#1668 #S991 - Neptune Theater, Seattle - 1/25/2012

A historic Seattle movie theater, which first opened Wednesday, November 16, 1921, was let go by the art movie chain Landmark Theaters.  The local STG group, which manages the Paramount and Moore theaters, signed a long term lease for the location in Feb 2011 and remodeled it slightly into a venue for live music and other performances.

The bar in the back of the main floor is not exactly one you pine to go to when you're not attending a show.  But of course the bar is not the main consideration here, and it's great to see this historic place maintained, and with a pretty attractive set of performances (we've seen Tim Minchin, Concrete Blonde, Norm MacDonald, and Demetri Martin there, among others).  It also happily inherits the features of an old movie theater that most live venues lack -- a sloping floor, and ample seating.  They occasionally have issues with heat, but it's one of the better places in the city to see a show.

1303 Northeast 45th Street Seattle, WA 98105-4502 - (206) 781-5755
Est. Sep 25, 2011 - Building constructed: 1921
Previous bars in this location: None known
web site  - seattlepi - seattletimes - yelp

#1667 #S990 - Pete's Fremont Fire Pit, Seattle - 1/24/2012

Update: Pete's Fremont FIre Pit closed sometime in the third quarter of 2013.

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The theme here is classic Fremont weirdness, with items from the Solstice parade and signage like a back bar at Archie McPhee's.  The barbecue struck me as mediocre, but serviceable, and the help is very friendly.  Pete, the owner, also owns Roxy's and the Backdoor at Roxy's across the street (his son informed me that he proposed calling the latter "Roxy's in the Rear," but this may have been just to needle his wife).  The bar is fairly limited.

The vibe of a place like this only seems to work if you attract an equivalent sort of eclectic regular patrons.  I'll be very interested to see if that happens.

501 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 453-3667
Est. Dec 4, 2011 - Building constructed: 1927
Previous bars in this location: Santolea
facebook - fremocentrist - thrillist - thestranger - fremontuniverse - yelp

#1666 #S989 - Bitterroot BBQ, Seattle - 1/23/2012

"BBQ. Beer. Bourbon. Ballard."  Sounds good to me.

These guys took the old ugly Acme Stamp building and created a  woody, narrow barbecue joint.  The meats are dry rubbed, and served with a variety of sauces at your table.  Sandwiches come on pretzel rolls from Tall Grass Bakery. Down the long hallway of salvaged barn wood is a cozy back bar, with a few additional tables.

The cocktails were not overly impressive -- my iced tea drink was a bit of a watery mess. But they have many good beer and bourbon choices.

5239 Ballard Avenue Northwest Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 920-4196
Est. Jan 18, 2012 - Building constructed: 1900 or earlier
Previous bars in this location: None known
bitterrootbbq.com - facebook - seattlemet - myballard - dailycandy - seattleweekly - yelp - eater - thestranger

#1665 #S988 - 8oz Burger Bar, Seattle - 1/21/2012

The emphasis here is the burgers, which areThe emphasis here is the burgers, which are very good.  The bar choices are okay, and served in front of a great looking, 1920s, art deco style bar from Dayton, Ohio. very good.  The bar choices are okay, and served in front of a great looking, 1920s, art deco style bar from Dayton, Ohio.

1401 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 466-5989
Est. Jan 20, 2012 - Building constructed: 1996
Previous bars in this location: Tidbit
8ozburgerbar.com - facebook - legitbeef - eatinseattle - capitolhillseattle - seattleweekly - urbanspoon

#1664 #S987 - Manhattan Drugs, Seattle - 1/21/2012

Another interesting addition in the takeover of the Seattle bar world by Chris Pardo and Laura Olson's Pterodactyl Group (Grim, The Social, Detention, Auto Battery, Queen of Norway, Po Dog). This entry is a plush steakhouse, featuring Nebraska prime corn-fed steaks, and a gun-antlered ram.  (I noticed a similar piece in LA's Angels and Kings.)  They offer some nice, medium-priced, small plates from chef Khampaeng Panyathong (The Herbfarm, Spring Hill, Grim’s), and have a medium-sized bar where Roman serves a first rate Old Pal.

1419 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 325-6574
Est. Jan 5, 2012 - Building constructed: 1920?
Previous bars in this location: None known
web site - facebook - thrillist - eater - seattlemet - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp

#1663 #S986 - Urban Family Public House, Seattle - 1/21/2012

The Urban Family Public House is for beer lovers, and that shows not only in what they have (a factory-like row of 25 taps of beer, focusing on American craft and Belgian beers), but what they do not (food, liquor). They are apparently going to install brewing works in the back, and add some food items like Pannini sandwiches.

The bar is owned by three friends who moved from Washington DC, and the pictures on the wall are family members of them and their employees. The tables are made from some nice, old, re-used wood from a place in Tumwater, and the walls are exposed, century-old brick.

5329 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 783-2337
Est. Jan 13, 2012 - Building constructed: 1906
Previous bars in this location: None known
urbanfamilypublichouse.com - seattlemet - seattleweekly - seattlebeernews - thestranger - yelp - seattlemet  - urbanspoon

#1662 #S985 -Tim's Tavern on 105th, Seattle - 1/14/2012

Update: Tim's Tavern closed Aug 23, 2021.

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This appears to have been a small, neighborhood dive since 1937.  It seems to have been established then by John "Jack" Perry as "Jack's Tavern," and by the late 40s was "Mackey's Tavern."   By some point in the 1950s it became the "105th Street Tavern" and appears to have remained that into the 80s, at which point it begins to be listed as "Van's 105th St. Tavern."  Van Moore purchased the bar in 1970, but does not appear to have attached his name to it until many years later.  He sold the tavern to Tim Arnot in late 2011, and the latter has retained "Tavern" in the name although they now serve cocktails.

Some notes from the web site:  "His plan is to expand the tavern into the adjoining retail space and relocate the bathrooms to the back. Coming soon there will be a new large neon sign out front and a pool table and small stage for jam sessions and music night.... In the spring and summer, our beer garden is sure to be a big hit!"


602 North 105th Street Seattle, WA 98133 - (206) 789-9005
Est. Dec. 6, 2011 - Building constructed: 1926
Previous bars in this location: Jack's Tavern, Mackey's Tavern, 105th Street Tavern, Van's 105th Street Tavern
timstavernseattle.com - facebook - thestranger - yelp - phinneywood

#1661 #S984 - The Ridge, Seattle - 1/14/2012

The Ridge is a nice, neighborhood place from Chris Navarra (Prost!, Feierebend, Die Bierstube), Chris Gerke (Nickerson Street Saloon), Tom Griffith (T.S. McHugh's, Ten Mercer), and Larry Wikan (beer distributor).  The pizzas are fairly good, and are named after nearby businesses ("True Value," "Ken's Market Combo").  They are complemented by various other better than average food items and beers.  Like Navarra's mini-empire of German pubs, they feature large old photographs on brick walls, and warm, glowing lighting.

7217 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103          
Est. Jan 12, 2012 - Building constructed: 1918
Previous bars in this location: None known
ridgepizza.com - facebook - thestranger - phinneywood - yelp

#1660 #S983 - Lucky 8, Seattle - 1/3/2012

Update:  Lucky 8 closed on  Friday May 17.

Lucky 8 is serves updated versions of classic American-Chinese food -- the kind you find in any town in America, but somewhat better.  The chef is Justin Strnad (Osteria La Spiga, Palace Kitchen, Purple). The decor is slightly kitschy but comfortable, with a large gong in the kitchen area, and they have free (bicycle) delivery for people in the Capitol Hill area.  There is a small bar, with fairly limited spirits -- at least on this visit shortly after they opened.

1407 14th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98122 - (206) 328-0888
Est. 1/1/2012 - Closed 5/17/2013 - Building constructed: 1963
Previous bars in this location: None known
lucky8schinahouse.com - thestranger - eater - capitolhillseattle - yelp