11 Places That Prove Old Seattle Is Alive and Well

If you sniff hard enough outside the 12th Ave building that once domiciliate the original REI ( and more latterly the Capitol Hill Goodwill ) , you could still smell the creosote . you may also ride on a bench outside Kurt Cobain ’s firm or suspire in the general guidance of Seattle Center ’s Fun Forest , where an amusement car park ghost assuredly lurks . But elsewhere in Seattle , as they say inPortlandia , our sister to the southward , the dream of the ‘ 90 is live . At these piazza , you could find the grunge esthetical that made Seattle famous , fuddle at the same prevention as Layne Staley did , rust at the same restaurants Sir Mix - a - circle did ( and does ) , and maybe even smoke some of the same strains of sight as Chris Cornell – only now , it ’s perfectly sound .

The Moore Theatre

BelltownThe 1907 theater is Seattle ’s erstwhile , but it shows its long time only in the right way with the old , painted advertizement on the side and the attractively decorated DoI . However , you ca n’t see some of the most telling part of the Moore ’s history : its role as the context for Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains picture , a Soundgarden live record album , and the first full yield of The Who’sTommy(featuring Bette Midler ) .

Scarecrow Video

University DistrictYou remember video stores , correct ? They were like Netflix , only actual mankind made those recommendations about what you might wish . Not many have survived , but Scarecrow Video is now one of the nation ’s biggest , and those actual humans are why : the stave at Scarecrow know their stuff . The store itself is a treasure trove of old , rarified , hard - to - find , foreign , and self-governing motion-picture show that you belike wo n’t find oneself anywhere else , stark with people to help you bump what you ’re look for .

El Corazon

South Lake UnionEl Corazon , these days , is a punk , hardcore , and metal venue , but it ’s also the up-to-the-minute embodiment of a outer space sacred to the Seattle music fit . Once the Sub - Zero , the Off Ramp , and Graceland , its walls heard the first public presentation of Pearl Jam and Nirvana , and served as a stepping stone for Soundgarden , Alice in Chains , Mudhoney , and more recently , Macklemore .

The Mecca

Queen AnneStepping in is always a bit of a trip-up back in time : you’re able to almost smell the cigarettes that used to linger here , along with the stone stars , playwrights , low - life , and every other stock of Seattleite that co - existed back in the day . Part diner , part dive bar , the elbow room conscientious objector - opts that noted characteristic of Las Vegas casinos : it could be any sentence of twenty-four hours , but it does n’t matter , because all you want is a swallow and a hot , greasy breakfast .

Blue Moon Tavern

University DistrictThe quintessential dive bar serves as home sward to Seattle ’s most alcohol - douse renown . Writers and sway stars alike ( see Tom Robbins and Layne Staley ) made their permanent roost on a stool at the U - District tavern . Though it ’s had to fight through multiple development and destruction attempts , even losing a battle for landmark status , the Blue Moon stands strong , just like the “ Hammered Man ” takeoff sculpture out front .

Shorty’s

BelltownFor red-hot dogs and pinball game , in the words of Anthony Bourdain , this is “ a fabled spot that draws all types of personalities , from professional cooks to hipster douchebags . ” Legendary , and a landmark now , after being marked for redevelopment , the building in which Shorty ’s lives was granted watershed status due to its history as one of the few buildings to survive the Denny Regrade , giving a second life to the carnival - theme bar .

World Pizza

International DistrictOnce upon a time , a Belltown pizza restaurant served up a potato and gorgonzola Proto-Indo European so delightful that it haunted locals ’ discernment buds for more than a tenner after it closed in the late ' ninety . But – like we ’ve already mentioned – the dream of the ' 90s is alive . In 2011 , the Cone brothers re - open their legendary shop class in a newfangled International District emplacement . Furnished with couches from the Space Needle pressure group and serve the same great pizza – even that celebrated spud one – it ’s almost like you could just take the air down the street to the Sit & Spin .

Dick’s Drive-In

Various locationsWe’ve alreadyranked the offeringsat Dick ’s , and told you aboutall the times you needed itand it was there for you . But Sir Mix - a - Lot said it well : “ Dick ’s is the place where the bunch fall out , the SWASS like to play , and the rich flaunt poke . ”

Wild Waves

Federal WayAny nipper who spring up up in Seattle ( or nearby ) during the ‘ 80s and ‘ ninety spent at least a third of the class looking onward to a Wild Waves trip . Because what ’s better than getting sunburnt in a wave pool with a few hundred stranger after hurtle yourself down a plastic water slide ? Oh , right , following it up with as much sugar as you’re able to afford on your allowance . The Fun Forest at Seattle Center might be gone ( RIP ) , but punk , quondam - shoal entertainment parking area are n’t dead yet .

The Crocodile

BelltownThough it ’s a reincarnated version of the Crocodile Café that was a stalwart stop for musicians decease through Seattle in the soil era , it still holds much of the appeal . The Posies played the first show at the locus , follow later by Nirvana , Pearl Jam , and Mudhoney , Cheap Trick , R.E.M. , and Yoko Ono , before it shut down in 2007 . But since re - opening in 2009 , the A - list is back , let in the Beastie Boys and Macklemore , and it remains a expectant locale for good medicine and a bit of classical Seattle feel .

Cinerama

BelltownOne of only three theaters leave in the human race that can show three - board Cinerama films , this was saved in the ' ninety from getting turned into a rock climb gymnasium . Loaded with new engineering ( it ’s undergone renovations a number of times , most latterly in 2014 ) , comfortable seats , and the best concessions in town ( chocolate Zea mays everta , for the profits ) , there ’s nowhere good to follow movies – and immerse yourself in theatre story .