Category Archives: Historic or “Classic” Bars

Expose Yourself to the Goose Hollow Inn

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The 2011 Willamette Week Drink Guide states, “(The Goose Hollow Inn), brainchild of Bud Clark, Portland’s most universally beloved mayor continues into its fifth decade as a kind of principled experiment in the civic virtue of the bull session.”

A Successful Experiment in Civic Virtue

The assessment of Bud Clark’s term as Mayor has obviously not changed since 2011…..Indeed, if there is a Portland bar (and its owners) that embodies what makes Portlanders never want to leave our City, it’s the Goose Hollow Inn.  From the 2012 Willamette Week 105 Favorite Bars, Pubs and Clubs:                      

History on the Walls!!

“The five-decades old joint is everything you’d expect from a placed owned by Clark since 1967 — that is, a cabin-style pub with wooden benches adorned with old photos and campaign posters of Clark, with wrap-around porch….”

To experience the true flavor of this “institution,” however, you need to talk to the original owner himself. Thebeerchaser, Portland attorney, Jim Westwood and retired Oregonian columnist, John Terry, had this opportunity for a “very short” ninety minutes with Bud on a Tuesday afternoon in July.

With our Mayor from 1984-1992

Bud Clark, after attending Portland’s Lincoln High School, continued his education in 1952 at Vanport Center and then PSU before leaving for the Korean  War.

He reminisced about his time as a bartender at the long gone Jerry’s Gables (where the $1.25 special included half of a hamburger, potato salad and garlic bread), his ownership of the Spatenhaus – his first bar which was located at the site of the present Keller Auditorium, and buying the Goose in 1967.

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He regaled us with stories about the Expose Yourself to Art poster (originally intended to raise funds for a 1977 public health campaign to “Zap the Clap”).  The Portland Art Museum was not interested in the poster and the original photographer, Michael Ryerson, printed them and sold them for $1 at Waterfront Park –  250,000 were sold by 1984 and now it is displayed in the Smithsonian!                           

Bud Clark – A Proponent of Open Public Greetings

David Kish, the owner of another bar – The Storm Cellar Tavern – who ultimately served as Portland’s Director of General Services and Clark’s Chief of Staff, told me that Bud donated his proceeds from the poster to the NW Examiner (Neighborhood Newspaper). Kish, before he worked for the City, also served as salesperson for the poster and patrons of his bar could buy the poster and a beer for a buck!  Kish also related how when Bud told his friends about his plans to buy the bar in Goose Hollow that the reaction was, “You might as well be in Hillsboro…”

A lot more on tap than just Bud….

And there was his campaign against Frank Ivancie (“Ivancie Terrible” as labeled by former Oregon Journal columnist, Doug Baker) where Ivancie used the poster as an example of Clark’s lack of judgement.  Ivancie mistakenly believed that people would vote for Clark only out of morbid curiosity, and the bar owner and political outsider’s campaign was a lark. Both Westwood and Clark remembered their mutual friend, coach (of Westwood’s GE College Bowl Team) and campaign advisor, PSU Professor, Ben Padrow.

The Mayor was known for his favorite greeting, “Whoop Whoop.””  Bud told us (and Kish elaborated) that this exclamation originated in an attempt to imitate the mating call of a pet guinea pig named George Raft…..   

And then there was the campaign in 1984…..

The values of the Clark family are evident through the history of the bar.  For example, the excellent mono- graph, Portland’s Goose Hollow by Tracy Prince states on page 10:

“By the late 1960’s, Goose Hollow faced the bulldozers of ‘urban renewal’ and the neighborhood name had fallen out of common usage for several decades.  Bud Clark’s strategy to rename a tavern he purchased in the hollow as the Goose Hollow Inn to help rekindle civic regard the neighborhood, and prevented the … name from fading away.”                            

A History worth Preserving

Distinguishing Characteristics   

The Food – A great menu including salads, sandwiches (notable roast beef and pizza)  – headed, of course, by “The Best Reuben on the Planet”  described in one review as:  “a deliciously oozing pile of corned beef, sauerkraut and cheese.”

Thebeerchaser confirmed. The turkey dumpling soup is also superb.

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The History, Character and Values of the Owners –  Clark stated that before the advent of microbrews, the Goose served only three beers and Budweiser was King.  Before he took office in 1984, the Goose sold 180 kegs of Budweiser per month and was recognized as selling more Bud per square foot than any bar in the United States. He chuckled relating how when he was away his wife, Sigrid, who was managing the bar, added what is now a wonderful deck, but the additional square footage lost them the Budweiser top ranking.

The Deck — Altered the Square Feet to Budweiser Sold Ratio

Examples of the values include:

Meatless Mondays –  Bud instituted this concept in the ’60’s to remind people of the GIs fighting in Viet Nam while all of us lived in comfort back in the States.

Meat – Don’t Even Think About it on Monday at the Goose in the late ’60s

Smokeless Tuesdays – Long before Oregon law forbid it, patrons refrained from coffin nails once each week — and it was enforced.

Environmental Ethics – According to Kish, who is an environmental energy expert and once directed the Oregon Dept. of Energy, Bud implemented some innovative solar energy options in the Goose long before State tax credits and availability in the marketplace.  Bud also “kicked out Budweiser” and stopped selling it for a period when Anheuser Busch opposed the Oregon Bottle Bill in 1971.

Family – The Clark family has been instrumental in the Goose Hollow Neighborhood and family values are pervasive in their businesses.  Rachael, Bud’s daughter, now is the manager of the Inn.  She joined us for the discussion and talked about the emphasis on a customer service ethic.  She also refuted the one negative comment in scads of complimentary reviews: “My friend had to pay an extra $1.00 for the Au Jus on a French Dip Sandwich.”  Rachael said, “I tried to contact the guy to tell him that we did not have French Dip Sandwiches on the menu at all then, but he never responded.”

Rachael Clark Carries on the Family Tradition – Is there no AuJus??

Fehrenbacher is the family name of Sigrid Fehrenbacher Clark, Oregon Symphony violinist and business partner in the pub. The Clarks also operated an outdoor store and antique shop.  The family carries on with the tavern and an excellent little coffee shop – Fahrenbachers Hof  immediately adjacent to the Inn –  one that got excellent reviews for the coffee, staff and food.                                                      

Fehrenbacher’s Hof – No Bud but Great Java!

This Bud’s For US!!!

The Goose Hollow Inn is a wonderful pub in all respects.  Thebeerchaser gained a new perspective on what a treasure the Clark Family is to Portland.  Stop by and have a draft and then top it off with a cup of coffee at Fehrenbacher’s Hof next door.

It is fitting to conclude with Bud’s motto for the Inn:

“Dedicated to Quality Draft, Fine Food, Pleasant Music and Stimulating Company.  We’re also dedicated to extremes of opinion, hoping that a livable marriage will result.  If physical violence is your nature, either develop your verbal abilities or leave.”

The Goose Hollow Inn                1927 Jefferson Street

Fahrenbacher’s Hof                    1225 SW 19th Avenue

                                                                                                 

Mock Crest Tavern – A North Portland Classic

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Founded in 1947 and Going Strong!

This wonderful neighborhood bar in the historic Kenton District of NE Portland is on N. Lombard – about two miles east and slightly north of the University of Portland and one of thebeerchaser’s other favorite venues – The Twilight Room (see review from September 2011)

The visit was prompted by the following:

Its history – operating for 60 + years, named after North Portland icon, John Mock, and previously operated as a meat market and an ice cream parlor.

Classic Furnishings and Ambiance

Identified repeatedly as a “Classic Portland Bar”  – affirmed by the fact that the only “substantive” negative comment in five years of reviews on websites was one guy’s gripe that there were red onions served with his salad.

  • The urging of my friend and former colleague, John      Mansfield – one of the excellent Intellectual Property (patent, trademark, copyright, cyber security, etc.) lawyers at the Schwabe Williamson firm.  John, who is a litigator, had previously used John Batchellor, the co-owner of Mock Crest, as an expert witness on a computer software case with good results.

    Attorney John Mansfield

Mock Crest Tavern has a number of colorful slogans to describe the venue – all of which seemed very accurate:

Home of the North Portland Blues

Easy to Find – Hard to Leave

Where Friends Meet

Laurie, the Director

Some might wonder about the wisdom of hitting a bar with any lawyer, but especially an IP lawyer (people whose Cliff Notes in college were on quantum mechanics rather than “orginating”  ideas for an essay on Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities).  

John is a Renaissance Man, however, having graduated magna cum laude from Cornell Law School, after undergraduate degrees at both Portland State and U of O (in music!).  For example, he played the keyboard in a four-person 80’s funk and rock band named The Core – “one of the least successful bands to come out of Eugene in decades…”  — possible reunion tour on tap?  John has also appeared in many Portland theatrical productions ranging from “Pump Boys & Dinettes” to “Rocky Horror Show”.

Mansfield and “Core” Values in Eugene

Besides, how can one resist drinking with a person who recently authored a stimulating article entitled, “Metadata and Public Records Requests.”

Mock Crest has 8 draft and 14 bottled beers in addition to classic 16 ounce cans of Hamms and Rainier.  We started with a Miller since at Mock Crest “Every Day is Miller Day” and a Miller draft is $1.50 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. (we couldn’t figure out why Miller Lites were $1.75 except for possible paternalism by the owners)

I was watching the Mariners lose 3 to 1 on one of the multiple wide-screen TVs when John then told his first Intellectual Property bar Joke:

A neutron walks into a bar and says, “I’d like a beer.”

The bartender serves him and says, “For you – no charge!”

Free Beer for Neutrons….

The staff at Mock Crest adds to the bar’s charm.  We talked to Laurie, the Director, who has worked there for ten years with the original intention of staying only two months.  She was very helpful, let us see the deck area, which is temporarily close while being extensively reconstructed and told us about the rich history of the pub.

Deck – A Work in Process

Lisa, our waitress, was wonderful and gave us some complimentary jello shots besides being the epitome of good service and courtesy.

For example, she did not get mad when after seeing the caption on the menu, “Breakfast Served – Any Time,”  Mansfield ordered “French Toast from the Renaissance Era.”  I tried to apologize for the endearing practice of lawyers to take things literally.

Would You Believe French Toast??

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Ambiance – It was described by one patron as “just small enough to be cozy, and just big enough to be comfortable.”  Besides the friendly staff, its interior of dark wood and a great bar reflect its history.

There are neat signs with slogans such as “No Sniveling”and they have fried pickles and other gems on the menu – reviews were overwhelmingly favorable on the food.  (We had sandwiches and tator tots which were great..)  They have Texas Hold-em Poker nights every Sunday and Monday nights.

Lisa, John and theBC logo – she even laughed at his jokes….

The Music – there’s live music, described in one review as “quite an eclectic mix” (and no cover charge) on Tuesdays-Sundays .   For example, on May 1st we heard “Eagle Ridin Papas” featuring Johnny Ward.”

Jonnie Ward and Crew and No Cover!

An excerpt from a NW jazz publication stated, “Johnnie Ward is a name we all say often and with much love and respect……..an extraordinary musician, composer, American Folk Artist, and native Portlander….. a ‘living study’ of the Northwest Roots & Blues Movement with nearly 40 years of performance art to his credit…..”

As we listened to Johnnie Ward, Mansfield felt compelled to attempt his final science-laden bar joke:

An atom walks into a bar and says, “I lost an electron.”

The bartender says, “How can you be sure.”

The atom says, “I’m positive.”

Harkening back to my Cliff Notes on Charles Dickens, this led thebeerchaser to conclude that the visit to Mock Crest was, in fact, “the best of times and the worst of times….”  and it also negated the Mock Crest slogan, “Hard to Leave.”

Mock Crest Tavern    3435 N Lombard Street

The Buffalo Gap Saloon

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Due to the inordinate number of establishments in Portland, the Beerchaser’s methodology since the start of the tour, has been to visit one pub or tavern from each letter of the alphabet and then repeat the routine.  There are two reasons I waived that guideline for the Buffalo Gap (the first “B” was the Brooklyn Park Pub)

Since 1974,  a Portland Classic!

  • First, the fact that one of Oregon’s premier appellate lawyers and former KATU Town Hall moderator, Jack Faust, suggested we go to lunch there.

    Our Server, Holly Eldridge and Jack Faust

(Unfortunately, there was no prior disclosure that he was going to wear his Duck sweatshirt.)

  • Secondly, the Buffalo Gap Saloon reeks of history and ambiance offered only by the classic American road house.

Some research confirmed the rich history of this rambling establishment, which was opened in 1974 by the Sutzmans.  It was named for their home town in Custer County, South Dakota.  Buffalo Gap, in the Black Hills, had a population of 100 when they opened their Portland bar, and the town has experienced robust growth — It was 126 in the 2010 census.  A great summary of the origin and history of the Saloon is in the blog of the former owner’s son, Sean Sutzman (“The Monday Report”) .

Distinguishing Characteristics

    • The layout of the building is incredibly quirky.  The original building only housed 25 patrons, but with additions over the years, it now has a bar on each story of the building and can seat up to 200 people.  Upstairs they have small concerts and crowds for various athletic events on the big screen TVs.

There are all kinds of nooks and crannies some of which house booths for patrons and others such as the one in the picture that had video poker games in a space of only about 50 square feet.  The pool room, now called The Annex,  is very large with about five tables and evidently at one time was a law office and purportedly a brothel – probably not at the same time although some might debate that issue.

One of the Game Rooms

  • The Food – If you want a large selection of beers, the Buffalo Gap will disappoint you – the downstairs bar had only five options on tap, but the menu is quite substantial and it is a favorite breakfast spot for many.  For lunch and dinner, the sandwiches, salads, soups and heavier fare are very reasonably priced, tasty and the  portions are ample to say the least.

As we walked in, the classic Eagle tune, “Take it Easy” — originally recorded in 1972 — was playing and it is no stretch that some of the Buffalo Gap regulars were probably listening to it while drinking beer in the ’70’s.  Given the history and the great environment of this Southwest Portland institution, I can see patrons humming Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away” in another forty years — but then again – maybe not and the Eagles great hits will still be echoing through the nooks and crannies of this establishment.

The Buffalo Gap Saloon                 6835 SW Macadam Avenue

Just a “Beer” at Twilight – The T-Room

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Just a “Beer” at Twilight  –

Just a “beer” at Twilight, when the lights are low,
And the flick’ring shadows softly come and go,
Tho’ the heart be weary, sad the day and long,
Still to us at Twilight comes Love’s old song,
comes Love’s old sweet song.

** “Just a Song at Twilight” was originally sung by John mccormack in 1927 and most recently recorded by Celtic Thunder.  Also performed through the years by Garrison Kieillor, Nelson Eddy, The Chordettes, The Four Lads, Artie Shaw, Jo Stafford and others.

I loved the Twilight Room in North Portland, a haunt of University of Portland students and alums for many years.   When I entered, a wave of nostalgia swept over me, with memories of Price’s Tavern and Don’s Den in Corvallis frequented while thebeerchaser attended OSU.  Entering was like stepping back in time and the above song and lyrics came to mind as fitting — substituting my favorite brew for the word “song” in the  title and first line.

“I first stepped through the door of the T-Room on my 21st birthday.  Mom and Dad had driven up on a Saturday….and we sat in one of the wooden booths.  The moment we sat down, a wizened woman with a vodka grin sat down next to my father and put her arms around him and said in a sultry Lauren Bacall voice, ‘ Hey, big fella, where you been all my whole life?’

My mom took a drag on her cigarette and gave her a look that said, “oh for heaven’s sake,’ my dad grinned and I decided then and there that the T-Rooom was the greatest place on earth.”

Both inside and outside were multiple signs proclaiming the 50th anniversary of the Twilight, but Father Hannon’s essay stated that UP kids had been congregating there “for sixty years.”  Fortunately, Joan, one of the owners, who was sitting at the end of the bar clarified.  They’ve owned the T-Room for fifty years and before they bought the bar, it was a tavern named the Green Arrow.

Distinguishing Features —  As stated in previous posts, one of thebeerchaser’s goals is to identify unique or unusual features at each bar:

Deck the Halls at the T-Room

  1. Christmas Lights – From Fr. Hannon’s essay,   “A string of Christmas lights snakes along the top of the walls of the T-Room.  Each light has a small card taped beneath it with someone’s name.  There must be a couple hundred of them.  Some are still lit. Some have gone out.  The person whose name is beneath the last one to flicker out will win a whole lot of money is my guess. 

He continues, “I have no idea how long that string of lights has been there.  But when there are only two lights left, I want to be there with a hundred of my closest friends, singing, laughing, shooting pool, waiting for one light to finally go out.  That will be a night to remember.”      

More Christmas Lights – Still Bright

(Dave the bar-tender opined that each person who “bought” a light contributed $10 and the eventual winner is supposed to donate a large portion of the proceeds to a charity.)           

Signatures on the Ceiling – Fr. Hannon,   “My name is there on the ceiling.  It’ll be there as long as the ceiling lasts.  I wrote it there on a Thursday evening in late April of 1982. 

It was Senior Signing Night and I was there with Lori and Janie and Helen and Mike and Steve and a hundred other seniors.  Each of us climbed a rickety ladder and wrote our names on the ceiling.

“Searching for Fr. Hannon’s “John Henry”

“There are hundreds and hundreds of names there, each one telling a story of friends and classmates, wishes and wounds, of beer and Bluff, of kisses and tears.  Nomines in pulvere.  Names etched in white chalk, ephemeral dust that sticks around forever…..”

The friend who visited the T-Room with me is a savvy Portland business-woman, civic leader and a UP graduate a number of years ago.

She had her own memory.  She smiled and pointed to the entrance and said, “I still remember coming in that door with my fake ID on Thursday nights.”   (the statute of limitations has tolled…) 

Dave the Bartender 

After mingling with the patrons, chatting with Dave the bartender, observing the multiple pool tables, the nice patio, the layout and sampling the free popcorn, I concluded that the Twilight Room is a classic neighborhood pub and not a dive bar.  They also have 22 beers on tap and “fully loaded” Bloody Marys although I didn’t have the courage to ask for the definition of that term.

Father Pat Hannon teaches theology at UP and I’m glad his essay motivated me to visit the Twilight Room.  I have a feeling that he might concur with the quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin in a recent column by George Will:

“‘Beer,’ said Ben Franklin, who knew a thing or two about pleasure, ‘Is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”‘

 And thebeerchaser will conclude this post by saying a resounding, “AMEN!”

The Twilight Room        5242 North Lombard Street