January 2009

Ballard

Bad Albert's Tap and Grill

5100 Ballard Ave. N.W.

782-9623

Happy Hour: 3 to 6 p.m. daily, $1 off appetizers, beers and well drinks on special.

www.badalberts.com

Thursdays, 8 to 10:30 p.m. No cover

Taste of the Blues, featuring Annieville Blues and her special guests

Sundays, 5 to 8:30 p.m. No cover

Bill Chism, Jazz and guitar

A group of local men and woman gather in their swim attire on a January day. Standing on the rocky winter beach of Three Tree Point they begin the countdown.

A voice yells, "...4, 3, 2, 1!" and everyone runs straight for the frigid Puget Sound water. The rush of cold over their bodies as each one submerges themselves fully and rises back to the surface is heard in a mix of screams and laughter. Shaking and smiling they come together on the beach for a post-swim photo.

As they stand on the beach wrapped in towels one of the men says, "I feel great!