Columbia City Theater boasts one of the most intimate settings for live performances in Seattle, in a charming neighborhood south of the city. Since the venue reopened a few years back, its gotten rave reviews and attracted a flock of loyal fans. Built in 1917 as the first vaudeville theater in the state of Washington, the venue played a major roll in the Seattle jazz boom of the 1940s, hosting stars like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Fats Waller. The theater then served as a neighborhood cinema during the '50s and, in the '60s, the establishment resumed hosting live events yet again. In recent years, highlight performances have included those by The Fleet Foxes, Everclear, Head and the Heart, Pickwick, Damien Jurado, Sera Cahoone, Ravenna Woods, Mikey and Matty, Campfire OK, Grand Hallway and Ivan & Alyosha. Concert goers can first enjoy drinks in the adjoining bar, where local ales, creative cocktails and small plates fill the menu.