Today’s Special: Atlantic Crossing Pub, Seattle, WA

Bless You! - Illustrations by Joe Meitl and Jonus Brown

**Today’s Special comes from our good friend at Odin Brewing, Mark Leavens. Mark’s great discussion with Joe Meitl, Kitchen Manager at Seattle’s iconic Atlantic Crossing Pub, is the basis for today’s article. You might have seen the AC on ESPN during the World Cup? Yeah, its a pretty big deal.***

What catches your eye in today’s fast-paced, materialistic, and consumer driven society?  Is it bright colors or catchy slogans?  What about somebody dressed up like a stupid fucking gorilla?  Yeah, maybe you look, but most likely you hate obnoxiously fake primates and get the hell out of there.

But once you’ve regained composure and a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk, you’ll then pass numerous sandwich boards featuring that establishment’s latest pitch to get you inside:  ‘Happy hour 4-6, trade your gold for cash, buy one foot get the second foot free pedicure.’

Boring!  I don’t read those and I can’t imagine many of you do either.  I’m American and I’m struggling with ADHD or just too damn busy to be bothered by a sandwich board!  But the other day I ran into a board that actually got me to stop, AND read, AND then enter the building!

Brilliant!  An astronaut floating in space and sneezing blood all over the galaxy after their mask implodes.  Now this is what it takes to get me to stop AND focus AND read the other side AND go inside.   I had to meet the creative genius behind the board and have a beer, of course.

Joe Meitl of the Atlantic Crossing Pub works as the Kitchen Manager and has a direct line of sight from the kitchen out to his eye-catching work of art:

“We originally got the board as a way of promoting our daily specials and events, and for a while we were using it for exactly that.  I used to get frustrated at how few people actually stopped to read it.

At first I started adding little notes to the bottom, just to see if anyone would catch it.  ‘Arm wrestle the bartender for a free glass of water’, or ‘Stripper Pole is getting installed this weekend!’ and still I heard few comments on it.

I was eventually convinced that no one was reading it, not even the bartenders.  That’s when I decided to start having fun with it.

Where's Your Button? - Illustrations by Joe Meitl and Jonus Brown

My sous chef (Jonus Brown) and I started drawing comics, writing song lyrics, and insults.  One of my favorite boards was a response to the sandwich board that the pet store just a few doors up from us, puts out everyday. They rarely change their board and I was tired of seeing, ‘Lots of Baby Budgies and Cockatiels for Sale,’ and so my next board’s response was, ‘Beer Battered Baby Budgies and Cockatiels for Sale.’  No one said anything about that one either.  At that point we had essentially stopped posting specials and were just having fun with it.

Since then, I have noticed more people stopping to read it, which feels good.  We get a lot of foot traffic on this street and if I can make a few people smile on their way to work then it is worth the time.

It does take time though, and a hell of a lot of creative energy.  I sometimes feel like I am simply building sand castles, because everything I create is either eaten instantly or erased within a week.  I’m lucky the owner, Gareth, has an open mind and a busy schedule, that the bartenders here have a good sense of humor, and of course my favorite amendment is the first one.  I’d like to think I’ve offended at least a few people, and of course I’ll keep trying.”

No Regrets? - Illustrations by Joe Meitl and Jonus Brown

Please do Joe, because if being people are being offended, they probably deserve it.  Plus, we all need to slow the hell down and laugh a little bit more.  So thank you for slowing me to a stop, and drawing me into the Atlantic Crossing Pub.

If you’ve never been to this Roosevelt neighborhood pub, you may have already seen a clip from the latest World Cup that was shown on ESPN and won an ESPY for best reaction shot.

I recommend checking this bar out and grabbing a bite to eat.  They serve the full menu until ONE A.M.!  And as Joe would say, “we have smoking hot bartenders!”

And at the very least, avoid the gorilla and check out Joe and Jonus’ sandwich board!  Who knows what they’ll come up with next?

The Belltown Pub Returns to Seattle in July

Belltown will welcome a new watering hole next month

Great news for all of us Belltowners (Seattle, WA) who have been seriously depressed by the shutdown of bars in the neighborhood – and even those shutdown elsewhere.

Seattlest is reporting that three local bar vets have formed together to revive the long lost Belltown Pub that once existed on 1st Avenue. Utilizing the same old space (2322 1st Ave), which was once taken over by BluWater Bistro, the threesome expect to be ready to open next month.

There is not a lot out there about this place, yet. But, I can tell you that I walk by it each day and they are hard at work to get the place ready to open. Today, I noticed that all exterior painting seems to be completed.

The Seattlest article mentions the three new owners and their dream:

The three newcomers are Dave Tolan, who’s tended bar at Gordon Biersch and Paragon, and two gents from The Rock in Tacoma, Erwin Arceo and Zack Nethercutt.

They think there’s room for an informal pub that’s neither fine-dining nor nightclub, where you can watch sports on the big screen, drink craft beer and order sophisticated (but not too sophisticated, rainbow trout sort of thing) pub grub.

Needless to say, this is relieving to most of us in Belltown, who have been watching places shut down or move out. There are not too many options for patrons to grab a good craft beer here, close to downtown. Bars, Frontier Room, Two Bells, Buckleys, and Cyclops offer options – but not an extensive or rotating list.

We are excited to see the new place open next month. I would believe we will be there for the grand opening!

Seattle’s Noble Fir Opens Tonight in Ballard

The Noble Fir: Ballard's New Spot For a Tall Pint

I wanted to take a moment and let everyone know that a new bar is opening tonight in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The bar is located right on Ballard Ave., in the heart of Ballard’s beverage district.

The Noble Fir is a bar focused on the beauty of our Northwest wilderness, and the even more enticing booze crafted here. The owners are an ex-lawyer and her husband, an ex-REI guy.

From there site:

We’ve brought together two things we love – the great outdoors and delicious beverages.  Our vision began with a desire to create a neighborhood tavern where we could share our wilderness experiences and learn from yours.  We feature craft beers, unique wines and hard ciders from the puget sound and beyond.  We hope that your experience at The Noble Fir will leave you invigorated, whether it is renewed inspiration for that hike you’ve been wanting to tackle, or a new favorite beer.

The initial tap list went up today and I am very impressed. They have managed to get a lot of the Oregon newcomers that evade many of Seattle’s other great bars. Oregon taps include Double Mountain, Terminal Gravity, Laurelwood and of course, Deschutes & Rogue.

The Noble Fir will also showcase some local Washington favorites, such as Elysian, Fremont Brewing, Fish and Diamond Knot.

The best news: They are serving 20 oz pints!!! I love it when bars buckle up and drop the imperial pint glass in your lap. That’s just good business.

The menu is very Belgique. It is essentially what you are accustomed to seeing in a visit to taverns in Belgium, Holland or France, focused on light meat and cheese fare. They will also serve a few NW sandwiches and a bevy of intriguing sweets. I am very impressed with the offerings on their Spring menu.

The Noble Fir can be found at 5316 Ballard Ave. NW Seattle, WA 98119. The bar is situated nicely between some other Ballard favorites. You can get more info on how to get there by visiting their webpage.

Needless to say, we will be there soon to check out the new digs! Let us know if you visit and your opinion of the decor and service.