Anybody want to brush up on their Italian? Tavolata, meaning “to gather around the table”, also means “delicious new Italian restaurant in Belltown!" Recently opened by former Tom Douglas pastry chef and dear friend of Junebug, Patric Gabre-Kidan along with business partner and Union restaurant chef, Ethan Stowell, this place is a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Rustic wood floors, towering concrete walls, custom metal installations and creative lighting surround you while fresh Italian dishes made for sharing pour out of the open kitchen. We loved sitting at the gigantic communal table in the middle and devouring the broiled oysters, octopus salad and the freshly made rigatoni. Tavolata’s food and atmosphere cover all the bases: It’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two, a hip night out with all your girlfriends or a rowdy rehearsal dinner for the whole gang. We just might have a favorite new place for dinner out!

The Princess Bride
As Americans, we are princess deprived. We have no royalty, no palaces, and no royal weddings. Is it any wonder that so many people’s hearts and imaginations were captured by the 1981 Royal Wedding of Lady Diana to Prince Charles? It drew 800 million T.V. viewers around the world and has become one of the most iconic wedding events of all time. What made it such a huge event? My vote is for that dress! With a 25 foot long train, and what seemed like an infinite amount of antique lace and taffeta, puffy sleeves and princess splendor, it was a sight to behold! Well ladies, be princess deprived no more.

A Dress for Diana by designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel is a whole book about THE dress. It talks about the young designers who were commissioned to make the ultimate fairytale wedding gown, how they managed to do so in absolute secrecy, and of course, the dress itself. Go ahead, indulge.

A: The most popular local limousine alternative has got to be a gorgeous chauffeured vintage luxury car from British Motor Coach. Their one of a kind fleet includes pristine Rolls Royces, Bentleys and even an old-fashioned London taxi cab. BMC is all about classic luxury. For a more modern approach, Bellevue based Aero Rent-A-Car has lots of fun options for non-traditional rides. A new favorite has become the quirky little Mini Cooper, which they offer in a number of different colors. They also have options like new Volkswagen Beetles or convertible PT Cruisers, Mustangs, and BMW Z-4s to zip around town in. Have fun! -Junebug

Their winter wedding was on December 16, 2006 at the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church. This brave couple and their guests experienced a true candle light ceremony as the power was out due to a blustering, snowy winter storm. Braving the cold (no heat either!) for their ceremony and photos, the wedding party had a blast and enjoyed the adventure before moving on to the Country Inn and Suites for the reception, where luckily, there was electricity for the rest of the night!

We have a winner!

The menu for the Valentine’s Day Indulgence Dinner at Lisa Dupar’s Pomegranate Bistro looked so unbelievably good we decided we needed to give these hot V-day dates away to two couples instead of just one! Our lucky winners, who surprised us by sharing similar first names, are Shelley Bunday and Shelly Weaver. Congratulations ladies! We hope you and your sweethearts had seriously delicious and ridiculously romantic Valentine’s Days!

Isadora’s in Lucky Magazine
Positive Light Photography

Legendary local vintage clothing boutique and Junebug recommended wedding dress shop, Isadora’s, has been featured in the March 07 issue of Lucky magazine as one of the 4 top spots around the country to find vintage wedding dresses. Way to go Isadora’s! If you’re a vintage clothing lover, be sure to check them out. They have an amazing selection of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind dresses, costume and fine jewelry, accessories, shoes and even men’s wear!