A German village experience brought to the heart of downtown Seattle

Here's your plan for a Holly Jolly Christmas Market:
Enjoy festive German village vibes with food, drinks, and photo ops in Seattle

A Holly Jolly Christmas Market 🎄🎊🎁

Explore the festive Seattle Christmas Market, complete with German delicacies, staple beverages, and a magical Christmas tree for a full German village experience.

Christmas Market

✅ Before you go
• Make sure to buy your tickets online because they sell out fast (especially on weekends!) Tix are $20 for a day or $36 for unlimited visits: https://seattlechristmasmarket.com/tickets/
• The lines are long but don’t be intimidated because they do go by fast - make sure that you finish any outside food and drink because they won’t allow it at check in
• Make sure to layer up since most of the market is outside!

💪 Pro tip
• To beat the crowd, usually the market is not as crowded before 5pm or on weekdays
• The Merry Go Round is included with the ticket so go live your inner child!
• You can also go INSIDE the Christmas tree - can’t believe I missed out
• Top foods I heard about were: the Bread Bowl from Baked in Bosnia, Potato Tornado skewers, and Russian dumplings from Dumpling Tzar
• Extremely long lines for the German sausages but I heard it’s worth it!
• They have non-alcoholic versions of the beverages like mulled wine and cider so your little ones can enjoy too!

Enjoy the festivities at the Seattle Christmas Market

Hey ho, I'm always a fan of markets in Seattle.

So of course, I couldn't miss one of the biggest ones of the year.

And if you don't have any way to get to a German village like Leavenworth,

the Seattle Christmas market did a great job of

bringing one to the heart of downtown Seattle.

I was not expecting the size of this market to be as huge as it was.

The whole place was a maze of vendors selling food, crafts goods and more.

There's photo ops like this beautiful Christmas tree, lover's

lane, and a fireplace inside the main hall.

food was a main spotlight with plenty of options from German food like sausages,

My favorite was this cream puff and German take on fries.

There's plenty of drinks like mulled wine, beer and this hot cider,

which was exactly what I needed to stay warm in the cold,

but be prepared for the long lines for all the stalls.

There's something here for everyone which explains the crowd,

but it's still a blast with the festive energy of this market.

So dress warm and take a stroll before tickets sell out.

Scope Screenings

Attend Scope Screenings at SIFF Cinema Egyptian, Seattle for a unique underground film festival experience with live interactions.

Film Festival

✅ Before you go
• Screenings start at 7:30, but I recommend getting there early as it is encouraged to mingle and talk to the people next to you.
• Parking is in Capitol Hill, so get there a little earlier just in case.

💪 Pro tips
• Dress to impress! They have many cute photo opportunities to post up on Instagram.
• Follow @scopescreenings on Instagram for more updates, or buy tickets on their website, https://www.lexscopefilms.com/scopescreenings.

Underground film festival 

If you're like me and enjoy all things, film and music.

I recommend checking out scope screenings.

This underground film festival happens the last Tuesday of every

month from now until December and emphasizes short form narratives,

and even documentaries from creatives around Seattle and beyond.

I was lucky enough to attend the most recent screenings and had

so much fun meeting new people and connecting with other creatives.

Unlike other film festivals, I've been to scope screenings, allows the directors,

audience questions and dive deeper into the work

they've created if you want to feel inspired or even find your new favorite artist.

I recommend checking out scope screening.

Come with me as we hit up a ginger beer bar with a secret chicken restaurant in the back.

Here's your plan for enjoying drinks at Rachel's Ginger Beer followed by delicious chicken at Ma’ono

Secret Hot Chicken Spot in Ginger Beer Bar

Enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic ginger-flavored drinks at Rachel's Ginger Beer in Capitol Hill, perfect for all guests, especially those with food sensitivities.

Drink and Dine

✅ Before you go
• If you live near a Rachel’s Ginger Beer, you might want to consider grabbing (or bringing) one of their reusable growlers so you can take some drinks home. Bringing it back will save you money on refills, and it’s better for the environment than plastic bottles. Plus, they make a great non-alcoholic alternative gift for friends’ dinner parties. My partner and I share them with friends frequently and they are always a hit!

💪 Pro tips
• This is a great spot for hanging out with drinkers and non-drinkers alike! If you feel like drinking alcohol, their Dark and Stormy is an icey piña colada with a ginger twist. However, their non-alcoholic options are just as flavorful: I recommend trying their seasonal (limited edition) blackberry lavender or the year-round classic, pink guava.
• RGB’s is also a good spot for friends who have food sensitivities. Their main recipe is super simple, containing only four ingredients: Ginger, sugar, lemons and water. Each additional flavor only adds that ingredient, so their blueberry adds blueberries and their guava adds guava. This makes it a great spot for folks with dietary restrictions, too.
• The staff here are super friendly: Keep an eye out for cat-loving Curtis and their manager, Drew, who is also a TikTok influencer! @drewsylva

🍹Grab a drink at Rachel’s Ginger Beer

Enjoy Ma’ono Fried Chicken in Capitol Hill, Seattle for economical, customizable spicy chicken strips and a delicious chicken sandwich.

Chicken Dining

💪 Pro tips
• Their chicken strips are a great economical choice, as they provide plenty of food to fill you up and have a customizable spice level. Their chicken sandwich is also delicious - it’s so craveable, it’s become most of my friends’ favorite!

🍗 If you get hungry, buy some chicken from Ma’ono!

bar with a secret chicken restaurant in the back.

Rachel's Ginger Beer is my favorite. Go-to hangout spot in Capitol Hill.

This is partially because it's easy for drinkers

I went after work today, so I grabbed my favorite alcoholic drink.

Their Coconut Dark and Stormy is a pina colada with a ginger twist.

I also grabbed a growler of their limited edition Blackberry Lavender,

which is my current favorite non-alcoholic choice.

Many Rachel's Ginger Beer locations contain a secret chicken chop nestled inside.

is one of the best casual fried chicken spots in Seattle.

I am a huge fan of their chicken strips, which you

can make more or less spicy depending on your preference.

Summer is ending, so it's a great time to get your last-minute hangouts in.

Grab craft cocktails and enjoy delicious Italian food in Capitol Hill for the perfect girls night or dinner date.

Here's your plan for a cocktail lounge and Italian dinner in Capitol Hill:

Enjoy craft cocktails at Sol Liquor Lounge before a delicious dinner at Cornelly

Cocktail lounge & Italian dinner in Cap Hill

Enjoy freshly squeezed craft cocktails at Sol Liquor Lounge in Capitol Hill, ideal for unwinding before dinner. Don't miss the daily happy hour from 5 PM to 7 PM.

Pre-Dinner Cocktails

✅ Before you go
• You can obviously grab a drink after dinner, but make sure you get on the waitlist at Cornelly. It’s a very popular spot, especially in the summer, and the wait can get long — which will probably be a deciding factor for pre- or post-dinner drinks!
• Daily happy hour is from 5 PM to 7 PM.

💪 Pro tips
• If you sit at the bar, the bartender will come up and take your order — It’s a great way to skip the line since the lounge gets pretty busy.

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktail at Sol Liquor Lounge

Enjoy a scrumptious Italian dinner at Cornelly in Capitol Hill, featuring homemade pasta, naturally leavened pizza, and a friendly, energetic ambiance.

Italian Dinner

✅ Before you go
• Reiterating that it’s important to check how long the wait is in case it’s super long!

💪 Pro tips
• If you were craving something sweet after dinner and decide not to order any dessert at the restaurant, Hot Cakes is just a short walk away!

Enjoy a delicious dinner at Cornelly

Let's get cocktails and dinner in Capitol Hill.

We started by getting on the Cornelly wait list because it was a 90 minute wait,

but it was fine because we went to Sol Liquor Lounge right next door.

All of the craft cocktails use squeeze-to-order juices

from fresh fruits that they stock all year round.

They also have a great seasonal menu with original cocktails.

I've been here several times and I love it so much.

The ambience is great and the drinks are delicious.

My friends and I ended up getting the peach sangria.

naturally leaven pizza and homemade pasta,

which you can definitely tell, alongside veggies, wine and local beer.

The energy was great there and the service really stood out to me,

This girls night out ended up being so much fun

and definitely one of the best nights I've had in

Peruse a bookstore and grab Asian food at a dark and moody bar before settling in at a Capitol Hill Silent Book Club location.

Here's your plan for happy hour dumplings and book club in Capitol Hill: Browse books, happy hour, book club

Happy hour dumplings & book club in Cap Hill 

Explore themed collections at Nook & Cranny, a Capitol Hill bookstore perfect for finding your next book club read.

Book Browsing

✅ Before you go
• Nook & Cranny features a focused collection of titles you can browse by theme or plot. (I.e. “Fractured fairytales and folklore,” “hello from the other side,” and more.)

💪 Pro tips
• Ask about their book club!

Nook & Cranny

Enjoy affordable dumplings during Corvus & Co.'s weekday happy hour, alongside non-alcoholic as well as alcoholic beverages like the Dodo Bird and Rhubarbarella.

Happy Hour Dumplings

✅ Before you go
• Weekday food happy hour is from 4 PM to 6 PM, all dumplings are $8.

💪 Pro tips
• Sober curious or just not wanting an alcoholic drink? Check out their nonalcoholic beverage section — my favorite is the Dodo Bird!
• if you want something spirit-based, try the Rhubarbarella!

Happy hour at Corvus & Co.

Enjoy quiet reading and connect with fellow book lovers at Capitol Hill Silent Book Club; verify dates on their Instagram and arrive early at Basecamp Cafe for a prime spot.

Silent Book Club

✅ Before you go
• Make sure you check the official Silent Book Club Capitol Hill Instagram page for updated dates and locations because it changes! 
• Get there early to snag the best seat!

💪 Pro tips
• While this Nudge is specifically tailored for the Basecamp meeting location, the plan still works for wherever the club meets, regardless!
• Basecamp always has great beers or sours on tap if you aren’t feeling like grabbing a coffee. 
• Everyone is friendly — I promise! I highly recommend sitting with a stranger, and if you’re not sure how to start a conversation, just ask what book they’re reading!

Settle in at a Silent Book Club location in Capitol Hill

come with me to check out a local bookstore and grab

a happy hour before heading over to Silent Book Club.

So you can't do a book club without a book.

So if you're looking to pick up a new read Capitol

Hill has a ton of small independent bookstores to choose from.

plot versus a more broad fiction versus non fiction,

check out Nook and Cranny on 15th Avenue. They have a

great selection of books to choose from without being overwhelming

My friends and I love grabbing a quick bite before book club.

which is a specialty craft cocktail bar that also

serves elevated Asian street food from Big Dumpling Energy.

I love this bar because it's kind of spooky and moody,

but it also has shareable plates and their happy hour includes food.

Also have great non-alcoholic cocktail options, which is what I got.

For food, we got a bunch of different dumplings and also some chicken

Afterwards, we headed over to Basecamp coffee shop for book club.

Book Club is a group of people that get together once or twice a month to read.

Ok. So this is where things get tricky from my understanding. The Capitol Hill Silent

but it doesn't always meet at the same location. This week.

it was at base camp. So we got there early to get a couch before grabbing some drinks.

If you watch my other nudge, you would know that

I also go to the West Seattle chapter, which is on pause for the summer.

The Capitol Hill chapter is a little bit of a newer chapter.

it's a great way to get some reading done and meet some new people.