Ernie Steele's (1992)

I loved Ernie Steele's on Broadway. It was what it was, with the yellowing smoke-stained walls, cheesy hunting scene and wildlife paintings, people who were not interested in posing and the excellent possibility of a Cuba libre when most bars of its ilk could only serve beer and wine. Connie, Loren and I, with some other folks, I recall not whom, went there to watch the '92 presidential election returns. The first president to win who I'd actually voted for. Lots of excitement and hope was in the air.

I miss Ernie Steele's. It's now a sports bar thing, or some other such nonsense.

Last Exit (1975/76)

When we first moved to Seattle, somebody took us to the late great Last Exit in the U District. I loved it because it a) wascool and groovy and b) offered a ham and cheese sandwich on a hotdog bun wrapped in napkin and served in one of those great thick white coffee mugs. This was most unprecedented and also most excellent stuff for a kid!

Coffee rites (1980s)

I think my first espresso might have been at the Last Exit on Brooklyn. I had a mocha, as the person (whose identity is only a vague blur) initiating me suggested that this would be a more gentle introduction. It was probably about 1982, and was subsequently followed by many au laits from Craig Cappuccino at the Egyptian and various and other sundry sites.

This was, of course, before Starbucks took over the planet, and we were forced to drink lattes and not au laits. There also seemed to be a greater variety of Sundry Sites in Seattle from which to choose, although perhaps my memory is clouded by nostalgia. Favorites, due to taste or convenience, included: the late great Last Exit, various espresso carts downtown, B&O Espresso, Septieme on 1st, the Nordstrom Place Two espresso bar (just down the street from the Varsity, and future employer - shock-horror), ETG, the Still Life in Fremont, Molly's espresso bar in the U Book Store, that place in the alley in the U District whose coffee I never liked much but which is a good place to hang out, the place that used to be where Caffe Vita now is, Caffe Vita, and my favorite long-lost place, which was on Roy, opposite the Harvard Exit. I loved sitting there, it always made me feel like I was living in Europe. And now I am!