The Seattle PI Reports on the History of Seattle's Speakeasies

Prohibition emptied the front rooms of bars like Seattle's own New Pal Bar shown here. The PI reports, "On January 1, 1916, Prohibition began in Washington State, making the production, distribution and possession liquor illegal. The law passed three years before the Eighteenth Amendment prohibited liquor in the rest of the nation, and it lasted seventeen long, dry years, until December of 1933. But Prohibition didn't mean the end of party - it just meant the party went underground. Washington State, in particular, became a hot bed for thinly-veiled speakeasies due to corruption within law enforcement and proximity to Canada (where liquor remained legal). By 1931 a survey reported that Washington State, alone, was home to approximately 4,000 speakeasies."

To read the entire article with a historical look from the Museum of History and Industry, click blog title above.

GQ Magazine's Top 25 Bars in the USA Party at Tavern Law

The talent behind some of the country's best bars is getting together on October 10 to celebrate GQ Magazine's Best Bars feature in the October issue. #1's Murray Stenson and Ben Perri of Zig Zag will be guest bartending along with #25's Nathan Weber and crew of Tavern Law.

The evening starts 10/10/10 at 7pm at Tavern Law and will showcase 25 cocktails from the nation's winning bars along with a prize drawing and cocktails from sponsor Cruzan Rum. A photographer will be on hand to shoot guests. Attire's GQ Fashion Forward-- interpret how you like.

Photo by Chad Pryor.