Tales from The Junction

| Transportation | West Seattle news | WS beverages

There are two, in fact, in today’s P-I:

–The traffic columnist disappoints an impatient West Seattle driver by getting the city to go on the record, again, promising the “walk all ways with walk” status of Cali/Alaska is safe. (Personally, we don’t mind it, whether in the car or on foot.)

–Elliott Bay Brewery plays a big role in an odd little article promising to be part of a series themed something like “wow, parents actually ~~still~~ drink in front of their kids.” EBB is one of many swell places in The Junction (yummy burgers), and it’s great to see the area get publicity, but since you can get a drink in a zillion restaurants where you also can bring the whole family (gasp, we’ve had the West 5 mai tai in front of a grade-schooler), we’re a little befuddled as to what makes this a trend. We would have liked to see them poll the patrons on whether they’re walking, busing, or designated-drivering. (Around here, they also could have focused on the creeping tendency to NOT let under-21s in, with both Talarico’s and Matador right there on the same side of Cali.)

Jiggers November 20, 2006 (8:33 am)

EBB caters to a family atmosphere. During Soccer season, they take their kids in to eat after games and have a few beers. What’s wrong with that? They are not a full service bar, they only serve mainly beer and wine. The Rocksport also is another place which also serves kids and their parents as well in the restaurant side. Talarico’s and The Matador has an only adult fun crowd. Parents make the choice whether or not they want to take their kids to an establishment that serves alcohol. Younger parents today, work hard and long and don’t like to, or will not leave their kids alone with a family friend and would rather enjoy them in their activitie’s. Isn’t that’s how it supposed to be? I see a lot of pre-teen kids, babie’s with their folks at EBB. I have nothing against it.

Keith November 20, 2006 (9:24 am)

Personally, I kind of like that we have a few places in WS that are 21-and-up. At the same time, I don’t really get the whole point of this article… is it really that big of a deal to have a few drinks in front of your kids? I guess in Washington it is, where we put up with the draconian rules & regulations of the Liquor Control Board.

David Williams November 20, 2006 (4:29 pm)

Regarding the 21+ restaurants… we simply do not patronize them. We spend $ 120 per week eating out and none of this money is going to any place that we cannot take our 11 year old daughter into. She has suggested picketing Matador and Talarico’s with her friends from the 5th grade at Schmitz Park. We go to West 5 a couple of times a month and really don’t understand why Matador and Talarico’s are 21+ as they are much less of a bar that West 5.

Dawson November 20, 2006 (5:51 pm)

Parents.
…The gateway drug?
Honestly, these establishments are meeting their customers’ demands. My hats off to them and I like to see it. There are plenty of places that are not kid friendly. Why not allow some quality family time in what must be a non-traditional place in Washington?

amy November 20, 2006 (8:49 pm)

I think there is room for both – family-friendly establishments and places for adults only. We patronize them all, depending on the mood! :)

Eric November 20, 2006 (8:52 pm)

boycotts? pickets? what’s next, a sit-in? the 60’s are over, man. time to move on! the last think i want is your little 11-year old sitting next to me while i am enjoying a slice at talarico’s!

get a sitter – go out on your own one night, you and the mrs. deserve it!

T. De November 21, 2006 (7:37 am)

I’ll bet the photos were taken Saturday at Jeff. Square. I drove around the lot 3 times without finding parking, noting space after space that was 1/2 used. It’s like a parking stupor fell on the crowd at one point. I’ve never seen anything like it. I finally parked out on the street and hauled shopping bags for a couple of blocks – which probably wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to my waistline.

Jiggers November 21, 2006 (1:01 pm)

Eric, you’re right. Sometimes I want to drink and not have to worry about my language so to speak. I don’t want an 11 or 10 year old sitting next to me either. But I still have no problems if parents want to bring kids out. I’m a pretty well mannered guy until after my third shot of Jagermeister.

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