IT ‘ak come as a sired but there’s quite a bit of
. cross-border,shopping going on.

Not ‘only ‘do Canadians flock
south in search of elusive bargains
but. people from the U.S... come
north, not only (o bargain hunt, .
of course, but they find our shops
fascinating.

For a Canadian, it’s worth a

~ chuckle: to hear. what draws the
--S'erowds! Our’ half-French - labels,

. Hudson’s Bay blankets, British

imports . (especially tartans), the
metric system (!) — did you know
that metric is written into’ the law

in.the U.S.A. but -has never been’

implemented? _-...

1 believe the merchant who gave
me-that information, -and his. ex-
“planation was logical, too.” _: .

He observed that:the U.S. gov-
erninent. was ‘watching ’ Canada
very closely-to see what snarls we’

“7 got into. Give -it ‘a few : decades

_and they will do it with much less .

‘pain... ° .
-I also, heard ‘that the big. tage.
with ‘young ‘Americans, furnishing
their . dorm... rooms -and “ first
‘apartments, isto rush up. here to
~ buy IKEA. . It never, occurred to
me until-a student explained that
it" was the ‘in’? thing: because ‘it
“packed ug and moved so well.

“We: don’t. “go south. to: shop.
There’s Jittle point once you con- .
sider.: the expenses ‘such as ex-~
change, : duty,» tawes, and # ‘border -
delays." ne

: Besides, ‘there a are very few real |

argains: What.1 do .buy is mostly
food ,. -products ‘unavailable - in

vare.:a -few:* over-the-

z "MONDAY 7

“4-Ongoing to! ‘Jan,
register’
14th. St. :

121; W. WN. V. Runs. “Jan.

‘ Kindergarten :
Storytime: Stories, crafts, songs & Cun. -

N.V.. City Library.’ 10:30 am..& 2
™m "Pre-register: 980-4424. mo

Drop-in ‘child dsinding, kids 9 a.m.-3
“pamei info: .W.Y,
~Anfo: 926-3266.

~Ongaing. Drawing ‘Workshop.
4. p.m, fecCentre Delbrook,

i ee e oe as
4--Ongoing-/ Junior
ardens.-
door-oriented. “youth club for ages
10-18; -boys.& : girls welcome. Partici-
pants, learn about: forestry, ecology,
outdoor..recreation & ‘leadership. -7-
8:30 p.m.;
School Info: 926-5660). Ren tee

‘Forest

Jan. ‘4--Ongéing Ze Pieschicol ‘Storytime
for kids’ aged : 3-5 ''yrs.; ‘Lynn’ Valley
Distric, Library Info: 984-0286. : i

gs ie “aan

: laze,” ‘Highlands

‘ Church,’.325$: Edgemont Blvd.,'
Info: Li Boesci/ 988-5281. ld

Lichnas
N.V

‘ 4-Ongoing. “each: Mon... Tues,
Wed., Fri,/except on.school holidays.
NS: Family” Services © Drop-in.
gram:" "supervised play ‘for kid:
‘speakers (ee ‘socializing; 9:30-11:30

a.m.7: Seycove community school, 1204’

Caledonia Ave., N.V. Info: Li Boesen,

Jan..4-Ongoing. "B.C," Boys Cho
auditioning new members; . no” experi-
ence” necessa!

A wielesme. Info: 926-5230, “on

18, Pre- "
for a’ new kindergarten .
storytime season at N.V. City Library, :.

Jan. ‘Ongoing Mon.-Fri.’ ‘playcare, "922-3425...

: Recreation Centre. .

. am.;-

Irwin’: Park: . Elementary

* Jan. 5-Ongoine each Tues. ‘& Fri.

United...

boys ‘aged | 8-18 yrs.»

Barbara ;
‘MeCreadie_

TRAVELWISE | ,
counter, medications .not available
in Canada’— one I'd.recommend
1 is Scalpicin. Like many ; others,
I'm allergic to most shampoos and
if I should leave one tiny patch.
‘anywhere, dermititis, flares up..
_ This.stuff, as yet unavailable here,
“works immediately. fy
We go down to Seattle about :.
twice a year. We don’t look upon

“it asa budget weekend - wz it’s.a.

luxury getaway. .
=We try to’ stay at ‘the Tan At
The. Market (First and Pike — .
just above the Pike Place Market).
It’s: ‘hard: to: get’ a reservation,
especially on a weekend. - :

» The cheapest room was ‘US 31 io
_in. November and I can’t recall

them ever featuring “‘specials.””

eee , '
Jan. ° 4—-Ongoing. ' _Montessori
Petits Academy, preschool. program
available, N.V. YMCA, 440 Hendry
‘Ave., N.V. Info: 980-1102. gs

ae TUESDAY.

Jan. 5~Ongoing. SW.VS Air ‘Cadets. :
Girls & boys.12 yrs & older are wel- .’
- come. $25 Squadron, YMCA Building, '<
.1535. Inglewood Ave., MW, Ve Info.

‘Jane 5-Ongoing. After-school | pro: ‘
gram. for Grade 2.4" “kids; .3:45 p.m
_ Capilano District brary. Info: 987.
“4471

Jan. 5~Ongoing each Tues. & Thurs,
(except “Ist Thurs. of each’ month);',:
N.S.. Family. Services| Drop-in .Pro-’
: gram: supervised’ play for kids; guest =

“speakers &.. socializing; | 9:30-11:30

: Lynn. Valley .United’ Church,
3201 Mountain Highway, NV ‘Info: °

. 988-5281.
‘Non-profit,# out-.

eee
Jan. 5—Ongoing. N.S. Family ‘Services
» Drop-in. program: supervised ‘play for
kids; guest speakers -& socializing;
10:30 ‘a.m.-noon; YMCA, 1735. In-
glewood Ave. W.Y. Info: Li Boesen,
*. 988-5281." :

fa ‘eee 2th

‘N.S... Family Services. Drop-in” pro- +
gram:. supervised play.for kids; guest

speakers’ & socializing; 9:30-1:30.
ams Queen’ Mary Community School, ;
°230 W.. Keith Rd.j N.Ve Info: Lie
Boescn, 988- 3396. ; . re ee

Jan. 5.-Ongoing Tues, & Thurs: Infant
/ Care; drop-in ‘care for kids six months’

J & ‘olders; 9-1£:30 a.m.;. W.V." Recre-
“ation Centre, 780-22nd St, W. Vv. In

fo: 926-3266. : .
” ‘ Pe eee
Jan. 5--Ongoing. Mom & Me Medita
ion, drop-in ‘fee $2.50, :3:30-4 p.m.,
W.YV.. Library,” 1735 Inglewood Ave., ;

; W. V. Info: 926-5541,

1 i nee ‘we
“Jane, 5--Ongoing. Royal ‘Cdn Air :
“Cadets 525 Squadron, W.V. Meeting
‘for, boys and ‘girls 12-19 yrs. 6:45-9:1

“Mes. :

o register / foi

Discount coupons? Not likely.

There’s no pool, spa or exercise
room, It's just comfortable, im-
maculate and has great service
(1-800-446-4484).

We. always threaten that we'll

’ find something new to do in 1 Seat

‘tle but’ we never do...

We valet park. the van and
never move it: If we want to go
anywhere we either use the hotel’s
free (tip) van; service or grab a
‘cab, : ;

We wander in-the market and
the shops in the alley above (Post
Alley). And we nearly always buy .
the same things' — fruit and juices
from: the market stalls, some,
_ cheese and French bread to nibble
in the room. ° |!

The: Inn has:;room fridges as
well as'small coffee ‘makers.

Two kitchen shops are worth a
visit —- Sur La Table, just below

the Inn, and Kitchen Basics in the -
meer

Sanitary Market. While 1 prowl,

Brian generally waits outside ..with °

a cup of espresso.

Just a| few observations about
visiting the market. Pick up a free
“Market News” especially for the
centrefold‘map and the calendar
of market happenings. |;

Prowl the market first and. buy
later.. We find dragging parcels a
chore, and since our Purchases are
“mostly -food items it’s ‘better to.
leave them until last. =.

The market:.is* bursting at. the
seams just: new. Areas which were
“unused last spring are filled, the ~
“people. are shoulder-to-shoulder, -
‘even on a Monday alternoon..-

Try the egg rolls at the Chinese

deli in the main. arcade! _ They’ re"

p.m. Info: W.V. YMCA, 921-7569 or
921-5083.

Jan, ‘5--Ongoing. Cdn. Army aes”
, Meeting. 6:45 p.m. in Lt, Col.
Armouries.. For boys: gad girls 12-17. :

Fell
yis. Free. Info: 980-2919
‘ “League: of

Jan. ! ‘$-Ongoing. ‘Navy,

Canada‘ meetings. .6:45° p.m.’ at Navy /
‘League Centre. Gpen to boys and girls ”
10-13 years. Info: 299-3545 or. 988- -

WEDNESDAY _.

Jan. 6--& Friday, Toddlers Storytimes.
10:8 liam, & 2 p.m. Drop in for

_. Stories & songs for kids aged .2 & 3
yrs. Info: 980-4424. .

Jan! : 6-~cngoing Wo: “Jan. 13.” Pre-
‘the stamp club, . which
begins on Jan. 13 at N.V. City Library
& runs.every 2nd Wed. each month at
3: 30 p.m. Info: 980-4424," .

Jan. 6--Ongoing, Preschool Storytime |
-for kids aged 3-5 yrs.; Seycove District

Library: 10:15 a.m. Info: 929-3727.

oes.
Jan. 6-Ongoing.. After-School Kids.
3:45 p.m. Stories, reading, puppetry’ &

crafts for kids in Grades 2-4. Pre--
‘register,
929-3727,

Seycove District» Library,

Fo: more’ Coming Events see fi rst
- page of Classifieds:* For’arts and
the

entertainment. listings see:
Around Town column in.” Wed-

North Shore: Now, See~' :

| Tilkey eveduraisies
1 1194 Marine Or. at iPembeton Said" 4

FREE Catalogue 1-800-387-0110.

$1.25, thin-wrapped and overstuf-
fed,

As always, we made dinner res-
ervations at I! Bistro, right at the
foot of the stairs, under the brass
pig (clock).

‘ft has never been better — we —

shared. the scampi to start and
both the scallops and ‘roast veal -
were perfect. It’s pricey but worth
‘it. (682-3049 —. reservations are
wise.)

The next night we tried a
French restaurant — Campagne
— in- the courtyard at the Inn
(728-2800).

This, too, is pricey but again,

worth it.

_ I had sweetbreads and enjoyed
every bite. Brian’s peppercorn filet
was , fork-tender and garnished
with the most remarkable onions
— thin-shreds, fried crisp — I Ahad
te keep'stealing them.

Another regular visit is the Pio-
Square area.. All. the
downtown buses. are free — just |
ask the’ driver and he’ll sing out
‘your stop. ;

Here, too, get the free publica: ;
tion “Discovering Pioneer.”
Square.”’ Have a coffee while you
pore over it.

. Hf-you. haven’t: already done s0,:
sign up for the underground walk- »
ing tour, It takes you through the-,
maze of old Seattle the:
storefronts and . sidewalks, that
were the original city | until,.they
were; buried. — ‘the land in’ the
area’:was unstable so they. raised |
the level.

’ Takes about’an ‘hour anda half.
—-wear walking shoes:: It departs
from” Pioneer.. Place (682-4646), S
costs about $5 but call for Tes
‘vations and details. |

Restaurant recommendations
are tricky! Last time we were-in
Pioneer Square* we found ..2#
‘taurant’ just down the®
Yesler . — Trattoria _Mitchelli ="

, and We were so impressed.

We returned this trip and were |

‘sity.an

underwhelmed,

My salad was wilted, my clam
pasta was so tasteless I asked for.:
some. grated cheese. .Can . you
believe they charged us 95¢ extra
for the cheese? Our coffee . was:
lukewarm and the service ice cold.

From Pioneer, Square, we walk-
ed to Westlake Mall, on Fourth ;

. Street, adjacent t to the Mayflower

Hotel.
Here again, we- ‘weren't shop- -

“ping as this place is $$$, but it’s
-wvorth a prowl.:

‘The one. stop I can’t resist is.
-Brentano’s . Bookstore. : We. can .
lose ourselves there for hours. ’

As it was.a lovely day, we cab-
bed. down to the waterfront. It's.”
not a long walk but. by then’ my -
feet were aching. . a

Nothing much has changed ex-
cept the. prices — Trident imports
used to be quite reasonable, but"
wow! not now.

‘There are lots of souvenir Shops ,
which we “ignore but: it's 'a..nice:.

~ place to have a cup of coffee’ and
‘watch the harbor. °~

The: hill-climb - back to:the inn
is‘steep so if -you ‘are’ a. bit -f.
tigued, cab it — about $3.

_Seattle has. been: notorious ' for
panhandlers. . We saw plenty in‘the
downtown core but nat one in ‘the
market.’ We'also saw ‘warnings’ in-
‘several places "don’t: give them :
anything as ‘the money .isn’t® used:
for food: .Jt’s so hard:to walk. by”

‘them, especially ‘the one with : the
big white dog. et

An American’. friend: told” ine,”

mary there are panhandlers, around,

it means the area, is Mave de saf

zones are the
“It?s. so!

water: — Stop a. bit.
‘there’s downtown:”

To: return, turn’ east” on ‘Univer
d follow ‘the sighs...