Bondcliff is coming to Portland, Oregon! March 20th
posted February 21, 2019 9:17 AM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Wed March 20 at 6:30 PM, The Picnic House
723 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, USA (Map & Directions)
Hey Other_Portland (the one on the west coast) I'll be swinging through your town for a couple of days in March and would maybe like to hang out with some of you fine people. Looking right now like Wednesday, March 20th would be a great night for dinner and/or beers.
Looking forward to hanging out and meeting you all!

Thanks to Bendy for picking The Picnic House and making reservations.

You will recognize me because I'll be the middle-aged dad with the blue and red face paint and the #12 Patriots Jersey*.

*I promise I will not be wearing Patriots gear. We New Englanders are not actually all like that.
posted by bondcliff to Meetup (60 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

yeah ok sure i guess i'll come or whatever.

just don't let some dork tell you that beaverton is really awesome and that you should meet up out there because just no.
posted by hollisimo at 12:10 PM on February 21, 2019 [5 favorites]


I refuse to believe there is a whole town full of beavers.
posted by bondcliff at 12:17 PM on February 21, 2019


No, just a ton of beavers. That's still a lot.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:48 PM on February 21, 2019 [5 favorites]


Though oddly enough I've been here 10 years and have yet to see Beaver 1.

Anyway, the inner NE side is pretty accessible from downtown and is rife with good food and beer places. It shouldn't be too hard to find a likely spot.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:48 PM on February 21, 2019


What! Yes. Yes!

Cortex and I might be able to ferry you around some too, we'll see how schedules look as the date gets closer.

Also there are some very nice mefites who live in Beaverton.
posted by Secretariat at 5:06 PM on February 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


Jiiiiiiiiim
posted by cortex at 5:12 PM on February 21, 2019 [3 favorites]


I'm so stoked to meet you!!!

If you're coming into Union Station on the train the closest neighborhood is the Pearl in Northwest - IME the Pearl has the best transit. Portland geography still confuses me but the main thing is that there are basically four quadrants and they all seem to have their own characteristics.

Memail me and we can chat more. I'll fill you in on all the things an ex-Masshole thinks are fucking weird. And I know of many bars.
posted by bendy at 1:38 AM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


I'm so stoked to meet you!!!

Prepare to be disappointed unless "middle aged dad who has opinions on shop vacs and Apollo lunar missions" is your jam.

Cortex and I might be able to ferry you around some too

Cool! I will probably be hanging out with hollisimo (up thread... Portland resident and my bff for like a billion years) during the day but not sure where I will be before the meetup.
posted by bondcliff at 6:03 AM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Beaverton has an Ex Novo Brewing near the transit center now, so I think we might almost be cool. We also have the excellent Westgate Bourbon Bar and a huge food cart pod, so we're not totally hopeless.

That said, there's plenty of stuff in Portland so there's no need to come out here.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:53 AM on February 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


Portland geography still confuses me but the main thing is that there are basically four quadrants and they all seem to have their own characteristics.


Clearly you are confused because there are, inexplicably, FIVE quadrants.
There is a decent biergarten/cart pod on Mississippi as well as Ecliptic and a few other spots between.
Do plan to visit Powell's Books, skip Salt & Straw for Fifty Licks instead, have coffee at Coava or Case Study or Heart.
posted by a halcyon day at 11:29 AM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Just putting in a good word for Beaverton; we are NOT all beavers out here! I, for example, might be a great blue heron, or a Canadian goose.
posted by Lynsey at 12:11 PM on February 22, 2019 [6 favorites]


I will try to make it. My dad has recently uploaded a million of his pics from his time at NASA to Facebook so I have some choice space content to share.

Also, we will soon have SIX quadrants or er... sextants. Let's start talking sextants people!
posted by vespabelle at 8:10 AM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]


Let's talk about all the north things and the south things that may be / Let's talk about sextants
posted by knuckle tattoos at 11:35 PM on February 23, 2019 [3 favorites]


bus it / bus it real good
posted by cortex at 4:52 PM on February 24, 2019 [1 favorite]


Not sure if I'll be able to attend, but as I mentioned in the latest Metatalktail thread, I made a sudden and joyful decision last week to quit my job, sell my house, and move to Portland, sometime this spring, and I may be down there apartment-hunting or interviewing or something.
posted by Kat Allison at 5:51 PM on February 24, 2019 [5 favorites]


Oh my gosh!
posted by cortex at 5:58 PM on February 24, 2019


I know, right??!? My job's been making me so goddamn crazy for the last year and a half, and then during the five days I was shut up in my house during Snowapalooza, I ran a lot of numbers-scenarios with retirement accounts/social security/house equity/blah blah, and -- yeah, this is eminently feasible. I've got applications in for a couple of jobs at PSU, because I like working with students, but hell, I could get a PT job at Trader Joe's or something and still be OK. And though Olympia is nice and all, the prospect of being in an *actual city* again has me so revved I can hardly stand it!
posted by Kat Allison at 6:25 PM on February 24, 2019 [2 favorites]


Wow, Kat Allison! Way to hijack the thread- in a good way!! This is exciting news.
posted by Secretariat at 7:20 PM on February 24, 2019


Yeah, absolutely call a meetup once you're here and settled!
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:07 PM on February 24, 2019


Prepare to be disappointed unless "middle aged dad who has opinions on shop vacs and Apollo lunar missions" is your jam.

It's quite possible I'd change the subject to rant about Portland drivers or babble about the Cold War.
posted by bendy at 10:17 PM on February 25, 2019 [2 favorites]


Depending on time and hopefully not snow by then, I may pop over the hill to work that day and will hang around for this if so. Also A+ Kat Allison!
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 8:56 AM on February 28, 2019


Traveling a day or so later so don't know if available then but would like to.
posted by aleph at 4:56 PM on February 28, 2019


Kat Allison! You're a rock star! I made that decision once myself and have never regretted it.
posted by bendy at 10:15 PM on March 3, 2019


So it looks like I'm staying at the Paramount Hotel, which I guess is downtown? Any good places to eat/drink around there? Otherwise I'll be happy to be shuttled around, take public transportation / Uber, or utilize one of your town's many unicycle sharing services.
posted by bondcliff at 9:19 AM on March 4, 2019


Has anyone been to the upstairs bar in the Raven and Rose? I haven't, but it intrigues me, and is nearby. If people are interested, I could see about reserving us a sizable table. British inspired food, former hayloft of a historic carriage house, happy hour. What I don't know about is the noise level.
posted by Secretariat at 3:46 PM on March 4, 2019 [1 favorite]


One of my favorite restaurants downtown is The Picnic House which is a block from your hotel. There's an attached bar called Barlow which has good drinks.

I was at Shigezo on Saturday which is an izakaya-type restaurant (Japanese small plates) and they have a good selection of sushi too.

East India Co. Grill & Bar is my favorite Indian restaurant in Portland and is also very close to your hotel.

My current favorite bar is The Upper Lip which has a huge selection of bottled beers - especially Belgians, if that's your thing.

A mile or so away is North 45 which is another one of my favorites.

If you're looking for something divey-er I've got a whole 'nother list of those.
posted by bendy at 5:22 PM on March 4, 2019 [1 favorite]


Has anyone been to the upstairs bar in the Raven and Rose?

I haven't been but thanks for thinking about the noise level. I know Shift Drinks can be intolerably loud and echoy... The Upper Lip is very quiet but I think you'd have to bring your own food. Hmmm.
posted by bendy at 5:26 PM on March 4, 2019


The Raven and Rose upstairs is nice, and I think it would work well for this if people don't mind that they're a little on the spendy side. My wife's high school anniversery had an afterparty thing there that about thirty people showed up to and it worked pretty well. There's pool and a number of taller tables you can sort of stand around if you want. And I doubt it'll be that busy on a Wednesday.

Just putting in a good word for Beaverton; we are NOT all beavers out here! I, for example, might be a great blue heron, or a Canadian goose.

I think my brothers-in-law would prefer I be a duck over a beaver, but I just can't bring myself to care about college sports.
posted by Caduceus at 10:49 AM on March 5, 2019


I think my brothers-in-law would prefer I be a duck over a beaver

I've always thought that if I could be any kind of animal it would be a duck! They can walk AND swim AND fly!
Also, I always said duck instead of saying what I really want to be which is loon.
posted by bendy at 10:08 PM on March 5, 2019


I don't personally care where we eat or drink. So far all the suggestions sound fine, though I'm planning on eating sushi the night before so maybe not sushi. Japanese small plates sound good though. Proximity to the hotel is great but I don't mind going a mile or two away. It's all good. I just want to meet and chat with people.

As for time and date, Wednesday the 20th is the only night I'll have free in Portland, shall we say 6:30PM?
posted by bondcliff at 6:23 AM on March 6, 2019


You've always been a loon to me, bendy!
;)

6:30 is good for me.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:41 AM on March 6, 2019 [1 favorite]


Ok, what say you, Portland folks? I'm leaving Friday so it'd be good to pin this down before then. I'm happy with anything, from pub food to fancy-ass fancy food. I do want to be mindful of people's budgets though.
posted by bondcliff at 7:25 AM on March 11, 2019


I'd be up for Picnic House.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:39 PM on March 11, 2019


I have to admit that last time I was flush with cash at the Picnic House I offered to pay the bartenders $100 if they'd dance on the bar. They did and I did - the entire restaurant applauded them.

This also happened there:

I’m sitting at the bar in this nice restaurant eating medium rare sirloin and drinking Pfriem pilsner and focusing on reading stuff on my phone. Apparently, the bartender splashed(?) something and asked me “did I get you?”

I took a moment to rejoin the world around me and answered, “No. No one gets me.”


I'd go back there in a second, in fact, I'll make a reservation if that's where we want to go.
posted by bendy at 4:47 AM on March 12, 2019 [1 favorite]


I'm perfectly happy going to the Picnic House if you want to make a reservation. Wednesday the 20th, 6:30ish?

The Raven and Rose looks good too but is a little bit pricey.
posted by bondcliff at 6:22 AM on March 12, 2019


OK, reservation made. Yay!
posted by bendy at 7:40 PM on March 12, 2019 [1 favorite]


Woot!
posted by cortex at 9:28 PM on March 12, 2019 [1 favorite]


Yay!
posted by Secretariat at 10:24 PM on March 12, 2019 [1 favorite]


Thanks, Bendy!

I get on a plane Friday and a train Monday. Looking forward to seeing everyone!
posted by bondcliff at 6:16 AM on March 13, 2019


Bendy, what name are the reservations under?
posted by bondcliff at 7:02 AM on March 13, 2019


I heard this is where we sign up to punch Jim in the face ?
posted by iamabot at 12:09 PM on March 13, 2019 [3 favorites]


I didn't realize there's be a punch line at the bar...
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:16 PM on March 13, 2019 [4 favorites]


You have to walk into the bar with a rabbi and a priest before there's a punch line.
posted by bondcliff at 12:17 PM on March 13, 2019 [4 favorites]


Uh, probably mine - Wendy Beck.
posted by bendy at 1:48 PM on March 13, 2019 [1 favorite]


I'm gonna have to do a weird thing where I show up at 6:30, leave at about...6:45, and then hopefully show back up a little later. I've got a meeting thing on the other side of downtown that I really should go to. But I'll leave cortex with y'all!
posted by Secretariat at 5:14 PM on March 14, 2019 [3 favorites]


Like dropping your kid off at daycare...except with beer!
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:38 PM on March 14, 2019 [1 favorite]


I’m posting this from a plane on my way to your time zone and the only reason I am posting it is because the only thing I love more than the miracle of flight is the miracle of in-flight WiFi.
posted by bondcliff at 1:48 PM on March 15, 2019 [4 favorites]


Omg a message from the angels
posted by Secretariat at 4:22 PM on March 15, 2019 [2 favorites]


They fly high above us sometimes.
posted by bendy at 7:51 PM on March 17, 2019


Okay, you guys... I was thinking about seeing if I could make this, reading through the comments... AND when I got to this one here, I thought, "oh that sounds like something my wife would say, FOR SURE, how funny that another person would sing a song like that"

turns out that's my wife's comment

ha ha ha ha

hi wife

Also not sure I can make it because work, but maybe!
posted by fairlynearlyready at 9:22 AM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]


hi wife

hi :)
posted by knuckle tattoos at 5:57 PM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]


Get a room, you two.

(Hello from San Jose. I’ve been on a train since LA and will wake up in your state.)
posted by bondcliff at 8:24 PM on March 18, 2019 [1 favorite]


Well, crumbs, looks like I won't be able to make it down. Sorry I won't be able to meet bondcliff, but I know all the rest of you will have a great time! (And bondcliff, I'm really enjoying your train photos on Twitter.)
posted by Kat Allison at 12:25 PM on March 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


I sure am sorry, but I've not been sleeping great and don't feel so hot, so I don't know if I'll be making it. I'm on a bit of a tight budget anyway. Sorry to miss you bondcliff, I hope you have a nice visit and that it's a nice meetup!
posted by Caduceus at 2:45 PM on March 20, 2019 [1 favorite]


> turns out that's my wife's comment

Ha! Yes. This sort of thing happens to me all the time.

metafilter: turns out that's my wife's comment
posted by Secretariat at 3:57 PM on March 20, 2019 [2 favorites]


Hey y'all, I got PTA meeting'd and need to watch The Things tonight :(
posted by iamabot at 5:04 PM on March 20, 2019 [1 favorite]


Have fun peeples! Dye study group prevents me from making it down to meet bondcliff, but I trust you'll have a good time with more beer than punch(ing).
posted by janell at 5:22 PM on March 20, 2019 [1 favorite]


Running late but will be there soon.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 6:25 PM on March 20, 2019 [1 favorite]


Awesome y'all! It was so great to meet bondcliff, hollisimo and knucks, and of course a fantastic time with the usual suspects. Even mathowie was there.

Thanks for coming out - I hope to see you again soon.

Anyone who has photos - please post or share.

I ❤️Metafilter.
posted by bendy at 12:16 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


Hey Portland, that was a blast! Great to see everyone and meet some new folks. Sorry to miss those who couldn’t make it.

It’s very nice to show up in a new town and have some friends already here.

I’ll be back in PDX at some point, I’m sure.

Also I got to try both of the beers in Portland. Shame they were out of the third beer.
posted by bondcliff at 8:36 AM on March 21, 2019 [4 favorites]



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