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NEIGHBORHOOD
belmont's inn
What's a bar to do when complaining neighbors force it to can live music? If you're Belmont's, you tear down the stage, trot in a half-dozen pool tables, add lights to brighten the place up, et voilà--one of the friendliest taverns a neighbor (even a grouchy one) could want. As the young crowd shoot stick, they also have their pick of more than 20 beers and a jukebox that ranges from the Stooges and Misfits to Jane's Addiction and James Brown. Sample a foamy Obsidian Stout to go along with the funky Parliament tunes or slurp on a hoppy Bert Grant's Scottish Ale while blitzkrieg-bopping to the Ramones. Some of the atmosphere remains from the old days--most notably the corny "Moon Goddess" mural on the ceiling--but the new Belmont's is most certainly improved. (JG) 3357 SE Belmont St., 232-1998. Open daily. 22 taps. beulahland
If you ran an establishment with only four taps, what beers would you choose to serve? The young owners of Beulahland selected a perfect variety: Pike's sweet Scottish Kilt Lifter ale, sharp and creamy Hale's Bitter, summery Geist bock, and Portland's favorite dark horse, Black Butte Porter. From 5 to 7 pm a pint of one of these masterful brews costs $2. Add a sardine sandwich, curry pasta salad or chips and salsa and your bill's still under five bucks. Although Beulahland looks like a coffeehouse--wooden tables, newspapers, an outdoor patio and board games--come dusk it turns into an intimate but raucous bar scene with the Pogues blasting, pick-up stick tournaments raging and a few fair maidens wagering on chess games. (BD) 118 NE 28th Ave., 235-2794. Open daily. 4 taps. crackerjacks pub & eatery
A throwback to the Northwest Portland of old, Crackerjacks is part neighborhood tavern and part '70s-style diner. Without any of the California-isms that have crept into other drinking establishments in the area, this restaurant and bar serves up a straightforward selection of micro and macrobrews to go along with a sizable menu of burgers, steaks and sandwiches. The bar is cluttered and noisy, with neon beer signs covering the walls. Beeps and pings from video poker machines compete with the collision of pool balls and a steady diet of jukebox rock and pop. On the diner side, it's a David Lynchian arrangement featuring wooden walls and tables, plush booths, wicker trimmings and even some flora. (RM) 2788 NW Thurman St., 222-9069. Open daily. 10 taps. hanigan's tavern (a.k.a. "the vern")
Most taverns are full of old guys reminiscing about bygone days of chasing tail and jumping bail. Replace the gin-blossomed bums with local band members, lose the "t&a" from the equation, and you've got the Vern. This place practically defines the term "neighborhood dive," yet hip kids from all over town converge here for affordable beer and a fun jukebox that spins actual records. Expect to see hippies sipping Henry's ($4.50 a pitcher) and slipping quarters in for a play of the Dead, while punks prefer a Pabst or Guinness to go with Black Flag's "Wasted." Middle-of-the-roaders can get happy with the Stones and a Full Sail IPA. For those who want a sweet deal on a sweet drink, Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers are a mere buck-fifty. Mondays are cheap chili night, and on Thursdays you can take a shot at the taco-eating contest. (JG) 2622 SE Belmont St., 233-7851. Open daily. 15 taps. lutz tavern
Hormonal high energy of the Reed College variety keeps the Lutz humming. Gals with bobs, clogs and tattoos dance around, while scruffy boys in hip-hugging cords look on approvingly. Floating booths, instead of the usual kind pressed up against a wall, deliver a sense of community, while semicircular corner tables provide makeshift study areas. Nobody really cares what they're drinking, but if you're not in the mood for a $1.35 Blitz or Pabst, there are also Widmer Hop Jack, Mirror Pond, Anchor Steam, Full Sail Nut Brown and MacTarnahan's on draft. Alaskan Pale Ale and Sierra Nevada, perfect starter beers, cost $2.50 a bottle, and several hard ciders provide a sweeter alternative. (BD) 4639 SE Woodstock Blvd., 774-0353. Open daily. 8 taps. the ship
If you're one of those backward commuters who live in the city but work in the suburbs, you're familiar with unyielding end-of-day traffic. The next time the bumper-to-bumper blues have you cursing your car, the road, the radio and the jerk in front of you, find shelter and relative calm at the Ship. Mondays mean $1-$2 pints and $1.25 bottles, and during the rest of the week, premium pints of Full Sail Ale, MacTarnahan's and Black Butte Porter will only set you back $2.50. Beyond the bargain beer, pool is 25 cents--plus 25 cents to the barmaid if you punt the cue ball or drop your stick--and $1 earns four plays on the jukebox. Nestled in mysterious Multnomah Village (where is it, and why does it sound like a training ground for Santa's workshop?), the Ship is plain, approachable and not at all nautical. (CM) 7827 SW 35th Ave., 244-7345. Open daily. 8 taps. |
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