About Seattle's Maple Leaf

It's always a treat to see a new cafe open its doors, especially when it's only a few blocks from my house!

Back in March the Blue Saucer Cafe threw their proverbial hat in the ring and started slinging shots for the Maple Leaf/North Seattle masses. Actually, I don't know if the "masses" have started showing up yet. But if the Saucer stays on the path of righteous coffee-making they won't do too bad. They have roots in coffee, as the owner is formally of Hotwire Coffee House. So they may be new to the neighborhood, but their blood flows dark brown. :-)

Blue Saucer is just down the street from Cloud City Coffee House, which may make it difficult for business until customers realize there is a whole different vibe here. It's a bit smaller but with a nicer interior and more welcoming ambience. They serve StumpTown Coffee (free trade, etc.), of who's Columbian blend I am quite a (new) fan.

If you're working on something and need a spot that's a little quieter in the Maple Leaf/Northgate area, check out The Blue Saucer. The music isn't blaring in your ears and the paint isn't peeling off the walls like you might find in some other independent shops.

They're so new they don't have a website yet. So you just have to experience it first-hand if you're in the area.

Right on the corner of 92nd and Roosevelt in Maple Leaf.

- Jay Silver

The following information was current as of April 15th, 2008.

Maple Leaf continues along the trend with much of the northeast region of Seattleand is still in good shape. While many neighborhoods are squarely in favor of buyers, Maple Leaf is still balanced. In fact if my office is nay indication, there has been a significant upturn in activity in recent days. We are heading into the busy season and rates are still low. Rates did tick up overnight, but nothing to be alarmed about.

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North Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood has a gem tucked discreetly away from Seattle's pop-coffee culture. There may be a Starbucks on virtually every corner here in Seattle, but what many people (who don't live here) don't know is that there is quite an alternative coffee movement. I live here in the Maple Leaf neighborhood in North Seattle and we have a local community coffee house called Cloud City Coffee.

Cloud City is a great spot within the North Seattle community to hang up your umbrella and grab a nice tall latte. If you're hungry, you can order anything from a cinnamon roll to the Cloud City Club Sandwich. Sit back on one of the couches and enjoy the free wireless internet access.

Sometimes the baristas might look a little grumpy, but once you start talking to them you'll realize first impressions aren't worth a dime at the cafe.

My favorite thing about it is the location. Most coffee shops compete with each other on busy thoroughfares, like Lake City Way or Northgate Way. But Cloud City is on the corner of 88th and Roosevelt. Tucked away in a community that loves dog-walking and has a large family park right in the middle of it.

There are some other great small businesses in the Maple Leaf neighborhood that I'd like to write about, but I'll write about those later.

You can learn more about the coffee house here: www.cloudcitycoffee.com

- Jay