Dinner Before American Aquarium at The Crocodile
Planning dinner before American Aquarium at The Crocodile? BJ Barham and the band bring their Americana to The Crocodile on Sunday, September 20, with Buffalo Nichols opening, doors at 7 PM and the show at 8:00 PM. Grappa is 1.9 miles away by car in Queen Anne, about six minutes without traffic. A table around 6:00 PM makes for a relaxed Sunday dinner before the show.
Plan your night around the show
This show is 21 and over, so bring a valid, unexpired photo ID. With doors at 7 PM and an 8:00 PM start, sit down at Grappa around 6:00 PM and you will reach 1st Avenue in time for Buffalo Nichols. The Crocodile does not allow backpacks or bags larger than 12 x 12 x 8 inches. Before you set off, check the live route from Grappa to The Crocodile.
For parking, re-entry rules and every other show on the calendar, see our guide to dinner near The Crocodile.
Getting to The Crocodile
From Grappa it is about six minutes by car: down Queen Anne Avenue North, along Denny Way and onto 1st Avenue. The Crocodile has no parking lot of its own. It partners with SpotHero for reserved spaces nearby, and street parking is available around Belltown. The box office opens 30 minutes before the doors, and you will need ID to collect will-call tickets.
Your evening at a glance
- Around 6:00 PM: Sunday dinner at Grappa in Queen Anne.
- 7 PM: doors open at The Crocodile, 2505 1st Avenue.
- Before the headliner: Buffalo Nichols opens.
- 8:00 PM: American Aquarium take the stage.
Plan on dinner before the show rather than after: on Sundays Grappa closes at 9:00 PM, before an 8:00 PM show lets out.
What to order before the show
A Sunday show calls for comfort food. Share a starter, then settle into a hearty main.
- To share: the Charcuterie Board, or Sicilian Meatballs with marinara.
- Mains: the 8 oz Filet Mignon of American wagyu with mashed potatoes, Roasted Lemon Chicken or the Lasagna.
- For the table: Grappa’s Famous Paella.
- Something sweet: Mama’s Tiramisu.
The full dinner menu changes with the season, and there are wines by the glass and cocktails to start the night. Choose a table in our candlelit dining room or on our heated four-season patio.
About the show
American Aquarium is an alt-country and Americana band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 2006 and led by singer-songwriter BJ Barham. Their 2012 album Burn. Flicker. Die. was produced by Jason Isbell, and Lamentations (2020) reached the Top Country Albums chart. The band says it has played more than 4,000 shows, including headline nights at the Ryman Auditorium.
Their newest album, New Ways to Lose, came out in June 2026 on Barham’s Losing Side Records. It was produced by Shooter Jennings and recorded in Los Angeles in ten days, much of it live.
Opening is Buffalo Nichols, a blues singer and guitarist with Milwaukee roots whose self-titled debut came out on Fat Possum in 2021, followed by The Fatalist in 2023.
Reserve your table before the show
The form below opens on the show date with a table time that gets you to The Crocodile as the doors open. Change either one if another time suits your plans better.
Frequently asked questions
What time should we book dinner before American Aquarium at The Crocodile?
Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 8:00 PM. A table at Grappa around 6:00 PM leaves time for dinner and the six-minute drive to Belltown.
Is the American Aquarium show at The Crocodile 21 and over?
Yes. The show is 21 and over, and a valid, unexpired photo ID is required.
Who is opening for American Aquarium in Seattle?
Buffalo Nichols, the blues singer and guitarist, opens the show.
How far is Grappa from The Crocodile?
Grappa is 1.9 miles from The Crocodile by car, about six minutes without traffic. The Crocodile is at 2505 1st Avenue in Belltown.
