#885 - Ricky's Bar & Grill, Shoreline, WA - 9/6/2009

Update: Ricky's closed in 2011.














632 N Richmond Beach Dr. (Richmond Beach Shopping Center, between N 3rd Ave & N 8th Ave) Shoreline, WA 98177 - (206) 546-4847
Est. 2008? - Closed 2011
yelp

#884 - Richmond Beach Grill House, Shoreline, WA - 9/6/2009

Update: Richmond Beach Grill House closed in 2010

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This seems like a pleasant enough little complex for families, but I would not recommend going out of your way for the lounge.

1430 NW Richmond Beach Rd., Shoreline, WA 98177 -  206-533-1500
Previous bars in this location: Arden Inn Tavern (1970s)
Subsequent bars in this location: Swannies on the Alley
mygrillhouse.com - spinalley.com - yelp

#883 - The War Room, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 9/2/2009

Meh. Even the rooftop deck, which should have been a nice respite from the top 40 style music, was compromised by watching a mouse dart back and forth across the floor. Obviously not my kind of crowd, but the bartenders were cool, and they did have a slideshow showing much more interesting club people than their patrons.

 The War Room is closing Nov. 30, 2009

722 E Pike St. Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 328-7666
thewarroomseattle.com - yelp - citysearch - the stranger - seattle weekly

#882 - Maharaja, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 9/2/2009

Update:  The Maharaja closed Dec 31, 2010

I have it on good authority -- and yelpers confirm -- that it is a fine dive bar in the back of this establishment (the food, the bathrooms -- not so much). It was completely dead on the early Friday evening that I attended, so I obviously haven't seen it in top form. If you're on Capitol Hill and want a bar with stiff, basic drinks without the Capitol Hill prices, it seems like a reasonable choice. And the web site is, um, remarkable.

720 E Pike St, Seattle - (206) 320-0334
Closed Dec 31, 2010
seattlemaharaja.com - yelp - the stranger

#881 - Captain Black's, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 9/2/2009

If this were any place besides the embarrassment of bar riches area of Capitol Hill, I'd immediately give it my highest rating. The food gets mixed reviews and it's not the place you'd want to go for a really interesting cocktail, but if you're just drinking and it's just the basics, there aren't many better places in town. The small porch in front, the homey remodeled bungalow interior, and especially the large porch in back make this seem like a really nice resort town bar -- but with a more likable crowd.

129 Belmont Ave, Seattle, WA 98102-5602 - (206) 327-9549
captainblacksseattle.com - the stranger - yelp - urbanspoon - seattle weekly

#880 - Tavern Law, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 9/2/2009

My first impression of the much hyped Tavern Law was negative. After all, it was supposed to be a prime example of the new speakeasy trend, so what was it doing with a prominent sign out front identifying the place (even though anyone who even casually follows Seattle foodie and bar news knew exactly where it was)? I later realized that the speakeasy was hidden inside the public bar.

The space is nice, with lots of quirky angles, and the drinks and the food are absolutely lovely.

Thanks to (customer) Naomi for an enjoyable an informative conversation, and thanks to the TL/Spur crew for a great salmon and risotto and cocktails. I will very definitely be back.

Try the: Monkey Gland

1406 12th Ave (between Union St & Pike St), Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 322-9734
tavernlaw.com - blog - facebook - seattle times - yelp - seattlest

#879 - Lucid, Seattle (U-District) - 8/27/2009

Update: Lucid closed at the end of September 2015.

This is a very happening little jazz club, surprisingly downbeat, cozy, and hip for a U District bar. For me, Lucid and Cafe Racer give the district its first destination bars -- i.e. ones you'd repeatedly leave other parts of town and travel a distance just to experience for a while. It's a classic-feeling, intimate space that feels like lounging in your hip friend's basement, with musical talent wandering in and playing into the ongoing sets. It is run by the multifaceted philanthropist David Pierre-Louis, who interned at NASA, and works on progress for the people of Haiti, where his parents were born.

Est. 2008 - Closed Sep 2015 - Building constructed 1999

5241 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 - (206) 369-3248

lucidseattle.com - facebook 

Articles: seattleglobalist - yelp - the stranger - visualismphoto's flickr