Bennett "Go Padres!" L.'s Profile

I had been meaning to check out Brick's Barber after the news station I work for did a story with them a couple months ago.  They're only a couple blocks from where I live and it would save me the hike to (and seemingly unending wait) the place I usually go for my semi-regular buzz cut.

I went in on a Monday evening.  There were two people ahead of me.  One was a special needs kid.  Chelsea was really nice with him and not only gave him a good haircut but also made him feel at ease in my opinion.  There was another guy (he was wearing a hat) just hanging out who offered me a beer, which has become customary at many of the barber shops in Portland.  I wasn't interested in the beer, but I was immediately glad I went there.  Everyone was in a good mood and the conversation was like everyone knew each other and were there because they enjoyed it.  Not because it was a job.

I got my hair cut by Chelsea.  Considering I don't have a lot of hair to begin with, it was nice that she still gave me some options on what to do.  I think it turned out really good.  The other person who runs the place, Eric, chatted me up throughout.  He even got really deep into Einstein's theory of relativity and explained to me that e=mc2 backwards means "to see me"... meaning all that really matters is how we see and interact with each other... or something.  I'm not a big science/philosophy guy so it was a little over my head.

When my haircut was over, Eric talked me into getting my eyebrows waxed, which is something I'd never even thought about let alone considered doing before.  I guess it's something he's really into.  While a little nervous I played along and got it done.  Yeah, a little pain is involved but Eric said it would change my life in about 4 days.  That would be tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.

Beyond the grooming, I also learned that Eric and Chelsea are actors and are doing hair/makeup and possibly appearing in a new Cake video.  Also, they showed me a rough cut of a mockumentary they are in that features the Brick's Barber shop and features a lot of cock jokes.  They say Ron Jeremy and Daniel Baldwin will also be in the movie.  Oh, and did I mention Eric has a pretty intense handlebar mustache?

If you are in the SW Portland/Multnomah Village area, please check these guys out.  They are really nice and make everyone feel at home.  I plan to go back as often as my follically challenged head will allow. Cash only I think.

EastBurn is a great spot to wind down or kick off the evening.  But above all else, get the Mackin Cheese.  By far the best mac & cheese in Portland, and there are definitely some contenders in this town.

I've gone to this place twice in the past 4 days.  You can get a seat at a table or booth like a normal person, you can get a seat at the small bar area for drifters like me, you can hang in the enclosed "patio" area where it's cool chill and have a cigarette without getting rained on, or you can go down into the basement area where it's usually a bit louder and rowdier.

Tons of beers to choose from.  This is Portland after all.  The bartenders are really friendly and although they look like hipsters they are about as mellow, chill and approachable as it gets.  I watched the Ducks football game here last weekend and the bartender was talking sports with me the entire time.  My only gripe with that whole thing was there was no sound for the tv at the bar.  Nice, clear HD big screen but no sound.  Downstairs there was sound on the tv's but still it was kind of low.

This is definitely a gem in Portland without all the hype.  It can get really crowded on peak nights/hours... but any other time you'll have no problems.

I've been following the local standup scene for a few months.  If you want a solid introduction to Portland comedy, get thee to the Boiler Room by 9pm on a Monday night.

For about two hours, seasoned vets and newcomers alike try out their material.  All are held to about 5 minutes.  Considering the hit and miss nature of a comedy open mic, that's the perfect amount of time to keep the show moving.  Kevin Michael Moore is the host and is a very funny man in his own right.  You might even get to behold his Afghan Whigs t-shirt.

The space itself is quite easy to navigate.  Boiler Room occupies the corner of the building.  With the placement of tables and a large sized open area for karaoke, it's no problem moving around inside.  The bar staff seems limited.  On busy nights I've seen two bartenders, but typically it's just one.  If you're hungry, get the mini corn dogs with fries for six bucks.  Bar food usually is borderline tolerable, but those are awesome.  Like most places in Portland, PBR is the cheap beer and it goes for two bucks. (I think)

Another big draw for Boiler Room is karaoke.  On Mondays it kicks up right after the comedy open mic.  The sound system is above average and being right on the street it's easy to step out for a quick smoke break on 3rd and Davis.  This particular part of Old Town is where you want to be.  A block or two in either direction and you're in crack alley, homeless zone or frat dick central.  It feels like a hidden pocket of chill.

I don't care if it's a 10 mile drive from where I live or if I have to pay $6 for the bridge toll to get back home, I'll be back to this place.

I had been searching for a barber shop here in the Bay Area for the past few days.  Of course, my fellow Yelpers wouldn't steer me wrong.  This place is in the heart of Berkeley's campus area and is a laid back, walk up establishment.  No appointments necessary.  They'll hook you up.

For guys like me who are follically challenged, the request is simple.  Just your standard buzz cut to streamline the past couple of weeks of growth on the sides.  The girl who did the honors was a delight.  I can't remember her name exactly only that it starts with an "S" and is unique.  Please forgive me.  She is super hot and was dumbfounded by my recent decision to leave Portland.  My kind of lady indeed.

Oh did I mention they gave me a free beer to enjoy as I was getting my hair did?  Yes, yes they did.  Tecate it up my friends!  I don't know if this is a regular thing here, but they had some brews handy and tossed one my way.  THAT is certainly a first.  Why can't all places be like this?

This place could easily be four stars if it just works on its crust recipe.  I like a good thin crust pizza, but there was just something off about this.

Pro: Not super greasy, fresh and well cooked toppings.

Con: Crust has a consistency that doesn't really do anything for me.  I want to bite into a thin crust pizza and have it be almost cracker-like with a thin element of dough.  This was just kind of like gnawing through cardboard.  Ok maybe not that bad, but certainly not the experience it should be.  The crust seems kinda just there, rather than an ingredient to be appreciated.

Solid pricing at this place.  Got a big slice of barbecue chicken pizza and some soda for under $5.  The chicken and barbecue sauce were excellent.  Wouldn't be surprised if there's someone in the back cooking it up fresh rather than throwing on some pre-made toppings.

I came here just as the Giants playoff game was getting underway.  Plenty of seating yet it was still easy to move around.  Fun mix of people as you'll find in Berkeley.  Definitely a good spot to sit and enjoy a game with plenty of HD screens on the wall.  Just take that crust to the next level and we'll be cooking.

This has been my lifeline to the city since I moved to San Francisco, and more specifically Yerba Buena Island, a little over a week ago.  First off, this is a 24 hour ride which already puts it on my good side.  On the return trip there's a free shuttle that drives me up the hill and drops me off right in front of my place.  This is what the Mayans called "customer service."

Some other fun facts about this bus:

* You might just get the whole bus to yourself in the middle of the night.

* Perchance there will be a 9-year-old chubby white boy who sings aloud the chorus to Justin Bieber's "Baby" to a packed bus all the way into the city.

* You very much could have the opportunity of hearing quasi-homeless junkies talk amongst themselves about how no one's gonna tell them what to do.

* For every degenerate you'll encounter, you might also come across a really cute art student trying to look like a hipster.

This is a unique bus route and a good way to get into town.  It drops you off at the temporary transbay terminal at Howard & Beale, which is a few blocks from the Embarcadero BART zone.  Everyone gets off at the same spot and the bus turns back around to take people back to the island.  Simple and efficient.

My first attempt at finding a Chargers bar in the Bay Area leaves me feeling a bit torn.

I do like your inviting motif of the irish bar, yet I don't enjoy the $7 I spent for a white russian.  This is Sunday morning at 9:30am, not Saturday night on the Vegas strip. (ok ok maybe I'm exaggerating but still, that's a bit steep for a cocktail in a neighborhood bar)

I like the sweet setup for football watching.  Plenty of hd screens all around and a big projector in the back.  I didn't enjoy the vibe of the crowd.  Rowdy is good, just not douchebag angry rowdy.  What's so hard about relaxing and watching the game?

Perhaps they have some more reasonably priced drink options.  It would be nice if there was some sort of bar food, but no dice.  Kudos to being a Chargers bar with a good sound system to go with all those tv's, but more work is needed. Show owner comment »

Not a whole lot to see here.  Just get your bagel and move on.  You could hang out in the cool little courtyard thing they have in the back I guess.  It seems there's a lot of space to sit around.

There's a pretty good selection of bagels.  I went with the whole wheat.  Grab some cream cheese of assorted flavors or have them throw some egg and cheese in between.  Really a no frills place.  You've been to one bagel shop you've been to them all.  But at least this one has aforementioned comfortable and ample seating.

Cash only.  This seems to be a trend here in San Francisco.

Sundays are my Fridays and working the overnight shift, Sunday mornings are my Friday nights.  (Are you following?)  So what else to do on a "Friday night" but go grab a bite on the town.  By town I mean an emerging from slumber, cloudy San Francisco.  By bite I mean breakfast, naturally.

There was a sports bar I wanted to check out for some NFL action in the area, so luckily I also came across The Grind Cafe to get my fill ahead of time.  This place is a hub of activity on a Sunday morning.  Families with their kids, students with their notebooks, young adults knocking out the cobwebs, SFPD officers on their break and guys like me just looking for something new.  A patchwork of people coexisting in a big city.

This is one of those places where you pay in advance and then they bring you your food.  You might want to study the menu ahead of time.  It's vast and you can feel rushed trying to decide what to get at the counter with a steady line of folks behind you.

I went with the croissant french toast, a couple of scrambled eggs and a glass of apple juice.  The juice seemed natural with that darker, cloudier look rather than that pretty almost clear stuff you get in a bottle at Safeway.  Eggs cooked to perfection, though I could have used some shredded cheese on top.  French toast was a couple of big croissants sliced in two and cooked in the classic batter.  All very good.  It's not too cheap but you can get what you need with less than $20 in your pocket.

I'd definitely come back here and try some other stuff on the menu.  Friendly service and a definite neighborhood feel.  Plenty of tv's tuned to NFL pre-game show too, so that's always a plus.

Here I am in a new city, with so many options at my disposal and one of the first places I Yelp is a total tourist trap.

OK perhaps "trap" is a strong word.  But you can't help but think a kitschy looking spot along the Embarcadero grabs the attention of folks who've come from afar to get a little taste of the San Francisco experience.  "Oh look, that Fog City Diner place looks so cute!"  That's how you suck them in.

I got there right as the place opened and by the time I left (less than an hour) the place was packed.  I didn't dive into the menu too much.  Just wanted to try the mac and cheese.  Cheddar, guyrene and some other fancy cheese are part of the mix with pasta shells in a small bowl.  The standard bread crumbs top it off.  At $10 I think part of the cost goes to the pleasure of dining in such a unique looking restaurant.

Service started off satisfactory but digressed a bit toward the end.  Had to actively get the waiter's attention to handle my bill.  A good restaurant realizes that getting you out the door in a reasonable amount of time is as important as getting you to your table.  Especially at the mid-day hour, when presumably you have things to do.

There's a chance I'll come back in a touristy setting, but for now I'll see what else is out there.