#1741 #S1017 - Tulio Ristorante, Seattle - 4/2/2012

One of the better Italian restaurants in the city, with a small, classic bar.

1100 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 624-5500
Est. 1992 - Building constructed: 1922
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: tulio.com
Best Reviews: seattlepi - seattletimes - urbanspoon - thestranger - yelp

#1740 #S1016 - Naos Lounge, Seattle - 4/1/2012

Naos closed July 3, 2012.

The short-lived Naos was a hippy sort of cafe and juice bar, barely qualifying as a (booze) bar, with an accent on sustainable, local ingredients, southern food, and vegan/vegetarian choices. They had unique spins on many familiar menu items and the food was quite good, as were the limited cocktail choices, esp. featuring fresh juices. It seemed like a perfect fit for Fremont, and I'll miss having it as a brunch option. This blurb from their facebook site does a good job of communicating the vibe of the place.

 "SuP Sea~Town~!!~ There are some things we feel Seattle has been missing... A live Juice/smoothie/wheatgrass bar in Fremont, David Lynch signature espresso..yes 'the' David Lynch! A Place for Ramon Shiloh to create and serve his amazing edibles!, Exclusively serving local beer and wine...as well as WA farm produce and meats...Live music for happy hour from Sea~Town's finest! In house 1200's with vinyl by the hundreds for the community to spin~, an amazing swanky and funky vibe and oh yes.... The 'Sunday Funk Brunch'!!! Watch for us in mid March, in the heart of Fremont at 3420 Fremont AV N."

3420 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 397-4321        
Est. March 12, 2012 - Closed July 3, 2012 - Building constructed: 1909
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site:  facebook - google+ 
Reviews: seattleweekly - fremontuniverse - yelp - thestranger  

#1739 #S1015 - Paddy Coyne's (downtown), Seattle - 3/31/2012

The fourth local Irish pub of the name from Galway native Pat Coyne, this one takes over a rather odd location on Pier 70 with El Gaucho's Aqua.  It is well north of most the tourists and foot traffic of the Elliot Bay waterfront, so with the exception of a few patrons of the small marina nearby, customers presumably have a clear plan to seek out the place.  And it's in a larger structure that dates back to 1902, but which has been remodeled into a bright, modern, impersonal warehouse sort of design that is hardly conducive to the feel of a small town Irish pub.  But indeed, placing his bars in rather cold condo or mall settings seems to be part of the Paddy's strategy.

The Paddy's waterfront interior is a welcoming combination of wood and rock, with a fireplace and pleasant but unspectacular view of the marina.  The cocktails and food are both pretty standard pub fare, with mostly American bar food and the standard Irish traditional dishes.  The Paddy's at South Lake Union (the other locations are in Tacoma and downtown Bellevue) is one of the warmest feeling Irish pubs in the Seattle area, and whether this one thrives -- and whether it becomes a place I would choose repeatedly -- will depend on what sort of regulars it can draw and the vibe that creates for the place.

2801 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 405-1548
Est. March 12, 2012 - Building constructed: 1902
Previous bars in this location: Chez Gus, Rippe's Steaks
Web site: paddycoynes.net - facebook
Reviews: seattletimes (SLU) - thestranger - yelp

#1738 #S1014 - The Gerald, Seattle - 3/31/2012

So, it will be illustrative to mention that the owners of The Gerald have had to tell multiple reviewers that, no, they did not consciously set out to emulate sets of "Mad Men." But there's no denying the mid-century nods in the decor and menu.  The place feels nice and serves updated versions of 50s and 60s "comfort food."  Frankly, it's really hard for me to tell right now whether I will grow to resent this or it will become one of my absolute favorites. Regardless of the outcome, bars with the potential to become a favorite are a relatively rare and valuable thing.

5210 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 432-9280
Est. March 23, 2012 - Building constructed: 1904 (as per plaque by Ballard Historical Society; date on tax records appears incorrect)
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: thegeraldseattle.com - facebook
Best Reviews: seattlemet - seattleweekly - seattleballard - thrillist - seattleite - heyprettythings - thestranger - yelp

#1737 #S1013 - C.S. Finnegan's, Seattle - 3/29/2012

Update: C.S. Finnegan's closed in January 2013

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From the owner of Celtic Swell, a college crowd sort of bar on the shores of West Seattle, this is another Irish pub with all the standard American Irish pub accoutrements  -- the Guiness ads, the exposed brick and wood, the framed photos of the old country, the Pogues playing on the sound system, and some authentically bland Irish food.  They only unique thing I noticed was the wildly neck craning angles of the televisions for people at the bar.  Then again, it might be seen as a refreshing change to get a bar in Belltown that people go to because it is their neighborhood place, not because it has any unique attractions or a particular crowd.

2604 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - 206-935-7935            
Est. March 17, 2012 - Building constructed: 1903 - Closed Jan 2013
Previous bars in this location:  None known
Web site: csfinnegans.com - facebook
Reviews: thursdaynightbites - seattlepi - yelp - seattleweekly - seattlemet - eater - thestranger

#1736 - Dizzy's, Phoenix, AZ - 3/27/2012

Now this is a dive bar.  It has an alley entrance -- always a very good sign for bar.  And it is so dark that when you step inside you have to wait a while for your eyes to adjust.  It had an old fellow dropping off some money he owed -- not to the bar, but for one of the patrons whenever he came in.  It had a friendly and wry bartender watching crime shows on TV and marking snarky comments.

7051 North 7th Street Phoenix, AZ 85020 - (602) 944-9699           

Web site: dizzysaz.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - emol.org - voiceplaces - azcentral

#1735 - Do Drop In, Phoenix, AZ - 3/27/2012

 The outer signs tell you: 1) dive bar; 2) they take their cigarettes very seriously; and 3) they had trouble deciding whether it was the Do Drop Inn or the Do Drop In.  That's really all you need to know.  If you do drop in, and you're not a familiar face, it's the sort of place where the regulars will stare at you completely bewildered over what you could possibly be doing there.

9501 N. Seventh St, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Est. year - Building constructed: year
Reviews: voiceplaces - newtimes - azcentral - yelp - metromix