Up Pine Down Pike
Morning
Begin your late morning promenade at the corner of Pine and Melrose with a strong coffee at
Bauhaus Books & Coffee
, a long-time Capitol Hill hangout. Walk along Pine (slightly uphill towards Broadway) but don’t pass up Vintage Chick next door to Bauhaus for used duds with an edge. Area 51 (401 E Pine St) is a huge space filled with vintage furniture and kitschy one-of-a-kinds. One block farther east lies
Linda’s Tavern
, a legendary local watering
hole frequented by musicians and record label folk that you can scope
out for a later visit. Cross Harvard Avenue and you’ll notice the
vintage
Egyptian Theater
on your right, showcasing independent and foreign films.
Afternoon
Cross Broadway, walk four blocks, and turn right on 13th Avenue to Pike Street. Turn right and have lunch at
Elysian Brewery
, home of Seattle’s most outstanding pale ale. Walk downhill on Pike to the Comet (922 E Pike St), a grungy tavern that’s popular with local musicians and wannabes. Cross Broadway and dream about a purchase at Phil Smart’s (600 E Pike) for your gold-trimmed imported sports car, or stop by the
Seattle LGBT Community Center
, a gay and lesbian information and activity center. Check in with those far away at Uncle Elizabeth’s Internet Café (1123 Pike St), as downtown’s skyline slips into view two blocks away.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered Venues
Neighbors Witness
hedonism at its best, with talent shows, wet ‘n’ wild contests, open
mike nights, CD release parties, nightly drink specials, and dancing
boys. Thursdays–Saturdays the club stays open for after hours dancing. Wildrose A lesbian-centric club, although it encourages a mixed and permissive crowd to assemble. The drinks are on the strong side. Re-Bar The
entrance sign perhaps best sums up the philosophy of a club that
features some of the area’s best DJs: “No minors, drunks, drugs, bigots,
or loud-mouths.” Manray It’s been billed as a video bar, but the clientele arrives to look and be looked at. They serve stiff but pricey martinis. R Place Capitol
Hill’s largest gay club has a full bar and music video monitors on its
first floor; dart boards, free pool, and pinball on its second floor;
and dancing, live DJs, karaoke, and a weekly strip show on its third
floor. Eagle It’s
Seattle’s oldest leather bar, and the atmosphere reeks of a crowd
driven by studs and black leather straps and hard rock music. The Cuff Complex An
exclusive gay men’s club catering to a crowd ranging from 20-somethings
to middle agers. Arrive on Sundays for a kegger blowout. Lambert House Gay Youth Center Organizes
activities, support groups, a youth leadership council, dances, and
other events to inspire empowerment among 14–22 year olds. The center
includes a full kitchen, living room, pool table, library, TV, games,
and most important, people who will listen. Babeland A store selling sex toys, and sponsoring a variety of sex workshops that continue to enlighten, amuse, and shock audiences. 707 E Pike St 206 328 2914
Seattle LGBT Community Center This facility serves as the hub for Capitol Hill’s gay and lesbian community. A great resource for activities and information. 1115 E Pike St 206 323 5428
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Seattle is one of the
most tolerant and liberal cities in the country, and its large gay
population compares with San Francisco’s.
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Cafés & Taverns
Victrola A
real neighborhood café that roasts its own coffee in-house using beans
from small farms. The aesthetics reflect music and art of the 1920s and
30s. Bauhaus Books & Coffee They roast their own coffee here. Drink while you savor the delicious doughnuts and croissants. 301 E Pine St 206 625 1600
B&O Espresso A
more refined and higher priced outlet for fine baked goods and
specialty coffees. They also make deluxe wedding cakes and have a full
service bistro next door. 204 Belmont Ave E 206 322 5028
Espresso Vivace Roasteria Their
roasting process and promotion of caffe espresso as a culinary art has
been well appreciated. The owners have published a book and two videos
about the art that enjoys worldwide distribution. Coffee Messiah In
a city that has turned coffee retailers into millionaires, this tiny
café began as a non-profit enterprise. Wireless internet access is
available. Linda’s Tavern Linda
Derschang, a local business owner, created a hip bar for locals in 1994
that tended at the time to be rock stars and their managers. Offers
mixed drinks and beer, and decent food. Bad Juju Lounge DJs spin alternative music, rock, and whatever they feel like, and revelers take in New Orleans-style voodoo art. Comet Tavern A
legendary hangout for rockers and great pretenders alike. It’s just a
tavern with some pool tables, but the crowd, the location, and the
stories etched into tabletops tell a different tale. Elysian Brewery The chow rates among the best pub grub in town .
Elysian Brewery sign
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By law, bars and taverns check IDs to ensure that customers are 21 or older. Come prepared. |
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