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Bars where Pete has had a Drink (5,608 bars; 1,754 bars in Seattle) - Click titles below for Lists:


Bars where Pete has had a drink

Thursday, July 30, 2009

#860 - Main Street Bitro, Boise - 7/24/2009


609 W. Main St., Boise, ID, 83702
myspace - boise weekly - yelp - idaho statesman

#859 - The Symposion Boise, ID - 7/24/2009

Updated Sep 26, 2019

The Symposion, Boise, ID
"In ancient Greece, the symposium (Greek: συμπόσιον symposion or symposio, from συμπίνειν sympinein, "to drink together") was a part of a banquet that took place after the meal, when drinking for pleasure was accompanied by music, dancing, recitals, or conversation." (wikipedia)

The Sympiosion -- or "The Sympo" to regulars -- appears much as I remember it when I last went there ten years ago. Founder and owner Victor Cocotis passed away April 12, 2018, but his creation, described as "The neighborhood bar without a neighborhood," carries on. At least for now that is, there are some articles about a new land owner and a potential ballpark on the property, which now seems to stand in a little oasis of undeveloped space between busy highways on the east side of Boise, the now demolished warehouses making its blue and white, columned doorway and surrounding trees seem all the more oddly out of place.

Inside there is still a fairly typical dive bar, but for the division into several separate rooms. Bartender Michelle was serving up the standard modern dive mix of cheap beers, craft beers, and strong, simple cocktails, in a structure built in 1918, a large "Cocktails" sign on the roof, and who knows what kind of residents preceding the bar. It's the sort of oddity one hopes survives as long as possible, and you'll want to remember to patronize now and then if you have the chance.



2801 Fletcher St., Boise, ID - 208-342-9420                              
Est. 1975 - Building constructed: 1918
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Articles: yelpboiseweekly - tripadvisorboisedev 

#858 - Players, Wildhorse Gaming Resort, Pendleton OR - 7/22/2009


72777 Hwy. 331, Pendleton, OR 97801
wildhorseresort.com -

#857 - The Saddle, Pendleton, OR - 7/22/2009


2220 SE Ct Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801

#856 - Crabby's Underground Saloon, Pendleton, OR - 7/22/2009


220 SW 1st St, Pendleton, OR 97801 - (541) 276-8118
myspace - goseeoregon - ohwy

Sunday, July 12, 2009

#851 - Greenlake Bar & Grill, Seattle - 7/12/2009

There's a nice history of past Greenlake Grills at the current and other locations on the My Greenlake blog.

7200 E Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98115 - (206) 729-6179
website - yelp - the stranger

#850 - Bastille, Seattle (Ballard) - 7/11/2009

Update: After temporarily closing due to the Coronavirus in March 2020, the owners announced that Bastille would be refashioned into Sabine Cafe, which opened their cafe portion Oct 28, 2020. The bar portion remained closed to be reopened when conditions allow.


This may be the completion of the gentrification of Ballard and final concession of Seattle's hip neighborhood to Georgetown / SoDo. But if so, what a way to go.

The place is beautiful, with glowing, vintage sconces that will make steampunks envious, French subway accoutrements, very fine French brasserie style food, and a rollicking, sexy salsa scene in the gorgeous back bar. By comparision to the august interior, the patio looks rather plain, but also spacious and welcoming. And it detracted nothing my first impression that the place (in the location of the old Obermaier Machine Works building) was packed with beautiful women the Saturday night we went. Gentrification certainly has its benefits.

Est. 2010 - Closed March 2020 (refashioned into Sabine Cafe) - Building constructed 1927
5307 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107-4061 - (206) 453-5014
bastilleseattle.com - yelp - seattle times - myballard

#849 - Nijo, Seattle (downtown) - 7/8/2009


(Pat Roux photo)

83 Spring St. Seattle, WA 98104 - (206) 340-8880
Est. 2005 - Building constructed 1905
Previous bars at this location: None known
nijosushi.com - yelp - the stranger

Sunday, July 05, 2009

#848 - The Loft, Edmonds, WA - 7/4/2009


It's been a very long time since I'd been to downtown Edmonds and I really had low expectations for the bars. But while I don't see any particular reason to ever go back to Rory's or Johnny's, I was surprised by how much I liked the little trio of bars around 5th and Main. And The Loft was the most surprising of all.

It's small and romantic, with two floors and a very nice bamboo-lined patio. The food and drinks contain some fine, uncommon options. With the spring break type atmosphere at Taki Tiki and the classic neighborhood feel of Engel's, the swanky dark wood and dramatic lighting of The Loft make it the upscale alternative to perfectly complete the range of drinkeries. It gives people from Seattle a reason to return, and makes old town Edmonds feel like an alluring little resort town.

Try the: Glacier (Bartender Joe's cocktail contest entry)

515 Main St., Edmonds, WA 98020 - (425) 640-5000
theloftlounge.com - yelp - insider pages

#847 - Engel's Pub, Edmonds, WA - 7/4/2009

A classic, small, neighborhood pub, just like every town should have.

113 5th Ave S Edmonds, WA 98020 - (425) 778-2900
Est. 1934
yelp - insiderpages

#846 - Johnny's Sports Bar, Edmonds, WA - 7/4/2009

Mehhh....

101 Main St., Edmonds, WA 98020-3131 - (425) 778-1585
johnnyssportsbar.net - facebook - yelp

#845 - Rory's, Edmonds, WA - 7/4/2009




105 Main Street, Edmonds, WA 98020 - 425-778-3433
Previous bars in this location: Sail Inn Tavern (50s-90s)
yelp - citysearch -

#844 - A Very Taki Tiki Bar, Edmonds, WA - 7/4/2009


This is certainly not the sort of place that is going to please people who are really into tiki culture. But while the college-bar type crowd, the cheesy but charmless decor, and the overly sweet, sorority girl drinks are not my cup of tea, I do like to see a range of styles in bars and I think this one definitely has its place, nestled in with the swanky Loft and the comfortably divey Engel's.

518 Main Street, Edmonds, WA 98020 - 425-778-3548
Previous bars at this location:None known
averytakitikibar.com - yelp

#843 - Pexos / Lake City Bar and Grill, Seattle - 7/4/2009

When I first stopped into this bar in July 2009, I wrote here how boring it was.  It seemed like the lifeless remnant of some 70s fern bar, with no distinct features, hardly anyone in the place, and a virtually lifeless bartender. Like many people, I assume it was the "Lake City Bar and Grill," as the signs outside proclaimed, and I assumed I'd never be back.

Hanging bar above the main bar bears vestiges of Neal's Nightcap.
What brought me back in Sep. 2012, was finding the unfamiliar name of Pexos Sports Bar. It turned out that Pexos is what many people call the Lake City Bar and Grill, as the investment of a new sign was apparently considered frivolous. I was glad I came back though -- the place was a bit more lively, there were more interesting characters, and I did a tiny bit better job at noticing various vestiges of the past. That past was then partially filled in by long-time resident and customer Ashley.

This clip art flyer beside the door was the only hint I saw of the "Pexos" name.
Ashley informed me that the place was previously Neal's Nightcap (hence the "N N" etched in the hanging bar), and earlier the Green Mill (odd, because there is a sign with a blue mill still on top of the building), and possibly also The Lantern (presuming she is not conflating this with the Beacon Light Tavern which used to be on the next block).  It also went by various versions of "O'Neill's up until 2005 or so (O'Neill's Family Restaurant, O'Neill's Pub and Eatery, O'Neill's Restaurant and Bar). Unfortunately, it is difficult to find primary records of establishments this far from the downtown area.



12725 Lake City Way NE., Seattle, Washington 98125 - 206-362-2911
Previous bars in this location: O'Neill's, Neal's Nightcap, The Green Mill?  The Lantern?
yelp