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Food & Drink
Seattle is noted for its seafood, and has more than 2000 restaurants serving many different types of cuisine. Restaurant/bars can stay open until 0200 all week. Beer and wine are available in grocery stores and spirits in State stores, usually every day 1000-2000, except Sunday. Stores in big cities have later closing hours. The minimum drinking age is 21.

Theatres & Concerts
The Seattle Opera’s season runs from September to May. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra plays from September to June. Both the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Repertory have seasons that run from October to May.

Nightlife
Jazz spots, nightclubs and discos are scattered throughout Seattle.

Shopping
Westlake Center, Nordstrom, the Bon Marché and Pacific Palace are among the major malls and department stores located in the heart of Seattle’s retail district. Other interesting shopping areas include Pioneer Square, the Waterfront and Pike Place Market.

Sport
Seattle has a number of professional sport teams, although none matches the fervour with which the Seattle Mariners baseball team, who play at the new Safeco Field, are followed. The Seattle Seahawks is the major American football team, who play in Qwest Field. The other big-league team is the Seattle Supersonics, who play basketball in the Key Arena. The Seattle Thunderbirds play ice-hockey in the US-division Western Hockey League.

Special Events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Washington State in 2005:
Feb 24-27 Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival, Tacoma. Mar 4-6 Spring Arts and Crafts Show, Spokane. Mar 11-13 Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show, Spokane. Mar 12 27th Annual St Patricks Day Parade, Spokane. Mar 18-20 Eighth Annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival. Apr 2 Fourth Annual Unity in Spirit Pow Wow, Spokane. Apr 14-17 Puyallup Spring Fair. Apr 15 Rainfest, Forks. Apr 16-24 Japan Week, Spokane. May 6-8 Maritime Festival, Seattle. May 8-22 Lilac Festival, Spokane. Jun 4-6 Mule Days, Reardan. Jun 9-12 11th Annual Dixieland Jazz Festival, Spokane. Jun 25-26 Seattle Pride. Jul 4 Family Fourth at Lake Union, Seattle; Fourth of July Splash, Kent; Freedom Fest, Fort Lewis; Kinderfest, Leavenworth; Tacoma Freedom Fair. Jul 20-24 King County Fair, Enumclaw. Aug 6 Scottish Highland Games, Spokane. Aug 12-14 A Taste of Edmonds. Aug 26-27 Eighth Annual Outdoor Quilt Show, Reardan. Sep 2-5 Bumbershoot (arts and music festival), Seattle. Sep 9-11 Puyallup Pro Rodeo. Sep 15-18 Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, Leavenworth. Sep 17 Pirate Jamboree, Ocean Shores. Oct 14-16 Bird Fest, Ridgefield. Nov 4-6 Dixieland Jazz Festival, Ocean Shores. Nov 11 Spokane Cork and Keg Festival. Nov 25-27 Winter Fan-ta-sea (arts and crafts festival), Ocean Shores. Dec 31 First Night, Spokane.