About 90 miles east of Seattle, Roslyn is famous as the shooting location of the 1990s television se
By Deanna Duff December 31, 1969
About 90 miles east of Seattle, Roslyn is famous as the shooting location of the 1990s television series Northern Exposure—which launched 20 years ago this month—but its real-life history is much longer. Founded in 1886, the former coal-mining town is a National Historic District, evidenced by the original, Old West storefronts along the town’s main...
This article originally appeared in the July 2010issue of Seattle magazine.
About 90 miles east of Seattle, Roslyn is famous as the shooting location of the 1990s television series Northern Exposure—which launched 20 years ago this month—but its real-life history is much longer. Founded in 1886, the former coal-mining town is a National Historic District, evidenced by the original, Old West storefronts along the town’s main street, Pennsylvania Avenue. But thanks to a crop of new shops, a bustling farmers’ market and a lively art walk, Roslyn is an adventure in both the past and present.
EAT + DRINK
Opened in 1889, the Brick Saloon (100 W Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.2643; bricksaloon.com) is Washington’s oldest operating bar, complete with an alleged resident ghost and a running-water spittoon. Enjoy pub fare, a pool table and live music Friday and Saturday nights.
Roslyn Market (200 N First St.; 509.649.3588; roslynnaturalmarket.com) specializes in organic groceries. Grab a fresh deli sandwich and a gluten-free cookie (made by Roslyn bakers) and enjoy the summer sunshine on the new outdoor patio.
Since 1990, Roslyn Brewing Company (208 Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.2232; roslynbrewery.com) has continued the town’s century-old brewing tradition with its own Roslyn Beer (a mild, dark lager), which tastes even better in the outdoor beer garden.
The Parmesan fries at the eclectic Roslyn Café (201 W Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.2763) are as much loved as the “Oasis” mural on the wall outside, made famous in the opening credits of Northern Exposure.
At Village Pizza (105 W Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.2992 ), red-and-white-checkered paper placemats stand in for plates, and diners enjoy their pizza crusts with a side of honey for dipping.
Cool down the Roslyn way with a scoop of Moose Tracks ice cream (featuring vanilla, peanut butter cups and fudge, from the Oregon Ice Cream Co.) at CafÉ Cicely (107 E Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.2909), named for Northern Exposure’s quirky fictional setting of Cicely, Alaska.
At Vintage Vine (104 N First St.; 509.649.3064; vintage-vine.com), which relocated in May to a beautiful old space with brick walls and molded-tin ceilings, proprietor Kristi Payne shares both her immense knowledge of Washington wines and glasses full of her favorite local vintages via impromptu tastings.
SHOP + EXPLORE
When the sky is blue and the weather is warm, it’s hard to beat strolling through the Roslyn Sunday Market (along Pennsylvania Avenue; roslynmarkets.com), featuring local produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, artisan crafts and live music.
Browse the beautiful fabrics and the gallery at The Crazy Quilt Shop (104 E Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.3777; thecrazyquiltshop.com), celebrating its second year, and save the date for the popular Roslyn Quilt Show, August 27–29.
Smith Exhibits (101 E Pennsylvania Ave. #3; 509.649.3249) features sculptures, paintings, pop art and mixed-media works by four Northwest artists during July. The gallery is one of several participants in the monthly Last Friday Roslyn Art and Music Walk (July 30, 5–8 p.m.).
The Roslyn Cemetery (free; for directions, visit the Roslyn Museum, 203 Pennsylvania Ave.; 509.649.2355) is a collection of 25 adjacent cemeteries dating to 1887 and representing a remarkable range of ethnicities and burial customs.
Insider Tip:
Antlers up! Roslyn’s annual Moosefest celebrates everything Northern Exposure. This year&
