Pioneer Square & International District - Seattle - page 126

Plugging into the spirit of the times and enjoying a damn fine cup of coffee at Zeit-
geist .
Searching for and finding a boisterous dim sum restaurant in the International
District.
Getting culturally tuned in on a First Thursday Art Walk .
Taking an old-school elevator up to the 35th floor of the Smith Tower .
Explore: Pioneer Square & International District
Browsing the Pioneer Square Historic District is rather like visiting a movie set of
early-20th-century Seattle, except that the food and the shopping are better. This is the
birthplace of Seattle, and the redbrick district of historical buildings, antique shops and
musty bars is still a real crossroads of the modern city.
Some visitors arrive by long-distance bus or train at King Street Station, a good place
to get oriented due to its proximity to a trio of local squares. Pioneer Square Park is an
architectural showpiece, Occidental Park has a handy information booth, and just off
Occidental Sq Zeitgeist will brew your first (and possibly best) Seattle coffee. Across
the street from Zeitgeist is the fantastic, free Klondike Gold Rush National Historical
Park, which will quickly make you an expert on Seattle's history. Take time to wander
the streets afterwards to admire the handsome architecture.
Next door to Pioneer Square, but nothing like it architecturally, is the International
District (ID) - Seattle's de facto Chinatown. The 'international' moniker has some mer-
it: while predominantly Chinese, there is a strong Vietnamese presence and some inter-
esting Japanese pioneer history.
The ID is perfect hunting ground for cheap food: dim sum and Vietnamese pho pre-
dominate. You'll also find the Wing Luke Asian Museum and the delectable Panama
Hotel Tea & Coffee House. Hidden treasures include everything from sketchy pet shops
to a pinball museum.
Local Life
» Uwajimaya Shop for exotic fruit and vegetables in this giant Asian community mar-
ket.