#1755 - Leatherheads Pub, Stanwood, WA - 4/28/2012

 This is cozy, two-story brewpub is half firefighter museum.  It is run by some ex-firefighters out of a 1929 Spanish-style building, moved to its current location in the 1950s and serving as the West Stanwood Volunteer Fire Department until 1963. It serves fairly typical modern brewpub food and beers.

10209 270th Street Stanwood, WA 98292 - (360) 629-5555
Est. 2009 - Building constructed: 1929

Web site: leatherheadspub.com - facebook  
Reviews: heraldnet - heraldnet - yelp - urbanspoon

#1754 - Conway Pub, Conway, WA - 4/21/2012

The Conway Pub & Eatery -- referred to as the "Conway Tavern" by almost everybody -- is a big, fun place in the middle of nowhere, except that it's a small ways off Interstate 5. Like many fun bars in the middle of nowhere, it caters to bikers, but also has a mix of little old ladies viewing the tulips, kids, locals, and more.  It is in the lower part of a barn-like legionnaires hall, with a large "oyster garden" patio outside.  Knut Bell often plays there.

The Conway has a decent beer selection and serves basic bar food, though it's known for its pan-fried oysters (I am incapable of eating/judging oysters). It is said to have been established in 1932, though I do not know how soon after prohibition ended that it started as a bar. It is the lively mix of people that will likely bring you back.

18611 Main St, Conway, WA 98273 - (360) 445-4733       
Est. 1932

Web site: conwaypub.com - facebook - KAPS youtube
Reviews: link - tripadvisor - yelp - urbanspoon  

#1753 #S1022 - Serendipity, Seattle - 4/18/2012

The older (2008) cafe portion of this restaurant is very kid friendly. Fortunately, the newer bar portion that runs alongside it is fairly cut off from the wretched little beasts, and one can sip a cocktail and enjoy a Mariners game in relative peace.

There didn't seem to be a lot of cocktail expertise, but there is a good selection of beer and wine and some nice spins on "comfort food."

3222 W McGraw St, Seattle, WA 98199 - (206) 402-4109
Est. Feb 2012 (bar portion) - Building constructed: 1947
Previous bars in this location:  None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: seattletimes - wanderingfork - seattlepi - magnoliavoice - irishmikesmith - thestranger - link

#1752 #S1021 - The Nook, Seattle - 4/18/2012

Update: The Nook closed in early 2014

This fairly tiny space squeezed into Magnolia has a nice wine selection like the previous occupant Swirl, but has a more relaxed vibe, serving sandwiches and small plates.  I had a nice conversation about Seattle bars with the bartender Nick.

3217 West McGraw Street Seattle, WA 98199 - (206) 282-9866
Est. May 2011 - Building constructed: 1930
Previous bars in this location: Swirl Wine Bar
Web site: facebook
Reviews: magnoliavoice - yelp

#1751 #S1020 - Restaurant Bea, Seattle - 4/17/2012

Update: Restaurant Bea closed July 12, 2013

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This homey Madrona space has hosted a series of highly regarded restaurants, with Cremant, June, and now Bea.  Restaurant Bea is the creation of Tom Black (Barking Frog, 35th St. Bistro) and Kate Perry (no, a different Kate Perry), and specializes in a rotating menu of upscale "comfort food." They have turned the bar around, extending it a bit, and opened up the kitchen -- which make getting their very good cocktails and food seem more direct and intimate.  I had two good cocktails -- The 34th Cocktail (bourbon, punt e mes, habanero, Angostura and celery bitters) and Jalisco Vieux Carre (rye, tequila, sweet vermouth, Bennedictine, Peychauds and Angostura).  The bacon-wrapped meatloaf was good and white bean soup was very tasty.

The vibe seemed a little stiff and self-conscious -- As long as they are embracing a sort of country theme, I'd enjoy it more if I could have both the fine food and cocktails and a little bit more raucous, with patrons louder and interacting with each other. But it's still a pleasant experience, particularly at the bar.

1423 34th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 812-2901
Est. March 30, 2012 - Closed July 12, 2013 - Building constructed: 1904
Previous bars in this location: June
Web site: restaurantbea.com - facebook
Reviews: seattleweekly - seattleite - seattleweekly - seattleweekly - thrillist - seattletimes - seattlemet - centraldistrictnews - eater - dailycandy - urbanspoon - yelp - thestranger

#1750 - Ski Inn, Enumclaw, WA - 4/14/2012

 This is one of those small-town bars that looks like a tiny dive from the outside, but upon entering your find it is actually pretty large, with hints of a relatively happening weekend evening scene.  The back bar is almost 50' long and "at one time was the longest continuous bar west of the Mississippi."* It is said to have been established in 1916, although I am not sure it was under the same name, and I do not know how soon it resumed as a bar after prohibition.  But it's obviously been around in something like its current form for quite a while, and offers a fairly standard neighborhood bar, in its liquor and beer selection, pull tabs, and Budweiser paraphernalia.

*Watering Holes of the Northwest, Michael Caldwell

1113 Griffin Ave, Enumclaw, WA 98022 - (360) 825-5267
Est. 1916

yelp - patch - insiderpages 

#1749 - Wilkeson Saloon, Wilkeson, WA - 4/14/2012

The Wilkeson Saloon is said to date back to the late 1890s, although the great fire of 1910 makes one question whether the current building dates back that far.  The owner informs me that the space was originally a pool hall and cigar shop, and that it was called the Eagle Tavern when it first became a bar.

In any case, the current incarnation, run by relatively new owners Sunny Bean and her husband Robert, has a bit more modern pub touches than the classic Pick'n'Shovel just up the street, and is a another friendly place to grab some basic bar food and beers.

521 Church St, Wilkeson, WA. 1 - (360) 761-7168
wilkesonsaloon.com - facebook - bikerfriendlybar