History by the Glass

Making the best of this brave new world, Nate & Alfredo up to old tricks behind their soul-sucking laptop cameras.  On Feb. 21, 2020, we made a triumphant return to newly-reopened Renner’s Grill (56:35), 22 months after a devastating kitchen fire closed the longtime anchor of SW Portland’s Multnomah Village bar scene. This comeback story was to be paired with a forthcoming visit to the enigmatic Stanich’s in what we were calling our “Lazarus” or “Flatliners” episode -- two old bars pronounced dead that somehow returned to tell the tale. Now, every drinking establishment in the metro area will face the same improbable challenge. On March 16, COVID-19 social distancing efforts forced every bar, tavern, saloon, pub, and lounge in the state to put its stools on the counter and send its staff into the virtual unemployment line. Even as our local health news slowly improves, they all face an uncertain future. We discussed it all over several rounds in our Steinhaus/ Buddy...

Once an infamous downtown dive, Kelly's is now an affable motorcycle themed tavern and live music venue.  Buoyed by a lifestyle-enhancing new sponsor, we embarked on our first HBTG visits of 2020! First, a visit to Portland’s third-oldest bar — a former downtown dive “men’s resort” turned vintage motorcycle joint, Kelly’s Olympian (09:54). Next, we happily marooned ourselves on an island of “Old Portland” goodness amidst a sea of rampant redevelopment at NW 23rd's Nob Hill Bar & Grill (38:54) where Nate ascended into cheeseburger heaven and Alfredo re-discovered a bathroom just short of perfection.  New year, same old beautiful bullshit... History by the Glass rolls on! NW gem Nob Hill Bar & Grill now boasts HBTG's top-ranked burger -- 9.5/10!!

No better bar story in Portland than that of Huber's On Dec. 27, 2019, we donned our gay apparel (tuxedo t-shirts, obviously) for an old school holiday special at the two oldest bars in Portland -- Jake's Famous Crawfish (est. 1892) and Huber's (est. 1879). Yes, like one of Dean Martin's classics from the '60s, we classed it up and drank it up, before, during, and after as we explored the fantastical, magnificent, 100% original histories of these two remarkable downtown venues. We shared the story of the legendary Way Fung "Jim" Louie overcoming a national plague of anti-Chinese rhetoric to become one of Portland's most beloved bar and restaurant proprietors at Huber's. And we tell you how, a few blocks away, Jacob Freiman employs his  mastery of locally plentiful crawfish and bon vivant attitude to make Jake's the go-to spot for the city's discerning drinkers in the early 20th century. You want bar history? You want bar history?...

Deep fried brilliance at the Cider Mill On a blustery Thanksgiving eve, Nov. 27, 2019, we expressed our gratitude for our first “podiversary” and two venerable bars located on what was once Swiss farmers land and now anchored by iconic menu items. It was a marathon exploration/recording session that began at 3 p.m. and ended past midnight, with no shortage of libations in between. Shockingly we get through the bulk of the episode relatively unscathed before the wheels come flying spectacularly off in our greatest close ever!  Before that though, we first traveled deep into the western farmlands of Washington County, stepping out of the cold afternoon wind and into the sleepy, but warm Helvetia Tavern (08:54) for the best burger and beer a personal check can buy. Several (possibly ill-advised) pit stops later, we landed at Cider Mill (37:44), between SW Portland's Multnomah Village and Hillsdale neighborhoods, where we rediscovered our love for this lively survivor ov...

Bolted in at the bar at Twilight Room On the night of Sept. 24, 2019 -- they don’t call us the most prolific podcast in America for nothing! -- we channeled our inner Thornton Melon and went Back to School, cruising by the University of Portland to pick up friend and alum Shauna Weaver en route to two of the most legendary bars on the Bluff. We made our debuts at the Mock(s) Crest Tavern (13:05) where we discussed the bar’s homegrown branding, stubby stools, vintage glassware, and mayonnaise forward menu. Then, it was off to every Pilot’s paradise, The Twilight Room (45:22), where we perched on slightly stubbier stools, staged a Hamm’s walkout, and soaked in the obnoxious silence of trivia night. It’s the old bar podcast version of a Triple Lindy -- it’s the latest episode of History by the Glass! The neon glory of the Mock Crest Tavern exterior sign -- Nate's preferred logo for the bar.

Ghosts of Christmas Future at the Sandy Hut What makes a dive? Alfredo and Nate dig deep into Portland's drinking history to find out. The boys are back to celebrate Alfredo's birthday with a trip to 1923's The Sandy Hut, joined by special guest podcast fans Rochelle and Eric. After a fond salute to old people, a burger breakdown, trip to men's room, and the marquee deep dives on dives, a "sponsored" Lyft rides us north to the tropical tranquility and raucous rocking of The Alibi, where we drunkenly declare our love for all things tiki. Rusty? Yes. Worth every second? As always.

Damn near five months after our last official episode in the field -- that is a night when we visit actual bars, drink at them, consider them, and return to the South Beaverton HBTG podcast studio to blather about them -- we are BACK.  On May 5, 2019, we celebrated the fledgling Mexican army's victory over imperial French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1892 in the only way we know how...by travelling to the deepest northern frontier of Portland to soak in some country western flavor at venerable Jubitz Truck Stop's formerly venerable and now completely remodeled Ponderosa Lounge. (Yeah, we're weird like that.) We capped it off with a pop-in at former oil n' lube place turned underrated diner and underwhelming bar/pool hall Nite Hawk Cafe & Lounge.  Tune in to hear our ramblings on cowboy hat style, sports loyalties on the dance floor, ice bucket beers, the future of old bar billiards, and more...it's all in our latest episode of History by the...