The Other Capitol Hill

The super-secret not-that-secret Knee High Stocking Company

When most Americans hear “Capitol Hill,” they probably think Schoolhouse Rock! and politics. Seattleites, though, know Capitol Hill as the place where everyone lives (it’s said to be the most densely populated neighborhood in Seattle) and all the bars are. Okay, there are bars elsewhere, but there are an awful lot of them here.

I recently covered some of the Emerald City’s neighborhoods for Journey (the magazine for AAA Washington), which you can see here, including Capitol Hill. As it often goes, only so many words can fit on a page, so Capitol Hill got a shorter representation than Georgetown (another ‘hood that shares a D.C. name) and Ballard (all our own, as far as I know). Plus, we had to leave room for some of my friend Lora‘s great photos.

And so, here’s what I would have said, if there was more space:

Capitol Hill
From atop the water tower in Volunteer Park high on Capitol Hill, a 360-degree panorama of Seattle’s best-known landmarks rewards those who put in the effort to climb all the stairs. And just as you can see everything from up here, this densely populated neighborhood has a little of everything: coffeehouses, historic movie theaters, independent bookstores, a thriving LGBT scene, and nightlife galore. In particular, a good drink for all tastes is never far away. Feeling nostalgic for the days of flappers and feather boas? Drop in to the speakeasy Knee High Stocking Company, where a lighted doorbell and small sign are the only clues a bar is hidden at the corner of Olive Place and Olive Way. Live by the motto that you should always eat (or drink) dessert first? Dilettante has chocolate martinis that delight with their decadence. Want a real feel for the ’hood? Then it’s off to The Elite, also known as the “gay Cheers,” where over stiff drinks you’ll make new friends from all walks of life. [Which, since I wrote this, has apparently closed. Sigh.]