#1742 #S1018 - Pine Box, Seattle - 4/2/2012

For infidels like me, one of the greatest contributions of human religions is that it led people to create these beautiful buildings -- buildings we would never create today -- which can eventually be put to the more productive use of dispensing liquor.

(Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons)

In 1892, Edgar Ray Butterworth moved his funeral business from Centerville, WA (now Centralia) to Seattle.  He'd been a mayor, state legislator, and a furniture maker when a black diphtheria epidemic led him into the coffin and burial business. He built the Butterworth building on 1st Avenue, which later hosted Cafe Sophie and a number of other bars and bistros, and is currently being remodeled into a new location for Kell's Irish Pub. In 1923 the business moved to a building on the corner of Melrose and Pine. By the time his heirs sold the business in 1998, it was one of the longest running family owned business in Seattle history.

In Oct. 2003 the old chapel portion of the mortuary hosted "The Chapel," a bar where the typical nightclub clamor seemed to be amplified by the marble and high ceilings, and which had a liveliness that made the business's demise take me by surprise. It was not my crowd, but it was a fun place on the right nights, and I loved the setting.

Thankfully, the space has been taken over by some beer lovers, led by Ian Roberts, who founded Seattle Beer Week and previously managed the Fremont beer mecca "Brouwer's." Indeed, the space is more stately now, notwithstanding the plasma screens listing the fast rotating selections on their 33 taps. And while I did not try this myself, they include a "Randall tap," which infuses the beer with flavors from ingredients like smoked wood chips, hops, etc. And if you don't happen to be in the mood for beer, as I and my friends attending this night were not, after attending a lecture by Daniel Okrent on his fine book on prohibition, their are spirits available and capable bartenders, including Erik H. from Tavern Law.  They also have some food -- pizza, steaks, salads -- but these are ancillary.

The new place is called "Pine Box," in a nod to both the history of the building and the location on Pine Street.  The bar and various furniture items are made from old cabinets used to store funeral urns and the booths are made of old pews. It is can't-miss for beer-lovers, and a high recommendation for anyone who likes interesting bars. Roberts' described the change from the previous occupants to Seattle Beer News in a way that seems spot on to me:

“If you’ve ever been into the old Chapel space you’ve been to the closest thing to a German disco this side of the Rhine. We’re purging that feeling as we rid the space of lasers, bubble machines, and giant white pleather couches. We want to bring the original charm of the historic 1920′s building back, while adding a bunch of kick-ass beer in the process.” (seattlebeernews) 



1600 Melrose Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 588-0375
Est. March 26, 2012 - Building constructed: 1923
Previous bars in this location: The Chapel
Web site: pineboxbar.com - facebook
Reviews: seattlebeernews - seattletimes - seattlemet - capitolhillseattle - thirstyinseattle - mynorthwest - seattleweekly - thestranger - ratebeer - yelp

#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