Food & Drink
Madrona: Home to Superior Gift and Vintage Shopping
Even if it's out of the way, this peaceful east Seattle enclave is worthy of an afternoon jaunt.
By Seattle Mag August 22, 2012
This article originally appeared in the September 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
Timeless looks you can wear to the office or on weekend outings are the stuff of (1) Juniper, a classy boutique tucked into a storefront across from the Madrona Playground on E Spring Street. Check out the cotton denim pieces from Raleigh Denim ($200), luxurious hand-loomed knits from Souchi ($250–$550) and other ethically crafted garments in supertouchable fabrics. And if by chance you fancy the shop cat, the doubly touchable little darling is up for adoption through the shop’s pet fostering program via the Seattle Animal Shelter.
Make your entrance onto 34th Avenue E and stroll past the fabulous St. Cloud’s restaurant (or better yet, begin your day there with brunch) and take a turn into (2) Cameos & Crowns for a lush display of local jewelry and other accessories, plus gifty stuff galore and owner Lynette Vertoch’s wildly popular (and criminally affordable!) printed flour-sack tea towels ($12), made from recycled materials.
Cross Union and then traverse the street over to (3) Hitchcock, a dazzle fest of the most cutting-edge jewelry in the city. It’s a bold business here with Lulu Frost’s line of room number pendants made from casts of the original room numbers on the doors of the Plaza Hotel, combined with other cool found objects ($300–$380). And good luck peeling your paws off its 100 percent cashmere hand-loomed scarves, which owners Erica Nelson-Sheehan and Dustin Nelson have custom-made in India ($195–$275).
Loop back south on 34th and stop into (5) Driftwood Consignment, where covetable designer goods in flawless condition make this a destination citywide.
Park and go
You’ll want to pull over and hit the street the moment you see this adorable main drag intersecting E Union Street, but take a right onto 34th Avenue and continue to Spring Street. Station your car near the park there, where you may just want to linger a bit longer after this short but oh so sweet jaunt concludes.
Extra incentive
No trip to Madrona is complete without a visit to the flagship (4) Glassybaby store, just off the main drag on E Union Street and 34th Avenue, where all the magic happens. Through a glass workshop wall, customers can watch as hot pieces of fiery glass are transformed into glowing, mood-setting treasures (as shown above). Keep your ears open for news of its biannual seconds sale, usually held in January and June; fans line up around the block hours early to score the cult-inducing votives at discount prices.
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