"I don’t venture north of even the cut, unless provoked." So said one Seattlest contributor when we asked what inspires us to turn our backs on downtown and drive north. Wimp.

What counts as northern Seattle? We don't mean "North Seattle" -- the U District, Ballard, Fremont. We mean northern Seattle -- north of 85th, city limits until 1954. We fudged a bit, including a few places between the city limits and King-Sno county line.

Regardless, we're sure we're missing something, and we're just as sure you can tell us what that is.

Kasbah Moroccan Restaurant: Eat with your hands, watch belly dancers stroll the rooms, and take in the decorative trappings of your favorite opium den. You could while away the hours just hanging out and taking in the atmosphere, and the unique and delicious food certainly helps. Crown Hill: 1471 NW 85th St

Cafe Javasti: Two of the best reasons to visit Wedgwood: great coffee and great crepes. (Javasti's original Maple Leaf location is technically too far south to make this list, but probably worth a visit anyway.) Wedgwood: 8617 35th Ave NE

Crown Hill Value Village: We have found most of our smashing, well-cut military surplus jackets here, along with a pair of clear lucite porn heels (we didn't buy them -- we believe porn heels ought to be bought new). The place is bright, large, and smells normal. Crown Hill: 8700 15th Ave. N.W.

Cloud City Coffee: It looks like an abandoned car garage and the asphalt outdoor seating area is très classy, but Cloud City is still one of North Seattle's best coffee joints. Good wireless Internet, excellently priced foodstuffs, outdoor smoking with a minimum of bum harrasment, and lastly self-service drip coffee for a buck! Maple Leaf: 8801 Roosevelt Way NE

The Jones Bistro: If The Jones were in Belltown, you'd have to queue with the hoi polloi to get your hands on a menu. It would be worth it. Whatever you order, be it a cheeseburger or tagliata, it's going to be excellent. Maple Leaf: 8824 Roosevelt Way NE

Fiddler's Inn: While most of north Seattle is dark, this neighborhood pub serves a laundry list of micro brews and delicious pizza long into the night (by Seattle standards). It's also the place for fans of North Seattle celebrities, with Chip Hanuner, State Senator Ken Jacobsen, and the bald guy from Presidents of the United States of America among its clientele. Wedgwood: 9219 35th Ave NE

Scanwest Autosport: If you drive an old Saab, and some of you must, who better to keep you on the road than some guy who races 900s on the weekends and speaks with a Swedish accent? Those guys work at Scanwest. Greenwood: 9520 Greenwood Avenue North

Silver Platters: Sonic Boom on steroids, or Best Buy with a better selection and no big-screen TVs. In a post-Tower universe, this is the place to come browse CDs for hours. Northgate: 9560 First Ave NE

Luisa's Mexican Grill: Mexican food is ubiquitous, but good Mexican food is almost impossible to come by. Neighborhood favorite Luisa's makes the list because of their extremely attentive staff and food that uses the freshest ingredients around.Greenwood(?)9776 Holman Rd NW

Italian Spaghetti House: Not so much good as an unmissable time warp back to the mid-'70s in exurban Wisconsin -- and other times and places when Italian was an exotic cuisine. The cheesy garlic bread? Delish, because they do not skimp on the cheese. Lake City: 9824 Lake City Way NE

Big Star Beer Market: If you’ve searched Bottleworks for an obscure German bock and had to settle for Belgian, cruise up to Big Star. The selection truly is the “HUGEST" in town (the bold sign doesn’t lie), and largely foreign. Make room in the freezer, beer enthusiasts: Most bottles are at room temp. Aurora: 1117 N Northgate Way

Masala of India: One of the best Indian restaurants in the city is in an unlikely looking strip mall near Northgate? Yup. If we're ever in town on Thanksgiving, this is where we'll eat dinner. Northgate: 539B Northgate Way

Rick's: Where anyone so inclined can go after a long day's work to relax, unwind, kick back a (non-alcoholic) drink or seven, and have various body parts displayed up close and personal, wholesale. Get there before the limp-wristed, teeth-nashing voters of the city of Seattle light the place up like a Wal-Mart and take away the lap dances. Lake City: 11332
Lake City Way.

Minoo Bakery: You don't really have to know what each of the pastries at this amazing Iranian bakery is called. (If you do, more power to you.) You just have to know how to point and ask for "a couple of those." That hasn't failed us yet. Lake City: 12518 LakeCity Way NE

Toyoda Sushi: Never mind the cult. They're right, of course -- Toyoda does serve damn good sushi. You might have to wait in line, but it's an incredibly friendly place to sit at the bar and order omakase. Lake City: 12543 Lake City Way NE

Granite Curling Club: Far from being an Olympic oddity, Seattle is home to both a number of champions and to one of the only (and therefore best) facilities on the West Coast. You would be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend an afternoon than a curling open house.North Seattle: 1440 N 128th St.

Bitter Lake: From the '30s to the early '60s, this lake was Seattle's primary amusement park. Now it's an underused, forgotten little gem for unambitious boaters and swimmers, and anyone who likes looking at lakes without looking at roller-bladers.Bitter Lake: 13035 Linden Ave N

Yamashiro Sushi Bistro: If you're cavalier about your wedding vows but not about sushi, this is the place to take your mistress--quiet, classy, yummy, and close to dozens of cheap hotel rooms. Aurora: 13754 Aurora Ave N

Shoreline Central Market: By far the best damn grocery store in all of King County, with a massive selection of fresh produce, seafood, cheeses, breads and Asian fare. It also has seasonal events (like the October Harvest Festival). If you're there on Saturday, don't bother with lunch -- there's plenty of sampling to be done! Oh, and Steve the "wine guy" always has good advice. Shoreline: 15505 Westminster Way N

Crest Theater: A movie for three bucks. Izzy Soda at the concession stand. And once you're northbound on I-5, it's about 10 minutes away.Shoreline: 16505 5th Ave NE

Hotwire Online Coffeehouse: An oasis of sorts for the northern territories. Live music, a rotating gallery of art, and lots of computers inhabit this cozy atmosphere. And the coffee rivals some of the best you'll find downtown. The hinterlands: 17551 15th Ave NE

The Cliffs of Ballard: Peep a tide table or a tide chart (for you graphical types) and pack a day-pack. At low tide, a ribbon of beach is exposed between Golden Gardens and Carkeek Park. Walk the beach and safely take in views of rail-based transport, smell the salt air, indulge in amateur marine biology, drink under the tracks, or sneak into people's yards. Ballard: North Beach / Blue Ridge

Third Place Books: Shrink Powell's to 1/10th its size and plop it down next to a food court. Voila! You've got Third Place Books. The smaller Ravenna outpost has its charms, but the highly browsable mix of new and used books in Lake Forest Park is worth the longer drive. Lake Forest Park: 17171 Bothell Way NE

Edmonds Theater: Most of the old time main street theaters are gone, or renovated beyond recognition, but this 250-seat bandbox remains. Sneak up to the cozy balcony for what feels almost like a private screening Edmonds: 415 Main Street, Edmonds

Image courtesy of djwudi.