Thirty Years of Singles

In 1992 I saw the movie Singles and I was smitten. I loved the grunge soundtrack and street styles of the characters in the film. At that point in my life, I’d never been to Seattle (and I had no idea I’d end up living there). I simply enjoyed the plot and the aesthetic.

After moving to Seattle, I’d heard that a lot of the movie was actually shot in the city. There are scenes throughout Capitol Hill, at Gasworks Park, Pike Place Market, and Jimi Hendrix’s grave. When I opened my business in Seattle, every day I would park my car around the corner from the building where the characters lived in the film. A U-shaped brick building at East Thomas and 19th Ave East. It was the closest block that didn’t have a time limit on parking!

I especially enjoyed the style of Bridget Fonda’s character, Janet Livermore, so when I realized it was the 30th anniversary of the film (and that the length and color of my hair aligned with Janet’s look), I drove to the location and did a little photo shoot. Now I’m definitely not the first person to pose on those steps (there used to be a big “no trespassing” sign posted on them). But I might be one of the few to show up in character.

Thankfully, the sign was gone. But thirty years of greenery obscured the address a bit. You can still see that I’m at 1820 though. I should have taken pruning shears with me! It’s funny that I used to have that exact carpet bag. I wish I had kept it.

I’m not sure where the iconic bench photo was taken (Pioneer Square, perhaps?), and I suspect the props crew placed it there for the film. So I didn’t worry about tracking down the right location. I simply found a nice (clean) bench near my home for the shot.

Have you seen Singles? It’s been a while since I have. I’m listening to the soundtrack now and it holds up well. Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Alice in Chains, Jimi Hendrix. It’s worth a listen if you like heavy guitars. Perhaps I’ll rewatch the film. Maybe it stands the test of time too.