Vanishing Seattle.

Good work by good people. Helping Seattle small businesses & preserving the precious cultural legacy of a fast-gentrifying city.

Vanishing Seattle 10th Anniversary Variety Show at the Clock-Out Lounge. On stage are drag artist Atasha Manila, comedian Shannon Koyano, musician Tomo Nakayama, and Cynthia Brothers.

If you're Seattle OG you no doubt know of Vanishing Seattle’s heartwarming homages on Instagram to the many bars, hangouts, and iconic small businesses under peril to Seattle's ravenous race to gentrification.

I've been a big fan of the work of Cynthia Brothers, the mastermind activist behind Vanishing Seattle, since the clear-sky days before the pandemic. Cynthia is an award winning whip smart veteran of many non-profits, local podcasts, and a delightful unflappable charm for this gorgeous but beleaguered city.

For instance Vanishing Seattle’s alerts about the closing of the beloved Joe Bar, my once neighborhood hangout on Capitol Hill, helped bring over 300 people to the closing party. Reuniting the community in an emotional evening that I will never forget.

During the doom scrolling days of the pandemic, Vanishing Seattle’s earnest positive form of nostalgia and activism was one of my go-to medicines. They helped revitalize many struggling businesses with deep dive histories, stories and alerts. And where they could not save they created the most authentic memorials and honorariums to Seattle I have ever seen. Since the pandemic, Vanishing Seattle has produced films, events, art exhibits and garnered international attention.

Cynthia has ascended quickly into the company of the great modern preservationist activists like the heroic Alison Martino of Vintage Los Angeles (my dream would be to sit in a room and have a conversation about my favorite cities with the two of these amazing ladies).

If you love Seattle, or care about whatever city you reside and wish to save our invaluable third spaces, support and follow this incredible resource.