27 isn't a particularly momentous milestone age...unless you're me and half the musicians you love and admire died when they were 27. Approximately half of those musicians were Seattle residents, and because so, Seattle seemed like the appropriate place to ring in my next year of life.
So I did, and I tormented my friend Anna by preparing a list in advance of nearly 15 bars I wanted to visit, most with some sort of 90s music significance. Brace yourself, liver.
So I did, and I tormented my friend Anna by preparing a list in advance of nearly 15 bars I wanted to visit, most with some sort of 90s music significance. Brace yourself, liver.
EASY JOE'S - We decide to head over to Central Saloon first, but on the way, we notice this place. I don't remember it being there when I was in town last December, so we stop in to see what's good. Um..nothing. It's a sports bar, and I don't do those. My Seattle is all about rock 'n' roll, so on to the next.
CENTRAL SALOON - I'm more than a little obsessed with this place, especially since Joe (the super-sexy bartender from the Cha Cha that I met on my last Seattle trip) messaged me through www.lostintheunderbelly.com - ahh, the power of the internet - to tell me that he ALSO works at the Central, and to stop by ;). No Joe sightings this visit, but Anna and I still very much enjoyed our experience here. Can't you tell?
CENTRAL SALOON - I'm more than a little obsessed with this place, especially since Joe (the super-sexy bartender from the Cha Cha that I met on my last Seattle trip) messaged me through www.lostintheunderbelly.com - ahh, the power of the internet - to tell me that he ALSO works at the Central, and to stop by ;). No Joe sightings this visit, but Anna and I still very much enjoyed our experience here. Can't you tell?
SATURDAY - 8.9.14
EMMETT WATSON'S OYSTER BAR - Chad couldn't make it with me on my grungy birthday journey, so I make sure to load up on seafood and take lots of pictures so he can live vicariously through me.
Emmett Watson's begins our boozy journey. A couple oysters, a few shrimp, and 2 glasses of white zinfandel later, we are ready to hit the bars.
EMMETT WATSON'S OYSTER BAR - Chad couldn't make it with me on my grungy birthday journey, so I make sure to load up on seafood and take lots of pictures so he can live vicariously through me.
Emmett Watson's begins our boozy journey. A couple oysters, a few shrimp, and 2 glasses of white zinfandel later, we are ready to hit the bars.
We're just being metal |m/
Yes, the Central Saloon has strong, cheap drinks, but the ambiance is what keeps me coming back.
How did I miss this commemorative shrine to our fallen Seattle rock gods my first visit? Amazing!
How did I miss this commemorative shrine to our fallen Seattle rock gods my first visit? Amazing!
Also, I love the rough lesbian bartender's shirt:
Now that we've got a good buzz going, we head over to Belltown...and what a sight to see! At least five or six Alyssa Heater-style bars all in a row. This is what dreams are made out of, people.
THE CROCODILE - Our first stop in Belltown is the Crocodile. A little history: Formerly The Crocodile Cafe, this landmark bar served as the primo music venue for the Seattle rock bands who blew up in the 90s. Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, they all played here, and naturally, the Crocodile has plenty of memorability to honor them. I'll take any opportunity to drink with Layne and Kurt, even if they're just photographs on the wall.
THE CROCODILE - Our first stop in Belltown is the Crocodile. A little history: Formerly The Crocodile Cafe, this landmark bar served as the primo music venue for the Seattle rock bands who blew up in the 90s. Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, they all played here, and naturally, the Crocodile has plenty of memorability to honor them. I'll take any opportunity to drink with Layne and Kurt, even if they're just photographs on the wall.
**Although I didn't have a chance to try the pizza, it smelled fucking amazing. I'm going back and ordering a large one all for myself.
THE RABBIT HOLE - A couple doors down is the Rabbit Hole. What the fuck, a Skee-ball bar? Bars this fun don't exist in LA, and if they did, they'd be overrun by the most annoying people that I don't care to associate with when I'm drinking in public.
THE RABBIT HOLE - A couple doors down is the Rabbit Hole. What the fuck, a Skee-ball bar? Bars this fun don't exist in LA, and if they did, they'd be overrun by the most annoying people that I don't care to associate with when I'm drinking in public.
I make the unfortunate mistake of accepting some hillbilly's invitation to play Skee-ball. It must have been the child in me because when he flashed two shiny quarters and asked if I wanted to join, I didn't think twice before blurting "yes!". After that, we couldn't really shake the guy. If it weren't for him, we probably could have stayed here all night.
The drinks, like those at most of the Seattle bars I enjoyed, were strong. I can't vouch for the food, but the menu has a large variety of greasy fare. Yummm!
The drinks, like those at most of the Seattle bars I enjoyed, were strong. I can't vouch for the food, but the menu has a large variety of greasy fare. Yummm!
SHORTY'S - Next door is Shorty's, a bar with a creepy circus vibe that would make anyone with coulrophobia cringe. It reminds me of a more intimate, and certainly sketchier, version of Unicorn. I was pretty tanked at this point, so I don't remember much. I think I drank a cinnamon-flavored shot. I do remember an entire back room filled with bright, flashing pinball machines. I think the tabletops in the booths were also pinball machines.
Give me a chance to sober up and remember the rest of this excursion. To be continued....
Give me a chance to sober up and remember the rest of this excursion. To be continued....
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