#486 - The Bungalow, Scottsdale AZ - 3/17/2006

#485 - The Billet Bar, Scottsdale AZ - 3/16/2006

#484 - The Library, Tempe AZ - 3/16/2006

#483 - 6, Scottsdale AZ - 3/13/2006

#482 - Tumbleweeds, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/13/2006

#481 - The Comet Club, San Francisco - 3/11/2006

#480 - Balboa Cafe, San Francisco - 3/11/2006

#479 - The Grove, San Francisco - 3/11/2006

#478 - Lowells Seafood and Spirits, Burlingame, CA - 3/11/2006

#477 - Cassidy's, San Francisco - 3/10/2006

An Irish-themed dive, but too little Irish and too little divey to make the great dive bar list. However, about 30 seconds after I sat down, a patron threw his empty pint glass at the bartender, who was on the phone, yelled something about a "want a fucking beer," and stormed out, melodramatically flinging a bunch of change at the wall as he stomped on out the front door. So a plus for entertainment.

#476 - Club Hide (The Foundery) - 3/10/2006

Unlike Obscure Curio, this was a real goth night with real goth people. Unfortunately, it was only about ten people, on all three floors.

#475 - The Stud, San Francisco - 3/10/2006

The ads for "The Obscure Curio" made it look like a monthly goth event at a normally gay venue. As it turned out, it was just a DJ playing goth music at a gay club. ("Not that there's anything wrong with that.")

But since gays don't like goth, it was also super boring. There were six people there, and they were wearing blue jeans. When you can't even get gays to dress in theme, you're in a bad way.

#474 - The Tonga Room - 3/10/2006

Excellent. I would rate the Tonga Room a very close second to the Mai Kai, and I can't understand why more isn't made of it by west coast tiki folk. Not only is the general decor close the Mai Kai, but the rain storms every half hour and the band -- though it's neither an exotica band nor a very good band -- coming out on a boat in the middle of the pool -- this is top rank tiki escapism.

#473 - The Bus Stop, San Francisco - 3/9/2006

An old bar -- Since 1900, the signs say -- and in the evenings crammed with attractive women. Unfortunately, it's also crammed with everything you hate in a bar.

#472 - Bayside Sports Bar & Grill, San Francisco - 3/9/2006

1787 Union St., San Francisco, CA 94123 - (415) 673-1565

#471 - The Blue Light, San Francisco - 3/9/2006

#470 - The Marina Lounge, San Francisco - 3/9/2006

A small Boston Southie bar transported to San Francisco. Blue collar, North Beach Italians insulting each other and using "fucking" as every third word. Complete with a patron whom the bartender and other customers openly wish (I couldn't tell how seriously) would leave. "Did Richie leave?" "Nah, he just went to the bathroom." "Ah, fuck, I was hoping he committed suicide." "You should just paint 'Men's Room' over the back door." I like the place.

#469 - Trader Vics, Bellevue - 3/8/2006

Closed August 24, 2008

#468 - St. Andrews Bar and Grill, Seattle - 2/28/2006

I expected this to be just another name change to the Lion's Lair, Greenwood Grill, etc. etc., but Craig, the new owner, radically upgraded the space. It now has very high ceilings, a fireplace, is tons cleaner, a Scottish theme (one can't help suspecting Craig's accent got a wee bit thicker after leaving his job at the Paragon to run this place), and good food that runs from standard to upscale pub fare. I can see myself visiting frequently, and this northwest end of Greenlake might be one club away from becoming quite the draw with the Scots at St. Andrews, the Aussies and New Zealanders at the Kangaroo and Kiwi, and the beer literate hipsters at Duck Island.

7406 Aurora Avenue North Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 523-1193
Est. Oct 5, 2005 - Building constructed: 1927
Previous bars at this location:  Greenlake Tavern (40s-60s), Lion's Lair
standrewsbarandgrill.com - facebook - yelp

#467 - Duck Island Saloon, Seattle - 2/28/2006

One reason I didn't try this little place sooner was that I expected it, ala Beth's Cafe next door, to serve classic Aurora Ave. Americana fare -- hence Bud, Michelob, and PBR. Boy was I wrong. The taps have an excellent and surprisingly aggressive selection of craft brews, including one that is now my new favorite beer: Diamond Knot Extreme Industrial IPA.






7317 Aurora Avenue North Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 783-3360
Est. 2002 - Building constructed: 1945
Previous bars at this location: None known
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