Don't Count On Iguana Cantina For Cinco De Mayo Party Plans

Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo, but don't look for a celebration at what would have seemed a logical spot: the Iguana Cantina.

"We were going to have a big party," club manager Sharon Fedde said, "but we canceled it. And yes, it's because of our legal status."

The Iguana Cantina, a popular watering hole and dance club at the end of Seattle's Pier 70, has been battling the city to remain open after a series of violent incidents in and around the club. City Attorney Mark Sidran says the nightclub is a public nuisance and has been trying to shut it down. A hearing on the matter is set for Wednesday.

It's almost a moot point. The Iguana has been sold and plans to close July 10, Fedde said. But the city doesn't want to wait that long.

"We're asking for a temporary injunction to close the Iguana Cantina until it can come to trial. (The closing) would be immediate," said Lori Mayfield, assistant to Sidran. "A number of people were hurt at the club recently and we feel too many people would be in danger if it remains open."

Sidran is also pushing for a new ordinance that would make club owners more responsible for what happens outside their businesses. Licenses could be revoked or not granted at all depending on public-safety concerns, which police would determine.

Asked if she took the battle personally, Fedde answered, "Yes and no.

"It isn't my club, I don't own it. But I run it and we've tried to do everything they've wanted us to do. We've met with the police, we've been trying to get people out of here faster. We've even got our security people out on the street directing traffic."

Fedde said police have taken other measures to control the crowds outside the club.

"Last fall they started closing Myrtle Edwards Park earlier. . . . Now they're closing the park at 11 p.m. And as soon as it is, they start towing cars. But not only are they towing our customers, they've been towing the Spirit of Puget Sound customers as well. There have been some really unhappy people."

The site of the club, both as the Iguana and the club Pier 70 before that, has been for some 20 years one of the city's most popular places to meet people, dance and perhaps leave a little less single. It's featured live music and DJ dance, and has always been a major gathering spot.

"We'd like to stay open until July," said Fedde. "But we really aren't going to know anything until we've gone to court." Stay posted.

-- Although Cinco de Mayo isn't as big a deal here as St. Patrick's Day, there are clubs specifically celebrating the Mexican holiday on Tuesday.

Beso del Sol, the popular Wallingford restaurant, will feature salsa dance music with DJ Fernando beginning at 10 p.m. The restaurant, which plays salsa music every Saturday, has some of the best dancers in attendance and the music is reliably hot. Cover charge Tuesday is $3.

The Showbox will have its annual Cinco de Mayo party Tuesday with the popular mariachi disco band El Hit Explosion. The dancing starts at 9 p.m. and the cover charge is $8.

Elsewhere: Las Brisas Cantina in Bothell will start celebrating at 4 p.m. with Junkyard Jane. The horn-ed blues band Fat Cat comes on from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover.

And Dynamite in Kirkland will feature Big Radio. Three bucks at the door.

-- Morgan's Lakeplace at 2 Lake Bellevue Drive, Bellevue, has brought back live music to its inviting lounge. Singer/pianist Mark Brown plays listener-friendly pop, 7 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday, and there's no cover. For more info, call 425-455-2244.

-- And in keeping with ARO.space's policy of "advancing music and art," or at least something different, the Cap Hill club Saturday night presents "Club Casanova," featuring Mo B. Dick, Lucky 7, Bob and other performers from New York. No, it isn't your usual drag queen show, it's a "drag king" show: women dressed as men doing all the funny, endearing, really lame stuff men do. The show is at 9 p.m. and costs $7. -------------------------------

Tom Phalen is a Seattle free-lance writer. His Ace of Clubs column appears every week in Ticket. Send club information to Clubs, c/o Ticket, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle WA 98111: or fax to 206-464-2239. You must include price and starting times to be considered for inclusion. Information must be received in writing 10 days before publication.