Wander too Far and You Might Get Lost

Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration.  Honestly though, I've never been inside a Goodwill so extravagantly large.  I walked in and immediately was taken aback.  Ballard's Goodwill has just about everything you could possibly want in terms of budget purchases.  If you are in need of household items, the Ballard Goodwill likely has it. It is located at 64th Street and 8th Avenue Northwest.

I wandered in on a whim and certainly do not regret my decision.  The place is set up to outfit you for adventure.  Need shoes or boots for an adventure? Look no further for your thrift store needs.  Need a jacket, a book, or sports equipment? They've got affordable choices.  As I browsed through row after row of items, I realized that each individual object has a story.  Each had an owner, and each had a different story.   Now, they have been given the opportunity to have new owners, and in that way more adventures.

I urge my readers to donate any items they don't use anymore.  Why let them sit around collecting dust when someone else can put them to use and give them the adventure they deserve.  Here is a link to their accepted items page.


The Ballard Goodwill is also of course affordable.  Coming from a chain of thrift stores, you're bound to find an item for a bargain. 

Most jeans are very reasonably priced at around ten dollars.  T-shirts and long sleeved shirts range from five to fifteen dollars.  While jackets, depending on their brand and style, cost around twenty to thirty dollars.

Although you have to search for particularly great finds, that's all part of the experience.  

What great finds have you found at the Ballard Goodwill?  Feel free to comment below and let me know what kind of experience you had there.  Also what other exciting thrift stores must I see?

Food, Friends, Beer, and Games.

What more could you want in an evening?  If these things interest you and your friends you must try going to Card Kingdom.  This past Saturday I was roaming Ballard with some friends and we happened across this gem.  Located on 5105 Leary Way NW, this gaming store sits just north of the hype of Ballard Avenue.
Never before had my friends and I been to game store so grand as this one.  Inside is a great variety of games.  You name it, the have it.  Are you into Dungeons and Dragon meets? What about mini-figure games? Card games?  Card Kingdom has a selection of games so vast we couldn't help but get lost in them.  In addition to having the latest and greatest games, Card Kingdom also has a cafe known as Cafe Mox attached.  The Menu offers sandwiches, coffee, salads, and a myriad of beers and cocktails to choose from.  Cafe Mox has tables set up so you can play board and card games while you snack and have a beer.  Funny, it's almost set up so you never need to leave!

Previously I had never been inside a game store more alive than this one.  At one table there are customers sitting and enjoying a game of Netrunner while at another table a large game of Settlers of Catan is taking place.  This leads me to the tournament room.  When my friends and I ventured to the back of Card Kingdom we found roughly fifty people engaging in a weekly tournament of Magic the Gathering.  Although I am familiar with game, I had never seen over fifty people enjoying the card game at once!  All about Card Kingdom there are smiling, happy customers enjoying quality time with friends.  So if you're you looking for a new and exciting way to spend your evening, I would recommend going down to Card Kingdom and see what all the fuss is about!

What game stores are your favorites?  Which games would you suggest I must play?
Post in the comment section below as I am interest in your opinion!

Stomach Rumbling? Enjoy Happy Hour at Volterra

Imagine you've just arrived in Old Ballard and you're hungry.  As you walk up and down the historic Ballard Avenue delectable options overwhelm you.  Not to worry though, I felt overwhelmed my first time in Ballard too.  That is, until I stumbled upon a quaint Tuscan-style Italian restaurant, which proved to be the revitalizing meal I needed.  

Volterra

5411 Ballard Ave NW

Happy Hour Menu

When I walked into Volterra I was greeted by a welcoming hostess.  Although not a regular, I felt entirely welcomed by the staff.  I came at happy hour, which lasts from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  It was the perfect place to sit down and enjoy happy hour specials with a cup of espresso.   Ordering from their happy hour menu proved to be quite difficult as their options all looked tasty.  I finally decided on their Polenta and wild Mushrooms to complement the espresso.   I had never had polenta before, and was looking to try something new.  My server Jaci recommend I try the polenta if I was interested in trying a new dish.  Her recommendation was delicious and I am glad I trusted her judgement.  The coffee was rich and creamy, which prompted me to get a second cup.  Additionally the coffee came with sugar, brown sugar, a small cookie, and a sweet liquorice.  Have you ever left a meal and completely satisfied, so satisfied in fact, that you feel perfectly content?  That is how I felt leaving Volterra.  The atmosphere about Volterra only added to my feeling of content. 

In addition to being delicious, my meal was also affordable; with the Polenta and Mushrooms costing a mere $6 while the espresso cost $3.50.  Although the happy hour is budget friendly, the dinner menu is little bit more expensive although worth the price.  So that is something to be mindful of. 

Dinner Menu

Overall I would rate Volterra 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The food was delicious, the service was exceptional, and the atmosphere was relaxing.

• To offer more perspective I've included links customer reviews on the site OpenTable where the average rating is just shy of 4.5 stars as well.    

Enjoy roaming and exploring Ballard.  If you do find yourself looking for a place to eat I would certainly recommend trying Volterra.  What restaurants are your favorite?  Which places in Ballard    must people visit?  Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.