Imagine you spend nine months of the year away from Seattle in favor of higher education in Virginia. Imagine having to drive two hours to DC, just so you can find other people who know what it is like to want nothing as much as an early Fugazi seven-inch. Now imagine getting back to Seattle and stumblingly trying to get your concert-going feet wet in this glistening navy-blue puddle—where do you go?

The Crocodile
There aren’t many things better than the Croc’s veggie gumbo. One exception: Arriving in Seattle hours before the Thermals album-release show for “Fuckin A” and getting to hear it performed live the night before its release.

Neumo's
Remember old-Moes? Me neither. I was never old enough to legally gain entry. Thankfully, during my academically-induced absence, Seattle got Neumo’s, a venue reborn. My introduction to the venue was the Aveo/Elf Power show. Bands that proclaim “We’re not fucking rock fucking stars,” (Ermmm... Aveo?) proved themselves wrong that night. Neumo’s and the frites were well worth the wait.

The Sunset Tavern
The lights in the Sunset Tavern make you feel like you are swimming inside a glass of Nick Carroway’s red wine. If a band like Black Nite Crash is dousing you with a heavily distorted soundtrack, you won’t care if you drown.

Guest columnist Joe is the DC correspondent for ThreeImaginaryGirls.com, when he’s not in Puyallup working on a strawberry farm.