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The 5 Best Seattle Brunch Spots — Locals’ Picks

By U.S. News & World Report

When it comes to the most important meal of the day, Seattle‘s thriving foodie scene offers a lot of options. Whether you want a steaming cup of local coffee or the greasy scramble of the day, your stomach will become an evangelist for these great rise-and-shine spots.

Tilikum Place Café

Tilikum Place Café is a go-to brunch spot for Seattleites. Snag a seat at the window for a view of the Space Needle and watch the monorail go by. This super cozy spot has a quaint, almost European, feel — perfect for a romantic date.

[Read: The Best Hotels in Seattle.]

Tracie Kahikina, head concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, loves the cafe’s beignets (which rotate on and off the menu), and adds that the Dutch baby pancakes and the Tilikum Fry Up (an egg, bacon, sausage, baked beans and tomato on toast) are also crowd-pleasers.

Be sure to make a reservation to avoid a long wait. The cafe serves brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekends.

The London Plane

Jessica Gomes, VIP coordinator at Hotel 1000, is a fan of Pioneer Square‘s The London Plane and its James Beard Award-winning chef Matt Dillon. “They make their own preserves and their own pickles, and they have floral arranging, so you can walk in and pick out some flowers to bring to the table with you, which really sets the tone,” Gomes says. “They have a rotating seasonal menu, but I love the avocado toast, which has avocado, curry and fennel, which are things I’d never put together but, oh my gosh, it was so right and so delicious.”

Breakfast is served daily until 3 p.m.

Serious Pie & Biscuit

” Serious Pie & Biscuit is another great spot,” Gomes says of the always hopping South Lake Union establishment from local celebrity chef Tom Douglas.

[Read: Seattle’s 5 Best Neighborhoods for Nightlife.]

With more than a dozen tasty dishes to choose from — including a biscuit sandwich with fried green tomato, bacon, remoulade and egg, or another with house peanut butter, ripe banana and honey — the restaurant has a big-as-your-head breakfast option for every palate.

“On the mezzanine, if you get seated up there, you’re actually looking onto the bakery,” Gomes says. So as you enjoy your breakfast sandwich, you can watch people below making the biscuits, in all their buttery, flaky glory. “It’s delectable,” she adds.

Brunch is served on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Café Pettirosso

A favorite of Alexis Beeton, chief concierge at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle, is Café Pettirosso, a coffee cart-turned-cafe in Capitol Hill. “It’s very quaint — definitely a bit of a hole in the wall,” she says. “It’s always worth a stop to get one of their homemade eclairs.” The cafe makes its baked goods fresh each morning.

Kyle Poirier, W insider at the W Seattle, says it’s a good place to grab a bite “if you want to hang out where the locals go.” He loves Café Pettirosso’s brioche French toast. Stuffed with apple pie filling and served with candied almonds and bourbon maple syrup, it’s a sweet morning must-have.

Factor in coffee beans from Lighthouse Roasters and you’ve got the makings of a most delicious morning.

[Read: 8 Unique Seattle Tours.]

Brunch is served every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Toulouse Petit Kitchen and Lounge

Toulouse Petit Kitchen and Lounge in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood near the Space Needle, is a favorite of Lara Dennis, concierge at the Kimpton Alexis Hotel Seattle. The Big Easy-inspired spot serves up inventive Cajun cuisine in a fun, lively environment.

“Their fried oyster eggs Benedict is one of my favorite meals in the city — just incredible,” Dennis says. And, she adds, “their mimosas are served in a full-sized pint glass, so I don’t think there’s a better way to start the day.”

Brunch is served Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with happy hour brunch from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. On weekends, brunch is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To experience more of what Seattle has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

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The 5 Best Seattle Brunch Spots — Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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