Celebrations
Look, to everyone who reads my blog, I'm turning 25 on May 17. Yes, I'm gonna be a quarter of a century and I'm kinda excited about it.
Me being 24 has been some of the best months of my life: I met my girlfriend; I finally found a nice place to live; I've met some friends I'm gonna have for the rest of my life; and last but not least, I've grown up a lot mentally, physically, and spiritually.
So I need to have a really tight place or some fine things to do on my b-day. It’s the day after my best friend's wedding. Congrats Ben Diggles and Tracy Diggles! Yes that’s really their last name -- go check out his website. It's actually hilarious. I try and read it whenever he puts something new up: MrDiggles.com
So really guys, please send me your ideas. I want to know what I should do and I will be in Portland. It has to be something that we can do that’s not too expensive. I'm a penny pincher, by the way. So send your info my way.
May 5th, 2008 - 23:19
Channing,
So here are my ideas on some interesting places for a birthday around Portland.
1. First you gotta do dinner. Someone already mentioned it, but I visited Pambiche last week. They had great Cuban food and great atmosphere. It’s small (only holds about 30 people), but it adds to the flavor of the place. Another place with a different style, but nice nonetheless is Henry’s over in the Pearl.
2. Gotta go out somewhere. ComedySportz in Norhtwest is really funny. Nothing like competitive improv. And man those guys are hillarious. It’s another location that won’t have a huge crowd (~100).
3. Nightcap. I’m not big on drinking, so for me and my wife it’s all about dessert. A couple of places we like to hit up occasionally are Papa Hayden’s or Rimsky’s. Both have great desserts, but Rimsky’s generally doesn’t have quite the wait.
Hope all goes well for your 25th.
May 5th, 2008 - 23:24
As a Season Ticket Holder, I would like to Offer you 3 Entertainment Cards for you to use on your Birthday.
Can’t beat 2 4 1 s
Happy Birthday
chuck
May 6th, 2008 - 05:54
You should go to Mt. Hood with some friends on May 16th, then stay overnight at Timberline Lodge. Then on May 17th, you can go snowboarding or skiing for like half the day and you could stay up at Mt. Hood until like 4PM, then drive back to Portland and you would be home be 7PM at the latest, and you could go to a club or nice restaurant and celebrate with the rest of your family/friends.
May 6th, 2008 - 08:10
Our basketball season is over, so it’s time to move into baseball season!!! The Mariner’s may have a home game, which is always fun and relaxing (if you like baseball). You can go to dinner at this place called Argentina Grill. It’s waaaaay good, kind of expensive, but it’s small and dark and authentic. Around 8pm or 9pm, they bring out professional Tango dancers to cruise around the restaraunt while you eat and they get up on the bar, they even will pull people out of the audience to dance. Quite fun!
Then you could go to Belmont Billiards for a beer. I’ve been there once and had such a good time, it’s pool/bar/dance/lounge. You can make a weekend out of it!
May 6th, 2008 - 08:26
Can’t go wrong with McMenamins Edgefield. It has a little of everything, plus they just added 15 new holes to their pitch n’ putt course. Not the best food, but the vibe there is so good, it makes up for it. Have a good one.
May 6th, 2008 - 08:33
Hey Channing,
Not sure if you want to go out on Friday night or Saturday night (or both), but if you are looking for something to do on Friday, you should check out Shut Up and Dance at the Fez Ballroom (across the street from Powell’s downtown). Lots of good 80’s music but with some new stuff too, and one of the best dance parties in town. I’ve been going for a few years now and it’s always a good time. Plus it’s a total Keep Portland Weird place… always an interesting and fun crowd there. Plus it’s smoke-free on the dancefloor, which is very nice.
http://www.myspace.com/shutupanddance
Anyway – happy birthday! Glad to have you on the Blazers!
May 6th, 2008 - 08:49
Hi Channing,
Try contra dancing. It is like square dancing, but in long lines, and without the funny clothes) There is a dance every Saturday at the Fulton Community Center. (www.portlandcountrydance.org). Great fun, live music, wonderfully nice people. All the dances are taught before you do them, and the caller tells you what to do. If I can do it, an athlete can.
And only about $8 to get in.
May 6th, 2008 - 09:34
If you want posh, and things to do: Grand Central Bowl.
backup: Big Al’s
If you want good beer and nice atmosphere: Alameda Brewpub
backup: Laurelhurst brewpub
If you want a little higher end,
and out of the way: Riverview restraunt in Troutdale.
Your site is a amazing. If they trade you away, we are gonna be pissed.
PTBfan
May 6th, 2008 - 10:10
Yo, Channing.
You have got to check out Grand Central Bowl…the pimpest of all alleys (http://www.thegrandcentralbowl.com/grand_central).
I would have to supervise of course…and my wife, too.
Good luck next year!
May 6th, 2008 - 10:15
I don’t know what to do that day, some good suggestions here, but a week later, On Saturday May 24 you should come by the Portland Timbers match at PGE park. 7pm.
May 6th, 2008 - 10:16
Channing. I just want to say welcome to Portland. I know that you have been here for a minute but none the less…Welcome! Most of the places that I would suggest have all been posted in some of the other posts but I will solidify some of those responses: Timberline lodge is beautiful and has a great hot tub if you are staying as well as great dining. If you are willing to drive a little then Multnomah Falls has a pretty good kitchen as well as a good wine selection. (I used to work there and the menu was created by a close friend of mine). Also you can find some pretty intimate places on the coast and would be a good way to break in the Lincoln! Try Cannon Beach (Haystack and Ecola State Park are nice features of the Oregon Coast) or Manzinata just south of Cannon Beach. Another place that everyone should see is Crater Lake. Probably a 3 1/2 hour drive but it is pretty impressive. If you are staying in Portland then the Chart House has probably the best view of the Willamette Valley in Portland and a pretty good Menu. Good luck and no matter where you go enjoy it and have a Happy Birthday!
May 6th, 2008 - 10:30
I’m not sure
May 6th, 2008 - 13:24
Portland is perfect for budget outings. What you need to do is start off by hitting up the Portland Rock Gym on Burnside, extremely funny to watch friends go up the wall. Next hit a happy hour at some place like Portland City Grill, Henry’s or Pambiche(great Cuban food). After that you could check out the Mercury to see what live music is going down or head to Uptown Billiards and hit the pool tables. Then(if its not aldready 2am) you should finish off the night by going to the Boiler Room and watching the drunk fools do karaoke. All very cheap and very fun. Oh yeah I forgot, it might be that time of year when they start up the Portland Underground City tours again, give Hobo’s Bar a call and see(very worth it and crazy). PS, I know the recent Blazers history would say otherwise but, you dont need to go to the strip club!
May 6th, 2008 - 15:16
theres only 1 way to do this CITY GRILLE!
oh and ive been waiting for the day in perspective forever!
May 6th, 2008 - 15:37
How about Willamette Speedway in Lebanon? It’s the Greatest Show On Dirt! Honestly, I’ve been to a dozen or so dirt tracks in Oregon, and Willamette Speedway is second to none. Don’t drive a car (or wear clothes) that you’re worried about getting dusty…
May 6th, 2008 - 18:26
Edgefield in Troutdale
May 6th, 2008 - 20:16
Main thing is to have fun and enjoy the day. Lots of things to choose from, but I don’t think anyone’s mentioned this timely event.
http://rosecityrollers.com/index.php
Have a good 25th.
May 7th, 2008 - 00:00
You should go to Escape From New York Pizza on NW 23rd ave on Monday the 19th and have some of the best pizza in Portland. They’re celebrating their 25th birthday too!!! And you escaped from New York too, how perfect is that!
May 7th, 2008 - 13:46
Thanks for asking this question. My birthday is three days before yours and I haven’t figured out what to do yet either.
I’ll join in the “Welcome to Portland” chorus. Glad to have you and hope you stay for a good long time.
May 7th, 2008 - 16:27
I don’t know about 25, but I think you’ll be spending your 26th birthday with 20,630 of your closest friends in Portland. And the birthday after that, and the birthday after that, and the birthday after that….
Clay’s BBBQ on Division is really really good, whether for your bithday or not. And I spend too much time at La Bonita on Alberta.
May 8th, 2008 - 06:30
Definitely eat lunch at one of the Deschutes Brewpubs. Absolutely the best pub food in Oregon. The french dip is so good (and they brew some of the best beer in the world).
For dinner: Pazzo (Broadway @ Washington).
For the evening the Goodfoot is pretty nice and so is upper-Hawthorne Blvd (in the upper-40’s). That strip has an eclectic mix of bars with a quintessentially “SE Portland” crowd. I think you in particular would get a kick out of that part of town.
Have fun, whatever you do.
Happy birthday!
May 8th, 2008 - 13:45
Laser Tag!
May 8th, 2008 - 21:41
Wow! that is totally awesome that i also have the same birthday. The 17th will be my golden birthday because i turn 17. I am just going to hang out w/ my friends at my house and go swimming. You should just spend time with friends on your birthday and have a good time.That’s all that matters!
miss you at the UofA man. You were truly a talented and unselfish leader! The UA needs more Channings
May 9th, 2008 - 16:00
Channing If you need a D.J let me know! I’m real reasonable!
May 15th, 2008 - 23:50
I totally recommend as a Portland native spending time around town. To sound off on some of the above suggestions:
-Stanich’s… Great burgers.
-McMenamin’s… Great beer, and the golf @ Edgefield rocks
-Local Microbreweries… Enough said, plus you get free beer lol
-The coast… Yes, there’s a Pacific Hwy, Rt. 101, and it’s awesome from Newport north, never been south of Newport tho personally
-Mt. Hood… Go to Timberline Lodge or back to Lost Lake
-Fishing… Get your angling on!
I’ll be 25 this year too…hope mine will be as good as yours is…we wanna know!
May 17th, 2008 - 01:04
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Channing, Happy Birthday to you!!!!!
Happy 25th Birthday!!!
May 25th, 2010 - 19:27
i think you should spend it with me.