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Syttende Mai, Norwegian Constitution Day, is coming up this Saturday, May 17th. There will be a whole day of festivities the centerpiece of which is the annual parade (which in breaking news is now moved back to 4pm). There will also be Nordic entertainment at Bergen Place, a dinner and dance, Fjord horses, children’s games and more. Check out the whole schedule at Ballard’s official event website. I understand that Ballard has the largest SM celebration in the US. By the way, I celebrate 5/17 every year for a different reason — this is the day that I first arrived in Ballard in 2001.

In the spirit of the day I thought I would recommend a couple places to celebrate after the parade where the Nordic spirit lives on in Ballard:

1. The Viking Tavern (6404 24th Ave. NW). Definitely an “old Ballard” standard bearer since 1950 (although also increasingly popular with “hipsters” as younger newcomers to Ballard are increasingly, and somewhat pejoratively, referred to in posts about the Viking and Ballard in general). The Viking has all the comforts you would expect in an old school neighborhood joint: comfy vinyl booths, ballgames on TV, Rainier on tap, shuffleboard, and house-smoked meats. Why do you think they have made it all these years?! BTW I love their moto “we smoke our own”

2. The Copper Gate. (6301 24th Ave … just down the hill a block) “Scandalnavian since 1946″ per the CG website, the bar actually puttered out a couple years ago (after years of being a somewhat notorious dive that was sketchy at best) but soon after closing its doors it was resurrected by the owners of hugely popular Ballard restaurants La Carta de Oaxaca and Thaiku who in the process of rethinking the space created just about the perfect paean to Ballard: respectful of Ballard’s unique heritage but at the same time looking forward, reinventing itself, and not taking the whole thing too seriously.

The thing that really jumps out at you when you walk in the door is the Viking-hull-sheathed bar and collection of vintage nude photography, but the whole space is appealingly decorated. It is modern but not radically contemporary, and the seating configurations, soft lighting and softly thumping house music give it a hip but laid back vibe, perfect for hanging out with friends for company over a couple drinks and small plates. The kitchen puts out decent Scandinavian-inspired dishes like house cured gravlax, meatballs with lingonberry preserves and celeriac/potato mash and aquavit-coffee braised shortribs. They also have Nordic and Ballard (Maritime) beer and appropriate uncommon liquors that include housemade aquavit and Tyrkish peber vodka … along with some really interesting cocktails.

Well … I hope to you see out on the 17th in your bunader. Long live the Constitution!