Ambience, in fact, informs most of Bird's restaurant picks. She digs Wasabi Bistro as much for its waiters ("seriously - they're a lot of fun") and occasional live music as for its sushi. She mentions the Paragon Restaurant & Bar's salads and salmon only in passing, focusing instead on its music; it was one of the venues where singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile first attracted notice. While Bird cops to missing New York's hole-in-the-wall Chinese and Mexican joints, she points to Peso's Kitchen & Lounge and Mama's Mexican Kitchen in Belltown as destinations that transcend what's on their menus.

"At Mama's Kitchen, you don't feel like you're in Seattle anymore," Bird says. "Peso's is loud, but in a good way, especially during the happy hour late at night." She recommends Peso's breakfasts as well.

When asked about the premier venues for pre- and post-dinner drinks, Bird attempts to run out the clock, so to speak: "My impulse is to say that there are more lounge-y places here than in a lot of other cities, but I'm not the person to ask." At the same time, she rattles off a few quick names, including Viceroy ("dark, great DJ, nice outdoor area") and Sport Restaurant & Bar ("a million TVs, great for things like the NCAA tournament").

She credits Australian-born teammate and reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson with turning her on to Kangaroo & Kiwi Pub and its Aussie snacks, darts, and beer-pong tournaments. "That makes it sound like my social life is based around drinking, which it's not," she says with a nervous laugh. "How about this: The owner is a great guy, and it's not that crowded, and they've got a great jukebox."