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10 Seattle Spots Where You Can Avoid Pokémon Go

Gotta ditch 'em all.

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Like an adorable biblical plague, the geocaching mobile game Pokémon Go has overtaken our streets and turned many of our fellow citizens into walking husks with eyes permanently affixed to their mobile screens. Since internet law states that we are legally required to write something about Pokémon Go this week, here are 10 places around Seattle where you might be able to avoid hordes of screen-staring wannabe PokéMasters.

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Barboza

Good luck getting reliable cellular service and GPS tracking in inviting dungeon venue under Neumos. However, phone cameras still work down there, so you might have to deal with an overzealous amateur videographer or shutterbug (ShutterWeedle?) during a concert.

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Barnes and Noble – Pacific Place

As crazy as this sounds, there was a time when people read things on bound pieces of paper instead of phone screens. Barnes and Noble is one of these ancient “stores of book,” where many of these tomes would be sold to consumers. But all kidding aside, the basement of this B&N is a delightful dead spot for cell service. Find a cozy spot, and catch up on some classic American literature.

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King County Jail

We’re not saying that you should commit a crime in order to be locked away from Pokémon Go players… but that still sound better than being duped into a gunpoint robbery because of the game.

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Seattle Yoga Lounge

Relieve the stress build up from the people absentmindedly bumping into you on the sidewalk or wandering in front of your car with a session at a local yoga studio like Green Lake’s Seattle Yoga Lounge. Since phones aren’t allowed in the studio, you’re free to go full Meditite.

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Hothouse Spa and Sauna

For obvious reasons of relaxation and privacy, phones are a no-go in women’s bathouses like Hothouse Spa and Sauna on Capitol Hill. That means you can’t catch any water Pokémon down here, you  creeps. (Yes, Pokémon Go nudes are a thing. No, I’m not going to provide a link.)

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UW Medical Center

While there are sure to be people playing Pokémon Go in the waiting rooms, we’re certain cell phones aren’t allowed in MRI machines. So make sure to injure yourself really bad. Might we suggest…

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I-5

Just go stand out in the middle of I-5. (Note: Somehow this still might not be a Poké-free zone.)

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Art of the Table

In the Pokémon Go age, the few restaurants that already have no-phone policies may become escapist destinations. Considering the listed philosophy of Fremont’s Art of the Table begins: “Things You Should Do: put away your phone…”, we don’t expect them to be placing any Pokémon Go lures to bring in new diners.

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Smith Tower Observation Bubble

1. No one’s gonna want to look at their phone with this view.
2. Only a few normal sized humans can climb up the latter and fit in the enclosure at a time.
3. It’s part of Petra Franklin’s private residence, and you’re not invited.

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Nintendo of America

j/k











Seth Sommerfeld
Seth Sommerfeld
Assistant Editor (Arts) Seth Sommerfeld runs the arts department at Seattle Met, crafting the magazine's On the Town section, editing the Culture Fiend blog, and contributing to reader service features such as “The Ultimate Seahawks Guide” and the front-of-the-book department, Mudroom. Seth has written about music and culture for Rolling Stone, Spin, Pacific Northwest Inlander, Charleston Post and Courier, Syracuse Post-Standard, and Billings Gazette. He also extensively covered the NBA Draft for years for Fox Sports and NBADraft.net, and was published as part of Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology. Originally from Billings, Montana, Seth first lived in Washington while earning an undergraduate degree in journalism and broadcasting at Gonzaga University. He followed up those studies at Syracuse University, where he earned a master’s degree in arts journalism.