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Bars where Pete has had a Drink (5,608 bars; 1,754 bars in Seattle) - Click titles below for Lists:


Bars where Pete has had a drink

Saturday, October 08, 2011

#1494 - Liquid Lounge, Boise, ID - 7/1/2011







405 South 8th St #110, Boise, ID 83702-7147 - (208) 287-5379
liquidboise.com - yelp

#1493 - The Ranch Club, Garden City, ID - 7/1/2011

Update: The Ranch Club closed and re-opened at least three times between 2017 and 2020. However, the last time it reopened, Dec 29, 2020, it was under the name of the "Somewhere Bar."



Garden City is a small town inside of Boise, which has long catered to "the kinds of activities the leaders of Boise didn't want connected with their city, but still wanted close enough to enjoy." (Boise Weekly)  It has been home to small casinos, porn shops, pawn shops and seedy motels, stretched out along one large street (Seattlelites can picture Aurora Avenue).   It was named for gardens raised by Chinese immigrants who once lived in the area. (The name of the main street, Chinden Boulevard, is a portmanteau of "China" and "garden.")

An iconic feature of the area for the last 60+ years has been the rearing horse of the Ranch Club, a bar inside an old log cabin, with a shady history that pre-dates even its location in Garden City.  The sign and parking lot were used in the Clint Eastwood movie "Bronco Billy."  The building hosted prostitution and gambling, and in later years was simply a dive bar frequented by local oldtimers.  Garden City has been cleaning up a bit in recent years, and the Ranch Club has been revitalized by Al, the amiable, new owner, who caters to a younger crowd.  He's added live music, big seats from an old airliner, smoked prime rib, and various events.  There's a patio under the stallion, with horseshoe pits around the side.

Al told us that the building was originally constructed in Payette in 1908, and physically moved to Garden City in 1948, when gambling was legal.  (I'd love to find some documented background from the pre-Garden City history of the place.)  We chatted for a long time about bars of the Boise/Nampa area, and eventually asked Al for a recommendation on where to watch Fourth of July fireworks.  "Oh there will be shit blowing up everywhere," Al told us, "Because let's face it, we're redneck kinda people."






3544 W. Chinden Blvd, Garden City, ID 83714 - 208-343-7447



















Est. 1950 - Closed 2019 or 2020 - Building constructed: 1908
Previous bars in this location: None known
Subsequent bars in this location: Somewhere Bar
Web site: ranchclubgc.com 

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

#1492 - Neurolux, Boise, ID - 7/1/2011

A funky, diverse, dive bar in downtown Boise.  While we were Jeffrey, who works as a puppet maker, sang Trista a song as he played on his ukulele.  It sounded like a traditional love song, but Jeffrey's twist was that all of the lyrics were taken from pedophiles on "To Catch a Predator."

113 North 11th St, Boise, ID 83702-5603 - (208) 343-0886
neurolux.com - facebook - boiseweekly - yelp

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

#1491 - Suds Tavern, Boise, ID - 7/1/2011

Crooked Bar sign at Suds Tavern, Boise, Idaho 2011
The bar is called Suds, but it's located under a splendid old sign for the Crooked Bar, the original bar at the location, which opened in 1956.  In between that and Suds, it is said to have been a grocery store for a portion.  Now it is a class student dive, with prices to match.  Our two well drinks cost a total of $3.50.  It is close by the famous blue turf of Bronco Stadium and can get a little wild on game days, which may account for the missing portion of the pirate statue's face?






Updated Suds Tavern sign, 2019























1024 S Broadway Ave, Boise, ID 83706 - (208) 345-9656
sudstavern.com - facebook - uncleboise - yelp - yahoo - boiseweekly

#1490 - Fatty's, Boise, ID - 6/30/2011

A yelper observes, "They've managed to bring a Texas frat house basement to a second story location in Boise."

That seems to pretty much nail it.

800 W. Idaho St., Ste. 200, Boise, ID 83702 - 208-514-2531
drinkfattys.com - facebook - yelp

Sunday, October 02, 2011

#1489 - The Balcony Club, Boise, ID - 6/30/2011

Boise's most celebratory and flamboyant gay bar, the second floor Balcony Club is also straight-friendly, winning votes as Boise's best dance club some 10 years running.  It has a fairly large dance floor, a wrap-around patio to watch the Boise downtown area below, and hosts various other subcultures such as goth nights.

150 N 8th St Suite 226, Boise, ID 83702 - 208 336-1313
thebalconyclub.com - facebook - uncleboise - boiseweeklyyelp

#1488 - Solid, Boise, ID - 6/30/2011


405 South 8th St, Boise, ID 83702 - (208) 345-6620
solidboise.com - facebook - yelp

#1487 - The Hut Bar and Grill, Pendleton, OR - 6/30/2011

This is a nifty old restaurant and lounge just across the street from the Pendleton Round-Up rodeo grounds.  It's fairly large, with some classic old lounge touches and, of course, a country western theme.



1400 SW Dorion Avenue, Pendleton, OR 97801
facebook - oregonlive - yahoo 

#1486 - First and Last Chance Tavern, Ellensburg, WA - 6/30/2011

 A nifty, tiny tavern on the edge of town in Ellensburg



1200 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926-2678 - (509) 962-5999

yelp

#1507 - The Hub, Centralia, WA - 7/15/2011

The Hub Tavern, AKA The Hub Bar and Grill.

A comfortable, bamboo-adorned dive bar that is moderately capacious and hosts live music.

There appears to have been a bar here at least as far back as 1910 (city guides list bar owners Gray & Temple).




110 S Tower Ave, Centralia, WA 98531 - (360) 736-2229
facebook - yelp

#1485 - Bleachers, Ellensburg, WA - 6/30/2011


730 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926 - (509) 962-2337
bleacherssportspub.com - facebook - yelp - urbanspoon

#1484 #S900 - Via Tribunali (Capitol Hill), Seattle - 6/29/2011

The first of Mike McConnell's series of Neapolitan pizza houses, each with a small to medium-sized bar, and some fairly good cocktails with fresh juices.


913 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA - (206) 322-9234
Est. Nov. 2004 - Building constructed: 1912
viatribunali.net - facebook - seattlepi - yelp

#1483 #S899 - A Terrible Beauty, Seattle - 6/28/2011

Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

Named for the Yeats poem about Ireland's Easter Rebellion, A Terrible Beauty is the second Irish themed bar on a theme and menu established in Renton by Irish-born Jenna Shannon Garvey-O'Brien and her husband Paddy O'Brien.  The space, once Seattle's swankiest mid-century modern decor as Ama Ama Oyster House, is now covered with lovely dark wood.

There's a good selection of beers (30 on tap), pretty much the standards when it comes to cocktails, and a large menu with many traditional Irish items.  I'm not a big fan of drinking Guinness and I am weary of how much their paraphernalia tends to define cookie-cutter Irish bars across our country and others. Bangers and mash, Reuben sandwiches, and corned beef and cabbage are never going to seem like a huge treat for me.  And the cocktails at Irish bars tend to be pretty dull.

So the Irish bars I tend to really like -- e.g. The Owl and Thistle downtown or the Galway Arms in the U District -- are defined by the general vibe and the crowd that attends them.  I'm not sure, from one visit, how the latter will define itself at Terrible Beauty.  The decor is quite warm and welcoming, and I like the cheekiness (so to speak) of the servers wearing that greatest of gifts to the world from the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic school girl outfit (no doubt triggering sublimated childhood memories of lusting after Laura Schaeffer at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Boise, Idaho).   Some people will no doubt complain, but I think those folks would probably be happier avoiding spirited bars altogether and sticking to Applebees.  In any case, whether the place will be home to a crowd I feel like singing along with as the rain drizzles outside, ala the O&T and Galway, will be determined in future visits.

Postscript:  Though this may seem like the most unremarkable nit, the drawing of beer taps on the web site includes a tap for "Harp's."  The reason this caught my eye is that several years ago, in a different Irish bar, I had this conversation with a very large bartender:

Me:  I'll take a Harps
Bartender:  We doon't 'ave any Harps.
Me (eyeing the tap):  A Harps.
Bartender:  We doon't 'ave any Harps.
Me (finally getting it):  Oh, I'll have a Harp.
Bartender:  Ay, that we 'ave.


4752 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 453-4066
Est. June 28, 2011 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars at this location:  Guppy's West, Ovio Bistro, Ama Ama Oyster Bar, Table 35
aterriblebeauty.com - facebook - westseattleblog - westseattleblog - heedthehedonistyelp

Saturday, October 01, 2011

#1482 #S898 - Meza, Seattle - 6/27/2011

Update:  Meza closed the weekend of July 8th, 2012

A small bistro featuring Latin food (Spanish, Venezuelan, Cuban) and nice, summery drinks like sangria, mojitos, jalapena margaritas, and 15 infused vodkas.  I had a quite tasty jalapeno magarita.

1515 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 922-2399
Est. August 2009 - Closed July 2012 - Building constructed: 1925
mezaseattle.com - facebook - seattletimes - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp

#1481 #S897 - Artusi, Seattle - 6/27/2011

Artusi is an expansion of the very popular Spinasse under chef Jason Stratton.  But it is not simply an expansion, as Stratton has aimed to make the bar more prominent, with an emphasis on small plates with more modern takes.  The name is an homage to Pellegrino Artusi, the 19th century author of the influential Italian cookbook The Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well.



Both the food and cocktails here are very fine, and often off the beaten path.  I had a Pink Hook (Old Overholt Rye, Punt e Mes, maraschino, grapefruit) with the Fra'mani salametto w/marinated fava beans, and Lopez Island clams with Docetto, garlic and bread crumbs

1535 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 251-7673
Est. June 8, 2011 - Building constructed: 1910
artusibar.com - facebook - seattletimes - capitolhillseattle - thestranger - dailycandy - seattlemag - yelp

#1480 #S896 - Via Tribunali (Fremont), Seattle - 6/26/2011

The Fremont incarnation of the Mike McConnell's local Neapolitan pizza chain (certified authentic by the Associazionne Verace Pizza Napoletena). Good pizza and fairly good drinks.


4303 Fremont Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 464-2880
Est. Dec. 2008 - Building constructed: 1927
viatribunali.net - fremontuniverse - yelp

#1479 #S895 - Bleu Bistro's Grotto, Seattle - 6/26/2011

Update: Bleu Bistro's Grotto is now closed.

Bleu Bistro's Grotto was built largely because the owner Ross McCartney feared losing the lease on the original Bleu Bistro on Broadway.  Sure enough, the latter closed in September 2011.  The Grotto shares the former's huge menu, but unfortunately has virtually none of the funky, dark, intimate character of the old place, nor any hint of a grotto for that matter.  The original will be sorely missed.


1801 E Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 322-3087
Est. June 8, 2011
bleugrotto.com - facebook - capitolhillseattle - thestranger - thrillistyelp

#1478 #S894 - RN74, Seattle - 6/25/2011

Update: After closing temporarily in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, RN74 announced in 2021 that they would not be reopening, and announced plans to open one of Mina's "Bourbon Steak" establishments in the fall of that year.



Seattle's RN74 echoes Michael Mina's San Francisco version (named for Route Nationale 74, running from Dijon in the North to Chagny in Burgundy's wine country).  Mina was born in Cairo and resides in Las Vegas, but grew up in Ellensburg and attended the University of Washington.  RN74 is upscale, busy, designed like a French train station, and has an emphasis on French cuisine and on wine.  A large sign board announces prices on wines like arriving and departing trains.  It's a bit loud, rushed, and crowded for Seattle restaurant, but adds a nice alternative to downtown (the location was previously a Rite Aid pharmacy).

RN made big news by seducing legendary Seattle bartender Murray Stenson away from his long-time home at ZigZag.  But subsequent reports had Murray delayed a few months recovering from a shoulder industry.  Nevertheless, while the emphasis is on food and wine, there are some very good cocktails to be had at the bar as well.


1433 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 1433 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 456-7474
Est. June 13, 2011 - Closed May 2021 - Building constructed: 1910
michaelmina.net - facebook - thestranger - seattleweekly - bizjournals - seattle times - eater.com - seattletimesyelp

#1477 #S893 - The Backdoor at Roxy's, Seattle - 6/24/2011

The Back Door at Roxy's is a new and ornate speakeasy themed bar in the former location of Rain City Video, behind Roxy's Diner in Fremont.  Like the best speakeasies, stepping inside makes you feel as if stepping into a different world, this one created by a set designer using images of the 30s, statues, velvet curtains and chandeliers.

The cocktails here are very good.  I had a very pleasant visit, in the hands of bartender Jason and chatting with customer Marie.

462 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 362-7322
Est. May 25, 2011 - Building constructed: 1939
backdooratroxys.com - facebook - fremontuniverse - thrillist (video) - bellesofthesound - yelp

#1476 #S892 - Via Tribunali (Queen Anne), Seattle - 6/19/2011

There is a small bar with some nice cocktails at this, the second instantiation of the local (and good) Neapolitan pizza places.

317 West Galer Street, Seattle - (206) 264-7768
Est. June 21, 2007 - Building constructed: 1913
viatribunali.net - facebook - seattleweekly - nwsourceyelp