Seattle: All-you-can-eat happy hour buffets.

Apparently the latest trend in happy hour is the all-you-can-eat buffet, at least here in Seattle. The Seattle Times has the rundown on the downtown hotel lounges that offer all the cheese and appetizers you can eat for one flat rate (usually $12-14).

• Four Seasons - gourmet cheese buffet for $12, and a Northwest-themed tapas buffet for $14. You can get both for $20. About two dozen cheeses, with crackers, dried fruits, and nuts. Buffet is offered daily from 4:30-10 p.m. Lounge happy hour is 5-7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, when bar food, beer, selected wine and cocktails cost $5.
  
• The Terrace at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel - all-you-can-eat appetizer deal for $12 and a $12 "endless cheese" deal during happy hour, 3:30-6 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays.

If you're willing to spend a little more on your happy hour nibbles for a tasty splurge, and you're a big fan of cheese, it might be worth it.

Seattle: $5 happy hour at Cheesecake Factory.

The Seattle Times reports that the Cheesecake Factory has rolled out a $5 happy hour here in Seattle as of last week. Like their normal menu, the happy hour menu is a giant spiral-bound notebook full of deep-fried, giant-portioned options, and there are drink specials too. So if you're looking for a happy hour snack that can double as a quick dinner, this might be worth checking out.

Locations: 700 Pike St. in downtown Seattle, 401 Bellevue Square in Bellevue, and 230 Strander Blvd. near Southcenter Mall. Happy hour is 4-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays at the bar. Appetizers ($5) and other food items ($3.95-$6.95), beer $3, well drinks and wine $4, and selected cocktails $5.

Seattle: free happy hour small bites at La Spiga.

Happy hour is never happier than when it includes free snacks, as far as I'm concerned. And La Spiga, in Capitol Hill, seems dedicated to delivering quality nibbles along with its drinks. Evidently, each drink comes with four small plates - always including olives and cashews and their signature flatbread, plus two more selections that vary nightly. If the picture in the article is anything to go by, it seems like a generous portion of snacks, too.

Here's the full happy hour menu (happy hour goes till 6:30), although $8 snacks seem pretty pricey compared to, um, free.

(Courtesy of the Seattle Times)

Seattle: Rosebud's Sweet 16 party, free apps, 12/16.

The Rosebud, on Capitol Hill, is turning 16 this year, and they're celebrating tomorrow, Dec. 16, with a Sweet 16 party! That means free appetizers in the bar for you from 4:30 to 8:30, plus a 3-course meal for $16 if you choose.

I hate their website, but the bar is pretty cool and they do a decent brunch, so there's every reason to think that free apps would be delicious there.