Charles Koh
PHOTO CREDIT TO MACLEOD BALLARD
Seeing as the Scots practically invented the tradition of New Year’s Eve revelry—know Auld Lang Syne? Scottish! —Macleod’s is the ideal place to ring in 2014. Proprietor and real-live Scot Alan Macleod will be playing his favorite old-time Scottish tunes all night, till the bagpipers arrive! Midnight will be celebrated with enthusiastic bagpiping, champagne for everyone, and impromptu renditions of the classic song.
In northeast Scotland, there’s a tradition of fireball swinging, which is exactly what it sounds like. No fireballs allowed inside the Ballard Ave pub, but they do have a lot of scotch, and that’s pretty much just as good.
The pub opens at 4pm as usual, and there’s no cover charge for the Hogmanay celebration.
Located at 5200 Ballard Avenue NW in the historic Junction Building, Macleod’s was opened in December of 2011 by James Weimann and Deming Maclise, the duo behind Ballard’s popular French bistro Bastille and Mexican hot spot Poquitos on Capitol Hill. Created as an homage to Edinburgh native and good friend Alan Macleod, the pub brings an authentic dose of Scotland to Seattle’s hopping Ballard neighborhood. Macleod’s offers a selection of 200-plus whiskies with a focus on rare single malt scotch, as well as locally made spirits, original and classic cocktails, tap beers, and wine. Macleod’s is open daily from 4pm to 2am. For more information, call 206.687.7115 or visit www.macleodsballard.com.
