• Black-and-white photo of a mixed-use building with a restaurant on the first floor. Text across the image says, "A pint at Mazama Brewing at Orenco Station § Hillsboro, Oregon."
    craft beer,  Oregon

    A pint at Mazama Brewing at Orenco Station in Hillsboro, Oregon

    Mazama Brewing at Orenco Station is a year-old gastropub.  However, there is a lot more to the taproom and New American restaurant.  It is part of Mazama Brewing, a family-owned brewery in Corvallis, Oregon, that opened in 2013.  The current location opened in April 2019 with an emphasis on contemporary food and craft beer.  Despite the name there is no beer brewed at Mazama Brewing at Orenco Station, although it serves an extensive list of Mazama beers. Brewery’s history Jeff and Kathy Tobin began homebrewing in the 1980s, but did not initially plan to open a brewery.  After a trip to Belgium in 2011, the couple decided to pursue opening…

  • Overview of a large corner bar with a opaque white box with green text that says "A pint at Vertigo Brewing § Hillsboro, Oregon."
    craft beer,  Oregon

    A pint at Vertigo Brewing in Hillsboro, Oregon

    It is difficult starting, building, and maintaining a small business, let alone a craft brewery for over a decade.  However, that is precisely the story of Vertigo Brewing in Hillsboro, Oregon. Brewery’s history The tale of homebrewers turned commercial brewers is nearly as old as the beer industry itself, but that does not make the story any less interesting.  Mike Kinion and Mike Hanes worked together in the tech industry for nearly 30 years and brewed beer together for several years before entering competitions for feedback on their brews.  The pair honed their brewing skills through trial and error with feedback from these competitions over ten years before opening Vertigo…

  • Black-and-white photo showing a bar with a digital drink menu in the middle of the wall. Text overlays the image saying "A pint at Ridgewalker Brewing § Forest Grove, Oregon."
    craft beer,  Oregon

    A pint at Ridgewalker Brewing in Forest Grove, Oregon

    It takes a team effort for any business to succeed.  That is especially true in craft beer, which is why the partnership behind Ridgewalker Brewing in Forest Grove, Oregon, has done so well. Brewery’s history The team behind Ridgewalker Brewing includes Chris and Jason Cirlincione, Jeff Farrar, and Justin Marble.  Chris and Jason Cirlincione bring a background in real estate and flipping properties to the team, which was critical in overhauling the brewery’s main property, the 1921 Public House.  Their experience also allowed the team to find and renovate the city’s former post office and convert it into an event space known as The Mail Room.  Farrar’s experience in food…

  • Multiple empty glass bottles on their sides on a wall with text overlaying that says "An ochoko at SakéOne in Forest Grove, Oregon."
    Oregon

    An ochoko at SakéOne in Forest Grove, Oregon

    In 1992, SakéOne (note not SakeOne) began as a saké importer.  Eventually in 1997, the company expanded its operation and began brewing saké.  Today the brewery produces four lines of saké ranging from the innovative Moonstone to the traditional Momokawa.  Note that both sake and saké are appropriate spellings of the Japanese liquor made from fermented rice. Visiting the brewery On the southern edge of Forest Grove, SakéOne is about 25 miles from downtown Portland.  It is a 30-minute drive in ideal traffic conditions.  The brewery is in an industrial area of this Portland suburb with ample parking. The tasting room has plenty of space for small or large gatherings. …

  • Brick neoclassical designed building with white columns and a text box over the center that says "My experience at McMenamins Grand Lodge Hotel."
    hotel review,  Oregon

    My experience at McMenamins Grand Lodge Hotel

    For a trip to Portland, my wife and I wanted to spend a few days outside of the city to relax and recharge our batteries.  About 30 miles from downtown Portland, we found Tualatin Valley.  In working with the local visitors association, we settled on McMenamins Grand Lodge Hotel in Forest Grove.  The hotel is a 45-minute drive from Portland International Airport or a two-hour transit using TriMet.  From downtown Portland, the lodge is a 30-minute drive or about 90 minutes on TriMet. Original king with private bath My wife and I opted for a king room with a private bath.  There is plenty of space for two suitcases and…

  • Diagonal view of a building with text overlaying it that says "My experience at the EVEN Hotel Eugene."
    hotel review,  Oregon

    My experience at the EVEN Hotel Eugene

    For my visit to a Eugene Emeralds baseball game, I wanted a hotel not too far from the ballpark (read about my visit to an Ems game here).  The EVEN Hotel Eugene in the Harlow area was a great match.  The hotel is a three-minute drive, a 13-minute bus ride, and a 20-minute walk from the baseball stadium.  Additionally, it is a five-minute drive to Downtown Eugene and a six-minute drive to the Whiteaker neighborhood. Wellness king room Traveling with my wife, we chose a wellness king room.  There is plenty of space for two large suitcases plus two carry-on suitcases and a pair of backpacks.  The desk was a…

  • Overview of a baseball stadium with a text box that says "My night with the Eugene Emeralds."
    ballparks,  Oregon

    My night with the Eugene Emeralds – July 25, 2019

    College baseball teams and short-season Minor League clubs sharing a ballpark have become commonplace over the last decade.  The University of Oregon Ducks and Eugene Emeralds are one of the first partnerships between a collegiate team and a Minor League club.  The university built PK Park for a reborn Ducks baseball program, but the Emeralds have made their mark on the ballpark, too. Arriving at the ballpark PK Park is northeast of Autzen Stadium, home of the University of Oregon football team.  The park is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Eugene.  The parking lot is off Leo Harris Parkway.  Parking costs $5 per vehicle, but pre-paid parking is available…

  • Exterior overview of a large hotel building with text overlaying it that says, "My experience at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Salem, Oregon."
    hotel review,  Oregon

    My experience at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Salem, Oregon

    For my first visit to a Salem-Keizer Volcanoes baseball game, I sought a hotel that split the distance between the ballpark and downtown Salem (read about my visit to the ballpark here).  The DoubleTree Hotel Salem in northeast Salem was ideal.  It is about 15 minutes from the stadium and 10 minutes to the Oregon State Capitol.  Additionally, the hotel is 5 minutes from the Oregon State Fair Expo Center. One king with sofa bed and sitting area Traveling with my wife, we opted for a king room.  There is plenty of space for a small carry-on suitcase and two computer bags/backpacks.  The room is divided into a sitting area…

  • Overview of a baseball stadium from the outfield facing the grandstand with text overlaying the image that says "My night with the Hillsboro Hops."
    ballparks,  Oregon

    My night with the Hillsboro Hops – July 23, 2019

    The Hillsboro Hops came into existence in 2013, and quickly connected the franchise to Portland’s craft brewing industry.  The team’s name honors Portland as one of America’s craft beer epicenters.  For the uninitiated, hops are a plant used to brew beer.  More specifically, hops are a flower that provide aroma and bitterness to beer.  For people who love baseball and craft beer Hillsboro may be the hoppiest place on earth. Arriving at the ballpark Ron Tonkin Field, home of the Hillsboro Hops, is located on the western edge of metropolitan Portland.  It is approximately 15 miles from downtown, which takes 25 to 40 minutes by car depending on traffic.  The…

  • Aerial overview of a baseball field with an interstate in the background and text overlaying the image that says "My night with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes."
    ballparks,  Oregon

    My night with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes – July 19, 2019

    Like many Minor League teams the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are the center of a development plan.  For years Keizer mayor Dennis Koho and community leaders sought to boost their local economy.  Ultimately they began looking for a Minor League team to anchor a shopping complex on the edge of town.  The plan came to fruition when the owners of the Bellingham Giants agreed to relocate their franchise, which gave birth to the Volcanoes in 1997. Arriving at the ballpark Although Volcanoes Stadium is visible from I-5, it is not as easy to reach as it appears.  Fans turn onto Stadium Drive and then navigate through Keizer Station shopping center before arriving…