Seattlecome rain or shine

1 City 5 Ways: Chic Geek

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Where to Stay // Doubletree Arctic Club Hotel

With walls of antique portraits and a facade of carved walrus heads, this former club for prospectors will strike gold with history nerds and lovers of camp.

Morning // Archie McPhee

Head to trendy Wallingford to size up this venerable novelty superstore—sort of the Saks Fifth Avenue of whoopee cushions and rubber chickens.

Afternoon // Freemont

The streets of nearby Freemont hold a treasure trove of weird public art, including a giant stone troll beneath the Aurora Bridge.

Afternoon // Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame

Frank Gehry designed Seattle's most eye-catching museum, where exhibits on guitar wonkabilia and Klingon weaponry cater to all manner of geek.

*The streets of nearby Fremont hold a treasure trove of weird public art, including a giant stone troll beneath the Aurora Bridge.

Dinner // Zayda Buddy's
Cheese curds, hotdish and irony are on the menu at Ballard's Midwestern-themed kitsch palace.

Nightlife // Shorty's

End the night with a cocktail and some flipper action at one of the country's best pinball bars. Don't be spooked by the garish clown decor.

From its one-of-a-kind sci-fi vault to offbeat public art, geekery lives long and prospers in the West Coast capital of quirk.