First, I gotta say this blog writing has been a really cool experience for me. I actually enjoy writing them, hence my 6:30 a.m. Saturday wakeup to get this cranked out. It’s also pushed us to get out and explore in ways we haven’t in other cities – basically, we have more fun because of the blog! So, thank you for reading it! 🙂

Ready to party! (In our kitchen.)

Last Saturday was 80s night. Our upstairs neighbor Miranda invited all the housemates to her joint b-day bus bar crawl – 80s themed. Never ones to pass up a bar crawl opportunity, we gathered outfits from boxes stuffed in our storage unit boxes, thrift shops, Macy’s and Forever 21. (Realization: The 80s are totally back in style. Eek!) Lindsay and Daniel came along, too, representing the Jazzercise and preppy slice of the 80s. Jeff and I were more Madonna and…I’m not sure what Jeff was. Rapper? Pedophile? A Miller High Life version of Keith Stone?

My new friend Jessica also joined in the fun. Jessica has a blog, too, and a book! She recently decided to leave 10 years of NYC living to take root in Portland, and I’m happy my friend Rachel introduced us. 🙂

Back to the bar crawl: There’s a BarFly Bus Tour business in Portland, which seemed like a very handy service; there was a woman corralling everyone out of the bars and onto the bus, so the birthday girls didn’t have to. Boy, did we blaze a trail across the city! We started at Paddy’s downtown, then crossed the river to Speakeasy Tavern (dive bar), Star Bar (photo booth!), Chopsticks (karaoke!), Spare Room (R&B band!) and Conquistador before we decided we were full to the brim with $1.50 PBRs and cabbed back to McMenamins’ Tavern for fourth meal before walking home.

And Sunday…was a day of rest.

Cool guy Jeff on the Barfly Bus

Lindsay, Jessica and me…not realizing there was a vulgar drawing behind us

Barfly Bus ringleader giving us her spiel

Lindsay and Daniel, aka prep and Jazzercize 80’s folks

The preps in Star Bar

No words.

Jeff and his fellow Brighton High grad (small world!)

Party people with $1.50 PBRs

Part of the birthday bar crawl crew, including neighbor (and Miranda’s fiance) Kent

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – original, I know.

“Keep those bars coming,” Jessica says.

Jeff and Lindsay dance party at Spare Room

Passionate singing at Spare Room

The (almost) end to a great night. Happy birthday, Miranda!