The Multnomah Villager

Today was the 1st annual Journeys mug and wine club BBQ - so I went up the hill to enjoy the “private event” with a good sized group of other mug & wine club members. Had a pint of the great ESB that they have on tap right now, from a Bend brewery called Silver Moon Brewing. There’s the ESB which I like, and and IPL, which is India Pale LAGER (and is a little too sharp for my taste). The current story is that Journeys is the first and only pub to have these brews on tap, and Bob drove the kegs up from Bend himself. One of the great things about Journeys is the amount of regional brews that one can get exposed to - and I pretty much just drink the reds. For me, since I’m not the type to go on brewery tours and I don’t drink beer at home, this is the only way I’d get exposed to some of these beers.

And this is probably even MORE true for wine. I haven’t done any wine drinking at Journeys, but I definitely am impressed by the continual parade of new labels, vintages, and varietals. Did I mention that they have port? A friend of mine introduced me to port at Legal Sea Foods in Boston one night some years back and I definitely appreciate it. One night I’ll have to go the non-beer route.

Still, I’m a mug club member (#16), which was a good deal even before today, but the spread that Bob & Shannon put out for us really put it over the top. Plus we got shiny permanent membership cards! Great food and did I mention free beer and wine? It was hot, but the conversation was good, the company was exceptional with all the regulars in house and it was REALLY hot but the outside tables were still pleasant.

Man, I am so glad this bar lived up to what I hoped it would be. Journeys has been a great addition to the neighborhood and is going strong. Thanks Bob & Shannon, and all the staff - today was really great.

So, the Multnomah Outdoor Cinema kicks off another season tonight with a showing of “Men in Black”. Just like last year, it looks to be a hot night coming up, so if you can’t sleep - might as well head on into the village and catch the film.

Good film schedule this year - I’m definitely going to head up the hill for “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off” next month, although there’s still no “Babe”. And attention Gabriel Park LARPers - “The Princess Bride” is coming up in August.

Phil sent me this email…

Hi - I’m a Villager also and regular play in and around the village on my acoustic gypsy jazz guitar, especially in summer when the weather’s good. Is it possible to post that my group “Gypsy Jazz West” now has a monthly gig upstairs at the Lucky Lab in the village every LAST MONDAY of the month from 7-10pm. All acoustic Gypsy Jazz group, with guest musicians, from guitars, to violins to clarinets, etc…playing the music of Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France.
Our next gig is Monday March 31st.

Sounds cool to me. I’m definitely a supporter of jazz events, or any music really, in the Village.

You can’t believe it’s been a year already can you? Or perhaps in the case of Mrs. V, your reaction is, it’s ONLY been open a year? But indeed, this week is Journeys’ First Birthday. Seems like ages ago that I posted about my first visit there. I’ve been back a few times since. My love for Journeys is well known, so I won’t go into it again here - the bar has it’s own tag in the sidebar of the site, if you want all the history, but as for this week’s festivities - here are the details fresh from my inbox.

Friday & Saturday (open till Midnight):

• Special Bites - Italian Meatloaf Panino, Chicken Curry Panino, Mandarin Spinach Salad, Spicy Cheese Bites, Desserts
• Special Wines By the Glass - Bollinger Champagne $11, Vina Maquis Syrah $7.50
• Beers on Draft - Murphy’s Stout, Amnesia ESB, Deschutes Cinder Cone Red, Roots
• Organic Pale & Caldera IPA (or Elysian IPA) $4 and Kronenbourg Pilsner $3.
• Bottled Beers - new & expanded list of over 75 to choose from.

Thursday - Mug & Wine Club night (Open till 11pm):
T-shirts are in, Mug & Wine club members! Stop by anytime after 5PM Thurs and pick yours up!

• All Draft Beers are $3 (20 oz Mug!)
• All Bottled Beers are $1 off
• Extra $1 off our special wine club wines (Boarding Pass, Irony, Castillo de Jumilla)

Thanks again for your wonderful support of Journeys and its crew.
Bob, Shannon, Brian, Andrew, Gretchen & Ryan (coming soon: Will)

Well, I’ll be making a fun-packed commute to and from Redmond on Friday, and I’m a “Mug Club” member, so I’ll be stopping by on Thursday evening for a bit.
Save my spot!

A friend of mine, a regular diner at various Village restaurants, sent me a reminder this morning that today is the day to “Dine for Darfur”. Yes, it’s an unfortunately named, but good-intentioned benefit event for MercyCorps and their efforts to aid the relief efforts in Darfur. This from their site:

Each day you make decisions that affect your life—where you buy your coffee, your lunch, your dinner, your glass of wine. On March 4, 2008, we offer you the opportunity to make these same choices and have them make a difference in the world. Purchase your food and drink at a ‘Dine for Darfur’ establishment and 25% of that money will be generously donated to aid relief efforts in Darfur.

Participating Village restaurants are Marco’s and Otto & Anita’s. Or, you could head up the hill to Hillsdale and grab a spicy bite at Salvador Molly’s.

Here’s the website with the complete list of participants in Washington and Oregon.

Um, if you are not aware for Darfur, and the situation there, check out the Wikipedia entry or just Google.

Despite the name, I can assure you that this event is NOT at the Boom Boom Room. Sorry, guys. In fact this is the 2nd annual “ladies night out” event at the Southwest Community Center, featuring food and wine, fitness classes, spa treatments, music and local vendors selling gifty and crafty stuff. Mrs. V is probably headed over there with neighbor Kathy. I’m pretty sure they went last year.

The event is Saturday November 10th from 6:00 - 9:00 PM, and it’s $10.
Pre-registration is encouraged, which you can do by calling the SW Community Center at 503-823-2840.

Here’s the “official event listing” on Porltand Online.
Should be a nice evening, if you’re into that sort of thing.

However, just like at the Boom Boom Room, you have to be over 21 to get in.

The Wild West came to Thinker Toys yesterday, part of their ongoing 13th birthday celebration, which continues, pony-less, today.

(click the poster for a larger view)

Tomorrow night’s the big night. With apologies to “A Christmas Story”, it’s one of the “biggest nights of the kid year”. Anticipation of this sugar-fueled bacchanal has been building in our household for a long time. Looks like we’re going to get lucky and not have to wear rain gear over our costumes this year, too. It’s good to plan ahead in Oregon, and try to direct your kid towards weather safe costumes. Mountain Climber…. Commercial fisherman in yellow rain slicks… Walrus… That sort of thing. Yeah, that doesn’t work in our house either.

Starting off the night tonight will be the Multnomah Village Business Association’s “Halloween in the Village”. Billed as an event to give the kids a safe, fun alternative to the wilds of the untamed village back streets, this event “starts” at Starbucks (where parents can score a free cup of coffee, which will be usefulm it’s going to be cold.) and a walking map of the route. Sounds like a fun event for little kids. Especially if they like advertising! No - really, I’m not trying to be all cynical about this - and Mrs. V and Jr. V will probably go. But I can’t - ’cause I’ll still be at work.

I annoyed Randy at the last MNA meeting by making this comment, but 3:30-5:30PM? I mean, I understand that it costs to stay open late and business owners have kids too and they need to get home and all - but you know, we don’t even pick up Jr. V from Kids’ Corner until around 5:30 usually…

Anyway, that’s nitpicking. This sounds like fun way for little kids and moms and dads that stay at home or get off early to have some fun while it’s still light outside. Thanks to the participating businesses. If I can get off early, maybe I’ll stop in too.

In case you’ve missed the HUGE SIGNS tacked up all over the Village for the last several days, there is another in the series of town hall meetings to discuss Sam Adams’ ongoing effort to develop a “citizen supported” tax program for repairs and upkeep for area roads and bridges.

You can read about this more here, at safeandsoundstreets.com (which is a pointer domain to a page at Portland Online) - and if you’re interested, show up at Wilson tonight from 7-9PM. Given the recent spate of bicycle vs. car fatalities - expect a heavy turnout from the pro-bike lobby.

Enjoy your last Tuesday off…. Well, not likely but starting next week, Journeys will be open five days a week. They’re starting off with a wine tasting next Tuesday. I’ll follow up with more deets when I’ve got them all.