Seattle was completely ignored by Esquire's Best Bars of 2011. Out of our booming cocktail scene, only one bar in the city limits was selected--two in Washington. At first glance, it seemed that it was because of Esquire's emphasis on new bars, around two years old and younger, for this year's list (which would explain the exclusion of previous picks like the Zig Zag). But the two Washington bars, Sambar and the Geoduck Tavern in Brinnon, both of which have more whiskey stains than my prom dress. more ›

Drinking is the best. If your 2010 was like mine, you drank a lot of things. Between unpaid internships (free coffee and free booze is THE ONLY WAY YOU GET PAID) living with the folks for a while (mmm neverending fridge full of beer), finally getting a grownup job (YAY, now I can afford my own drinks, sort of) and writing for such fine publications of Seattlest, one ends up drinking a whole lot of things. In no particular order, here are ten of the best of those things: more ›

Yesterday we were reading about the new speakeasy craze in the New York Times, and William Grimes listed a few of the first wave: "Their name is legion: the Varnish in Los Angeles; Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco; Speakeasy in Cleveland; the Violet Hour in Chicago; Manifesto in Kansas City, Mo.; Tavern Law in Seattle (scheduled to open later this month)." Who's so dialed-in they can make the Times without being open? Chef/owners Brian McCracken and Dana Tough of Spur. Tavern Law will be a part of Trace Lofts, on Capitol Hill. more ›