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From circus and burlesque, to dinner cruises and murder mystery, dinner and a show promises double the fun for a night out in Seattle.  I recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at the unique, local venue, Teatro ZinZanni, and Chef Erik Carlson’s formula for bringing food and art together. Here are a few more options available to Seattleites craving a one-of-a-kind experience that blends dining and entertainment. Burlesque Theatre: The historic Triple Door was originally home to the Embassy Theatre, a vaudeville house that opened in the late 1920’s. Its transitioned several times over the years, including a stint as a burlesque house for over 20 years, and was renovated in the late 1990’s in order to build a music and dinner theatre. The renovation sought to bring this space back to all its previous glory and lavishness by preserving the original stage proscenium and ceiling fixtures, embellishing it with plush fabrics and ornate décor, and finally, punctuating it all with comfortable booth seating and a state of the art sound system. While many musical and stage performances are held here nightly, The Atomic Bombshells were the first troupe to bring burlesque back to the Triple Door. This local group integrates the worlds of burlesque, drag, dance, and theatre into their productions, incorporating a bit of campiness and playful humor, professionally-choreographed dance routines, and spectacular costumes to create shows with a unique style. Additional burlesque productions, such as Burlesco Divino: Wine in Rome and the annual holiday delight, Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker, are produced throughout the year at the Triple Door by another local company Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann Present. Dinner is not included in the ticket prices, but guests can order from the Wild Ginger kitchen just upstairs from the Triple Door. The Southeast Asian menu features foods from China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. The Can Can in the Pike Place Market offers another burlesque entertainment choice for Seattleites. This venue features both national and local entertainment in addition to the Can Can’s own talented dance troupe, The Castaways. Ticket options with or without dinner are available, but the chef’s emphasis on local, seasonal menu ingredients sourced fresh daily from the Market may sway you to splurge a little here.  There are even special VIP packages that guarantee a private table in the VIP section, and the Celebration Add-On that ensures an up-close-and personal dance on stage for your guest of honor. Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre: If murder-mystery entertainment is more your speed, there are several choices in Seattle to become part of the action and help uncover who-done-it. During these evenings actors in-disguise mingle among guests while diners try and solve the “crime”. Once a week, the Argosy Murder Mystery Dining Cruise takes to the water for a seated, served dinner, night views of the Seattle skyline and Events on the Edge Productions’ unique brand of interactive comedy. During the cruise, professional actors blend in with guests as a “detective” leads an investigation to help the audience solve a mystery. Audience participation is completely voluntary. Guests choose the level of involvement they are comfortable with. Those who do not wish to participate can simply enjoy watching the story unfold or one can join in the excitement of the show by helping to decipher the clues. For the more brave souls, who choose to be involved in the action (or who might want to set up one of their unknowing friends or family!), sharing information ahead of time - that is used to further the plot - can put you right in the middle of the adventure. On weekends at the historic French Creek Manor in Snohomish The Murder Mystery Co. serves up its monthly-themed interactive game of mystery and intrigue alongside a three course dinner. Dressing up to fit the theme is encouraged! The Dinner Detective at Hotel Deca in the University District features a four course plated dinner and an improvised and interactive mystery comedy show where anyone in the room, even your dinner date, could be the suspect. As a bonus, there is a prize for the sleuth who comes closest to solving the crime!

Sometimes a pure and simple pepperoni pizza hits the spot. But with the proliferation of unlikely toppings popping up on pies all over Seattle, our definition of the Friday-night dinner staple is changing. Below, we highlighted 10 pies with toppings mouthwatering enough to tempt us away from our usual slice (plus one for those with an appetite for adventure). Pesto Chicken Pizza at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California Ave. SW) Pesto on pizza is nothing new by itself, but Talarico’ s version of a pesto pie is the perfect marriage of tradition and innovation, incorporating brie cheese and spiced walnuts along with pesto-marinated chicken, classic marinara sauce, and mozzarella. No. 6 Classic at Flying Squirrel Pizza Co. (three locations in Seattle) The toppings list on the No. 6 reads a lot like a classic steak-house menu—sans steak. Potatoes roasted with lemon, herbs, and garlic mingle with St. Clemens blue cheese, chive oil, and spinach, along with a generous sprinkling of mozzarella. The Locks at The Alibi Room (85 Pike St. #410) There’s no shortage of creative pizza toppings at The Alibi Room—asparagus and bacon, blue cheese and grapes—but in this seafood-loving town, one stands apart. Featuring an olive-oil base topped with smoked salmon, dill cream cheese, red onions, and capers, The Locks is like a classic New York bagel in pizza form, though without a single pesky poppy seed. Tropicana Pizza at Jet City Pizza Co. (multiple locations in western Washington) Pineapple on pizza has long been a mainstay, but Jet City takes the Hawaiian-pizza concept further, starting with pineapple and canadian bacon, then adding mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, and coconut. Bring your own mini marshmallows and you’ve basically got an ambrosia salad on a pizza. Cowardly Apricot at 'Zaw Artisan Pizza (multiple locations in the Puget Sound area) The chefs at 'Zaw pride themselves on using unique, locally sourced toppings for their take-and-bake pizzas, and this sweet and savory concoction is no exception. Roasted free-range chicken breast joins apricots, fresh basil, maple-syrup-caramelized onions, and a blend of gorgonzola and mozzarella atop a crust brushed with olive oil. Pizza di Nutella at Queen Margherita (3111 W. McGraw St. #103) This sweet and simple dessert pizza is exactly as simple as it sounds: a pizza crust slathered with the chocolate-hazelnut spread. Think of it as a big, shareable crepe and suddenly it doesn’t seem so strange. Il Segreto di Pulcinella at Pizzeria Pulcinella (10003 Rainier Ave. S) While perfect for dessert, we could totally picture ourselves devouring this pie first thing in the morning. Creamy mascarpone and espresso and coffee liqueur are spread upon the crust, which is then baked in a wood-fired oven. The final touches: drizzles of chocolate sauce and dollops of whipped cream. Thai One On Pizza at Zeeks Pizza (multiple locations in the Puget Sound area) For the nights when one takeout staple simply won’t do, this pizza combines the classic flavors of pad thai—chicken, bean sprouts, carrots, fresh cilantro, and peanut sauce—with mozzarella and an olive-oil glaze. Two-Cut Cubano at The Station Pizzeria (14505 148th Ave. NE, Woodinville) The classic components of a cuban sandwich are all represented here, even down to the grainy dijon mustard. Add to that pulled pork shoulder, smoked ham, housemade bread and butter pickles, and pepperoncini. One small exception: the usual swiss cheese is swapped out for provolone. This is a pizza, after all. Reuben at Rocco’s (2228 2nd Ave.) For further proof that great sandwiches make equally great pizzas, look no further than this Belltown original, topped with with mozzarella, corned beef, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing. If only someone would invent a marble-rye pizza crust. Big Moses at Ballard Pizza Company (5107 Ballard Ave. NW) The chefs choose the toppings on this pie each day, meaning every meal is a surprise. While there are no guarantees, past incarnations have included everything from peaches, spicy salumi, and chives to cherries, arugula, and guanciale.

Maybe it’s the rain that keeps Seattle readers inside, cradling their favorite tome. But there’s no denying that this city loves to crack open a book, or curl up in the stacks of some musty neighborhood vendor. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of quality places to buy, trade, read and enjoy books in the Emerald City. Here are some of the city’s best. One of the most beloved booksellers in Seattle is Elliott Bay Books, which relocated to Capitol Hill from its original spot in Pioneer Square. Fans appreciate the large-scale retailer’s informed, friendly staff and its well-organized selections, nestled among widely-spaced shelves that make for easy browsing. From the latest work of fiction or classic hardcover to long stacks of dime store paperbacks, Elliott Bay Books prides itself on having something for everyone. A readings room on the lower level has played host to many best-selling authors, who read from their work and take questions from the audience. A cozy café tucked into the corner of the expansive shop offers coffee drinks, sandwiches and sweets, and has become a go-to meeting spot for many. A 20-minute drive from downtown, Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park works hard at creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment for the local neighborhood and beyond. That means arranging comfy chairs throughout the store for customers to peruse their possible purchases, including pint-size seating for little ones looking to start their own love of reading. Regulars gather for everything from mahjong to Big Band dances, often dining inside one of the casual venues in the food court, making this bookstore a champ in the multi-tasking department. If you’re in the market for an overly-specific tome, check out any of Seattle’s hyper-focused shops as well. The Seattle Mystery Book Shop celebrates the page-turning mystery genre, with tons of otherwise hard-to-find titles that keep longtime guests coming back. Kinokuniya offers an exhaustive lineup of Asian authors, all in a cheery store adjacent to Uwajimaya supermarket in Seattle’s vibrant International District. No matter what text you’re on the hunt for, it’s a safe bet that you’ll find it somewhere around Seattle.