Upon getting back to Portland, OR we met up with my friend from the University of Wyoming Jason Potts. He suggested meeting at
Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. and told me to get a "Fred" beer upon arrival. Kate and I arrived, saddled up to the bar, she had a root beer (made by the brewery) and I followed through on Jason's suggestion. The golden ale didn't disappoint, and soon despite 13 years of not seeing him, I recognized Jason as he strolled through the door. We had some nice sandwiches and listened to a band preparing their sound check. Hair of the Dog was in a very industrial part of Portland, and it reminded me of Williamsburg in Brooklyn NYC. Between the occasional vagrant and abandoned factory, you would find a hip cafe or gallery, and the rare side street with cheap rental units populated by those wishing to check out and tune in... or whatever.
Following this Jason brought us to a nearby Portland
food cart pod. Recently we were re-watching some Portlandia episodes and Kate and I noticed that the very pod we went to is the one featured in the show, which is pretty sweet. Jason had us get several different favorites, and we tried our best to eat it all at the picnic tables set up in the center of the carts.
Jason Potts and I got in a car wreck together coming through a Rocky Mountain pass between Wyoming and Colorado. There was a surprise snow squall on an otherwise serene spring day that caught Jason off guard. He wasn't going fast, but he hit a drift going across the road and when his Toyota Tacoma's wheels skidded, the tires broke their seal and we rolled into a ditch 1 and a half times. We oddly had good luck, as it was probably one of the few stretches of road where we wouldn't have fallen off of a cliff. We had just eaten Italian food, and the sauce from our leftovers coated us making us seem all bloodied. Needless to say several freaked out people zoomed past us before someone was nice enough to stop and call the police and a tow. Jason salvaged the truck, and as insane as it sounds, he is still driving the same old beast of a truck today. He was told that the special model he had with a roll bar in the frame, essentially saved our lives. I recall the cd player in it didn't miss a beat, I think we were listening to no doubt... no doubt. In my mind "Don't speak," seems perfect somehow. So Jason and I hold that special bond of almost biting it together. I remember thinking at the time as the truck spun to what I thought was going to be my death... "eh, can't complain, its been pretty good..." I'd like to think I'd have the same emotions today if I was faced with a similar scenario.
The sign above is featured in Portlandia. Below is some vegan poutine which is popular, which despite its lack of meat was damn good. It was actually the first time I've had poutine, not something I'd probably order on my own, but I was glad to put it in my gut.
After the food cart pod, we headed out to a hole in the wall watering hole (wait to many holes.... ah hell) called the Green Dragon. Apparently "Imbibe" magazine named it as one of the 100 best places to have a brew in the States, and without a doubt, it is fantastic. Great atmosphere it is situated in some desolate industrial street in SE Portland, complete with tables out front, a huge beer garden closed off from the street, and a great atmosphere that was stark and cozy all at the same time. It was the type of bar that I like, where you can have a conversation without having to struggle to hear yourself think, although I do recall an unruly table of jock types that we moved away from. They seemed farm more out of place in this hipster magnet than we did. But who am I to judge.
In the next post, Jason will help us tour the mean streets of Portland. Thanks Jason- you were an awesome guide.
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