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November 12, 2006
Alcohol and creative Lincolns
Hipsters are, on average, skinnier and taller than jazz fans, in my observation. Beer fans come in all shapes and sizes. Wine drinkers travel in packs of thin, well-coiffed women. But my weekend observations and stereotypes are getting in the way of the recap.
It started when the best beer in America arrived in a duplex on N. Ainsworth, carried by a man I like to call "husband."
One of Ben's colleagues recommended the Hair of the Dog Brewing Co, and it turns out you can buy the stuff at the mall on a Friday afternoon. I had no idea that a $4 bottle of beer could have the same subtle depth as a $40 bottle of wine.
Good timing, that discovery. Hair of the Dog celebrated its 13th birthday party Saturday with an open house and free tastings. We showed up, and walked away with a spendy case of the signature brew.
Across the parking lot from the brewery, we discovered Hip Chicks Do Wine, which was open for free tastings, too. We'd found an alcohol mecca surrounded by welding shops and a train yard. We left with a bottle of Rose.
Just as the buzz was fading, it was time to head out for a night of Lincoln creativity.
Ben broke out his sax and joined the Portland Woodshed Big Band at the group's first show of the season, opening for Bryant Allard -- a big name on the Portland jazz circuit. Ben had two solos, and we stuck around for a couple of sets by Allard's group.
Then it was off to the Homeland Gallery.
There we found: cheese, chips, and art. There was wine and beer, too, but by then I'd had my fill. One of the featured artists was Amy Lincoln (Ben's sister). Hipsters milled about, drinking bad beer and trying to look important.
Posted by Courtney_Sherwood at November 12, 2006 02:45 PM