#gresham pub.

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

Witchcraft, Vol. 1 No. 3, Gresham Pub., 1971

[historicalbookimages]

🌾 A new British flora;. London, Gresham Pub. Co., 1919.

[monster-rinds]

Chapter 8: Not your only friend

When there was music, it was from a variety of genres, and usually turned low so it was easy to talk over it in quiet tones.

In the early ‘00s through the ‘10s, there had been a bewildering trend in imbiberies and brewpubs up and down the West coast to have terrible acoustics, ineffective sound dampening, and the loudest customers regardless of how many were actually in the place at any given time. Music would be turned up to encourage people to talk even louder.

The owners of Shady’s hated that, and had cultivated an atmosphere that was the opposite but still quite homey.

Of course, this meant that in order not to be heard by other customers, you had to speak even quieter, so that your voice wouldn’t carry. But that was the point.

This made Shady’s a favorite adult getaway for the neurodivergent people of a good chunk of Gresham.

They had a spacious floor with lots of room between tables, and pretty solid air filtration, too. So an hour or so in there with masks off to enjoy the food and drink was minimally risky for those of us who were human. Not that many people seemed to care about the pandemic anymore, not even with another one looming.

We had a corner booth.

I didn’t have water. Not right away, at least.

Greg had insisted on buying me a drink since it was my first time there, and I’d gone for that Erdinger Pikantus that Ayden had been talking about. Which had sparked a definite emotional response from Greg, with echoes of amusement from Ayden and Cass.

As we’d all walked to the place, we’d talked about union stuff on the way, actually. And Greg had covered most of what he knew about the logistics of joining one and starting a chapter. So, by the time we’d gotten there, we all had a pretty solid idea of what our next steps were. Which was mostly to go home and look things up on the internet to learn more. Maybe print some stuff out.

We’d also talked a little bit about how management might react, and keeping it mum around the workplace until we were ready to do anything. And that was something I could easily do.

There wasn’t much left to discuss when we finally arrived at the pub, then.

Which was probably good, because I was already feeling buzzed from walking past a couple of tables full of patrons on the way to our booth.

So, I’d been tricked into a regular post-shift beer after all.

It wasn’t so bad.

So I sat back and enjoyed the ambiance and the casual and meaningless conversation of my coworkers. If I left early enough, I’d still have plenty of time to recover before our next shift. And my main concern was to strengthen the bonds of friendship I’d been cultivating.

But, I also scanned the place for possible dangers. I figured that being new to the location, it would make sense for me to look around. And in being new, I needed to know potential traps and escape routes.

I asked myself, if I were a teratovore, where would I hide? And I looked directly at those places.

I was also in the very corner, penned in by my friends, but with a view of the whole dining area. I figured it was better to have eyes on the space, and to be surrounded by witnesses, than to have a clear exit that didn’t require jumping or climbing. If anything came for me that meant I had to physically run, the gig would be up anyway. I’d readily climb across the ceiling in front of everyone if anything like Sharky or Croc-face showed itself. And anything being more subtle would have to contend with my friends and human social norms.

I honestly felt pretty safe with that arrangement, but the habits that had kept me safe since life first figured out the concept of lichen were not something I could ever drop.

And the attack at the theater did have me a little on edge, still.

Ideally, my human disguise was good enough that I wouldn’t even be clocked as food.

Of course, Felicity had seen me for what I was. After a period of some amount of study, though.

But if a people eater was in the neighborhood, well… I’d avoid sitting on a toilet for now. And maybe caution everyone here from doing that, too. Though using your own toilet at home might be just as dangerous.

I didn’t know what to do about that, and so didn’t give it much further thought.

After a few rounds of conversation, Cassy turned to me and asked, “So! How are things going with your crush? Did I see her at your register today?”

I buried my nose in my glass while I took a sip of beer to stall, and felt mild curiosity come from Greg and Ayden.

Then I put my glass down and said, “Things seemed a little off for her today. She was quieter than usual and I didn’t prod. She’ll probably blab about it when she’s ready.”

Greg stretched his arm out, pushing his Guinness across the table to look at it from a distance, and said, “They usually do.”

“Isn’t that a fantastic beer?” Ayden asked me.

I turned the glass, looking at the liquid as it moved, and furrowed my brow, nodding faintly. I have no way of knowing if what I sense when I eat or drink something is remotely like how any living being experiences it, even with thousands of millennia of human language to try to describe it. But it kind of doesn’t matter, because every human basically has the same problem thanks to neurodiversity. So, I just picked a response that seemed in character with who Ayden knew Synthia to be, “It’s definitely interesting.”

“I sure think so!”

Cassy rolled her eyes and sipped her framboise.

“I really am your token straight guy, aren’t I?” Greg snickered.

“Token cis het, maybe, but I’m not sure you count as straight, hanging out with us,” Ayden told him.

“I feel honored,” Greg smirked and lifted up his glass and waited for the rest of us to clink it.

Ayden glanced my way, obviously checking in on the assumption he’d just implicitly made about me. Between knowing these people well enough and tasting their radiant emotions as they felt them, I knew what he meant by the look.

“Oh, I’m not sure I fit under any typical human category of anything, gender or orientation” I said. “Cassy thinks I’m autistic, so that probably covers it, really.”

Ayden grinned and nodded and held his glass up, followed by Cassy, and then me.

“To comrades!” Greg declared.

“To comrades!” Ayden echoed, heartily.

“To fellow queerdos, however they identify,” Cassy cheered.

“To friends,” I said.

And we clinked glasses.

“Speaking of comrades,” Cassy said, leaning forward conspiratorially, “want to break illegal company policy and share our wages with each other? You know, for the sake of future union negotiations and all that?”

“Seems like a good idea to me,” Greg said. “We should know where we each stand.”

“$14.70 an hour,” Ayden volunteered.

Greg and Cassy both looked at him with sympathetic horror.

“Shit, man,” Greg muttered. “That’s minimum wage. And you’ve been there longer than either of us.”

“Yup.”

“I make $15.”

“I make $14.90,” Cassy said.

“Pennies difference,” Ayden shrugged. “And it kinda matches our demographics.”

“Really?” Cassy asked.

“Kinda, yeah,” Ayden said.

Cassy looked at me, and asked, “You? If you’re comfortable, it’d be cool to know.”

I gave her that Steve Martin grimace she’d taught me how to do, and hoped that that would communicate enough that I wouldn’t have to verbally lie or something.

“Aw, shit,” Ayden muttered, looking right at me.

From the emotional tension rising at the table, I could tell that that grimace had actually been the wrong move. They all wanted to know more.

I shouldn’t have come. I knew this dance. I knew better. The reason I typically went out of my way to not take a paycheck was to avoid a paper trail, so I could disappear in an instant. I don’t need material things. I don’t need shelter or food as defined by human society. And so I don’t need a government record of my identity. And if I can manipulate a business’ paperwork and computer system to let me be on the clock without any of those things, and I can, I do so.

And when I do have to pick up and disappear, to head to safer climes, when people investigate they get so delightfully bewildered by it. Why would anyone work somewhere without taking a paycheck or stealing anything?

And, admittedly, sometimes a business will get into huge legal trouble for it, for human trafficking or embezzlement, if their schedule gets audited. And I’d feel a teeny tiny little bit of guilt for that if I couldn’t clearly see that the whole system was designed to exploit people anyway.

Like, the amount of guilt you might feel for stepping on an ant.

Still, I make friends with ants.

But anyway, I shouldn’t have gone to Shady’s with my coworkers, and I’d known that.

Just like how I’d teamed up with Felicity to act as her bait, even though that’s usually against my own rules.

And now I had to decide what to do to get out of it.

“Now I’ve gotta know,” Greg said. “Is it more or less than the rest of us? Well, it can’t be less than Ayden, of course.”

“Well –” I started to say, drawing out the word and stalling, when someone at another table jumped up with their phone in hand and started cussing.

“What is it?” one of their companions asked.

“It’s happening again!”

To answer, they slapped their phone down on the table and declared, “There’s video of it, too!”

I felt a chill ripple through my being as everyone at that table sobered up and, while collectively leaning forward to glimpse the phone screen, blasted the room with alarm and horrified curiosity.

The look on my face must have betrayed the intensity of the emotions, because my friends were suddenly looking more intently at me, not the commotion at the other table.

“Synthia, what’s wrong?” Ayden asked.

Very quietly, “Sell My Soul” by Midnight Oil was playing on the pub’s stereo, and between gasps and exclamations of the people who were watching the cellphone play a video, the place was quiet enough I could make out the lyrics.

Ayden had asked me what was wrong, and I answered that question by staring at that table. I lifted a finger and pointed.

I wasn’t quite certain what I was ready to tell my friends at the moment, so nodding in that direction served as punctuation on my non-verbal answer.

Greg lifted his head and raised his voice to ask the other customers, “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Yeah!” called someone from a third table.

The person who owned the cell phone looked up and said, “Search for ‘live monster attack in Gresham’. It’s just like what happened at the theater. There’s footage of an actual monster on the street, right now.”

‘Footage’. An old word still in use by some people. It refers to camera film, which is irrelevant to any video taken by a cellphone. But it sounds cool to say, so some people still use it.

“Ah, AI garbage,” Greg grumbled. “No need.” Then he said, louder, “Thanks.”

But Ayden was already looking it up, and when he found it at the top of the search he plunked it down on the table for the rest of us to see.

“Yeah, look at that,” Greg dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

Cassy leaned in to get a closer view.

I could see it clearly from where I was.

Someone was recording video as they ran. But they weren’t running away from what they were filming. They were keeping their distance, but also keeping up with it, running parallel to the course of action.

Two people were running very hard, away from something gallumphing across the street.

And I recognized all three subjects.

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[wise-journey]

The Resplendent Beauty of Budapest

There is a ravishing allure in the air of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. It possesses a timeless charm, wrapped in history, culture, and an enticing gastronomic scene.

When to Go

The ideal time is the European spring and autumn. The weather is comfortable enough for strolling around. However, visiting in winter offers a unique charm as the city is adorned with holiday lights and covered with a blanket of snow.

How to Get there

Through its well-connected international airport, Budapest is accessible from all corners of the world. The city also has excellent railway links that make it simpler for European visitors.

Where to Stay

Budapest offers a wide range of accommodations. Luxury seekers can opt for the historical Gresham Palace, whereas travelers on a budget can find numerous hostels and guest houses in the city center.

What to Do

Budapest offers an array of experiences ranging from historical tours to thermal baths to vibrant nightlife. Culture The city's heart can be felt in its rich culture. Walk the cobblestone streets of Castle Hill, visit the historic House of Terror Museum, and be mesmerized by the grandeur of the St. Stephen's Basilica. Gastronomy Tasting the local cuisine is an adventure of its own. Sample hearty stews, goulash, and langos at the buzzing Great Market Hall. Delight in Gundel pancakes for dessert, and don't forget to try the famed Hungarian Tokaji wine. Activity Try a soothing dip in one of the city’s famous thermal baths, or walk across the iconic Chain Bridge. For a more active pursuit, biking along the Danube or hiking up to the Citadel for panoramic city views is recommended.

Where to Eat

Budapest has dining options for every palate. From street food stalls offering local delights to Michelin starred restaurants such as Onyx and Costes, dining in Budapest is a feast for the senses.

Sights & Tours

The Parliament Building, Buda Castle, and Fisherman’s Bastion are must-see sights. Taking a river cruise on the Danube is highly recommended and provides a different perspective of the city's grandeur.

Tips

- The city has a well-structured public transport system. Using it can save costs. - English is commonly spoken, but learning a few basic Hungarian phrases can be useful. - Respect local customs and traditions for an enriched travel experience.

Money

The local currency is Hungarian Forint (HUF). ATMs are widespread and credit cards are generally accepted. It is, however, recommended to carry some cash for street vendors and smaller establishments.

Nightlife

The city comes alive at night with bustling pubs, lively 'ruin bars', and high-end nightclubs. The Szimpla Kert, known for its eclectic decorations and ambient music, is a must-visit.

Transportation

The city's public transport consisting of trams, buses, and metro is efficient and offers an economical way to explore Budapest. Taxis and bike rentals are also available.

Shopping

Budapest’s shopping scene ranges from high-street brands to unique antique stores. The Váci Street and Fashion Street are hotspots for fashion lovers, while the Central Market Hall is ideal for buying local food products and souvenirs. In summary, Budapest is a city full of life and beauty. It offers an alluring blend of history, culture, cuisine, and adventure. It’s a city that both soothes the soul and sparks the spirit of adventure in its visitors. Read the full article

[heaveninawildflower]

Botanical illustrations taken from ‘A New British Flora’ by A. R. Horwood, J. N. Fitch.

Published 1919 by Gresham Pub. Co.

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/permissions

archive.org

[mourningbirds1]

Beloved amazing Clare!! <3

You already know how obsessed I am with your writing, and how unique and individual your voice is in a way that stays with me like few others do.

I saw your earliest post about authors who has influenced your writing the most and am already putting a bunch of items in my amazon basket. It made me curious, what would you say are your top 5 (or more if you have the energy <3) books that you feel have influenced your writing or you would recommend others to read for a beautiful and unique writing prose?

Dear CiCi, thank you for sending me this ask on Friday night. It was much much appreciated. I am always excited to see you in my notifs because I know I am in for something that is going to make me grin with how hilarious and charming and entertaining you are, or make me soft cause of how very kind and thoughtful you are to me and to others. I hope you’re having a happy weekend, eating good things and having some quality Ripley time ❤

Thank you for asking me about book recs - my fav subject. However, I feel a bit embarrassed to recommend some stuff on here because I have kind of weird, old-timey taste in books. I have put asterisks next to the titles that I think might not have such a broad appeal and I hope people proceed with caution before spending their money on them. But I still want to include them because they mean a lot to me.

*Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky – Patrick Hamilton, 1935

Absolutely one of the most underrated novelists out there. This is a collection of three novellas about the characters in a London pub. His prose is chef’s fucking kiss oh my god. The way he describes characters makes you feel like you can see them standing right in front of you. A couple of his earlier novels are a bit clumsy – I think he was still honing his style - but he really hit it with this book.

For Esmé - with Love and Squalor: And Other Stories – JD Salinger, 1950

My favourite things about Salinger are his dialogue, which is very entertaining - he commits 100% to the speaking style of each character so everyone feel authentic and like a real person. And also how good he is at the whole “show, don’t tell” thing. I love the way he opens stories in the middle of scenes, without giving you any exposition – all the backstory is there within the context of the action. It is so clever. I attempted to imitate this in Gresham House. Also he describes action (even just someone picking up a pack of cigarettes) in such a lively and elegant way. I would like to learn how to do this!

*The Good Companions – JB Priestley, 1963

This is about a travelling theatrical group touring England in the 1920s. It is a lovely, entertaining romp and has major found family vibes. I guess JB Priestley is best known for his play An Inspector Calls, but he was a brilliant novelist as well. I’d give anything to be able to write prose, characters and dialogue like he does. His writing is very cosy and comforting to me. The characters in this book felt like friends and I was so sad when I had finished it and had to leave them behind. The way he opens this book – setting a scene and then having the characters walk onto it, as though it is a stage – was what inspired me to open Don’t Look the way I did.

Perfume – Patrick Süskind, 1985

Set in 18 century Paris, about a man who is born with a super-human sense of smell, and the dastardly way his uses this talent. Süskind is a genius at describing locations and atmosphere, and of course smell, in an incredibly visceral way. This book is so immersive and gripping.

Fingersmith – Sarah Waters, 2002

A wlw Victorian gothic mystery. This book made me gasp and my jaw drop many many times. I recommend not reading too much about it because you will enjoy it more if you go into it without knowing anything. I love everything Sarah Waters has written and I think this is her best and cleverest story. I really like the way she adapts her prose style depending on the era she is writing in. This one is all Dickensian style which I am nuts for…

David Copperfield – Charles Dickens, 1850

Sorry this is not exactly a ground breaking recommendation but I have to mention it. I have so much love in my heart for this found family story. It’s so warm and gentle and funny and is full of love. It made me cry so much.

Okay that was 6 books, not 5, and I could definitely go on. I didn’t even mention PG Wodehouse… Maybe I will do a part 2 if anyone wants it.

[nwbeerguide]

Paying homage to their West Coast roots, Migration Brewing releases Hop Fire IPA, April 1st.

image courtesy Migration Brewing Company

Press Release

Raising a pint to the West Coast vibe, Migration Brewing is stoked to release our latest double IPA, HOP FIRE: an inventive combination of new-school Strata hops blended with Azacca, Azacca Cryo, and classic Centennial—slapping hop lovers across the mouth with ripe mango and passion fruit, citrus tones of pomelo, lemon, lime, and notes of strawberry pine. Go on. Light it up.

This is Migration’s biggest statewide release to date and will be on-tap March 31st and on retail shelves around the region on April 1st. HOP FIRE IIPA is the culmination of the company’s commitment to always innovate, use high quality ingredients, and allow the brew team to execute their vision while meeting market demands. The Shop, original brewery location housed in the back of the NE Glisan pub, is the heartbeat of Migration’s innovation program and the birthplace of HOP FIRE IIPA. After successfully brewing the IIPA there, the process was shifted to the Wilkes production brewery location in Gresham and scheduled for full-time distribution. 

“We are proud of all of our IPA's and hop forward beers, but are particularly excited to see how the market responds to this West Coast Double IPA. We designed Hop Fire IIPA to not only fit really well in our current line up, but we think our customers and fans will really enjoy the drinkability of this robust IIPA!” noted Mike Branes, Co-Founder and Head Brewer at Migration Brewing.

STYLE: West Coast Double IPA RELEASE DAY: March 31st FORMAT: 12oz cans in 6 pack & 15.5 gallon kegs AVAILABILITY: Year-round availability package and draft across the region and at Migration pubs. ABV: 8.0% IBU: 60

###

Migration Brewing started in 2010 when four friends came together over a passion for craft beer and a dream of opening a brewpub. With a lot of bootstrapping and a little luck, they have since opened four pub locations within Portland. As an award-winning brewery, the Migration team takes great pride in producing world-class beers that embrace innovation while respecting classic styles. 

…

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3qKV0m2

[thebrewstorian]

Collection Report: McMenamins Brewery Collection, 1983-2015

Oh my gosh, this collection has been in my backlog for YEARS! It has been so long that when my daughter helped with the inventory on the brew sheets she was 11 years-old and couldn't check herself out of summer camp [now she can drive and has taken the SAT], but she could talk with John Richen (brewing manager at the time) about her favorite beer names and things she'd noticed about ingredients.

Go straight to the guide: http://bit.ly/mss_mcmenamins

Learn more about the Oregon brewing industry in my Oregon Encyclopedia article

The McMenamins Brewery Collection is, truly, a gem. We scanned thousands of brew sheets, which is a part of the magic, but I'm also delighted by all the fun ephemera, including a full run of their coasters. I'll also add that the company biography included in this guide is really a love letter to the company, and I thank Fred Eckhardt, John Foyston, and all the other journalists over the past 30 years for recording all the fun quirks about this company.

SUMMARY McMenamins is a family-owned chain of brewpubs, breweries, historic hotels, and theater pubs in the Pacific Northwest.

The McMenamins Brewery Collection includes digitized brew sheets, digital images, brochures, coasters, decals, event programs, flyers, newspaper clippings, tap handles, posters, labels, a wooden cask, and a six-pack of Hammerhead beer.

COMPANY BIO

McMenamins is a family-owned chain of brewpubs, breweries, historic hotels, and theater pubs in the Pacific Northwest. It was founded by brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin, who grew up in Northeast Portland. In 2021, they operated 56 properties, with twelve hotels; dozens of breweries, pubs, and restaurants; movie theaters; spas; music venues; and a coffee roaster, winery, cidery and distillery. Many locations are rehabilitated historical buildings and at least nine are on the National Register of Historic Places. McMenamins only sells its beer in its own pubs, restaurants, hotels, and movie theaters.

Early businesses

Mike and Brian McMenamin both graduated from Oregon State University, Mike with a Political Science degree (1974) and Brian with a Business degree (1980). Mike and two college friends purchased the Produce Row Café, a bar known for all-night, high-stakes poker games, in Portland's warehouse district in 1974 and sold more than 100 types of beer. The building was built in 1951 and opened as a breakfast café for produce dockworkers in 1953; in later years, it was a barbershop. Mike and Brian bought Bogart's Joint, another Portland-area pub on 14th and Flanders. At various points in history, many beer-related activities occurred in this building: Kurt and Rob Widmer brewed in this location, and it was later space occupied by Portland Brewing and Rogue Ales Public House. By 1980, they'd sold Produce Row, Bogart's Joint, and a third tavern, the Stockyard Café.

Mike opened a wine distributorship and Brian opened the McMenamins Pub in Hillsboro. By 1983, Mike’s distributorship had failed, and the brothers decided to try the bar business again. Rather than the smoky, male-dominated taverns common in Portland, they were inspired by the community hubs they’d seen in Europe. They bought the Fat Little Rooster tavern on Southeast Hawthorne and renamed it the Barley Mill Pub; in addition to a varied beer selection, the pub was known for Grateful Dead memorabilia and anniversary parties. The namesake “barley mill,” which can still be found onsite, was used by Chuck Coury at Cartwright Brewing Co., Portland’s first post-Prohibition brewery. It was originally a kitty litter grinder but is now used annually to grind the grain for anniversary ales.

One major event that impacted the trajectory of the beer industry in Oregon in the 1980s was legislation that married production and sales. Fred Bowman and Art Larrance (Portland Brewing), Dick and Nancy Ponzis (BridgePort Brewing) and their brewer Karl Ockert, Kurt and Rob Widmer (Widmer Brothers Brewing), and the McMenamins lobbied to legalize on-site sales. On July 13, 1985, Governor Vic Atiyeh signed Senate Bill 813, the “Brewpub Bill,” into law. It allowed brewers to make and sell beer on the same premises, key for increasing revenue and gaining new customers.

First brewpubs

The McMenamins took advantage of the new law, and by the early 1990s had opened several brewpubs, each with its own small brewing system attached. They opened the Hillsdale Brewery and Public House October 31, 1985 in the Southwest Portland neighborhood of Hillsdale. Not only was it their first brewery, it was also the first brewpub in Oregon since Prohibition. Known as “Captain Neon's Fermentation Chamber,” a nod to Mike McMenamin’s nickname, the first several batches of beer were brewed with old Tillamook dairy equipment. On October 25, 1985, Hillsdale's first brewer Ron Wolf, who had previously worked at Anchor Steam, brewed the first beer in a small copper kettle and called it "Hillsdale Ale.” It fell loosely into the “Special Bitter” classification of beer styles and was a malt extract brew. Hillsdale Ale was brewed 29 times at the Hillsdale location and 14 times at Cornelius Pass Roadhouse between 10/25/1985 and 11/28/1986. In the first year, several brewers moved through the facility and made Hillsdale Ale, including Ron Wolf (who only brewed 13 batches before leaving), Conrad Santos (who replaced Wolf as brew master), Mike McMenamin, Brian McMenamin, John Harris, Scott Barrow, and Alex Farnham (the company’s first female brewer).

In 1986, they purchased a 125-year-old farmhouse in Hillsboro, Oregon, and turned it into the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. Later that same year, they opened the Lighthouse Brewpub in Lincoln City. The Fulton Pub and Brewery opened in Portland in June 1988 and the Highland Pub and Brewery opened in Gresham in July 1988.

Eventually, 27 breweries would operate under the McMenamins umbrella and they became a training ground for new brewers, many of whom have gone on to found breweries of their own. Alumni include John Harris (Hillsdale, Cornelius Pass Roadhouse), Jack Harris (Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, Lighthouse Brewery), Jason McAdam (Edgefield, Hillsdale, Crystal Ballroom), Alex McGaw (Fulton, Crystal Ballroom), Ben Nehrling and Kevin Lee (Edgefield, Highland, Kennedy School), and Mark Goodwin (Old Church, Crystal Ballroom).

In addition to serving beer at their brewpubs, the company also hosted festivals, concerts, and other public programming events at their properties, including Dad Watson’s Brew Fest, Edgefield Brew Fest, Highland Pub and Brewery Eurofest, Hillsdale Brew Fest, Lighthouse Brew Fest, Mid-Valley Brew Fest, and the Thompson Barley Cup.

Beer and Other Beverages

The McMenamins’ beers could be unsettling to brewing traditionalists; they used ingredients like apples, spices, and candy bars, as well as lesser used malts like Chocolate and Crystal. They introduced fruit beers to Oregon and early batches featured blackberries from the Hillsdale brewpub parking lot. Hand in hand with their experimentation, McMenamins developed three core beers that are brewed at all their breweries. Terminator Stout (1985) is a dark, English-style brew; Ruby (1986) is a light, raspberry-flavored beer; and Hammer Head (1986) is a classic Northwest Pale Ale. Ruby and Hammerhead are iconic company characters as well; artist Lyle Hehn created Ruby Witch and Hammerhead, and both are staples of murals, posters, and coasters.

Terminator Stout made its debut in 1985 at the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House as the 12th beer brewed. Old Hammerhead, as the strong ale was first called, was brewed January 25, 1986 and was the 37th brew and made with malt extract. John Harris, who later created Mirror Pond for Deschutes Brewery, was the first to make Hammerhead an “all-grain” beer. Harris was hired in 1987, and when they transitioned away from extract brewing, he decided to rewrite the Hammerhead recipe; besides changed the grain, he also added more hops. Ruby, originally called “Ruby Tuesday” before the food chain objected, was first brewed in 1986 and used 42 pounds of pureed Oregon raspberries.

The company made more than beer. They planted 3 acres of Pinot Gris fruit in 1990 and looked to regional vineyards for additional grapes; McMenamins Edgefield Winery was established in 1992 and began by making Rhone-style wines, including grenache and viognier. The Edgefield Winery produces 20 different white, rosé, dessert, and sparkling wines and supplies 350 tons of wine to McMenamins pubs. Also in 1992, and predating the boom by more than 20 years, McMenamins started making cider at the winery and in 2018 sold as much cider by volume as wine.

In 1995, they began experiments with distillation and made brandy under contract by Carneros Alembic, a California distillery owned by Remy-Martin. In 1997, they built their first distillery in an old root vegetable storage barn on the Edgefield property. Their most popular whiskey is Hogshead, but they make several others, including Money Puzzle, which is dry hopped with Teamaker hops (which has 0 IBUs) and is sweetened with blackberry honey harvest from hives on their property.

Historic preservation

The brothers’ love of historic structures directed business growth and community involvement, and preserving important historical buildings is integral to their business. When the McMenamins started, they couldn’t afford new construction, so they purchased old buildings, which came with stories. They employ a small staff of historians to research and document the history, and those are in turn incorporated into each property’s art, murals, menus, place names, and architectural details.

In 1987, the company opened its first theater, the Mission Theater Pub, in downtown Portland. The converted 1890s Swedish Tabernacle, a church-turned-union hall, was also the state's first theater pub. In 1991, McMenamins turned a 1927 art deco theater that was slated for demolition into a second pub and movie house. These businesses were significant and ushered in a new way to watch movies with beer and food.

In 1987, the brothers purchased Edgefield, which was built in 1911 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They paid $560,000 and invested another $2.5 million to transform the farm's 80-year-old buildings into a multi-utility complex. Edgefield was once the Multnomah County Poor Farm, a self-sufficient facility with a meatpacking plant, power station, large rooming house, and infirmary. When the remodeled Edgefield Manor opened in 1991, the meatpacking plant was a brewery, power station a pub with a movie theater, infirmary a winery, and rooming house a 100-room hotel. There was also a meeting space, catering operation, restaurant called the Black Rabbit, herb and flower gardens, four liquor and cigar bars, distillery, golf course, and amphitheater. One of the more outstanding features of Edgefield, and something that would become the McMenamins' signature, was the extensive art installations created by local artists. Art popped up in surprising places throughout the complex (on ceilings, exposed heating pipes, eaves, fuse boxes) and showed local subjects (former residents, Northwest Indians, 19th-century brewers, the Columbia River Gorge). Within a few years, the company had a set of 12 freelance artists ready to work on new property acquisitions. Edgefield brewery is still the company's largest property.

In 1997, they purchased the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, which had been vacant for 30 years, and filled it with murals depicting the building's history, a brewpub, and a bar. The building was famous for its swaying dance floor, which sat on ball bearings. The Crystal Hotel was built in 1911 and became a dance hall and concert facility that hosted national music acts. Around the same time, they partnered with the Portland Development Commission and invested $4.5 million to remodel the Kennedy Elementary School. What was once a boarded-up building was transformed into a 35-room multi-use hotel with an onsite brewery, restaurant and four bars, a movie theater, a jazz hall, cigar bar, and soaking pool.

In 1999, the McMenamins opened McMenamins Hotel Oregon in downtown McMinnville, Oregon. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places and had been a hotel since its first two stories were erected in 1905; five years later, two more floors were added. In 1932, the hotel was renamed Hotel Oregon. In addition to renovating guest rooms, the McMenamins renovation added two bars and an art gallery with old photographs and new paintings that showed the history of the hotel and McMinnville.

Many property renovations followed. In 2000, they opened the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon, which was formerly a Masonic home built in 1922. In 2001, they opened the 27 room Olympic Club Hotel and Theater, which was an expansion of the McMenamins Olympic Club Pub in downtown Centralia, Washington. The original Oxford Hotel was built in 1908 and Olympic Club was built in 1913. In 2003, they reopened the Rock Creek Tavern in Hillsboro, Oregon, which they had purchased in 1995 when the original tavern burned down. In 2016, the Anderson School in Bothell, Washington opened. The original Anderson School was built in 1931 and opened in 1936. In April of 2018, McMenamins opened their latest project, the Kalama Harbor Lodge in Kalama, Washington. Other properties include the White Eagle Saloon & Hotel in Portland, which was built in 1905; Boon’s Treasury in Salem, built in the 1860s; and Old St. Francis School in Bend, which opened in 1936.

ARCHIVAL COLLECTION INFORMATION The brew sheets and some event materials were provided to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2015 and 2016 for digitization. The original items have been retained by McMenamins.

In addition to the brewery activity and the various beers released by McMenamins, this collection also contains information on events organized by the company, such as homebrew competitions and festivals. The cask held in the collection was used at the Oak Hills Pub and is decorated with a pen drawing created by brewer Chris Haslett. The photographs show art installation, artists, and property renovation.

The brew sheets and some event materials were provided to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2015 and 2016 for digitization. The original items were retained by McMenamins.

Physical and electronic records are available for use in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center reading room.

[horsepriest]

I did this OC meme on Twitter and got “Do all 40 and ramble on” as a response.  Here is the entire questionnaire and character sheet for Warlord Gresham.  This is fairly spoiler-free for Glimpse and is a snapshot of who he is now.   Content warning for sadism, torture, and Gresham basically being a sick fuck overall. 

Warlord Gresham

Basic stats:

Name: Gresham,     AKA The TwinHorn

Serial Number: W.03-c.017

Gender/Pronouns: Cis Male He/Him

Height: Approx.     15ft at shoulder. Nearly 20ft standing.

Species: Heavily     modified Liberated Vactyr with signs of Other corruption

Size Class: Titan     (Does not meet 20,000lbs requirement for Colossus Size Class)

Sexuality: Undefined

Romance: Undefined

Birthday: Jan.     17

Age: 42

Occupation: Warlord of the Firmament-Highest rank of the Off-world Military and direct servant of Adelie.

Weapons:  Gresham is a pack hunter with a constantly rotating squad of Lost under his direct command.  He keeps a few contained within the large metal pack upon his back, some strapped with weaponry and explosives for the rare times he’s in a pinch.  He is heavily armoured and has a wide range of attack with his long sweeping horns.  Not many are willing to fight him. He is rarely taken out of battle for long- no one’s quite sure what he keeps in his medic bag. Personality:  Overbearing, proud, and sadistic.  He is the spoiled pet of a capricious “goddess” who encouraged every depraved impulse from a young age.   For his twisted sense of loyalty to Adelie, he was gifted the title of Warlord, and thus dominion over a massive slice of the Liberated hordes.  Despite his quadrupedal stance and bestial appearance, Gresham is smarter than one would think.  This makes him a dangerous adversary as he can manage his pack with ease.

 OC Question Meme

1.       How easy is it to make them angry? Do they show their anger or hide it? It is difficult to make Gresham legitimately angry.  Disobedience would probably be the best way to anger him, except it grants him the ability to dole out punishment as he deems fit.  If anything, he gets giddy when one would expect him to be angry. If someone manages to piss him off, he would not be able to hide it and that person will have a fight on their hands.

2.       Do they believe in soulmates? The idea of soulmates is a foreign concept to him.  Love does not mean much to him due to his unique upbringing.  Of course, he has seen other Liberated pair off to be mates but the rationalizes it as purely a mutually selfish interaction that has shaky longevity at best (and he goes out of his way to ruin the relationship, if possible.).

3.       Do they have any pet peeves? Laziness, weakness, and sneakiness irritate him.  He picks on the lazy and those he views as weak through forcing them into training and hard labour.  He’ll focus intensely on subordinates that show signs of sneakiness or insubordination.

4.       Do they have a happy place?  Somewhere to go to in their heads when they need to relax? His happy place is his room and the memories of his activities there keep him relaxed and generally happy.  Gresham is also happy when around Adelie.  She showers him with attention and praise which he drinks up.  Gresham is a good boy.  In her soulless pits she calls eyes anyways.

5.       At what stage of their life were they the happiest? Right after he killed his brother in public combat and proved he was the best and strongest out of the two.  His secondary set of horns were torn from his brother’s corpse as trophies.  He could stand somewhat normally at this stage and still could see.  He looked like a normal, but exceptionally large Liberated.

6.       At what stage of their life were they the least happy? Same stage of life as “Glimpse Beyond the Illusion.”  His life is painful- trouble breathing and generally functioning as his body has mostly broken down. He relies on his pack for basic needs like getting dressed and keeping clean.  He is also suffering from the effects of █████ ██████████ which is different from Mortus’s knowledge of ██████████.  Lastly, Adelie takes frequent control of his Liberation to form him to her liking, on top of the changes from █████ ██████████.  Due to both of these, he has been barred from ever receiving a breeding permit.

7.       At a bar/tavern/pub are they more likely to buy someone a drink, or have someone buy them a drink? He would buy someone a drink, but it’s a trap. Don’t ever accept a drink from Gresham.

8.       Have they ever broken any bones?  If yes, how? Oh definitely.  The guy’s a living tank that takes joy in brutalizing beings on foreign planets and has most definitely broken more bones than your average peaceful human.  Due to his medic kit, there isn’t much sign of this on his body.  The most obvious broken bone is his docked tail, taken when he reached adulthood.

9.       Do they have any memories/experiences they’d rather forget? Not really.  Most of the painful memories are washed over by the rewards he has been given as a result of being a twisted ghoul of a being.  There are probably quiet moments where he ponders how his life would have been if he were never taken under Adelie’s wing, but they are shoved back down into the dark abyss he dares not look into.  

10.   What is their favourite memory from their childhood? Earning his first pack of Lost. Little and loyal and they tended to his needs without question.  Free friends, captive to him and too stupid to disobey.  At first, he regarded them as tools and took good care of them. Once he accidentally killed one (maybe not accidentally), it was replaced.  Now they are regarded as intelligent playthings and extensions of himself.

11.   Do they have a “type” they are usually attracted to? No explicit type.  Any form of love that Gresham is capable of experiencing is extremely toxic and sickening.  He is an abject abuser and sadist; he doesn’t understand love.  Gresham is capable of obsession and his main obsession is Adelie.

12.   Do they have any favourite possessions? His survival knife, his jar of Flow, and his pack of Lost.  

13.   Do they have any tattoos? If no, would they ever consider getting one? They are not traditional tattoos, but he has faint stripes down his back.  They are short and function like Rictus’s, just without most of Rictus’s extra abilities.  For instance, Gresham cannot rebuild objects with them.

14.   Do they have any piercings? If no, would they ever consider getting one? The thought hasn’t occurred to him, so no piercings.  He might not get one, but I could see him forcing them on others in uncomfortable places.

15.   What is their dream house like? He would live closer to Adelie with more space to be able to move around comfortably.  A space that’s easy to clean and sort his pack into their own cubbies. A much more robust torture chamber with more tools would also be nice.

16.   What is something about them that people would not expect just by looking at them? He is intelligent.  Gresham is calculated in how he handles his affairs and prepares for most situations ahead of time.  For instance, he’ll set out his Lost to lead his quarry to him-typically in a pretty narrow place to discourage retreat.

17.   How good are they at choosing gifts for others? Don’t ever take a gift from Gresham, it’s a trap.

18.   Do they have a certain skill that they’re particularly proud of? He is insanely gifted with his knife work and butchery.  He is proud that he hasn’t yet broken the “Warlord W.03-c.017 is not entitled to cull stud XXX-XXXX” part of his special permits, despite getting his “playthings” very, very, very close to that point. He is also proud of how easily he can take what he wants.

19.   How would a stranger they just met describe them? Creepy, pushy, off-putting.  They may complain of the smell of his breath and body odour.  

20.   How would a close friend they’ve known for a long time describe them? A sweet, loyal dog.  Trustworthy and cute, in an ugly way. (Adelie)

21.   Do they have any personal insecurities? Being caught in a vulnerable position by someone that can then gossip about it.  There are a few pilots that lack tongues for this reason.  Others (presumably because their mouths were too damned small) are just tortured into silence.

22.   What is their highest physical stat? (strength, stamina, defense, speed, etc.) and their highest non-physical stat? (intelligence, perception, charisma, luck, etc)? Easily strength and intelligence.  Defense and Perception are second highest. Gresham lacks Stamina or Charisma.

23.   How would they react to finding out someone lied to them, even if it was for their own safety/well-being? Gresham wouldn’t like it as it would be a form of insubordination, but insubordination also leads to punishment which is fun for him.  He’d let the person lie, then set a trap to catch them.

24.   Do they prefer cold weather or warm weather? For █████ ██████████ reasons, he isn’t too bothered by temperature extremes.  If given the option, he’d pick colder.

25.   How easy is it for them to say “I love you”? See number 2.  Any proclamation of love isn’t actual love: Gresham doesn’t understand it.  Though, he probably tells his playthings that he loves them.  

26.   How easy is it for them to tell someone about their worries? He would not be close enough to most beings to talk about his worries, but he monologues with the Lost about his thoughts. Much like number 21, those that have caught him in these monologues suffer grave consequences.

27.   Have they ever witnessed someone die? Yes, and he takes a perverse joy in it each time.

28.   Are they ticklish? No.  If he ever was, he got desensitized to it by the Lost climbing him.

29.   How high/low is their pain tolerance? Very high.  Even before he started developing chronic pain from his many augments, he is still a Vactyr in the Titan size-class.  

30.   Is there something they secretly wish they could do, but are too afraid to? Getting closer to Adelie.

31.   Are they a messy eater or a neat eater? Due to his lack of cheeks and stretched snout, he is a very messy eater.  Thankfully, the most common food available to him is the same soylent available to all Liberated.  However, when he has access to problematic meat, he eats like a T-Rex.  Large chunks swallowed whole.

32.   What moment of their life made them feel most unloved? When he’s reminded of his place in the universe.  While he is one of the few top-ranked Liberated, he is below every Hirudian.  Forgetting this disappoints Adelie who forces him back into his place through her ability to utterly control his Liberation.  She is willing to loan that control to other Hirudians, including Hivemind (but never Argiope), much to his great humiliation and shame.

33.   What moment of their made them feel most loved? The time leading up to and after getting his augments.  Yes, he lost his vision at this point, but he had Adelie’s entire attention as he was prepared for and eventually recovered from the surgery.

34.   Which of the senses would they hate to lose the most: vision, hearing, smell, taste, or touch? Gresham already cannot see, and his sense of smell is affected by his helmet.  He relies mostly on hearing and the secondary Flow-sense that is boosted by his augments and █████ ██████████ - he can sense where organic and Other beings are.

35.   Are they good at small talk? No, not really.  He’s a bit too busy to socialize and lacks the ability to fit in with the Liberated Ranks for socialization.  His off-putting personality and sadistic nature also pushed them away, many of the pilots carry some trauma from being targeted by him and thus naturally avoid him.

36.   If they could ask anyone one question and get the absolute truth, who and what would they ask? To some all-knowing being (so maybe Hivemind): “Am I good?”

37.   If they had the chance, would they prefer to travel to the past or to the future? The past.  Killing his brother again sounds fun and potentially going back to just before his augment so he can be close to Adelie again.

38.   Who had the biggest impact in their life, both positive and negative? Elite Adelie, for obvious reasons. But, Mortus comes to a close second in the next chapter of Glimpse.

39.   Would they rather life a life always surrounded by people, or always alone? He requires his Lost to live and takes a perverse joy in ruining other beings’ lives.  So, while he could potentially find happiness in a life of solitude if he ever had a chance at a normal upbringing… he would pick having others around.  

40.   Is there anyone or anything that immediately instills fear in them? He fears a loss of control to a being not worthy of his loyalty.  He is purely loyal to Adelie and enjoys his rule over others.  Gresham is aware of how easily Adelie can abandon him, he has witnessed her throwing away her other experiments for petty reasons.  In some cases, he was how she threw them away.  He eventually develops a skittishness around electricity.

[besjourney-blog]

Bibliography

Books

Bonnefoy, Y., 1992. Greek And Egyptian Mythologies. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Bratton, F., 1970. Myths and Legends of The Ancient Near East. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.

Broyles, J., 2006. Egyptian Mythology. New York: Rosen.

Budge, E., 1904. The Gods of The Egyptians. London: Methuen & Co.

Bunson, M. (1996). A Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  

Campbell, J., 1990. Transformations of Myth Through Time. New York: Perennial Library.

Fletcher, J., 1999. Ancient Egypt. London: Duncan Baird.

Jay, R., 1996. Mythology. Lincolnwood, Illinois.: NTC Pub. Group.

Mackenzie, D., 1907. Egyptian Myth and Legend. London: Gresham.

Miles-Watson, J. and Asimos, V., 2019. The Bloomsbury Reader in The Study of Myth. London: Bloomsbury.

Nardo, D., 2005. Mummies, Myth, And Magic. San Diego: Lucent Books.

Pinch, G., 1994. Magic in Ancient Egypt. London: British Museum Press.

Quirke, S., 2015. Exploring Religion in Ancient Egypt. Wiley.

Watterson, B., 2003. Gods of Ancient Egypt. Stroud: Sutton.

Wilson, J., 1956. The Culture of Ancient Egypt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Websites

https://www.ancient.eu/Bes/

https://www.gods-and-goddesses.com/egyptian/bes/

Other Sources

Gillian Ramsey, Oriental Museum, Durham.

[historicalbookimages]

🦢 A new British flora;. London, Gresham Pub. Co., 1919.

[tumblingdoe]

Day 2, 3, & 4 of Road Head

Thursday January 3, 2019

Nels is really good about getting up in the morning, hand-grinding and brewing coffee, then driving to our next destination. I’m more of a night owl so I’m good at sleeping through all of this -- except today. The wind rattled the RV so strongly that it reminded me of the shuttle launches I learned about at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. I thought about how this adventure is like a launch into the unknown, an uncomfortable, fast-paced exploration, calculated by a huge team, and executed by few. Was I still willing to stay onboard?

I thought about the keychain I had gotten at the Rocket Center for this very trip, an astronaut and how supporters of Sexplanations are called Sexpla(i)nauts. The whole morning felt really sentimental. Especially when we arrived at our first destination: Pasco, Washington’s Country Mercantile which is like an indoor farmers market run by a grocer. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

A sexpla(i)naut named Dylan coordinated via Twitter to join us. I was thrilled. We ate breakfast and talked about sexuality. One of the special things I took away from our conversation is that fans of the show have a sort of built in sex ed software created from Sexplanations. So, when they have a question, there’s already a sense of the answer because I’ve programmed them. It’s not evil, it’s awesome!

Nels asked Dylan if he had questions for me and Dylan did, but he also said he knew to a degree how I would answer them and showed throughout breakfast that he was able to critically problem solve things I hadn’t talked about on Sexplanations from things I had talked about. I was a proud Lindsey at this moment.

I bought some cherry apple cider, huge apples, some onions, artichoke salsa, and tamales for a sex geek potluck Friday night. We got back on the road and drove again through the wind. The internet was fickle and this slowed my ability to help put out the week’s regular Sexplanations’ video. It went up smoothly anyway and Nels encouraged me to join him on a roadside hike to the top of Multnomah Falls. I thought to myself, “if you want exercise, let’s have sex!” but I knew it wasn’t just physical activity I needed. I needed fresh air and nature. To the hike.

By the time I was ready to be done walking up the trail there was a sign declaring we had done 1 out of 11 switchbacks!? I looked at the sign in disgust and proceeded to go forward. Just like with the Sexplanations Road Tour my belief was that a past me knew what would be best for a future me and even though present me would struggle, it would be worth it. I thought of a lot of metaphors on the hike and topics for Sexplanations’ episodes. I pondered how jumping into the 620 foot falls would be the fastest way down but then I’d be dead.

I did want Swedish meatballs, lingonberry juice, and retail therapy at Ikea before dinner at 5:30 and a speaking engagement at 7, so I ran down the mountain and got in the driver’s seat.

We did Ikea in 45 minutes -- got a cutting board, some floor mats, and cookware. Then it was off to Portland for real this time. Ethiopian food and my dear friend Ben from middle school were waiting for us. One of my greatest pleasures is eating with my hands.

After dinner, and just down the street was a meetup at the Sex Positive Education Events Center (SPEEC). As one attendee put it, “this might ruin it for the rest of your trip” because everything was so perfect. Angie, a sex therapist at SPEEC who’d coordinated everything with a day’s notice, had a projector for me to show Sexplanations, chocolates, comfy chairs, and a vibrator giveaway. The 20ish people who showed up were all spectacular!! We talked about sex positivity in the workplace, bisexual erasure, local resources, Nerdfighteria, the tour, and my experiences as a foster parent. I left with a gift of hand-made underwear and the overwhelming joy that Portland is in very good hands.

Afterward was second dinner with another dear friend and her partner. We went to the Chapel Pub where an organist was playing Sex Ed Rhapsody, “sex ed really matters. Anyone can see. Sex ed really matters. It really really matters to me.”  

Friday January 4, 2019

Thursday we stayed up late drinking tea with Ben and talking about the future before camping in his driveway like hardcore vanlifers. With all that tea imbibed, the RV plumbing was activated that night. (Since we were coming from frozen Montana we had winterized the plumbing so nothing would break but now that we’re in warmer temperatures and in need of a toilet regularly we have a semi-operational bathroom!)

Friday morning I ate RV breakfast -- Brown Cow cream top plain yogurt with Bernice’s Bakery granola from Missoula. It occured to me that I would run out of these items and there was a slight head tilt of mystery about five months of life without Missoula. We drove to visit Nels’ friend Jamie who had the day off from work and the two of them went on a hike in the forest while I took a much-needed shower and got some work done. I wasn’t able to fit 80 hours of assignments into three hours but I was grateful that I got to check some things off the list and have time alone.

When Nels and Jamie came back to the house we went out for Panang Curry. Ben met us and we talked about Blue Planet playing on the restaurant TV. I didn’t know that octopuses/octopodes could be magenta!

After food we all went separate directions. Jamie and Nels went to meet up with another friend and put a puzzle together. I took Ben to his house and then did a run to Fred Meyers for a mattress pad and some drawers to organize my art supplies. Lindsey driving around the city in an RV by herself is a badass!

The evening of Friday January 4, 2019

Nels and I drove to Gresham, Oregon about 40 minutes from where we were in Portland. The Sex Geek community was gathering for a short-notice potluck so I could spend time with kindred spirits. The house was beautiful and warm. Each person was so cool and the food was wonderful! It was like reconnecting with best friends even though these were people I knew loosely. We took a tour of the house, sat down picnic table style for dinner, then talked for hours. I learned that a handful of the sex geeks there had already been on tour, one of whom had taken on our very mission of providing sex ed around the country via RV. I learned about the Fisting Coven (of women who learn and practice fisting with supervision) and I discussed the infrequency of sexologists with children while smiling at a new baby nearby. I’m curious. Some of the guests did a nude photo shoot featuring an gorgeous apple flower dessert and others compared notes on how they were raised. Everyone had a pretty unique upbringing except two of us who had grown up the same age in the same 6,000 person town in northeast Ohio, competing backstroke on swim teams, and walking past the Hudson green clocktower for milkshakes. Two 37 year old women who became well-known sex educators.

I eventually brought up my fear of speaking at Oxford’s TEDx in February with one of the sex geeks who is a successful and talented public speaker.  He listened lovingly to my nerves and and boosted my confidence then retrieved a stack of colored notecards for me to write down and practice my speech over the next month. I knew what I was experiencing was a birth. Between my friends, the SPEEC meetup, and nurturing dinner party of colleagues I was being born into trust that this would all be transformative and meaningful.

Saturday January 5, 2019

Same morning routine, Nels made coffee and started the ignition. We had a brunch date with friends of his from college at their house. “At their house” is a great preposition when you’re road-tripping I’ve already learned because there’s a grounding feeling of front door, living room, bathroom, family dog etc. that you can’t get eating out at restaurants. AND the food is outstanding, made with love. This food was incredible, the black lab was so affectionate, and their toddler provided the ever so welcome shared activity of observing a tiny human being instead of outputting a lot of energy in small talk. I like Nels friends a lot!

After we left their place I felt an urgent need to take a nap and have sex, in that order. Nels and I are usually sex-multiple-times-a-day people but we haven’t prioritized it on the road. We got Costco gas, parked in the nearby lot, slept, then had much needed orgasms. I woke up hours later to Nels driving toward Eugene, Oregon where more of his friends had chicken masala for us “at their house.” I stayed in a relaxed state and committed to working later while they all socialized. As I write now they’re playing one of my favorite card games -- Bonanza, and I’m thrilled to be on a nearby couch, wrapped in a blanket, recalling day four. What a wondrous adventure I’m on.

[mariolopezgoicoechea]

Urban Diary Winter walk I have the city to myself today. Or, at least, I pretend I do. I’ve left my bicycle locked up on one of the racks outside the 24hr Sainsbury’s on Old Street. I decide to venture down the maze of medieval alleyways and cul-de-sacs that make up the City of London. The historic financial district that houses both the Bank of England and the Stock Exchange. A mix of past and present history greets me as I sashay past buildings and pubs. I make it as far as the #Guildhall, the seat of the government of the #CityofLondon. On Gresham Street, the overnight frost has melted and the sunlight reflects off the #Gherkin, creating a magical pool of luminescence. How lucky I am to have the city to myself today. #Cuban #Immigrant #Londoner https://www.austinmacauley.com/book/cuban-immigrant-and-londoner #London #Londres #Londinense #walkingLondon #Londonwalking #walking #streetscene #streetphotography #urbanlandscape #visitbritain #visitengland #visitlondon #photography #VSCO (at Guildhall, London) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmcncmzqgUK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[whatchudrinkin]

Catch and Release

Captured by Porches always sounded more like a midwestern post-rock band than a brewery. The tiny operation has had many ups and downs over the last ten years. Somehow, despite bad press, some really off beers, and bouncing from Portland to St. Helens to Gresham, the little brewery that could keeps going. And they are now malting their own barley, too.

Captured by Porches is a one man operation, Dylan Goldsmith seems to make all the beer even after a decade in business. He started as a homebrewer supplying house parties. His homebrew was so popular, his friends never left, hanging on his porch all night -- thus the name. 

The first Captured brewery was wedged into a weird space behind the Clinton St. Theatre on some hand-me-down equipment found on Craigslist. The brewery moved from cramped corner to cramped corner -- from an old gas station on highway 30, to an industrial park in St. Helens, and now the backend of a health food store turned organic pizza pub in Gresham.

Captured By Porches has never garnered a lot of press. Every few years, someone hunts down Goldsmith for an interview about beer and homebrewing and sustainability, but he seems more interested in making beer than self promotion. They never opened a proper taproom, but they entered the Portland food cart scene. The Captured by Porches beer buses popped up all over town selling beer from converted campers to thirsty foodies.

But a few years ago, Goldsmith and his business partner/wife broke up. He kept the brewery; she got the beer buses. The brewery nearly fell off the face of the earth. The business had to pull distribution and focus on the smaller accounts that actually sold the beer. They continue to sell beer at local farmer’s markets and in small grocers and bottle shops but you won’t see Captured by Porches in the Whole Foods anymore. 

But I’ve been hesitant to pick up anything new from Captured, their beers do not have a great reputation. Their Invasive Species IPA made it into the finals of our grand all Oregon IPA taste off in 2012, then flunked out when we got two very off bottles. They had notable issues in the early 2010s with swing top bottles which were often infected, and came with a dollar bottle deposit. Those early bottles soured reviewers on RateBeer and BeerAdvocate. A single bad bottle can turn into even worse word of mouth.

But I was at the local co-op grocery and in between the hazy IPAs was Wind & Rain ESB. I had a hankering for something a little maltier, so I picked it up. It wasn’t until I got home that I learned the beer was made with Full Pint barley bred at Oregon State University, grown locally, and malted at the brewery. In  2015, Captured by Porches started malting nearly all the grain in their beers. That’s insane. I had to try it.

Wind & Rain is a malty brew with a lot of character. It’s not just sweet or toasty. It’s tastes like bran flakes or wild rice. It’s slightly, slightly smokey. The caramel notes are kept in check by a firm bitterness and a hint of yeasty fruit. One sip and I was hooked. What else could they be making? So I went pack for an Oregon Sunshine golden ale and the reformulated Invasive Species. Both have a tasty malt flavor, but each shows off a different side of the grain.

Oregon Sunshine is like a sandwich, nice toasted bread notes with a seedy, grassy flavor topped with a hint of pickle and an oniony umami. Invasive Species is an old school IPA with plenty of bitterness backed by a malty sweetness. The flavor is toasted, nearly burnt like popcorn heated on the stovetop. There’s a raw grassiness underneath emphasized by the old school pine and citrus hops.

In a market dominated by massive multinational craft brewers -- and small brewers aiming to become massive multinationals, it’s intriguing to see a truly tiny business overcome some serious struggles and continues to push the envelope. And somehow, despite using their own hand malted grain, Captured can still sell pint sized bottles for less than five bucks. If you see them around, I encourage you to give them another try. 

[byrneabroad]

Thursday recap:

- After breakfast, we hopped on Paddy Campbell’s famous Black Cab tour to learn about the troubles of Belfast - we learned so much!

- Then we drove from Belfast back to Dublin

- Dropped off our rental car (thanks for the mems!)

- Checked into our last hostel of the trip!Gardiner Hostel. It was the nicest one yet & definitely felt more like a hotel. Each bunk room looked like a chapel with stained glass windows, and there were individual bathrooms with a shower AND toilet! Quite the luxury.

- We had our last supper together at The Merchants Arch, and the food was incredible. One of our best meals so far for sure. We split loaded potato skins and Trishy & Emma got Bangers & Mash!

- For our last event of the trip, we did as the Irish do & had some pints. Not just on our own, but with 73 other people on our Backpacker Pub Crawl! We went to 6 bars & each one had live music. We made friends from Germany, Italy, Norway, and all the way from Austin, San Diego, and even Gresham! ‘Twas a grand ol time.

[handdesigns]

So what is Veganism?

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.  - https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism

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Some very interesting facts I took from this website.

https://www.vegansociety.com/news/media/statistics (Statistics )

-If the world went vegan, it could save 8 million human lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds and lead to healthcare-related savings and avoided climate damages of $1.5 trillion.

- Vegan trends quadrupled in the 5 years between 2012 and 2017, according to Google search. It now gets almost 3 times more interest than vegetarian and gluten free searches.

- In 2018, the UK launched more vegan products than any nation.

- Orders of vegan meals grew 388% between 2016 and 2018 and they are now the UK’s fastest growing takeaway choice.

- Demand for meat-free food in the UK increased by 987% in 2017 and going vegan was predicted to be the biggest food trend in 2018.

- Bristol was the most popular British city for veganism in 2018, according to Google Trends, followed by Edinburgh, Manchester and London.

- A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.

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Oxford Martin School

https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/news/201603-plant-based-diets/

- A global switch to diets that rely less on meat and more on fruit and vegetables could save up to 8 million lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds, and lead to healthcare-related savings and avoided climate damages of $1.5 trillion (US) , Oxford Martin School researchers have found.

- “What we eat greatly influences our personal health and the global environment,” says Dr Marco Springmann of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food, who led the study.

- The study projects that by 2050, food-related greenhouse gas emissions could account for half of the emissions the world can afford if global warming is to be limited to less than 2°C. Adopting global dietary guidelines would cut food-related emissions by 29%, vegetarian diets by 63%, and vegan diets by 70%.

- “We do not expect everybody to become vegan, but climate change impacts of the food system will be hard to tackle and likely require more than just technological changes. Adopting healthier and more environmentally sustainable diets can be a large step in the right direction. The size of the projected benefits should encourage individuals, industry, and policy makers to act decisively to make sure that what we eat preserves our environment and our health" – Dr Marco Springmann

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Is Veganism becoming more popular in the UK?

The Independent:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/vegans-uk-rise-popularity-plant-based-diets-veganism-figures-survey-compare-market-a8286471.html

- Veganism has skyrocketed in recent years, with more people than ever before choosing to enjoy a plant-based life.

- The research means that seven per cent of Great Britain’s population are now shunning animal products altogether for life less meaty – and cheesy.

- Supported by Gresham College professor Carolyn Roberts, the research suggests that environmental concerns are largely responsible for edging people towards a vegan diet, as people strive to reduce their carbon footprint. Prof Roberts believes that a shift in diet might even be more environmentally beneficial than other eco-friendly measures, such as reducing petrol and diesel car usage.

The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/01/third-of-britons-have-stopped-or-reduced-meat-eating-vegan-vegetarian-report

- Vegan dining out is also booming, the report notes, with the Good Food Guide highlighting restaurants with dedicated vegan menus for the first time this year after many high street chains and pubs increased their non-meat-and-dairy options.

- One in eight Britons are now vegetarian or vegan, according to a report on food shopping that underlines a revolution in the UK’s eating habits. A further 21% claim to be flexitarian, where a largely vegetable-based diet is supplemented occasionally with meat, which means a third of UK consumers have deliberately reduced the amount of meat they eat or removed it from their diet entirely.

- “It’s extremely encouraging to learn how many Britons are choosing to reduce their consumption of animal products” said Nick Palmer, the head of Compassion in World Farming UK. “Science proves that the healthiest diet is one that is plant-heavy. By eating less meat, fish, eggs and dairy and choosing higher welfare when we do, we can all help animals, people and the planet.”

- Waitrose was the first UK supermarket to install dedicated vegan sections in 134 of its stores in May. It has also launched a range of more than 40 vegan and vegetarian ready meals.

Mintel:

https://www.mintel.com/press-centre/food-and-drink/veganuary-uk-overtakes-germany-as-worlds-leader-for-vegan-food-launches

- In 2018, the UK was the nation with the highest number of new vegan food products launched, toppling Germany from its number one spot.

- 1 in 3 British meat eaters reduced their meat consumption in the six months leading to July 2018 following a flexitarian approach.

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Overall you can see that veganism is becoming much more popular in the UK. I believe each trend effects another. For example, if someone does not eat meat then why would they want a leather sofa that is made from cow skin? I think interior design needs to keep inline with current social trends as at the end of the day it is what people want. As designers we have to meet the needs of our clients.

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Opposing arguments to Veganism

Good Morning Britain - Piers Morgan’s arguments against veganism - he is against the protesting.

On the flip side I can see the argument Piers Morgan addresses. I would apply this argument when/if I work on vegan design once I graduate. I will not enforce it upon people but talk about it when clients ask. 

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Why are more people eating vegan food?

The BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44488051

- Supermarkets chains in the UK are stocking more vegan options to keep up with the consumers’ food choices.

- Waitrose recently launched a dedicated vegan section in more than 130 shops.

- Social media has had a big part to play in the rise of the plant-based lifestyle. Celebrities like Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus are some of the well-known figures who don’t eat animal products.

- #vegan has more than 61 million posts listed on Instagram.

BBC Radio 4

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5PBX369GxWfBHFHFRrkCvCl/seven-reasons-why-people-are-going-vegan

1. ANIMAL CRUELTY OR THE ETHICAL ARGUMENT

2. GOING GREEN

- Vast swathes of land are required to support and feed livestock, making it a significant contributor to deforestation.

- The water used by animal agriculture, mostly ass irrigation for feed crops, accounts for around 8% of global human water use.

- Farm animals generate waste and pollution. Animal agriculture is responsible for around 14 to 18% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions - higher than transportation!

3. HEALTH

4. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO

5. SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE VEGAN REVOLUTION

- Grace Dent believes that, “Social media has set light to the vegan movement” and that before the internet, “to be vegan was largely to be alone.”

- Social media has made sharing recipes much easier.

6. CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS

7. GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO CHOOSE VEGAN

The Independent - Is Instagram the reason for the increase in veganism?

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veganism-rise-uk-why-instagram-mainstream-plant-based-diet-vegans-popularity-a8296426.html

- According to Google trends, searchers for “veganism” have been rising steadily since 2012 in a similar trajectory to “Instagram”.

- Instagram has over 800 million users.

- Instagram is a visual-first platform and is therefore the easiest one on which to share aspirational lifestyle habits.

- It’s the go-to place for food inspiration and lots of plant-based foods look very appealing, which makes the images popular among users” Simon Winch, chief executive at Veganuary.

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This shows that Instagram has been a huge influence to why people have become vegan. This tells me that it will be an important platform to use to get vegan interior design more known. People use Instagram every day and it is so essential to getting your views and ideas out in the world.

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