Outdoor Dining in Federal Way

Around May, I start getting antsy if I spend too much time inside, and any time we go out to eat, I require outdoor seating. For a long time, I thought there were only two or three options in Federal Way (which is understandable given that most restaurants in town look out over a parking lot). However, there are quite a few places which have gotten creative with their patios and even more that decided to embrace the parking lot view and set up a few tables to take advantage of the sun and summer breezes.

This post is a little different from my other reviews, but it seems necessary for my sanity in summer. So here it is: the totally incomplete guide to outdoor dining in Federal Way! Unlike my other posts which stick to locally-owned businesses, this is a list of anywhere I know of which has outdoor seating. I have thrown in fast food chains, burger joints, and cafes, as well as my original search for more upscale places where I could enjoy a glass of wine al fresco. If you know of any restaurants which should be added to this list, let me know in the comments and I'll add them!

Verrazanos - Easily the best view of the bunch. Enjoy upscale Italian food and a nice wine list on their water view deck.

The Rock - The view here is of Fatburger's patio but it's tucked in between the buildings so it's a little private. They have tasty wood fired pizza, microbrews, wine, or you can order a cocktail in a bucket. So that's a bonus.

Fatburger - As you probably guessed from above, their patio has a view of The Rock and its patio. You can enjoy a giant burger, fries, and, yes, a cold beer, tucked down in their little patio.

The Ram - This patio faces the parking lot but they have a nice little wall in between you and the cars and it's on the low traffic side of the building so it's a pleasant spot to enjoy a microbrew and a hearty dinner.

Red Robin - The deck faces the Commons Mall so you can get in some good people watching with your bottomless steak fries.

Panera - Their patio has a few umbrella tables next to the building and also faces the Commons. It's more of a pleasant lunch option than a lingering cocktail hour/dinner spot.

Costa Vida - In front of the Commons, this has good sidewalk seating and feels like a festive place to enjoy a burrito.

Five Guys - This is the newest restaurant at the Commons and they are right next to Costa Vida, sharing a sidewalk style patio.

Los Bigotes de Villa - This place and its teeny, comfortable deck feel like a beachfront taco stand that has been airlifted to a little shopping area tucked away along Pacific Highway. It feels private and relaxing despite the proximity to the highway, and the food is outstanding.

Poverty Bay Cafe - The outdoor seating for this coffee shop turned full service restaurant usually consists of a few tables and a water bowl for dogs just outside the front door. It's a great spot to enjoy breakfast in the summer.

Puerto Vallarta - They have a private little patio around the back of the restaurant that just begs you to enjoy a cold margarita on a hot day.

Burger Express - The deck here looks out over Pacific Highway and feels like a lively place to enjoy burgers and one of the best selections of shakes in Federal Way.

Ivar's - This branch of the local seafood chain has a few tables out front to enjoy your fish and chips in the fresh air.

Menchies - On a hot day, this is a recipe for happiness. A place that sells frozen yogurt by weight and has sidewalk seating is my kind of place!

Cold Stone Creamery/Jimmy John's - These restaurants are next to each other and there are a few tables on the sidewalk out in front. Dinner and dessert?

Starbucks (various locations) - I think most Starbucks locations have some sort of outdoor seating options.

Town Square Park

31620 20th Ave S, Federal Way
http://www.cityoffederalway.com/facilities.aspx?page=detail&rid=37

I have to say that I kind of love Mayor Jim Farrell. Not in a creepy, restraining order sort of way. In a civic pride, nerdy sort of way. I frequently say to my husband, “You know what this town needs?” and then I go off about something that would clearly make the community better. Ever since Mayor Farrell has taken office, I regularly read about my ideas magically happening.

A great example of this is the new Town Square Park, which opened this summer. It’s right in the middle of downtown Federal Way and helps answer the inevitable questions, “where is downtown Federal Way?” or even, “does Federal Way actually have a downtown?” The park features a huge lawn suitable for outdoor movies, yoga, and doing cartwheels (my daughter’s preference); picnic tables and grills; multiple basketball courts; a pea patch; a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier; and a paved area with a Christmas tree and area for a farmer’s market and food trucks.

Just since July, we've attended a handful of events at Town Square Park, from the park’s grand opening celebration which featured live music, food trucks, face painting, and two bounce houses; to a movie night at which the mayor himself served free popcorn before the town enjoyed the Lego Movie while lying under the stars. This weekend, we will be attending a tree lighting ceremony with local choirs, hot chocolate, and Santa Claus arriving via fire truck.

This area is quickly becoming a fun hub for the community of Federal Way and I’m so glad to see this particular dream of mine come true – especially since I didn’t actually have to do anything to make it happen!

Little Free Libraries of Federal Way

5019 SW 329th Way
29845 6th Ave S
2107 318th Pl SW
littlefreelibrary.org

Little Free Libraries are popping up all over the country as well as around the world. These little book exchanges are a great way for neighbors to come together and share common interests, while promoting a love of reading in children and adults. People place them in their yards, in parks, at schools, in neighborhood common spaces, and more. Neighbors are invited to "take a book and return a book." The libraries are installed by community members who want to help make their neighborhoods healthy and fun places. These library stewards maintain and monitor the little buildings while people in the community stop by to take books that interest them and to return or exchange books they have already enjoyed. When registered on the Little Free Library website, the libraries receive a charter sign and are cataloged on a map or list so that people can find a library wherever they go.

The city of Federal Way currently has 3 registered libraries which residents can enjoy. Each is a little different and they all reflect the tastes and reading habits of their individual neighborhoods. Two of the libraries were painted to match the houses in front of which they are installed. One has two "stories"--the top floor has books for adults and the bottom houses children's books. One library was built in honor of the steward's son and two of the stewards are members of the same family. One of them shared this story on the Little Free Library website.

"A few years ago, I saw an article in the local paper about the Little Free Library story. I cut out the article and started looking into building one. Unfortunately, my building skills are limited and so nothing happened, but the article remained on my nightstand, a reminder of what I wished for. In the fall of 2013, my brother-in-law built a library in memory of his son. While collecting books for his library, he learned about my dream of having one. In December, after the holidays, the phone rang and it was Billy, offering to build me my own Little Free Library. A few weeks later, on a wintry February day, it was installed. The library has been so much fun--truly a dream come true for me. The neighborhood community has embraced it and I am so grateful that I am able to be the steward and that I can share my love of reading with so many people. It delights me everyday!"

Check out the Little Free Library website to find a library close to you or find out how to build your own. There are more than 25 LFLs in Tacoma and dozens in Seattle. I'd love to see Federal Way embrace this charming movement in the same way - it's relatively easy and so fun (full disclosure: I'm am the steward of one of these libraries). The children in my neighborhood have been especially excited about the project. If you're not ready to install your own, just stop by one of the three in town and pick out your next book to read.

Los Bigotes De Villa

30420 Pacific Hwy S #3, Federal Way

One day I woke up and said to my husband, " I really want a giant burrito today." So I went ahead and Googled, "giant burrito Federal Way" and found my new favorite Mexican restaurant in town. This place does not mess around with their burritos--they are indeed giant and more importantly, they are delicious.

They have a great salsa bar which includes lots of different kinds of salsa, plus pickled veggies and radishes. They serve Negra Modelo, Mexican Coke, and all kinds of non-burrito entrees which are good, too.

I should mention that it is located in a brightly-painted shack (yes, really) in a little row of other brightly-painted shacks. The inside is cute and kitschy and outside has a teeny little deck which is perfect for those sunny days when you want to sit on a deck and drink cold beer and eat hot burritos. Which for me, is almost every day. Additionally, this restaurant is named after Pancho Villa's mustache. True story.

Verrazanos Italian Restaurant

28835 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way
www.verrazanos.com

Even without the delicious food, well-rounded wine list, and pleasant service, Verrazanos is the best restaurant in Federal Way. The town has something like 8 miles of waterfront and this is, to my knowledge, the only restaurant which takes advantage of that fact. With large, west-facing windows and a spacious deck, Verrazanos offers a spectacular view of Poverty Bay, Maury Island and the Olympic Mountains. As you can imagine, this is a popular spot in the summer for people who want to dine al fresco. Verrazanos deck is one of my favorite places to be on a summer evening. In the winter, the view is just as great from inside the warm, rustic interior of the restaurant.

But did I mention the delicious food, well-rounded wine list, and pleasant service? Even when they are busy, the servers are courteous and friendly. Their wine selection is great, featuring a lot of Italian wines, as well as some great west coast options.

With all this going for it, the food could be bad and I'd still eat here. But the food is great. It's heavy on seafood, steaks and Italian comfort food like eggplant parmesan, spaghetti, and risotto. They also make fantastic personal sized pizzas and have really nice salads. However, I could not write a review of this restaurant without mentioning their cannoli. It is so good. Really good. Slap your mamma good. Leave the gun, take the cannoli good.

Señor Taco

33120 Pacific Highway South, Federal Way
www.facebook.com/pages/Senor-Taco

You can usually bet that if a restaurant only has a handful of items on their menu, they do them all well. That is definitely the case at Señor Taco, where there is a small but solid selection of tacos and burritos to choose from on a board above the counter. The seasonings, salsas and flavors are all perfect and the portions are huge. One burrito could easily feed two people, unless one of those people is my husband. The tacos are simple and tasty and if you like fish tacos, this is the place to go in town. They also have a selection of Mexican soda and candy if you need a sugar hit.

While the menu is pretty no-frills, the decor is very festive, with each wall painted a different bright color and covered in funky artwork, religious icons, and televisions playing what appears to be the all soccer (or should I say futbol?) channel. On a gray Northwest day, the bright interior and friendly staff make you feel like you are somewhere sunny like Mexico or, at the very least, San Diego.

Branches Garden Center

3909 S. 320th St., Auburn
www.branchesgc.com

Although the address is technically in Auburn, this sweet little garden center is definitely part of Federal Way - it's on 320th right before it turns into Peasley Canyon Road and before you reach the, "Welcome to Auburn" sign; it is very involved in the FW community, participating in Federal Way Community Gardens, the FW sand sculpting championships, organic gardening workshops and more; and, it was just voted as the best nursery in the Federal Way Mirror's "Best Of" competition. With that out of the way, let me tell you how much I love this store, no matter what its provenance.

The store is a series of buildings which are essentially giant garden sheds leading to an outdoor area full of plants, pottery, and statuary. You enter through the amazing gift shop, which looks as though it was taken directly from your hippest friend's Pinterest boards. In addition to the garden-related items such as tools, potting soil, bird feeders, cute watering cans, etc., there are so many lovely gifts, from pretty candles to beautiful scarves and aprons, funky dish towels, gourmet foods, wine accessories, jewelry and more. Even if you have no yard and a black thumb, you could still spend hours here.

If you are a gardening buff, looking for a great selection of plants, you could also spend hours here. They have a beautiful assortment and lots of really helpful information about planting and care. You can also find great garden items such as pots, trellises, birdbaths and fountains. The staff are very friendly and happy to answer questions.

I think the greatest thing I can say about Branches is that it has inspired me to garden, even though I am notoriously bad at caring for plants and never had much interest in it before. Just walking through their door makes me believe that I can be that girl with the awesome Pinterest gardening board.

Three Trees Yoga & Healing Arts Center

204 S 348th St, Federal Way
www.threetreesyoga.com

My favorite vacations are the kind where I can relax and forget about the stresses in my daily life but still feel like I've accomplished something. Unfortunately, I don't have the wallet for such vacations as regularly as  I would like. Fortunately, I can go to Three Trees once a week and for a mere $15 (less if you buy a class pass), I can spend an hour relaxing, forgetting my stress and accomplishing some of my fitness goals.

This yoga studio is so fantastic. The instructors are very knowledgeable; the facility is beautiful, tranquil and inviting; and the building is surrounded by peaceful woods on three sides. It really does feel like a little mini-vacation every time I go in. They offer late and drop-in classes which are great if you commute out of FW and/or have a busy schedule. If you're new to yoga, there are classes that will help you get up to speed and the instructors are patient and helpful. The range of classes ensures that there is something for everyone, no matter how much or little yoga experience you have. They even have massage therapists on staff if your idea of relaxation involves someone else doing all the work!

East India Grill

31845 Gateway Blvd. S, Federal Way
www.eastindiagrillwa.com

As far as I know, this is the only Indian restaurant in Federal Way since the one in the food court at the Commons closed (unless you count the amazing Indian pizza at CanAm). Even if this weren't the only game in town, I would still eat here all the time. The food is great and the restaurant has great ambiance. The walls are painted the warm colors of the spices in the food and the lighting is soft and makes the dining room feel like it is a million miles from the busy intersection of 320th and the freeway.

I have been here many times and have always loved everything I've eaten, from vegetable biryani to mango chicken and a wide variety of stuffed naan. During the day, they have the lunch buffet which is apparently required by law of all Indian restaurants but they also do a Sunday brunch - and what could be more decadent than butter chicken with a mimosa on the side? But wait, there's more! If you love their food and want to make the recipes at home, East India Grill sometimes offers cooking classes. If you're looking for a great dining experience that's close to home, I highly recommend East India Grill.

Tokyo Steak House

1404 S 320th St., Federal Way
tokyojapanesesteakhouse.org

Once again, I find myself posting about a restaurant which turns out to be a chain. I'm ok with this because the Federal Way location of Tokyo Steakhouse was the only one for more than a decade. They opened a second location in Bellevue last year but this still feels like a Federal Way original. Although, if you've been to a Benihana, it's pretty much the same thing. All the same, Tokyo Steak House is a really fun place to have dinner. If you're not familiar with the teppan yaki style of cooking, this is where there is a big grill attached to your table and the chef comes out and cooks right next to you. Like any Japanese steak house, there is a lot of fire and dinner theater involved and the chefs here do a fine job of knife juggling, precision chopping and turning everyday vegetables into flaming volcanoes. The food is tasty and, obviously, cooked to order. I can recommend the steak and calamari dinner and have enjoyed the shrimp and veggies as well. In addition, they have an extensive sushi menu but the regular dinner off the grill includes soup, salad, rice and appetizer in addition to your entree. You will not go hungry here!

The Dance Collection

1500 S 336th St. Ste. 5, Federal Way
http://www.dancecollection.net

I'm not a professional dancer - my on-stage dance career started when I was 5-years-old with a pre-ballet recital performed to Lionel Richie's "Ballerina Girl" and ended in about fifth grade with a jazz performance to Trans X's "Living on Video." Now that you all know approximately how old I am, let's move on to why I love The Dance Collection. My little girl is now 4 and has been taking pre-ballet and is just about to start tap this fall. This store has everything she needs while she is currently in her sparkly tutu phase of her dance career and will be able to provide for her needs should she choose to stick with it beyond fifth grade. The store also has really great customer service. When going to buy tap shoes, we were racing to get there before they closed and arrived about 30 seconds too late. As we turned to head back to the car, an employee unlocked the door and cheerfully invited us in. She fitted my little girl and was as nice as could be, even though we were making her stay late. I really appreciated it and rest assured, if my daughter does stick with it, The Dance Collection will have our repeat business for years.

Peking Wok

32921 1st Ave S, Federal Way
www.pekingwoksungs.com

Federal Way has no shortage of Chinese restaurants, so it can be hard to pick one when you’re in the mood for some Mongolian beef and wonton soup. There are a few reasons I like Peking Wok. Most importantly, the food is good. It’s your basic American-style Chinese food done nicely and they have a really big menu to choose from. They’ll even do Peking duck if you give them 24-hour notice. The portions are big and the prices are reasonable. The restaurant itself is very cozy. It’s located in the Quad Shopping Center and of course it’s in a strip mall, but the interior is nice with red walls, intimate tables, and the ceiling is covered in a very ornate pattern. 

The other great thing about Peking Wok is that they deliver. One warning on that though - there’s a $20 minimum order for delivery and a dinner for one is around $13 and can easily feed two people. So if you, a.) live alone or, b.) don’t live alone but your husband is at his brother’s house watching football and you’re home with wicked PMS and all you want in the world is for someone to drive Chinese food to your face while you sit on your couch watching A League of Their Own, you might be out of luck. Or you could just order some extra appetizers and have a lot of leftovers.

Wild Waves and Enchanted Village

36201 Enchanted Pkwy S, Federal Way
www.wildwaves.com

I believe I mentioned in a previous post that Federal Way leads the pack when it comes to swimming holes. The King County Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art swimming facility which has hosted the Goodwill Games, Pac 12 swim meets, local competitions and, most recently, the Olympic diving trials. The Federal Way Community Center has the largest recreational pool complex in the state. But if you ask anyone outside of Federal Way what there is to do here, nine times out of ten, they will mention Wild Waves.

The beloved theme park just celebrated its 35th anniversary this summer and is still as popular as ever. I absolutely love the optimism of an outdoor water park in Western Washington - there are approximately 3 (non-consecutive) weeks per year where the high temperatures get above 80 degrees. However, Wild Waves is packed throughout the summer with people who won't let a little chilliness stand in their way of having a good time on the water slides.

I recently went here with a group of friends, most of whom are from out of state. After the initial shock of being cold in our swimsuits in August wore off, we had a great time! Although waiting in line while wet is cold when it's 70 degrees out, the water in the slides is heated and they are mostly worth the wait. When we couldn't get warm anymore, we dried off, hit the beer garden and then moved on to Enchanted Village.

Enchanted Village is the dry side of the park and has a little bit of something for everyone. My husband and daughter enjoyed the Kiddie Land (which still has some of the great rides I remember from my youth) and my friends and I hit the roller coasters which, while few in number, are very thrilling. The Thunderhawk: Ride of Prey, is a big wooden roller coaster with tons of drops and an Old West theme, while the Wild Thing is a more modern ride with a big loop and a very scary corkscrew. They also have some more traditional fair rides like the Scrambler and the Ring of Fire. In addition, they have two rides that you have to pay extra for but look like they would be worth it if you aren't a big chicken like I am. One is a zip line that carries you 700 feet over the park and the other is the I-5 Dive, which is basically a big bungee cord that drops you 125 feet and then lets you swing for a while.

Here are some things to think about before you go: you can rent a locker and the cheapest ones are $14.00 but if you have a big group, think about renting a cabana. If you come wearing your swimsuit under your clothes and it's not 90 degrees, bring dry underwear to change into. If you go on the speed slides, take a moment at the bottom to take care of your inevitable wedgie before you hop up in front of the teenage lifeguard...

Northshore Quality Produce

35522 21st Ave. SW, Federal Way
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northshore-Quality-Produce/120027238020659

In the summer, the Federal Way Farmers Market and our CSA membership are great ways to get our fruits and veggies but I absolutely love having Northshore Quality Produce, a year-round greengrocer, here in town. They have a great selection of fresh and often local produce at competitive prices. In addition, they sell a wide variety of other items such as fancy-pants cheeses, cured meats, specialty canned goods, pasta, freshly baked breads and a dairy case complete with Smith Brothers milk and Beecher's macaroni and cheese. All that alone would make this place a one-stop grocery store for me but to my carnivorous husband's joy, there is also a butcher onsite. The third and smallest location of the local B & E Meats & Seafood chain, the butcher counter is located right inside the store and has a fantastic selection of steaks, chops, sausage and seafood, including top quality wild Alaskan salmon. They now also carry wine, which makes this adorable little store my ideal one-stop shop!

Federal Way Farmers Market

South 324th St. and Pacific Highway South, Federal Way
http://www.federalwayfarmersmarket.com  

Official Poster by Jo Ann Hawkins

Is there anything not to love about a farmers market? They bring people in the community together to shop, eat, and, in the case of the FW market, occasionally watch fire fighters and cops duel over chili. Similar to the mall (and in its parking lot, no less) but with fewer teenagers on cell phones and more organic produce and handmade bird houses, the Farmers Market is downtown Federal Way. Every Saturday from May through October, it brings the town together, which can be a rare thing in a strip mall community. They have a great collection of vendors - you can often buy free range eggs and bacon, scads of seasonal produce, flowers, honey, arts and crafts, plus visit food carts that span barbecue to lumpia to cinnamon rolls. There is sometimes a bounce house and giant inflatable slide and always a master gardener on site in case you're a gardening bonehead, like I am. The other great thing about the Federal Way Farmers Market is the variety of events they have throughout the season. This year, we can look forward to Hawaiian day, several swap meet/garage sale days, a classic car show, a pie contest and of course, the always popular FWFD vs. FWPD Chili Cook-Off. This opening weekend coincides, as it does every year, with the Mother's Day Buds and Blooms Tour. In addition there is a fun run slated for later in the season and rumors of a new weekday evening time slot, as well as the normal Saturday time. Be sure to stop by to check it out this summer during open hours, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and support this great part of our community.

King County Aquatic Center

650 SW Campus Drive, Federal Way
http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/pools.aspx 

Whatever Federal Way lacks in charm, it makes up for in swimmin' holes. This town has the best indoor swimming pools I have ever been to (outside of Las Vegas - you really can't compete with any place that has a swim-up bar). One is the leisure pool at the Federal Way Community Center - more on that later - and the other is the King County Aquatic Center. Built for the Goodwill Games back in 1990, KCAC has an Olympic-sized pool, tons of seating for spectators and is used for Olympic trials, Pac-12 competitions, high school and youth team training, Special Olympics, swim camps, and open lap swim, among myriad other events. If you aren't a super serious swimmer and this all sounds intimidating, they also have a fantastic recreation pool. Divided in half by a giant pirate ship, the rec pool is zero entry on one side, making it great for tiny children who are new to swimming. The rec pool hosts family swim time, as well as swimming lessons for everyone from babies to adults. My little daughter is currently taking swimming lessons here and is really enjoying it. As a working parent, one of my favorite things about KCAC is that they offer swimming lessons into the evening up to 7:00 p.m. The rates are very reasonable - drop in swims start at $3.25 for the recreation pool and swimming lessons start at $68.00. You can also rent the pool for parties. KCAC is perfect for swimmers of every age and ability level and my family enjoys spending a lot of time here. And did I mention there's a pirate ship?

Serious Soul Cafe

35501 21st Avenue SW, Federal Way
www.serioussoulcafe.com

Ok, forget the Seattle Girl today – this post is dedicated to my southern girls. I actually waited to try Serious Soul Café until my friend from North Carolina was in town. I had been noticing it every time I went to buy cat food at Simply Paws and I was intrigued. I figured if it passed muster with my friend who has southern roots, it would get a gold star from me. Not only did it get her stamp of approval, she actually said that their hushpuppies are some of the best she’s had. I absolutely have to agree. They are so soft and fluffy on the inside and were served with a honey dipping sauce. The fried chicken was perfect – crispy and juicy but not at all greasy. They make amazing macaroni and cheese and the collard greens were delightful. My husband had their ribs and a slice of pecan pie and enjoyed that very much too. I would guess that everything on the menu is as delicious, based on the food we tried. The café itself is tiny, with only about six tables, but the owners are so friendly and the close quarters made for some cozy time with another couple with whom we wound up playing trivia from the Coffee News. My only caveat is this, plan to do laundry and wash your hair right after you eat here – the smell of the fryer really lingers. You can also get takeout from them and avoid the issue altogether but either way, the food is totally worth it.

Starplex Cinemas - Gateway Movies 8 ($2 Movie Theater)

2501 South Gateway Center, Federal Way
http://starplexcinemas.com/locations.php?theaterid=1012

When I was young, and didn’t have anything better to spend my money on, I went to the movies all the time. Now that I, a. have to pay for things like a mortgage and preschool tuition and b. movies are insanely expensive, I don’t go as often. There are two exceptions to this. One is the drive-in (which is in Auburn so I won’t go into it since I’m just focusing on Federal Way in this blog), and the other is the two-dollar movie theater here in town.  It really is that inexpensive and on Tuesdays, it’s actually cheaper – only a dollar. They play movies after they aren’t playing at the first-run theaters anymore, so you have to wait if you want to see a movie as soon as it comes out. This is perfect for me since it usually takes me so long to get around to going to see a movie, by the time I do, it’s already playing at the cheap theater.  There are a few other bargains to be had here. If you want to see a movie in 3D, it’s four dollars. They also have dollar hot dogs at the snack bar. However, all of the other food is regular movie theater prices so if you want popcorn and soda, be prepared to shell out. All around, this is a great movie-going experience for a great price. Well done, Federal Way! 

New York Vinny's Pizza

2132 SW 336th St. Federal Way
newyorkvinnyspizzas.com

New York Vinny's has a few things going for it - it's conveniently located in Twin Lakes Village at the corner of 336th and 21st, they have large pizzas that are ready for pick up all day, every day for only $5.00, and their pizza is really tasty. The "Grab-N-Go" concept is what really sets them apart from a lot of the other pizza places around. I think Little Caesar's does the same sort of thing but Vinny's pizza is better. I was a bit skeptical at first - it seems like you might be getting pizza that has been sitting around for hours, getting rubbery and sad. Happily, that has not been my experience. We've tried both the cheese and pepperoni, the two flavors available for Grab-N-Go, and they are both great.  The sauce is flavorful and the crust is chewy and kind of buttery. I haven't spent much time eating pizza in NYC, but I will say that for $5.00, these are some pretty delicious pizzas. In addition, they have other toppings and sauces available which you can order in advance, including a garlic ranch chicken pizza, if you're into that sort of thing. This is the sort of place that is perfect for grabbing lunch for a birthday party or dinner after a long day of work/sports practice/ballet lessons, etc. This is also the sort of place I would like to have stick around in Federal Way so stop in and see for yourself - I think you'll like it too.

Christmas Lights at Viewpointe at Redondo

South 300th Place and 1st Avenue South, Federal Way

As an out and proud Christmas junkie, one of my favorite things about Federal Way sadly only lasts for a month. Every December, the residents of the Viewpointe at Redondo go above and beyond to show their holiday spirit. Nearly every household in this neighborhood puts up holiday decorations that would put Clark W. Griswold to shame. Conveniently laid out in a loop, the streets of this 'hood are full of cars rolling through at two miles per hour with their lights off, every night of the week. 11 months out of the year, the place is just a collection of neutral-colored McMansions with perfect lawns but this time of year, it's like an attraction at Disneyland. The houses sparkle with thousands of twinkle lights, trees and shrubs shine in glorious technicolor and the lawns are filled with amazing displays.  At one you might see a fully lighted train carrying drumming nutcrackers while down the street Santa tries to free himself from a giant illuminated igloo. Another yard features a larger than life, glowing nativity scene. Fairy light candy canes dangle from the trees and the sidewalks and driveways are lit up like runways.

The whole place is at once beautiful and gaudy and dazzling. I suspect that you can see it from space and that no one who lives here gets enough rest during the holiday season. It's as though they are doing the town a free public service and the drain on their sleep and electric bills is their gift to Federal Way.  However, the real gift is in the bins they place on the sidewalk for visitors to drop off non-perishable food donations for the FW Food Bank. If you're looking for some holiday cheer and want to avoid the mall as much as I do, cruise out to Redondo with your holiday tunes on and some canned food donations - I dare you not to love it.