_{Last Day for Espresso Vivace, courtesy of HonuPhoto}

With Ryan’s report on Asteroid Cafe closing, I realized that somehow, in the short time I’ve been here I’ve managed to make it to nearly every notable spot that’s been closed down or demolished a grand total of once.

On that list:

1. Crocodile- Shortly after moving here in February of last year, my friend’s band came through town and played at the Crocodile. It didn’t close until December, but I only managed to get there once. And I really meant to go to the I Heart Rummage show. I know it’s moved on to Chop Suey, but it seems to me like the Crocodile was the perfect location for it.

2. Bimbo’s Bitchin’ Burrito Kitchen- First Iteration- A pair of friends took us to Bimbo’s in spring of 2007. I loved it- the kitschy decorations, the fun stuff under the tables, and so much pink! It was fabulous. But its entire block was demolished, and while it managed to move in elsewhere on Capitol Hill, it just hasn’t been the same. I miss the old one that wasn’t decorated entirely in Mexican wrestling decor…

3. The Sunset Bowl- It’s all in the post, but I only got there once for a friend’s mid-winter party before it closed down in the spring.

4. The aforementioned Asteroid Cafe. Again, it’s in the post, but I never did make it back for that romantic date (well, guess I’ve got two weeks).

5. The Vivace at Cal Anderson Park. A good friend took me there for a cup of coffee this spring, not more than a month before they closed. I found out the hard way, by trying to take my parents to the loveliest coffee shop in the city while they were visiting in mid-July and walking up to boarded doors and windows. It was incredibly sad to lose that location, particularly to lose it so soon after discovering it.

So, I’m kind of feeling like the Typhoid Mary of Seattle businesses these days. The time between visit and closing seems to get shorter and shorter, in addition. But one of my fellow Metbloggers suggested that instead of being sad about my anti-Midas touch, I use my powers for good and not evil. With great power comes great responsibility and all.

So, Metblog readers, what businesses do you really want to see move on and be replaced by condos and light rail? I’ll be happy to go visit them, and keep you updated on their impending demise immediately following.

photo by Chris Villanueva [flickr] via our group pool [#]

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• From notorious nightclub to notorious megachurch in under a year. Mars Hill takes over Tabella. [p-i]
• Your stockroom of Prince costumes are finally set to pay off. (ed: please please provide ample notice before the city is invaded by an army of Princealikes) [citizenrain]
• There, at last, goes the neighborhood. Abandoned block on Pine Street eaten by bulldozers to make way for apartments. So far, no lingering hipsters found fleeing the wreckage. [slog]
• Well, this is embarrassing. Chicago climber beats Seattleite to the top of Columbia Tower. [p-i]
• Macrina gets in the holiday spirit, puts bunnies on cupcakes. We melt from the adorableness. [belltowner]
• Saved by the Supreme Court: our ridiculous “top two” primary! (ed: I have no idea what this even means) [horsesass]
• Spam pays, until it lands you in jail. [cio]
• Aw, no one loves poor old Mercer Hall. But the UW’s plans to build an urban village west of campus is probably very good for the neighborhood and overcrowded students. [times]
• A clue about the new business going in at the former Wing Dome on Olive and Melrose? What does TT stand for anyway? [helloseattle]