Rotgut.org Blog

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

#1472 #S889 - Fred Wildlife Refuge, Seattle - 6/12/2011

Whether to count this as a "bar" may be somewhat dubious -- it's probably more akin to a theater which sells drinks during performances. But while I wouldn't count places like Benaroya Hall or ACT, I do count places that strike me as more a party venue -- locations where liquor and drinking fit more naturally into the events, like the Can Can, (which is also owned by Chris Snell).

In any case, what is not in doubt is that it's a very interesting building that hosts a range of very intriguing events (and generally with liquor, featuring bars on two floors). The building was originally the studio of photographer Fred Milkie, and its mid-century flourishes have now been accentuated by the addition of wild paint jobs, deer figurines, and miniature golf.

As the web site describes it,"FRED Wildlife Refuge is a privately-run, collaborative art center that includes a photo studio, art gallery, rehearsal studio (for physical arts) and scene shop. A refuge for Seattle's most inventive and innovative artists FRED challenges creatives to break away from their normal routine and venture into unlikely collaborations with artists of disciplines other than their own. FRED will provide space for collaboration among (but not limited to) music, dance, physical performance, digital media, literary artists and visual artists to enter into cross-genre partnerships with the intent of adding new repertoire to Seattle's already vibrant art scene."

127 E. Boylston, Seattle, WA 98102 - 206-588-6959
Est. Jan 20, 2011 - Building constructed: 1961
fredwildliferefuge.com - facebook - thestranger

#1471 #S888 - Via Tribunali (Georgetown), Seattle - 6/11/2011

This entry in the local chain of Neapolitan style pizza joints was created by deconstructing a 100-year-old pizzeria in Naples, shipping it to Seattle, and reassembling it in a 100-year-old building in the heart of Georgetown. It's a very pleasant space and serves fine pizzas and some pretty decent cocktails.

6009 12th Ave S, Seattle, WA - (206) 464-2880
Est. July 15, 2008 - Building constructed: 1907
viatribulani.net - facebook - seattletimes - yelp - thestranger

Sunday, September 18, 2011

#1470 #S887 - Schooner Exact Tap Room, Seattle - 6/11/2011

Update: The Schooner Exact Tasting Room was replaced by the San Juan Seltzery in Sep 2019.

The Schooner Exact was the ship that carried the Denny party -- the first European settlers in the area -- to Seattle in 1851. The brewery also has a history line of beers, including "3 Grid IPA" honoring the conflicting grid systems of the city, and "Regrade Pale." Marcus Connery and Matt & Heather McClung started the brewery in 2006, and opened the Tap Room after moving to their current SoDo location in 2010.

The tap room is particularly pleasant in the summer, with the garage doors open and the small patio in use. Schooner Exact also brews the Brave Horse Tavern beers for Tom Douglas.

3901 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134 - (206) 432-9734
Est. 2010 - Closed 2019 - Building constructed 1946
schoonerexact.com - facebook - washingtonbeerblog - seattlebeernews - beeradvocate - yelp

#1469 #S886 - Cornuto, Seattle - 6/11/2011

"Cornuto" means the "the horns," I was informed, but if you look it up, it also means "cuckold," and is "perhaps the worst insult you can give an Italian man." I'm not sure what it is doing on a Neapolitan-style pizza place from the Via Tribunali folks (it was to be called "Pizzeria Napolitano" at one time). But it's a nice place with good pizza, a tiny patio, big open window on warm days, and an oven made from volcanic rock from Mt. Versuvius.

I believe I was actually the first customer for this place. I was in the neighborhood on this day, and stuck my head in when I noticed the door open. They told me they opened at 4:00, and when I came back at 4:12 I was the only customer there. (I only had drinks, not any pizza, on this particular trip.)

A bit more on "cornuto": "It was an ancient custom to cut the spurs off castrated cocks and graft them to the birds' heads, where they grew as horns. Since the horned capon was a strutting definition of sexual inadequacy, its horns became a symbol of cuckoldry. The sign of the horns, he said, should not be confused with the somewhat similar gesture of defense against the evil eye (index and little finger pointing parallel)" (Time)

7404 Greenwood Ave, Seattle, WA 98103 -
Est. 6/11/2011 - Building constructed: 1910
seriouseats - alixcompton - thestranger - yelp