Seattle straddles and sprawls across waterways, around lakes, over hills, and along miles of coast. Spread out over numerous communities, connected by tunnels, highways, and bridges, it can be a confusing place for newcomers, but it doesn"t have to be. Richie Unterberger employs easy-to-use maps, concise prose, and a judicious selection of travel information to help you feel comfortable in Seattle. As the title implies, it"s a tiny book--less than six inches tall and four inches wide--fitting inconspicuously into pocket or purse, but it"s a fount of Seattle wisdom. There are chapters on all the major neighborhoods, from Lake Washington to Capitol Hill to Downtown; listings of accommodations, cafes, restaurants, and bars; sections on the performing arts, gay nightlife, festivals, sports, and activities for kids, plus shops and galleries; and a chart on climate, with average temperatures and monthly rainfall. It also contains the basics on getting to Seattle; getting around the city by metro, monorail, car, or ferry; and the best Web sites for surfing Seattle on the Internet. An ideal primer for incoming University of Washington freshmen, business travelers, or city weekenders, the Mini Rough Guide accomplishes a lot in a compact package. --Stephanie Gold