BAR PILOT

Spirited Away

Lee Medoff to run Bull Run Distillery

Posted by: John Chandler on Sep 01, 2010 at 01:00PM 5 Comments

Lee Medoff (right), a founding member of House Spirits Distillery, will soon open Bull Run Distillery in Northwest Portland.

Lee Medoff has been with House Spirits Distillery since its inception in 2002 and as cofounder, helped develop some of its trademark potables including Aviation gin and Medoyeff vodka. Now, after establishing House Spirits as a major player in the artisan liquor business, he’s moving to the dark side. With favorable winds and good luck, he’ll open Bull Run Distillery in late November, a fledgling operation that will specialize in “dark spirits” like whiskey and rum. In addition, his own Medoyeff vodka will be part of the inventory.

The new venture is not due to any rancor between Medoff and his House Spirits partner Christian Krogstad. In fact, it’s because of their success that Medoff feels empowered to try something else. “Aviation gin is available everywhere from Berlin to Sydney,” Medoff tells me. “But I think the dark spirits—rum and whiskey—represent the future of craft distilling.”

Bull Run Distillery, like House Spirits, will have a tasting room and retail space open to the public (NW 23rd Ave and Quimby St), and will periodically turn out small-batch artisan spirits. Medoff is installing two 800-gallon stills to up his production numbers. “This way we’ll be able to produce five barrels of rum or whiskey at a time,” he says. As for turning his attention to rum, a spirit much maligned as a fool-proof ingredient for cocktails favored by amateur imbibers, Medoff vows to bring a level of sophistication to his creations.

“Besides, I really like rum,” he confesses. Stay tuned for further developments.

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What’s For Lunch?

The Bar Pilot Patty Melt!

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 31, 2010 at 12:00PM 10 Comments

I feel like I just ate a park bench. This will be my last lunch report from Big-Ass Sandwiches for a while, I promise. But since they did me the honor of naming this week’s special after me, I feel I should acknowledge the effort—especially since it’s friggin’ awesome.

The Bar Pilot Patty Melt is a leviathan of fresh ground Piedmontese beef (tender, juicy, lean) and grilled onions, splashed with caraway aioli, and loaded with a layer of french fries. You have three cheese choices; bleu cheese crumbles, Swiss, and the bechamel sauce. I recommend the latter, because it introduces a slightly smoky element into this highly munchable mess. The caraway aioli replicates the taste of rye bread, a traditional component of the patty melt, and the bechamel, onions, and fries become fused into a glorious, savory sidewalk of starch. I also recommend a change of clothes: the juice from the beef soaks the bread and the normally sturdy Fleur de Lis-baked bun turns into a spongy tortilla resulting in more falling debris than the Hindenburg. I’m ashamed to admit I couldn’t quite finish—don’t you judge me!

Zoinks!

Having a sandwich named after me is one of the coolest things that’s ever happened. How pathetic am I? “That sandwich is you,” said one of my office mates. “Beefy, wry (rye), and really cheesy.” If I’d actually consumed the whole sandwich in one sitting it would have been my epitaph.

Speaking of monster sandwiches, I ate at the Sonic Drive-in in Wilsonville the other day. Glory be! It’s a sinful shrine dedicated to calories, carbohydrates, and carhops, a totally Old School operation like A&W used to be. You order from your car and a waitress on roller skates wheels out a tray loaded with heart-stopping comestibles—a partial menu is shown below. The dreaded tofu wouldn’t dare show its pale face around these parts. I guess what I’m trying to say is, temptation is everywhere. Enjoy your life and I’ll see you in hell.

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Tags: Food Carts, Big Ass Sandwiches

Potions & Notions

The Beer Fashioned gets a day in court

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 26, 2010 at 02:00PM 5 Comments

The Beer Fashioned—not without its charms.

When we last left our hero, he was contemplating the ambitious and—judging by your responses—unappetizing prospect of spending some quality time with a Beer Fashioned. I’m happy to report that there were no fatalities. In fact, I see great potential there. My proportioning was rather elephantine (too much bourbon, not enough beer), but once the mixture settled a bit, the co-mingling of brown sugar, bourbon, and beer, with just a whisper of orange, proved to be an agreeable combination. The brown sugar and bourbon produced a pleasantly medicinal taste, while the wheat beer added malty notes and, along with the orange zest, provided an unmistakably festive tone. Note: I only had one due to a shortage of bourbon. More experiments to follow.

A reminder to all my drinking buddies that this weekend is the Nano Beer Festival at the Green Dragon. I for one don’t see the point of microscopic beers, but to each his own. I mean, are they served with an eye-dropper? What’s that? They’re not? Imagine my chagrin. This sudsy bash is a chance for smaller breweries (1000 barrels or less annually) like Heater Allen, Fort George, and Upright to bring out their own artisan ales and introduce them to a grateful public.

Finally, has anyone been to the Blue Parrot at 3416 N Lombard St lately? Apparently the name’s been changed to Foggy Notion, and I wanted to know if the bar was named for one of my favorite Velvet Underground songs.

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Tags: Beer Festivals, Cocktails, Bar Openings

The Beer Fashioned

Too much of a good thing?

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 24, 2010 at 09:00AM 6 Comments

Today’s topic is the Beer Fashioned. What say ye drinking buddies? Thumbs up? Thumbs down?

I myself am insanely curious, so I’m going to drop some science and whip up one of these bad boys and report back tomorrow. This could be the summer drink we’ve all been waiting for! And if I call in sick to work, we’ll know the experiment was a rousing success.

The Beer Fashioned from Claire Thomas on Vimeo.

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Tags: Beer, Recipes, Cocktails, Bourbon

Happy Hour of the Week

3 Doors Down does it right

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 20, 2010 at 12:00PM 5 Comments

My mercurial moods always get me into hot water. “You flip-flop between crummy little dives and places I can’t afford!” read the irate email. Well, “Justin,” let me see if I can break it down for you. There are times when my financial prospects aren’t so rosy. On those occasions I favor a Happy Hour where a few crumpled bills will fill my rumbling belly and perchance blur my sobriety. When the eagle screams, I believe in stimulating our local economy by disposing of as much of my paycheck on swanky cocktails and small-plate snacks as possible. That’s just how I roll.

A recent trip to 3 Doors Down belongs firmly in the latter camp. It’s a classy spot where I don’t skimp—the food is just too well prepared and the drinks are simply breathtaking. Will I regret my profligacy at some point during my two-week cycle between pay days? A little bit, but the sense memory of the creamy white bean spread or the dazzling eggplant parmesan ($8.25) usually buries any nagging recriminations. It’s a small space, one that’s not conducive to a big party of blowhards, but for small, civilized groups or a romantic tete-a-tete, it’s the bee’s knees.

One of the factors that weighs most heavily in its favor is the relaxed atmosphere. Happy Hour is only available on Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, but it lasts all night, so you’ve got plenty of time to linger over a brilliant salad of Bibb lettuce, chives, smoked bacon, and garlic dressing ($4) that will curl your uvula. Don’t overlook the house specialty, a penne pasta with vodka sauce and sausage ($8.50) that melds flavors of pepper, ripe tomatoes, and a jab of licorice from the fennel into an entree that will consciously make you slow down while eating it. All the better to savor the ingredients—and make the dish last just a wee bit longer. The Zuppa del Mare ($10) is a zingy seafood stew of shellfish and shrimp seasoned with saffron that tingles all the way down.

Don’t be shellfish! There’s plenty of Zuppa de Mare to go around.

If you turn away for just a moment, chances are there will be a fresh plate of Pearl Bakery’s pugliese bread ($2)—a crusty rustic Italian bread that could sop up an oil spill—when you return your gaze to the table. Nope, they’re not cheap with the bread at 3 Doors Down, and the accompanying Tuscan white bean spread is a subtly piquant gem that should be smeared on anything that doesn’t move.

Lest you think I’m giving the drinks short shrift, rest assured nothing could be further from the truth. In the hands of bartender Matt Stiles, everything from a mundane martini to one of his can’t-miss daily specials is rendered with Swiss-watch precision. Case in point, the mojito, a drink I normally avoid because it’s usually mixed in amateur fashion (too much mint or lime). Stiles, however, understands that a proper cocktail is a whole story unto itself with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Whether it’s the proportioning, the stir, or the dash of orange bitters, Stiles has a gift for weaving the ingredients into a superb three-part harmony of prickly mint, limey tartness, and the light rum’s sweet burn. He’s performed similar sleight-of-hand with virtually every cocktail he’s ever served me—and that’s a goodly number.

The mojito—magic in a glass.

The prices may appear spendy to anyone who’s more used to plunking down a few measly shekels for vulcanized chicken wings at Tuffy’s Tavern, but the value of the overall experience is off the charts: prompt and amiable service, crackling-fresh ingredients, and deftness of execution is not something you find at every hole in the wall.

Adieu, 3 Doors Down! I’ll return in two weeks with a bulging wallet and an empty stomach.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Cocktails

Deschutes Street Fare

Yes, we know the difference between “fair” and “fare”

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 17, 2010 at 01:00PM 2 Comments

Photo: John Chandler

More than 1500 folks showed up to the Deschutes Street Fare held last Thursday at NW 11th and Davis.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

More than 1500 folks showed up to the Deschutes Street Fare held last Thursday at NW 11th and Davis.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

Local nonprofit Morrison Child and Family Services was the beneficiary of the Deschutes Street Fare to the tune of $5000.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

The jalapeño cheese popper sandwich from Grilled Cheese Grill was best savored with a cold beer handy.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

The sensational pork and kimchee sandwich came from the Slow & Low cart.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

The Deschutes beer vendors were definitely hopping on a hot afternoon.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

Garden State brought meatball-and-mozzarella sliders to the party.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

Chris Funk from the Decemberists (left) and Langhorne Slim delivered a set of fiery folk tunes.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

This is a waffle taco from the Flavour Spot with pecans and maple butter. It was sublime!

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

The chilly fruit flavors at Oregon Ice Works proved popular with a simmering crowd.

View Slideshow » Photo: John Chandler

The pizza jockeys at Pyro Pizza kept the slices coming even on a hot evening.

When I first started working at Portland Monthly one of my duties was to attend local charity functions and report on how many people showed up, what went on, and how much money was raised. To be sure, the Portland nonprofit community is second to none in its dedication and generosity, but the events themselves tended to be a mixed bag. For every inspiring evening with bountiful auctions, exciting celebrities, dancing, and five-star cuisine, there was a corresponding night spent chained to a folding chair balancing a plate of rubber chicken while trying to distinguish between the monotones of all six guest speakers.

Well, Morrison Child and Family Services, the leading provider of children’s mental health services in Multnomah County, knows how to throw a proper shindig. A fortuitous team-up with Deschutes Brewing resulted in last week’s Deschutes Street Fare (spelled this way in reference to the all the different “fare” available), a street soiree that featured a whole squadron of food carts, a smart selection of bands, and plenty of Deschutes brews—good thing, ’cause the temperature crept into the low 90s and my thirst for hops hit critical mass.

In my opinion the presence of the food cart contingent was a stroke of genius because it gave a lot of Portlanders who weren’t familiar with these charming chuck wagons the chance to peck at some of the tastiest and most intriguing food around. And judging by the crowds around Whiffies Fried Pies and Garden State sandwiches, it was a very successful introduction. Some 1500 folks dropped by to sample the goodies, bob their heads to the likes of Loch Lomond and Sallie Ford, and $5000 was raised for Morrison’s coffers. Take a look at our web-exclusive slideshow for all the highlights.

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Tags: Food Carts, Craft Beers, Charity Events

It’s Rum Day!

So what are we having?

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 16, 2010 at 10:00AM 7 Comments

Today is National Rum Day! From what I’ve been able to determine the origins of this holiday are shrouded in mystery—which usually means it was something concocted by the rum industry in an effort to move more product. But far be it from me to rain on any event dedicated to the cocktail cause. If you’re in a celebratory mood, you can find specials on rum libations at any of the Rogue drinking establishments today.

Speaking of Rogue, today is also the day that the Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub on SE Ninth Ave unveils its new in-house brewing operation which will be called Buckman Village Brewery. Rogue master distiller John Couchot will be the captain driving that particular boat. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by for a pint or two of the Buckman Chamomile Ale.

And since it is National Rum Day, I’ve included an instructional video on how to make Hawaii’s most devastating cocktail, the mai tai. If you’ve got any lovely rum cocktail ideas knocking around in your noggin please send ’em along. Aloha!

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Tags: Cocktails, Craft Beers, Rum

Happy Hour of the Week

The great outdoors at Bar Bar

Posted by: Logan Buckley on Aug 13, 2010 at 04:30PM 4 Comments

A patio is just a patio: a cement parcel out back where nic fiends can get their smoke on and sun birds can lounge and lollygag. A patio is nothing to get excited about—unless there’s more than one of them; a pair of pastoral parlors tastefully arranged for optimum chilling.

The recently opened Bar Bar, the drinking den that adjoins Mississippi Studios, boasts two (soon to be three) such bucolic backyards: the landscaped back patio, and the roomier side patio where musicians can wreak artful havoc. Impromptu concerts have been known to spontaneously erupt thanks to the Bar Bar’s proximity to Mississippi Studios. Members of Blue Giant and Dolorean dropped in to kick out some jams on a recent balmy day.

One of two (soon to be three) patios.

Happy Hour itself takes place weekdays from 4-7 and on weekends from 2-7. The modest specials are limited to drinks only, unfortunately, no food (or wine) specials to be had. On the beer and booze front thirsty patrons can quench themselves with $2 PBR or Tecate tall boys, $4 well cocktails, $5 margaritas (in a pint glass, FTW!), and slice a buck off a well-rounded list of $4.50 craft beers.

Though not discounted, the food menu—already pretty cheap—is smartly executed and reflects well on Bar Bar and its expansive environs. For those looking for big-bite bounty, juicy burgers made from Cascade Natural beef (available with cheese or as a double from $5-7) await. In the spirit of catering to a diversity of appetites there’s a satisfying housemade veggie burger too ($6.50). Throw in a tasty version of the American Wedge salad topped with onion rings ($4.50) and you have a rib-sticking vegetarian feast (ask about the shortening in the fryer if you’re still dubious).

Should you wish to share the fare with your tablemates, the fries ($2.50) and onions rings ($3) are serviceable staples. But the featured attraction is “The Box,” ($8.50) an assortment of finger snacks (cheeses, house-baked corn nuts, hazelnuts, cherries, chorizo) inexplicably served up in an old-time metal strong box (many of which have already disappeared). Novelty aside, it’s an enticing spread of goodies, one that practically demands to be passed around. Random Order pies, chocolate brownie alamode, and root beer or dark beer floats (awesome idea—about time!) provide relief for any sweet tooth flare-ups.

Benign basics mixed with a few surprises are what you’ll find at Bar Bar—and if you’re lucky, perhaps the chance to catch some indie-rock royalty riffing at the table across from you. Just pass ’em The Box by way of an introduction.

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Tags: Happy Hour

Robots and Frozen Treats

A few ideas for keeping your cool

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 12, 2010 at 01:00PM 5 Comments

Come to me, my mechanical manservant.

According to the weather forecast (which has never been wrong, ever!) the next few days are going to exceed the 90-degree mark. And because I care, so much, I surfed the web for some possible alcohol-induced methods for remaining cool, calm, and contentedly buzzed. As we all know, the secret to remaining sweat free is to conserve your energy and stay hydrated.

1. The Hopsicle Hey! You kids! Stay out of my freezer!

Pro: Refreshing, icy beer goodness.
Con: You’ll probably cut off a finger.

2. The Bottle Opener A bottle opener? On a shirt? The future is here!

Pro: A frosty beer need never again remain cruelly trapped in its oppressive bottle, a tantalizing distance from your parched mouth.
Con: Dorky looking and the opener will likely come off in the wash.

3. Beerbot Beer Pouring Robot Yes! Yes! Yes!

Pro: It keeps your beer cool and opens it for you! If they could make one that looked like Christina Hendricks, I’d declare my undying love for this divine technology. (Heh, heh, just kidding baby.)
Con: It doesn’t have wheels to follow you around—yet. Also, it only holds 6 12-ounce cans. What about the 40s? What about the 22s?

If they could make one the size of Christina Hendricks (with wheels!) it could probably hold a dang pony keg! By the way, if you’re still trying to decide what to get me for Christmas …

And if you, my dear drinking buddies, have some brilliant booze-inspired ideas, please share right here and now.

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Tags: Beer, Good Ideas

Big (Ass) Wednesday!

All I need is … this sandwich

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 11, 2010 at 01:00PM 9 Comments

Oh, the humanity!

This just in: After consulting with a team of physicians and cardiologists, it has been determined that I can safely eat one Big Ass Sandwich per month without appreciably shortening my lifespan. Or as one of the esteemed sawbones told me, “At this point, what difference does it make? Yeah, sure, eat up. Whatever.”

Business has been brisk at Brian and Lisa Wood’s supreme sandwich cart as of late. Big Ass Sandwiches was voted “Portland’s Best Food Cart” by the readers of Willamette Week, and it will be featured on a new Cooking Network show called Food Truck Revolution on August 22 and 29 (check local listings and then scream like a banshee at your cable provider).

My arrival today coincided with that of a well-dressed gentleman who performed a Tom Jones medley (with choreography!) in the hopes of winning a free sandwich from proprietess Lisa Wood. This guy was pretty damn good, so I would advise any potential sand-handler to work on their moves. Wood also informed me that anyone loyal (or foolhardy) enough to get a Big Ass Sandwich tattoo, that it’s worth $1 off any future sandwich purchase—for life! Or at least the life of the tattoo. But wait! Not so fast. The tattoo should include the official BAS logo as seen here.

This week’s special is named after a scene in the Steve Martin film The Jerk, in which Steve wanders dejectedly away from his mansion and wealthy former life saying, “All I need is … this chair.” The All I Need is This Sandwich features locally sourced roast beef (there’s also a turkey option), grilled onions, arugula, bleu cheese sauce, french fries, and an industrial strength horseradish that will incinerate every nose hair on your person. Once again, the true genius of this sandwich lies in the jazz-like interplay of the ingredients: the tangy bleu cheese, the spicy arugula, and the brawny grilled onions wreak havoc over the resilient french fries and tender roast beef—until running headlong into a conquering wave of horseradish warriors that will have you crying like you just sat through the last scene of Old Yeller.

And finally, once the battle has ceased raging, you’re left alone with the broken remnants strewn across the foil wrapper like Longstreet’s infantry at Gettysburg. Oh, and don’t forget to wash it down with one of BAS’s artisan soda pops from around the country, such as the High Mountain Huckleberry from Jackson Hole Soda Co, which provided some sweet relief after that merciless horseradish devastation.

And that, my friends, is how we do lunch … downtown. One more thing, drinking buddies. One day I would like to be honored at BAS with a Bar Pilot Special. Tell me, what ingredients would a sandwich named for yours truly have on it?

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Tags: Food Carts

Happy Hour of the Week

Civilized eats and atmosphere at Accanto

Posted by: Caterina Purves on Aug 06, 2010 at 03:00PM 0 Comments

Accanto is the little-sister cafe adjacent to decadent Italian eatery Genoa on SE Belmont. It’s in my neighborhood, and I walk by its large, scenic windows all the time, staring in at the tall, mirrored wall of liquors behind the stark wooden bar. I’ve even eaten there once—brunch, at the boyfriend’s behest. The atmosphere is convivial—quiet, low-lit, stylishly bistro-esque—and the food is decent: delicate, reserved, well made with fresh ingredients. So why can’t I bring myself to truly like you, Accanto?

Happy hour is daily from 3-6, weekdays from 9-10, and weekends from 10-midnight. Not bad. The nighttime stretch gives us working stiffs a decent window, which is great because honestly, if I have to rush to choke down a drink by 6, I’m not going to bother. Unfortunately, the menu isn’t particularly bountiful, with seven very civilized bites (i.e., small and painstakingly plated) ranging from $1.50 to $6; craft pints on draft (Everybody’s, Walking Man, Hopworks) for $3.50; “happy wine” (red or white) for $5; and a house-infused cocktail for $5. Last night the special happened to be gooseberry infused bourbon mixed with apricot puree and lemon juice, garnished with lime. Cue “danger” music.

Frankly, I’m not a whiskey gal. But by that time I had already decided that I wanted a cocktail, dagnabbit, so despite my belly’s brown-liquor dread, I ordered the daunting concoction. And guess what? I liked it. A delicious intro-to-bourbon drink, I decided. If you’ve had the Bye and Bye at the Bye and Bye, it tastes quite a bit like that—though less gut-wrenching and drunk-making, given the fact that it’s got only one spirit instead of two (and isn’t served in a jar the size of my head).

The boyfriend opted for the red, a light and refreshing Sangiovese that we both liked. Not being particularly drawn to any of the food items, like the marinated olives ($2) or the tomato, mozzarella, and rapini panini ($5), I ordered the “happy” soup of the day: a summery vegetable number, warm and broth-y with squash, kale, and zucchini, garnished with, to my best estimate, toasted baguette slices and shredded Parmesan cheese ($5). I wasn’t thrilled, but I also wasn’t disappointed.

Although it was only about an hour before close when we arrived (just in time for happy hour, naturally), and there was no exterior lighting, the server, rather hesitantly, let us sit outside. In retrospect, I think she made the right choice, because the boyfriend and I ended up getting into a heated philosophical debate about geometry, which probably would have disturbed the pristine nature of the indoors.

Not only did the server’s sound judgment win her points, but she was also very attentive at our table, and at the nearby table populated with Baby Boomers. And she was cute. I like places with an attractive wait staff—what can I say; I’ve got a well-developed aesthetic. Plus, her cute, trendy appearance was a great match to the cute, trendy décor.

Accanto’s not a bad place; it’s fine. I should like it and it’s not that I don’t. I think it’s the middle class, middle-aged bistro patron that fails to titillate me. God knows why (cue sarcasm). Accanto, I’m sorry—It’s not you, or your thoroughly modern fare, it’s me. If you want me back, you can find me down the street at the Vern, where I can yell about mathematics to my heart’s content.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Cocktails, Craft Beers, Cheap Eats

Tiki Weekend!

Try a Polynesian Potpourri

Posted by: Caterina Purves on Aug 05, 2010 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Ben Adams will be one of the participating artists in the Atomic Tiki group show at Elroy Artspace.

Just in case you didn’t get enough tiki at last weekend’s Tiki Kon festivities, we’ve got a whole slew of Polynesian cultural quests for you, the dedicated island lover.

Start tonight at the opening reception of Elroy Artspace’s Atomic Tiki group exhibition. More than just an art show, Atomic Tiki offers a peak into the larger cultural phenomenon whose icons include grass skirts, wooden masks, risqué native pin-ups, and that whole dreamy tropical island motif that was especially popular in the post-war years. Elroy Artspace is usually open 10-2, Tuesday through Friday, but tonight they will be open during First Thursday, from 5-9 PM.

Tomorrow night, grab dinner after work at Big Kahuna in St. Johns. The menu features local Hawaiian-style meats with rice and, if you get the entrée meal, two sides (pick from tropical fruit, chili, or Paniolo beans*). I recommend the Kahlua pig rice bowl, or the entrée if you’ve got a big appetite. It’s just rice and pulled pork, but with the BBQ mild sauce (my fave), it’s flavor heaven. Their sauces are award winners for a reason.

Once you’ve stuffed yourself with an adequate portion of local kine grinds**, head over to The Alibi on N Interstate for some quality tiki time. Here you’ll experience the vestiges, in all their gaudy glory, of the 50s tiki culture phenomena you learned about at Elroy Artspace. Think of it as cultural field research. Order yourself up a super-sweet tropical cocktail, and get down with one of the rowdiest karaoke crowds in town.

On Saturday, grab an early dinner at Noho’s Hawaiian Café. Get there at about 5pm —it’ll give you enough time to eat and enjoy before your next task. The portions at Noho’s are huge, truly Hawaiian-sized, so don’t be put off by the daunting double-digit pricing. Anything I could possibly recommend is going to be ono***, but if I were you, I’d order the teriyaki steak. In fact, maybe I’ll just see you there.

Head over to the Keller Auditorium after dinner for the 7:30 showing**** of South Pacific. A World War II-era romantic comedy drawing from Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific (1946), the musical’s setting is, naturally, an island in the South Pacific. The beachy set and retro costuming (vintage swimsuits, classic sailor garb) will make you feel right at home. That is, if your home was a Polynesian island in the 1940s. Musical highlights include Broadway hits “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha’i,” “I’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair.” And, as a special bonus to all of us ladies, I’ve been told that the actor playing the lieutenant (younger lead male) is easy on the eyes.

If you’re not totally tiki’d out by this point (and I’m betting you will be—run time for South Pacific is three hours!), head over to the Thatch Tiki Bar. It’s far more low-key than The Alibi, and the kitsch is at a more manageable level. Grab a post-musical Mai Tai and let the ambient music carry you and all your worries away. Maybe tomorrow you’ll dig up your bathing suit and hit the beach at Sauvie’s Island. Yeah, that sounds peaceful.

Finally, I’ll leave you with a tiki teaser for later this month: Hot Tiki Hell, a modern burlesque show at the Whiskey Bar. Tiki burlesque? That’s all you need to know.

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Tags: Weekend Plans, kitsch