At first I was ready to give a review that highlights the restroom at Orca Books (downtown Oly), and its strategic placing of book posters around the walls. And the poster ARE fun to read, but it's not what i like the best. That utility sink gets me excited everytime I go in there.
And oddly (yes, i realize you don't want to know this) I almost always have to go to the bathroom when i go to Orca. It's probably because I sometimes go there as the second part of a date with Erin, after we've gone out to eat. It's also because I take FOREVER to browse for books.
So we've established that I like the utility sink, and that the book posters are entertaining (though they always seem to be oriented toward kids' books -- they could work on that). There's also this funky wooden dresser thing in there. I haven't gone through it (yet), I think because I want to fantasize that the people who work there keep personal bathroom items in there (like hairbrushes, and deoderant and binaca). I like to think they live there. Huh...when i write it out like that it's kind of a weird thought. Well, I guess I've always wanted to live in a book store. There -- it's out in the open now.
Anyway, I was also very pleased that the bathroom was clean there. And there air is nice and cool -- that's very important. And -- aha (!) -- check out the deadbolt on the door in the photo of the sink. You can feel nice and secure in there.
The one thing i don't like about it is that to get to the bathroom you have to head back like you're going into the "authorized personnel only" section of the store. It's ALMOST like you are looking behind the "curtain". I'm a little uncomfortable about that. Chalk that up to another weird neurosis I have. This wouldn't bother normal people i guess.
Cleanliness: A-
Decor: B (though I could be convinced to upgrade this if there were some better book posters)
Amenities: A- (god, i love that sink. i'd give this an A if it didn't have a slightly funky sponge on the sink)
Overall: B+
