SkyCity
| SkyCity | |
|---|---|
 A view inside of SkyCity in 2006 | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1962 |
| Owner(s) | Space Needle Corporation |
| Head chef | Jeff Maxfield |
| Food type | Fine dining, Pacific Northwest cuisine, new American cuisine |
| Dress code | Casual |
| City | Seattle |
| State | Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Reservations | Yes |
| Website | www |
SkyCity, originally known as the Eye of the Needle,[1][2] is a revolving restaurant and bar situated atop the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.[3][4] It features a 14-foot-deep (4.3 m) carousel (or ring-shaped) dining floor on which sit patrons' tables, chairs, and dining booths. The floor revolves on a track and wheel system, which weighs roughly 125 tons, at a rate of one revolution every 47 minutes. It is the oldest operating revolving restaurant in the world.[5][6]
The restaurant was designed by John Graham & Company, patterned after the La Ronde they had built atop the Ala Moana Center in 1963.[7] Due to the balance and precision of its design, the floor's rotation is accomplished using just a single 1½-horsepower motor.[8]
SkyCity serves Pacific Northwest cuisine and new American cuisine, and provides local seafood, steak, chicken and vegetarian menu items.[5][9][10] It is a fine dining restaurant with a casual dress code.[11][12]
As part of the $100 million "The Century Project" renovations to the Space Needle, SkyCity was closed in September 2017 for outfitting with a clear glass floor.[13] The glass floor will enable diners to view the city below them and also the mechanics that operate the revolving floor.[14] When completed, SkyCity will have the world's first revolving restaurant with a glass floor.[13][15]
In popular culture
In a 1976 episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, "A Frightened Hound Meets Demons Underground," the Mystery Inc. gang are discussing a newspaper article about a demon who started terrorising Seattle residents, on SkyCity. At the conclusion of the mystery/episode, the gang is back at the restaurant as well.
References
- ^ Shannon, R. (2008). Seattle's Historic Restaurants. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-4396-4252-8. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Space Needle: Fun Facts
- ^ Fraioli, J. (2012). Seattle Chef's Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Emerald City. Chef's Table. Lyons Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7627-8706-7. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Randl, C. (2008). Revolving Architecture: A History of Buildings That Rotate, Swivel, and Pivot. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-56898-681-4. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ a b Gunderson, Nick (May 4, 2013). "Food, including that on the Space Needle, soars at Seattle Center". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ American Heritage of Invention & Technology. American Heritage. 2005. p. 55. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "360° View at the Top of Waikiki". The Tasty Island. November 6, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ A Muse News: Sky City
- ^ Clement, Bethany Jean (August 9, 2017). "Sorrow at the Space Needle: Dinner at one of Seattle's most expensive restaurants". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "SkyCity's Jeff Maxfield Talks Local Ingredients & Fatherhood". Seattle Magazine. September 25, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Beckley, Barbara (2002). Hispanic Business. Hispanic Business Publications. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "SkyCity at the Space Needle". The Stranger. March 1, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ a b Hallinan, Bridget (October 11, 2017). "Acrophobes, Beware: Seattle's Space Needle Is Getting a Glass Floor". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "Space Needle plans glass floors and thrilling views with $100M renovation (Video and Images)". Puget Sound Business Journal. June 12, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "Space Needle undergoing seismic upgrade starting Tuesday". KING 5. July 18, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.