Burnin'

The Wall Street Journal is offering a little lifestyle essay from novelist and short story writer, Thomas McGuane.

McGuane in many ways is a close literary relative of Jim Harrison. Interestingly, both hail from Michigan, where hunting and fishing are practically a religion. Maybe the fact that I hail from Nebraska—where hunting and fishing is absolutely a religion, along with football—makes me a prime candidate to be a big fan of these unabashedly western writers.

In the Journal piece, McGuane speaks eloquently about his two dogs, Abby and Daisy, the Pointer Sisters.

Bird dogs plead with you to imagine the great things you could be doing together. Their delight is a lesson in the bliss of living. As Bob Dylan says, “You’ve got to serve somebody.” I serve my dogs and in return, they glom the sofa. Too many hunting dogs live depressing lives in kennels with automatic feeders and waterers, exercised only enough to keep them ready for work.

This last bit makes me happy, as Darby and I have a new bird crazy dog and she’s logging some pretty solid “on the bed” time, something my two grandfathers would never have allowed. Their dogs were “strictly for hunting” although they were fed manually, run daily and well cared for.

[BONUS LINK FRIM THE GOOGLE] Here’s a 1984 interview with McGuane in Key West.

Powell’s Books recently dropped plans for a $5 million expansion

The New York Times decided that Portland would make a good case study for cities feeling the pain of recession.

Portland, a metropolitan area of 2.2 million people, affords an ideal window onto the spiral of fear and diminished expectations assailing the economy. The area has long attracted investment and talented minds with its curbs on urban sprawl, thriving culinary scene and life in proximity to the Pacific Coast and the snow-capped peaks of the Cascades. In good times, Portland tends to grow vigorously, elevated by companies like the computer chip maker Intel — which employs 15,000 people in the area — and the athletic clothing giant Nike.

But in recent months, Portland has devolved into a symbol of much that is wrong. Housing prices have fallen more than 14 percent since May 2007. Foreclosures more than tripled last year, according to RealtyTrac. The unemployment rate for the metro area surged from 4.8 percent at the end of 2007 to 9.8 percent in January 2009, according to the Labor Department.

With a major deepwater port on the Columbia River, Portland has benefited from the growth of global trade, gaining jobs for stevedores, truckers and warehouse workers. But as the global recession tightens, Portland’s docks are a snapshot of diminishing fortunes.

On a recent day, parking lots at the port were full of 30,000 automobiles that had been shipped in from Japan and South Korea, yet sat unclaimed by dealerships as sales plummeted.

I’m not sure what to make of this story. Facts are facts and the fact is times are tough. Yet, something resembling normal life is clearly going on at the same time. New restaurants are opening in revitalized Old Town. Bands are playing. Coffee shops are full. Conferences are going off as planned.

As someone who writes stories, I know first hand how you shape a story by leaving things out. The story above and most stories on the economy today leave the good news out (on purpose) because it doesn’t fit with the story their editors are asking for. Why editors need to ask for that same negative reinforcement story over and over is beyond me, but since the habit is well established it pays to look past the paper directly to people in the community for news.

Early last night we breezed into Ping, Pok Pok’s new Chinese fusion sister restaurant in Old Town. We had a nice two-top at the window and the sun was going down over the west hills. In other words, we were in the ideal place for a cocktail.

As this was our initial voyage to Ping, it was reassuring to see one of my favorite new cocktails on the list. The pomegranate gin rickey: featuring pomegranate drinking vinegar, gin, lemon and soda for $8.

This drink is also served at Pok Pok.

I have yet to try them all, but this has be one of Portland’s best cocktails.

For more on the drinking vinegar trend, see this Portland Monthly article.

Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn.

I like seeing the open source concept made popular by hackers applied in this way by an Ivy League institution. It’s democratic, which is good for the community. It’s also a subtle form of “tryvertising” for high school students considering Yale, which is good for Yale and its prospects.

After recently coming across MIX, a lifestyle publication from The Oregonian that covers the local food and beverage beat, I was interested to see another title, Imbibe Magazine, at the New Seasons check out stand yesterday.

I made an impulse purchase and brought the mag home with my four bags of high priced groceries. There are some interesting articles inside, like this one about a new breed of moonshiners.

Imbibe Magazine’s Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Karen Foley (who migrated to Portland from Savannah) was interviewed by The Portland Tribune in 2006 when the magazine launched.

“There’s tons of food magazines,” she says, “but the interesting thing that I found when I started looking around was that there wasn’t anything like Imbibe that existed. There wasn’t a single magazine that was taking the approach of a food magazine and applying it to beverages, looking at drinks as cuisine and also looking at drinks from a very cultural perspective.”

Around the world, there are special customs and stories tied to drinking, and that goes well beyond the social bonding associated with alcohol. From ancient tea ceremonies to the athletic posturing of bottled-water brands, from Oktoberfest to lemonade stands, there’s plenty of ground to be covered both in and outside of Cocktail Nation.

The Trib notes that Imbibe is the only “nationally geared, mainstream periodical” to be headquartered in Portland.

I believe in Oregon. I want to grow a business, hire people, and help the state realize a great economic future. I promise to hire Oregonians, grow my business in Oregon and keep my company in the state of Oregon. I want to build value not just for my employees and shareholders, but for State employees and the people of Oregon. -the pledge of Beaver State entrepreneurs

A group of Oregon entrepreneurs—Harvey Mathews, Wayne Embree, Josh Friedman and Mark Grimes—is pushing to raise $100 million to help support startup ventures based in the Beaver State.

A few days ago at NedSpace entrepreneurs gathered to deliver their elevator speeches. Members of Capybara Ventures, NW Technology Ventures, NedSpace, Oregon Angel Fund, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, Reference Capital, Software Association of Oregon and Starve Ups were there to listen and encourage.

Startup Geek, David Abramowski says:

With all of the talk of the Obama Stimulus Plan it just makes sense that some of the money is directed towards the people that want to create new companies. The case is simple. Small businesses employ a hell of a lot of people and could employ a lot more. It doesn’t take millions of dollars to get a smart entrepreneur down the path to success. This meeting was all about showing the state of Oregon that there is talent, there are ideas, there are businesses to invest in.

Rick Turoczy of Silicon Florist is encouraging entrepreneurs who did not make the meeting to fill out on online form he set up that asks some basic questions. Like how would your startup use $250,000 this year? Turoczy will compile the responses and forward them to the folks working on this who will in turn deliver them to the Oregon Treasurer’s and Governor’s offices, and to various Mayors’ desks.

I answered the questions with AdPulp in mind. I said we’d hire five writers. And now as I engage around this question again and consider the possibilities inherent in my own startup, I’m rightfully excited. With five full time, fairly compensated and totally motivated writers on staff, AdPulp could make some serious noise. I like that idea, maybe even enough to pursue funds from angel investors.

Jeff Morgenthaler, 37, is a bartender at Clyde Common in Portland. He’s been tending bar since 1996 and writing about it since 2004. He strives to elevate the experience of having a drink from something mundane to something more culinary.

Portland—When I arrive at House Spirits Distillery in industrial SE Portland, Mike Sherwood is bent over a box taping it up so he can send it on its way. It turns out to be emblematic, as this CEO is a sleeves rolled all the up kind of guy.

Sherwood, it turns out, leases space from the distillery, where he produces his own micro distilled spirits, which he markets under the Sub Rosa label.

Sub Rosa offers two products—Tarragon Vodka and Saffron Vodka. Sherwood is also planning to release a rum that’s aging in oak and a gallingal liquer. Lucky reporter that I am, I got to sample them all today in a private tasting.

As I swirl the Saffron vodka around in my mouth, Sherwood says, “note the toasted cumin coming up underneath. No one’s doing that.” No one, but Sub Rosa that is.

Sherwood’s motto is “Work hard. Play hard. Have fun.” in that order. It’s clear he’s having fun now, as his passion for his handcrafted product is obvious. On point one, Sherwood says it takes three-to-five years to establish a new spirits brand and that he’s only one and half years in. So, he has his work cut out for him.

Luckily, work and Sherwood are friends. He’s a former software executive, concert promoter and guild builder. He also helped to build and run Rogue’s distillery operation at the coast. Today, he works the wine harvest to help pay the bills, he consults, builds web sites and runs his bootstrapped micro spirits company—a job which demands proficiency in product development, manufacturing and distribution (hence the taped up box), sales and marketing. It’s a lot for one guy to do, which is why Sherwood doesn’t blog, Tweet or text. He has enough to do.

Sherwood says, “You want to make something that’s distinctive” and he has. No one else is making Saffron or Tarragon vodka. Even if one was, they wouldn’t have the fennel fronds or lemon mint from Sherwood’s Dundee garden or the organic tarragon from a farm in Gresham. Nor his knack for finding success via a routine of experimentation.

Sherwood says be bold. “Don’t be afraid to construct a cocktail.”

Thankfully, more and more skilled bartenders are taking him up on the suggestion. “Go to Wildwood any weekend and Ryan will make you a nice drink,” suggests Sherwood.

Sherwood also recommends brunch at Toast. “They use the Saffron vodka in their bloody marys.”

Sub Rosa vodkas retail for $29.95 and can be purchased at finer liquor stores in the Portland metro. Sub Rosa is also sold in WA, CA, CO, Washington DC and is on its way to IL and TN.

Sub Rosa vodka recipes
Hot Summer Night [aka Tarragon Smash]

1-1/2 oz Sub Rosa Tarragon vodka
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Fresh mint leaves

Fresh tarragon leaves
Squirt [or sparkling water]
Lemon twist and mint sprig garnish

Muddle a pinch of mint/tarragon leaves with the lemon juice, simple syrup in bottom of rocks glass. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the vodka, and fill with Squirt. Garnish with a lemon twist and mint sprig. Great refreshing spring and summer drink. This is a mojito like cocktail. Really nice.

Ginger Snap

1 1/2 oz. Sub Rosa Saffron vodka
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. orange juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

Shake vigorously in a mixing glass filled with ice. Pour over crushed ice in a short glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh Cilantro. Very gingery and on the tart side, but quite nice. Cilantro garnish adds some great aromatics to this drink. Very refreshing and bright.

The United States government has allocated $787 billion to bail out banks, car makers and others during this recession. But the Feds aren’t the only ones taking action.

Rogue Nation has put together a bailout plan to aid Rogue Nation citizens during these difficult times. The Rogue Nation Bailout Program (RNBOP) is a twice-a-day ritual at each of Rogue’s embassies where the brewery pays 100% of a customer’s tab. Each unsuspecting person or group is randomly chosen, inducted into the Rogue Nation (if not already a citizen) and relieved of their debt to Rogue. Since the program was put into effect, Rogue has bailed out over 350 tabs.

At the Rogue Ales Public House in San Francisco, Janet Wallace and three of her friends were watching Super Bowl XLIII when they were randomly chosen to be “bailed out” of their tab. Wallace says “It’s always fun to get something for free, especially so when the something free comes completely unexpected.”

“And when you have a buzz on.” She didn’t actually say that, but I think it’s needed.

When we moved to Oregon last summer and I first encountered the Ninkasi Brewing micro brand, I honestly didn’t know what to make of it. I thought maybe it was beer from Japan. Eugene never occurred to me. Thankfully, I now know how to pronounce Nin-Cah-See and to look for Total Domination IPA on tap and at retail.

I’m a big fan of the IPAs and Oregon has many nearly perfect IPAs to choose from, Ninkasi’s Total Domination being one.

Spikester on Beer Advocate says this about the beer:

Hazy amber with small head and large amount of very fine bubble lacings. Floral piney hop nose. Taste is piney orange grapefruit hops and the malts lend a sweetness that gives this a good balance for the style. A very nice IPA as the hops are plentiful but not overwhelming. Nice long bitter-sweet finish. Mouthfeel is very nice and not overly carbonated. One I find in most local stores and at around $4 US for a bomber it is hard to pass up. One of my regular IPAs.

The consumer reviewers on 97 Bottles give it an 88 or B+. Because I love the citrus and piney hops in Total Domination it rates higher in my book.

I don’t read the Sunday Review of Books each week, but I should. There’s always something to learn in there. For instance, I just learned that Conan O’Brien went to Harvard, wrote a thesis on Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner and spoke at Harvard’s commencement in 2000.

Here’s some of what he shared with those about to depart Harvard in 2000:

I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way.

I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good.

So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over.

I can relate. I’m coming off a huge year earnings wise in 2008 and I know 2009 isn’t going to match up. Yet, I’m now free to write and pursue the things that matter most to me. Maybe I’ll make a mess of things as Conan suggests; maybe there’s no need for all that.

The story is never over and the music never stops.