McMenamin's Merriment December 2016

My sis Linda, and myself, plus Joy,  her mom-in-law, found ourselves recently on this little holiday adventure, enjoying a Willamette Valley favorite.....

The McMenamin's hotels of the PNW are a whimsical world of fun and merriment in community gathering spots.  Add music, theater, food, art, history, trendy libations and you have the inn that we visited, Edgefield Historic Hotel, a short drive east of Portland.

These grounds and buildings were previously y'old "Poor House" of  Multnomah County. It had 600 residents  during the depression years.  The last resident faded away in 1985. Soon after that it was purchased and repurposed by Portland McMenamin brothers. They added it to their growing brewery  mini-empire.

Apparently, 60's era deadheads never die. And, this all harkens back slightly to that sweet film, "Back in Time".   Kind of romantic, kind of funky. Plus a big dose of the Grateful Dead.

Garden, kitchen and/or maintenance chores were mandatory for any of the early poor-house residents that were capable.  Skills, so they say, were not mandatory, just a good attitude.

Lucky's  pool hall, snookers, rocking porches, card tables and art activities remain. The stables and infirmary are now exotic gin joints.

Long ago many infamous, penniless eccentrics supposedly found their way there. Now a'days there does seem to be one remaining historic resident. Wild looking, she has long red hair. She shuffles along with her steaming thermos in the early mornings. Shortly thereafter this is exchanged for a salt-rimmed glass of some suspicious morning concoction from the bar.

Here are a few of the local hotel sights.....and the feelings that pop up....
Jerry Garcia garden of the absurd
Down the rabbit-hole hallways
Magical mystery tours
Alice in wonderland murals
The gift shop selling Grateful Dead cookery.
Doors to hotel rooms are painted with murals of a "poor house" resident whose room it use to be.
A secret garden to wander and wonder.....
Pleasure Palace Inducements
Glass blowing workshop creating whimsical and overpriced art
Led Zeppelin songs coming from the black rabbit bar
Ruby's soaking pool
Ruby's (very tiny) tea house bar
Special infusions steeping in the ragged looking "red shed".
Cigar lounges
Women's lounges
Brewery winery distillery herb gardens veg gardens flower gardens.
Power station pub,  serving great PNW meals
Film theater showing the latest Star Wars saga, with cameo performance by Princess Leah and that forever prince of the dark stars, DarthVadar.

Quite the odd cultural scene....   Do go enjoy it sometime!