contents PUB CRAWLS BREWPUBS BREW CLUB PROFILE BRITISH, IRISH CHI-CHI COCKTAILS THE SCIENCE OF DRINKING FUN AND GAMES GAY BARS KARAOKE OLD MEN SPORTS BARS THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS WINE WINE WORDS

Outdoors A tree grows in Portland, and I plan to drink beneath it. BY JOHN GRAHAM jgraham@wweek.com Sunny and 70 degrees. Baby-blue sky, not a cloud in sight. Birds are chirping and girls are flirting. There's only one solution: outdoor drinking. Sitting in a bar, hoping a sunbeam slips far enough inside to brush a forearm isn't enough. And placing bets that a restaurant with a few sidewalk tables actually has a free seat is like wagering the mortgage that we'll soon call Dan Quayle "Mr. President." We require an establishment committed to serving fermented drinks al fresco. Benches, chairs, stools--it doesn't matter as long as there's room for everyone. Touches of nature are nice, too. Maybe some shady trees, budding flowers or climbing vines to remind us of the Northwestern splendor we've missed throughout the sodden winter. Most importantly, there has to be a sensation of escape; we want to feel either ensconced away from the world in a cozy backdoor shelter or surrounded by nothing but fields and trees, with no thoughts of duties and deadlines. CORNELIUS PASS ROADHOUSE It may be just a short hop from the highway, but sitting at one of the many picnic tables behind this McMenamins farmhouse restaurant makes you feel miles from the big-city sprawl. If anything, you'll feel like you're at a family reunion barbecue; you can almost imagine drunk Uncle Bob standing by the grill, "Kiss the Cook" apron around his neck and a pint of Hammerhead in his hand. The evening view includes an antique barn, spreading green fields and a rosy sunset. 4045 NW CORNELIUS PASS ROAD, HILLSBORO, 640-6174. OPEN DAILY. BEER AND WINE. GOOSE HOLLOW INN The Goose Hollow is owned by former Portland mayor Bud Clark, and his quirky, personable touch makes this splintery-wood establishment a friendly place for an afternoon brew. Though nestled on the verdant edge of the bourgeois West Hills, there's a proletariat feel to the Inn--like the deck lanterns made from old, plastic mayonnaise jars, or the bathroom graffito decreeing "rich people suck"--that makes it casual for even the most SUV-hating patron. Besides, you're here for beer, and glugging a foamy Guinness while looking up at the Vista Bridge or down toward the city is great no matter which tax bracket you fall into. 1927 SW JEFFERSON ST., 228-7010. OPEN DAILY. BEER. MCMENAMINS EDGEFIELD The ultimate destination for summer sipping. This former poor farm isn't just a cool place for a cold beer--it's an entire campus on which to play. (There are no less than six different places to drink here; if you buy a beverage at each one, make sure you assign a designated driver.) The main hangout is at the loading dock, under the watchful gaze of the old water tower, but don't forget to venture around past the fish pond to the adorable (but tiny) old shed bar. Worth a trip from the city anytime, or stop here to wet your dry whistle after a day in the Gorge. 2126 SW HALSEY ST., TROUTDALE, 669-8610. OPEN DAILY. BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR. PRODUCE ROW CAFE Slipped discreetly into the warehouse district of close-in Southeast Portland, the Produce Row opens a surprisingly large, two-tiered deck in the summer months. The high fences surrounding the area hide the crumbling walls of most of the surrounding factories, while a tree in the corner reminds you that life still exists even in an industrial area. The impressive selection of beers can't hurt, either. If you opt for a sandwich, make sure you're hungry--even the "small" ones are hefty enough for a hearty lunch. 204 SE OAK ST., 232-8355. OPEN DAILY. BEER.