“At first I thought it was about a dildo,” says the bartender. “Then I figured it must be baseball jargon. Finally, I just asked the owner what it meant. It turns out the Double Header got its name because it was the first Seattle bar to have a ladies’ room as well as a men’s room—this was back when no other taverns would serve women.” The historic toilet rests in the humblest of one-stall bathrooms, past a set of walls lined with antique photographs of drag queens and dust-covered taxidermy deer heads. But beyond its enchanted past, the oldest gay bar in America (!) also brings present joy to pull-tab investors and bargain-brew seekers. Happy hour specials include $2.50—$3 pints, $7.50—$8.25 pitchers (Bud, Michelob, Henry’s, Alaskan), and $3 wells. (The Double Header, 407 Second Ave, 464-9918. Happy hour Mon—Thurs 4—7 pm, Sun 10 am—midnight.)
Marti Jonjak—The Stranger’s fashion columnist—has a technical degree in apparel design and works in the garment industry. Her treasured casual-wear aesthetic is both glamorous and trashy, suggesting... More by Marti Jonjak
This place is so lame. I heard it was the oldest gay bar in seattle so I made the trip down to psquare to check it out. Not only was the bar completely empty ( at 8pm on a Thursday night) the batender refused to serve me because my ID was expired by 2 days- I’m 34 years old with a receeding hairline- very unlikely that I’m under 21. After he told me to leave I begged the guy to use the bathroom ( I walked there from the hill and really had to go) and he still refused to let me past the counter. I seriously doubtthe liquor board is scrutinizing this relegiously empty bar. I proceeded to be served by three seperate bars thereafter, all of whom checked my ID. Clearly this militant bartender is part of the reason this spot of lameness is dead, dead, “please bulldoze me for condos”: dead. This pathetic excuse for the “first gay bar in Seattle” is a waste of time. Oh and BTW: after investigating this further I learned their normal clientele is crackheads and beggers from the adjacent Pioneer Square. No viable gayness here. Screw this place.