I like to characterize myself as the world's fussiest espresso drinker. I am extremely particular, but when it's right there's nothing better. So I'm sure I can be a pain in the derriere, although the really good baristas will oblige. I remember--at Lenox Coffee in Lenox, Mass, one time when I came in, and Jenna, who is one of the best baristas I've ever encountered, pulled four shots and tossed them out before she'd let me try one, telling me that the humidity or some such thing was making it hard to pull a good shot. The ultimate product was not the best I've had--probably due to whatever she was telling me about, but it was quite decent.

As for the U district, I had three weeks in Seattle in 1975, after graduating from UC berkeley, before heading for Boston on my bicycle. My memories of the U District are actually stronger from when I was 7, the last year we lived in Seattle. I LOVED Kelly's Barbecue. I think it was gone before I came back for my first visit, a week in '69, when I was about to turn 16.

I think Vivace is the place I really liked the last time I was back, for a few days in the summer of '15.