COT 2 - ELECTRIC BLOGALOO

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

It's A Blast From The Past, Yo!

Yassir, C.O.T. Agents (and Spies)! Since my present life is so frickin' boring and busy at the same time, I done decided to bestowe ya'll with a little ditty from Church On Thursday #5 (from way back in September of 1996). It's from a column named Drrrinking with Felix that used to be a regular-type fixture in the Church On Thursday magazine...hope ya'll like it (actually, I don't care if ya'll like it).

Keeping with the theme in last issue's Drrrinking with Felix, I decided to shine the proverbial spotlight on another night life oasis, Alex's Bar and Restaurant in Ashland, OR. The bar is upstairs, creating a potential hazzard for those incline to drink too much (myself, excluded), and those who are breaking in new wing-tip shoes (myself, included). The overall atmosphere at Alex's is very conducive to either recreation or relaxation. You can hide away in a corner booth, or seat yourself at one of the several tables close to the bar, or--if you wish--on the veranda outside (with a picturesque view of the street below). They have a jukebox there (that I didn't have to pay for as there were several credits left available) featuring Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane. The drinks are affordable and well-mixed. While there with Mark (formerly of Church on Thursday fame and currently a knight in the Round Table--restaurant that is), I made the acquaintance of yet another bartender, Rob Erstad. Rob is a jovial fellow and one who it is most enjoyable to converse with. I asked Rob about his "specialty drink" and he listed two, both of which he was kind enough to divulge the recipes of. First, the B.C. Norwegian, a drink he and some friends concocted while in their teenage years. Rob says: "It looks sick and tastes like an Orange Julius". Combine half a shot of Bacardi, a quarter shot of Triple Sec, a quarter shot Amaretto and fill with Orange Juice with half a cup of cream on top...sounds kinda weird to me. The second concoction Rob offered is called The Jamaican Bobsled. It contains half a host of Malibu rum, half a shot of Captain Morgan's spiced rum, half a shot of orange juice and half a shot of pineapple juice. Then float half a shot of Myer's rum on top in a tall glass and garnish with a lime. That sounds good! I'd like to thank Rob for being such a gent and also I'd like to say "Hi" and "Thanx" to the kind waitress who stole our zine from Rob.

Wow, C.O.T. Agents (and Spies), that was kinda boring...sorry. Oh well. Get used to seeing more blasts from the past up here because that-a-way Felix no have to think. As ever, Hail Eris!, your Norton Cabal, F-E-L-I-X

¶ 11:30 PM

Rob Erstad said...
Hey man,

This is Rob Erstad...your bartender from that evening in Alex's.

Now living in Minnesota and working as a professional chef. Funny to find this, but I'm glad I did. I had a copy of your 'zine for years, but lost it in the move. this isn't quite the same, but it's better than nothing.

Hope you are well...I still remember the evening you stopped up. Pretty quiet, if I remember correctly.

-RE