new businesses in Sunnyside

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

Opening Night for Eris

Dear Liza,

Our new friend Tony Pepe and his new bar Eris had their opening night this past Friday. It was a very warm evening and we were looking for nice cold cocktails. We found them!

Auntie Bridgett had an Armagnac, I had a new creation called the Carmen Sutra, and Grandpa Nelson had a glass of red wine. Mine is the pretty pink one.

There was a lively crowd of happy people, including some of our neighbors, enjoying conversation, music, and Tony’s friendly staff; Cassius, Kyle, and Mitchell.

The decor of Eris really speaks to me.

Sigorney Weaver as Ripley (with her cat) keeps look out from over the bar; homages to Sir Terry Pratchett decorate what we will forever call OUR table, and Vigo from Ghostbusters II haunts the bathroom.

You gotta love a haunted bathroom!

The music was a bit loud for my taste, but I’m 68 and don’t generally care for loud music. I’m sure, as cocktail bars go, it was perfect.

As the summer wears on, I know we will be stopping by Eris for yummy wines and chilled cocktails, clever conversation and tasty snacks.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies

Dear Liza,

The new cookie place has opened!! Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies, run by a fine fellow named Nate, of course, (I haven’t found out his last name yet) has opened just down the block on Belmont, and they are wonderful.

Six different kinds of cookies, three of which are vegan and gluten-free, are on offer for $4.00 each, or $20.00 per half dozen. This is not cheap, surely, because Nate uses quality ingredients. Nate even lists the ingredients in his website so you know what you are getting.

As a way of making an objective taste test, we bought one of each. Auntie Bridgett was very happy with the gluten-free Trailblazers, with their cake-like texture and crunchy nuts and chewy raisins. The Snickerdoodles were also delicious, though a bit dense for a snickerdoodle, because of the oatmeal.

The only drawback is that the gluten-free cookies use Vegan butter, which is made with coconut milk, and Auntie Bridgett is allergic to anything coconut. Being a cookie-loving woman, this makes her very sad.

But, thinking positively, I get the rest of the cookies!

I especially loved the Cherry Almond, which have a unique chewy, almond-y goodness.

Everyone should stop by and find their favorite at Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies! Smiling Channing will be happy to sell you some.

Love,

Grandma Judy