Nightclubs and bars in Seattle

Kenyon Hall is a small performace hall in West Seattle, located near the intersection of Kenyon Street and 35th Avenue SW. The building features a Wurlitzer theatre organ capable of producing assorted sound effects for silent movies, and has been used to great effect by various performance groups. Typical shows are Vaudeville acts, but there is an assortment of other items on their calendar.

While it is not their home theatre, the Twelfth Night Productions theatre group does perform some of their works there.

There is also live music performances and various other live theatre and entertainment groups that perform here. The facility isn't large, and certain performances have tickets sold on line.

The facility is by no means a highly-monied facility. It is functional and a decent neighborhood theatre and performance hall, but it isn't a place that has a huge operating budget either.

Dress Code: Depends entirely on the particular performance, but it doesn't seem to usually draw a very showy audience. Standard button-down shirt and good jeans or decent slacks would not be out of place. Semi-formal would be some of the best dressed, and if you came in true formal attire you most likely would be thought to be part of the show.

Originally started as a children's theatre organization, Twelfth Night Productions eventually expanded its offerings and cast to include much more adult productions and content. The theatre company is the anchor tenant at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, but sometimes has shows in other facilities in West Seattle, including the the Kenyon Hall and a few others.

The particular performance I watched was performed in Kenyon Hall, and was a simulation of what the story It's a Wonderful Life would be like if performed in front of a live audience for a radio broadcast, as might have been done in the 1920s or 1930s. The performance was wonderful! and everything was kept very much authentic to the era, including the use of sound effects devices that would be expected of the era.

Tickets are sold on the internet through Brown Paper Tickets and there are some performances that sell out. However, as a general rule my impression is that there are usually a few tickets available for cash sales at the door before the show opens. If you decide to come without buying tickets beforehand, be sure to get your name on the waiting list early, as these are quite popular performances.

Prices ($15 at the door) are also quite reasonable.

Unfortunately, as photographs of live performance groups are frowned upon, the only photograph I can provide you with is this poster advertising the performance I attended.

Part of the Paramount group, the Moore shows more eclectic, specialty music acts.

Ricky Lee Jones plays there; (no longer a Kidd)-Jonny Lang (photo) was playing there the week I was last in town.

I guess the best way to put it is: if the entertainment is still national quality, but maybe a little more "edgy"/specialty and would draw a smaller crowd, you'd play the Moore instead of the Paramount.

Sometimes they also showcase good original local acts and even have workshops on entertainment & performance for local artists that are mentored by older established professional artists, something rarely done in most cities and I think that is a very cool thing to do for local musicians.

Dress Code: Very casual most of the time.

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Oliver's Lounge is located at the Mayflower Park Hotel and one evening, as we were coming back to our room, we saw that the place was packed and decided to stop by to enjoy the atmosphere. Oliver's Lounge is known all over the city for its Martinis - you can choose between its prize-winning classic Martini or a selection of unique signature ones. I ordered one called "Paradigm Shift" and I loved it! There was also a nice wine, beer and cocktail list, along with a snack menu that was surprisingly affordable, and portions were quite generous. I really enjoyed the loungy atmosphere and jazz music, it made for a relaxing ambience and despite the ritzy look of the place, it wasn't stuffy at all. Our waitress was very nice and friendly, there was a nice mix of locals and visitors, and most people showed up in casual clothes - but is there such a thing as a dress code in Seattle anyways?!

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Highway 99 Blues Club has it all - location, atmosphere, good live music, a stageside dancefloor, good drinks, decent bar-food -
what's not to like?

Not just blues, lots of different acts (see website) - I'm a big Maria Muldaur fan, and she had a PNW-area release party for her latest project here, which is how I got turned on to this place.

Check out the the website and then next time you're in town - GO.

Good music with all the condiments.

Dress Code: Whatever's comfortable.

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This is one of the oldest theater in the northwest. The theater's art deco is very unique and very elegant. When you enter the theater, you will see a lot of old chandeliers and when they are lighted the theater glows with its golden paint.

To the left of the lobby is a grand staircase going to the second floor.

The theater shows broadway, comedy, music, dance, family and community gatherings, and film reviews and showings.

The theater also holds shows concerts of great singers.

This month (January 2009) the shows include the Lion King Musical and the New Year's Chinese Performance. This week's include the Martin Luther King's 22nd year celebration with the King County giving the Humanitarian Award.

Dress Code: Depends on the show

Having just driven into town from Medford, Oregon, we were just wandering around the Seattle Center area seeking somewhere for food. Instead, we ended up at the Funhouse to watch some local punk band. It was a Sunday night and relatively dead. In fact, they didn't even charge us cover. They asked if we were only coming in for drinks and we said yes, but it's not like there's a division between the stage and the rest of the bar - it's a tiny space. Music is VERY LOUD. It's deafening, and of course, what good punk bar would have it any quieter?

Covered in stickers and punk posters and smelling of beer, this is a classic hardcore punk bar. It even has the token disgusting bathrooms that I was warned against using. So I didn't.

The Funhouse is open from 3pm to 2am, 7 days a week. If I was a hardcore punk seeking live punk music in Seattle, this would be my ultimate destination without a doubt.

Dress Code: No dress code.

Brouwer's is settled in a big box of a building, reconfigured from a warehouse into a modern bar and restaurant with old-world accents. The inside looks something like I would imagine an old drinking hall to be - stone walls and wood furniture, dark, rich colors, dim but intimate lighting, a balcony overlooking onto the main floor. They offer over 60 different beers on tap, mostly or all European, but with a focus on Belgian beers. The cuisine is Belgian-themed as well, and the pommes frites are double-fried in the Belgian style, coming with one of many different home-made aiolis. For beer, it's best just to ask one of the staff where to start, since there's so much to choose from, but the Lambic frambois is a winner, as is Kwak beer. The music can vary from night to night, but mostly the theme is rock, as are the staff. Expect good service from the highly-tattooed servers and good products from the kitchen and bar... A great place to spend the night drinking and enjoying time with friends.

Dress Code: Absolutely none. Except for pants, shoes, and a shirt. Try to get in without it and the door guy might or might not politely show you out the door.