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GLIDE + GARDEN >> Family skate spot SOUTH-

GATE ROLLER RINK (9646 17th Ave. SW; 206.707.6949; south-gaterollerrink.com) has been revamped and restored by local Josh Rhoads and his fam-ily. (The rink, which was built in 1937, closed in 2005 due to fire damage.) Attend one of the beginning skate classes and you’ll be rollin’ like a Rat City Roller Girl in no time. >> Quaint, family-owned VILLAGE GREEN

PERENNIAL NURSERY (10223 26th Ave. SW; 206.767.7735; villagegreenperennialnursery.com) is a garden oasis special-izing in herbaceous perennials.

urban safari > SCOP ING OUT NORTHWEST NE IGHBORHOODS

O n c e a m i s h m a s h of revolving storefronts, White center, in West seattle, now teems with an eclectic mix of cultures and family-owned businesses. Pulsing with the energy of the diversity of its residents, this small up-and-coming enclave—centered near the intersection of 16th avenue sW and sW Roxbury—has an emerging vibrancy. Megan Phillips

EAT + DRINK >> For a pint and a small plate, head to newcomer COM-

PANY BAR (9608 16th Ave. SW; 206.257.1162) for nibbles crafted by co-owner Jesse Lovell, including salt cod frit-ters ($6) and chickpea fries ($5). >> Or, try Stefanie and Mike Albaeck’s PROLETARIAT

PIZZA (9622 16th Ave. SW; 206.432.9765; proletariat-pizza.com) for their organic, 18-inch thin-crust creations. >> Unleash your inner caveman with finger-lickin’ good ribs,

brisket and links at UNCLE

MIKE’S SUPERCILIOUS BAR-

BECUE (9640 16th Ave. SW; 206.588.2713; unclemikesbbq.com). >> Visit FULL TILT ICE

CREAM (9629 16th Ave. SW; 206.767.4811; fulltilticecream.com) and choose from creative flavors like the new “antique rose,” crafted with rose petals from nearby Village Green Nursery. >> 3.14 BAKERY (9602 16th Ave. SW; 206.420.4784; 314bakery.blogspot.com) offers home-style baked goods with a twist (cake balls, anyone?). >> A stone’s throw away is SALVADOREAN BAKERY (1719 SW Roxbury St.; 206.762.4064; thesalvadoreanbakery.com), where the authentic pupusas are locally renowned. >> For your next big party, rent a keg full of locally brewed beer from BIG AL BREWERY (9832 14th Ave. SW; 206.453.4487; bigalbrewing.com).

SIP + SHOP >> Locals congregate at DUBSEA COFFEE (9910 Eighth Ave. SW; 206.708.6806; dub-seacoffee.com) to sip Sibelle Nguyen’s fresh Stumptown joe. >> Stock up on specialty goods at family-owned bodegas: LEE’S PRODUCE (9435 Delridge Way SW; 206.762.5220) carries a killer house-made kimchi; Hispanic grocery CARNICERIA

EL PAISANO (9629 15th Ave. SW; 206.767.5526) sells deli-cious jalapeño-laden tamales for only a buck each.

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Jump on the food-cart bandwagon at two White Center faves, TAQUERIA LA FONDITA #2 (206.551.0529) and the aptly named ROASTED CORN STAND (both at 9811 15th Ave. SW). The former serves melt-in-your-mouth spicy tacos from its mobile truck, and, from an unassuming streetside stand, the latter dispenses to-die-for corn on the cob smothered in lime juice and sour cream and sprinkled with chili powder.

INSIDER TIP:

urban safari > SCOP ING OUT NORTHWEST NE IGHBORHOODS

Clockwise from top left: Old-school charm on the streets of White Center; grab a pint at posh new Company Bar; Salvadorean Bakery's mouth-watering pupusas; flora and fauna at the Village Green; on a roll at Southgate Roller Rink