#709 - The Lamplighter, Seaview, WA - 9/26/2008

Backwards baseball cap required.

#708 - Columbia Bar (Lightship Restaurant), Long Beach WA - 9/26/2008

#707 - Doc's Tavern, Ocean Park WA - 9/26/2008

This and the Grey Parrot Brewpub are my favorite bars on the peninsula. It's a big place, an old place, stocked with history and personality and personalities. I have no primary source data on the history of the bar, but long-time owner Don Sheldon recently penned a colorful history for a calendar, a copy of which is now posted conveniently above the urinals in the mens room next to a centerfold of "Miss September":

"In 1933, at the urging of Roy E. Sheldon and Ralph Osborn, Art Matthews decided to start a tavern in Ocean Park. The trio traveled to Olympia to get a license and a tavern known as "The Whalebone" was established at this sight [sic]. The name came from the fact that dead whales which had washed up on the beach, were buried under what is now the northwest section of the tavern. Art opened at 12 noon on the 4th of July 1933, and closed an hour later at 1:00 P.M. to go to a local ball game.

Doc's Tavern, Ocean Park, WA

In 1936, Art was forced to move. A local leaseholder, following the Good Book, decided that his property shouldn't house a drinking establishment. It seems that the Methodists controlled Ocean Park and a couple devout Methodists operated a bakery across the street. They advertised "home baking," so Art mischievously advertised "home breaking."

Art didn't give up. He had a new building built at the site, which was the old Richfield Station (now Jack's Country Store's new addition). The Tavern, complete, including labor and materials, cost $744.00. He renamed it "Arts" and operated it until 1944, then sold it to A.W. "Doc" Watson.

Doc's Tavern, in business for 79 years, is the oldest tavern or bar in our area, as the liquor license was purchased immediately following the repeal of prohibition.* There have been only three owners, which is nearly unheard of in the liquor industry. Art Matthews, the first; A.W. "Doc" Watson was the second and although he passed on, is a legend in local tavern history; the third, Don Sheldon, Doc's grandson, is carrying on the family business and had the opportunity to share many years in close relationship with Doc Watson.

Before the building housing Doc's Tavern was a tavern, it had many uses. An ice cream parlor (from which the stools you sit on still exist), beauty shop, W.W.I. recruiting office, pool hall, restaurant, bakery, real estate office, antique shop, and gas station. The tavern is actually 5 buildings under one roof and the oldest section was built in 1883. There is an example of the foundation with iron nails and hand carved dowels connecting the corner. This was discovered as we replaced the foundation.

Doc's Tavern, Ocean Park, WA

Doc, a merchant marine, worked on ships while his wife ran the tavern. Doc would return home while not on duty and do the same. Things were fin until another leaseholder not caring for taverns forced another move. A deal was worked out and the original site was purchased by Doc in 1948. Doc being superstitious, kept the name "Arts" and built a lasting trade. In 1968, the tavern was enlarged to include pool tables. Doc ran the tavern for many years and built a lasting reputation in the tavern industry and community.

In 1976, Don Sheldon began working at "Arts" under the guidance of Doc Watson, and in 1979, was hired as a manager of the tavern. Doc died on April 16, 1980, while enjoying his favorite pastime, fishing. Don Sheldon then purchased "Arts" and renamed it "Doc's Tavern" in Doc's memory....

Your friend Don Sheldon"

*Very small nit here: The 21st amendment and the repeal of prohibition actually became effective only on December 5, 1933. However, it is still possible that a (legal) tavern was opened July 4 of that year as it was actually the Beer and Wine Revenue Act, effective April 7 of that year, that allowed the legal flow of beer taps to resume.

1414 Bay Ave, Ocean Park, WA 98640 - (360) 665-4105
Est. 1980 - Building constructed: 1883 (oldest section)
Previous bars in this location: The Whalebone, Art's
Web site: facebook
Articles: yelp - chinookobservor - tripadvisor

#706 - Long Beach Tavern, Long Beach, WA - 9/25/2008

#705 - The Sea Hag, Ilwaco, WA - 9/25/2008

http://seahagilwaco.com/

#704 - The Little Red Barn Loaf'n Shed, Grand Mound, WA - 9/25/2008

#703 - Juju, Seattle (Belltown) - 3/19/2008

Juju - 2224 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA

2224 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 728-4053
Est.  2008 - Closed Nov. 2012 - Building constructed 1911
Previous bars in this location: Ximaica

#702 - The Polar Bar, (Arctic Club Hotel) Seattle - 3/19/2008

700 3rd Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 - (206) 340-0340

seattletimes - thestranger - gastrolust - cornichon

#701 - The Crimson C, Seattle (downtown) - 3/19/2008

When I went there on an early Wednesday evening it was just big, red, and empty. I'll have to try again some Friday or Saturday night. (web site)

Followup:  The Crimson C has closed as of Jan. 2010

#700 - Ama Ama Oyster Bar, Seattle (West Seattle) - 9/4/2008

Update: Ama Ama closed in 2009

---

The most swank bar in Seattle -- absolutely beautiful everywhere you look, like a living Shag painting.

Try the: Starrlight

4752 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 (map)
Est. 2007 - Closed 2009 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars at this location: Guppy's West, Ovio Bistro
Subsequent bars at this location: Table 35, A Terrible Beauty
(ama-amaseattle.com - facebook - yelp - Seattle PI)

#699 - Red Onion Tavern, Seattle - 7/11/2008 (OOO)

#698 - Impromptu, Seattle - 7/11/2008 (OOO)

Impromptu Wine Bar closed at the end of 2009

4235 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 860-1569
madisonparkblogger

#697 - The Cactus, Seattle (Madison Park) - 7/11/2008 (OOO)

#696 - West Five, Seattle (West Seattle) - 9/4/2008

Update: West 5 closed Feb 12, 2022

Kitschy cocktails. Cool. (web site)

4539 California Avenue Southwest Seattle, WA 98116-4110 - (206) 935-1966
Est. 2003 - Closed Feb 12, 2022 - Building constructed 1929

#695 - Jolly Roger Taproom (Pacific Maritime Brewery, Seattle (Ballard) - 9/4/2008

#694 - The T-Bird Tavern, Seattle (Ballard) - 8/31/2008

Thunderbird Tavern, Seattle - Joe Nix mural

The Thunderbird/T-Bird bar next door to a small strip club is in a space that has hosted a bar since the late 1930s. By 1941 it was the "Pilot House Inn" and in 1959 became the "Thunderbird Tavern." It closed again in mid 2013, but reopened the following February under new owners Madison Eckendorf and Ian Smith, who have preserved the diveyness, and eventually added a beautiful Joe Nix mural to the north side of the building.

 Overheard from a Thunderbird customer (discussing a different bar): "You can't have a 70-year-old woman totin' around kegs and have a ditch in back ..."

Thunderbird Tavern, Seattle - 2008

7515 15th Ave NW,  Seattle, WA 98117 - (206) 706-4973
Closed 2013 - Building constructed 1936
Previous bars at this location: Pilot House Inn
backpage - yelp - thestranger - seattlest

#693 - Hazelwood, Seattle (Ballard) - 8/31/2008

This bar had the small personality of a bar in the Adams Morgan district of Washington DC (which is the best strip of small personality bars in the country, as far as I've seen). I wasn't quite as knocked out by the drinks or vibe as most of the places I highly recommend, but this is an intimate, unique space, with a cool crowd and some adventurous cocktails, and what more could you ask?

#692 - Ocho, Seattle (Ballard) - 8/31/2008

A very nice, hopping, little place.

Try the Ten Dollar Margarita and the Sangria Rioja.

#691 - Havana, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 8/27/2008

1010 East Pike Street Seattle, Washington 98122 - (206) 323-2822

#690 - Vermillion, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 8/27/2008

People on Capitol Hill put up galleries with wine bars like some neighborhoods put up lemonade stands.

1508 11th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 709-9797

#689 - Liberty, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 7/23/2008?

Nice.

517 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 323-9898
Est. April 17, 2006 - Building constructed: 1929
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: libertybars.com

#688 - 22 Doors, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 7/23/2008?

Update: 22 Doors closed on Jan 1, 2014.

Named for the 22 mahogany doors from the Camlin Hotel that were used to construct the bar and other parts of the room, 22 Doors sold quite good cocktails and offered an almost secret back patio that felt like a surprise every time I went there.

(Name was temporarily changed to just "22" in 2010)

Est. 2005 - Closed Jan 1, 2014
http://www.twentytwodoors.com/

#687 - Wild Rose Tavern, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 8/17/2008

Try the Pink Panty Dropper.

This is not exactly aimed at my demographic, of course, but it's a nice place and if I was wearing pink panties at the time, I might well have dropped them.

Historical notes:  A bar owned by Neil C. Riley is listed here in 1935.
In the 40s it was LaChateau Café, and in the 60s and 70s it was the Chamber Tavern.In the early 80s it was the Sundance Tavern, and opened as the Wild Rose on Jan 1, 1986.

1021 E Pike Street Seattle, WA 98122-3818 - (206) 324-9210
web site, Yelp
Est. Jan 1, 1986 - Building constructed 1905
Previous bars in this location: LaChateau Café, Chamber Tavern, Sundance Tavern

#686 - The Honey Hole, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 8/17/2008

The Honey Hole has a great vibe, even on a Sunday evening, and the seductive barbeque smells wafting through the bar hut ensure that I'll be back during the day as well.

703 East Pike Street Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 709-1399
(web site, Yelp, The Stranger)

#685 - Rosebud, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 8/17/2008

Update:  Rosebud closed 9/25/2011

Try the Luke's Special.
Maybe I caught it on a bad night, but this spot left me a little cold and full of itself. It does feature a serendipitous, small back patio where you'd never expect it, and I've heard good things, so perhaps it needs another chance or two.

#684 - Grey Gallery, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 8/17/2008

The Grey Gallery closed in 2010

Try the Ginger Gimlet. This cucumber based cocktail is second only to the complex and delicious cocktails of The Hideout and 22 Doors, which puts it in fine company indeed.

1512 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 325-5209
Opened: 2008 Closed: 2010

#683 - Cha Cha(new), Seattle - 8/17/2008

The new underground space is much nicer and it now serves beers that you don't have to pretend to be a starving rock band to like. But what it has added is exactly what is missing from the original -- the utter lack of an intrinsic reason to go there, except for the people you expected to be there. It remains to be seen how a location with its own attractions will carry on. (web site)

1013 E Pike St (downstairs), Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 322-0703
Est. 2007 in this location, 1998 in previous location - Building constructed 1910
Previous bars in this location: None known (in basement space)

#682 - Bimbo's Bitchin Seattle Kitchen (new), Seattle - 8/17/2008

1013 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 322-9950

#681 - Oxford Tavern, Snohomish, WA - 8/13/2008

913 1st St, Snohomish, Washington 98290 - (360) 243-3060

#680 - Stewart's Place, Snohomish, WA - 8/13/2008

A bit of the local talent (contains sound)
709 1st St, Snohomish, WA 98290

#679 - The Great Nabob, Seattle (lower Queen Anne) - 8/13/2008

Update: The Nabob closed in July 2018.

I finally made it to this bar. I like the crowd and if I go at a busier time I might make it one of my recommendations. And I'm a sucker for bars with fezzes in their logos. But it's a pity that the decor of the bar itself doesn't contain a bit more of the character of the logo. Along with a good selection of local beers they feature an odd selection of small bites including poutine, hummus, yam fries and mini burgers.

The old Great Nabob location in Nov. 2020

Old Nabob web site
(image from wayback machine)

819 5th Ave N Seattle, WA - 206-281-9850

Est. ? (By 2005) - Closed July 2019 - Building constructed: 1920

Web site: thegreatnabob.com (wayback machine) - facebook 

Articles: seattleweekly - culturetrip - yelp

#678 - Veil, Seattle (lower Queen Anne) - 8/13/2008

Swanky and spare. I went when it was still light out, which was an error (unless you're headed from there to the opera like the gals next to us were). Try the lamb sliders.

555 Aloha St, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 216-0600
veilrestaurant.com
Est. 2005 Closed: 2008

#677 - O'Finnigan's Pub and Grill, Everett, WA - 8/3/2008

Another characterless sports, pull tabs, and karaoke bar.

13601 Highway 99 #A, Everett, WA 98204-5496 - (425) 745-4805

(web site)

#676 - King Cobra, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 7/26/2008

King Cobra website

916 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98127
Est. 2008 - Closed: 2009

#675 - The Macau Grill (Red Dragon Casino), Mountlake Terrace, WA - 6/24/2008

21917 Hwy 99, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 - (425) 275-4444
thereddragoncasino.net

#674 - Harvey's Tavern, Edmonds, WA - 6/24/2008

21116 Highway 99, Edmonds, WA 98026 - (425) 778-1755
Previous bars at this location: Monroe's Tavern (prop. Harvey Robinson)
Est. 1949 (as Monroe's Tavern)

#673 - Oliver's Twist, Seattle (Greenwood) - 7/5/2008

Try: The Mr. Sowerberry

Along with The Hideout, this is my favorite bar discovery of the year. Adventurous cocktails, fine food, art, and a vibe and clientele perfectly between hip and comfortable.

6822 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98138 - (206) 706-6673
Est. Nov. 2006 - Building constructed: 1929?
Previous bars at this location: None known
oliverstwistseattle.com

#672 - Eva, Seattle - 7/3/2008

Eva closed in 2014

2227 North 56th Street Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 633-3538
Est. 2001 - Closed Oct 30, 2014 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars at this location: Brie and Bordeaux

#671 - Place Pigalle, Seattle - 7/2/2008

Now an upscale, French bistro, the Place Pigalle was once a very blue collar blues joint, and before that a bordello.

"Place Pigalle’s history can be traced back mid-century to a seedy watering hole named the Lotus Inn. Adjacent to the La Salle Hotel (formerly known as the Outlook Hotel, built in 1909), the Lotus Inn was probably the first stop for sailors to have a quick drink before meeting up with a strumpet at the bordello upstairs." -- Place Pigalle history

"The illustrious Place Pigalle in the Pike Place Market was the nastiest, hippest, blues bar in the 1970’s. Little Bill, Junior Earl and the Pearls, Isaac Scott Blues Band, Philharmonic Sam, the Grey Blues Band all played there. It was on the south corner of the market with its back windows looking out on Puget Sound and Alaskan Way 3 stories below.  One night while we were playing I looked up to see an intoxicated patron pick a keg of beer up and throw it out the windows to drop 3 stories onto Alaskan Way!  It was often like the Country Bunker in the Blues Brothers movie. (PNWBands.com)


81 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 624-1756
placepigalle-seattle.com
Lotus Tavern est. 1909 - Place Pigalle est. ? (1950s)

#670 - Pause, Portland - 6/27/2008

#669 - Gotham Tavern, Portland - 6/27/2008

http://www.gothamtavern.com/