Marcus' Martini Heaven

88 Yesler Way

624-3323

Thursday, August 4, 11:19 pm

If I find myself drinking in Pioneer Square, Marcus' is by far the location I prefer. The grotto-like, subterranean space is cool, dark and, depending on the night, significantly lower in the population of frat types that normally populate the bars along the southern strip of 1st Avenue. Incidentally, it also no longer belongs to Marcus. The name remains the same, but previous owner Marcus Charles (who also owns the Bad Juju Lounge, and co-owns Neumo's) sold his namesake lounge earlier this summer. Much of the original staff remains for now, including charming general manager Grace Hoffman and happy hour host Steve Gilbert, a wildly talented photographer and one of the most entertaining bartenders in town (outside of the legendary Murray Stenson, of course). We're too late for Gilbert's shift, but we're just in time to witness the First Thursday art walk crowd hitting their stride. Artist Stephanie Cameron, whose uniquely cast human form sculptures/ paintings were hung this evening, is bellied up to the bar, celebrating her opening and buying rounds of vodka shots for fellow customers. I'd love to say my companion and I were wise enough to resist that potent temptation, but we weren't, and last call comes rather quickly.