If you played your cards right this summer, now you’ve got a
warm body to cuddle up with in front of a cozy fireplace as you hold
hands and pick out names for the kids you’re going to have together.
If, like me, you wasted your summer on meaningless bar hookups, what
better fall pastime than staring into a fireplace and contemplating how
the kindling is going up in flames, just like your youth and good
looks.
Wine Down on 28th
126 NE 28th, 236-9463
Despite the goofy name and slight overkill on the décor
(velvet, fake grape vines, light-up grape bunches), Wine Down is
actually a really pleasant little neighborhood restaurant, particularly
if you’re looking for a bar on NE 28th where you won’t run into
14 people you know. It gets big points for great use of a fireplace,
which suffuses the space with friendly warmth and distracts from some
of the more egregious decorative decisions. The wine list is decently
priced (individual pours will run you about $6-12) and enthusiastic
menu descriptors like “Jaw Dropping!” and “Not Your Daddy’s Wine!” will
steer you to the right glass. Or, if “Asskicking!” isn’t specific
enough for you, the incredibly gracious and attentive service will be
happy to help you find the right wine for your palate and price range.
ALISON HALLETT
Pink Feather
14154 SE Division, 761-2030
The Pink Feather’s fireplace was probably not the cause of
their recent fire. Regardless, the fireplace and half the bar are out
of commission right now. But with a makeshift setup, it was extra cozy
in the tiny corner where we slugged down ($2.50!!) hot toddies.
Friendly bartender extraordinaire Dolores kindly cleared her table for
me and my boozin’ buddy, and later gave us a tour of the joint. The
place is pink as fuck on the outside and bordello-luscious on the
inside. Sleazy-chic erotic paintings adorn the flock-papered walls and
red velvet booths dot the divey space. The Pink Feather’s a real gem,
what with the friendly staff, the varied clientele, and the velvety
charm. There isn’t carpet on the bar’s floor right now, so the space is
prone to echoing conversations—good to know if you’re planning to
speculate about people’s sex lives and you don’t want the biker dude
sitting next to you eavesdropping (apparently some bikers are prudish).
COURTNEY FERGUSON
Binks
2715 NE Alberta, 493-4430
Binks is NE Alberta’s best cold weather hangout. Just inside the
front door, there’s a fireplace surrounded by enough comfy benches to
seat at least a half dozen of your friends. The rest of the bar is
equally cozy, made up of odd little nooks and crannies to hide in. Toss
in the neighborhood bar’s friendly staff, excellent (and cheap!) pizza,
and great jukebox, and you’ve got yourself a place to hibernate until
the sun comes back out. For the seriously weather-affected, I recommend
a treatment that rivals the best day spas: Sit close to the fire, until
you’re too toasty to bear it any longer. Step two feet away, and enjoy
a few sips of an ice-cold beer. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. AMY J. RUIZ
Poor Richard’s Restaurant
3907 NE Broadway, 288-5285
This phrase from Poor Richards’ website won me over immediately: “At
Poor Richard’s, we don’t really go for newfangled dishes like spicy
Thai tacos or purple pasta.” Instead, Poor Richard’s offers classics
like the Two-Fer, a two-for-one value meal that includes steak, soup or
salad, garlic bread, seasoned fries, coffee or tea, and… wait for
it… soft vanilla ice cream! Walking into the restaurant or lounge
confirms the time-warpy impression suggested by the website. A huge
dining room boasts high ceilings and a long padded bench in front of a
large fireplace, while the darker, cozier Atlas Lounge is tucked away
in back for those who prefer a more intimate drinking and dining
experience—both are character-filled throwbacks to the diners of
yesteryear. AH
Vault Martini Bar
226 NW 12th, 224-4909
The drink list at Vault Martini Bar is ginormous. So whether you’re
looking to get a girl drunk on something candy flavored, or interested
in savory concoctions like a rosemary-tomato-kalamata-infused vodka
(yum?), odds are that if you spend enough time with the drink menu,
you’ll find something that works for you. Weather permitting, the
fireplace kicks out enough coziness to thaw even the snootiest Pearl
District residents (the drinks probably help with that, too). AH