It’s hard to imagine that much of the way we eat and drink today is linked directly to the political workings of America’s legislative bodies. We belly up to the table thinking we’re the ones with the agency to dictate the how, what, and why of our food and drink; but in some circumstances those […]
Drunk
Posted inBikes
Snap Judgment: Apex Beer Bar
[Welcome to Snap Judgment, a new regular Blogtown feature wherein I’ll be dropping by places both old and just opened for a one-dish fly-by, and developing an opinion based on that singular experience. Basically, it’s the complete opposite of what I do each week for Last Supper. I don’t expect to get it right all […]
Posted inDrunk
Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Oh, crap! Mother’s Day is just around the corner. And you’ve got to get her something—something nice this year, not like the last-minute gift you got her last year. It’s a good thing Cold Steel has got you covered. Check out these terrific gifts that mom is just going to love. You know what mom […]
Posted inFood and Drink
This (and Last) Week’s Mercury Food Section: On Affordability
Trust me when I tell you affordability is a concern when thinking about restaurants or events to cover in Last Supper and Lush Life. Not only do I consider the finances of my readers, but I also consider the budget for my own section (and let’s be frank, I’m not writing for the New York […]
Posted inDrunk
Welcome to the Party, New Americans!
Who wants cake? Forty-nine new Americans took part in a naturalization ceremony today at Waterfront Park. Immigrants representing over two dozen different nations swore allegiance to the flag, renouncing allegiance to any “foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty.” Then they had cake and punch. I was sent, on behalf of the Portland Mercury, to buy […]
Posted inSports
Derby Day! Part Three: The Bet.
Betting the ponies isn’t hard when have the lingo down. Though when you approach the book’s window for the first time, it can be a bit intimidating—especially if there’s an impatient line behind you. Don’t worry about odds just yet. They change up until the start of the race anyway and the complexities of how […]
Posted inSports
Derby Day! Part Two: The Hats.
Almost as important as the mint julep on derby day is the fancy ladies hat. There is simply no telling what an exotic, flamboyant hat can do to improve your luck. For instance, this hat could possibly increase your luck by 25%: Check out the hat gallery on the Churchill Downs website and be prepared […]
Posted inSports
Derby Day! Part One: The Mint Julep
Tomorrow is a magic day for gamblers, drinkers, and Southerners: It’s derby day in America when the sun shines bright on our old Kentucky home and fortunes are made or lost to the tune of thundering hooves. Whether you are lucky enough to be among the throngs at Churchill Downs, or have decided to watch […]
Posted inFood and Drink
Wine Curious
Maybe it’s the fact I’m working on a piece about wine for next week’s Lush Life (gasp), but goddamn if I didn’t find a recent e-mail from ten 01’s sommelier Jeff Groh more than a little intriguing. In said e-mail, Groh references the Big Lebowski, the Notorious B.I.G., Willem Dafoe, and Botox, along with a […]
Posted inTheater & Performance
Win Tickets to Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live!
Quick! Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live will be at the Aladdin Theater tonight and we have a pair of tickets to give you. First, a little about the show: AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE LIVE is bringing its comedy review back out on the road for a national US tour in April and May. This is […]
Posted inDrunk
OR Bars May Utter Forbidden Words: Happy Hour.
Last week the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) inched toward a more rational future, throwing out its ban on happy hour advertising. The commission has discussed the small change for months and last Thursday ruled that, yes, bars and restaurants in Oregon may now be allowed to advertise outside their business that they have a […]
Posted inDrunk
Kelly Kapowski vs. Profanity: Which Is the Most Awesomest?
And now I would like to disrupt Portland’s economy by making worker productivity come to a grinding halt. Please meet the next 45 minutes of your life: Most Awesomest Thing Ever. most awesomest thing ever Somehow this is more satisfying than any election I’ve voted in. So far.