Getting A (Night) Life -- The Music Scene Is Scattered Around Bellevue, But Worth The Trip

An occasional series looking at the Eastside after dark.

When the sun goes down on Bellevue's city center, the canyons created by the city's relatively new skyline go dark. Unlike Seattle, there's no transition from day life to night life.

Ask Bellevue Community College students where they go to find nightclubs and they're more likely to answer "Belltown" than "Bellevue."

That's expected to change over over the next few years as new residential and commercial developments enliven the downtown core.

In the meantime, you just have to know where to look.

The Bellevue night scene is not totally dark. A handful of venues scattered around the city draw a varied but steady clientele.

They can be tucked away in a shopping mall, at the penthouse level of a high-rise or hidden behind the facade of a downtown bookstore or coffee shop. The sounds range from hot new teen bands to quiet jazz at the bookstore to the old standby favorites of piano bars and karaoke.

Three consistently lively spots close to the heart of the city are Daniel's Broiler, Ground Zero and the Barnes & Noble/Starbucks combo. Daniel's features Jim Washburn's piano bar five nights a week, and jazz on Sunday. Ground Zero, a teen center, hosts some of the best up-and-coming rock bands in a converted house across the street from Bellevue Square. The Barnes & Noble/Starbucks combo occasionally has a solo musician such as guitarist Michael Powers, but is mostly a gathering center for conversation and coffee.

At Daniel's Broiler, atop the Seafirst building at Eighth Street and Bellevue Way, the crowd is monied, well-dressed and 30-ish. Piano man Washburn has a full contingent of fans sitting around his baby grand calling out requests. A man in his 40s with a gold hoop in one ear is trying to convince two women they've met him before. There isn't a spare seat to be found. If you want a cigarette, you hang out by the elevators.

"That's a pretty typical crowd almost any day of the week," says manager Shannon Lund, who has worked at Daniel's off and on for eight years. "We've always done good business, but it's just in the last couple of years we've started seeing people in their early 20s coming."

Ground Zero is where the hippest bands play, although often times the bands are older than their audience. Micro Mini, a 20-something quartet more accustomed to playing Belltown than Bellevue, recently appeared at the teen center for a Saturday night concert.

"This place is great," said lead singer and guitarist Lance Paine. "I wish we had more places like this in the city."

The audience sat cross-legged on the floor of the dimly lighted rumpus room, heads bobbing in time to opening acts Squelch and Judy Superstar. Others careened around the perimeters, in and out of the game room or out on to the front porch, looking for latecomers in the cool night air. Ground Zero doesn't allow tobacco, so the park benches across the street serve as the smoking areas. Crossing the street was as much about performance as destination. No one, save the police officer stationed by the sidewalk, was over 17. Adults aren't unwelcome, but they aren't encouraged either.

"This is our place," said a girl with maroon-colored hair who asked to be called "Alexis." "Adults have their own places. I don't think I'd like it if they started coming here. It'd be too much like my parents."

When Micro Mini finally went on, the capacity crowd was on its feet pogoing in place to the beat.

"It was great," said Mini drummer Nabil Ayers afterward. "All the kids in the front were singing along to the songs. They even knew the words to the new ones."

As for parents, and in some cases grandparents, they are more likely found in Misty's, the disco lounge on the lower floor of the Doubletree Inn at 300 112th Ave. S.E. The blood- and brass-colored discotheque is under a Plexiglas roof, like a disco fishbowl that lobby passers-by can peer into.

Inside the moist air smells of perfume, alcohol and expectation. Dancers work their moves to old hits like "Twist and Shout" and "Staying Alive." At the tables surrounding the room, groups of women sit, waiting and watching. Single men patrol the room, occasionally stopping to ask for a dance. It's an ancient ritual. Those already coupled up, either on a date or staying at the hotel, watch with bemusement.

"It's a good place to get a drink and dance," explained one twosome.

One of Bellevue's other favored entertainment options is karaoke, with the Asian Wok II one of the most popular sing-along rooms. Even the Seoul Olympic restaurant in the Commons, which once featured live Top 40 bands, has gone karaoke.

But the most eclectic live entertainment spot remains the Crossroads MarketStage. After 10 years, Friday and Saturday nights draw large audiences, mostly families, to a variety of folk, jazz, semi-rock and world-music events. Wednesday's Third Nite Cafe, which usually features singer/songwriters, has also grown in attendance.

Lynn Terpstra, coordinator for the concerts, calls Crossroads "the most fun you can have without leaving Bellevue." ------------------------------- Where to go

Here's a sampling of Bellevue night spots:

Asian Wok II, 707 148th Ave. N.E.; 425-747-8700. Karaoke and or DJ dance music, Wednesday through Sunday. No cover.

The Continental, 2241 148th Ave. N.E. Very sizable dance space; hardwood floors, good lighting and sound. Rock Friday and Saturday, jazz Sunday and Monday. No cover for jazz; rock nights vary.

Crossroads Shopping Center MarketStage , 15600 N.E. Eighth St.; 425-644-1111. Eclectic selection of bands Friday and Saturday, singer/songwriter types Wednesday. No cover.

Daniel's Broiler, 10500 N.E. Eighth St.; 425-462-4662. Jim Washburn at the piano bar, Tuesday through Saturday. Live jazz, Sunday and Monday.

Ground Zero, 2578 100th Ave. N.E.; 425-452-6118. All-ages live rock shows featuring new music from Seattle and the Eastside. Usually every other Saturday. Cover varies, $3-$5.

Jonah's Bistro Bar and Restaurant, 11211 Main St.; 425-455-5240. Schacher & Funk, longtime Northwest entertainers do a little bit of everything. Friday and Saturday, no cover.

Misty's Lounge, The Doubletree Inn, 300 112th Ave. S.E.; 425-455-1300. Classic disco setting, two dance floors, lots of activity, mostly golden oldies Tuesday through Saturday. Cover $5.

Morgan's Lakeplace, 2 Lake Bellevue Dr.; 425-455-2244. Jazz in the laid-back lounge with the lovely lakeside view, Thursday through Saturday. No Cover.

Noble Court Restaurant, 1644 140th N.E.; 425-641-6011. "Acid lounge" with McDougal and Dean, Wednesdays. No cover.

Seoul Olympic, 1200 112th Ave. N.E.; 425-455-9305. Korean and English language karaoke nightly. No cover.