And even more exciting is when our friends, fans and followers share in the conversation.  Earlier today, on our Facebook page, one of our fans posted the question: “Are there any good food events happening this week?  I’m new to Seattle!”

But new to Seattle or not, this is a question on a lot of people’s minds, so we decided to do something about it.  There, on our Facebook Discussions board, we posted the following response (including one late addition):

Dear Alex,
We here at Emerald City Eats are so glad you decided to move to/visit/bless our amazing city. As you get to know Seattle better, you’ll find there’s something for everybody, whether you’re looking for entertainment, food or dreamy beach time. The Emerald City is alive with enough events to make your head spin. This week is no different. Here is a quick run down of what’s happening this week:

• Eatery Openings:
Full Tilt ice cream is growing again! Just six months after opening their second location in Columbia City, the White-Center-love’n ice cream parlor is staking a claim in the University District as well. Starting today, you can find their amazing artisan ice cream from 10am to 10pm everyday but Mondays at 4759 NE 50th St., underneath Cedars Restaurant and facing Walgreens.
Also adding to its location log, Wink Cupcakes is moving on up – the hill that is – from its commercial kitchen location at the bottom of Queen Anne, up to 1817 Queen Anne Ave, between El Diablo Coffee and Cinderella Tailors. Resolutions are broken here.

• Events that don’t involve food, but are at restaurants:
Ever wonder, “Where can I go to eat, drink, and talk about science?” Well, other than at your nerd friends’ apartments, you can also do this twice a month at Science On Tap! Tonight you can find these deep-thinkers over at T.S. McHugh’s Pub in Lower Queen Anne, starting at 7:30pm.

• Events that don’t involve food, aren’t at restaurants, but are still really cool:
If you decide not to join your neighborhood science lovers over at Science on Tap tonight, you could instead score yourself some FREE tickets to Spotlight at the 5th Avenue Theatre! Sponsored by US Bank, this popular series takes you behind the scenes to learn more about their upcoming productions. For more information, visit http://www.5thavenue.org/show/SpotlightNightforSouthPacificandLegallyBlonde0910/

• Eat! Drink! Watch Three Amigos!:
Tomorrow night, Jan. 6, at Freshy’s Coffee in West Seattle, hunker down in the cozy confines of this welcoming eatery and enjoy a movie that just never gets old (although, technically, it is 24 years old) – Three Amigos! This Chevy Chase, Martin Short and Steve Martin classic is just what the Epiphany ordered.
This gathering starts at 7pm and sombreros are encouraged. During the movie, enjoy tasty sandwhiches, fresh-made soup and beverages of all types (yes, they have beer). For more information and to rsvp, visit http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=236537372031&id=35324704678#/event.php?eid=235839447429&ref=nf

• Events strictly for cheese lovers:
Not for the lactose intolerant, Ray’s Boathouse in Ballard is hosting a Washington Cheese Maker Dinner this Thursday, Jan. 7.
For $65, you’ll be gobbling up cheese from Gothberg Farms, Whiskey Hill Farm, Mt. Townsend Creamery, Blue Rose Dairy, Willapa Hills Farmstead Cheese, Black Sheep Creamery and Estrella Family Creamery. To see the menu and make a reservation, visit http://www.rays.com/events/specialevent or call 206-789-3770 x3.

• Food Events that will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside:
Even if you’ve spent only one day in Seattle, you’ve probably already noticed our thriving homeless population (maybe “thriving” isn’t the best word). But seriously, Seattle is a city that cares and Farestart is a culinary school that cares in the form of helping these underprivileged folks transform their lives through training and job placement.
This Thursday night at Guest Chef Night, Chef Peter Levine of the Waterfront Seafood Grill will work with FareStart students to create a delicious three-course meal. On the menu are Roasted King Salmon, Roasted Butternut Squash and Pumpkin & Golden Raisin Bread Budding, and it can all be yours for just $24.95! But reservations are a must, so visit http://farestart.com/ for more info.

• Farmers Markets go year-round ‘round here:
Just when you thought it was too cold and rainy to enjoy buying fresh local produce outdoors, the Seattle Farmers Markets keep proving you wrong! It’s never too cold or rainy for these die-hard farmers and purveyors of locally produced edibles. And nothing says ‘local love’ like buying from them!
Visit http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets to find hours and direction to Seattle’s two year-round markets (University District and West Seattle, every Saturday and Sunday respectively).

• Best for last?
As you get to know Seattle’s food scene, you’ll find that the name Tom Douglas gets mentioned quite often. He’s the owner of some little places you might have heard of. Do Lola, Palace Kitchen, Dahlia Lounge, Dahlia Bakery, Etta’s or Serious Pie sound familiar? They’re popular meccas of culinary cuisine that you definitely need to try at least once (at which point you may need a support group to help you from setting up camp in Belltown).
Anyhow, back to the event … next Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Douglas’ Palace Ballroom, foodie authors Jane & Michael Stern will be having a “Community Dinner” to benefit the Seattle Arts & Lectures organization. Enjoy Douglas’ award-winning cuisines, wonderful wines and get a chance to win a Weber Summit S-670 Gas Grill, donated by Sur La Table. Price of this edible experience is 75 big ones, but if you win the grill! … well … then dinner was still $75. <shrug>
For more information and to buy tickets, visit http://www.lectures.org/sternscommunitydinner.html where you’ll have the opportunity to purchase tickets to more of SAL’s lectures. Check ‘em out.

In closing, our dear Alex, thank you for asking the same question even longtime Seattle residents ask all the time: what’s happening this week? We at ECE will do what we can to keep everyone up to date on food event happenings, and we’ll even do you one better; Coming soon, we’ll be choosing local food events/openings/big deals, to go to for ECE Eat-Ups (Get it? Like meetups … eat-ups … oh, you get it). Yes, ECE Eat-Ups will be coming soon and I hope you’ll join us! Bring a friend, relative or co-conspirator, and together we’ll eat! We’ll explore! We’ll pay with separate checks! Oh yeah, good times.

Your friends in food,
- Dan and Lisa