Martini Moments

I HEART Gaslamp District

I just returned from a quick business trip  from San Diego.  What a fantastic city!  The Gaslamp District is THE PLACE to be.  Who knew that Fifth Ave was loaded with ten blocks of so many options?  There is basically a grid from Fourth to Sixth Avenue and E to K Street with a million and one great options for dining, hotels, and nightlife.  I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott downtown.  At $94 a night, they paid me to stay there.  It was a grand old hotel.  My corner room had a spectacular view from the 12th floor.  Among the other favorites were the famous Black Martinis made with espresso and vodka at the Bitter End, the custom-made cedar plank salmon at THIN, dinner at the jazz hot spot Croce's, and the "Northern Coast" tasting flight at the Napa Valley Cafe.  I spent Easter with my good friend Jen and her family.  We went to Point Loma and enjoyed a fabulous Sunday brunch at a fun Polynesian restaurant called Bali Hai.  The early morning mai tai really hit the spot.  I highly recommend this city for a fun get-a-way vacation spot.  The airport is a $10 taxi ride from the city and is silly close to downtown.  Nothing seamed overly expensive...except the cover-charges for the clubs.  Plan on $10-20 to get in and don't wear sandals.  Overall, I think it is well worth it.  The icing on the cake is that everyone is extremely friendly.  I mean, Portland kinda friendly.  It was good vibes all around.  If you get bored with the city life, the beach is just a short drive away.  If you haven't been to San Diego for a while...I encourage you to go back and check the place out.

Hot Rod

Life is good.  I won a raffle for court-side Blazer tickets.  Next thing I know, I'm at the Rod Stewart concert in a corporate suite with 15 of my closest friends and family drinking an Oregon Pinot and dreaming about a downtown train.  I still remember when I first got my driver's license and used to drive my mom's Pontiac Grand Prix.  I thought it was so cool that she had a CD player...with seven options for music by Rod Stewart.  I think Gesika knocked over her large cherry red Slurpee to a live version of "Ooh La la" at a sudden four-way.  It never came out of the faux-suede.  It was fun to watch her watch him sing.  Ohhh yeah, he still looks good in pink. I want to be F OR E VER young...

Elaina's Big Ass 30th "Birthday BUS" Bash

"You are invited to help me celebrate my intro to decade numero tres! Plan to arrive at the Gypsy around 7 p.m. for a party bowl kick off. From here, we'll board the BIG Ass 30th "Birthday BUS" promptly at 8 p.m. and depart for a fun-filled evening of luscious liquor surprises in Polynesian paradise…and then some. What 30th birthday party is complete without cocktails festooned with foofy fruit and paper umbrellas? In lieu of gifts, please bring cold, hard CASH for your drinks, in addition to a $15 contribution towards transportation fees, cover charges, and beverages en route." **Tropical Hawaiian attire is non-negotiable.**  Please RSVP early. Seating is limited to the first 50 people to respond.

Thank you friends and loved ones for the best birthday party ever.  It would be impossible to recap all the magical moments, but I thought I'd highlight just a few...

Pick up spot #1!  What a way to start the evening!  Over 60 friends gathered at The Gypsy, a well-known neighborhood hangout on NW 21st.  Several friends gathered here to say hello and that weren't brave enough to board the bus.  My old neighbors Courtney and Nate were all smiles.  My co-worker Krista and her boyfriend Brad came to say hello before heading back out to their new home in wine country.  BJ made an over due appearance and Hilary had to leave to deal with drama before the bus even arrived.  My oldest friend Cindy and her husband JD came for dinner and virgin cocktails.  With a baby on the way, a bus ride with a bunch of intoxicated hooligans wasn't a good option.  I enjoyed the purple martini purchased for me by the Olympia/Camas/Seattle crew and LOVED the Adios Mother $%^&*@ party punch bowl. 

Our festive luau attire wasn't exactly welcomed at our second stop, however, we ultimately won the hearts of several cowboys.  The "Cross Country Band" rocked the house as we arrived tardy at Jubitz Truck Stop's Ponderosa Lounge.  This place is true country.  A couple of two steps, a group attempt at the Electric Slide, and a rum and coke later, we were headed back to the bus.  A BIG thank you to Bob and the cocktail waitresses for holding our space.  Those boys mean business.   It was a little somethin' outta the ordinary to add somethin' special to the evening.  I bet no one guessed that was on the agenda.

The Alibi Room was the featured destination for the evening.  This Portland landmark is perfect for a group of wasted American Idols.  Here, we enjoyed fruity drinks (my favorite being ohIwannahumpya) and sang our hearts out.  Even I belted out the words to "Total Eclipse of the Heart."  The staff here was fantastic and treated our drunk asses with respect and enthusiasm.  The decor is incredible and the free late-night food was exactly what our liquor saturated belly's were dreaming of.

The final stop of the evening was my all time favorite spot when everything else is closed-- Yur's.  They make the world's best chicken strips and fries...just like you used to get in high school!  The fries are Criss-cross-cut and are heaven on earth when dipped in some ranch.   If you ask for it, they will serve them in little plastic baskets with red and white checkered wax paper.  They have a pool and a dart board and really stiff drinks for cheap.  Do you need to know more? 

Thanks to everyone who joined the celebration.  I look forward to another decade of memories.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES and the whole collection can be found here: http://www.razorotika.org/matt/elaina/ 
Thanks to Matt Tangvald!

The lady on the bus

I have been riding the #17 bus to work for nearly four years now.  Every other week or so, a very sweet elderly lady is seated in the spot right behind the driver.  She always has a smile on her face and greets me with some type of compliment.  Usually, she says she likes my blouse or my earrings and then proceeds to comment on the weather.  Her voice is extremely kind and her words are always optimistic.  Nine times out of ten she is on the way to meet her son who lives in Tigard.  They make a plan to have breakfast twice a month.

I have been walking to working almost every day for the past two months, so I haven't been riding much.  Today, however, I was nursing a stubborn headache from too many green cocktails and bagpipes.   So, I caught the bus just as it turned onto Glisan.  I saw her when I boarded...but didn't say hello because she'd buried herself in the morning paper.  Half way through the ride she noticed me and said hello.  The first words out he mouth were an apology for being so distracted.  I asked her how she had been and she replied "Fine."  Twice.  She then paused for a moment and responded with a comment about having had missed the terrible flu that was going around and proceeded to comment on the all the great sunshine we've been getting.  I think it was then I noticed something was different.  Her nylon knee-highs were bunched around her ankles, her pretty blond hair was flat and lifeless...and she wasn't wearing a smidge of make up.  Usually on brunch days she wore soft pink lipstick.  If she was meeting him for coffee, it was a much deeper color.  I noticed all these details about the time she had finished her statement about having missed flu season as I was about to ask if she was feeling alright.  Instead, I gave her a big smile and asked if she was headed to breakfast with her son.  I loved they way she spoke so highly about him and lit up with joy with the anticipation of their prearranged meetings.  Her eyes darted to the floor for the first time ever as she shook her head back and forth.  "No, no" she said and they followed by saying that he had passed away.  "January 28th.  Pancreatic cancer.  He didn't even know he had it."  There was a good 30 second pause after I said my condolences before she nodded and told me how much she missed him.  Her eyes were tired and dry as she said she was just so thankful that she still had such a great family with her grandchildren and her other son that was still alive.

I've probably spoken to this woman sixty, maybe seventy times in the past four years, however, every morning that we crossed paths, she managed to raise my spirit.  Never once had I heard her say a single negative thing about anything.  In fact, she consistently  spoke the opposite.  Her positive outlook on life has been a true inspiration to me.  Today I felt more grateful to be alive then ever before...even with the spitting heach and hung-over nausea.  Ironic really, when you think about it.  I don't even know this kind woman's name and I haven't been able to get her out of my mind all day.   God bless her.

Best Birthday Gift Ever

Elaina J. Spring, CMP

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Just a few short hours remain of life in my 20’s.  For me, this past decade has been about growth and discovery.  During these precious ten years, I experienced more than I ever imaged possible.  I graduated from college with a tremendous amount of energy, pride, and passion.  I was introduced to corporate America with a decent paying job, good benefits, and a great boss.  I earned a business certificate in Event Management and have discovered my professional calling.  I enjoyed a very happy Thanksgiving in Amsterdam eating space cake and pickled herring.  I spent one Christmas in Canada and another in Hawaii.  I saw Les Misérables at the Palace Theater in London, touched the Eiffel Tour twice, sipped wine under the Tuscan sun, slept in a castle on the Rhine River in Germany, and experienced the ecstasy of melted chocolate in Switzerland.  I kissed a real cowboy and almost stepped on a Gila monster at the Marlboro Ranch in Tucson.  I survived a life-changing road trip to Idaho with seven outrageously entertaining gents. I danced with my grandpa at a family reunion in Calgary and have been known to foxtrot, cha cha, two step, salsa, and waltz at various points along the way.  I stood beside both of my best friends on their wedding day as they married high school sweethearts and experienced numerous other wedding celebrations and new babies.  I celebrated with both my parents as they turned fifty and played slots with my brother in Reno with a group of rock stars.  I have personally driven less than 100,000 miles in ten years…and still don’t own a car.  My palate has experienced everything from Boones Farm to Domain Drouhin and Dom Perignon.  I’ve gone from cooking vegetarian to ordering an 8 oz fillet like a pro.  I have a heart full of memories from crab races, bon fires, and sandy beaches from five of the best birthday parties ever.  I adopted the softest cat in the entire world and served as guardian to a beloved African water frog named Roberto and Diego the fish.  I experienced the magic of coaching Special Olympics for several years and helped to create seven International Women’s Days.  Best of all, I’ve finally fallen in love and have the most amazing group of friends anyone could ask for.

“To whiskey, friends, and cigarettes…may I dance the tango until I die!”

most expensive wine in 30 years

I am turning thirty in just three short days.  Tonight, Darrin was kind enough to treat me to dinner at El Gaucho--Portland's premire steak house.  I remember celebrating my dad's 40th in the same space with flaming banana's foster when it was Trader Vics.  The food was amazing!  Not to mention, I had a 8 oz fillet with lobster to his 24 oz porterhouse.  He also purchased a $145 bottle of "Yamhill Valley Vineyards" special "Tall Pop Pinot Noir"  off the Captian's List.    There is a first for everything.  It was the best bottle of wine I've ever experienced.  As he said, "it was like drinking rose water."  A girl can't really ask for anything more.  Thanks baby!  I hope I feel this good for another 30!

Thank you!

1 Yamhill Tall Pop.....$145
1 Lagavulin............$18
1 Fonesca 20 Year....$11
1 Porterhouse Stk....$58.95
1 Gaucho Stk.........$39.95
1 Espresso............$2.50

Celebrating your 30th birthday in style......priceless.