The Watering Hole: Cyclops Cafe and Lounge, 2421 First Ave., 441-1677, BELLTOWN

The Atmosphere: Having spent some early-afternoon quality time with my new friend Evan Williams, I hitched a ride on the #41 from my home turf in Northgate and barreled down the express lane to the Westlake station, then ambled to the corner of First Avenue and Wall Street. Standing before me, as if I were Odysseus, was the Cyclops.

Though I’ve passed it many times (I used to be a Belltowner), I really hadn’t given Cyclops the full treatment. But after taking her out for a test run, the ultimate compliment I can pay Cyclops is that as I write this, I have one of the worst hangovers of my life.

The space is expansive, with the bar on one side and a dining room on the other. Hardened acrylic ponds rest within the cool rock bar, holding in suspended animation Mardi Gras beads, dice, Matchbox cars, and other playful trinkets. On my left, a man and a woman talk about Castro Street. On my right, a pair of fellows chat over a brewski. Though there are many tables, they’re all vacant. There isn’t a single empty seat at the bar, however. That’s always neat to see, as it means people aren’t afraid to snuggle next to a stranger.

As I head for the restroom, a homeless woman standing at the bar looks me up and down like I was a piece of meat and says, quite audibly, “Gorgeous.”

The Barkeep:

Dylan Randolph is friendly and courteous. He’s worked at the Cyclops for seven years. His salt-and-pepper hair is gelled upright and shaved on the sides, making him reminiscent of a graying Guile from the Street Fighter video-game series. He tends bar like he’s having fun, just hosting some friends. With a smile, he brings me a second round without my having to ask. Though this may sound a bit presumptuous, it’s the right move. A good host taps into his or her guest’s wavelength, and Randolph does that with ease.

The Drink: I have a Boundary Bay Brewery’s Cyclops 1 “Eye PA.” It’s amber and crisp. This beer is made exclusively for Cyclops and not sold anywhere else. It’s not as hoppy as most of the beers I enjoy, but exclusivity is always cool.

The Verdict: Cyclops is a fun, easygoing bar to get your evening going. Though this hangover I’m fighting is not due exclusively to the three drinks I had at Cyclops, it definitely owes its existence to the good mood I was put in by bartender Randolph and company. I left seeing the world through a rose-colored monocle, much like the X-Men’s Cyclops character. The night marched on, and I ended up meeting some people who work for the railroad all the live-long day, but that is another story altogether. E

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