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City Cast Seattle

Keep It Local by City Cast Seattle spotlights local businesses we love and provides personal, curated, and neighborly recommendations that will help you live your best Seattle life. So, if you’re ready to ditch the national chains, e-commerce giants, and big box stores,

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Harry Cheadle

 is a bar with secrets. From the outside, it looks like an anonymous door on unhip Leary Avenue in Ballard. Open that door, and you step into a dimly lit cocktail bar where jazz is often on the speakers and Japanese-inspired drinks are filling the glasses. Walk back past the bathrooms and open another door, and you’ll find what makes Shibuya unique: the hi-fi room, a tastefully decorated, aggressively insulated space where you can sit down and listen to a record. 

By “listen to a record,” I mean just listen to a record. Visitors to the room aren’t allowed to bring drinks back here; they have to take off their shoes, and they have to set their phones to silent. Many of the listening sessions are labeled “deep listening,” which owner Quentin Ertel says is “our polite way of saying no talking.” This “snaps people into a different mind frame,” he says.

Not being able to talk or drink means that guests are essentially forced to give their entire attention to the music, and maybe discover new things about the albums being played, even if they know those albums forward and backward. “We have a purity about the way we approach listening, and I think that makes us really, really different,” says Ertel.

Ertel is a well-known entrepreneur in Seattle circles; he recently closed his 

. Shibuya HiFi is more chill and introspective. If you’re going to the hi-fi room, it’s not to dance and party but to sit, listen, and think. Soundproof walls mean you don’t get any noise from the bar outside, and the audio setup, which includes a pair of vintage Klipschorn floor-standing speakers, is far beyond what most people have in their homes.

 is stocked with some of the most famous and audiophile-friendly musical artists of all time: Radiohead, Neil Young, Charles Mingus, Frank Ocean, Pink Floyd, and more. Tickets for these listening sessions — which happen multiple times a night — are typically $21. That’s the price of admission into what’s surely one of the coolest rooms in Seattle.

Book a listening session!

Behind a Ballard cocktail bar, Shibuya HiFi hosts no-talking deep listening sessions of classic and contemporary albums. Here’s what to know before you book.

Inside Shibuya HiFi, Ballard’s Hidden Listening Bar

This Vinyl Listening Room Lets You Leave the World Behind

Keep It Local

Seattle has more than enough record stores scattered around; here are a few of the best.

 is over in West Seattle, and if you haven’t been, treat yourself to a pilgrimage. Browse the stacks, breathe in the history (Easy Street has been around for nearly 40 years), and for God’s sake, 

Easy Street also has a diner, and it’s a nice place to grab a coffee or a cocktail, depending on the time of day.

🚀 The other shop that’s always on these sorts of lists, Ballard’s 

 stocks an impressively wide selection, including a ton of movie soundtracks. It also boasts a terrific neon rocket ship sign; if you’re going to take a selfie under it, you should go inside, too.

While you’re browsing, check out the used section for some deals.

 on Capitol Hill has a ton of stuff, but it’s really a must-visit if you’re into aggro music — think metal, hardcore, punk, etc. Basically, if parents hate it, Zion’s Gate has it.

If you’re into the Grateful Dead, head to the back of the store for a selection of their live tapes.

 has been in business since 1977, making it one of Seattle’s oldest record stores, if not the oldest. Fittingly, it specializes in out-of-print vinyl, but you can also find some new stuff.

Golden Oldies offers to maintain “want lists” for customers: You can 

tell them what record you’re looking for

 and they’ll let you know if and when they acquire it.

 is a great place to stop in when it’s sunny, and it opens its big doors to let the light and air in. But even when the weather turns, it’s worth stepping inside to check out the great vinyl collection hanging on the wall and in the stacks.

The records on the wall can come with hefty price tags, but there’s also a selection of bargain LPs and cassettes for $2 or $1. 

From Easy Street in West Seattle to Sonic Boom in Ballard, here are the best record stores in Seattle for new and used vinyl.

The Best Record Stores in Seattle

 is a proudly, self-consciously retro candy shop on Ballard Avenue. It’s got some upscale treats like truffles, but what makes them really impressive is the huge selection of gummies on display. If you’re not sure what something is, don’t be afraid to ask for a free sample.

What’s that smell when you walk in? It’s roasted nuts, a rarity in Seattle for some reason.

, the oldest store in University Village, calls itself an “upscale candy boutique.” Don’t expect to find many brand names here — it mostly sells chocolates and other goodies in bulk or in chic little bags. If you want your candy selection to inspire envy, go here.

Plenty of seasonal treats are available here, including some rather 

🍬 If your kid needs a treat at Pike Place Market, you should head down to the Underground area and find 

, a tiny space that is packed floor-to-ceiling with Pez, jawbreakers, and more varieties of lollipops than you knew existed. It also has a Slushie machine and popcorn.

It’s a fun place to grab a little candy. But if you’re looking to buy in bulk, Sweetie’s isn’t the best place due to its tiny size.

 with locations stretching down I-5 as far south as Eugene. The 

 has a healthy stockpile of bulk candy, as well as an array of edible knick-knacks like little packets of Pocky and those gummy hamburger things.

Candy Tyme also has a pretty big selection of Beanie Babies in the back corner, if that’s your jam.

Seattle actually doesn’t have that many speciality candy shops, but the ones we do have are knocking it out of the park.

The Best Candy Shops in Seattle

The terms “pagan” and “occult” encompass a pretty big range of beliefs and practices. While these four Seattle shops are unified by an overlapping mystical vibe, they don’t necessarily subscribe to the same traditions. Here’s why you should visit them this season.

 for over 30 years. It’s chock full of mystical-looking statues (there’s even a fountain in the back!) along with a bevy of occult-adjacent items like incense, books, and skull-centric art. One of the coolest spaces in Seattle.

Gargoyles requires patrons to wear a mask and provides (black, naturally) facemasks at the door. It’s a small shop, and you may be asked to wait outside if it’s at capacity.

 “herbal apothecary” on the West Coast, and we’ll take it at its word. If you’re seeking any kind of herbal remedy, tea, incense, or related item, check it out on the ground level of Pike Place Market. And if you don’t know exactly what you want, the staff can help you find it.

 for its selection of rocks and crystals, and 

 is in the middle of Ravenna. Mudlark carries things like skulls, black velvet paintings of Satan, and all manner of things that look vaguely cursed. Hang out here long enough, and you may become odd yourself.

The bulletin board outside Mudlark is a treasure trove of interesting flyers, including ones asking, “Have you died?” and “Are you human? Would you like to be something else?”

 has a particular focus on mystical and otherworldly art. It also sells jewelry, crystals, and tarot decks.

Ghost Gallery is on the second floor of Pacific Place, making it probably one of the few places in a mall where you can get a tarot reading.

Browse gargoyle statues on the Ave, herbal remedies at Pike Place, cursed-looking antiques in Ravenna, and otherworldly art at these four mystical spots.

Seattle’s Best Occult and Pagan Shops

 since the early ‘90s. Back then, it had just transitioned from a “shack” on 14th and Union staffed by volunteers to a brick-and-mortar business; he bought it in 1995 and moved it from its old Capitol Hill location to the University District a decade ago. Through all of that, the shop’s mission has stayed the same — it sells the biggest array of items related to “paganism and the occult” that you’re likely to find in the city. That means books, tarot cards, candles, figurines, even witch-centric day planners. 

It’s as good a place as any to go to if you’re interested in magic or pagan practices, maybe out of interest in the religious practices of your long-ago ancestors or an inspiration you caught from WitchTok. So on a recent visit to Edge of the Circle, I asked Anderson what advice he’d give to a burgeoning witch or would-be druid.

He said that first he’d ask what specific tradition this hypothetical person was interested in. There’s a difference between getting into magic based on West African Yoruba practices, say, or wanting to learn about Norse mythology and rituals.

For anyone interested in neopaganism — the revival of pre-Christian religious traditions — he’d tell them to read “Drawing Down the Moon,” Margot Adler’s 

. Beyond that, Facebook groups can be a great starting point. Anderson suggested 

 as places where newcomers can post and get advice about events to attend and resources to seek out. From there, tomes like “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft”

and “True Magick: A Beginner's Guide”

But with so many traditions and so many different paths to walk, it’s really up to the individual what they want to get into, Anderson pointed out. “I'm not here to tell people what they should want,” he said. “If somebody is especially interested in some magical tradition or some spiritual path, I will try to accommodate them.”

Owner Robert Anderson shares reading picks, local pagan groups, and his best advice for new witches and would-be druids.

Get Into Magick at Edge of the Circle Books

Getting Into Magick? Edge of the Circle Books Has You Covered

The biggest divide in the PSL world is whether the drink actually has pumpkin in it. Not everyone 

the taste of pumpkin, and “pumpkin spice” generally refers to a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and other warming spices. Still, some places like to get pumpkin itself involved.

🎃 There’s maybe no coffee shop more committed to pumpkin as a flavor than 

, with no fewer than FOUR pumpkin-centric drink options. The classic pumpkin latte is vegetal and quite pumpkin-y indeed, while the Great Pumpkin is like a pumpkin-chai shake that will wake you up and give you a sugar rush.

Ladro also offers plenty of pumpkin-y baked goods, if you’re really pumpkin-maxxing.

 pumpkin spice latte emphasizes the “spice” — I got a heady kick of nutmeg from it, which I’m not necessarily mad about. It’s a delicate enough spice combo that you do get a bit of the coffee flavor shining through.

You can get whipped cream on your PSL if you want. I didn’t, but I wish I had.

 of the PSLs I tried. There’s actual pumpkin in there, but it doesn’t overwhelm the spices, so you get something akin to the taste of fall in a mug.

If you want something sweeter, Vita also offers a maple bar latte.

 Pumpkin Stuff latte is very pumpkin-forward, and not all that sweet, which is a reminder that pumpkins are a kind of squash. If you want something that tastes like pumpkin, here you go.

Anchorhead has a few locations, and my favorite is the one just north of Pike Place Market, where there’s a kid-friendly space to relax before or after a market outing.

, and that’s accurate — it’s got a sweetness to it that masks the spices a bit. It’s very drinkable, and sort of adjacent to a pumpkin pie.

The Zoka in Tangletown (near Green Lake) is a great remote work spot with loads of outlets and comfortable chairs.

🥐 Speaking of pumpkin pie, the Pumpkin Pie latte at this 

 in Beacon Hill really nails the assignment. It’s sweet, a little spicy, a little earthy, and a great warming treat on a rainy day.

This bakery has a selection of vegan and gluten-free baked goods, giving you lots of reasons to linger.

Real pumpkin or just spice? We tried PSLs at six Seattle coffee shops to find our favorite pumpkin spice lattes in town.

Seattle’s Best Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Think you know Seattle’s pumpkin spice lattes? Try this photo quiz to test your knowledge.

Don’t scroll for the answers! Only cheater, cheater, pumpkin eaters scroll for the answers…

Think you know Seattle’s pumpkin spice lattes? Try this quiz to test your thirsty knowledge.

Can You Match These PSLs to the Cafe?

, one of Belltown’s most acclaimed cocktail bars, has been shut down while it undergoes a seasonal facelift before reopening today, Oct. 1. For the fourth year running, Rob Roy has turned into the Seattle outpost of 

, a nationwide pop-up event that mashes up Halloween, goth vibes, and craft cocktail culture.

This means that Rob Roy owner Anu Apte and her team have to go into the crawl space above the bar to get out the Halloween decorations and the special glassware: tiki mugs made of skulls, coupe glasses adorned with spider webs. They also have to clear out their fridges to make room for the ingredients for the Black Lagoon menu.

The menu is created by the Black Lagoon team, and it combines Halloween themes with classic fall flavors, plus some over-the-top flourishes. 

, a piña colada riff, has a dash of tobacco-flavored bitters; Demon Dance, the Black Lagoon take on an Old Fashioned, features coconut- and cream cheese-infused bourbon.

In keeping with our increasingly NA-friendly times, there are also three nonalcoholic cocktails. Guests can also buy the glasses as souvenirs, especially the limited-edition tiki mugs made by renowned mug-maker 

If you show up at Black Lagoon, which runs into November, get ready for an immersive time — not only is the bar covered in cobwebs and gore, the bartenders tend to dress up too. “For the most part at Rob Roy, we dress nice. We wear our aprons, no hats,” says Apte. “We don’t have a strict uniform, but there's definitely a dress code. But for Halloween, it's like, ‘Do whatever you want. The more, the better.’”

Seattle's acclaimed cocktail bar is hosting the Black Lagoon pop-up. Here's what to order and buy on your next visit.

The Halloween Pop-Up is Back at Rob Roy

Spooky Cocktails Are Back at Rob Roy

There’s a lot going on this Halloween season in Seattle, so this is just a sampler of what’s out there:

 and almost certainly the scariest. The building itself is a former mortuary, adding to the air of murder hanging in the air, and the team here goes above and beyond in terms of makeup and thrills.

Expect long lines. Many people pay extra on top of the $38 base ticket price to skip the line. Or, if you go on Oct. 9, 16, or 23, you can donate blood on-site, and you and three of your friends can skip the line. For more information on that offer, go 

🐴 On the other end of the spectrum, check out this supremely family-friendly event at Seattle Farm in Rainier Beach. On two upcoming Saturdays (Oct. 3 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), the farm hosts 

, an event that gives children a chance to explore a farm, say hello to some horses, and (for an additional fee) go on some pony rides.

Admission is $30, but that includes parking and lunch. You can also purchase pumpkins while you’re there.

🎞️ Horror movies are ubiquitous this time of year, but the Northwest Film Forum is upping the ante with 

 on Friday nights in October, which showcases genuinely disturbing films like “Cannibal Holocaust”

) and “Irreversible” (on Oct. 16) — the kinds of movies you have to psych yourself up to go see. Ticket sales benefit 

, a nonprofit video rental store that holds one of the largest collections of videos in the world.

This series is hosted by drag queen/horror connoisseur 

 in Fremont isn’t just a diner that doubles as a cocktail bar; it’s also one of the most visually lavish spaces in Seattle. For the Halloween season, it’s transformed into “Screamland,” which means cobwebs, giant skeletons, and deformed Barbies hanging from the ceiling. You want fries with that?

If you like drag and haven’t been to Dreamland’s famous drag brunches, what are you doing? Figure out a way to 

From haunted houses to film fests, check out these family-friendly and spooky pop-ups around Seattle, Washington.

The Best Halloween Pop-Ups in Seattle

Seattle Halloween Pop-Ups to Die For

If you’ve recently moved to Seattle, you might not know that the city is the glass art capital of the U.S. It’s true — way back in the 1970s, Dale Chihuly established the 

, which attracted aspiring glassblowers, and those students soon seeded the region with glass art studios and schools. You can take advantage of this scene in a couple of different ways. You can drop in to one of the many shops that sell glass art, or you can make some yourself.

It’s not as intimidating as it sounds, explains Paul Schuster, the gallery manager of 

. At this Belltown space, students can take courses in the “

,” a multi-week set of classes that starts at $1,260, but you don’t need much training to get on the hot shop floor — 

, you can spend 30 minutes with a studio staff member making a cup, bowl, or paperweight.

These sessions start with a safety talk (duh), followed by the instructor handing students some glass from the furnace along with “frit,” colored glass that students roll together using the “punty,” or pole, before putting it into the 2,200-degree oven (“glory hole,” glassblowers love their lingo), which heats the glass enough so it can be shaped using a variety of tools. It’s a simple enough process, Schuster says, that some couples do it on a date night. Some companies bring employees in for team-building exercises, sometimes with catered food or even an open bar. It’s a much more casual experience than the phrase “2,200-degree oven” would make you think.

All these “experiences,” as Schuster calls them, are one-on-one interactions with a studio staff member. While the staffer helps the newbie glassblower, the goal is to get the student to do as much of the glass-making process themselves.

Not everyone is going to get so fired up (pun intended) about glassblowing that they want to make it their life. Most people who come through Seattle Glassblowing Studio just leave with a little glass object they made — plus a newfound respect for glass art. That way, when someone steps out of the hot shop having struggled through making a Christmas ornament, Paul says, “They're immediately more impressed by the glass we have here in our art gallery. Like, ‘How do they do that?’”

At the Seattle Glassblowing Studio in Belltown, find out why Seattle is the glass art capital of the country.