I was told by a publicist that even the beignets are naughty. Yes, the beignets. Apparently, sugary dough can be a tease at a cabaret and burlesque show. As I walked to the Can Can’s popular winter show, Wonderland, I wondered: How can anything be sexy when everything is sexy? I was determined to find out.
Located underneath one of Seattle’s busiest corners, near the Public Market Center sign, the Can Can feels like a relic of Seattle’s past. At least one mom near my table whispered, “It’s like one of those speakeasies,” and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have the same thought. The venue’s vibe is laid on thick—exposed overhead wood, dark furniture, brothel lighting. Waiters sneak in and out of impossibly tiny aisles to take patrons’ absinthe orders. It’s the perfect tourist trap—totally manufactured, but a distant relative could visit and be able to confidently say, “This is so Seattle.”
