White Lotus Restaurant

White Lotus serves pho and other Vietnamese dishes.  I also saw some Chinese, Thai and Japanese(no sushi) dishes also. The dinning room is nicely decorated and is a happy departure from some of the "dive" pho restaurants. The food I tried was fresh rolls($3.50) and a small flank steak pho($5.25).  I really enjoyed the fresh rolls.  They are different than others I tried.  It had shrimp and pork in it but no mint or basil.  Inside was a fried wanton roll. Served with peanut hoisin sauce. The pho was very tasty also.  But different than my favorite pho place written about previously   First difference is there is a lot more noodles.  Maybe that is what people want but I thought it was to hard to mix up my broth with different sauces.  I found it nice that they added a lot of meat.  However they don't trim the fat from the meat.  Maybe its traditional not to trim the fat, but I had a hard time getting use to it.  Again Pho on Broadway trims all there meat.  But I would still order it again,  and for the price.  Its a good value.

Things I liked:
Nice dinning amisphere
Good prices
Very friendly wait staff
Takes Cards
Vegitairian options

Things that could be different:
A little less noodles in the pho

White Lotus Restaurant
35 Everett Mall Way SE
Everett, Wa 98208
425-355-8018

Lynnwood Pool

Hey you all.  I just to my son to the Lynnwood Pool and felt that I should give people some information and pointers about this fantastic place.  The recreation center had 3 pools.  The water is very warm and the pools have some unique features.  I will not go into them here because the website does a better job than I could. What I wanted to do is give you some need to knows:

• Arrive 30-45 min before open swim.  There is always a line and if your at the back you may not get in. 
• A great time to go is when the Everett Public Schools have a half day or a furlough day. 
• Bring your own pad lock.  The lockers are not coin operated.  
• Bring a snack or change for the vending machines.  My little guy is always hungry after swimming.  
• There is an outdoor playground just out side the main pool for kiddos who are tired of swimming and not ready to leave.  
• The library is right down the street. 

Here is a picture of the line.  I am not kidding, you need to get there at least 30 mins early before open swim! However, it is the one of the cheapest places to take the kids to be active ($4 for kids and $5 for adults)

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Bookend Coffee Company

I feel a little silly,  I have been lamenting about the lack of good coffee houses in Everett and I totally overlooked Bookend Coffee Company!  Bookend Coffee Company is located on Hoyt Ave adjoining the Everett Public Library Downtown.  This place is super cozy, quite and relaxed.  I often see people with with there text book or laptops getting work done.  I also have noticed book clubs meeting here.  There is about 5-6 lg oak tables with cushy seats and a couch and a few mission style upholstered chairs next to a electric fire place.  The style is art deco, like the library.  With wood paneling and law books lining the walls.  This place is classy and cozy all at the same time.

The coffee is always really great and if you ask, you can get a "for here cup".  They serve really well made sandwiches from a local deli for under $6.  There pastries are average but defently will satisfy your sweet tooth.  One of the things I like is they have small bags of pretzels or chips for cheap.  There is also cups of soup, lolly pops, bottled drinks and teas available.  Service is always friendly and quick.  I really love this place and we all should not forget its there.  Parking is in the library garage and there is no time limit.  WiFi is free with purchase.

Thing I love:

• Great kid snacks
• You can enjoy your library books and have a cup of coffee
• Its quiet

Things I would like to see:

• Wish there was pastries from a local bakery

Bookend Coffee Company
2702 Hoyt Ave
Everett Wa 98201

425-530-6422

T n A Latte

T n A Latte stands for tasteful and appropriate latte.  This a coffee hut located on West Marine Drive in Everett.  This coffee hut is NOT a bikini barista.  It is a family friendly drive up that serves well made coffee drinks and snacks.  For the kiddo they give suckers and for the 4 legged friends they have doggie treats.

I visited today and found the girl working there to be sweet and chatty!  I order a non-fat/decaf latte.  I was made perfectly.  They take cards which is always helpful.  On the menu they offer breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, beagle dogs, breakfast cookies and other sweet treats.   I will  be coming back again.  Its a lot easier that going to Starbucks and a lot closer.

Check them out on facebook!

BARK Espresso Seattle, Wa

BARK Espresso is one of my favorite places to visit while I am in Northgate visiting my acupuncturist.  Who is right next door to them. This coffee house is split into two hang outs.  One for humans and one for humans and their doggies.  It is attached to Great Dog (grooming, daycare, obedience, shop and adventure time for our pets).  BARK serves Caffe Vita espresso. The day I visited I had a decaf americano and a squash bread with pumpkin seeds.  The coffee was plenty strong and tasty.  My squash bread was lovely also.  One of the things I like about BARK is that there is a comfy couch. Something missing in some coffee houses.  I love to kick back and enjoy my coffee and play words with friends and be left alone.  I can do that at Bark.  Service is always friendly and quick.  I never have to wait in line for my coffee.  I asked the barista what made BARK special and her response was, We always display local art that is pet related and we serve a doggie latte to our 4 legged friends who come in.  The doggie latte is made from peanut butter and soy milk and served gently warmed.

The last trip I made to BARK, I visited the doggie side.  I found it to be equialy cozy with a faux leather couch and lots of tables and chairs.  On the doggie side you go to a ordering window to get your drinks.

Things I love:

• Doggies are welcome
• Lunch is available
• Lovely baked goods
• There are Gluten free items on the menu
• Cozy and quiet
• Easy Parking
• They take cards and do not charge you an extra fee to do so
• Wifi with purchase of a drink or food

Things I would like to see:

• More people and doggies to visit BARK

Check out my pictures of BARK on photobucket
http://s1172.photobucket.com/albums/r576/cvankeu1977/BARK%20Espresso/

BARK Espresso
Hours: Monday 7am to 4pm
Tuesday-Friday 7am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Sunday 9am to 3pm

Address: 11335 Roosevelt Way NE
               Seattle, Wa 98125

Sno-Isle Food Co op

 I am going to use my power of influence to get you to come to the Sno-Isle Co-op.  Beer!!  Enough said. They have a whole walk in cooler full of local beer.   If you need more convincing read on.

Sno-Isle mission is to provide local, orgainic or free trade products and gifts.  When you walk in you will see a bounty of fresh produce.  Everything is beautiful and tasty.  Besides the  beautiful produce they have the best bulk section I have ever seen.  You can find loads of gluten-free flours, beans, pasta, candy, dried fruits, nuts and so much more.  On the opposite side of the bulk bins is the bulk spices, herbs and teas.  There is cooking herbs and medicinal herbs.  Bulk coffee, nut butters, honey and oils are also available in bulk.  Of course they carry all the regular grocery stuff, including beauty products, organic wines, dairy and vitamins. You can find just about everything you need here.

If you need a quick bite to eat they have a deli case with homemade salads and baked goods. In the case in front of the deli they also have pre-made sandwiches and salads.  You could come here for your lunch and feel good you had a healthy and tasty meal.  There is seating in the front of the store if you want to eat there.

You can become a member and help support their mission to support local farmers.  A life time membership is a $100 and with that you get discounts and invites to member only events and tasting.  But you don't need a membership to shop.  To learn more about Co-ops check out this web site.  www.strongertogether.coop

Sno-Isle Food Co-op
2804 Grand Ave Everett, Wa 98201
(425) 259-3879

Open 8 to 8 Monday - Saturday 10-6 on Sundays

Things I love:

• All the natural sodas and drinks
• The selection of natural cleaning products
• Natural pet products
• Local and handmade gifts
• Free trade gifts
• Great books for sale
• Local beef 

Things I would like to see:

• Meats that are sold fresh (all meats are sold frozen)

Pickle Time Deli

Pickle time is a burger joint in Duvall and Everett. They also offer wraps.  My family and I went to the one in Duvall, Wa during our day of Geocaching. The first thing you notice when you come in is all the pickle drawings hung on the wall.  It really fun to see all the cartoons people have dawn.  The very nice lady at the counter encourage us to draw our own while we wait for food.  David and I ordered burgers.  I got the blue cheese burger and David ordered the Texas burger.  My son got chicken nuggets, fries and a giant pickle.  My burger was super tasty and the fried were really great.  I can tell they use frozen fries, but they keep their oil fresh so the fries were not greasy.  My son's chicken nugget were nothing special,  probably Foster Farms frozen nuggets but my son liked them.
This seems to be a local franchise.  The Everett location has its own website and the menu is similar to the Duvall location. Duvall location does not have its own site, but it has a yelp page.

Pickle Time Deli-Duvall
14142 Main St NW
Duvall, Wa 98019
(425) 788-8605



Pickle Time Deli-Everett
7405 Hardeson Rd
Suite A
Everett, Wa 98203
(425) 710-0108


Things I like:

• Open later till 7 on Sundays
• Takes debit cards
• Very clean
• Friendly service
• All the pickle drawings

Things I would like to see:

• Some fresh fruit or veggies for the kids

Langus Riverfront Park and Trail

Langus Riverfront Park and Trail

Bridge at the end of Langus, this
is also where you enter Spencer Island

Langus Riverfront park is located just north of Everett on Smith Island.  If you start your walk at the beginning near the Animal Shelter and you walk to the bridge its about 3 miles.  You can walk, bike, ride your scooter, walk the dog (on leash of course) or Rollerblade on the trail.  The path is wide enough to let the little ones ride there bikes and feel safe doing so! It is all paved.  The views are of the river and wetlands.  On our trip we saw Coots, King Fishers, Ducks, Swallows and Herons. A bird watchers paradise.   This is a great place to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.  There is lots of parking and bathrooms available.  Also there is a picnic shelter and a boat launch.  The Launch fee is $5. Payable by cash or check in the drop box.  This park and trail is a fabulous place for people of all ages.
Over all this park is a fantastic place for family.

Langus Riverfront Park and Trail is open from 6am to dusk


Thinks I like:

• Kids can ride their scooters or bikes while the parents talk
• Dog friendly
• Doggie bags are available
• Trailer parking
• Wildlife viewing

Things I would like to see:

• Dog owners picking up after their dogs

Super Supplements Oregon/ Washington

Super Supplements

Let me begin my review saying all my Portland friends and family can visit the Clackamas store on Sunnyside Rd or the one downtown. So read on.

SS (super supplements) is a discount health and wellness store in Wa and Or. When I say discount I mean they deal in volume, not old products. Every thing in the store is anywhere from 15 to 65% off from the retail price. If you sign up to be on there mailing list you will recieve coupons in the mail every few months. Every one that works in the store is super nice and very educated on their prodcuts. The vitamin companies come in and train the employees so they know a lot.

They sell every sort of vitamin supplements you can think of, meal replacements(whey, soy, hemp, bars, shakes), natural beauty products, tea, nuts, natural sweeteners, flower remedies, homeopathic remedies, cold drinks, organic chocolates, probiotics, books, pet supplements and so much more. I absolutely love this company. I believe they have the best selection of any vitamin store out there! There are stores all over Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Things I love:

The selection

Friendly/helpful people

I can go in and grab a meal bar and a cold drink just as fast as if I went to McDonalds.

Web site: www.supersup.com

Everett:

4031 Colby Ave

Everett, Wa 98201

425-293-0373

Clackamas:

9919 SE Sunnyside Rd

Clackamas, Or 97015

503-794-9355

East West Health Associates

East West Health Associates is an Acupuncture clinic I have been going to for over a year off and on. Chu-Lan Chiong is the practitioner and she is super amazing at what she does. Her clinic specializes in allergy treatments. You can learn more about the type of treatments she does by going to www.naet.com or read the book Say Good-Bye to illness. I know the treatment really works and its painless. I personally have had lots of success with it. Chu-Lan also has had advanced education in nutrition and is all ways willing to help get your diet in check. One other point is she has the training to help you get over mental blocks in life that keep you from moving on or succeeding in life. One last thing is her prices are under $90 dollars per treatment and its covered by most insurance so if you are unsure if a condition is something she can treat, I would go in and see her, it can't hurt and you would be surprise by what she can help you with.

What I Love:

• She bills all insurances
• Great bed side manner
• Super knowledgeable
• There is a coffee house right next to her clinic
• She is always on time
• The clinic carries many supplements
• Chu-Lan very relaxed and never tries to push you into treatment

What I would like to see:

• A credit card machine
• Reminder calls

East West Health Associates

11229 Roosevelt Way NE

Seattle, Wa 98125

Chu-Lan Chiong, L.Ac

Licensed Acupuncturist

Diplomate in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbology

(206) 545-7860

Pho On Broadway Everett, Wa

Pho on Broadway is one of the best places in the Puget Sound to get pho. The owner is a really nice guy who always recognizes all his regulars and always chats with us when we come in. He tells us he make his broth the right way by cooking the beef knuckles for 20 hours and that allows him to use almost no MSG. The result is a dark brown broth that is super flavorful. All pho has MSG in it but the shops who take short cuts use the most. They always use great cuts of beef and when the make chicken pho the use chicken broth. I have been to other pho places and I always get gross fatty bits in my soup. Yuck! There is a full menu of other vietnamese favorites. Including my favorite, salad rolls. Made with mint and basil. The shop it self is unadorned but clean.

Things I love:

Drive up window

Nice friendly owner

Fantastic food

It's cheap

Easy location

I would like to see:

Nothing, its a local place that services great food. That's all you need!