Grazing in Greenwood

By Susan Haworth

I stop at Mae's on the outskirts of Greenwood at 6412 Phinney Ave N to prepare myself for a hard day of foraging. Mae's has a serious Moo motif going on (note the Udderly Smooth hand cream at the cash register) and serves up hearty breakfast dishes from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily.

Specialties such as Huevos Rancheros, Green Eggs and Ham, a wide variety of omelets, and pancakes make selection a challenge. But I do not like Green Eggs and Ham, I do not like them Sam-I-am; so I choose Mae's granola and yogurt along with the Caffe Americano. (The huge bowl of granola I'm served would sustain a small band of Rainier climbers.) With caffeine in my blood and shoes full of feet, I'm off to Great Places down this very good street.

Greenwood Hardware offers the barman's best friend: bar polish.

Every neighborhood needs a store like Greenwood Hardware at 7210 Greenwood Ave N. If this tightly packed store doesn't have what you desire, you probably don't need it. In my case, the helpful staff pondered long and hard to recommend an alternative to my requested item. Never one to leave a hardware store empty-handed, I acquire a metal cleaner that works like magic on my stained stainless steel.

Just a few doors away is Oh My Glass at 7225 Greenwood Ave N, a glass boutique exhibiting bowls, vases, jewelry, platters and more. Stained glass artist and veteran merchant Cindi McManus carries the work of 40 (mostly regional) glass artists.

When in the neighborhood, I recommend visiting Greenwood Bakery at 7227 Greenwood Ave N. Even if you're not moved to purchase a Challah bread, oatmeal cookie and scone as was I, engaging in a little banter with the quick-witted baker is worth the stop.

Andorra and Mokee Dugway Clothiers boast a wide selection of colorful spring totes.

A new kid on the block, Andorra at 7320 Greenwood Ave N, is a pretty little corner gift shop with attractively displayed candles, cosmetics, jewelry, tote bags and other irresistible items. Case in point: a bottle of scented gold glitter nail polish tempts me.

Easing on down the road, Olga, the window-shopping mannequin, lures me into Mokee Dugway Clothiers at 8003 Greenwood Ave N. I'm tickled to discover a lovely selection of casual wear for busy women who require low-maintenance clothing and prefer natural fibers. They also carry those colorful Mexican market bags I had trouble locating in Mexico last winter. The two moms, who've run this establishment for the past three years, named their store after a Utah mountain pass they traversed during a Thelma and Louise outing.

Time for lunch, already? Not allowing a cold (June!) drizzle to dampen my shopping spirits, I slip into Arita Japanese Restaurant at 8202 Greenwood Ave N for hot tea and miso soup. A quaint and peaceful establishment of simple decor, Arita offers tempura, noodles, teriyaki dishes, sushi, sashimi and a surprisingly extensive dinner menu.

You Made It at 8408 Greenwood Ave N soon celebrates its first anniversary in Greenwood. The shop proudly displays handmade goods by local artists as well as a few imported items. The handsome journals and albums are especially attractive, and unusual pet items such as Guatemalan dog and cat collars give the store its unique flavor.

This hobby horse yearns for a home more lively than Pelayo Antiques. Won't you take him home?

One could spend an entire day perusing the series of storefront locations occupied by Pelayo at 8421 and 7601 Greenwood Ave N. New and antique furniture, pottery, glassware, silver and china from many countries provide a feast for the eyes. I'm especially impressed by the selection of 19th century hand-painted Romanian furniture.

Kittens grow into delightful companions. Find them at PAWS Cat City.

Even the most steadfast cat curmudgeon can't resist a peek in the window of PAWS Cat City at 8503 Greenwood Ave N where frolicking kitties provide hours of entertainment for passersby.

GOTROCKS at 8516 Greenwood Ave N, as the name implies, is a treasure chest of crystals, gemstones, geodes and rocks of every shape and form. The shop includes paintings, table art, jewelry, mirrors, candles and even bath items made of stone, fossil or rock, or made to look like stone, fossil or rock. I spot a fossil soap dish that warrants another visit.

Hurd's Antiques at 8554 1/2 Greenwood Ave N has been an anchor in this district for 20 years. This compact shop is chock full of china, flatware, linens, glassware, kimonos, books, jewelry and other collectibles. A glistening array of green wine glasses, goblets and dishes catches my eye. Owner Kay Hurd, who is passionate and knowledgeable about antique collecting, informs me this line of high-quality glass (known as Elegant glassware) is from the Depression era. Hurd's Antiques welcomes browsers to visit their store for a free emotional journey back to grandma's house.

By now, my caffeine jolt has abated and I've worked up a fearful thirst. Retracing my steps, my final stop of the day is Diva Espresso at 7916 Greenwood Ave N. Unlike chain coffee houses, Diva has a distinct personality expressed by naming its pastries after other famous "tarts." I'm intrigued by Mae's (as in "West") Late-Riser Bit of Raspberry-Walnut Scone. "I hadn't started out to collect diamonds, somehow they just piled up," quips Mae from her pastry name card.

With a few keepsakes of the Greenwood business district, I leave the neighborhood promising to return. To paraphrase another great acquirer: I came, I saw, I shopped.

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