The last Tavernburger: How hangouts have served Seattle [View all]

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The following article is by the P-I's John Connelly and has a slide show of Seattle taverns, bars and restaurants through the years that are now closed. I've been to six of them.

My valedictory dinner at Two Bells Tavern in Belltown began with the order of an Irish Coffee and an apology delivered by the waitperson: "Jeff is not ordering cream anymore. Would half-and-half be OK?"

Lots of us are losing a hangout when the tavern closes Sunday, two hangouts when you count Bakeman's and its turkey sandwiches down near city hall.

In the city's mad development rush, the headline: "Iconic Seattle restaurant to close" has become a SeattlePI staple.

The first scribe I heard lament about Seattle losing its funky character was John Steinbeck in his "Travels with Charlie" written nearly 60 years ago. Almost 40 years have passed since my artist-cousin Steve Hutchison protested disappearance of a "down and dirty" tavern at the Pike Place Market, transformed into a trendy restaurant.

So what, you say. Restaurants open, restaurants close. After years of working 60 hour weeks, owners want to cash out, or move to new challenges, or just take some time off. They've earned a respite from waiting on us.

Still, hangouts have both nutritional and social value.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Connelly-The-last-Tavernburger-how-hangouts-12458325.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi#photo-5761913