Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks

Special episode! We grab a few tasty Rainier beers with the creators of Rainier: A Beer Odyssey. Issac Olsen, director, Robby Peterson, producer, and Justin Peterson, producer, sit down with the DSLD crew to discuss their fascinating film chronicling Rainier's iconic advertising. We chat about their challenges in making the movie, incredible memorabilia they uncovered in researching the film, and teases about upcoming projects. And...

Recorded live at The Roanoke on 07/31/2025.

Follow the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast on Facebook (DLandSD), Twitter/X (@divebarsseattle), YouTube, and Instagram (seattle_dive_bar_podcast). Share, like, follow, smash, and subscribe!

Check out the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast website (dimlightspodcast.com) for more details and additional episodes. And head over to our Patreon page (dim_lights_stiff_drinks) ...

We jet (metaphorically) over to Roanoke Inn Tavern, Mercer Island's oldest drinking establishment. The crew experiences a dive bar first: blabbing on about the history of this vaulted tavern without any drinks in front of us! Imagine the horror when we realize our highly-anticipated Round Two is actually just round one. At least we get to recount the days when the Roanoke was really an inn, along with all the questionable "etcetera...

Special episode! We head back to an old UW stomping ground to visit the College Inn Pub on University Way. Revisiting this classic basement bar in the U District is bittersweet because it's the last few days before this beloved Huskies haunt closes its doors - possibly forever! It's loud as heck in this ol' Inn but we manage to get a word in edgewise and talk about the pub's history along with a doozie of a ghost story. Help us sta...

Join the DLSD crew as we say farewell to the Merchants Cafe...sorta. In this episode we go over some history and hear the tales of Molly Malone and more! Vicious rumors of the demise of Merchants are way overblown so we do what any dive bar patron would do, we go along with it. Egg's on our face! Recorded live at Merchants Cafe on 12/30/2024.

Follow the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast on Facebook (DLandSD), Twitter (@divebars...

This Pioneer Square music and drinking establishment opened less than a year ago, but we're giving Baba Yaga a free pass because the building it occupies has so much Seattle dive bar history. Plus, Baba Yaga is just dripping with all the dive bar vibes we love. Join the crew as we explore dive bars past, present, and future in this historic 1890's Pioneer Square landmark. To keep it real, we're joined by the Prince of Pioneer Squar...

Special episode! Historic Wallingford turns Murphy's Pub into a roaring '20s style speakeasy. Celebrating Wallingford and Murphy's rich history in the best way possible: decked out in 1920s prohibition attire and drinking hootch on the down-low. The DLSD crew (well, 2/3 of the crew) was there for the live music, charity auction, and old fashioned speakeasy fun. Recorded live at Murphy's Pub on 09/22/2024.

Learn more about the Hi...

Special guest artist Two Thangs, aka Matthew Brennan, joins us at Cyclops in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle.Two Thangs is the creative force behind a large collection of mural art around Seattle, along with an impressive portfolio of dual-icon-themed masshups. Two Thangs tells us stories of Betty Page, Divine, vandalism, feminists, and how paralegals make the best artists. Recorded live at Cyclops Cafe and Lounge on 08/29/202...

The sign out front says Saloon but we've been told Georgetown's Marco Polo is actually a Bar & Grill. We like the sound of saloon better but we won't turn away from a good bar. And grill reminds us to not miss the famous broasted chicken at Marco Polo. If you don't know what broasted is then you'll definitely need to listen in because we not only talk about the history of the great Marco Polo saloon/bar & grill, we also get...

Special episode! We partner with Shea and Jody from the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast to bring a big ol' heaping helping of PNW history. We get in to Tacoma's salacious backstories, blowing glass (not to be confused with glassblowing), Surf x Surfwest music festivals, and we ponder the size of Sasquatch's junk. All this conversational goodness happens at the fantastic Parkway Bar & Grill Tavern mere days from their 89th annive...

Is it Ballard or Phinney Ridge? Does Rainier taste better on draft or in tall-boys? Can you still find smokin' deals at your local thrift shop? Listen to this episode from The Tin Hat to find out. With all the tasty micros on tap you might think this is a snooty hipster bar, but fear not! Dive runs deep at The Hat and you can still Flatline. You just can't get a $1 hot dog unless you're a secret Stonecutter member. Recorded live at...

Has it really been 2 1/2 years and 3 DLSD seasons since we've recorded at the Zoo? And has it really been 50 years since a bunch of hippies bought a bar just so they'd have a place for the softball team to drink for free? Yup. In this very special episode, we join the Zoo crew to celebrate their 50th anniversary. But the history doesn't stop at [checks sliderule] 1974 because these dive bar vibes go all the way back to 1934 - even ...

Recorded live at North Shore Pub on 05/01/2024.

Follow the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast on Facebook (DLandSD), Twitter (@divebarsseattle), YouTube, and Instagram (seattle_dive_bar_podcast). Share, like, follow, and subscribe!

Check out the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast website (dimlightspodcast.com) for more details and additional episodes. And head on over to our Patreon page to help fund the shenaniga...

Wonderful Wallingford is home to Al's Tavern, spitting distant from other Seattle classics Taco Time, Dick's, Ezell's, and The Erotic Bakery. Better bring cash and don't order the corndog. You're SOL if you want Rainier on draft. Luckily you can get a tall boy to hold you over (for now) until the brewery riots subside. Recorded live at Al's Tavern on 04/18/2024.

Follow the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast on Facebook (DLan...

The Rickshaw is a not-so-hidden gem among northend dive bars! Get dinner and a beverage, or two, in the heart of Greenwood! Listen for fun facts about dance marathons, pole sitting, and more. No, we will not be grabbing the karaoke mic this evening but we will be swappin' tall karaoke tales. Recorded live at Rickshaw Restaurant & Lounge on 03/21/2024.

Follow the Dim Lights & Stiff Drinks podcast on Facebook (DLandSD), Tw...

Our first pudding shots! We're at Leny's Place in Tangletown, nestled between Wallingford and Green Lake. This neighborhood bar is known for great burgers and unique liquor concoctions such as jell-o shots and "mystery shots." But we're here for the historic dive atmosphere and of course, the pudding. Listen in as we discuss Whatcha Drinkin' and wax poetic about the virtues of pudding shots. Recorded live at Leny's Place on 02/29/2...

Step into The Diller Room, a downtown Seattle joint that'll transport you to a time when speakeasies were the hottest spots in town. The bartenders here know their stuff and they'll whip you up a stiff drink that'll make you forget about the world outside. The vibe is vintage, the lighting is just right, and the drinks are strong enough to leave a lasting impression. Trust us, if you're looking for a place to get your drink on and ...

We kick off season 4 of DLSD at the T-Bird! Thunderbird Tavern, a beloved Seattle dive bar, is the perfect spot for a laid-back night out. With its classic neon sign, cozy interior, and friendly atmosphere, this Ballard neighborhood gem has been a local favorite for decades. Enjoy a cold beer, play a game of pool, and immerse yourself in the tavern's rich history. The Thunderbird Tavern's no-frills approach and welcoming vibe make ...

You can't drag yourself out of the gutter without hitching a ride on a Comet. A cornerstone of the Capitol Hill neighborhood's blue-collar history, and one of Pike Street's most famous watering holes. So much history and criminal exploits to explore at the Comet Tavern, we can't cover it all in one episode. But don't even get Sweet Lou started on the parking situation. The tunes get cranked up as the night progresses and we can tak...