According to SeattlePI.com, more than 850 stores in Washington have applied for a license to sell hard liquor under new rules put in place by the passage of Initiative 1183.

That initiative, passed by voters in November, gets the state out of the liquor sales business. Gone will be the state liquor stores. Now you'll be able to buy hard booze at stores that receive a spirits license from the state.

So far, the only store in Eastlake to apply for a spirits license is Pete's Super Market at E. Lynn and Fairview E. Pete's application is "pending," according to the Washington State Liquor Control Board's website. Pete's is known for its big wine selection. 

Vanessa Ho, writing at SeattlePI.com, says I-1183 "allows stores at least 10,000 square feet to sell vodka, gin and other spirits. There’s an exception for smaller stores, if no other store sells liquor in its 'trade area.' The state still needs to define that term."

There's news about liquor licenses at two Eastlake restaurants:

• 14 Carrot Cafe: A brand-new license for the 14 Carrot was recently approved. They're now serving wine and beer, with mimosas (champagne and orange juice) for breakfast (and lunch, I guess, if you're so inclined). Other specialties include a Bloody Mary made with saki, a Bloody Terry (adds ginger and carrot juice to the tomato-based drink) and a Red Eye (a beer-based Bloody Mary). Plus, they have a selection of wine and beer, including imports.
• Siam on Lake Union: The Thai restaurant on Fairview E. has applied to move their liquor license out to new digs at 1629 Eastlake Ave. E. (see map), in the new building across the street from Grand Central. No word on when the restaurant will open in its new quarters but there's been lots of activity in the space as it's built out.

Application has been made for a liquor license for a new restaurant at 2865 Eastlake Ave. E.: Little Water Cantina.

The restaurant would go into a commercial space in the Eastlake 2851 apartments.

An employee of the apartments said the restaurant was expected to open in a couple of months. She said that some of the people involved in the restaurant were from New York, although records in the Secretary of State's Office for Little Water Cantina LLC show that some of those involved in the business have addresses in Fremont.

The application says the type of liquor license would be for beer, wine, spirits and that the establishment will have a restaurant and lounge with half or more of the space devoted to dining.

A concept drawing of how the space at 2865 might be configured into a restaurant is on display inside the front door. The restaurant will get to use deck space on the west side of the building with views of Lake Union and Gas Works Park, the apartment employee said. See the photos for a better idea of what it looks like.

No other information is available on the new restaurant.

In other liquor application news, the 14 Carrot Cafe, 2305 Eastlake Ave. E., has applied for a license to serve beer and wine.

The Slog got folks in Eastlake wondering on Sunday with a "Stranger Suggests" item about the Eastlake Zoo.

The Slog lauded the Zoo as:

"... a big room with high ceilings and smoke-cured timbers that glow faintly with age, nostalgia, and the benign, respectful indifference of a quality old-timers' bar."

What got people's attention was the next sentence in the Slog post where they noted that you could "drink a little whiskey" at the popular Eastlake tavern. What the ... ?!? Had the Zoo suddenly changed liquor licenses without anyone noticing?

Nope. A call to the Zoo (and a check of its Web site) confirms that it's still just beer and wine (and a few food items) at the Zoo's bar. 

Not sure that I'd agree with the Slog that the Zoo has a "clammy" quality. What it does have is a comfortable air about it. It's a relaxed place where, like a certain TV show of a few years ago, "everybody knows your name." And there's no pressure to do anything but linger over a beer or a glass of wine and maybe chat with your neighbor, or not, as the mood strikes you.

Some things don't change much, or very quickly, as the years go by. And you have to admire that. Thanks, Eastlake Zoo, for being your reliable self. Carry on!