Seattle - Teach Me Your Ways...
posted August 11, 2011 9:38 AM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Fri September 9 at 8:00 PM, Al's Tavern
2303 N 45th St, Seattle, WA, USA (Map & Directions)
Hey Seattle MeFites, I'm moving to your neck of the woods to go to UW in September. Let's meet up so you can teach me the ways of this ornery town.
So, although I'm technically the organizer here, my lack of knowledge about Seattle keeps me from making too many firm decisions. I'm in town after Labor Day, so the weekend of September 9th / 10th / 11th would be best for me, but I'd push to the next weekend. As for place - I'd love you all to introduce me to a reasonably priced, dive-y sort of place that I feel like I can hang out again. Thoughts?
posted by Apropos of Something to Meetup (48 comments total)

How about Al's Tavern in Wallingford? That's my favorite dive-y sort of place.
posted by grouse at 11:21 AM on August 11, 2011


Whose town you calling ornery?
posted by kthxbi at 12:18 PM on August 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Anywho ... I'm free that weekend. I don't frequent dive-y sorts of places so I can't contribute to the suggestions.
posted by kthxbi at 12:24 PM on August 11, 2011


Particularly because I could walk to it, Al's sounds lovely.

Also, no offense intended by ornery. I'm definitely ornery, ornery enough that "ornery" was the only adjective I could think to write in an IRL that wouldn't make me sound too ridiculous.
posted by Apropos of Something at 2:49 PM on August 11, 2011


Too bad for you the Blue Moon is now an apple store. Best dive ever.
posted by sammyo at 10:08 PM on August 11, 2011


Depending on the circumstances, I might want to check this out too; I'm new to the Seattle place myself, being a tech immigrant.
posted by ChrisR at 12:03 AM on August 12, 2011


Huh, Blue Moon closed? I thought I was there a few weeks ago..maybe it was longer.

I can probably do the weekend of the 10th, definitely not the one after that. I don't know anything about the U District, because I'm one of those annoying Capitol Hill people who think Belltown is too far to go. But maybe I'll make a special effort.

I'm pretty sure she's not actually offended.
posted by jacalata at 12:38 AM on August 12, 2011


Too bad for you the Blue Moon is now an apple store.

Their web site is still listing musical gigs for this week and beyond. There is a store that sells Apple products roughly across the street—perhaps you are confusing the two.

I'm pretty sure she's not actually offended.

Well, I'm offended. Very offended.

Not really.
posted by grouse at 7:22 AM on August 12, 2011


Thing to learn about Seattle #1: Sarcasm.

Al's is good.

The Blue Moon is not closed unless it happened since last Thursday. (There is a Mac store [not an official Apple store] across the street, though ...)

Leny's is also nicely divey, though harder to get to/from than Al's, and I have no idea what it's like on a weekend evening.

The Owl & Thistle has a great *cheap* happy hour. It is downtown, but that might give you a chance to stroll through downtown and Pike Place Market and check stuff out. They sometimes have bands and a cover charge, though.

In the U-District proper, like right along the Ave, there is Finn MacCool's, the Big Time (a brewery that's kind of dingy/divey, beer only), and Earl's, which is actually TOO divey and which I don't recommend.

I feel like I'm missing something obvious ... but anyway Al's might be the best choice, or the O&T.
posted by librarina at 7:33 AM on August 12, 2011


Even if Al's is the best choice, I appreciate the thread pulling double duty for other places I should go in the two and a half weeks I have to basically wander around.

So, Al's is a consensus? Friday or Saturday? What's a reasonable time for things to go down in the pacific time zone?
posted by Apropos of Something at 8:08 AM on August 12, 2011


Things in Seattle definitely get started earlier, than say, in New York City. Usually 8 p.m. sounds like a fine time for a bar meetup. People will often meet earlier at a place that has happy hour deals or serves good food. Almost every bar that serves spirits is required to serve food and it is usually good (but note: do not eat the food at Al's).

I'm going to see The Antlers at 9 on Friday night, so I might be able to stop by if you started early enough. Still have to make my plans with the other people I'm going with, though.
posted by grouse at 8:26 AM on August 12, 2011


Well, I am perhaps too late for the suggestion but, for dive bars, there is always the Zoo, where we have met up before and where I know we will be well served.
posted by y2karl at 10:29 AM on August 12, 2011


Saturday work for you, grouse (and everybody else)?
posted by Apropos of Something at 10:35 AM on August 12, 2011


I'll second Big Time ... probably divey enough, well-connected with METRO and good micro brewskis ... and SFAIK they still have that ancient shuffleboard game.

Also: if Blue Moon were threatened with closing -again- I'd be very disappointed -not- to learn about it On The Blue. Might be too much for a newbie though ... just sayin.
posted by Twang at 10:50 AM on August 12, 2011


The Sloop Tavern is one of the coolest and nicest dive bars I've ever been to. It is in Ballard though.

Unless my evening plans fall through, Saturday is probably not going to work for me at all. I can do Friday or Sunday.
posted by Errant at 11:22 AM on August 12, 2011


Friday is probably fine, if we start at 8.
posted by grouse at 11:27 AM on August 12, 2011


Proposed: Al's, Friday Sep 9, 8PM-?. I'll leave this up for a few days - feel free to mention any major time or place conflicts you might have.
posted by Apropos of Something at 12:43 PM on August 12, 2011


I feel like I'm missing something obvious

The Knarr Shipwreck?
posted by nomisxid at 1:31 PM on August 12, 2011


SHUFFLEBOARD IS GONE. It is a tragedy.
posted by librarina at 6:10 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Friday sounds good to me. Let's do it up!
posted by ChrisR at 8:57 AM on August 13, 2011


The Blue Moon ain't going nowhere, though as my high school classmate from Oklahoma says, "It's a hippie bar."

Seattleites are passive aggressive, very sarcastic, and always refuse your first invitation to do anything unless a) it's sex and b) they think you're seriously hot. On the flip side, it means you rarely get in conversations with Seattleites unless a) they want to have sex with you and b) they think you're seriously hot.

I've never been to Al's, but something tells me 8pm on a Friday night in Wallingford in early September means there's no way in hell we're going to find a table.
posted by dw at 11:16 PM on August 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


Time and place posted. I'll probably be there early-ish, so I can try to grab tables. All else fails, we can improvise.
posted by Apropos of Something at 7:28 AM on August 15, 2011


God damn it. Rule #7 in the official Regulatory Code Regarding Metafilter Meeting Up (the RCRMMU) states that any meet up occurring within walking distance of one's home *must* be attended under penalty of law. I had shit to do that night.

So you're new to Seattle, Apropos, eh? We'd be happy to welcome in true local style. I'll bring the Pictionary and crack. Al's has plenty of Mike's Hard Lemonade. Make sure your clothes are fire retardant.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:10 PM on August 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


I can't promise fire retardant clothes, but I can promise a knit tie if you're nice. Gotsta look all collegiate like going back to school and all.
posted by Apropos of Something at 3:16 PM on August 15, 2011


Slarty, Rule #7 falls under the jurisdiction of Rule #10, which states if any of the Six Conditions Of A Meetup Attendance Requirement is in effect (1. You have organized the meetup, 2. Meetup at your house or property you reside upon, 3. Meetup at which you a) are paying for some part of the festivities and b) are not a mod or mathowie, 4. Mod within reasonable proximity of meetup at given day and time, 5. Meetup as romantic introduction or date, 6. Meetup within walking distance of a MeFite's domicile) a Required Attendee (RA) may except themselves from attendance provided they meet the Three Part Test Of Exception:

1. The RA has a required duty to a Station (work, sick loved one, sick self, etc.)
2. The Station's requirement is such that not attending said Station would jeopardize the Maslowian hierarchical balance of the RA or someone else
3. The RA is willing to swear an oath before Almighty Mathowie that this Station is of greater Requirement under penalty of being seen as a Meet And Right Jerkass

So, no, you do not have to attend. Jerk.
posted by dw at 4:17 PM on August 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


I'm looking forward to this; I was considering making exactly the same suggestion as Apropos of Something, but my lurker shyness quashed it.

W00t!
posted by ChrisR at 9:39 PM on August 15, 2011


Ah, the lurker noob outs himself! That means you have to be "it" first.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 2:13 PM on August 16, 2011


Leny's is also nicely divey, though harder to get to/from than Al's, and I have no idea what it's like on a weekend evening.

Jeez, Leny's: I haven't been there since sometime in the 70s. It was surviving on the goodwill of a small number of regulars who had their personally engraved mugs hung from a rack above the bar. And this was back in the two story days around there, long before the apartment blocks started to arise in that neighborhood. I have no idea of what it is like now.

A similar place that comes to mind is Targy's on 6h Avenue West on Queen Anne, where, even in its kinder, gentler days, a meetup there would meet at the very least with the sullen stares of the regulars, I suspect. Now, there is a neighborhood tavern where you have to have been coming in for at least ten years before you even get a provisional green card.
posted by y2karl at 5:04 PM on August 16, 2011


Karl, the apartment blocks in that neighborhood are still only 3-4 stories tall, max, at least last time I was there (a year or so ago). Man, I love that tiny little business district. One of the things I miss most about living in Seattle.
posted by librarina at 10:20 AM on August 18, 2011


Leny's was the sponsor pub for my kickball league. There always seemed to be a fair amount of non-kickball people in the pub. They have good fries and tater tots. They were unprepared for the love of flip cup shared between our bacon-themed team and the oceanography team Gin and Tectonics, and we managed to tap their keg of PBR before going on to jump into Green Lake in the middle of the night.

Anyway, perhaps a good place to visit on a non-kickball night. Although I would like to see MeFi flip cup. That would be entertaining.
posted by grouse at 12:33 AM on August 19, 2011


I'm rounding out my second year living in Seattle but these never work out for me--I'm out of town that weekend!

*waves* hello neighbors! One day I'll meet you!
posted by palegirl at 9:38 PM on August 19, 2011


What do you mean you're planning a meetup I can't walk to? I have to go across a bridge!? Over an entire canal and lake? Is that actually even possible?

I dunno, I'll give it a try.

*waves* hello neighbors! One day I'll meet you!

Holy cow, look at your user number!

Maybe we should have a meetup just for you, palegirl. Call one! :)
posted by loquacious at 3:30 PM on August 25, 2011


Me old timer. Would love to meetup sometime. Down with mono; it may be a while. But I will holler atcha when I'm back in town and back on my feet!
posted by palegirl at 7:25 PM on August 28, 2011


Bummer, I'm going to miss this one after all, but it's for a really good reason. My band is playing that night at this really great old roadhouse up in Shoreline, Darrell's. If there's any interest in moving the party up north later on, we are going second, probably around ten and I'd love to share a bourbon with some Mefites. My band is Boeufcake and I'm the singing guitar player.

I can't say anything objective about the music, but Darrell's is pretty cool, worth the drive sometime.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:29 PM on August 28, 2011


I am going to have to skip; I'll be attending a funeral that weekend. Another time!
posted by ChrisR at 11:04 PM on August 29, 2011


Aw, crap, Slarty Bartfast -- I've been looking for an excuse to go to Darrell's (now 95% less frightening!), but I'll be out of town that night.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:41 PM on September 3, 2011


OOooh and now I'm bringing a friend too. We all need to convince him to move to Seattle from the eastside. Who's with me?
posted by kthxbi at 10:56 PM on September 8, 2011


Just tell him it's going to cost him 8 dollars one way to do anything cool from now on, unless he thinks "doing something cool" is "going to the Galleria". That oughta learn him.
posted by Errant at 12:57 AM on September 9, 2011


Okay, I guess I _am_ coming out tonight, for a bit.

First meetup!
/me is nervous
posted by ChrisR at 9:35 AM on September 9, 2011


... to that end, how the hell will I identify you people? I'll be arriving 8:30-8:45-ish.
posted by ChrisR at 9:37 AM on September 9, 2011


Hey gang, hope everybody's still pumped for this! I'll be the blonde fuzzy-haired gent wearing a green knit tie and brown vest (affection equals personality, right?). Chris, you should be able to find me at least on that description, and I'll hopefully have found the rest of the crew by then.
posted by Apropos of Something at 10:23 AM on September 9, 2011


My friends want to meet at 8 for the concert so I'm going to have to miss this one! Have a good time!
posted by grouse at 10:45 AM on September 9, 2011


Here early. Look for the brown kid. I promise I'm the only one.
posted by Errant at 7:38 PM on September 9, 2011


Me bringing a friend definitely just translated into I'm not coming. Unforeseen circumstances. I'll tell you about it someday when you're older.
posted by kthxbi at 7:51 PM on September 9, 2011


Well, that's a kind of fun you can have on the east side.
posted by Errant at 8:17 PM on September 9, 2011


y2karl!
posted by Errant at 8:48 PM on September 9, 2011


Word!

A good time. A++. Will meetup again.
posted by ChrisR at 11:57 PM on September 9, 2011


Thanks everybody, great time!
posted by Apropos of Something at 8:06 PM on September 10, 2011



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