Fremont does need another bar — well, <i>this</i> bar
What's that you say? Fremont needs another bar like you need another tax burden? Like Bill Gates needs a second job? Like TV needs another reality show?
Before you rush to judgment, check out the new Nectar Lounge. It isn't "another one of those meat markets." The owners, Tate Rogers and Jed Smithson, buddies since junior high in Kirkland — are deeply committed to making this a top-notch little music venue, à la Tost, as opposed to a whoop-de-do make-the-scene spot, à la the Ballroom, just a few doors down. (From www.570bars.com: "The Ballroom is always packed on Friday and Saturday nights and cannot be matched for meat market potential in Fremont.")
Looking like a cross between a Mount Rainier lodge and a Belltown bar, Nectar is the newest baby on North 36th Street. The owners have spent just about a year converting the former headquarters of Baby Diaper Service.
There is a spacious outdoor seating area, and two mammoth garage doors, rolled up to let in the summer evening air. The first thing you notice about the place is a sizable, elevated stage: This isn't a bar-with-music, it's a venue that puts music front and center.
The owners are into world music, as the opening weekend featured local Cuban and reggae bands. Just about anywhere is a great vantage point to hear music and see performers, whether it's the outside/café area, the main room or the smaller, second-level, which has a pool table and some inviting, wood-crafted booths, that seem to be just begging for people to make out in them.
And, here's perhaps the best thing about it (at least for tobacco-haters): Like Tost, it's a no-smoking establishment.
"It's one of the benefits of owning a bar — making your own rules," says Rogers, with a wry smile. "I'm not a fan of being out all night and coming home and having to burn your clothes because they smell like smoke."
Rogers (his wife, Paula, is also in on the business) and Smithson went through quite a few hassles to get the place up and running, as neighbors originally opposed the idea of yet another bar in Fremont. "It is saturated, but we're hoping we bring something different than the average bar," Rogers says.
Was it all worth the hassle? "It has been so far. And we've had a lot of warm welcomes from the neighbors."
For more info, call Nectar at (206-632-2020). A Web site, www.nectarlounge.com, should be in action soon. The address: 412 N. 36th Ave.
• Coming soon: Element.
Remember Phantom? Remember Tropics? Remember Beach Café?
Remember Polly Esther's?
All of these clubs — and a few others — were located at the same spot, the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Harrison Street, just across from the Experience Music Project.
New owners have gutted the building and are in the process of a massive renovation; this doesn't look like it will be a recycled club, but a new one, from the ground up to the second level.
Element boasts it will have "world-class DJs, spinning commercial house, trance, breaks and hip hop." The first big-name spinner is Armin Van Buuren, scheduled to christen the club on Sept. 10, Element's grand opening. In addition to touring DJs, such as Josh Wink (Oct. 15) and D:Fuse (Oct. 22), Element will employ locals Mea, Eva, Brandy Westmore and Chingy Eye.
The club will have two dance floors, five bars and several video monitors spread around its 14,000 square feet, and a capacity of 1,200. Cover charges will range from $10 to $30 — $25 on opening night. If you want a VIP booth, that will run you extra: "Reserve a plus booth in one of the VIP areas," suggests a release, "or take advantage of the private level bar — the only Seattle venue offering full bottle service and a personal server."
Sunday nights will be 18-and-over, a carry-over from previous residents at 332 Fifth Ave. N.
More info on Element: 206-441-4873 or www.elementseattle.com.
• Minus the Bear isn't just over the top — it's over-the-top-and-down-the-other-side. On its first two recordings, the Seattle quintet pushed the envelope in rock irony, with song titles such as "Just Kickin' It Like a Wild Donkey," "Hey, Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked," "Pantsuit ... Ugggghh," "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!" and "I Lost All My Money at the Cock Fights."
This summer, the third of MTB's existence, brought another EP, called "They Make Beer Commercials Like This," and more intensely ridiculous song titles: "Hey, Is That a Ninja Up There?," "I'm Totally Not Down With Rob's Alien," and so on.
Yet Minus the Bear is hardly a joke band, as it features some of Seattle's best musicians — particularly Dave Knudson, the guitar hero from the hard-core band Botch. Keyboard player Matt Bayles is best known as a producer, having done early work with Pearl Jam and more recent boothing for the Blood Brothers, Vendetta Red ...
Minus the Bear gets its indie-rock groove on at a Redmond all-ages venue the Old Fire House at 8 tonight ($6).
In a few weeks, singer Jake Snider and the rest of MTB are off to tour the East Coast, then head off on a European tour that takes them to Iceland.
Tom Scanlon: tscanlon@seattletimes.com