Comments on: Kent Reporter Announces the “Best of Kent 2009″ http://www.ilovekent.net/2009/04/26/kent-reporter-announces-the-best-of-kent-2009/ Explore Kent: shop, dine, play, work & more Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:03:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Marti Reeder http://www.ilovekent.net/2009/04/26/kent-reporter-announces-the-best-of-kent-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Marti Reeder Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:13:00 +0000 http://www.ilovekent.net/?p=795#comment-202 I think it's GREAT that most of the "Best of Kent" winners are NOT large chains (like Starbucks, which didn't win, versus Kona Kai, which did win). It's a real treat to be able to walk into an establishment and be able to say "hi, how's it going?" to the onsite owner! It sort of feels like the TV show "Cheers" where everybody knows your name! Matt - if you do try the Shindig Martini Bar, order the Mango Martini. "Wow" is the only word for it. And p.s. Welcome to Kent! I think it’s GREAT that most of the “Best of Kent” winners are NOT large chains (like Starbucks, which didn’t win, versus Kona Kai, which did win). It’s a real treat to be able to walk into an establishment and be able to say “hi, how’s it going?” to the onsite owner! It sort of feels like the TV show “Cheers” where everybody knows your name!

Matt – if you do try the Shindig Martini Bar, order the Mango Martini. “Wow” is the only word for it. And p.s. Welcome to Kent!

]]> By: Dana Neuts http://www.ilovekent.net/2009/04/26/kent-reporter-announces-the-best-of-kent-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Dana Neuts Thu, 07 May 2009 23:04:30 +0000 http://www.ilovekent.net/?p=795#comment-72 Welcome to Kent, Matt. Thanks for your comment. Starbucks is, indeed, popular here but not our only choice. I recommend you check out Kona Kai Coffee Co. It is a cute little, independently-owned Hawaiian-themed coffee shop on the corner of Gowe and Fourth in downtown Kent. They have great food, coffee and events. If you go to their website, you'll see a list of regular events for all ages. In particular, the coffee shop as Open Mic night, comics occasionally and music every weekend. For other hot spots for the young (I'm in my early 40s, so not sure I'm helpful here), check out Vibe on First Avenue South, the Shindig Martini Bar (next door to Vibe), Pat's Bar and Grill (Railroad Ave - live music on the weekends), Kent Station (lots of restaurants, shops and a movie theater) and ShoWare Center (local hockey teams as well as concerts, sports, etc.). If you are athletically inclined, there are lots of gyms here. I like LA Fitness in Covington (sorry, Kent). It has a couple of local sports leagues - volleyball and basketball, for example. The Kent Commons also hosts a lot of different leagues for kids and adults. It really depends on what you're looking for, but Kent has a lot to offer if you look for it. If you can't find what you want, Tacoma and Seattle are each about 25 miles away and there are always shows, events, sports, etc. going on there. Hope that helps! If not, let me know. You can pick my brain any time! ~ Dana Welcome to Kent, Matt. Thanks for your comment. Starbucks is, indeed, popular here but not our only choice. I recommend you check out Kona Kai Coffee Co. It is a cute little, independently-owned Hawaiian-themed coffee shop on the corner of Gowe and Fourth in downtown Kent. They have great food, coffee and events. If you go to their website, you’ll see a list of regular events for all ages. In particular, the coffee shop as Open Mic night, comics occasionally and music every weekend.

For other hot spots for the young (I’m in my early 40s, so not sure I’m helpful here), check out Vibe on First Avenue South, the Shindig Martini Bar (next door to Vibe), Pat’s Bar and Grill (Railroad Ave – live music on the weekends), Kent Station (lots of restaurants, shops and a movie theater) and ShoWare Center (local hockey teams as well as concerts, sports, etc.). If you are athletically inclined, there are lots of gyms here. I like LA Fitness in Covington (sorry, Kent). It has a couple of local sports leagues – volleyball and basketball, for example. The Kent Commons also hosts a lot of different leagues for kids and adults.

It really depends on what you’re looking for, but Kent has a lot to offer if you look for it. If you can’t find what you want, Tacoma and Seattle are each about 25 miles away and there are always shows, events, sports, etc. going on there.

Hope that helps! If not, let me know. You can pick my brain any time!

~ Dana

]]> By: Matt Goslar http://www.ilovekent.net/2009/04/26/kent-reporter-announces-the-best-of-kent-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Matt Goslar Thu, 07 May 2009 22:46:34 +0000 http://www.ilovekent.net/?p=795#comment-71 I just moved to Kent from Phoenix/Tempe, AZ. Coming from a place with lots of local coffee shops and places to relax, it saddens me that the best local coffee shop happens to be the biggest coffee corporation in the country. As much as I admit to drinking Starbucks, I can hardly tell the inside of one location from another, so what makes this one the best? Either way, I just moved here about a month ago and have yet to find anything interesting in the area in regards to art/entertainment, local culture, and intellectual stimulation (especially as a college-aged adult). I just moved to Kent from Phoenix/Tempe, AZ. Coming from a place with lots of local coffee shops and places to relax, it saddens me that the best local coffee shop happens to be the biggest coffee corporation in the country. As much as I admit to drinking Starbucks, I can hardly tell the inside of one location from another, so what makes this one the best? Either way, I just moved here about a month ago and have yet to find anything interesting in the area in regards to art/entertainment, local culture, and intellectual stimulation (especially as a college-aged adult).

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