#2139 - South, Leavenworth, WA - 4/20/2013

Reasonably good margaritas and Mexican food selections in the Bavarian village.

913 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826 - (509) 888-4328
Est. June 2007
Web site: southleavenworth.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - urbanspoon

#2138 - Munchen Haus, Leavenworth, WA - 4/20/2013

Munchen Haus is part and parcel of the Bavarian village theme of Leavenworth, and if you and your party are in the right frame of mind for kitschy, touristy good time, you will have a good time here and on the town.

On the east side of the Cascade mountain range where Icicle Creek meets the Wenatchee River, Leavenworth is a town of about 2,000 people which attracts 2 million tourists a year. After Lamb-Davis Lumber Company shut down and the Great Northern Railway moved on in the 1920s, Leavenworth struggled for survival through the Great Depression on through the 1960s. When a 1962 plan from the University of Washington's Bureau of Community Development recommended attracting various industries but without an emphasis on tourism, Ted Price and Bob Rogers stepped in. Rogers and Price (a gay couple, not out at the time) had converted the nearby Squirrel Tree Inn to a pre-industrial Bavarian theme, and they recommended doing the same for the dying town of Leavenworth. Having difficulty convincing the town, they and Carolyn Schutte began buying property in the area and remodeling it. By July 1970 the town established the Leavenworth Design Review Board which required all construction and remodeling -- down to the Safeway, the McDonalds, the bank, and the gas station -- to be done in prescribed Bavarian styles. Nowadays the town always seems to be celebrating one oddball festival or another -- on one trip a few years ago we arrived to see a volleyball game in the snow between one team dressed as members of Fred Flintstone's Buffaloes Lodge and the other dressed as sandwiches.

By 2000 when Oliver and Pam Brulotte bought a small space where they could sell Kettlekorn in a covered area between shops, Leavenworth was brimming with shops selling nutcrackers and nesting dolls, Christmas ornaments and funny mugs, candies and cheeses. The shack was Bavarian themed of course, and they eventually expanded to selling microbrews and bratwursts (with 10 different mustard choices). Because they're outside, they're not always the best choice in the Winter months that are the most popular now with the tourists, but when it's warm enough it is a fine little stop.

709 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826 - (509) 548-1158
Est. 2001
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: munchenhaus.com - facebook
Reviews: ratebeer - yelp - Leavenworth - beeradvocate

#2137 - The Whistling Post, Skykomish, WA - 4/19/2013

I first made it to this historic bar in the old railroad stop town of Skykomish three weeks after some knucklehead burned it down in the early morning of April 10th, 2012, in an attempt to cover his tracks after he sawed open the ATM machine to get to the $3300 inside. I returned in April the next year, about three months after the owners opened the rebuilt version in January 2013. There were pleasant people inside happy to talk about it, and the bartender even called the owner Charlie Brown to come over and give me a little history. Charlie and his wife Theora "Teddy" Ryder are only the 4th set of owners in the bar's history, with Teddy purchasing the place in 1980.  A photo in the bar shows a very young Teddy in front of the bar with her schoolmates, with a thought balloon added to show her thinking she's going to buy the joint some day.

A bar first opened on this spot in 1897, constructed and run by Patrick McEvoy, who had been the engineer of the first train scheduled to go through Skykomish on June 18, 1893. At that time it was The Olympia, which itself burned down along with most of downtown Skykomish in 1904. Rebuilt in 1905, conflicting accounts I have found have it being renamed the Whistling Post either at the time it was rebuilt after the fire, or just after prohibition by Brian Thompson, who owned the bar from 1934 to 1968. (A whistling post is a marker along the side of the tracks which informs the engineer to blow the whistle before an upcoming crossing.) The location made it through the prohibition years as the Maple Leaf Confectionery, and Charlie says it was also a card room and dance hall.

The locals were very pleased to see the old place rebuilt, and many of them helped in the effort, including assembling the antique, oak back bar Teddy and Charlie purchased in Omaha, Nebraska. I had a pleasant chat with customer Bob, who moved up to these parts about five years ago, after retiring from the carpenters union, and took in the historic photos on the walls. I must admit that I would prefer the dark, woody, divey old place I see in some of the older photos to the bright, neatly-wallboarded new version, but I'm glad to see the place up and running and with the exterior built to match the old building.
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116 Railroad Ave E, Skykomish, WA 98288 - (360) 677-2333
Est. Jan 27, 2013 (current building, previous bar est. 1897) - Building constructed: 2013
Previous bars in this location: The Olympia
Articles: seattletimes - skyvalleychronicle - skykomishhistoricalsociety - king5 - arlingtondepot - yelp

#2136 - Loggers Inn, Sultan, WA - 4/19/2013

About 25 miles east of the Washington state coast, where the Sultan River meets the Skykomish, and Highway 2 rambles eastward toward Stevens Pass and the Cascade Loop, lies the old prospectors' stop of Sultan, WA, population 4 to 5 thousand people. There, hidden just off the highway, is a modest looking building with a residential-looking chain-link fenced yard and "LOGGERS" written across the facade in unrefined, block letters. Inside the Loggers Inn (AKA "Loggers Tavern," "Loggers Bar," or just "Loggers") is an inviting, old, neighborhood bar with a friendly, lively crowd, and a beautiful, antique back bar.

Back bar at Loggers Inn, Sultan, WA

In 2007, Leo Moreno left his job selling cars in California and bought the place, and if he doesn't make a long go of it, it will not be for lack of activity. Loggers now has DJs, games on the big screens, beer pong, poker, darts, golf tournaments, karaoke, SeaGal appearances, birthday celebrations, and various other events. But Loggers also preserves the past with the signs on the telephone pole out front, the old floor on the east side, funky light fixtures over the bar, and the great back bar.  I talked to regulars like Randy and Garrett, and some of them told me about when they helped save the bar when the water from the flooding Skykomish was calf high.

Fleur de lis applicque on top of bar in Loggers Inn, Sultan WA

It's very difficult to tell how old Loggers actually is. While the front was rebuilt in 1976, Leo believes the eastern portion of the building, which once served as a brothel, goes back to the 1880s, all the while under the Loggers name. County tax records do not date the older structure. As far as the back bar itself, Leo says it is half of a Brunswick bar that came around the cape in the 1880s, to a bar once across the street, and was later split down the middle (lengthwise) with half moving into Loggers. Leo thought the other half may have been in the J&M Cafe in Seattle, but this is not the case, as that bar (which now resides in "Harry's Bar" on Capitol Hill) is quite different.  There is a very similar bar in The Shire in Chehalis, however the capitals are clearly different. I was not able to find a similar bar in any of my pictures from old Seattle bars (including old J&M neighbors the Central and Merchants), however I was able to find photos of very similar bars in Colorado and Arizona.

Fleur de lis applicque on bar in Grumpy's Saloon, Silverton CO
(Photo: Myke Groves, "Hoist a Cold One")

In "Hoist a Cold One: Historic Bars of the Southwest," author Melody Groves and photographer Myke Groves feature photos of two bars that look pretty much identical to each other -- and look to me almost exactly like the Loggers bar with the exception of the top piece.  I.e. the Loggers bar looks like these with the portion starting at the egg and dart beading simply left off, or possibly later removed to fit in the new location. The fleur de lis applicques, the beading along the inside of the spandrels, the capitals, and the basic forms all look alike to me.

Bar in Grumpy's Saloon, Silverton CO
(Photo: Myke Groves, "Hoist a Cold One")

Curiously, the owners of the bars in Arizona and Colorado give very different origins for what look like identical bars. The bar in Grumpy's Saloon in Silverton, CO is said to be ordered from a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog and assembled in 1901, while the strikingly similar bar in The Palace in Prescott, AZ is said to be a one of the many Brunswick-Balke-Collender bars from the late 19th century.  I suspect one of these simply inherited an inaccurate story over the years, most likely the Sears story (although Sears did indeed sell this general style of back bar at the time).  I have taken the liberty of including some limited scans of these bars for comparison, which do not do justice to the fine photos in this lovely book.  If  anyone knows another location in Seattle or Washington that features a bar like these, I would love to hear from you.

Bar in The Palace, Prescott, AZ
(Photo: Myke Groves, "Hoist a Cold One")

Update: Since I wrote this entry I've found more of this model bar in Fords Bar in Idaho Falls the Back Stop Pub in Boulder City, NV, the Palace Saloon in Dyersville, IA, and the McMenamins Back Stage Bar in Portland (this one was formerly in the Lotus Cardroom).  The one in Portland has an old Brunswick label, but it does not appear in the Brunswick catalog that I have possess a copy of, so I am quite curious to learn the model name.

Corner of bar in Loggers Inn, Sultan, WA

Corner of bar in The Palace, Prescott AZ
(Photo: Myke Groves, "Hoist a Cold One")

215 Main St, Sultan, WA 98294 - (360) 793-1923
Web site: facebook
Other sites: yelp - gaming chips - monroemonitor

#2135 #S1136 - Radiator Whiskey, Seattle - 4/18/2013

Radiator Whiskey is an homage to brown liquor and meat from Dan Bugge, the current owner of the tony Matt's in the Market across the hall. Radiator is less several degrees less precious and its about time we had a great bar of this type in Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. It is an in-your-face sacrarium of carnivorism, with skulls resting on the grill hood and featuring a massive platter of half a pig's head. The pork head is smoked for half a day after several days of brining, and leads eaters to fork out the tastiest, tenderous parts of the meat with the delicacy of a surgeon.

The large simulated cask behind the bar features smaller casks with barrel-aged cocktails (try the "1794") and the bar offers over 100 whiskeys. And if somehow the booze and masses of dead animals does not seem quite wanton enough, you can grab a table near the large picture window that gazes out upon the Deju Vu sex shop below.

94 Pike St Suite 30, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 467-4268
Est. April 1, 2013 - Building constructed: 1912
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: radiatorwhiskey.com - facebook
Best articles: seattletimes - cornichon - thestranger - thrillist - seriouseats  - gastrolust - eater - seattleite - seattlemag - seattlemet - dailycandy - cheersmagazine - yelp - sunset

#2134 #S1135 - Runway Cafe, Seattle - 4/16/2013

A homey little tavern on the north end of Boeing Field, the Runway Cafe serves basic bar food and comfort foods, and on clear days offers a nice view of Mount Rainier over the runways.

1128 S. Albro Pl, Seattle, Washington 98108 - (206) 452-7659
Est. Feb 18, 2013 - Building constructed: 1932
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2133 #S1134 - Rview, Seattle - 4/15/2013

RView appears to be attempting to upgrade their game a bit with barrel-aged Manhattans and a bit of mid-century modern remodel of the tedious trapped crowd hotel bar "Visions." It's still a fairly pedestrian hotel bar, perhaps even a bit more annoying for embracing an "ultra lounge" model. But the reason to go to this bar is not irresistible craft cocktails or the unique personality, but the view. If you like hotel bars or simply would enjoy a fairly good view of the city from the 28th floor, it's worth a visit.

515 Madison St, Seattle, WA 98104 - (206) 583-0300
Est. 2013 - Building constructed: 1983
Previous bars in this location: Visions Lounge
Web site: facebook - blog 
Reviews:  yelp - tripadvisor 

#2132 #S1133 - Bada Bistro, Seattle - 4/15/2013

Update: The Bada Bistro closed Aug 5, 2013

When the Alki Bakery moved across the street to 2738 Alki, John and Sharon Bang took over the space, establishing the Alki Cafe. When the popular bakery finally closed after 25 years, the Bangs again took over their old space, establishing the Beachside Cafe in Spring 2011. In March 2013, the Bangs refashioned the cafe into the Bada Bistro, adding a Pacific Rim based menu and made from scratch cocktails emphasizing fresh juices and infusions. It's a sort of odd combination of menu choices, but quite tasty, from start to finish, and somehow the jumble of choices seems appropriate for a place on the beach.

2738 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 257-5554
Est. March 20, 2013 - Closed Aug 5, 2013 - Building constructed: 1915
Previous bars in this location: None known
Subsequent bars in this location: Fat Burger
Web site: badabistro.com - facebook
Reviews: westseattleblog - yelp - thestranger

#2131 #S1132 - Standard Brewing, Seattle - 4/13/2013

"Standard Brewing" may sound like a faceless, corporate brewery, but at least this version is run mostly by one familiar face and is about as small as a brewery and brew pub get. Justin Gerardy, familiar to craft cocktail fans from the Hideout and Vito's, churns out one-barrel batches of interesting beers and serves them in a cozy tasting room with 8 seats and a landscape painted by his grandmother. I had the tasty rye IPA. Standard is a pleasant, intimate place to relax with a good pint.

Historical notes: While it may not look it from the exterior, at least some basic parts of the underlying building here were constructed back in 1915, and in what one must presume was a very different configuration there was once a neighborhood tavern in this space. The Mount Baker Tavern was at this address from at least the 1950s into the 1980s. If anyone has any photos or information on the tavern, I'd love to see them.)

2504 S Jackson St, Suite C, Seattle, WA 98144 - (206) 535-1584
Est. March 20, 2013 - Building constructed: 1915
Previous bars in this location: Mount Baker Tavern
Web site:  standardbrew.com - facebook
Reviews: seattlemet - seattlebeernews - centraldistrictnews - thrillist - yelp - thestranger

#2130 #S1131 - Peddler Brewing, Seattle - 4/12/2013

Another Ballard microbrewery and tasting room (10 breweries within 2 square miles at least count), this one with a range of their brews on 12 taps, and niceties for bikers such as a bike hanger and community bike repair stand.

1514 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107 - (360) 362-0002
Est. March 8, 2013 - Building constructed: year
Previous bars in this location: None known (former brewing space for Maritime Pacific Brewing)
Web site: peddlerbrewing.com - facebook
Reviews: thestranger - wedrinkyourbeer - thrillist - untappd - beeradvocate - seattlemet - myballard

#2129 - Lake Trail Taproom (192 Brewing), Kenmore, WA - 4/12/2013

Settings for bars do not come much more thoroughly unique than this. The Lake Trail Taproom is a couple small rooms carved out of a large warehouse, serving microbrews from 14 taps including a couple brewed by the owners, who run 192 Brewing. Their beers (first licensed in 2009) are brewed in a 12x16 shed behind the owner's house, its 192 square feet leading to the company name. The taproom location has fashioned a funky beer garden and live music venue from the warehouse and surrounding grounds it shares with a topsoil supplier and koi pond supply company. Their Facebook page includes announcements like "What's new? A mirror in the bathroom!"

The beers are pretty good, the people are friendly, and the setting feels like more of some small town in the Cascade mountains than a suburb of Seattle. I need to go back on a warm day to get some better photos, including the outside grounds.

7324 NE 175th St, Ste F Kenmore, WA 98028 - 425-424-2337
Est. May 22, 2012 - Building constructed: 1956
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: 192brewing.com - facebook
Reviews: ratebeer - yelp