Grand Opening Thursday - Ballard Loft

If the words "happy hour pricing all night" are as magical to your ears as mine, stop by the new Ballard Loft this Thursday, January 31st and get your free shuffleboard, darts, or pool fix before it's hopelessly swamped by overflow from King's down the street. While the sign for the Loft indicates simply "Bar Food Games" and avoids the "Can't Beat Our Meat" slogan of their neighbors, comparisons are inevitable and initial reviews on Yelp from their first couple weeks of business are already mentioning "Hot dogs, hot dogs, hot dogs!(And I ain't just talking about the menu. wink.)"
Speaking of hot dogs, the main food items are a selection of sausages and franks with various topping combinations. Sausages are provided by local favorites Uli's while most other meats and cheeses come from Boar's Head. The non-meat eaters can substitute a veggie dog in any of the combos. The opposite side of the food menu covers standard appetizer fare such as nachos, hummus, hot wings, artichoke dip and fries. The one intriguing selection was Black n Tan Onion Rings, beer battered with Bass and Guinness.
This may be the first bar I've visited with more televisions than beer options. I found the 10+ screens, each set to a different channel, to be a little distracting but they would definitely provide full coverage for big games. Returning to the beer selection, nothing stood out, either in the popular imports of Stella Artois and Guinness or in the more local brews (Maritime IPA, Widmer Hefeweizen, Mac & Jacks, and Dick's Danger Ale). All were reasonably priced at $4 for a pint or $6 for a 25oz glass. For cheaper options, they also offer Bud Light and Olympia in the same glass sizes for a smaller price.
The cocktail menu caught my attention with "Scandinavian Pop", a promising sounding blend of Absolut Kurant, cranberry, sour mix and ginger ale. I'll have to reserve judgment on this one since I didn't actually see the cocktail menu until after I'd procured my drink and headed upstairs to check out the games and the view from above.
For the record, the menu lists happy hour prices as $1 off drafts and wells and half-price appetizers. They have the standard 4-6 time slot that always disappoints me, so Thursday might actually be a good time to try it out.
Tell us what you think, Ballard! Does Ballard Loft offer something really new or is it destined to become a more generic incarnation of new-Ballard?

Undiscovered Brunch! Really!

You and I both know it won't last, but Austin Cantina on 24th (last referenced by GossipGirl15 back in November) has a tasty Tex-Mex brunch that doesn't yet require a 20 minute wait on the sidewalk. In fact, we've had our choice of tables the couple of times we've stopped by. I won't go into to many details of the brunch menu since they do have it listed online now, but I will say that all the items I've sampled so far (migas, huevos rancheros, and breakfast tacos) have all been delicioso and very reasonably priced. Nopalito salsa, a tasty cactus concoction I haven't run into much in Ballard, features prominently in many items.
One especially appreciated touch of the friendly service that owner Jefe Birkner is becoming known for is the presentation of three diverse hot sauces with the order...no Tabasco-or-leave-it limitations here. On our visits, the staff also encouraged us to check out the selection remaining on the shelf if we wanted to try something different. I also noted that they're quick to refill coffee, although the true test of that will be on a busier morning.
So far they've noted a slower brunch crowd on Saturdays than on Sundays, so you might want to take that into consideration.
So Ballard, how long before it's impossible to get a seat for brunch here? Let us know what you think!

The idiots at Seattle Magazine

I was just reading the new Seattle Magazine featuring Best Happy Hours in the city and wanted to point out a few errors.

1. Hazlewood is spelled H-A-Z-L-E-W-O-O-D not H-A-Z-E-L-W-O-O-D. You are supposed to be professionals, get it right.
2. The Copper Gate is not right off of Ballard Avenue! The Copper Gate is on 24th, way up 24th!

The only thing Seattle Magazine got right was the fantastic photo of Sarah!

Free Ballard!

X marks the Hot

This Gossip Girl recently bought new bindings at Sports X and was helped by super hottie, Lars. What a treat!

No Longer Gossip...Sunset Bowl's Impending Demise

According to the blogging folks over at the Stranger, the sale of Sunset Bowl has been confirmed by their general manager and the place will probably be closing in the next few months.
Just as we thought the condo building craze was maxing out and hope was resurfacing for other buildings (such as the historic former Denny's) on Ballard's 24-hour corner, this is a large blow, both for Ballard and for area bowlers, drinkers and karaoke stars.
Of course, there is already talk of a resistance movement, so the news could change.
Trust Ballard Gossip Girl to keep you updated on any developments, condo or otherwise...