I don't think I was ever formally introduced to Don, but I've been the beneficiary of his passion and largesse on many, many occasions. When I moved to Portland more than a decade ago, the Horse Brass was the only bar I knew of ahead of the move, and the first place I sought out when I finally landed. Many good times have been had in the Horse Brass, even when the smoke was so thick you could barely see two feet in front of you. Amazing to think there was a time when Blitz and Oly were all that was on tap there... I wish Don the best, but from the sound of things, he would appear to be in pretty dire straits. Wherever you're going, Don, I'm sure you and Billy will have some pints lined up for us when we meet up with you!
Legend holds that he acquired the place in a poker game. Woke up on the floor of the joint one morning, only to find himself holding a deed. He once explained the intricacies of liquor pricing to me at length just because I pointed out to him that I was going to be waiting tables at another restaurant that evening.
His incredibly bad habits are also the thing of legend, and I'm not a hundred per cent surprised that he's probably gonna be leaving us, but all that aside, he'll be missed.
Pardon. Posted that 'probably' before I had a chance to read ElGordo.
Also: it would be great to be described as a "publican" on the occasion of one's death.
Tom May, MC of the annual Winterfolk benefit concert for Sisters of the Road, is currently composing a tribute piece to be performed at Winterfolk this Saturday, Feb 5th, at the Aladdin.
http://twitter.com/#!/lompocbeer
His incredibly bad habits are also the thing of legend, and I'm not a hundred per cent surprised that he's probably gonna be leaving us, but all that aside, he'll be missed.
Also: it would be great to be described as a "publican" on the occasion of one's death.