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Friday, January 29, 2010
Bars / Nightlife / Last Night / Photo The Unicorn Had a Secret Opening Last Night
Posted by Matt Hickey on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 3:50 PM
Or at least it was secret until Seattle's Twitter scene blew up around 10:15. By 11:30 the place was packed. The food was fried, the drinks were good, and the atmosphere was awesome. While some thought that it would be garish, it was not. Flash bulbs show off the design, but when the lights were low it looked amazing.
The official opening is tonight, and if you want to check it out, I'd recommend showing up earlier rather than later.
2
Just because you have a flash on your camera doesn't mean you ALWAYS have to use it.
The same can be said for whammy bars, wah pedals, vocoders and roto-toms.
#protip
The same can be said for whammy bars, wah pedals, vocoders and roto-toms.
#protip
5
It is not bright in there at all. The actual lighting makes the decor look almost restrained (especially in comparison with across-the-street neighbors at Bimbo's/the Cha Cha).
8
Under actual non-flash evening lighting conditions the decor reads as tastefully restrained, particularly in comparison to their neighbors at the Cha Cha.
13
"it looks great in there but im a FUCKING TERRIBLE PHOTOGRAPHER who is incapable of capturing it!"
15
Eh, I'm so judgmental. The 'blonde' in picture 3 made me wince a little. Something about that yellow-white color dye always rubs me the wrong way. Especially when it's straight. Have some character, barbie. Jeeze. (sorry!)
16
Nope. Still not sold.
@7 Just because he's an owner doesn't mean that he can't also be a douchey looking bartender.
@7 Just because he's an owner doesn't mean that he can't also be a douchey looking bartender.
17
Is it me, or is there a noticable lack of good barber/hairstylists in this city? Or is the new style to just roll out of bed, mat your hair down, and call it good?
18
@1 - Your comment is precisely what I thought as I scrolled down the page. So much so that I was about to type in that very comment when I saw yours. Thanks for the LOL moment.
AND LATFHs!!!
AND LATFHs!!!
19
wtf with all the "LATFH"s, they look normal and aren't doing anything they should be embarrassed of, certainly not at a bar called "the unicorn" for chrissake
24
@19-
" wtf with all the "LATFH"s, they look normal and aren't doing anything they should be embarrassed of, certainly not at a bar called "the unicorn" for chrissake"
um.....you were trying to DEFEND the FHs with this sentence, right?
" wtf with all the "LATFH"s, they look normal and aren't doing anything they should be embarrassed of, certainly not at a bar called "the unicorn" for chrissake"
um.....you were trying to DEFEND the FHs with this sentence, right?
25
I love how Ingo (#3) thinks she busted someone by exposing that the place is co-owned by the douchebag behind the bar.
bonus points: HE'S the one actually responsible for making the place look like Shorty's if it was on the East Side.
whoops!
bonus points: HE'S the one actually responsible for making the place look like Shorty's if it was on the East Side.
whoops!
26
Love it! Can't wait to get drunk there. Adam, the bartender, used to work at The Twilight Exit. He's one of the best in town.
http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=…
http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=…
27
wow. #3, 16, and 25. You waste your energy on stuff like this? The bartender/co-owner is well-respected among his peers, super driven, genuine, has mad design skills and saved up for many years to make this bar happen.
As someone who frequents Shorty's and is a fan of the design in both places, there is a big difference between Coney Island style vs. french circus theme. If you are the type thriving to argue on LINE OUT regarding a place you never stepped foot in, avoid the new bar so there is more room for people who will appreciate the hard work that went into making this place happen.
As someone who frequents Shorty's and is a fan of the design in both places, there is a big difference between Coney Island style vs. french circus theme. If you are the type thriving to argue on LINE OUT regarding a place you never stepped foot in, avoid the new bar so there is more room for people who will appreciate the hard work that went into making this place happen.
28
there is a big difference between Coney Island style vs. french circus theme.
I believe this was a GOP talking point that Obama obliterated on CSPAN yesterday.
I believe this was a GOP talking point that Obama obliterated on CSPAN yesterday.
30
I should have bet money on the fact that there would be no pictures of me. The fact that I wasn't at the cha cha or pony was definitely a historical moment worth documenting.
33
I must say, I am dismayed at the LACK of unicorns in these pictures. I thought the owner had big-ass unicorn statuary that was going in? Come on, Hickey, less Cobrasnake and more decor.
That being said, LATFH and I can't wait to go there.
That being said, LATFH and I can't wait to go there.
34
I'm all for over-the-top, eccentric spaces, but Unicorn looks like it was designed by someone who spent a night bar hopping and blacking out on Capitol Hill, picking up all of their ideas along the way. Unicorn is trying for something original, but the end result is a bizarre amalgamation of design concepts from night life spots that already exist on the hill.
They started at Linda's and got inspired by all the tacky-dermy on the walls, and then headed down to the Cha Cha. Here they were struck by the painted table tops, the kitschy decor, and the exposed-colored-bulb lightning. Then, more than a little tipsy, they headed over to Pony, where they puked in the stripey-strobe bathroom and had the epiphany to paint their entire bar like the bathrooms at Pony! Welcome to the neeeeiggghhborhood.
I get the whole "french circus" concept, but the only really thing they added was a cotton candy color palette and really cheap looking animal print booths. I do, however, admire the hand-painted glass, and I hope that no one smashes those big windows. They obviously put a lot of time into decorating the place, and I commend them for their efforts. It's not the most original bar on the hill, but, on the other hand, it definitely fits in to the neighborhood. Good luck Unicorn!
They started at Linda's and got inspired by all the tacky-dermy on the walls, and then headed down to the Cha Cha. Here they were struck by the painted table tops, the kitschy decor, and the exposed-colored-bulb lightning. Then, more than a little tipsy, they headed over to Pony, where they puked in the stripey-strobe bathroom and had the epiphany to paint their entire bar like the bathrooms at Pony! Welcome to the neeeeiggghhborhood.
I get the whole "french circus" concept, but the only really thing they added was a cotton candy color palette and really cheap looking animal print booths. I do, however, admire the hand-painted glass, and I hope that no one smashes those big windows. They obviously put a lot of time into decorating the place, and I commend them for their efforts. It's not the most original bar on the hill, but, on the other hand, it definitely fits in to the neighborhood. Good luck Unicorn!
35
@ Everyone bitching...seriously? This place looks amazing! And it's locally owned and operated, and not situated underneath a brand new condo. Why is everyone so against this new bar? Kudos to the owners and operators, I can't wait to check this place out. I don't care how many fucking hipsters are there. If you don't want to see FH's, then go to fucking Belltown/Eastside/UDistrict/anywhere else.
At least, there's one thing good about hipsters, they are generally quiet, passive, and will ignore you (their intentions may be shear pretension, but the end result is no one bothering you) And you can ignore them. Harmless!
What you *should* be concerned with is all the University District Bros doing loud obnoxious 'pub crawls' in snuggies or whatever other stupid idea they have to come to the hill and alienate the 'locals', being dicks to the staff and everyone else, spilling beer out of their pitchers on people, etc, etc, all because "hey you know what would be awesome!? Going to hang out with all those hipsters for a drink or two, it would be a neat unique life experience to get out of this sports bar for a night. Don't worry, we'll come back to the sports bar for last call, let's go to this place i keep hearing about, I think it's call the Cha Cha Maracha's lounge or something"....BARF.... Let's hope they keep on asking people if they know where to find "Cha Cha's", while standing right in front of it, and don't stumble into this place.
At least, there's one thing good about hipsters, they are generally quiet, passive, and will ignore you (their intentions may be shear pretension, but the end result is no one bothering you) And you can ignore them. Harmless!
What you *should* be concerned with is all the University District Bros doing loud obnoxious 'pub crawls' in snuggies or whatever other stupid idea they have to come to the hill and alienate the 'locals', being dicks to the staff and everyone else, spilling beer out of their pitchers on people, etc, etc, all because "hey you know what would be awesome!? Going to hang out with all those hipsters for a drink or two, it would be a neat unique life experience to get out of this sports bar for a night. Don't worry, we'll come back to the sports bar for last call, let's go to this place i keep hearing about, I think it's call the Cha Cha Maracha's lounge or something"....BARF.... Let's hope they keep on asking people if they know where to find "Cha Cha's", while standing right in front of it, and don't stumble into this place.
36
I, for one, am happy to see these pics. I'm holding out some hope that the multitude of douchebags pictured will stop showing up in the cool places I like to patronize. Ba-bye and LONG LIVE UNICORN!
37
@35- You are aware that Seattle is not a giant high school filled with retarded stereotypes, right? The hill is not where the 'weird' kids hang out to smoke, and the U-District does not house everyone on the Varsity Football team. Sorry to break it to you champ, but the bars on the hill are interested in selling booze not making it your "We're unique, no normal people allowed, I hate my parents" HIPSTER FUCKING PLAYGROUND.
Your complaint makes you sound like an idiot. I don't give a shit about the new bar, I just noticed your comment and hope I never, ever have to overhear you speak at a bar. It will probably make me vomit blood and shoot fire out of my eyes.
Your complaint makes you sound like an idiot. I don't give a shit about the new bar, I just noticed your comment and hope I never, ever have to overhear you speak at a bar. It will probably make me vomit blood and shoot fire out of my eyes.
41
@29: Agreed. I haven't been. It may be awesome. It does look a little "tragic hipster pastiche" from the photos but I'm going to go in and check it out before making a final judgment.
42
I don't really care one way or the other about the decor or the hipsters but I am interested in knowing what that greasy shiny copper ball of deliciousness is in the basket with the leftover sour cream in the 8th picture down
43
Adam rules fuck all y'all haters. And why does everyone try to act like they are not a hipster? It doesn't matter. Some of you are just so bored. Ever think of focusing your energy on positivity?
45
Adam makes wicked furniture and a potent birthday drink called the Adam Bomb. Long live those Madison Twilight summer days. And good luck to the Unicorn.
46
I've been a couple times and had a great time. The pot pie and truffle popcorn were delicious. Its unfortunate there is so much negativity for local peeps trying to keep it in the neighborhood. This must be that Seattle Freeze we always hear so much about.
47
Can't anyone think of a more interesting insult than "hipster?" The anti-hipster commenters are as much a fucking Seattle stereotype as hipsters themselves. If you're going to be insulting and cranky, at least be creative about it.
I also agree with #35. The, *Hey, look at me, I'm in a crazy, wacky flash mob being all crazy and wacky in public* snuggie/drunk Santa/pantsless groups that occasionally take over The Hill's bars are much more annoying. At least the hipsters aren't obnoxious attention whores clogging up the sidewalks.
I also agree with #35. The, *Hey, look at me, I'm in a crazy, wacky flash mob being all crazy and wacky in public* snuggie/drunk Santa/pantsless groups that occasionally take over The Hill's bars are much more annoying. At least the hipsters aren't obnoxious attention whores clogging up the sidewalks.
48
@47: I definitely hate them most of all. "Look at all my WHIMSY!!!" Go pillow fight each other with sacks of rocks. Chr-st.
50
@ Everyone- Commenting on the Stranger's line out makes us all hipster pussies. Now that we all have a happy commonality, That Adam guy has been serving up remarkably strong and tasty drinks to thirsty folks for a very long time in the Capitol Hill area, which makes him a local, and a bar opened by a local is very cool, no matter what color the walls are painted.
52
it looks like a great bar to me, so congrats to the owner. And I LOVE the scolding of "haters" here on line out. Even unicorns cant make people post positive words here. hate on, haters!!!
53
@30 - Victoria, I agree it is a historical event to see you outside of Cha or Pony! Hickey missed a true opportunity sharing our glorious photo with the world! xo
57
Woohoo, that's me (non-hipster) getting a drink from Adam in the very 1st picture. This bar is fun in spite of the many many douchebags.
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