#1268 #S764 - Madrona Eatery & Ale House, Seattle, WA - 10/20/2010

Update: The Madrona Eatery and Ale House closed in July 2015.

1138 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Est. 1996 - Closed July 24, 2015 - Building constructed 1935
Previous bars in this location: None known
Subsequent bars in this location: Madrona Arms
seattle times - seattle weekly - the stranger - yelp

#1267 #S763 - McGilvra's, Seattle, WA - 10/20/2010

There are some horror stories about the service (e.g. see yelp), and it was a little disappointing for me even though I sat at the bar on a casual afternoon.  But what they have been successful at is creating a new bar with a feeling like it's been there a long time, and in an enviable location in the summer.  So I'll be checking back.

BTW, did you realize that Madison is the only street in Seattle that will take you from the salt water of Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Washington?  I didn't think about that until I read the McGilvra back story.

4234 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112-3237 - (206) 325-0834
mcgilvrasirishpub.com - madisonparkblogger - seattletwist - seattleweekly - yelp

#1266 #S762 - Bottlehouse, Seattle, WA - 10/20/2010

This is a very pleasant place that just opened in May over the Wilridge Winery in Madrona. I was fortunate enough to catch it on an stunningly gorgeous October day, when turtles were sunning themselves on the nearby Denny Blaine Lake, and the patio on the side of the building was particularly inviting.

Bottlehouse is, of course, a wine shop and cafe -- and I can't think of a nicer such venue in the city. I had an Impulse (a syrah-based blend), a tasty apple and brie sandwich, a nice chat with Soni (one of the owners), and more than one thought about how nice it would be to be permanently retired so I could do this every day.

1416 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 708-7164
bottlehouseseattle.com - facebook - thestranger - seattle weekly - yelp 

#1265 - McMurphy's, White Center, WA - 10/19/2010

If you're looking for a quaint little Irish bar, McMurphy's ain't it. It's a fairly sizable, classic dive in White Center, where aging cover bands play 70s arena rock and the front patio is a well-used smoking area.

The bands weren't yet playing when we visited, and instead I ended up sitting beside what must have been the loudest domino game ever.  Snippet of conversation overheard on the patio:  "He didn't have a knife when I tried it."  (I didn't ask.)

This location was formerly the Firedog Inn.

11069 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98146 - (206) 431-1916
facebook -  PI (local violence)

#1264 #S761 - Roxbury Lanes Lounge, Seattle - 10/19/2010

On old-fashioned bowling alley lounge.

2823 SW Roxbury St, Seattle, WA 98126 - (206) 935-7400
roxburylanes.com - yelp

#1263 #S760 - Skybox Sports Lounge, Seattle - 10/19/2010

Nice folks, average sports pub fare, but I'll be surprised if they're around two years from now.

315 First Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 588-2070
skyboxseattle.com (loud obnoxious music warning) - yelp

#1262 - Fish Tale Brew Pub, Olympia, WA - 10/18/2010

A not-so-micro brewpub from a nice micro-brewery, now located in the Skoog Building.  (The location may not be that remarkable -- I just really like the name "Skoog Building.")  Good beer, good food, some good art and lots of terrible art on the walls (I'm hoping it was from the local middle school).

515 Jefferson St SE, Olympia, WA 98501-1467 - (360) 943-3650
fishbrewing.com - facebook - beer advocate - olympiatraveler - yelp