I like both seattle and alcohol.
Maybe a new post shouting out everyone who has responded in this one / otherwise? Also, can confirm, do not want to drive all the way to Edmonds. Ballard is cool but kind of a shit show later at night on weekends.
I think we have the date and time more or less: Dinner: Saturday, January 23. 7:00 p.m. but it could be 6 or 5 - I leave the location to a local Seattlite. My strong preferences would be for NOT SUPER-LOUD so we can hear each other. I also tend to need to leave if the music is louder than the voice across the table. Noise reduction suggestions are here, but that's a year old. An ocean view would be not too shabby, but optional.
http://www.rays.com/cafe/ Let's go earlier to catch happy hour. Easier parking, marginally cheaper: https://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/detail/anthonys-beach-cafe/ goobster is not wanting to schlep his ass clear to Edmonds, nor is ButterflyEffect. Ballard is kind of out of the way for everyone.
"Kevin" suggested Ballard as well and I sent him your suggestions. He said this. I could not get into the hubski, but here is my 2 bits (3.5 bits Canadian): Mike's Chili Parlor, Ballard. Totally legit, non-corporate, owned by one family since forever. North end of the ballard Bridge. I just watched the youtube chili video. Let's find someplace else!
Ray's and Anthony's are where sad portly guys in their early 30's take their girlfriends to propose to them. Seems like a seriously different vibe than what Hubskers would want. Then again, I'm new here. Seattle has amazing groovy places everywhere, in every district. HOWEVER. I am not going to this thing for the place, I'm going for the people. Greenwood: Prost, Baranoff, El Chupacabra, St Andrews Ballard: Hazlewood, The Sunset Tavern, Bad Alberts, Two Bit Saloon Fremont: Hales Ales, Brouwers Tavern SoDo: Hooverville, Zero (cannabis bar), Jack's BBQ Georgetown: Star Brass, 9Lb Hammer, The Dog House Beacon Hill: Tippe & Drague (owned by a friend) Columbia City: Columbia City Theater, Lottie's Lounge West Seattle: Matador, C&P Coffee Co, Beveridge Place Pub Etc. Don't wanna sound too strident. Just throw some other ideas out there. (And waste some time before this meeting...)
Boooooooooo Hale's. Fremont Brewing or Outlander might be good spots, but neither have water views. Both are relatively quiet, though, Prost doesn't fit that bill but is cool too. Sunset Tavern almost certainly has a concert going on that night (which I'm normally up for) and same with Columbia City Theater...which I really need to explore Columbia City... The Noble FIr in Ballard is pretty sweet too. That's a solid list. Going to have to check out the places on it I haven't been to. Disclaimer: I've only been here 6ish months and don't even live in Seattle (yet).
Hale's has always been a big supporter of the local arts community, and of my old Circus, so they are still high on my list of "to patronize when I can". Right. Night-time Saturday get-together. So that rules out the Sunset, which is usually a good spot. But the Columbia City Theater has the bar in front, and the venue in back, and good isolation between the two, generally. So it could work. But parking in CC might be a trick. Noble Fir is another good one, but slightly too hipster for me. I prefer the classic feel of Hazlewood, and their incredible liquor collection. Plus it is owned by someone famous (I forget who), so it has nothing to prove. It's just itself.