Rotgut.org Blog

Sunday, June 09, 2013

#2019 - Chinook Room, Columbia Inn, Kalama, WA - 1/20/2013

Overheard in the Chinook Room:

The Columbia Inn and Chinook Room sports bar in back are more interesting on the outside than the inside. The food, drinks, and decor are bland, but you tend to stop for the cool signage and the charming little town.

The population of Kalama peaked in 1874, booming and then declining as the Northern Pacific Railroad created a terminus there, then moved their headquarters to Tacoma. From the 1880s to 1908, the second largest ferry in the world took train cars across the Columbia River from Kalama to Oregon. The ferry is gone but port-related businesses still employ about 1,000 people from the area (the current population of Kalama is around 2,500).

In 1962, Elvis stayed at the adjacent motel, while driving from L.A. to Seattle to film "It Happened at the World's Fair." A sign on the side of the restaurant notes this and a visit from Jack Benny.

698 Northeast Frontage Road, Kalama, WA - (360) 673-7600
Reviews: yelp - elvishistory

#2018 - Icehouse, Vancouver, WA - 1/19/2013

For a description see Three Monkeys Pub.

7804 Northeast Highway 99 Vancouver, WA 98665 - (360) 573-0454

#2017 - Three Monkeys Pub, Vancouver, WA - 1/19/2013

Just over the river from hipster Portland, Vancouver, Washington bars seem like they are lost in time. There are hair bands on the big screen, and The Macarena is still huge. This is very evident in the classic suburban strip mall pub the Three Monkeys. The space has no particular personality, but a lively crowd is there doing Jaegar bombs, jello shots, and whip cream in flavored vodkas.

7917 Northeast Highway 99 Vancouver, WA 98665 - (360) 828-7006

#2016 - The Florida Room, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

For Seattlelites, you might envision Portland's Florida Room as something midway between Unicorn and the Blue Moon. It has the colors of Unicorn, the carnival scenes painted on the tables, mid-century modern signage, the diveyness of the Blue Moon, condiments in six pack cartons, and various paintings with the Hamms Bear painted into them.

435 North Killingsworth Street Portland, OR 97217 - (503) 287-5658
Est. 2006

Web site: facebook
Reviews: portlandmercury - eater - wweek - portlandhamburgers - barfly - portlandmonthly - urbanspoon - yelp

Saturday, June 08, 2013

#2015 - The Tardis Room, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

A funky, nerd magnet, Dr. Who-themed bar inside "The Fish and Chip Shop"

1218 N Killingsworth St Portland, OR 97217 - (503) 232-3344
Est. Dec. 2010 (restaurant in Nov. 2008)
Previous bars in this location:
Web site: thefishandchipshop.com - facebook
Reviews: pechluck1 - oregonlive - thrillist - barfly - yelp

#2014 - The Woodsman Tavern, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

Try the: Kentucky Special

It was interesting to hear the bartender at this upscale restaurant and craft cocktail bar tell of various locals poking their head in expecting to grab a Bud in the new neighborhood dive. Instead the Woodsman usually has a line for dinner and drinks, and was recently celebrated by GQ Magazine as one of the best new restaurants in the country. I had some very nice cocktails on this evening, including a "Hunting Vest" (basically and Old Pal with Cedar-steeped Campari) and an even better "Kentucky Special" (12yo bourbon, Lapsang souchong, cherry heering, and Angostoga bitters). I'm no fan of oysters, so I stuck to the burger, which was pretty good, and came with fried potatoes with mayo and Saracha sauce.

4537 Southeast Division Street Portland, OR 97206 - (971) 373-8264
Est. Fall 2011

Web site: woodsmantavern.com -
Reviews: eater - nytimes - wweek - eatiuppdx - seriouseats - portlandmonthly - yelp

#2013 - Funhouse Lounge, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

Portland's Funhouse does not have great drinks or food, but it does have a stage hosting music and improv, a carnival on acid retro decor, and a number of fairly isolated rooms, crowned by the happily creepy "Clown Room"