October 20, 2015. Crystal Ballroom in Portland

LOCATION:  House-sitting in Portland, Oregon

WEATHER:  Rain overnight and in the AM.  Sunny, nice in PM

We figured out the bus system and found a bus stop just a few blocks away.  On the way, we saw this house decorated for Halloween.

The bus system is great.  It coordinates with the trolley and light rail system.  The drivers are all very helpful.

Our first stop downtown was the Cyrstal Ballroom, one of the McMenamins properties.  We went on a tour to learn about its history (and to get a stamp in our passport!). It is 101 years old.  In its heyday, famous musicians like Ike and Tina Turner, James Brown, and Jimmy Hendrix performed here.  It was derelict for awhile until McMenamins bought it and restored it.  It is now a concert venue.

It has a small brewery which supplies the Crystal Ballroom hotel and bars.  The kettles are brightly painted.

The downstairs bar was packed with teenagers waiting for tonight's concert.  Some had been in line since 3:00 AM.  

We played some pool (for another passport stamp) in the bar.  We walked around the area, called the Pearl District.  We checked out another brewpub, then stopped at another McMenamins bar/theater.  They were having a trivia party later, but we didn't want to stay long.  So, we munched on some popcorn and painfully watched an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing in the historic theater. And.....another passport stamp. :-)

DINNER:  Mushroom pasta.  I used the rest of the wild mushrooms we had bought at the mushroom festival.  I made a creamy sauce with them from an online recipe.  Really delicious, and again, quite inexpensive.