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Holman’s for History

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In a recent post, I used the term “bar revivalists” to describe the Three-on-a-Match Bar Group which totally refurbished the wonderful Holy Ghost Bar after the ignominious 2017 termination of the Pub at the End of the Universe in the same location.

And that group under the leadership of Ezra Ace Caraeff has done an outstanding job resurrecting, if you will, four other Portland dives: The Old Gold, Paydirt, Tough Luck and Hi-Top Tavern.

That said, the Match Group doesn’t match the premier Portland bar revivalists – Warren Boothby and Marcus Archambeault (hereafter B & A), whose efforts have breathed new life into numerous Portland watering holes and which I’ve loved reviewing.

They include the Vern, the Double Barrel, the Sandy Jug, the Bantam Tavern, the Alibi, the Lay Low Tavern, the Elvis Room, Gold Dust Meridian and the infamous Sandy Hut (known to regulars as the “Handy Slut”). You can read Beerchaser reviews on the ones above with the blue links. (Marcus Archambeault confirmed that they no longer operate the Bantam.)

Most of these would be just a memory if it were not for this entrepreneurial pair. The photos below might beckon you and they are all gems. Gold Dust Meridian was a little bland on the exterior, but the artwork, amazing cocktails and outstanding happy hour were a great combination.

Thanks to their foresight and capital the “Slut” celebrated its 100th birthday in August 2023 with a block party including a mechanical bull and purple gorilla. May the taps continue to flow at the Sandy Hut for another 100 years!

Oh the History

Holman’s rich history permeates the expansive quarters and imbues it with great character.  As described in an excerpt from their website and a news article:

“Welcome to Holman’s where good food has been served for more than 80 years. Originally a small lunch counter, legend says that during Prohibition was a bootlegger’s saloon. Then, after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, it became the “Hello Inn”.

“Holman’s was first opened by the family behind the Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard funeral home of the same name way back in 1933.  Oregon Live 4/21/23 (#1)

The Hello Inn

Now if it weren’t for the bar entrepreneurs (B & A) Holman’s might have met the same fate as many other Portland bars and restaurants after it closed when the pandemic hit.

Rather than a permanent closure, however, a refurbished Holman’s reopened on July 31, 2023, after a three-year closure. The establishment even has its own Wikipedia page.

The categories below will tell you why after three visits checking it out, I would suggest Boothby and Archambeault have scored again. 

The Staff

Ordering of both food and drinks at Holman’s is done at the bar, so during rush times, the bartenders can be a bit harried, but my experience at lunch and mid-afternoon echoes this 11/24 Yelp review:

“Fun atmosphere and the staff/service is outstanding. some of the nicest and best bartenders in the whole dang town.”

Both Zoe and Adam, when I presented my blog card and asked them a slew of questions, were friendly and helpful.  

The Story

As I’ve related in numerous posts, I love bars and breweries housed in buildings with a history – previous other uses and expansion from the original space. Part of the charm of this watering hole is the partitioning into different sections – each with its own history and ambiance – from the bar itself to the lunchroom, to the game room, to the patio. 

Bill and Judy Chase, the owners for many years before the transition in 2023, state on the website:

“When we bought Holman’s in the 70’s, seating was limited to less than a dozen people. Through the years we have expanded by adding the North Dining Room (formerly a part of a Rexall Drug Store), the Game Room (formerly a bicycle and lawnmower repair shop), and our Garden Patio (which was converted from an old used appliance graveyard).”

And where else in Portland (or any city) will you see a mural of the Last Supper in the lone bathroom for the bar – with minimal damage from graffiti.

The Museum Effect

A trip to Holman’s is tantamount to a museum visit.  Of course, there is some of the typical dive-bar bric-a-bric which always enhances the environment, but the stuff on the walls at Holman’s transcends that.  I would love (when I had about two days) to quiz the owners on the origin of each piece. 

Take these two examples of great bars which are now gone, but their legacy, preserved in part at Holman’s will continue their place in the legacy of Portland bar annals. First, the Club 21 (formerly owned by B & A) which was housed in a former orthodox church closed on January 15, 2017.

In spite of the name – not a strip club – just a great dive bar.

One can see the historic Club 21 sign in the game room at Holman’s as well as a number of the mounted wildlife trophies and orthodox church icons which grace the walls.  Evidently, some of it is also at the Lay Low Tavern.

I think the old-fashioned pinball machines, now in the game room, as well as picture with the pup eating the clam chowder, may have also emanated from the demise of Club 21.

But two even more dramatic examples came from a wonderful family bar named Sloans Tavern.  Sloan’s closed in December, 2022.

Take a look below at the cab of the Freightliner Truck, once at Sloans, (left photo below) which is now on the south exterior wall at Holman’s along with the sign and the original awning. It may be one of the only such displays in the country.  From the 2015 Beerchaser review:

“The bar was opened by Bob Sloan and his wife, Shirley in 1979.  The Sloans owned and operated a custom auto body and paint shop next door – started in 1954 and still operating – they specialized in Freightliner trucks. 

As evidenced by the amazing pictures in the bar, Bob Sloan also did skilled body and restorative work on classic autos.  When a café next door to the body shop run by an elderly lady closed, they bought the property and opened the bar. (The entire property was originally a creamery that opened in 1926.)

Now at Holman's

And in what was described in 2012 by Willamette Week as:

“….the best juke box in Portland… you can watch a Chicago Coin’s Animatronic Big Band Box go into action while one of your favorite oldies is played.  It’s one of about ten still working in the US and was manufactured in the 1950’s.  As described in the “WW 2008 Bar Guide”

“The true gem of the place is the jukebox—an ancient machine, it’s capped with a glass dome containing a miniature (eight-piece) plastic band (and singer) that moves in time to the music (mostly oldies).”  (2008 Willamette Week Bar Guide)

While it may not still work and be synched with the juke box, the classic animatronic band at least is preserved at Holman’s.

Preserved from the ’50’s

“Both businesses (tavern and auto shop) closed for good Dec. 30 following Sloan’s sale of the property to developers—they plan to build a seven-story apartment building on the land, and (Shirley) Sloan will settle into a well-earned retirement.” Willamette Week 1/3/22

One of the treats of frequenting an historic dive is also the old beer signs and Holman’s does not disappoint.

Old Guys at Home in an Old Bar

A favorite Beerchasing group of mine comprises seven male friends I’ve known for years.  We first connected as a group in 2023 at the Basement Pub and then a year later at the renovated Sandy Jug (formerly a strip club called Pirates’ Cove).

It seemed appropriate to convene at Holman’s even though none of the group was alive and kicking in 1933 although we’re all at least still breathing in 2025.

At Holman’s in mid-January, two of the group (both retired lawyers) were traveling, but we there were still three attorneys in our group in mid-January. One of the group, Dr. Doug Walta is a retired physician.

Wanting to make my late ninth-grade algebra teacher (Don Gribble) proud, I figured the equation was balanced as one physician is the equivalent of three lawyers.

Another repeat attender was Tom Kelly, who serves as a role model for all of us based on his long career as the President of the Neil Kelly Company and his years of service in public and non-profit causes.  Jim Westwood and John Kelly were also there.

A new addition to our group, who I invited after only recently meeting him, was another retired lawyer – Doug Blomgren, who after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School, had a distinguished legal career in the areas of tax, real estate, construction and development and litigation.

For many years in the Midwest and then in Portland, he represented for-profit and non-profit housing developers and housing authorities.  Doug was also immersed for years in the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPS) litigation when he worked for the Department of Justice.

The main requirement for admittance to this group, however, is a robust (and perhaps cynical) sense of humor and you can see from the photo below (he’s on the left), the initial reaction was positive.

The caption for the photo above should be “organ recital.”  That’s because given our collective longevity, the first thirty minutes is spent updating each other on health and anatomical issues.

When I returned to Holman’s, it was for lunch with one of my favorite people (okay, he’s also a lawyer) who’s a former Intellectual Property partner at the Schwabe firm and now works as an Assistant County Counsel for Washington County. 

John Mansfied has Beerchased at numerous public houses ranging from the aforementioned Sandy Hut, to the Slammer, Mock Crest Tavern and the Tabor Tavern (right photo below)

John had a French dip and I had a chicken sandwich.  They were okay, but not the highlight of my visits and a bit spendy. although the free parking in their lot mitigated it. That said, I plan to return for one of their excellent breakfasts.

Holman’s has created a community and has live music every Thursday, its patio is always filled to capacity during the good weather and some holdovers from when the Crane’s owned it such as Bloody Mary Sunday’s, a Whiskey Club and the “Holman’s famous ‘Meal Wheel’ ….After enjoying your meal, just give the wheel a spin and if you match up the two Red Arrows… your food is FREE!”

One issue that seems incongruous given the business acumen of B & A, is why the Holman’s website is out-of-date and has some erroneous information – most notably operating hours – which are noon to 2:30 AM on weekdays and 10 to 2:30 on weekends. It’s posted by their front door, but wrong on the website. Their Facebook page is also not very current.

Given how many I still have to explore, Holman’s is one of the few bars to which I will keep returning – if only to say hello to Adam and Zoe and Adam.  It’s a Portland treasure. (#2)

Cheers

External Photo Attribution

#1. Holman’s Bar and Grill Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=670812105094710&set=a.454208363421753).

#2. Holman’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=718330103676243&set=pb.100064977793901.-2207520000).

January Jammin…….

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Welcome to Thebeerchaser. If you’re seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and so the narrative is not clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1) 

Happy New Year (and) Birthday!

Now I’m not trying to start the year off on a negative tone, but I thought this observation from my file collection reeked with wisdom:

“Denny’s has a slogan, ‘If it’s your birthday, the meal is on us.’ If you’re in Denny’s and it’s your birthday, the chances are excellent that your life sucks!”

Bar Profitability (#2)

I recently read a short article by a guy (probably an Economics major at an SEC school) that stated, “After pouring one shot of liquor, the income from the rest of the bottle is pure profit….”  He should try telling that to one of the hundreds (or thousands) of bar owners who have gone out of business since the pandemic.

To lend credence in refuting this idiot’s assertion, I came across the following which itemizes the actual cost of a martini in five cities.  https://vinepair.com/articles/martini-cost-breakdown/ For context, I mentioned martinis in my last post about the great bar – The Holy Ghost in Portland, Oregon – where we had martinis which cost $14 each.

The article gives the price for the patron at classy bars in five US cities – New York City $20, Charleston $14, Los Angeles $16, Phoenix $15 and Chicago $16. (#3)

More overhead than just the gin and olive!

It then gives an overhead calculation for each city.  To illustrate, let’s just take the operating costs for the Chicago martini at the classy Club Lucky with the price of $16.

Ingredients: $3.23
Labor: $4.64
Mortgage: $0.86
Food: $4.16
Supplies: $0.49
Miscellaneous costs: $0.93
Total Cost: $14.31
Profit: $1.69  (#4)

So, for the guys who slowly nurse their drinks over conversation about the plight of the Chicago Bears, it takes a lot of customers to keep this establishment afloat.

A poignant quote about economists is from John Kenneth Galbraith:

  “Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.” (#5)

But if you want to know about economic viability, I advise that listening to a financial expert rather than some guy who probably played linebacker at the University of Alabama is wise.

College Memories and the King of Cool

Followers of this blog may remember a number of posts where I’ve related fond memories of my SAE fraternity days at Oregon State University.  The bonds established during those four years have continued over more than fifty years (gads, am I that old…?).  

Whether it was learning how to study (which I largely ignored in high school) by having mandatory study tables from 7 to 10 each night as a freshman (unless achieving over a 3.0 GPA), we learned about accountability as a “rook” by getting up each morning at 6:30 AM with members of our class when we cleaned the heads or helped cook breakfast.

We learned to adapt by slumbering in one of four twenty-five bed sleeping porches.  The lessons ingrained were not imparted in classes in Western Civ or Intro to Sociology.

And there were lasting memories such as football games including the incredible upset over the #1 rated USC Trojans led by OJ Simpson in 1967 – the year of the OSU Giant Killers.

We can’t forget concerts by entertainers such as Three-Dog Night, Petula Clark and Lou Rawls, house dances with pre-functions, the Inter-fraternity Sing, intramural championships and the Civil War game.  Comraderie with my fellow NROTC midshipmen and even second-term Calculus (not!) are part of the recollection. (#6 – #7)

I even learned from my room-head when I was a freshman that it was cool to blow your nose in a dirty undershirt (he maintained that no-one would ever know) – a practice I sustained for years until the first time I tried it after getting married.  Janet informed me that if I ever did that again, I would do all the family’s laundry forever.

And these friendships have been sustained throughout the years including some great Beerchasing events, attending football games in Corvallis and sadly, memorial services including the last two years for SAE Brothers Duane “Thumper” Barton and Charlie “Buck” Adams where we serenaded the departed bros with the SAE song.

Now, some might say, “Dirt (that was my college nickname), you are living in the past;” however, I would remind them of Helen Keller’s statement:

“So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.”

Now as an example, take my fraternity brother, Craig (The Dude) Hanneman (a former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, who I first met when he came to the SAE house as a freshman on a football scholarship in 1967.  He was involved in football and I in NROTC and with the normal college schedules, we didn’t get to know each other well until winter term of 1968.

Each class slept on sleeping porches with bunks – and we also had four-person study rooms with a desk and closet for each guy.  There was a bench-couch and table at the end under a window where we put the hi-fi so we could play vinyl tunes.

We were assigned these rooms each term by the House Manager and Hanneman was the youngster in the room and I was one class ahead as a sophomore.  I knew he was a guy (with a rural background) from Turner which I originally thought was a truck-stop somewhere in Eastern Oregon or Idaho.

My 33LPs were of popular groups like the Four Seasons, the Mamas and Papas and The Temptations.  I assumed Craig would favor country-western icons like George Jones or Merle Haggard, but on the first days I came back from class, he was playing Dean Martin.

When I questioned him, he pointed out that Dino was known as “The King of Cool” and maintained that I too would learn to love him.  Well, that didn’t prove to be the case, except for one song, which I played over and over while we both sang along – Thirty More Miles to San Diego…(#8)

The King of Cool

I subsequently learned that the song was track 10 on the album “Happiness is Dean Martin” – a title that didn’t comport with my perceptions.  That said, I also liked the song “Open Up the Door – Let the Good Times In” which we adopted as our motto in Room 2 although it had a negative impact on our GPAs.

I also pointed out to Craig that thirty miles north of San Diego – besides being the location of Legoland – was a drive of 16 hours or 989 miles from Corvallis, so the likelihood of us having a beer there rather than Price’s Tavern in downtown Corvallis was minimal.

While his taste in music was questionable, I immediately learned that the Hanneman’s sense of humor was robust.  As I mentioned above, freshman (rooks) at the house could garner demerits from the House Manager for missing or showing up to morning work or study tables late. 

Upper classmen told us that these demerits would be recorded on our college transcripts and could keep us from getting a job or into grad school and eventually heaven.

I still have in my files, the most cherished demerit from those years that was authored by Craig Hanneman during an all-house work party to get the house in shape for homecoming weekend.  It speaks for itself.   

Joel McDonald, the House Manager, was a wonderful guy and after college became a minister.  We were glad to know that this demerit didn’t keep him for gaining admission to seminary…..

None of us knew at that time that Dude would go on to become an All-American defensive tackle and then play for the NFL – first with the Pittsburgh Steeler’s including the playoff game with the Immaculate Reception – which has a Craig Hanneman element in itself https://www.steelers.com/news/a-mistake-that-turned-out-to-be-immaculate

Or upon retirement from the NFL because of injury, own and manage a 200-acre farm and forest operation for seven years before being elected County Commissioner of Polk County, Oregon in 1985.

He followed with a career as a corporate executive at Willamette Industries, Weyerhaeuser and at the Oregon Foresty Industry Council for a combined twenty-two years. Now, I will probably be admonished for the preceding by my old friend because he’s very modest and tries to avoid accolades, but he was also a great family man.

And while his career achievements are admirable, what endears him to his friends is his sense of adventure and expanding his horizons – that and his loyalty to friends.  Dude and his football teammates ran with the bulls in Pamplona (picture below) has ridden his Harley thousands of miles on road trips on multiple continents and rafted serious rivers.

Oh yeah, there was also his summit of Mount Everest in 2012 – one of the Seven Summits which he completed in 2019.  In fact, he is one of the few members of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame to be inducted for two sports – football and mountain climbing.

I stay in touch with Dude and we have periodic Beerchasings – with the SAEs including the one below from the Gemini pub in Lake Oswego.  

And, of course, Dino and our favorite song comes up.  For example, this e-mail after I congratulated him on the Mount Everest climb:

“Okay, I’ll admit it, all those late-night sessions playing “flinchies” (that’s another story…..) really hardened me up to climb Everest!   And to prove some things never change, you’ll be pleased to know I had plenty of Dean Martin tunes on my iPod Nano to help drown out the noisy wind at night.”        

Flash Forward

On the afternoon of October 31, 2024, I was trying to figure out how to surreptitiously transfer to my desk drawer, some of the Snickers candy bars we had for youngsters coming to our house on Halloween.

While I was in my office trying to keep Janet from seeing my clandestine depletion of what I thought was detrimental to youngsters’ dental health, a text popped up on my phone with the following two photos:

I was aware from an e-mail two days before from Dude telling me that he was departing on an adventure that would take him through Southern California and stating:

“Dirt, I’m driving through San Diego tomorrow night….and leaving tugged a tad at my heart thinking of the good memories of our time in Room 2 listening to Dean Martin and only thirty miles to go.  If I see a road sign that says SD thirty miles, trust me, I’m taking a picture.”

Well, the picture on the above left is not of a road sign, but of Craig’s GPS, which caused him to bring up the golden oldie on the right.  Go figure!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=sjrVIU1u1LU

With my elevated mood, I was much more generous with the candy that night than usual.

Cheers and Happy New Year (#9)

External Photo Attribution

#1. Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Birthday_cake.jpg)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.  Author: Fir0002.

#2.Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bright-Field_Lighting.jpg) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  Author: Kyle May – 17 November 2007.

#3. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dry_Martini-2.jpg) This work has been released into the public domain by its author. This applies worldwide. Author: Dry_Martini.jpg: Original uploader was Hayford Peirce at en.wikipedia. 8 September 2009.

#4.  USARestuarants.info     (https://cdn.usarestaurants.info/assets/uploads/c9924fee793df3d25760cdeea8a7102c_-united-states-illinois-cook-county-chicago-691299-club-luckyhtm.jpg)

#5. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dollar_sign_capitalism_logo.svg)  This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Author: OwcaGierka – 13 November 2022.

#6. Albany Democrat Herald (https://democratherald.com/news/local/anniversary-of-the-giant-killers-famed-osu-team-beat-usc/article_b8be0757-0fcb-5091-a984-72075eb7d5ca.html)

#7.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Memorial_Union_at_Oregon_State_University.jpg) I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. Author: user:Owen – May 2005.

#8. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dean_Martin_-_publicity.JPG)  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1930 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. Source: Original studio publicity photo of Dean Martin for the film Bells Are Ringing (1960).

#9. Image courtesy of Pam Williams.

The Holy Ghost Bar – A Spiritual Progression

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Welcome to Thebeerchaser. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and so the narrative is not clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1 – #2)

I’ve been to a slew of bars and breweries in fourteen years of Beerchasing in which the establishment had a previous life – something distinctly different from a watering hole.

These have included automotive shops and garages, drycleaners and laundromats, printing shops and even lawyer offices and houses of ill repute (in one case, reportedly in the same quarters…)  In many cases, the bar or brewery was initially another drinking establishment that went out of business or changed ownership.

Such is the case of The Holy Ghost – opened in November 2022 in Southeast Portland at the busy intersection of 28th and Gladstone.  For decades, it was a funky dive bar – Pub at the End of the Universe – operated by the McCormick family – notable Portland restauranters. It closed in 2017.

“(The developer) has been researching the building and says it seems to have been built in the 1920s or earlier and played home to four or so tenants over the years. It was once a pharmacy with a tavern alongside, and before it was named Pub at the End of the Universe…”  Portland Eater 12/15/17 (#3)

“A haven for all vibration”

“Pub at the End of the Universe has been established for over 30 years by the McCormick family. A haven for all vibration that liked to chill out and be treated like family. The Pub has a unique atmosphere with multi levels and full bar, pool and darts.

The music scene dates back to late 80’s with rock and roll and metal bands opening up the ears and eyes of the Pub….We were creating a place where folks can get together and be creative with the Universe.”  Reverbnation.com

Why the Holy Ghost?

In 2024, I had two informal gatherings with colleagues involved with the Abbey Foundation of Oregon (I serve as VP of the Board).  I was looking for a new Beerchasing venue and thought a religious theme would be appropriate.  

Having already been to the wonderful Church Bar in 2013, I ruled that one out – maybe a good choice because in November, a patron was stabbed to death in the bar (The Oregonian.) https://thebeerchaser.com/2013/12/11/church-eat-drink-pray-repent/so

I also thought that the venerable Bar of the Gods – one of the first bars I visited early in 2012 – only six months after I started this hobby – would be inappropriate so I narrowed it down. (Notice the prices on the BOG menu….)

The Bible Club and The Holy Ghost both get great reviews and had convenient locations, but the latter got the edge because of its martinis.  I met my former law firm colleague, Margaret Hoffman there and it was a good choice. 

Marget is now retired and besides being honored in her profession as a top product liability litigator (Oregon Super Lawyer and named as one of the Best Lawyers in America), Margaret is an outstanding human being.  She is also skilled at fly fishing and in her “spare time” spends additional court-time playing pickle-ball and traveling the world.

The Holy Ghost has a bright and attractive interior that has been totally refurbished since the Pub at the End of the Universe days.  The only reference to elements of the trinity in the former were vodka, wine and beer. 

Sid Chi, the friendly Bar Manager, since it opened in 2022, said the bar was named “after some song the owners liked.” Subsequent research revealed that it emanated from The Bar- Kays:

“The Bar-Kays is an American funk band formed in 1964. The band had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including ‘Soul Finger’ (US Billboard Hot 100 number 17, R&B number 3) in 1967, ‘Son of Shaft’ (R&B number 10) in 1972, and ‘Boogie Body Land’ (R&B number 7) in 1980.”  (Wikipedia) (#4)

The_Bar-Kays_1968_press_photo

(In 1978, they had a hit single “The Holy Ghost” that rose to #9 on the US Rhythm and Blue Chart.)

“Your love is like the Holy Ghostshakin’ all in my bonesI never felt such a feelin’In all the days I been round, yeahWhenever I feel the pressure(Jah!) I can’t seem to hypnotize my mind(Well!) Your love is like the Holy GhostAnd I feel like I’ve been born a second time.”  (Genius.com)

Margaret and I are both martini drinkers (me with gin and her with vodka) so we didn’t take advantage of their extensive cocktail/mocktail selection which draws rave reviews.  And the Holy Ghost Gin Fizz may be worth returning:

“We’re really into the idea of the gin fizz. It’s a great drink but no one wants to make it because it takes so long to shake,” Caraeff says, describing the five-minute shaking process it takes to mix a proper version of the New Orleans classic.

So, the team purchased a number of bubble tea shaking machines to do the work for them. It still takes a solid five minutes to make, a fact that is outlined on the menu, but that’s just part of the charm.”  (Portland Eater)

Cocktail “Heaven”

But the gin fizz is not the only innovative concoction as evidenced by this excerpt from Wikipedia:

“Among cocktails on the mezcal and tequila-focused drink menu is a ranch water with infused tequila, a mezcal old fashioned with Cazadores Reposado, and an Altos Plata Aperol spritz. Holy Ghost also serves a drink with bubblegum-infused vodka.

The bar has a 400-bottle agave collection and also serves beer, wine (including sparkling varieties), and low-ABV and non-alcoholic drinks made with drinking vinegars, Seedlip, and syrups. One mocktail has gin, ginger, hibiscus, and raspberry, and another is a whiskey chai.”

Quite often in these posts, I go into a detailed description of the bar, but in this case the photos below convey it better than a narrative.  Evidently, the total refurbishing of the bar was done through a collaboration between Three-on-a-Match Bar Group and Guerilla Development Co. both of which are very innovative firms. 

A principal in the Match Group is Ezra Ace Caraeff – a well-known figure in Portland and former Music Editor for the Portland Mercury.

I always try to visit an establishment twice before doing my review and in November, I returned – again with Abbey Foundation Board members, John Meek, John Limb and Gene Dieringer.

Both Meek and Limb are recent Board Presidents and we affectionately refer to them as First and Second John, although I avoided my inclination of an initial toast of:

“In the beginning was the Word…..”

While the Holy Ghost doesn’t serve food, it shares part of the building with The Electric – a pizzeria and 28 Tigers – a dumpling and noodle shop. There is a nice patio with a fire pit that is very popular with patrons and the social media reviews of the offerings are quite positive.

There’s good street parking available and the only real complaint is that the acoustics aren’t great and carrying a conversation can be a problem, although we didn’t experience that. It’s also sometimes challenging to find a seat.

Portland is fortunate to have the Three on a Match Bar Group which appears to have the same mission as Portland entrepreneurs and “bar revivalists” Marcus Archambeault and Warren Boothby.

The other Three on a Match bars are 

The Old Gold
 

Paydirt

Tough Luck

Hi-Top Tavern

Stay tuned for a review of the Hi-Top which I visited late in 2024 and is another quality Portland neighborhood bar.

Another good Portland watering hole

Cheers and Happy New Year

External Photo Attribution

#1. – #2. Holy Ghost Bar Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/holyghostbar/photos).

#3.  Pub at the End of the Universe Facebook Page (PUB at the END of the Universe | Portland, OR | Shows, Schedules, and Directions | ReverbNation).

#4.  Public Domain – Wikipedia Commons (File:The Bar-Kays 1968 press photo.jpg – Wikimedia Commons).  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1929 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. Author: Distributed by Stax Records. The Bar-Kays in a press photo from the late 1960s.  – 1968.

Hail to the Ale (and Cider House)

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Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and so the narrative is not clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1 – #2)

West Linn is a suburb of Portland, Oregon – about twelve miles south – a wonderful community as I related in my last blog post – “Thanksgiving Thoughts.”  We’ve lived here for the last forty-two years.

With a population of 28,000, it’s an ideal place to reside. I’d never have believed that when I played sports at Oregon City High School in the mid-60’s, that West Linn (our arch cross-town rival) would become my home for most of my life.

In fact, as reported in Oregon Live, the rivalry has a rich history

“The (West Linn) Lions and (Oregon City) Pioneers will try to win the ‘Battle for the Bridge,’ a rivalry that started in 1921. The game is billed as the longest continuously played high school football rivalry west of the Mississippi River.” 

“With an all-time series deadlocked at 50-50-1 after 101 historic meetings, anticipation is at fever pitch. ”  (Greatamericanrivalry.com) November 2024

(Last year West Linn won 52 to 13 and in 2024, it was a 63 to 0 shellacking in 2024.)

Some high school seniors used to walk across the arch on the historic bridge on the day of the game. (Perhaps some of the Pioneer footballers are now tempted to jump……#3)

The Oregon City Bridge, also known as the Arch Bridge, over the Willamette River.

Now, when I was in high school, the two schools were fairly evenly matched.  The highlight for me came in my senior year at OCHS.  When our basketball team played West Linn at home, we were leading the TYV League, but West Linn had a very good team.   

As we took the court for warm-ups in our cracker-box gym, the Pioneer’s five-person Pep Band, perched on a precarious platform off the balcony, blared out “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (No.1 by The Tokens in 1961).  The crowd went wild.  

We went on to soundly beat the Lions and won the 1966 League Championship – the first time in twenty-one years and went on to the State Tournament. In the last ten years, however, West Linn has become an Oregon sports powerhouse. 

Take a look at their record of Oregon State Championships.

  • Baseball: 1978, 1982, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Boys Basketball: 1997 (4A), 1997 (3A), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Boys Swimming; 1948
  • Boys Track and Field: 1996, 1997, 1998
  • Boys Tennis: 2003, 2004, 2023
  • Choir: 2019, 2022
  • Dance/Drill: 1989, 1991
  • Football: 2016, 2022, 2024
  • Girls Golf: 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016
  • Girls Swimming: 1950, 1951
  • Volleyball: 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2021
  • Wrestling: 2023

Those who follow professional sports will recognize the names of these WLHS Alums all within the last ten years:

Payton Pritchard (Celtics – NBA), Alex Forsyth (Denver Broncos – NFL), Jayden Grant (Las Vegas Raiders – NFL) and  Elijah Molden (LA Chargers – NFL) – all WLHS alums – Clockwise below: – Pritchard, Forsyth, Grant and Molden. (#4 – #7)

But I Digress…

While most of the bars and breweries I’ve reviewed are in Portland or throughout Oregon, I have a few West Linn favorites including the Salty Rhino and the Nineteen 33 Taproom.

I revisited an establishment just last week, however, in the heart of the historic district of Willamette which merged with the City of West Linn in 1923. 

I made my first trip to the Ale and Cider House in 2018 and returned on a recent Saturday night to hear our friend of many years, Charlie Rose, and his group, Parkwood play some great tunes. (more about Charlie below)

As described in the City of West Linn’s website:

“This district stands out due to its exceptional collection of Victorian and early-twentieth-century American architectural styles, which have remained largely intact. Its period of significance extends from 1895, when the first residences were erected, to 1929 when construction activity declined significantly, mainly attributed to the onset of the Great Depression and a dwindling supply of available building lots.” (#8 – #9)

The establishment opened in early 2018.  As stated in their website:

“The Ale and Cider House (A&CH) blends the charm of a traditional English-style public house with modern amenities. Originally established in 1915, the building underwent a complete rebuild and remodeling in 2018.

The warm and inviting atmosphere of A&CH….makes it the perfect backdrop for creating nostalgic memories with your loved ones.”

And it has an appealing ambiance with a number of nooks and crannies, a great long bar and a small area for bands and entertainers. Behind the taproom is an event center and also an expansive beer garden – the entire operation is 16,500 square feet.  It’s an amazing part of this community.

They have a robust selection of beers, ciders and wine Their website states:

“Our e-commerce platform allows for our customers to order bottles from our International bottle shop and 32 oz crowlers or 32/64 oz growlers from our 42 taps of craft beer and cider to-go.“

An expansive selection of drafts

Enhancing this establishment is the fact that it is a local family-owned business (7Bev Corp). I talked to General Manager Toney Chay, son of his co-parent owners (Ann and JC) and they’ve thrived since inception in 2015 with exciting plans for the future:

“7Bev is a vertically integrated beverage company engaged in real estate development, farming, production, and self-distributed sales and marketing of alcoholic beverages.”  (#10 – #12)

The Chay family supports the West Linn and surrounding communities and the Ale and Cider House has become a local hub and gathering place. The A&CH doesn’t brew its own beer (although that’s planned in the next year) but their flagship brew is Queen Orchard Base Brut French Dry Cider.

“….with a light, refreshing taste that’s perfect for solo sipping or creating delicious cocktails. Its delicate flavor, reminiscent of Brut Champagne, makes it ideal for any occasion – from special celebrations to casual gatherings.” (#13)

Events

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With their spacious facilities, they can host both large and small groups and enthusiastically support non-profit groups.  The reviews are great as evidenced by these two from Yelp on 6/11/24 and 1/21/23 respectively:

“The team at the A+CH helped us organize and execute a truly special night for our 2024 WLHS graduates. They talked us through food and beverage options and were so easy to work with! We had approximately 200 people celebrating- we had music and games and everyone loved the fun casual atmosphere. The location is truly special with a beautiful outdoor area and minors are welcome.”

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“I found this gem of a place in West Linn. Wow, what a great place to hold a company party, a family gathering or other events. This is a fantastic venue for any party!

Food

Rotating food trucks are adjacent with NW local vendors including Bellagio’s Pizza, Kelly’s Tacos and Cousins Maine Lobster.

Entertainment

The A&CH has live entertainment on most Fridays through Sundays ranging from rock, jazz, R & B, country western and folk music.  Every Thursday is an Open-Mic night.

We loved listening to Charlie Rose and Tim Walker’s group Parkwood on a Saturday night.  Their rendition of “Into the Mystic” was the best I’ve heard other than Van Morrison himself.  Their tunes range from Chicago to the Eagles and even the Judds.  Great sounds and they return on December 20th. (#14 – #16)

With the Melnichuks in 1980

A Rose is a Rose…

Now this is not only a blog about bars and breweries, but also about people – interesting and talented ones and that’s why I’m finishing with a profile of Charles Rose II. 

I can make the case that Charlie is a Northwest version of the Renaissance Man although he doesn’t paint and have as full a beard as Leonardo Di Vinci.

He studied Mechanical Engineering at Portland State University and worked for PacifiCorp for four years before opening his own firm – Rose Technical Graphics where he and his team have produced computer-aided design services (two and three-dimensional technical graphics) for thirty-eight years. (#17)

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Design services since 1987

Charlie was a high school athlete, and besides his musical talent, is the type of guy who can build and fix anything from woodwork to video technology.  For many years, while his sons attended West Linn High School, Charlie filmed and edited the WLHS football games video for post-game analysis by the coaches.

But where I most saw Charlie shine was in the outdoors – years of Father/Daughter backpack trips.  Mr. Rose always shouldered the heaviest pack because he carried all the maps as well as the tools to accommodate and dispose of our waste needs environmentally in the National Forests where we adventured.

One of the most memorable treks was our 1997 climb of the South Sister – at 10,358 feet, Oregon’s third highest peak.  The daughters and their dads camped at Green Lakes, before reaching the summit the next day and walking five miles out to our cars by flashlight that night.

I still have memories of the rich, dark coffee that Charlie brewed for us that evening at Green Lakes – also lying awake in the tent we shared until 2:30 AM because of the resultant caffeine high.

These annual hikes had a lasting impact both on the fathers and daughters.

In closing, I might add that those remarkable girls – all WLHS graduates and now in their late thirties – continued their ascents – academically and professionally: 

Their careers include an athletic trainer, a pediatric emergency department nurse, a teacher including a stint in Teach for America, a speech therapist who opened her own clinic, a surgeon and a marketing professional who formed and eventually sold her nutrition-focused company.

One month ago, they held their 20th WLHS reunion where they and their classmates enjoyed the festivities at the Ale and Cider House event center.  Go figure!  (#18)

External Photo Attribution 

#1. -#2. Facebook Page Willamette Cider and Ale House (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=761397615314774&set=a.761397571981445).

#3.  Oregon City High School Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/oregoncityhighschool/posts/the-104th-football-game-oc-vs-west-linnfriday-november-1-at-700pmpioneer-memoria/1147621267371819/)

#4.  Wikimedia Commons (Payton Pritchard Celtics – Payton Pritchard – Wikipedia)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  Author:  Erik Drost – 15 November 2021.

#5.   Public Domain – Wikipedia Commons (File:Alex Forsyth.webp – Wikimedia Commons) This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties.  Author: Petty Officer 2nd Class Joel Mundo – 26 December 2022.

#6.  BeaversEdge.com (Oregon State DB Jaydon Grant Announces His Return For 2022 – BeaversEdge: Oregon State Beavers Football & Basketball Recruiting).   Author: Brenden Slaughter – 2 January 2022.

#7.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Elijah Molden 2021 09-19.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Author: Chipermc – 19 September 2021.

#8. # Historic Willamette.com (Historic Willamette Main Street).

#9. Facebook Page Historic Willamette (https://www.facebook.com/HistoricWillamette).

#10.  Queen Orchard Cider Website (https://www.queenorchard.com/).

11. Ale and Cider House Website (https://www.aleandcider.com/making-of-ach.html).

#12.  7Bev Website (https://www.7bev.com/about.html).

#13.  Ale and Cider House Website (https://www.aleandcider.com/event-venue.html).

#14. Facebook Page Ale and Cider House (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1299189848202212&set=pb.100043336284735.-2207520000&type=3).

#15.  Linked in ((13) Charlie Rose | LinkedIn)

#16.  Courtesy of Charlie Rose

#17.  Crunchbase.com (Rose Technical Graphics).

#18.  Ale and Cider House Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/aleandciderhouse/photos/pb.100043336284735.-2207520000/2205293556449079/?type=3).

Thanksgiving Thoughts

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From the Benedictine Brewery

Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and so the narrative is not clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1)

What a year it’s been, and the post below is an amalgamation of a bunch of random thoughts and clips I’ve collected.  Although a time of upheaval, we have much about which to be thankful. 

As the photo (above right) suggests, why not raise a mug of my favorite Benedictine Brewery beer – Hairshirt IPA.  Perhaps it can also help allay your guilt while you enjoy a great beer.

Here’s to Our First Responders and Health Care Professionals

I’m extremely thankful for both first responders and health care professionals – not only at this time of year, but every day.  I admit a bias, because both of our daughters are registered nurses (Lisa – radiation/oncology clinic and Laura – hospital pediatric emergency department) and I am proud and amazed at their dedication and expertise. 

I could go on, but these two photos (both from the archives) express it more aptly:

Oregon Health Sciences University is a large organization and gets a lot of bad press, but the patient care we have gotten there from every provider and all staff has been outstanding. 

Dr. Laura Byerley, our primary care physician in the Department of Internal Medicine, who is also an assistant professor at the Medical School is the most notable example.  She is an outstanding doctor and we are grateful for her. (#2 – #4)

The City of West Linn is a suburb twelve miles south of Portland, where we’ve made our home for the last forty-two years.  With a population of 28,000, it’s an ideal place to reside. 

The City Government is effective and services including the Police Department are excellent. It’s across the Willamette River from historic Oregon City, where I lived from the time I moved to Oregon in 1959 and graduated from high school. (#5 – #7)

I met Janet, my wife of forty-four years, at an Oregon City Planning Commission meeting in 1979 and she subsequently became the Assistant City Manager of West Linn, before working in the private sector. 

I’d been impressed with the West Linn Police Department and after we both retired, I decided to try to support them and find out a little bit more. So in 2022, I took advantage of the program entitled “Meet the Chief” and had a wonderful chat with him over coffee.

Chief Peter Mahuna is a native of Maui and a former college athlete (basketball) at Pacific University where he graduated with a BS in Social Work.  He has extensive law enforcement credentials and has been Chief since November 2021. (#8 – #9)

wlpd_photo_102024

I’d always wanted to schedule a “Ride-along” with a police officer and based on the positive experience with the Chief signed up in the winter of 2023:

“(The goal is to) provide an opportunity for the community to see first-hand, the day-to-day workings of law enforcement, including familiarizing the public with the complex and unpredictable nature of police work.”

I rode along with Officer Matthew Goode on a Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.  He introduced himself and gave me a tour of the Police Station which is a nice facility.  During that period, we only encountered traffic violations, but I had a chance to have a great conversation.

Officer Goode earned a BS in Finance and then graduated from the Oregon Police Academy before becoming a WLPD officer in 2019.  Chief Mahuna is a big man, but Matthew is  significantly taller as you can see from the photos. 

He’s a fine representative of the Police Dept. and loves his job although he was candid about the frustrations and challenges in serving, given perceptions of the police by many citizens.

For example, our last stop occurred after we followed a car for about a mile that was weaving and crossing the yellow line in a sparsely populated area of the City.  It certainly appeared as if the driver was intoxicated. 

When he could safely pull the car over, it was in the driveway of the owner.  Rather than being intoxicated, the young woman, aged 16, had just obtained her driver’s license and had not driven at night previously.

Mathew cautioned her and didn’t issue a citation, but the girl’s young neighbor came out of her house and chastised him for making the stop in the driveway with his red-lights flashing – go figure! 

He also told me that for every encounter or call, they have to enter in the car’s computer, the gender, race and age of the person stopped which goes to the State of Oregon.   Each department’s statistics are analyzed to determine if there is a preponderance of race from the people stopped.

I was impressed with Officer Goode and it did not surprise me last week to see that he and a fellow West Linn officer received lifesaving awards for separate incidents. Goode, in response to a call on Sept. 11 helped save the life of an unconscious 2-year-old who had stopped breathing.  Chief Mahuna stated:

“You immediately began administering CPR, checked the child’s pulse and began chest compressions. TVF&R arrived and you continued chest compressions working alongside TVF&R in your attempt at saving this child’s life.

After many minutes the child began breathing again. The child was then rushed to the hospital and the following day the child’s vital signs had finally been stabilized.” (#10)

Officers receive award

Life in West Linn

West Linn is an upscale community and has a lower crime rate than many cities. Recent statistics from one data source based on 11/23 figures show:

  • There were 310 total crimes committed in West Linn the last reporting year.
  • On a rate basis, there were 1,154.9 total crimes per 100K people in West Linn.
  • The overall crime rate in West Linn is -50.31% below the national average.
  • West Linn ranks #11 safest out of 103 cities in Oregon.
  • West Linn ranks #4,253 safest out of 9,869 cities in the United States.

I assume that one frustration for officers is the volume of mundane and frivolous calls to which they have to respond.  The West Linn Tidings reports these each week and I’ve been saving some of the best which are somewhat humorous. 

That said, I’m well aware that a police officer never knows when a routine call might be hazardous or involve saving a life. As unbelievable as it sounds, none of these are made up. Heres’ some from the last several years.

10/13/ – 4:55 pm – A woman said a man was sitting outside a church and followed her, so she had to run inside and lock the door.  Police contacted the man who was a volunteer at the church and had arrived a bit early for an event that evening. (#11)

Bank security issues?

6/13/ – 4:22 pm – A caller expressed concern about a bank on Hood Street closing early.

4/10 – 9:54 am – An employee of a bank on Salamo Road called police because of suspicious circumstances.  An occupied vehicle had been in the parking lot outside the bank for a half-hour and another vehicle showed up fifteen minutes later. An officer contacted the vehicles’ occupants who were just waiting for the bank to open. (#12 – #13)

Musical Instruments

7/11/ – 5:44 pm – Police received a complaint about people playing bagpipes on Willamette Drive.

8/4 – 2:41 pm – A woman complained about a husband and wife playing the accordion on Hood Street.

Children and Young People (#14 – #16)

7/25 – 2:04 pm – A missing child was found in a garage.  Apparently he hid there after he was scared by a shadow in the backyard.

3/15 – 12:09 am – Girls buying two cases of toilet paper at Walmart claimed it was for a “school project.”

8/7 – 8:12 pm – A caller said a staff member at an undisclosed location grabbed a child’s tongue and yanked it.

1/28 – 11:48 am – Police received a call about a sixteen year-old who was expressing sexual frustration about his mother during therapy.

But the most bizarre incident has to be demonstrated with the headline from the West Linn Tidings and the news clip.

And just so you don’t think my former residence and crosstown high school rival isn’t squeaky clean, I leave you with this one from the City of Oregon City Police Log:

6/18 – An unconfirmed report of marijuana plants growing in the Senior Citizens’ Gardens remains a mystery. (#17)

The above incidents were culled from hundreds contained in the clippings I’ve saved and I have many more which I may post in the future.  My wife will at least be thankful that I’m finally recycling these!

Happy Thanksgiving!

External Photo Attribution

 #1.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:2010.08.22.150922 Umzug Bierfass Kirwa Sulzbach-Rosenberg.jpg – Wikimedia Commons)  I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide.   Author:  Hermann Luyken – 22 August 2010.

#2.  OHSU Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=651984720287167&set=a.352160336936275).

#3.  OHSU Website (Laura K. Byerly MD | Health care provider | OHSU).

#4.   Wikimedia Commons (File:Oregon Heath and Science University, Marquam Hill, Portland – DPLA – 6e01f529e825c50a836d4955c257acca.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by Oregon State Archives as part of a cooperation project.  Source: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives – 31 October 2019.

#5.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Willamette Falls, Willamette River, Oregon City and West Linn – DPLA – 0649218212d8dc8ee462ef1911a3b29c.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.  Source: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives – 15 March 2021.

#6.  Wikipedia (File:WL flag.jpg – 

#7. Wikimedia Commons (File:Oregon City Bridge, Arch Bridge, Willamette River, Oregon City, West Linn – DPLA – b22b1b5705bedfad1bdb35b488a24655.jpg – Wikimedia Commons)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Source: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives – 20 March 2019.

#8.   City of West Linn Website (Police Home | City of West Linn Oregon Official Website).

#9 – #10.  City of West Linn Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/@WestLinnPD/).

#11. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Chase Bank branch in Palatine, IL.jpg – Wikimedia Commons).   Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Mysterymanblue / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain.

#12.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Gaita seivane brocada.JPG – Wikimedia Commons) I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. Author: Susana Seivane.

#13. Wikimedia Commons (File:Scandalli Extreme Diva 1.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.   Author:
Zygmusc – 3 December 2022.

#14.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Shadow 2 – panoramio.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.  Author:  marco mini – 15 April 2007.

#15.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Toiletpapier (Gobran111).jpg – Wikimedia Commons) L licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license.  Author:  Brandon Blinkenberg – 9 September 2004.

#16. Wikimedia Commons (File:زبان tongue.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.   Author: Mahdiabbasinv – 12 March 2016.

#17. Wikimedia Commons (File:Cannabis sativa (marijuana plants) (Manhattan, Kansas, USA) 14 (48971448801).jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  Author:  James St. John – 18 July 2015.

Author Warren Easley – Beerchaser Notable – Part II

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Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please click on the title to bring up the post so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1)

In my first post about this interesting Northwest author – he just published his tenth mystery novel in the Cal Claxton series, entitled Deadly Redemption – you learned about his educational background, culminating with a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Cal Berkley. 

His goal was to be a university professor, but there were no jobs, so two years of post-doctoral work in chemistry followed at the University of Florida.

Below, you’ll learn about his dual career as a research scientist and international business executive and his writing journey started in 2002 with short stories and then publication of his first novel Matters of Doubt in 2013.  

On a business trip for DuPont where he worked for thirty years starting in 1969, he fortuitously left the book Heaven’s Prisoners by his favorite author, James Lee Burke, in his motel room.  On the long non-stop flight home from Atlanta, he had nothing to do and arrived at his destination with twenty-three pages of what eventually became his fifth book – Blood for Wine in 2017.  (“I laid it aside and came back to it after I knew what I was doing.”)

Cal Claxton Books 2024

I was first drawn to Warren’s books after reading a 2023 Willamette Week review by my friend, Richard Meeker, the former publisher of the paper.  Easley’s five novels I’ve read to date have lived up to this description:

“The Cal Claxton mysteries are well plotted with believable, multidimensional characters. They are so good and compelling I plowed through all nine in the past three or four months, in the order in which they were written.” (#2)

And if one reads multiple other reviews, the above praise is not colored by the reviewer’s parochial Pacific Northwest bias.  Take this one from Publishers Weekly on No Way to Die:

“In Easley’s satisfying seventh mystery featuring genial Oregon attorney Cal Claxton, he creates authentic characters and relationships, and his eloquent descriptions of the Oregon wilderness are sublime. This well-plotted, character-driven series just keeps getting better.” (#3)

“Well Plotted” – Publishers’ Weekly

Deadly Redemption (#4)

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Now before telling you more about his fascinating background, let me give you the scoop on his latest book. In a recent telephone chat, Warren described it as “kind of a miracle book.”  

“We were moving after 28 years, so it came in short bursts – five to ten pages at a time and by the end of August, I got the ending – always a challenge for me.  I wrote furiously for four days and didn’t show any of it to Marge, my primary editor, until the first draft was done.”

I’m pretty excited about the positive feedback and sales have been brisk.” (#5)

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Warren and wife, Marge – his primary editor

He was leaving the next day after our conversation for a book tour in California.  I asked him about his typical writing schedule for his books which average about 90,000 words.  (It made me glad that I write blog posts and not novels – mine average about 2,500 words):

“It’s not real regimented – usually first thing in the morning for a couple of hours then 9:30 or 10:00 PM until midnight.  My goal is five to ten pages every other day.”

He described Deadly Redemption as a

“….capstone, – Cal Claxton returns to LA after 13 years in Oregon to right a miscarriage of justice – I may decide to launch another series at this juncture.”

By the way, I asked about the origin of his protagonist’s name:

“Claxton was my mother’s maiden name and I thought Calvin was just kind of a ‘clunky’ moniker!  And I wanted Cal to be a lawyer, not a private investigator.”

Beerchasing Expeditions

In 2023, I reached out to Warren by e-mail and told him about my blog and my thirty+ year background in the world of law and invited him to have a beer so I could interview him.

We raised our first mug at the Aurora Colony Pub – in the historic burg of Aurora – about twenty-five miles south of Portland, where Warren and his wife, Marge now live. (#6)

We had a great chat and discussed the setting of most of his novels – in beautiful Oregon Wine Country – above the City of Dundee – where Cal Claxton has his residence and law office in an historic home.

Cal resides there with his loyal pup, Archie, which coincidentally happens to be the same name and breed (Australian Shepherd) as Warren’s own pooch who will be four in January.  (Next time we go Beerchasing, I will pick a place that is dog-friendly so Archie can join us.) (#7 – #8)

Warren and Archie

Since Dundee is the home of one of my favorite dive bars – one that prompted me to start this hobby in 2011 – I gently chided Warren that although Cal Claxton frequents a number of real and fictitious enterprises in Dundee (such as Red Hills Market), he had never been to Lumpy’s Landing – nor had Warren himself.

I suggested that we remedy that by having our second interview over beer in that colorful watering hole and Warren agreed.  Although I hadn’t been back to Lumpy’s since my original visit and review in 2014, it retained the same great ambiance – probably most of the same regulars as well…..

Photo Feb 20 2024, 3 19 51 PM

The external reader board slogan which used to read, “Our beer is a cold as you exe’s heart,” was replaced with the one below:

lumpys-1-1

Warren had a draft Breakside Wanderlust IPA and I opted for one of my favorites – a cold bottle of Miller High Life.  And while the regulars played pool or lost their money on video poker, we drank-in some of the signs and memorabilia that typify most dives.  

An Amazing Background

While Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” played in the background, I interrogated the author about how a guy with a long career as a research chemist and international business executive became a popular crime novelist.  

Photo Feb 20 2024, 4 58 39 PM

His twenty-seven years at DuPont as Technical Director involved relocation and a lot of travel including a six-year stint in Geneva, Switzerland from 1983-89.

His friendship at DuPont with Mark Suwyn, a fellow chemist (PhD in inorganic chemistry from Washington State University) resulted in what must have been a lot of boring work lunches with discussions ranging from the periodic table of elements to modular calculations of biopolymers and the resulting index for molecular complexity:

𝐶m=∑𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑖𝑠𝑖⁢log2⁡(𝑉𝑖𝑏𝑖)−12⁢∑𝑗𝑑𝑗𝑒𝑗𝑠𝑗⁢log2⁡(𝑉𝑗𝑏𝑗).

But that relationship would be fortuitous (or perhaps come back to haunt him, given his new assignment….) after Warren initially retired from DuPont.

After years of educational achievement and twenty-seven years at DuPont, it would seem logical that Warren was ready to enjoy the fruits of retirement.  He was not worried about being bored.

Warren was a good athlete in high school and college (UCRiverside ’59 – ’63) basketball and a football quarterback and is an avid hiker, fisherman and skier – adventure awaited. (#9 – #10)

A Side(ing) Trip!

Louisiana Pacific was founded in 1973 based in Portland, Oregon and Harry Merlo became both Chairman and CEO in 1974. Merlo, who died in 2016, was an Oregon power broker, philanthropist and sports team owner.  But there were problems:

“During the 1990s, LP was the defendant in a major class-action lawsuit over its  siding product known as Inner Seal, manufactured from the early 1990s through 1996….Many homeowners alleged that Inner-Seal siding, which carried a 25-year warranty, began to rot prematurely—discoloring, disintegrating, and even growing fungi.”  Wikipedia

In addition to the siding issues, Merlo got into trouble as reported by Willamette Week:

“But in 1995, a confluence of events prompted its board of directors to abruptly boot Merlo. The feds charged the company with environmental crimes and fraud, and a female subordinate of Merlo’s sued for sexual harassment, alleging women were hired as assistants only if they were stunning, young and ‘likely to acquiesce to sexual advances by the CEO’, according to a 1995 story in Business Week.” (#11 – #12)

Harry Merlo
Mark Suwyn

Replacing him in 1996 was Mark Suwyn, who needed help in resolving what resulted in millions in legal fees and payments to customers of about $750 million. Suwyn turned to his now-retired friend, Warren Easley, to fill what became a new court-mandated position at LP – Vice President of Quality and Technology.  

Warren worked at LP from 1996 to 2002.  He’s a modest guy, but some research reveals his influence in the company:

“In 1997 LP unveiled its Advanced Technology Center, which provided the company with the facilities to conceive, test, and improve new offerings. LP soon introduced a bevy of new product systems, including Smart Start siding, TechShield energy-efficient structural panels, TopNotch flooring, and Cocoon insulation….In 1998, LP returned once more to profitability, achieving $12.8 million of net profit from $2.29 billion in sales.”   Wikipedia

The photos below show Warren with Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, LP CEO, Mark Suwyn and Warren speaking at the opening of LP’s Advanced Technology Center: (#13 – #14)

A Real Retirement

After writing several full-length novels and receiving numerous rejections for publication, Warren wrote Matters of Doubt.  He knew it was good, but when he submitted it to Poisoned Pen Press, who had shown interest in his work, he got no response.

He was dejected and ready to quit, but his wife, Marge, talked him into following up.  It turned out that they had lost the manuscript and a month later they offered him a three-book contract.

His “retirement career” has flourished with now ten novels and multiple awards including the Kay Snow National Award in 2012, named the Northwest’s Up and Coming Author by Willamette Writers in 2017 and the Spotted Owl Award for best mystery novel by a Pacific Northwest author in 2022. (#15)

In Conclusion

Having worked in the legal environment for over thirty-five years, I thought Warren showed a good understanding of how law firms work, legal ethics concepts and client representation for someone who wasn’t a lawyer.  I wanted to find out if some others who had worked in that environment shared my perceptions of Warren’s book.

The short answer is “They do.”

Don Bowerman is a trial lawyer practicing in Oregon City.  He has been my family’s attorney since we moved here in 1962.  He has been the District Attorney for Clackamas County and the Vice President of the Oregon State Bar.  An expert litigator, Don is a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

I loaned him Fatal Flaw on a Friday afternoon and Don called me on Monday and said he would drop by and return it stating, “I started reading it and couldn’t put it down.  I finished it a 1 AM.” (#16 – #17)

Don Bowerman
Hap Ziegler

Hap Ziegler is the President of Mesa Consulting in Santa Barbara.  After earning his BS in math, economics and computer science at the University of Pittsburgh, he received his law degree at Duquesne University.   

He has had a national practice in law firm consulting for many years and worked as a consultant on numerous projects at my firm Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt. I recommended Warren’s books to him and got the following e-mail:

“Warren is an interesting character and he owes you a beer:  I bought his first two books!”  (Matters of Doubt and Dead Float)

In a follow-up e-mail, he stated:

” Cal Claxton is my new hero!  Very enjoyable, well written.”

Warren Easley’s books are a good read and he’s a great guy with whom to raise a mug. (#18)

Cheers

External Photo Attribution

#1 – #2, #5, #8 – #10.   Warren Easley Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/warren.easley).

#3 – #4, #15, #18.  Warren Easley Website (https://www.warreneasley.com/).

#6.  Aurora Colony Pub   (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=461267196004801&set=a.461267156004805).

#7.  Wikimedia Commons   (File:Wine Country in Oregon Dundee Hills.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.  Author: Luke https://www.flickr.com/people/88071948@N00 – 12 September 2018.

#11.  Oregon Sports Hall of Fame (Harry Merlo – Special Contributon to Sports | Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Museum).

#12.  BookBaby.com  (When a door opens by Mark A Suwyn | BookBaby Bookshop).

#13 – #14. Courtesy of Warren Easley.

#16. Bowerman Law Group (https://www.bowermanlawgroup.com/don).

#17.  Premier Professionals of Santa Barbara   (https://www.premierprofessionalsb.com/links/497-santa-barbara-business-professionals/resources/2362-santa-barbara-management-consulting-r-w-ziegler-jr).

The A and L Sports Pub — A Sporting Chance?

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Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please click on the title to bring up the post so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1)

During my thirteen years of Beerchasing where I’ve visited and reviewed over 400 bars and breweries, I’ve presented followers with photos and stories of only four sports bars.  I’m just not really enamored with them and they seem somewhat stereotypical.

There are scads of big screen TV’s, trophies and sports memorabilia – a lot of it somewhat tacky – and often boisterous regulars wearing their team jerseys.

I cherish the conversations I’ve had in most of my bar/brewery visits, but sports bar patrons are often immersed in pro or college games and understandably are not eager to engage.  Fortunately, I’ve had great Beerchasing companions at the four sports bars shown below – so I didn’t need to meet new people.

Claudia’s Sports Pub and Grill (2012) – a classic that closed in 2023 after sixty-five years.  It’s now named Suki’s and unfortunately “…a karaoke bar with sports.” (Yeah right…)

The Marathon Taverna (2014) – a boring pseudo sports bar – our visit was saved by great conversations with Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, Jack Faust and his son, Charlie. 

The Independent (2017) – a decent sports bar on SW Broadway in the heart of Portland where we had a robust group including the Faust clan.

The Angry Beaver Bar and Grill in Corvallis (2020) – this great watering hole in the heart of Corvallis was visited before an Oregon State vs. Washington State football game.

Our group included 1967 OSU Giant Killer starters, Billy Main and Steve Preece with his wife, plus the late Dr. Bob Gill along with my fraternity brother and friend of over 50 years, Jud Blakely. (#2)

Why the A and L Sports Pub?

Since I asserted above that I’m not a fan of sports bars, why would I chose the A and L when there are so many other good bars and breweries on my list to visit in the future? 

My selection of the bar was based on my recent discovery of classic dive bar, Angelo’s thanks to a connection with Darren Zayman – a part-time bartender.

Both bars are owned by Angelo and Leonor Markantonatos, (thus, the A and L…) who opened Angelo’s in 1996, and before that owned the Vern.  Four generations of the family and they have been a fixture in the Portland bar scene for decades. 

Darren, first worked at the A and L after talking Angelo into hiring “a guy with absolutely no bar or restaurant experience with a novel sales approach” discussed in my post on Angelo’s.  You should visit Angelo’s located in the Barmuda Triangle District on SE Hawthorne.

Darren Zayman (Daz) and Angelo’s regular, Paul

Daz suggested I raise a mug at the A and L, so I did a little research and discovered a peripheral item of interest on the bar in a Willamette Week article dated 2/15/23:

“But the Markantonatoses owe more than $25,000 in property taxes. In a brief phone conversation, Angelo, 91, said he gave the bar to his son, also named Angelo, 57. Angelo the elder says he’s dying, so we didn’t push him for details.

We’d love to talk to Angelo the younger about the tax issue, but he didn’t call us back. Nor did they respond to a message on their hyperactive Facebook page. The bar employee said her boss was ‘scarce’ and ‘hard to pin down.’

Two signs of compliance: The Markantonatos family made a property tax payment of $10,000 on Nov. 15, and another for $4,500 on Feb. 8.”

Beerchasing Companions

Photo Oct 16 2024, 6 15 26 PM

Since I wasn’t focused on meeting new people, I chose two of my favorite Beerchasers to join me – Jim Westwood and Bernie Stea – both lawyers.  The last time the three of us had raised a mug together was in 2020 at the Rose City Book Pub. (#3 – #4)

Bernie Stea
Elise – Book Pub Owner with Stea and Westwood
Jim Westwood

Those who follow this blog, know about Jim Westwood and his amazing background ranging from the Portland State College GE College Bowl, to a stint as a TV weatherman, to service in Navy Intelligence (where he learned Thai) to his distinguished career as an Oregon appellate lawyer. 

But Bernie has an incredible background as well.  

His Beerchasing exploits besides the Rose City Book Pub were at NEPO 42 and Zarz (gone but not forgotten) both in 2017.  We tried for another at the Slow Bar in Portland, but it never happened. 

Bernie and server at Zarz
A healthy lunch at NEPO 42

While I was patiently waiting for him while downing an IPA, he called asking where I was, to which I replied, the Slow Bar (on Portland’s east side).  He then somewhat sheepishly informed me that he was sitting in the Low Bar (permanently closed after the pandemic) in downtown Vancouver. 

In order to salvage his pride, I didn’t remind him that I sent him a link to Slow Bar the day before confirming our lunch appointment.  (#5)

My first encounter with Bernie was in 1980, when as the Oregon State Bar’s Financial Manager, I had to question him as the Director of Continuing Legal Education about his CLE department budget. He showed up for the interrogation with his Osborne laptop computer with the budget laid out on a SuperCalc spreadsheet.   (Even then, he was an early-adopter of technology.)

As I “attacked” his figures we started a friendly rivalry which entertained Bar staff when we “replicated” the dialogue at all-staff meetings.  It became a well-received staged production in the tradition of Jane Curtain and Dan Akroyd on Saturday Night Live. 

After Bernie would make a mock eloquent plea as to why his budget should be increased, my reply was:

 “Bernie, you ignorant slut!” (#6 – #7)

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=jane+you+ignorant+slut&mid=5ACAC950C589B99D5F685ACAC950C589B99D5F68&FO

In 2017 when he didn’t show up at Slow Bar, I commented to Bernie that he must have used the “Maps Application” on his Osborne.  Bernie, however, is one of the smartest and most versatile people I’ve had the privilege to call a friend.

His undergrad days were at the University of Maryland, where he had a double major in Journalism and Engineering (who’s ever heard of that combination….) and then graduation at Maryland’s Francis King Carey School of Law.

He was a member of the distinguished scholastic society Order of the Coif and Law Review, and then worked as a law clerk at the Maryland Court of Appeals. Bernie has repeatedly distinguished himself (other than with his misguided budget presentations)

After jobs at the Oregon State Bar and Portland State University, Bernie has spent the last twenty-five years as a technology guru – helping law firms, start-ups and corporate clients on all facets of electronically stored information, particularly in the context of litigation and investigatory matters and on the legal responsibilities associated with electronic evidence collection, review and production.

And concurrently – for about twelve years – he and his wife – former Portland radio newswoman and anchor, Debb Janes – were managing real estate brokers specializing in family estates on acreage, and multi-generational homes in SW Washington. (#8)

Perhaps that education and experience should give me pause when labeling Bernie an “ignorant slut…” (But probably not….)

But I Digress – Back to the A and L

Now it’s a little bit perplexing why Willamette Week labeled the A and L as a “beloved sports bar,” since they have never featured it in their Annual Best Bar Guide. I guess, however, that a watering hole that for the 2023 Super Bowl offered an “all-you-eat spaghetti and meat sauce with French bread and salad for $15” and is a Pittsburgh Steelers bar will attract a fond following.

And although the exterior is somewhat off-putting, the social media reviews are consistently positive. These three are typical:

“The A&L Burger was de-lish and the fries were on point. Friendly service and great food! We’ll be back soon.”   Yelp 3/16/24

“Great people, great service, great drinks, great prices, and 6-10 dart boards set up at a time! What more could you ask for. Also have pool and video lotto.”  Yelp 12/26/22

“…..The inside is like night and day from the outside. The place is roomy, has more than a dozen TVs, a whole darts room that is legit, Oregon Lottery, and one of the best cheesesteaks I’ve had in Portland (I’m from Jersey and my wife is from N Philly). The staff has always been nice to me even though I’m not a regular.”  Yelp 2/11/23

Photo Oct 16 2024, 4 58 49 PM

The A and L, with its very expansive space, seemed a bit sterile, although it has a great juke box.  But to be fair, that’s probably because there were just a handful of patrons on a Wednesday afternoon.

Contrast that with the description on a Sunday morning in 2018 – typical, I assume, during any NFL Sunday:

“First and foremost, they open early on Steeler Sundays, due to the time difference….so we thought we would ‘arrive early’ by getting to the bar at 9:30 am.  It was PACKED with Steeler fans already at that point. More than half of this very large sports bar is dedicated to the Steelers and their fans.”   Yelp  10/9/18

As a non-lawyer, but one who worked with them for almost forty years, I could share stories with these two counselors who both worked at large competitor firms (Miller Nash and Stoel Rives with my Schwabe Williamson.  

It was only when these two intellectual behemoths started waxing eloquent about the rule against perpetuities and how complexity theory understands law as an emergent, self-organizing system that I focused on my $3.50 pint of draft PBR and began thinking of my next dive bar to explore….

Elevated intellects, but still personable!

Cheers

External Photo Attribution

#1.  A and L Sports Pub Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=482321133382404&set=a.482321090049075).

#2.  Angry Beaver Bar Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=556247892702280&set=a.556247869368949).

#3. Linked-in – Bernie Stea (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardstea/).

#4.  Linked-in – Jim Westwood (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-westwood-60881a2b6/).

 #5. USArestuarants.info. (Low Bar | 809 Washington St, Vancouver, WA 98660, USA).

#6. Oregon State Bar Twitter ((1) Oregon State Bar (@OregonStateBar) / X)

#7. Wikimedia Commons (File:Osborne 1 open.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.  Author:  Bilby – 8 August 2010.

#8   Debb Janes Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10226418497269717&set=pb.1262110102.-2207520000&type=3).

Court(s) are in Session – Part I

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Moda Center – Home of the Portland Trailblazers
The Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City.

Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please click on the title to bring up the post so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1 – #2)

Well, it’s time for the NBA Season to “kickoff” and the Portland Trailblazers – rebuilding since their NBA Championship in 1977 – evoke a lot of good memories as well as frustrations.

The zenith was the 1977 victory over the Dr. J (Julius Erving – led Philadelphia ’76ers) where the underdog Blazers, coached by the legendary, Jack Ramsey, lost the first two games and then won four straight to win the series.

The late Bill Walton was named the MVP which led Philadelphia Coach, Gene Shue to comment, “Bill Walton is the best player for a big man who ever played the game of basketball.”  (Wikipedia)  (#3 – #5)

But there have been bad times as well for our pro hoopers.  For example, the Portland Jail Blazer era:

“One of the most infamous periods in Trail Blazers history is the era of the ‘Jail Blazers.’ Though the team had experienced its fair share of controversy and issues in prior seasons, many consider the ‘Jail Blazers’ saga starting during the 2000–2001 season.”

Fortunately, the players with questionable character during that era, were eventually traded and another rebuilding started in 2006 with better citizens running the floor. 

A fascinating Willamette Week article in 2018 gave an update on six of the most “notorious” and some of them at least turned the corner.  https://www.wweek.com/sports/2018/01/17/a-look-at-where-six-of-the-best-known-jail-blazers-ended-up/  

For example, Isaiah (JR) Rider who “….gave us a basketball gift to remember — the most unlikely shot in NBA history.” (Yahoo Sports.com)

“His life fell apart after his forced retirement from the league in 2001, but he seems to be picking up the pieces. He started a kids’ basketball training program in Arizona called Sky Rider. According to his Twitter account, he’s a ‘current family man’ and his 6-year-old son is a spelling bee champion.

But my best memory of the Blazers was from 1979.  I had one-third of a season ticket – two tickets to about twelve games that I split with some work colleagues. I asked Janet Dancer, who I met at a night meeting, for a date when she was working for the City of Oregon City and I was the Chair of the Planning Commission and our first date was to a Trailblazer game.

March 29, 1980

After being married for forty-four years this year, she still kids me about not taking her out to dinner before the game.  I have always responded, “Two Blazer tickets cost enough for one date!”

Mug Shots…

These days, I don’t go to many Blazer games; however, I always watch them on TV notwithstanding the fact that they haven’t gone to the playoffs in the last three years and in 2019-20 lost in the first round.

The team still offers some good basketball to watch and having a beer while “spectating” in my Lazy Boy Recliner while watching on a big screen is almost better than being at the game.

Photo Oct 16 2024, 8 39 41 PM

Now given my Beerchasing hobby, I have a lot of mugs and beer glasses. Shown below are just a few of my favorites from my exploits over the last thirteen years.

But to enhance the experience for the coming season, I decided to visit the NBA Store which offers a good selection of mugs including this one for the Trailblazers.  You can use this link to procure some discounts. https://capitaloneshopping.com/s/store.nba.com/coupon  (#6)

Rip City!

A Collaboration

And based on an announcement this week, the first beer in my new Blazer mug will be a Rip City IPA:

“Whether at the game or watching from home, this beer is the perfect game-time drink. ‘We wanted to create an IPA that embodied the taste of Oregon,’ says Rogue Brewmaster Joel Shields. ‘It’s piney, crisp, and perfect for cheering on the Trail Blazers!'”  (#7)

Perfect game-time drink

Players in the Other Court

I worked with lawyers for over thirty years during my career – first as the Business Manager at the Oregon State Bar and then retiring after twenty-five years at the Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt law firm – the last twelve as the Chief Operating Officer.  I therefore have a keen interest in legal issues and also love the lawyer mentality.

On the whole, the many lawyers with whom I worked, were dedicated and collegial professionals who worked diligently for their clients and to uphold the Rule of Law. 

My employment at the Bar and the firm as well as knowing so many lawyers, however, meant my service as a juror was, in all likelihood, not going to happen.  And jury duty was something I always wanted to experience.

One time in a criminal trial, I didn’t survive voir-dire because I answered the prosecutor’s question with another question.  I was the victim of her first preemptory challenge. The other times when I was a member of a jury pool, I knew either one or both of the trial lawyers and was excused. 

As a result of my long-term friendship with outstanding Portland lawyer and mediator, the late Susan Hammer, who was also a colleague on the City Club of Portland Board of Governers, I met and had lunch with Multnomah County Judge Jerome Labarre in 2013. (#8)

 We became friends and after I related my tale of woe of never serving on a jury, he said:

“Well Don, it’s not serving on a jury, but I have some interesting trials on my docket, and you are welcome to sit in my courtroom and observe.”

Susan Hammer
No jury service for you, Beerchaser!

Jerry, a Georgetown Law grad, was appointed to the bench in 1999, after serving for a number of years as an assistant district attorney and then in private practice specializing in complex litigation. 

He is a Past President of the Multnomah Bar Association and an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Law School.  He retired in 2017 and now has a mediation practice.

And in 2013 I subsequently observed a one-week murder trial (interestingly enough the victim was shot in an east Portland dive bar) and then a fascinating month-long trial which resulted in the largest verdict for a plaintiff in Oregon history – a class action suit against British Petroleum – described as “Oregon’s Landmark Class-Action Suit.”

But alas, Beerchaser.com followers, you will have to await the story of that experience and some other court-related tales in Part II of this post – stay tuned…. (#9)

And Vote on November 5th!

External File Attribution

#1.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Rose Garden Arena Interior.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Subject to disclaimers. Author: Tv145033 at English Wikipedia – 22 March 2006.

#2. Wikimedia Commons (File:Clackamas County Courthouse, Oregon City – DPLA – 13cd2d986b77594222b11d38c0491c08.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.  Author: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives – 6 August 2013.

#3. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Portland-Trail-Blazers-Logo-1990.png – Wikimedia Commons)  This logo image consists only of simple geometric shapes or text. It does not meet the threshold of originality needed for copyright protection, and is therefore in the public domain.  Author:  Portland Trailblazers – 1 January 1990.

#4.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Bill walton blazers photo.jpg – Wikimedia Commons)  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1929 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. Author: Portland Trailblazers – 1977-78.

#5. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (Bill Walton and Jack Ramsay – Portland Trail Blazers – Wikipedia) By Unknown author – Sporting News, Public Domain, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31110876) – 1977.

#6. NBA Store Website (Portland Trail Blazers 32oz. Macho Mug with Handle (nba.com))

#7. Rogue Ale Website (Oregon rocks at GABF; Oregon City Brewing gets bookish – dwilliams2951@gmail.com – Gmail (google.com)). Andre’ Meunier column The Oregonian 10/17/2024.

#8. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Jury box in the courtroom of the Van Buren County Courthouse in Clinton, Arkansas.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.  The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of their rights to the work worldwide under copyright law.  Author :  Brandonrush -19 August 2020.

#9.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Balanced scale of Justice (blue).svg – Wikimedia Commons)  Licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.  The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of their rights to the work worldwide under copyright law.  Author: User:Perhelion, color edited by User:Deu – 12 March 2015.

Pythagoras and the Bard at Angelo’s

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Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please click on the title to bring up the post so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post # 1 – #2)

There are still a lot of dive bars in Portland – certainly not as many as when I started my Beerchasing trek in 2011 – but Angelo’s (not Saloon or Bar – just Angelo’s) which I hadn’t discovered until last week, is a classic.

And I was quite surprised, given my hobby, that Angelo’s – located on SE 46th and Hawthorne, had never appeared on my radar, nor had its “sister bar” A & L Sports Pub – also owned by Angelo Markantonatos.  I never found it listed in Willamette Week’s annual best bars publication which has been a primary research source.

It was even more surprising since it’s in the heart of Portland’s Bar-muda Triangle – a phenomenon that I haven’t really addressed in this blog for at least twelve years, since discovering it on one of my first Beerchasing visits in 2012 at the notable Bar of the Gods.

That was followed less than a half-year later when I raised a mug with Beerchaser notable, Jim Westwood, at the Tanker Bar – on the same block as Bar of the Gods.   Alas, the Tanker’s armor was insufficient to withstand the pandemic’ mortars and it’s no longer with us. (Note the prices on the BOG’s blackboard below.)

As you will see below, I loved Angelo’s and the description from Portland Monthly is spot on:

“Looking for a bar with a relaxed atmosphere, laid-back feel, with friendly service and ‘real’ people? If so, visit Angelo’s and enjoy some cheap beer, play some tunes on the juke box, or challenge your friend to a game of pool.”

The Urban Dictionary describes Portland’s Bar-muda Triangle as:

 “…an area of bars that collectively saturate the SE Hawthorne Arts District at the base of Mt Tabor.” 

That said, the same source also describes similar watering-hole saturated areas as being in Eugene, Oregon (the intersection of Olive and West Broadway) and in Lawrence near the University of Kansas. 

Then there’s the Beer-muda Triangle in Missoula, Montana. And at one time in the late ‘60’s, before the SAE House at Oregon State went alcohol free, it could easily have referenced a group of rooms on the first floor of the house study wing. (I graduated in 1970,)

Not that the topic is debated frequently, but in a Willamette Week article from May 11th entitled Douchebags Not Allowed in Car Free Zone..” the paper asserts that Portland’s Bar-muda is located in the Old Town neighborhood on the west side, near Voodoo Donuts.” (That’s the first time in thirteen years, I’ve used the term “douchebag” in this blog.)

Regardless of the location, it is appropriate to label any Bar-muda Triangle as a “Stumble Zone.” (#3)

The Stumble Zone?

Perhaps the dilemma is resolved based on info gleaned at the “wisegeek” website stating: 

“ A Bar-muda Triangle is an area where the concentration of bars is especially high. The number of bars located within an area known as a bar-muda triangle may be greater than three, of course, and sometimes an area with only two bars may be colloquially termed a bar-muda triangle. You may also hear a bar-muda triangle referred to as a beer-muda triangle.”

Pardon the digression, but before we get back to Angelo’s just a few more references which would make Pythagoras smile. (#4)

A Fan of Hypotenuse IPA

Try Triangle Theory beer from Lighthouse Brewery in Victoria BC or Emerald Triangle IPA from Eel River Brewery in Fortuna California or for a different slant on things try Hypotenuse IPA from Napa Smith Brewery in Vallejo, CA. Perhaps Triangle Brewing in Durham, North Carolina has all of them on tap. (Okay, I’ll stop…)

The good news is that should you get pulled over in any of the Bar-muda Triangles, the officer, rather than putting you through sobriety tests, will just ask you to state the formula for the area of an isosceles triangle which everyone know is 1/2 × Base × Height…(#5 – #7)

Now Back to Angelo’s

In late May, I got an e-mail from Darren Zayman (Daz) who saw the blog and told me that for a long time, he’d wanted to own or operate a bar. He thought it might be fun and interesting to meet and chat at the bar where he was working – Angelo’s.  

I’ve met some wonderful people while Beerchasing and jumped at the opportunity to both meet another one and visit a new bar, although with scheduling issues, we didn’t accomplish that until September 25th. I assumed from our e-mail exchanges that Darren would be an interesting and engaging personality, and I was correct. (#8)

As I walked in, Darren gave a hearty “Hey Don,” greeting.  He was off-duty and sitting at the end of the bar and introduced me to Paul, an Angelo’s regular and, Lena, the part-time bartender.  For the next forty-five minutes the four of us shared stories and we reflected on Angelo’s and the bars – present and past – in the Bar-muda Triangle.

Daz has an artistic background and has worked for years as a self-employed technical illustrator.  At one time he thought of doing illustrations of every bar in Portland – one reason he came across Thebeerchaser.com. (#9 – #12)

Sketch of Angelo’s

“I’ve lived in Shanghai, China and Washington, but I consider ‘Hawthorne’as home.  I attended nearby Mount Tabor Middle School and grew up here.”

He stated that to fulfill his goal of working (and eventually owning a bar) last year he sent out at least forty resumes for bartending jobs.  As one might expect, with zero experience, he got zero callbacks.  But Daz was not to be deterred, and you will see how this guy is motivated and has a great sales personality.

Darren always “liked the vibe” at the A and L Sports Pub at 59th and NE Glisan, so about a year ago, he hand-delivered a letter addressed to the owner. (The A and L is also owned by Angelo.) The substance of the letter was as follows:

“I want to work for you, and I think you should hire me as I would be a great employee.  Since I have no experience, I will pay you $50 daily for the first week and work for free the second week.  Then you can judge whether you want to retain me.”

Angelo, who Darren described as somewhat of a gruff Greek guy, responded, “Come in. I’m busy and on the move, but I want to meet you and find out what’s your deal!”  (#13 – #15)

So, Darren got the job and started working – barbacking and no bartending – with absolutely no instructions. “I was hustling,” he laughed. After less than a month, Angelo came to him and said, “I’ve got a job at another bar I own on Hawthorne.  If you want it, it’s yours.”  

He started working Monday and Tuesday nights and a lot of Saturdays because the female bartender usually didn’t show up.  And he learned bartending the hard way. 

His first order was for a “tequila and pineapple juice.”  Darren poured them together and the guy, after gulping it down said, “I meant a shot of each separately, now you have to give me a free one.”  Darren diplomatically refused as Angelo, sitting at the end of the bar observed laughing.

Photo Sep 25 2024, 4 16 48 PM

Lena – a personable bartender

Lena, the personable part-time bartender has worked for fifteen years at a number of Portland bars and attended Oregon State before graduating from the University of Oregon. Graduation was followed by three months of travel to multiple countries. She loves working at Angelo’s and remembers when there was a stage and they had great live music.

Sitting next to DAZ, drinking a Rainier Tall Boy, was a guy named Paul. He offered his left hand to shake and said that he was a carpenter but injured his right hand and was recuperating. I detected a slight accent and inquired to which he responded, “I’m from Belfast.” 

Darren said, “Paul has been an Angelo’s regular for decades”, and he had stories from many of the dive bars in Portland and was a great conversationalist.

Darren and Paul (from Belfast!)

One of the bars we discussed was the Cheerful Tortoise – near the Portland State campus and which I first reviewed in 2012. DAZ remembered going there as a little kid because his stepdad, who was the Chair of the Geography Department at Portland State, (his mom also worked for the Department) would have meetings there.  Lena also mentioned that it was the first bar she ever frequented.

Angelo’s has a good selection of draft and bottled beers and DAZ or Lena will make you a great cocktail.  It has had a history of great food with a restaurant in the adjacent and connected space – first a Portuguese restaurant named Fado Portuguese Kitchen and then a Greek bistro named  Kouzina at Angelo’s – first opened in 2017. 

Since February, however, the space is occupied by Michael’s Italian Beef and Sausage Company – a treasured Portland eatery that’s been around for almost fifty years and lost its lease on Sandy Blvd. Portland Monthly offered this description:

“…But that’s just part of the charm at this very un-Portland sandwich shop, where hot hoagie rolls are stuffed with Chicago-style Italian roast beef sliced thin, marinated in its own juicy gravy, and covered in sautéed peppers and onions; or with home-baked meatballs served ‘pizza-style’ in tomato sauce; or with deliciously gut-busting Italian sausages.” 

Photo Sep 25 2024, 5 06 47 PM

And in Closing

Two final stories which are evidence that Angelo’s has both the ambiance and character of the dives I love. 

Typical classic dive bar fixtures are pool tables, foosball, Big Buck Hunter, classic pinball machines and a great juke box.  Angelo’s has all of them – even two foosball machines.  As Paul described it:

“One is the ‘People’s’ table and one is the ‘Elite machine. People know which one they should play and which one to avoid.”

While we were reminiscing about Bar-muda dives, a guy named Jeff, who identified himself as an out-of-town regular, told us that he overheard our stories and needed to add a tale:

“One time my friend and I were here and playing at the Elite foosball machine.  A one-armed guy came up and challenged my friend.  Unbelievably, he used his foot in lieu of his other hand and proceeded to decimate my friend in a game.”

The Bard

Dive bars and Shakespeare?  Are you kidding?  Well, think again and take a look at Willamette Weeks, January 2024 article:

“How can a theater company make a 400-plus-year-old play feel fresh? Speculative Drama’s answer is to perform Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, under the direction of Myrrh Larsen, not on a stage but in a dive bar—specifically Angelo’s on Southeast Hawthorne.” 

As Angelo’s customers sit or stand amid a buzz of conversation, recorded music and clinking ice, the voice of Orsino, Duke of Illyria begins the show by rising over the din, saying, ‘If music be the food of love, play on…’

So what if there’s a Big Buck Hunter arcade game behind him and the red and blue lights of a Pabst sign in the next room? Orsino looks as if he belongs in Angelo’s as he strides through the crowd, drinking from a tall glass with a green straw. In this environment, even his iambic pentameter sounds as natural as water rippling over rocks.

 …..The show ends with the joyful spectacle of the entire cast cutting loose and singing karaoke.”  (#15 – #17)

Darren said that each of the ten nights it played, “Twelfth Night” sold out. The actors were integrated with the bar patrons – it was immersive – one never knew when the guy next to you would become part of the play.

Cheers

  • To the four generations of Angelo Markantonatos family, who opened Angelo’s in 1996, and before that owned the Vern and who have been a fixture in the Portland bar scene for decades.
  • To Angelo II who had the foresight to give a motivated young man (DAZ) with no experience, an opportunity to become a valued employee in his organization.
  • To Darren, for his optimism and spirit and reaching out to Thebeerchaser.
  • To the one-armed foosball player.
Cheers to a classic!

External Photo Attribution

#1. Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pythagorean.svg)
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Author: en:User:Wapcaplet – 12 July 2005.

#2. Angelo’s Facebook Site (https://www.facebook.com/photobid=1516916419212450&set=a.969082117329219)

#3. Wikimedia Commons (File:Pythagoras. Etching by F. L. D. Ciartres after (C. V.). Wellcome V0004826.jpg – Wikimedia Commons  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Author: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/0b/3e/c616f20a08ce6126931867fe5320.jpg.

#4. Wikimedia Commons (File:A drunken man with a bottle at his side in a field MET DP869600.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Source: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/735378)

#5. Triangle Theory Beer – First State Brewing (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/firststatebrewing)

#6. Eel River Brewing Websit (Emerald Triangle IPA 16oz Can Product Shot Mockup – Transparent BG | Eel River Brewing)

#7. Triangle Beer from Untapped (brewery-414414_ec6e6_hd.jpeg (500×500) (untappd.com)

#8 – #12. Courtesy Darren Zayman.

#12 – #14. A and L Sports Pub Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/AnLsportspub)

#15. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) – Scene from ‘Twelfth Night’ (‘Malvolio and the Countess’) – N00423 – National Gallery – Twelfth Night – Wikipedia) This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.  Author: Daniel Maclise (1806- 1870).

#16. Willamette Week – January 9, 2024 (Speculative Drama Performs William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” at Local Dive Bar Angelo’s (wweek.com)).

#17. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (Sir Toby Belch coming to the assistance of Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Houghton c.1854) – Twelfth Night – Wikipedia) This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.  Author: Arthur Boyd Houghton (1836–1875) – Circa 1854.