Seattle Labor Day Planner 2011

The mother of all festivals in the mother of all arts cities, Bumbershoot and its lineup of music, comedy, film and other events dominates Labor Day weekend in Seattle. While tickets for the main stage performers might be hard to come by at the last minute, a basic pass entitles you to hours of live music, food and craft browsing.

The three-mile stretch around Green Lake is a summer staple for Seattle residents looking for a scenic run or bike ride. In September the boat house scales back its hours for renting kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and row boats. Make time for one last (or first) session on the water before cooler temperatures set in.

There?s only one spot in the city that could be mistaken for Southern California on a sunny day: the long sandy crescent of West Seattle overlooking the Puget Sound. The first landing point for Seattle?s white settlers, and a former site of a Coney Island-style amusement park, Alki Beach is the place for some beach volleyball, kite-flying and other summer swan-song activities.

How many cities have a working set of locks within their limits? Especially locks that are free and ringed with beautiful gardens? The locks themselves have an almost boardwalk atmosphere, letting visitors bask in the sun while appreciating Seattle?s city-meets-sea charm.

Holiday weekends mean people are outdoors and out of town, and restaurants are quieter. Take advantage of the lull to score a table inside Book Bindery?s new glass greenhouse. The structure has a retractable roof and large windows that open up so it feels as if you?re dining outdoors on the bank of the Fremont Canal. The beautiful plates from chef Shaun McCrain don?t hurt one bit either.

This Eastlake Mexican joint opened just in time for Cinco de Mayo, but only lately has the weather cooperated with the restaurant?s enormous patio--one of the best in the city. The food is good, but the list of fresh Mexican-inspired cocktails is even better. Order an anejo Manhattan and savor the view of Lake Union before the gray and clouds set in for another nine months.

Though Full Tilt?s artful flavors are worth enjoying in colder weather, Labor Day is an excellent excuse to inhale a scoop of chocolate ginger or blackberry cinnamon ice cream. The ice creamery makes its wares locally and has locations in White Center, Columbia City and the U District.