4 things CZ can do in Seattle while he waits to see if he goes to jail

By headlines alone, you'd think Changpeng “CZ” Zhao was having another bad week: days after pleading guilty to violating US anti-counterfeiting laws and ultimately being fired as CEO of Binance, the embattled crypto mogul got word today. At least he is for now. He was banned from leaving the US. While awaiting sentencing.

On the one hand, today's developments are not ideal for the Dubai-based executive. But in another, they give a chance.

Crypto's richest man, by him His own introduction, has not taken a single day off work for more than six years. Now, whether Zhao likes it or not, he finds himself stuck in America, and recently he was in Seattle – the emerald-green jewel of the Pacific Northwest, full of cultural and natural wonders, recently voted the 7th best city in America. Vacation time at US News and World Report.

Instead of worrying about it Legal destiny, Zhao can take his time and finally devote himself to a long vacation in one of America's most interesting and unique cultural centers. Here are a few local Seattle gems to check out while the ousted Binance CEO awaits sentencing for facilitating money laundering.

1. Funhouse

Seattle is the birthplace of grunge. It only takes one visit to the city to realize that the rainy, soulful backdrops of the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden haven't been around in a few years. While Zhao has never publicly stated his love for the music genre, it may be in line with his current state of mind.

Emphasizing social isolation, self-doubt, and indifference, grunge could be the perfect soundtrack for a tech founder who chose to separate himself from his life's work rather than take that project down with him. Official doubts In the time left on Earth, it will create something as amazing as Binance.

If Zhao is looking for some good headliner music and a like-minded audience to get some anger out of the system, he should go here. Funhousea low-key live music bar with high volume; Trippy rock acts Almost every day. Located just south of Capitol Hill, Funhouse showcases Seattle's still-thriving local music scene. The club's management currently bans platform diving and sharp-edged jackets, but it might be willing to make an exception here – if Zhao really needs an extra dose of hardcore.

2. Spinace

After getting a few demons out of his system, Zhao needs to take care of himself. And no restaurant in the Seattle area can match a long-gone lonely day. Spinace.

In the year Opened in 2008, the upscale Capitol Hill trattoria's relatively small menu focuses exclusively on pastas and meats from the Piedmont region of northern Italy. That distinction, combined with the finest fresh, locally sourced ingredients, has paid off: Food network He recently named the restaurant's tajine al ragu—a tomato-light but seductive bologna sauce paired with delightfully thin handmade egg noodles—as one of America's top five Italian dishes.

At a candlelit table in Spinasse's modern-rustic dining room, over a bottle of Barolo hand-selected from the restaurant's carefully curated wine list, Zhao can finally take a minute to breathe and take stock of his life.

Of course, he only had a fork 50 million dollars A government for a country he doesn't live in, and yes, he probably won't ever see Number “4” again Without wanting to hide from pure embarrassment in the middle school bathroom. But gosh, this duck confit cavatelli with quince mostarda is insane, and oh wow, this bottle is almost finished. It comes down in order to Easy with food. What upset you first? What's for dessert?

3. Deception Pass State Park

Zhao is supposed to be a little hungover the next morning, but this presents another opportunity: stop watching the “Shark Tank” in your hotel room and check out what's up with the stress. Kevin O'Leary You should think about you now, and explore the fresh outdoors! Seattle offers some of America's most spectacular and untouched natural beauty, and is just minutes from downtown.

If Zhao is willing to throw in some NPR And take a leisurely hour and a half drive to the Canadian border (don't miss it!), rewarded with the world-class beauty of Deception Pass.

The state park, which straddles two islands off the coast of Washington, offers some of the freshest greenery in the country, beaches, tide pools and ample whale watching. True, the park's name may upset Zhao, who counters accusations that Binance misappropriated user funds like FTX. He said recently The company was denied a deal with the US. But all it takes is an encounter with the park's wildlife, and those seasonal worries wash away.

Zhao can roll up his pants cuffs to search for the countless moon snails, anemones, crabs, and starfish he finds in the park's many shallow beach pools. Plunging into the ocean and watching the majestic, slow-moving dance of humpbacks and orcas, he comes to see his place in the planet's most impressive circle of life. He marvels at the many forms of life, the great and the small, and finally knows peace.

4. Space needle

If Zhao is allowed to go home to Dubai and see his wife and children again, they will probably be furious if he continues to show off a lot of selfies and rave about his life-changing journey without them. In other words, he needs to bring home some gifts.

So while most Seattleites probably roll their eyes at the city's most famous landmark, it's worth a trip to the Space Needle to pick up some shirts and mugs for the family. Tickets are currently priced at $59.50, which isn't cheap. But Zhao is still a billionaire after last week. And sometimes it's better to play with people Idea Place, instead of explaining what happened in Seattle… and why now you cry every time Nirvana comes on, or you see the ocean.

Edited by Andrew Hayward.