sunday coffee with lance armstrong

OK, not really. But we did pop in to check out his coffee shop downtown, Juan Pelota. They serve Stumptown. I was a happy girl.

spirits convention in portland

While at Portland Cocktail Week this past October, we checked out the Great American Distillers Festival at the Left Bank Annex. While the event wasn’t exactly all it was hyped up to be ($10 for three samples only!?), it did give us a good feel for what’s going on spirits-wise across the West Coast.

These photos don’t really tell you much about anything that happened during the event — which was essentially a room full of tasting tables. They  just came out pretty, so I thought I’d share.

the ace hotel, portland

For Portland Cocktail Week, back in October, we split our hotel time between the historic Benson Hotel, and the hip Ace Hotel. If we go back next year, I’ll definitely skip the Ace. For the same price as the Benson, we downgraded to a dorm-size room with paper thin walls, and a rough bed wedged under the window on the floor. Not so good for sleeping and hanging out in the hotel. Damn hipsters.

The lobby on the other hand, was fantastic! Loved the quirky details, honest Pacific Northwest color palate, the adjacent Stumptown coffee shop, and ultra-comfy couches. Perfect place to grab a coffee and refuel between events.

my sweet little valentine

Is that not a picture of pure light and innocence? Love.

an early look at easy tiger bakery and bar

Addie Broyles wrote up a great First Look at the new Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden, which opened late January. I hit up the media preview night as well, to check out their drinks program.

I suppose I should have expected that it would be a lovely space (based on the upscale diner chic look that it’s sister restaurant, 24 Diner brought to the previous Waterloo Icehouse space on West Sixth), but I will admit I was taken back by exactly how delightful the interior design was.

The interior was designed by local (via Los Angeles) decorator and designer Veronica Koltuniak. Koltuniak also did 24 Diner. I won’t get into too much detail on why everything works so well, because you can read Nicole Villapando’s story on the design on Statesman.com.

b-sides: the esquire tavern in san antonio

The San Antonio Cocktail Conference took place over the last weekend of January, giving me the perfect occasion to finally make the (short) trip down south to check out their cocktail scene. You can read my full critique of the event on Austin360.

In the article, you’ll discover that the gem of the San Antonio cocktail scene is the gorgeous Esquire Tavern, which re-opened this year after a four year hiatus. I could spend days shooting photos in there (the interior design is just so drool-worthy), but due to time restraints, I just had enough time to snap some iphone pics for your viewing pleasure.

What a sassy fox!

I love the vintage saloon feel the bar boasts, with tattered taxidermy perched in most corners, vintage light fixtures jutting out from weary wallpapered walls, and rich wooden booths adding weight and structure to the room.

The cocktails are nothing to laugh at, either. bartender Jesse (above) deftly mixed me up a Piloto Borracho — the drunk pilot — which is a play on the classic Aviation cocktail. Instead of gin, Esquire uses tequila and mezcal. One might think the combination of agave spirits would be overpowering in an otherwise traditionally delicate blend, but I thought the balance was impeccable. A true delight to drink, and perfect to kick off my long drinking streak while in the city.

b-sides: winter flips from second bar and kitchen

I heart flips. Flips after dinner. Flips in the dead of winter. Nothing a little egg can’t cure. Full story on Liquid. The dark side of frothy, creamy egg cocktails below. Mad thanks to Billy Hankey, Brian Dressell, Darren Makowsky, and the elusive Chef Tommy from Second Bar + Kitchen for sharing their art.

b-sides: contigo cocktails

Sometimes, mistakes precede great discoveries. Or some inspirational bull like that. Basically, I fucked up by scheduling a cocktail photo shoot at an outdoor venue for 5:3a couple of weeks ago. Which otherwise wouldn’t be an issue, except we’re back on “it gets dark unnaturally early” time, and the sun was starting to set as soon as I showed up.

What could have otherwise turned into an epic photography fail and cowardly reschedule, the situation  pushed me to work a little harder to capture what I needed. It was a welcome, refreshing challenge. It’s been awhile since I have had to shoot in difficult circumstances, and I think (hope) I did OK with that I had to work with this time around (no tripod, no flash, no sun).

In other news, the drinks you’re feasting your pretty eyes on are the brainchildren of Houston Eaves from Contigo. Houston took over the bar manager position after working at the East Side Show Room for some time. You can read more about the drinks and find recipes on Liquid.

b-sides: volstead lounge

Bored. Played with Photoshop. Volstead does looks this vintage in real life, though. Read about Justin’s cocktails and see recipes on Liquid. Cheers.

b-sides: fall cocktails from east side show room

Jason Stevens, I salute you. You can get the recipes and read more on Liquid.