By Brian Engle

My first trip to the Pacific Northwest began with a flight into Seattle, WA and my subsequent drive to Portland OR. Being a born and bread North Easterner, the smells' sights, and vistas were, a bit overwhelming. Yep I could live there! The sight of seeing Mount Saint Helen's and its missing top gives a glimpse of the power of nature. Forest after forest of paper trees drives home that recycling is truly not a pain in the a_ _. Having arrived in Portland after 3 ½ hours of one of the most enjoyable drives of my life, I finally check into the Portland Hilton. Purely by chance, I was given a 16th floor room with a window view straight at Mt. Hood. Wow what a sight to wake up to every morning!!!

I hadn't realized this prior to my arrival, but I had arrived in the beer drinkers Mecca! I had NEVER experienced anything like this before! On every block there are two or three Micro Breweries that all have "the best beer you have ever had"!! After visiting six micro breweries and trying a "sampler" at each, my group and I were ready to slowdown not to mention desperately searching for a men's room that didn't mind us "hanging out" for 20 minutes or so. With the beer sampling frenzy over, we headed, on an "insiders" tip, to a happening place that catered to cigar smokers and coffee drinkers - THE BRAZEN BEAN.

The first thought that comes to mind when recalling the Brazen Bean is The Adams Family's house. I expected to be met at the door by Mortisha. Instead I was met by Sarah.

From the wrap-around porch you enter an octagon shaped anti-room complete with black cinder block wallpaper, candle wall lamps, and a set of portraits of two generals in full uniform. The odd thing is, the generals are Great Dane Dogs. The layout of the Brazen Bean resembles that of a house, with a sitting room, dinning room, and a den. All of the furnishings are worn antiques that fit the welcoming, home-like, atmosphere very nicely.

Sarah guided us to the dinning room table and most eloquently explained the extensive selection of designer Martini's (I recommend the Copper Martini), desserts, and cigars. Sarah's knowledge of cigars was most remarkable. One of my group had never seen a bullet cigar cutter; upon asking Sarah what it was used for her response was "It's a plug cigar cutter, I think it provides the finest draw possible" Hey is this a lady in the know or what? About the time Sarah brought our drinks and cigars we noticed that Sara had arm pit hair, not just any arm pit hair, but braided arm pit hair! Club Macanudo this aint!

Our experience that first night was so unique and remarkable, we made a point of stopping by each night of our 5-night stay. Our second visit was not quite the same as Sarah had the night off. On our third night, Sarah noticed us entering, asked us to wait a minute, proceeded to "our spot," and told the party there that a terrible mistake had been made, the spot they were sitting in was reserved and she would need to re-seat them. Having made no reservations, our admiration for Sarah was souring.

After several visits and our tour through the Martini, dessert and cigar menu's, we all agreed that Sara's braided arm pit hair took on a sort of attraction that none of us could quite explain. Ouch! Maybe we stopped by one to many nights.

Portland is famous for many things: Mt. Hood, the original Nike Town, the Portland Rose Parade (second largest in the country), and the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course (where Tiger Woods won his final amateur title). But perhaps the best spot anyone could visit is a coveted Victorian house that serves the best espresso, martini's, desserts, and cigars on the West Coast - The Brazen Bean.

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