the Matador

Ah, the Matador on Burnsy. If you want to fill your head with inebriation and you're on a tight budget (and who isn't in these times of global economic climate change?), well, you've come to the right place, my friend. During Happy Hour from noon til seven, pints of Pabst flow for a buck, and strong well drinks go for $2.50. Don't bother ordering a double; it's quite unnecessary. Pitchers (the giant glass ones, not those plastic fake-pitchers) of PBR are always $6. They have good bar food, mostly under $6, including a generous portion of chicken wings. Two pool tables are available, DJs spin discs in the evenings, the air is filled with sweet, sweet smoke and Bowie's on the juke box. A fine mix of the hip, the geeky, the jocks, the sports fans, the punk rockers and the drunkards. You don't have to wear pants or even underthings, as my group discovered unwittingly one remarkable eve. The Matador is a big, all-encompassing tent, and its sturdy tentpole is the love of having a good time. This, gals and fellows, is what Portland's all about. Now go shotgun that Hamms tallboy.

20th and West Burnside.

virginia cafe

Virginia Cafe has been a Portland drinkin'stitution since 19-something or other. I don't know, the 50's or something. (I looked it up - it can be traced back to 1922.) Back then, you could get a glass of wine for a dime, and a burger for 5 cents. Now, a cheeseburger's gonna run you about 7 bones, unless you show your face during happy hour, where it'll cost you an affordable 4 bucks (with fries!) Happy hour is from 4 til 7pm. Cheap beer will run you 2.75 draft, and 3.75 for the good stuff.

Nachos are 7 bucks, tater tots $4, chicken strips $5, as are popcorn shrimp and potato skins with broccoli and bacon. Czar Salad costs 5.75, or get an order of french fries or chips/salsa for $2.25.

You'll find the VC across from the Central Library on SW Tenth and Yamhill.

revisiting bridgeport brewery

I've been back to Bridgeport Brewery a bit, and just wanted to mention a couple of follow-ups. They have replaced the Stumptown Tart seasonal with the Hop Czar, which is really tasty and strong at 8%, and is even included in the $2.75 happy hour imperial pint special. Unfortunately, the last time I was there, they were out. On one visit, I wanted the pulled pork sandwich, but they were out of pork. I ordered the happy hour nachos, which were both heaping and delicious. When they did have pork, I ordered the happy hour pulled pork sandwich, and was disappointed that it didn't include any sides what-so-ever - no fries, no lettuce, not even half a dill! I suppose I've been spoiled by McCormick and Schmick's $1.95 burger special, which includes fries, half a dill spear, all the fixins and mayo for dippin'. I will be featuring their menu soon.

the curse of being lazy and broke

I've had a chance to take some new pictures and develop them (I really need a digital camera), so I'll have a flurry of new bleerg postings in the near future. In the meantime (inbetweentime), I am proud to announce I'll be the Official Authority of tracking the progress of the new Mcmenamins Hotel being built on the corner of 12th and Stark Street downtown. (I like to deem myself the Official Authority of things.) The Mcmenamins Brothers have bought the property that, years ago, was a dudes-only bathhouse, so they'll be hosing down, renovating, and Mcmen-ifying that building into a new hotel and full-service restaurant. The subterranian Cellar Bar that currently adjoins the building will be expanded underneath the hotel. As construction ensues and more information is released, I will post updates.



Goodbye, moistened nude men. Hello Dungeonburgers!

bridgeport brewery follow-up

I found Bridgeport's current happy hour menu, and it is fantastic. Imperial pints are $23/4 from 4pm to 6pm Monday thru Friday, and from 10 to close Tuesday thru Thursday.

Happy hour food menu (4-6 Mon thru Fri, 10-close nightly) highlights include:
$21/2: chips and chipotle sauce.
small ceasar or garden salad.

$4: spinach + artichoke dip.
three cheese quesadilla.
housemade seasoned tofu fries.
garlicky cheesy breadsticks.
housemade hummus, olives, with things to dip in it.

$5: bbq house smoked + pulled pork sammich! (yay!)
large bowl of seasoned fries
spicy buffalo-style chicken
grilled chicken teriyake skewers
nachos (with all the fixin's)

bridgeport brewery

BRIDGEPORT BREWERY, NW 13TH AND MARSHALL, PORTLAND

The area of Northwest Portland surrounding the rising leg of the Fremont Bridge was once known as The Bucket. This was a mosaic of industrial warehouses and empty lots, and Bridgeport Brewery was the local watering hole, an old ivy-covered brickhouse filled with large dining tables and serving up tasty slices of pizza to go along with one's pint of Blue Heron Pale Ale. The place was closed for almost a year in 2006 for an extensive remodel. Bridgeport discarded its pizza-based beginnings and emerged from its cocoon a restaurant, shiny and pristine. When one enters the brewpub, he or she immediately experiences a sense of loftiness that exudes as much trend as the upscale condominiums (and due to the market's oversaturation, luxury apartments) that surround it on all sides. Bridgeport 2.0 features an expanded menu (featuring fractions in the pricing - they're too high-end for decimals now), a new bakery, and, fortunately for me, an affordable happy hour. This will be posted shortly.

DINNER MENU.

PINTS: $3 3/4 for 20oz. imperial pints.

PITCHERS: $10 1/4

BEER OF CHOICE: for a good (and limited) time, check out Stumptown Tart. (Strong at 8.4 percent, this fruit-tastic brew is like some kind of winebeer.)



DON'T MISS: the house-smoked pulled pork sandwich. (one of the best in the city, up there with Laurelwood.)

I WANT TO TRY: baked butternut squash mac + cheese. (with fontina cheese, swiss chard, hazelnut bread crumbs, +/- onions)



OLD SCHOOL BRIDGEPORT - BEFORE THE PEARLIFIZIN'

a brief intro.

Hello, friends, and welcome to my attempt to keep track of Portland's vast number of establishments where one can imbibe the drinky. I look forward to tracking down our berg's best happy hours, posting photos and menus of places to check out, and, judging by my past journal experiences, ultimately ignoring and forgetting this page exists. Join me?