by Lucila Long on I first came to Trinity on a 3 month stint out in Seattle, and thought it was pretty decent. Decent in that it has all the pros/cons of a nightclub, and one of the only *real* nightclubs in Seattle. Sure there are plenty of kids, overpriced drinks, and all happen to be in a slightly shady neighborhood, but go to Chicago, LA, and you'll find the same. The music is very club-typical, top 40s and electronica in two separate rooms, though the bi-weekly bhangra nights do add some variety. It's a bit like China in there (read: asian majority on some nights), but I think it's overstated; is there a reason why "white majority" needs to be the norm? That said, you definitely need the right crowd with you, as all the problems with typical the club-goers are present here, too. So, take your friends, just kick back and have a good time. Drinks are pricey, but you knew that already.
by Chasidy Henricksen on Ah The Kong, you've gone through so many different changes. I love you and hate you at the same time :) On the one end, their food is delectable, particularly during an evening of drunken revelry. Basically, it's greasy Chinese food. Of particular note are the scallion pancakes, which are fried doughy happiness. The Scorpion Bowls are also quite good, though as in any scorpion bowl situation, you need to not drink too many of these things, as they will screw with you to no end. Regular beers are standard priced for the area. They've also done a decent job with the redesign, with nicer chairs and booths on the second floor as opposed to their previous design, with the newer design attempting to give a more "cool club" motif. My one issue with The Hong Kong is in its event planning. I'm not going to get into full specifics here (if you're interested, message me), but the communication with whoever was running the event was lacking greatly. Beyond that issue though, you know what you're getting with the Hong Kong. It's better than its Fanueil brethren, but it's a college bar. If that's what you're looking for, that will be what you get. Also good Scorpion Bowls.
by Steve B. on Temple is, to me, one of those quintessentially-Seattle places that is like the same thing in another city but not...exactly. It's a crowded, noisy pool hall but it's also a great sports bar, a jumpin' nightclub (downstairs) and the precise distillation of what it is to be Hip in Seattle (please pardon the quaint terminology) without the Gen-X pretensions. It's our traditional hang-out before Seahawks games and its pleasing, note-perfect hideout atmosphere fits the simmering undercurrent of Game Face to a T. The staff is friendly and never seems to stress out, the beer selection, while small, is diverse and expert, and their liquor racks - again, not extensive - are packed with some of the best stuff in each category. Prices are freakin' CHEAP for Seattle and the clientele seems to get exactly why all the aforementioned things are valuable and they self-police any asshole friends, usually before the management has to get involved. In a city full of unique and unusual places, Temple stands out for what it's NOT: artsy, hipper-than-thou, or exclusive. It's a real oasis of sanity and Cool in the Pioneer Square desert of craziness.
