{"id":11097,"date":"2015-10-30T12:24:26","date_gmt":"2015-10-30T16:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=11097"},"modified":"2015-10-30T12:29:46","modified_gmt":"2015-10-30T16:29:46","slug":"not-home-for-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/not-home-for-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Home For The Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

November 2015 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Push yourself away from the table, baby, and hit the town.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

By Olivia Gunn<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dec15-After-Dark\"<\/a>It\u2019s that time of year again, folks. The leaves are ditching us, snow has fallen, and the city\u2019s even started the search for the perfect tree to shine brightly in Monument Square. All of this adds up to cozy nights by the fire, festive parties with friends and neighbors, and holiday cheer. It also means you\u2019ll be expecting visits from everyone and their mother, including, possibly, yours.<\/span><\/p>\n

So where do you take your family in a town with a choice for everyone? If yours is anything like my family, deciding where to eat or drink can mean rolling out a lot of baggage. The holidays are stressful enough without the never-ending family feud between Aunt Sis and Grandma Dot. So here are some suggestions for you and yours that may get you through. Happy Holidays!<\/span><\/p>\n

Up Front<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While you can always expect a bit of a wait, the Front Room is an easy choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Most likely, you\u2019ll find something on the menu that suits all three. My parents arrived around 1 p.m. They\u2019d driven from Pennsylvania, stayed overnight in Connecticut, and finally arrived on Sunday afternoon, wanting to waste no time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Front Room gets nice natural lighting during the day, and though it is usually full, it never feels overwhelming. We\u2019re seated after a few minutes, and mom and I waste no time scoping the drink menu. \u201cTwo Apple Cider Mimosas coming right up.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Our meals are a good size, and we end up doing a family buffet. Little mac and cheese here, a little pulled-chicken sandwich there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe brunch isn\u2019t your thing? The Front Room is still a great pick for dinner, though I wouldn\u2019t suggest a large group, as the space just isn\u2019t cut out for it. It\u2019s perfect for a group of four.<\/span><\/p>\n

Otto, Obviously<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone has his or her favorite location, whether 576 Congress or 225 Congress\u2013usually, it just depends on whether you\u2019re in the West or East End at the time. Since moving to Munjoy Hill, I\u2019ve found myself with fewer options for a happy hour but also completely satisfied with Otto\u2019s \u201cslice-for-a-beer\u201d special. Go in between 4 and 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and you can sit at the bar and enjoy a dreamy draft with a slice of mashed potato, bacon, and scallion, or maybe a vegetarian slice like the Margherita. <\/span><\/p>\n

The 225 Congress location is a great escape from the busy streets of downtown, and it\u2019s large enough for a big group of cousins, grandkids, and siblings. Just you, your honey, and the in-laws? Grab a snug little booth, and share a whole pie. The bar is large enough that even on a crowded evening, you\u2019re bound to find seats. When visiting with my own parents, I couldn\u2019t tell what my father liked more: seeing meatloaf on a slice of pizza or Sophia Loren hanging on the walls. You won\u2019t find liquor at Otto, which, when family is involved, isn\u2019t always a bad thing, but the beers, wine, and ciders go down quite nice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blue After Dinner<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing makes my dad happier than Grey Goose on ice and some good blues. Seeing as it was his first visit to Portland, I wanted nothing more than to make him fall in love with the city that stole my heart. After a day of lighthouses, breweries, and a quick nap, it\u2019s time for Portland after dark. We head into Blue, my dad with a clean-shaven head topped with a fedora and my stepmom Mary standing 6\u20193\u201d in heels with flaming red hair. Fil and I smile as the two draw looks from all corners of the room. We accepted it some time ago that my parents are much cooler than us. <\/span><\/p>\n

Walking into Blue is a bit of a shock. Since I\u2019ve last been here, the place seems as though it\u2019s nearly doubled its size. Now there is much more space for the musicians, with seating between the stage area and a back bar. We take a seat there and happen to run into a good friend of mine and local musician, Viva. She joins our table with her date, and the six of us\u2013a number that would have been a squeeze before the renovation\u2013sit back with our nightcaps and enjoy the performances by Samuel James and Dana Gross. Dad is impressed, so much so that he buys another round before the day catches up with all of us. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mixing It Up<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cocktails and mocktails are his game, and Steve Corman is his name. After a Sunday afternoon stroll in the Old Port, we\u2019re looking for a place to stop, refresh, and beer is not on the menu. After a weekend out, we want simple, quiet, and non-alcoholic, please.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the intersection of Silver and Fore Streets, Fil spots Vena\u2019s Fizz House and wants to take a peek, as he\u2019s started creating bit of a bar at home and working his own cocktail magic for friends. The man makes a mean margarita. <\/span><\/p>\n

The front house is a shop of potions, mixers, and elixirs, and we\u2019re having a field day going through the tiny bottles. We even start pretending we\u2019re in Diagon Alley, prepping for Hogwarts. <\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, a friendly-faced man in square-rimmed glasses makes his way over and asks if we have any questions. Fil seizes the opportunity to inquire about bitters, and so it begins. Steve Corman, who owns the place with his wife, Johanna, whisks us to the back, where an entire bar is set up. We take seats and are offered sodas on the house. As Steve concocts the fizzing brews, he tells us the story of how Vena\u2019s began when Johanna woke up one morning with a really, really good idea. <\/span><\/p>\n

We end up spending nearly an hour as Steve explains and describes different flavors and techniques. The two of us sit there, giddy like children, mesmerized by Steve\u2019s showmanship and storytelling. <\/span><\/p>\n

Before long, another group joins, and Steve tends to their drinks. We say our goodbyes and promise to return with every visitor we have. Fil buys us souvenirs. Two mason jars of dried fruits, cinnamon, and crystal clumps of sugar will become Blackberry Maple Lightnings\u2013we simply have to add bourbon. And, on Steve\u2019s recommendation, we buy a tiny bottle of Dashfire bitters. Let\u2019s just say, we\u2019ve never had more friends wanting to stop for happy hour at our house.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\r\n

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