Bellevue Gets Live
Negotiating the nonpareil nightlife in 48 hours
by Ash Cope
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| Kivi Rogers, performing at Parlor Live! |
When I moved to the Eastside from Oregon 5 years ago, the choice for nightlife in Bellevue was simple: get back in your car and drive to Seattle. But seemingly overnight, Downtown Bellevue has exploded into a serious contender for Seattle’s hot spot crown. And as if the slew of hip-to-be seen hangouts wasn’t enough, it appears that Downtown Bellevue has learned a new trick — live entertainment! So with all the exciting additions to the already stellar lineup, is it possible to hit them all in one weekend? Only one way to find out — you can thank me later.
Friday, DAY 1
8:00pm - PEARL
If there’s a more aptly named attraction, I’m yet to find it.
Tucked quietly between the Lincoln Square and Westin Hotel towers, this
polished gem is teeming with energy (no more pearl puns, I promise).
Dinner, drinks and décor all benefit from a neo-Northwest varnish. I
certainly had the feeling that I was rubbing elbows with Bellevue’s
elite and famous, and considering that I am neither, it was a treat
to feel so welcome. No time to hobnob, got to keep moving.
9:30pm - PARLOR LIVE COMEDY CLUB
The Parlor, arguably the pioneer of Bellevue nightlife, has certainly
refused to rest on their laurels. Past the bustling billiard tables,
and frenzied DJs, I stepped into Parlor Live, a full-fledged Vegas-style
comedy club. The paint was still drying, and already the house was packed.
Personal tip: although the front row may seem like the best seat, just
know that comedians love to pick on awkward nightlife reporters
11:40pm - LUCKY STRIKE LANDS
Just an escalator ride away and you’ll find yourself in the swankiest
bowling alley east of the Garage in Seattle. Only the best parts of
bowling have been held over, with lanes bathed in neon, and comfy leather
couches standing in for those miserable plastic chairs. If your bowling
game looks anything like mine, you’ll find refuge in the retro-themed
lounge. Picture the Brady Bunch contracting the Jetsons to build a bar
and you’ll have a basic idea. And if you’re wondering, that’s
the highest form of flattery I know how to offer.
12:15am - TWISTED DORK
My night may be winding down, but there’s certainly no slowdown
here. Live music is obviously no stranger, and tonight isn’t an
exception. Class comes easy to the Twisted Cork, but there’s little
pretension here as I’m greeted by friendly faces and a funk-fusion
band on stage. As you can imagine from the name, the wine list is unbelievable,
but cocktail offerings and the signature Champagne Lounge are no slouches
either. Looks like I’m closing it out here.
Saturday, DAY 2
7:15pm - LINCOLN SQUARE CINEMAS
No better way to wind down from a late night, and ease into another
one, than taking in an artsy Oscar contender with some of those plush
leather seats. (Marley and Me was nominated, right?) Curious at what
your favorite films might look like 8 stories tall? Spoiler Alert: Lincoln
Square is getting an IMAX theater later this year
9:35pm - ROCK BOTTOM BREWERY
Last I checked this was a family-friendly eatery — who knew they
turned it up to 11 when the kids went to bed? Classic rock covers are
on tap tonight, and I can’t imagine a better compliment to the
Rock Bottom’s award-winning ales. No cover charge either! I’m
tempted to settle in for the night and work my way through their brewed-on-site
beer list, but duty calls.
10:15pm - TAP HOUSE GRILL
Okay, so when I said Pearl was aptly named, that was before I caught
a look at the wall of 160 beers on tap. One. Hundred. Sixty. You could
order a different beer everyday for the next 5 months, and still not
try every one. As I sampled the Rogue Mocha Porter, a coffee/chocolate/beer
hybrid, I had to wonder if man had reached the pinnacle of innovation.
Just blew your mind, didn’t I?
11:15pm - THE SPOT OFF MAIN
Man, you can’t blink for a second in Bellevue! Open for over a
year already, I took my first steps into The Spot, disappointed that
I hadn’t visited sooner. Consider it the evolution of the pub,
a place where you feel instantly at home, all of the charm, and none
of the…well you’ve been to a pub before. Settle in for a round
of pool, a game of darts, or if you’re a closet-geek like me,
make a bee line for the Ms. Pac-Man machine. No judgment here.
12:45am - VERTIGO
I had heard whispers of a mysterious Bellevue nightclub, but hadn’t
dared to believe them. A nightclub? Like a real nightclub, with dancing,
and drinks, and DJs? In Bellevue? Nope, don’t believe it. Well
consider me a convert. Perched on the 2nd floor of the 989 Building,
the Vertigo Lounge & Grill is in fact much more than a dance club. Don’t
get me wrong, this particular evening featured more hip 20-somethings
than you can shake a glowstick at. But patrons arriving earlier will
be treated to exceptional cuisine, and a sampling of the Northwest’s
best jazz artists. With all it has to offer, it seems impossible to
give Vertigo any one label — just expect to have a blast any time
you go.
NOW GET OUT THERE
Do yourself a favor and devote several weekends to exploring each of
these exciting venues. While you can apparently hit them all in one
weekend, you could spend a week at each and not even begin to see all
there is to offer. And don’t hesitate either — new additions,
like the celebrated El Gaucho, are popping up everyday. With its new
Bellevue location in the City Center Plaza, it’s as much an architectural
achievement as it is a culinary one. With world class wines, exotic
cocktails, inspired cuisine, electric dance floors, and now live music
and comedy, Bellevue nightlife officially has it all.
