Neumos photo credit Mike Mitchell

JACOB MCMURRAY, MOPOP chief collections and exhibitions officer, has been with the museum since its conception, starting out cataloging Jimi Hendrix records. In this captivating Frank Gehry–designed museum, he and the MOPOP team enjoy finding new ways to tell pop culture and music stories. For shopping, McMurray recommends Lake City’s Hex Enduction Records & Books: “It’s a tiny little record shop, and they have lots of awesome specialties—jazz, modern composers, international music. It’s a very nicely curated selection of what seems to be the sweet spot in my head.”

He’s also a fan of Georgetown Records—where “Martin, the owner, has excellent taste, especially in African and international music”—and West Seattle’s Easy Street Records, which “for general record buying, is always a good go to. For going to see music, I’m slowly drifting away from a rock mode and going places like Fremont Abbey, the Ballard Homestead, Rabbit Box Theater, and the Good Shepherd Center—atypical spaces where you can get into more intimate musical scenarios.”

Veteran KEXP staff reporter MARTIN DOUGLAS writes a monthly Pacific Northwest music column, “Throwaway Style,” and has co-hosted and co-produced the Webby-nominated podcasts “Fresh off the Spaceship” and “The Cobain 50.” He mentions being a long-time devotee of shopping for LPs at Sonic Boom Records and catching shows at Sunset Tavern. “Those two Ballard-area spots are among my favorite music-centric spaces in the city. Part of it is due to the people and the other part is that the curation of both places is fantastic.”

MATT VAUGHAN is the owner of West Seattle’s long-running Easy Street Records, which features a café and bar and hosts in-store concerts with touring artists. “I’m loving the new Crocodile in Belltown and their smaller club below, Madame Lou’s. Also great is the Seattle OG bar-restaurant Cyclops, across the street. Neumos will always be a favorite and is on one of the most storied corners of Capitol Hill. The Showbox is beautiful and in the heart of Pike Place Market. As far as bars with loud music and fun events, Screwdriver is a classic underground space, your rock ’n’ roll utopia. A newer bar in Pioneer Square, Baba Yaga has great music and drinks, and Clock-Out Lounge is a great neighborhood club in Beacon Hill—big on punk, indie, heavy metal.”

RAFF WILSON, the VP of artistic planning for Seattle Symphony, sings the praises of the Symphony’s stunning home base, Benaroya Hall. “It’s one of the city’s jewels, with the best acoustics anywhere to hear live music and a beautiful foyer space. Our incoming Music Director Xian Zhang is a force of nature on the podium. The big auditorium is complemented by two smaller venues—our Recital Hall, offering chamber music, and our Octave 9 new music space. There’s always something to see and hear!”

Seattle-area native and KEXP DJ KENNADY QUILLE hosts Saturday evenings’ Audioasis show and is involved in local music nonprofits like Rain City Rock Camp. They also play in the punk/Riot Grrrl band Mold Mom. “Capitol Hill’s Spin Cycle Records is dear to my heart. They have a unique selection of music of all genres and tastes.” Fremont’s Daybreak Records “is a bit tucked away on Fremont Ave. They have a really great selection of punk and hardcore, as well as other genres. I always love whatever record they’re spinning—their curation skills are top tier.”