July 2010
20 posts
The building of a bar
It is good to have somebody who is a strong voice of reason and knowledge, even if you have to pay a high price for it.
Let me start by saying that I have an uncanny ability to wake up early and not be able to get back to sleep. The waking is not my ability, but my ability is that on these days of waking early, without fail, they do not end up being the best of days.
This morning I was told...
The building of a bar
Today the Maiden sailed its last voyage.
The back bar came down. The shelves came down. The light fixtures came down. The liquor bottles were cleaned and boxed. The glassware has been pulled from the shelves. The random remaining tchotchkes were ferreted from their hiding.
The fruit flies watched, mortified.
The dust bunnies reared their gnarled fangs and attacked with both an effective and...
The building of a bar
It is weird.
The more the contractors do, the less, it seems I can do.
I feel like I should be doing everything I can to get the bar built out, but at the same time, now that the wheels are in motion, there is a step-by-step order of which I can’t really interfere.
Tomorrow, I will buy boxes and pack up every glass, bottle, knife and muddler and take down the shelves for the bar.
...
The Building of a Bar
Today I woke to a call stating that I am the proud owner of one bar, not two. Which is the best news I could have hoped to wake to.
Thank you for everything Lottie’s Lounge.
Other things of note that happened today was that I believe I have submitted all of my paperwork to the City of Portland and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. My architectural drawings and pinpoint accuracy were...
The building of a bar
As it turns out, sleep and me don’t have too much in common. We tried hanging out last night and it just felt weird. I ended up going to bed around 5am. I got up at 7:15 so that I could get to the bar by 8 to meet the contractors and let them in.
Turns out, they were running a little late and didn’t even get there until 9:30.
In that time, however, I put a nice coat of primer on...
The Building of a Bar
For the most part, I took the day off today. I met a couple industry people earlier on and will finish up some paper work before I spend a little time with my long, lost pal… sleep.
Sleep and me used to be such good buddies. We drifted apart I guess. Things changed and we went our own different directions. But tonight I am hoping that me and sleep can hang out, like old times.
I hope it...
The Building of a Bar
A NoDak is one who comes from North Dakota. For some reason, many NoDaks have moved to Seattle. For some other reason, they seemed to all gravitate to Columbia City. I knew several NoDaks in my old neighborhood, but oddly, most of them didn’t know each other.
NoDaks, in my experience, have an incredibly strong work ethic and an even stronger play ethic.
I know that is a generalization,...
The building of a bar
I got my kitchen manager. I got another NoDak boy as well, so for now my kitchen is set.
I sold my fridge and my freezer.„ only problem is my freezer isn’t working even though the repairman came out and said it was fine. He obviously was pulling the wool over my eyes. Wool puller.
I got my business cards. They are on the wrong card stock, but they are temporary and will have to...
The building of a bar
I would like to note that today for possibly the first time since I sold Lottie’s, I feel like I own a bar again.
Today, the Star Bar felt like my bar.
All it took was a juke box, a sledge hammer and fruit flies.
The battle of the fruit fly and the bar owner is one that has spanned the centuries. People have tried traps, chemicals, voodoo and swatters. While they all have their charms...
Building of a bar
I am beginning to see how this social networking thing works. I am not giving into it yet, which is like Jim Baker not given into Jessica Hawn, though this may take me a little longer.
The force of Twitter is strong and I am weak. Facebook’s cyberspace gravitational pull is that of a black hole. My blog is self-indulgent, so that doesn’t count.
Today was frustrating. But I have a...
The building of a bar
I was reminded today to keep it positive and I appreciate that advice.
I don’t do well with waiting. It drives me batty. But I have to remember that I am waiting to do something that I love, something I will be very proud of, and something I can truly put myself behind and believe in.
Not only am I able to do this, but I am fortunate to be in this position.
This process is stressful,...
The building of the Star Bar
The familiar waiting game is still in full swing.
I had one last bid on a walk-in and I am waiting to hear back from the contractor to confirm he and his crew will, indeed, be starting in three days.
I spent the day catching up on paperwork. I will hopefully have the remaining documents into the Oregon Liquor Control Commission… or the OLCC if you are as familiar with them as I… by...
I entertained today. I entertained a past employee and a friend. I entertained my puppy. I entertained a friend and hopefully a future employee.
And while I spent too much money, it was worth every cent. It felt good and reminded me of why I love it all.
Day off. Star Bar
The waiting
Well, not like it is anything new, but today I wait.
I have my bids, I got creative and I think it is going to work. Instead of getting two walk-ins, I am doing a little re-working of the kitchen so I can make the walk-in larger. Originally, it was my idea to have two walk-ins. I was going to put one in the basement and only use that for beer. The other was going to be in the kitchen for...
The building of a bar
Today was a relatively uneventful day.
I spent another hour on the phone with the cable company. We were able to figure out that it is not a cable problem. Everything is running as it should be. I still can’t connect via wireless, but baby steps. Little, slow, stumbling baby steps.
It is a good thing I am in the habit of changing my diapers. There are a lot of baby steps.
Beyond the...
The building of a bar
Today was a bit of a kick in the nuts. From the onset things started taking on an ugly life of their own… and we haven’t even started building anything yet. Bids were coming in really high. Pictures were glued and nailed to the wall, benches were cemented down and my cable company wasted at least five hours of my day, and they didn’t fix anything.
An English muffin and half an...
Great Big Star track!
No news
We rocked the DMV today (Wednesday). There, truthfully, was not much rockin’. It was as advertised, meaning a department that has a lot of motorized vehicle stuff. Nobody waiting was very sociable. I was handed two license plates when I was done, both were shiny and new.
I left satisfied.
It's a little dark in here
The former Maiden formerly known as the Maiden in the Mist soon to be Star Bar was dark today.
It might have had something to do with the butcher paper we put over the windows yesterday.
I tripped over a table and stubbed my toe before I thought to change the light bulbs.
After a nap on the floor I met with the long list of people… vendors, former employees, meat men, freezer guys, linen folks,...
Crap!
Now how does this work? Is this thing on? I am a bartender. I know my drinks. I am also a lover. I know my love. But I don’t know my internet technology. I know my drinks. I know my love. Drinks are awesome, even when they are not so good, unless you pay too much for them. Then they are not awesome and kind of lame. Love is awesome, unless you pay too much for love, then love is painful and...
