Hanging Out On A Sunday

By Simeon | January 30, 2008 7:21 AM | Comments (1)

The majority of last weekend, I was couch dwelling. We've been hit with some cold temperatures, and the rain has blanketed the Portland area. I really wanted to head out on Saturday night, but who wants to walk to the bus in freezing rain? That hitch didn't put a damper on the whole weekend. On Sunday afternoon, the sun peaked out from behind the clouds. The rain spigot turned off. Teresa and I walked over to Alberta for some beer and food.

In the spirit of trying new places, we decided to try Alleyway Cafe & Bar. Each time we have walked past, people have been inside the place. Of course, this is generally a good sign. The building is unique. It is built of corrugated tin. The tin is formed into a half-circle. It definitely stands out from the rest of the street. They have a large outdoor seating area with a ton of picnic tables. I can imagine the fun times in good summer weather.

We took seats at the bar, and we were eventually greeted by the bartender. Service is generally more relaxed in this area. Sometimes, it is too relaxed. Even though a few groups of people huddle around tables and chairs, the bar was very quiet. I found myself whispering to Teresa.   They had a CD player going, but the CDs tended to be scratched and the music would skip.   The atmosphere was bleak for a Sunday.

Erica, the bartender, was very nice. She helped me choose a new beer -- Walking Man Brewery's Barefoot Brown. This tasty amber ale is made from local Cascade hops. It was a real treat.   After choosing from the beer selection, we choose some eats from the happy hour menu. Alleyway boasts happy hour everyday! We started with a hummus plate. It was standard and good. The only difference from other places was the yogurt. It was a nice touch for dipping. Right as happy hour ended, we grabbed a plate of sweet potato fries. So good. These bright orange treasures were thinly cut and seasoned just right. It was a shame the atmosphere didn't rival the food. I'd like to go back to Alleyway. It probably won't be until the summer or a weekend night.

Instead of calling this Sunday quits, we stopped in the Cyprus Room at the Kennedy School.   The atmosphere was more lively. It felt like people were out enjoying themselves. This was a welcomed change from the Alleyway. The food and beer couldn't compare. I am starting to understand some people's opinion of McMenamins. The food and beer are decent. In the land of great food and beer, decent can be disappointing.   However, you can't beat the venues. I love the look and feel of the Cyprus Room. Plus, you really can't understand the Kennedy School until visiting its halls for yourself. I was excited to end the Sunday on a high note.

This Sunday won't go down in history. I didn't look at the clock at 3pm and realize I'd had a few too many Blue Moons. Those days are awesome, but always a strain on your Monday. It was wonderful to exit the house. It is tough to break the mental block of the distance to Alberta. Once you get on the road, its not that bad of a jaunt. I am glad we tried the Alleyway, and I'm hoping I become a fan. I am not sure what we'd do without the Kennedy School. It has been the source of a few good outings. It did liven up this Sunday.