Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Last Night

Arts & Culture   March 18, 2010 at 10:08 am Josh Feit

After winning my pinball crown back from a friend at Shorty’s last night, I finally went to Tavern Law, the spot on 12th Avenue off Union in Capitol Hill. This is the place with a downstairs bar and a “speakeasy” upstairs that you have to call on a black phone to get buzzed up.

The downstairs has great food—small plates and soup—although the vibe is a little too sterile and pre-fab (like much of the trendy stretch on 12th, not counting the great Cafe Presse.)

But wow on the upstairs, with the lovely 1920s theme, dynamite off-the-cuff alcohol concoctions, and sweeping couches.

There was a Saturday, January 17, 1920 edition the Chicago Daily Tribune tucked under glass at our table. Something about national prohibition in force.