Tag: Foxtrot Lounge

Jay Ringer at The Foxtrot Lounge

Dear Liza,

It was rainy and chilly Sunday, but the new Foxtrot Lounge was open for coffee, tea, sandwiches and music, so Auntie Bridgett and I bundled up and walked over.

There wasn’t a big crowd, because even in Portland most folks will stay home a cold, wet Sunday.

We ordered some hibiscus tea, found a table on the patio by a heater, and listened to the music, a wonderfully sweet, nostalgic sound.

Once I had warmed up with a cup of tea and the music had stopped for bit, I headed over to the gazebo across the yard to see who was making it. I met Jay Ringer, a talented and soft-spoken fellow. He plays the pocket trumpet, melodian, and electric keyboard and sings, all very well. His playlist includes The Beatles, Donovan, Jim Croce, and standards from the 1940s to the 1980s, music I grew up with and have grown old to.

Foxtrot Lounge Jay Ringer Musicians in Portland Cafes in Sunnyside New businesses in SE Portland

We enjoyed looking at the decorative panels and fountains, oriental but not stuffy, exotic but not spooky, just the right quirky vibe for our part of town.

I know we will spend many happy hours at Foxtrot.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Re-opening a Favorite

Dear Liza,

When we first moved to this neighborhood, we fell in love with the J. C. Havely House, just katty corner across Belmont Street. It is rumored to be haunted and certainly looks the part. At that time it was being run as The Pied Cow.


The Pied Cow served delicious ginger cake, ice cold sangria, baked Brie on fresh bread, and lots of other goodies. It was amazing. But when the pandemic hit, the strain on both the business and the owner was just too much. The Pied Cow closed and the building was sold.

But good news! The house is soon to be opened as The Foxtrot Lounge, and on Saturday we got to see the inside of the house, the garden, and have a short chat with the new owner, Britain Stephens.

Britain (who is extremely camera shy) and his crew have cleaned up the large garden space and installed beautiful structures. Some of these feel like classy cabanas and will be good for shelter from the sun and moderate rain. Others are just for fun.

Lots of folks were looking around and enjoying the space.

The inside of the Havely House has gotten a facelift as well, and now feels like a friendly, high-end Haunted Mansion. Since the Havely House is home to a ghost called Aunt Lydia, this seems fitting.

We didn’t try any of the food on offer, but there was wine, beer, sangria, and a variety of bruschettas. Britain told us he plans on a proper opening come October… Just in time for Halloween!

And you know we will be there.

Love,

Grandma Judy

End of Summer

Dear Liza,

I know it’s not quite the Fall equinox yet, but we are definitely there. Saturday was the Belmont Street Fair, which is our last street fair of the year.

The weather started off chilly, then the clouds passed and the sun came out.

People were ambling down the street, walking happy dogs and chatting with friends.

Auntie Bridgett visited with Steph at Happy Anyway while a face-painting friend decorated Steph’s arm.

We even got to go inside the wonderfully historic J. C. Havely House, soon to re-open as The Foxtrot Lounge.

I’ll show you more about that tomorrow.

I ran out of energy and came home to rest. By the time we had dinner, the skies opened up and we had a fine gullywashing rain storm. Welcome, Fall!

Love,

Grandma Judy