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The Landmarks We Lost The year felt like an extended last call. (Brian Burk) Updated December 23, 2020 When the clock strikes 2021, Portlanders won t be gathered in beloved pubs and diners. (Only patios are open for dining, and service ends at 11 pm.) But the year felt like an extended last call, with our most cherished venues, bistros and watering holes felled by the pandemic and a lack of government aid. Downtown got hit the hardest, as empty office buildings meant no lunch or after-work crowds. But soon the blight touched every neighborhood. When we return to social life, we will still feel a vacancy: Many of our favorite hangouts won t be waiting for us. Here are four we ll miss.
by Suzette Smith • Dec 17, 2020 at 2:00 pm
OMG Pho from Butterfly Belly Suzette Smith
Wow! The sun is really going down at 1:30 pm these days! I mean, it s technically 4:30 pm, BUT THAT S NOT WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. I have a colleague who, instead of saying bye at parting, recently switched over to stay warm, stay dry in the tone of a wise, good-natured news host. It s a good reminder.
Portlanders, I hope you re being good to yourselves like carrying an extra pair of socks in your bag and sipping on warm, comforting things. This week s Takeout Club is about two terrific pho spots that recently restored my humanity with their baller hot broths. I wish the same or better for you. Stay warm, stay dry, eat pho!