bloggers in the burbs

I need to interrupt my regularly scheduled post to announce that the snow day/extended Winter Break/Sibling Sumo wrestling disaster has been averted. Children are boarding the bus in t-minus 9 minutes, to resume their educational pursuits, instead of wringing each other's necks. It's a post-Christmas miracle.

So the ladies North of Portland - I can't bear to call it the 'Couv, no matter how affectionate that sounds - met up again Saturday night for Happy Hour on our side of town. The place features fantastic NW cuisine and for a suburban bar, it's considered to be rather hip and trendy. Or hipper anyway, but I'm afraid the staff has been buying their own hype.

I've worked in such restaurants, worked with self-important chefs and uptight servers. I've dealt with silly rules and wine lists and presentation and if you can keep paying your bills as a small business owner, I say more power to you. But being the Jonathan Franzen of restaurants may not serve you well during a recession, when your once hopping bar seems rather empty and you have more competition in your own backyard.

(And being rude to a table of bloggers may not be the best word of mouth but then again, I got the impression that we were not the clientele they were hoping for, which is sad when you consider that this group of women still has money to spend. Maybe they are hoping for a bailout from Washington.)

But despite the less than Happy service, I had a fabulous time, thankful and amazed for a community of invisible friends, made flesh and bone on a frosty night.

*****
I know we missed a few bloggers this time out. If you live in the Vancouver area and would like to join us next time, we'd love to hear from you. We are going casual next time out, hitting a roller skating rink.

Comments

Geez, don't you think you owe it to your readers to name names? :-) You're such a gentle soul to protect the guilty...
Shana said…
Have you ever been happier to see a school bus in your entire life?
Shana said…
PS: Does Golden Skate sell those big fluffy pompoms to tie to the laces of your skates? Because I will totally be needing those.
JCK said…
Delightfully witty post. Most especially the Jonathan Franzen of RESTAURANTS. LMAO.

So fun to get together with bloggers!

I was SO ready for the kids to be back in preschool today. Glad you also averted disaster!
lapoflux said…
Glad the bus came! There's nothing like needing the bus to come and it not coming...

I am weird - I was actually sad to see my little people go this morning. They were fine of course.
Susan Isaacs said…
I'm just loving your new blog look. how new is it? am I that out of the loop? Goreoug. Happy new year. And enjoy the silence that school brings.
I don't know that I've been gentle since Saturday; I've let quite a few people in on our experience, and sadder still, most have felt the same.

I did get some great recommendations for other Happy Hours to consider another time.

I love that.
Anonymous said…
Nowhere near Portland but you sound like my kind of people!
Sounds like a lovely time despite it all! Such evenings are balm to the soul, aren't they?

LOVE the new look! Fab, fab, fab!
Anonymous said…
I just posted about a bad restaurant experience with my family on 2lilpumpkins. It is amazing how rude people can be. Miss your updates on your other blog!
Tricia said…
If Washington starts bailing out bars, do you think that means we all get to drink for "free"?

Sounds like a wonderful meet up.
Madge said…
sounds like to much fun. lucky you. and i say we completely absolutely 100 percent outlaw any days off of school due to weather.
holly said…
i need to go read jonathen franzen then come back and reread this. but i take it he's rude. and now he's been blogged. YES. JUSTICE.

TAKE.THAT.DUDE!

:)
Nora said…
What fun! Sorry for the bad service...
stephanie said…
It was good to be out with you and the other ladies from the 'hood. Can't wait to hit Golden Skate! No snotty waiters there to throw off our groove.

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