The walls are covered with graffiti and pinup stencil art, and there are giant spiky penises hanging overhead. Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer” spills out the front door - the DJ is playing ’80s pop this night - and we’re washed in pink neon light. The Wildrose, a lesbian bar and a Capitol Hill cornerstone, has Taco Tuesdays, where the crowd and the tacos both have positive reviews.Īlso among them is Pony, a gay bar in a tiny triangle building on a concrete island surrounded by new high-rises. There’s the Eagle, a leather bar that’s been around forever, and gay karaoke nights at Purr. There are Hot Flash dance nights at Neighbors for women (and those who identify as such). We talk about how the Hill has changed over the last 20-plus years - and where the LGBT community still goes to hang out. The clientele skews pairs and foursomes of men in their 30s and 40s in expensive shirts and designer eyeglasses. The rooftop patio is filled with beautiful Seattleites. Figs and ricotta, roasted peppers, fries with garlic aioli I have a house cocktail that’s peppery and bright. I share small plates with my friend Mark (a longtime resident of the Hill). Chef Tamara Murphy is out and proud, but that’s a footnote to the gorgeous food and rugged space. Mimosas Cabaret is a matinee nightlife doesn’t wait until after dark in Seattle.Įight or so blocks to the west is Terra Plata. Most have come to see Mama T, a YouTube celebrity for confronting the haters at Seattle’s 2014 Pride Parade. While visiting with a group of locals, I spot a bachelorette party, a young woman and her mom, gay and lesbian couples, and a shockingly good-looking pair of tourists from Australia. Unicorn is all bright colors and sideshow decor, a dozen different striped patterns, taxidermy animals, shiny gold trim and an expansive bar, with a theater downstairs.
#Gay bars seattle karaoke windows#
The neighborhood has rainbow crosswalks that aren’t here solely for celebration at some locations, they mark the site of gay bashings, reminding us that open diversity is a prize not everyone wants.īut the rainbow flag is everywhere, in shop windows and flying from balconies, proudly welcoming visitors to the Hill, no matter which letter of LGBT you identify with.Īcross the street from Cupcake Royale is Unicorn - and the venue for Mimosas Cabaret and the aforementioned Mama T (who in less-PC circles is, simply, Mama Tits). However, you’ll still want to start your foray into Seattle’s LGBT scene on the Hill, maybe at Cupcake Royale for a jolt of sugar and caffeine. According to the business association, West Seattle has the city’s fastest growing LGBT population, and Vashon Island, a ferry ride from downtown or West Seattle, is the fastest-growing lesbian enclave.
Seattle’s LGBT population has dispersed into the neighborhoods. The front of the shop is covered in scaffolding - the Hill (as locals call it) is a hive of construction activity, gentrifying at a breakneck pace. (Right now, it’s huckleberry and salted honey.)Īnd there are the shirts the cafe knows its clientele. The Seattle bakery has a number of locations, but this one is at 12th and Pike, in the heart of Seattle’s “gayborhood.” The cupcakes are gorgeous - I’m a sucker for the coconut bunny, a chocolate cake with pink frosting and coconut sprinkled on top - but there are seasonal varieties too. You can buy a bright red Trump-style “Make America Gay Again” T-shirt or cap at Cupcake Royale on Capitol Hill. There are listings outside Seattle, too, if you decide to get out of town, including an expanded Washington wine country section. While you’re there, pick up a Greater Seattle Business Association business guide it lists LGBT- and ally-owned businesses. JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM Show More Show Less (Genna Martin, ) GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM Show More Show Less 3 of3 Groups promoting acceptance join the Trans Pride march down Broadway on Capitol Hill in Seattle in June. 28, 2016, at The Unicorn in Capitol Hill.
(Jordan Stead, ) JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM Show More Show Less 2 of3 Isabella Extynn aka Stetson Wilson watches a performance during the Mimosas with Mama show on Sunday, Feb. 1 of3 Passerby navigate the newly-installed, rainbow-colored crosswalks in various locations around Capitol Hill, photographed Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at the intersection of 10th and Pike Street in Seattle, Washington.