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Join Vanishing Seattle founder Cynthia Brothers, author/illustrator of the bestselling book "Street Trees of Seattle" Taha Ebrahimi, and special guests for a walking tour in the Chinatown-International District. We will highlight notable street trees and the lesser-known stories and histories of the people and places that came before us.
Free; with registration required (limit 2 per person). Walks run from June through September 2026 (specific dates and guest speakers below).
Leisurely pace along paved sidewalks, approximately 1 mile of walking. Estimated to take about 2 hours (2-4pm), rain or shine!
"Street Trees of Seattle" book
The majestic trees of Seattle’s neighborhoods take center stage in this illustrated and informative walking guide.Want to discover which neighborhood has the highest concentration of cherry street trees when cherry blossoms are at their peak? Eager to stroll down the only street lined with western red cedars? Curious how monkey puzzle trees made their way to the city?Using data visualization as a starting point, the author takes readers on a tour of existing street trees throughout Seattle’s neighborhoods and iconic parks through charming illustrations and maps. In the process, she educates readers on the history of the trees and the city, and offers up sketches of trees, leaves, and leaflets to identify trees throughout 33 different neighborhoods. The most notable of each species are highlighted, so urban adventurers can fully appreciate their surroundings or design their own walking routes to experience these natural wonders in their favorite areas of the city.
"My City's Filthy" Vanishing Seattle exhibit book
"My City's Filthy" is a group exhibit and activation at Bumbershoot 2025 featuring 120+ works by 60+ local visual artists in tribute to Seattle’s cultural landmarks, iconic storefronts, and street scenes — both vanished and still here. Vanishing Seattle and Tome Press have teamed up again to produce a new art book that captures the exhibit — including pieces from Rodney H King, KSRA, Keven Furiya, and many more. Plus additional contributions from Amanda Manitach, Jacob Berrier, and Seattle Punk House!
Bush Garden enamel pin
Opened in 1953 by Kaichi Seko and family, the legendary Bush Garden in the Chinatown-International District is the second Japanese restaurant to open in Washington, the first in the country to offer karaoke, and has been a second home to generations of patrons - including politicians, community activists, and die-hard crooners. After its building was bought by a developer and it later closed during the pandemic, Bush will re-open in 2026 in a new home just a couple blocks away.
Mama's Mexican Kitchen enamel pin
Opened in 1974 at 2nd Ave & Bell, Mama's Mexican Kitchen was one of Seattle's oldest and longest-running Mexican restaurants. The beloved Belltown landmark and gathering spot was known for huge burritos and multiple rooms covered in colorful paintings, kitsch, and family mementos. Especially loved was the iconic Elvis Room of copious Presley memorabilia. It was a favored hangout for artists, musicians, and locals up to its closure in 2016. Although a grassroots campaign successfully landmarked the building in 2017, it was demolished in early 2025. Mama's sign designed by owner Mike McAlpin and Ed Moya.
Vito's enamel pin
This iconic restaurant and lounge on First Hill was open from 1953-2022. In its heyday in the ‘50s-‘70s, under the ownership of “Uncle Vito” Santoro and brother Jimmy Santoro, Vito's was a notorious hangout for a wide swath of Seattleites, who partied over hearty Italian meals, cheap jugs of wine, and stiff drinks.The Vito’s lore includes cops on the take, connections to organized crime, and backroom deals and card games in the Vagabond Room (later the famed Cougar Room, featuring Barbara the stuffed cougar). In 2010, new owners restored Vito’s to its former glory – mirrored walls and all – and hosted lounge acts and piano players, like the legendary jazz singer Ruby Bishop, who performed there until the age of 97.A series of fires in the building starting in 2022 led to Vito’s permanent closure, but its raucous camaraderie lives on in the memories of many.
Sit & Spin enamel pin
This legendary ‘90s Belltown joint was a laundromat/music club/art gallery/bar/café/diner – where folks could wash their dirty draws, see a punk show, play arcade and board games, and eat a big ass slice of $2 pizza - often all at once.The Sit & Spin embodied the spirit of “only in Seattle” establishments, and was a favorite hangout for locals, artists, students, street folks, and characters from all walks. Great bands played small shows at Sit & Spin: Mudhoney, The White Stripes, Modest Mouse - to name a few. Sit & Spin’s all-ages “Sure Shot Sundays” hip-hop showcase was a seminal hub and launching pad for many artists in the scene.
The Guild 45th enamel pin
One of Seattle’s most revered movie theaters, the bright neon marquee of the Guild reigned over Wallingford for nearly a century. The theater opened in 1921 as the Paramount Theatre and after several name changes, became the Guild 45th Theatre in 1957. The blue theater housing the Guild’s second screen was built in 1984, two storefronts down. Francis Ford Coppola often chose The Guild for test screenings, it was famously featured in Cameron Crowe’s film "Say Anything," and it hosted premieres for blockbusters as well as indie films and late-night cult screenings.The Guild 45th was acquired by Landmark Theaters in 1989, a national chain later owned by Mark Cuban. The city's landmarks board voted in 2016 to not designate it as a landmark, and it was abruptly closed in 2017. The Guild was demolished in 2022 for a proposed apartment development.
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