My lunch hour reading informed me that the Artic Club Hotel in Seattle is rebranding itself as a 3 star hotel (from 4 star) hoping to appeal to a broader market, because the recession has hit them so hard. FYI just in case that's a hotel worth looking into even at this late point in the search.

Trip advisor on Artic Club Hotel [link]

Trip advisor on the Pan Pacific Plaza, says in same price range as Crowne Plaza. Next to a Whole Foods! [link]

Trip advisor on the Crowne Plaza [link]

Y'know, I'd never even heard of the Arctic Club but I just looked at it and it is very very nice.

With the caveat that it may be far too late to think another hotel, I will mention that for the dates, a King is $175, Double Queen is $191, Premier King with a jetted tub (!) is $207. Internet is free.

All the above prices are 30 day advance purchase, non-refundable. Regular booking prices are $40 or so more.

Still, the hotel is a little further south than the other two. I think the others are slightly better locations, YMMV. Also, the Crowne Plaza and Monaco are spitting distance from the Seattle Library. The Plaza is 2 blocks, the Monaco is kitty corner.

FYI, the Pan Pacific is slightly better for getting to the Space Needle, et al, but apart from the Whole Foods that area is a bit of a pit and not really pedestrian friendly.

The Plaza and the Monaco are immediately by stores and some restaurants, and not too far from the monorail that takes you the extra mile to the Space Needle (and the Science Center, Science Fiction Museum, etc).

The Arctic Club is a lovely building, but a non-ideal location. All the pain in the ass of Downtown, but outside of the stuff that's actually fun.

FYI, the Pan Pacific is slightly better for getting to the Space Needle, et al, but apart from the Whole Foods that area is a bit of a pit and not really pedestrian friendly.

Nonsense! Just because you can't go a block without having to avoid huge construction-related holes, doesn't make it a pit! It makes it a SERIES of pits!

(I used to walk there almost daily from my bus when Lillian was still attending the downtown Kindercare. Pete is correct.)

will there be a SingalongaOnceMoreWithFeeling, d'you suppose?

Not Dr. Horrible?

will there be a SingalongaOnceMoreWithFeeling, d'you suppose?

Not Dr. Horrible?

Not both?

I meant also, but the earliness of my post (and corresponding lack of caffeine) means that the "also" stayed in my mind and didn't make it out my fingers and into the post.

So, uh, yeah.

Well, I've still not seen Dr Horrible, so although I'm generally well-disposed to it, it remains abstract. Whereas I actually sat down a few months ago and started making lists of what would go into OMWF goodie bags. And the songs are one of my Happy Places; my room mate and I used to duet to OMWF of an evening in Cairo, while getting ready to go out. So I'd happily attend a Dr Horrible singalong, but have no thoughts about organising one.

eta (Just back from the first night of our 2-night Grease singalong extravaganza. MUCH fun! And I ate lots of apple pie, in honour of Dean Winchester, and noted far too many similarities between Danny Zuko and Dean. [Also I had a sudden attack of Avatar nostalgia each time somone said "Zuko!"] Funniest part of the evening may have been when I noticed the array of toppings the Thai staff had provided for the American-style ice cream sundae bar: peanuts, pineapple slices, croutons and sweetcorn. And caramel sauce. Ah, Thailand.)

Nonsense! Just because you can't go a block without having to avoid huge construction-related holes, doesn't make it a pit! It makes it a SERIES of pits!

Sound like Boston during the Big Dig.