Roadside Attraction Bar

Before we even start our trip this week, we met up with our friends, Cindy (of Portland Happy Hour Guidebook fame http://www.happyhourguidebook.com/)  and Steve at a quirky little bar called Roadside Attraction located on 1000 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97214.  

Why is this a great location for starting off our trip?  Well, we will be visiting a few roadside attractions along the way during our trip, so starting off here is starting off on the right foot.

First off, we all know that Portland is weird, so as we were driving to the bar, we came across one of the largest goat pens I've seen spanning an entire city block.  It's only a block away from the bar.  

More info:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/10/goats_hired_to_mow_southeast_p.html

When you come across the bar, you will immediately notice it has a very unique look to it.  Lots of tin rusted roofs, old signs,  different colored light bulbs, a fire pit and picnic area on the outside (though most of that was consumed by smokers), an old horse buggy, etc.  You wouldn't think it was a bar from the outside, but more like a shack.

Here is the entrance! 

To the right is the outside area with picnic tables and a swing.  The swing, of course, is a non-smoking swing :)  It feels like your own secret garden outside.

What's even better is when you go inside the bar.  You see one of those machines where you collect bus fare, lots of unusual paintings, crazy looking masks and statues, and even things like shells and a large wooden model airplane hanging from the ceiling.



 

The whole place looks like something straight out of a movie.  Seems like Portlandia should film here :)  One other thing to note is that this place is a Cash Only bar.  Leave your credit cards at home. When you order something, you pay for it on the spot.  There is no bill you get at the end of the meal.

Cindy and Steve have both been on plenty of road trips, so we sat down and got some good tips from them.  For example, the totem party idea and asking people to bring stickers with their address so that we can send postcards.

We received a little good luck Buddha token for our safe travels.  All-in-all a good way to start the week of our trip.  I recommend this place if you want to get away from that typical bar scene and want to feel like you are in your backyard or some truly local watering hole with that eclectic feel to it.

Food here was ok, but they a great little selection of beer on tap and of course the whole feel of the place is worth it.  If you are going to have a conversation, you will wanna go inside as it is too noisy outside.

This place definitely has the Keep Portland Weird vibe to it.  Go there if you like weird,eccentric places.