Don "The Last Yelpicorn" B.'s Profile
DatePortland, OR 97216
(503) 251-2727
US Post Office
Category:
Post Offices
Neighborhood: Hazelwood
Listed in: East of 205
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 583-0497
Zeitgeist Kunst & Kaffee
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
I tend to hit this coffee house more than any other in the Seattle area simply because of its proximity to the Amtrak station. I go by train. A lot. And often I need to fuel up before departing for points south or upon arrival. The alternatives in the area are corporate and blah. Zeitgeist, on the other hand, makes some decent brew, has a great vibe and a lot of space to chill. Plus they offer something that most coffee houses don't - legitimate, substantial savory options (alongside plenty of sweet/pastry selections).
There simply seems to be something genuine about this place, which in the era of often-pretentious single-origin-focused micro-roasters and chain coffee domination is a welcome respite. I dig it.
Seattle, WA 98104
(800) 843-3779
Washington State Ferries
Category:
Public Transportation
Neighborhood: Downtown
WSF is a Seattle transportation institution. With friends living in downtown and family out on the peninsula (Hood Canal and Bremerton) I find myself riding these things a lot. Both the Bainbridge and Kingston ferries, as well as the Bremerton boat from time to time.
Let me stop and put any question to rest: I am not from Bremerton. I just had some family move there long after I moved out of Seattle. Ain't no bremolos up in these...
Anyway, WSF does a pretty damn decent job of keeping me above water and getting me across the sound... soundly. While I don't commute on these boats every day, I have logged quite a few crossings and the vast majority (excluding some holiday fiascos) sail when they should. They're clean enough and Steve Raible (voice of the Seahawks) keeps me safe with his informative announcements.
As a predominantly walk-on passenger, I enjoy free passage coming east and don't pay a ton (comparative to what it would cost to drive around) to go west. The boats do vibrate some, and every once and a while there's a technical difficulty that could leave you floating around in the sound for a while, but at the frequency with which these boats run, it's bound to happen.
And as far as modes of commuter transport go, there's nothing quite as magical as pulling out of downtown Seattle at night and taking in the lit up skyline from the water. So gorgeous. I never get tired of it.
The WSF do a thankless job and do it fairly well. And if they ever stop charging for their wifi, they may even garner a 5th star from me.
Listed in: Planes, Trains, and…, Sea-town Ballers
This little alleyway spot serves up quick and hearty Indian and Pakistani lunch combos for a decently cheap price. The space is small and kind of shabby but it does okay. There's a TV and a small, dated space for sitting and a walk-up counter. The service is friendly and prompt.
The menu is mostly combo-driven - a varying list of Indian staples like butter chicken paired with rice, naan and salad. White rice, plain naan, iceberg salad. Basic. The food (at least when I was in) was fresh and decent. Not an overwhelming amount of butter chicken, but decently tasty. With the rice and salad there was more food than I could eat in a setting. The chai? Again, decent.
This is a totally passable lunch and a nice answer when you're in a hurry (I was on my way to a flight), but I wouldn't be making any special missions.
Listed in: Diggin' the 'Couve!, Oh Canada....
Richmond, BC V7B 1M8
Canada
(604) 207-7077
Vancouver International Airport
Category:
Airports
Neighborhood: YVR
...why you gotta be so cruel to us commuters? You have such a nice, clean, new airport with shiny, flashy signs and video screens and clean carpet and check-in counters. Why oh why do I have to hike all the way out to gate fucking 90-something to catch a 40-minute flight to Seattle? Worse yet, why do I have to hike crazy far from one terminal to another to make a connection when coming in from or points north and points south? Boo on that.
Otherwise, the Vancouver Airport is a pretty damn decent airport. They have semi-free wifi (free for mobile), a decent number of eateries and shops, clean services and a myriad of other conveniences. Of the many, many airports in which I've done time, YVR is up there near the top. Security is not too rough (it's USA style for the flights south), the US Customs area is well organized and quick and the duty free options are aplenty (although you gotta watch out - prices aren't necessarily great. Especially on booze).
Coming in is fairly easy as well, although like many airports it's a trek from the commuter gates to customs, and customs can be pretty damn slow. Slow but friendly and efficient (for any CBSA agents reading this!). The SkyTrain light rail is just outside the main entrance which adds to the ease of transport to downtown... which is not really that far away. About 25 min at most by cab or 25 min by train.
The only question remains - what does the YVR acronym stand for?
Listed in: Planes, Trains, and…, Oh Canada...., You're So Fly...
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y7
Canada
(604) 681-2331
The Burrard
Category:
Hotels
Neighborhood: Downtown
This hotel is like a cross between two of my more-loved properties in Portland - The Jupiter Hotel and The Ace Hotel. The plan itself unfolds as it often does with the Jupiter - a classic boxy motel that's been hipped up with stylish, clever branding and clean design. It takes a turn along the Ace's path with some of the more urban/design-forward features like unique tiling in the bathrooms, hip fixtures and the like. Overall it has much more the feel of the Jupiter, which in the end is young, fresh and hip.
The rooms are on the small-ish side, clean, and cozy. They feature flat screens, comfy beds, free bottled water, free wifi, free long distance anywhere on the continent and a nice in-room espresso machine. There's a desk for working and a small area for relaxing. Each room has an in-room safe and mini-fridge as well, which are nice touches. There is no pool onsite nor a workout facility, but you can get a free pass to the Steve Nash Fitness World down the street (no pool, but decent workout facilities).
It's super refreshing to stay in a hotel that doesn't try to nickel-and-dime its guests for stuff like wifi and various other sundries. While it's not your usual luxury/boutique style hotel, The Burrard is almost as comfortable as one.Based on the demographic they're obviously chasing with the branding (young, hip, party-ready) I could imagine that things could get raucous here on packed nights, but I didn't experience any of that myself.
I will totally stay here on return visits. Especially if I get a less-than-$100/night rate like I did this go round. That's totally worth it!
Listed in: Diggin' the 'Couve!, Oh Canada...., And Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1R5
Canada
(604) 681-3232
Steve Nash Fitness World
Category:
Fitness & Instruction
Neighborhood: Downtown
I visited via a pass from The Burrard Inn as I was staying in the area and really needed a workout. The pass is a nice touch but lacks some basic necessities - like a lock. Who travels with a lock anyway? They have lockers but you can't really use them unless you have a lock. They will hold your bag behind the counter while you work out, though, so that's nice.
The club itself is a lot like a 24Hour facility in the states - lots of cardio machines, some universal machines crammed together, trance playing over the sound system, and lots of pretty people working out and looking at each other working out. Which is something I'm not used to since my home club is filled with mostly old fogies and people who are just there to work out. Oh, but here this bear got some stares. That's for sure. And honestly that's not why I go to the gym.
Overall the workout area seemed clean but the locker room did not feel that clean. I would not have showered there even if I had access to a lock (which I would have purchased, had they offered one for sale). But hey, if I ever switch teams and need to do some cruising in Vancouver, I may stop on through here...
Listed in: Healthying it up, Diggin' the 'Couve!, Oh Canada....
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y7
Canada
(778) 328-9880
7-Eleven
Category:
Convenience Stores
Neighborhood: Downtown
What makes this specific 7-11 location entertaining is the amount of homeless activity that takes place around the store. When you walk up a homeless doorman will kindly open the door for you (with of course a request for donation). The couple of times I was in there at least one random hobo was either attempting a purchase, zoning out, getting chased out, or similar.
The staff seems to do a pretty good job of staying fairly tolerant of this whole mess, though. I think it would behoove them to chase off the homeless door guy - it's kind of annoying. But hey, it's their 7-11...
Listed in: Diggin' the 'Couve!, Oh Canada....
Portland, OR 97253
(503) 248-1030
Someday Lounge
Categories:
Lounges,
Music Venues,
Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Old Town - Chinatown
I really dig this venue. It's a great space - big enough yet still intimate. The sound is well dialed in. The spirits selection is better than your average venue. The food is vegan and tasty! And those are all good things. But what I really like about the Someday is the content.
The Someday Lounge logo has a little tagline that says Viva L'Arte. Normally I'd take this as contrived or fancy schmancy, but one look at the eclectic lineup here and it's obvious that Someday is not just trying to play it safe and pander to the mainstream. Whether it's an experimental incubator, live non-music performance acts, a ninja metal bad, interpretive dance, renowned DJ's, a monthly hip-hop (not mainstream) night, or whatever... the name of the game is variety. And for that, above all else, I give them props.
The viewing public Portland can be very fickle. Or should I say lazy. Yeah, that's a better word. Or maybe apathetic? I used to throw parties in this town at various venues and clubs and motivating the PDX crowd can be so hard to do sometimes. Which is why stepping outside the envelope of what you know will be successful can really take balls. And Someday has those balls.
I've been for various random shows and seen this place both packed and empty. I'm sure he could fill the spot 7 days a week playing it safe and sticking to mainstream entertainment. But there's plenty of that in Old Town. I'd much rather have a spot with a varying lineup. And good booze. And an intimate feel. And Someday has that.
Listed in: KILL ALL PLANTS!!, Event Spaces, V is for Vegan
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 542-0880
Screen Door
Categories:
Southern,
Cajun/Creole
Neighborhoods: Northeast Portland, Kerns
Want to know how good it is? Read my prior reviews. I keep coming back to try new things and really, to see if there's anything on the menu that could prove my adoration for this restaurant to be blatantly off-base. And every time I come... every time, it's fantastic. The breakfast - delicious. The dinner? Surprisingly good. The ability of the staff to keep such a well-oiled machine in motion -- to fit so many people in to such a standard sized restaurant, to keep the turns moving fast, and to do it with a smile (in the face of hangry, unreasonable and sometimes abusive clientele).
I mean, you really can't go wrong with any meal at Screen Door as long as you follow the simple rules:
1. Plan to wait... a while. If you have a large group - call in advance and have them put your name on the list.
2. Don't come hungry. See #1. You're foolish to show up starving to what you know will be on average an hour wait.
3. Wear stretchy pants.
Don't say I didn't warn you...
Listed in: Greater than 5 stars, Mornin' Yawnin', Portland Gourmet, Carnivorous PDX, Finger Lickin' Good
1 Previous Review:
-
5/2/2011
Screen Door represents the epitome of indulgence. Now indulgence may be par for the course in Portland (home to bacon fest and Pine State), but Screen Door also represents something much more significant: regional food done right. Many chefs in Portland can do French/Northwest/New American style food quite well here, but when it comes to replicating specialty foods from other American regions, it always seems to be done wrong. Not here. Screen Door does southern food right. In fact, between Pine State and Screen Door, I haven't had much in the way of legit southern fare in PDX, and I lament it.
I have been going to SD for breakfast on and off for years. The only thing that keeps me away is the line - which is horrendously long. Were it open for brunch on weekdays I would likely hit it more often (and I'd be 100lb heavier), but alas, I value my hours (and my not-yet-critical cholesterol levels) enough to avoid the waits here most weekends. The stand-outs on the breakfast menu range from Eggs Sardou (benedict with spinach and an artichoke heart in place of ham), breakfast corn dogs, bananas foster french toast, a mile-high stack of chicken and waffles, various delicious hashes, grits and praline bacon (aka meat candy). There's no question that one breakfast here has enough calories for a full day's worth of strenuous activity. Oh, and everything tastes even better than you're imagining while reading this review.
I finally ventured in for dinner the other night, and found it to be... well... like breakfast, but dark out. The line was ridiculously long, with waits ranging beyond an hour. The menu is as enticing if not moreso than the breakfast menu, with brisket, fried chicken, shrimp & grits and similar offerings ranging from $10-$19 (for the special NY steak). They also have a whole selection of special local organic sides each week, and a "Screen Door Plate" entree which just lets you select 3 from the long list of amazing sides (mac n cheese, blackened catfish, greens, etc) or the organics list. My wife usually has to ask for special accommodation to get a plate full of sides (she likes to sample) and she was in heaven with this option. My fish (with melted leeks and braised spinach over potatoes and red pepper sauce) was divine. The side of broccoli, potato and smoked cheddar gratin reminded me that magic (and possibly unicorns) still exist in the word. And the Mac n Cheese? Baked and divine.
The only real misses at Screen Door are the cocktails. While creative, they're not executed well. But honestly, the quality of the food could light up any shadow cast by this miss.
As to the service, SD runs like an incredibly well oiled machine. The abuse that these folks must endure from hungry patrons waiting for extended periods of time (especially for brunch) does not show in their demeanor. At all. I've never had anything but smiling, friendly, efficient service here. Once when they accidentally skipped us on the list the host made sure an order of hush-puppies (perfectly done, at that) was waiting at our table once we were up for a sit.
These folks truly do run a 5-star operation here, and the fact that they can process the masses that come here without hiccups in food quality (never had a bad meal) or service (never had bad service) is honestly astounding to me. They win where so many others fail.
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13030 Useful, 9083 Funny, and 9495 Cool
Portland, OR
Yelping SinceJuly 2007
Things I Lovecocksauce, The Blazers, Fish Sauce, Your Mom, beer, meat, booze, hip-hop, trip-hop, funk, soul, jazz, dub-step, kong biji chigae, anything with gravy on it, the Oregon Ducks
Find Me InSE PDX
My HometownSea-town, WA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I am Yelping. There will be plenty of time to not-yelp when I am dead.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsBecause you know you want to
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadThe Age of Persuasion
My First ConcertI will never tell
My Favorite MovieBlack Samurai
My Last Meal On EarthPho - lots of chili oil
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...well, if I tell you, I'll have to kill you.
Most Recent DiscoveryMy belly button.
Current CrushHilary B
This post office is near to my house but somewhat far from my heart. I can't say whether it's the fault of the staff or just shitty customers but every time I visit with the need to ship something flat rate there are next to no boxes out in the self-serve area and never any in the size I need. I don't like being forced to wait in the always-long line just to get a box that should be out on the shelf. And you have to use their boxes to ship flat rate.
Often I find myself cursing as I either cram my goods into a too-small box or pad out a too-oversized box that I've found in the dregs of the shelving. It could be that the customers are to blame here, I do see some possible clues in the form of:
1. Half-assembled boxes left half-hazardly strewn around the counter space.
2. People who just stare blankly at the very obvious and simple choices on the self-service computer screen. ("Sir, I don't think you have the capacity to serve yourself.")
3. (this list item intentionally left blank)
4. Half-written address labels just left for dead on the counters.
Seriously, every time I walk in there I feel a sense of malaise so thick I could cut it with a knife. But to the credit of the staff here, they have always been friendly enough and helpful (the few times I've had the wherewithal and the schedule availability to stand in line for the appropriate packing material.
People - for the love of god. It's not that hard... don't steal all the boxes, learn the simple difference between Express, priority and flat rate. And get the hell out of my way. Oh, and if you can't read or you're just slow in general, stand in line and let the nice ladies at the counter help you. The self service machine is too complex for you.