. I have sent a strong letter of protest. When the Camlin reopens it will be a private vacation property with no public access at all. Unfortunately, all of this applies only if you show up before June 29, as that is when our beloved Camlin is closing. Uh, sorry about that. Hampton Inn - Downtown/Seattle Center One king or two doubles $119 700 Fifth Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 282-7700 This is where bro's Sis stays when she visits bro. It's close to bro's apartment which bro's sis highly dissaproves of. It's kind of kitty corner from the afore-mentioned Comfort Suites - so, if you are staying there and they are out of something that you like at your free breakfast buffet - say, onion bagels or something - just go across the street and see if the Comfort Suite has onion bagels at THEIR free breakfast buffet. That's what bro does! MarQueen Hotel Standard one king room $139-$299 600 Queen Anne Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 282-7407, 1-888-445-3076 This also is in bro's neighborhood (Lower Queen Anne or the Uptown Neighborhood) Bro knows people that used to live here - when it was a building of cheap studio aprtments not expensive hotel rooms - so, keep that in mind - all of the hotel rooms here used to be studio apartments - so for a hotel, the rooms have very large and functional kitchens. They cost more than 500 dollars a month now though.... Ace Hotel $65-$175 2423 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121. Phone: 206-448-4721 Conveniently situated in the heart of Seattle, the Ace Hotel serves as the ultimate lodging for the urban nomad on a mission of experience. Guests of the Ace find themselves in stylish accommodations that combine sleek, 21st Century futurism with the classic flavor and affordability of European lodging, all in an historic Belltown building. If you can decode that, stay here. Hotel Edgewater $145-$350 2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Phone: 206-728-7000 Fish from your window. The Beatles stayed here. Elvis stayed here. This is THE quintessential Seattle hotel. It doesn't get any more Pacific Northwest than this. Seattle International AYH-Hostel Member rate: $17.38 tax inc Non-members: $20.38 Dormitory residence. Summer restricted to members only ($25 fee) 84 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 622-5443 Spud lives just down the street from the hostel. Stop by his place for a cup of joe or a beer! He always has plenty of both! Say hello to Willy his dog! Willy is REALLY friendly! BACK TO MAIN PAGE BACK TO ARTISTS' PAGE