Bloglander

JJ Wandler knows that music counts for a lot in a bar or dining experience. A place that doesn't pay attention to the sound floating through the airwaves could lose customers. I know I've vowed to never return to a place after having Bon Jovi spoil what was otherwise a perfectly fine outing. 

Wandler, co-owner of Garageland, has personally curated a playlist of 8,000 or so songs to provide the soundtrack for visitors to the bar/restaurant/record store/thrift shop, and that playlist makes Garageland the kind of place where it's easy to hunker down for a drink or two. The tunes don't pump so loud they drown out conversation, but they hit on old favorites enough to enhance a beer or one of Garageland's craft cocktails named for classic punk tunes (try the Blank Generation and thank me later). More than once on a recent Happy Hour trip I stopped mid-conversation to zone in on the subtle sounds: "Hey, the Stones' 'Rocks Off! Cool!" or "Hmm, is that the Jesus and Mary Chain? Love it." 

Combine the tunes with ever-changing original artwork, the funky everyday decor like the static-y TV set and old fridges holding cans of brew and the chance to do a little vinyl or clothes shopping and you have a Happy Hour unlike any other in town. 

Garageland's Happy Hour is $1 off every alcoholic beverage and goes from 4-6 pm every Monday-Friday and all day on Sundays. Additionally, Monday is half-off the bar's considerable selection of absinthe, including two made right here in Washington, Pacifique and Marteau. In the next few weeks, Wandler says they'll be adding some Happy Hour food items, with discount prices on burgers, salads and fries alongside the drinks. Stay tuned for that. 

To learn more about Happy Hours around the Inland Northwest, visit Inlander.com on your phone and download our Drinkspotter app, or  simply visit this page.