The happy hour expert

Something was missing from the travel, tourist and inside-info books on the greater Portland area, something … delicious.

Enter the Portland Happy Hour Guidebook.

What do we like to do after a long day of work? What’s one of the famous Portland hobbies that doesn’t depend on the weather? We like to drink! And eat for cheap! Why couldn’t someone write a guidebook about that?

Well, someone did. And her name is Cindy Anderson.

Anderson said she’s come across several people with the same idea for the book. “They just never did it.” So, with the encouragement of friends and a taste for Oregon microbrews and wines, Anderson set out two years ago to research what eventually became the Portland Happy Hour Guidebook.

Anderson, a Chicago native, moved to Portland in 2004. She was pleased to find the happy hour scene here especially bumpin’. Then, when she thought of writing a book about it, Anderson said she remembers thinking, “I’m the one to do this.”

And it’s a good thing too. The book, now in its second edition, contains over 170 reviews of happy hour menus and easy-to-use neighborhood maps. It’s an invaluable source of information on where to get quality drinks and tasty food.

Anderson said that most cities, like her hometown, don’t have extensive happy hour scenes, which is just one of many reasons she said Portland is a great place to live. “It’s a very manageable city. I like the size, I like the people, I like the vibe.”

Reviews in the Happy Hour Guidebook are listed in alphabetical order and rated on a scale of one to three in three different categories: food (variety, deals, deliciousness), drinks (deals and selection) and atmosphere. An extra “magic point” for that je ne sais quoi factor, and to make up for the fact that half points are not given, leaves 10 total points up for grabs in each review.

Other telling graphic elements include stars and images of varying importance (all explained in the book) and descriptive words–like “casual,” “eclectic” and “sexy”–faded in the background. It’s easy to find a variety of happy hour establishments using the book.

The guidebook also includes bar reviews from the ‘burbs (such as Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Tigard and Vancouver), “best of” lists and coupons. The information is packaged well to make it an informative and accessible resource. Anderson said the coupons (which weren’t in the first edition) make it kind of like an entertainment book, which is appropriate. She said she plans to put out new editions every year to keep the information fresh.

With experience as a freelance graphic designer for many years, Anderson designed the book herself. In fact, she did everything herself–from writing reviews to publishing and marketing. She said she had trouble getting in with larger bookstores at first, but now her book can be found all around town, even at the Portland State Bookstore.

As a designer, Anderson said writing was a challenge for her. “I’m really more of a drinker and drawer,” she joked. But the result is a candid, unselfconscious tone that makes it seem like a friend is telling you about a happy hour spot she was just at the night before. Anderson also recently started penning a monthly happy-hour-themed column for www.livepdx.com.

While researching for the Happy Hour Guide, Anderson said she would take friends along with her so they could try more things on the menu. It seems that her favorite part of happy hour, aside from the deals, is the social aspect. Because really, what’s better than friends and food? Anderson estimated that she now attends happy hour two or three times a week, but added with a laugh, “and sometimes every night.”

Anderson wrote the book, she said, because she doesn’t cook. If you knew every happy hour hotspot in town, perhaps you’d stop buying groceries, too. She also said that she hardly ever goes out to dinner anymore “because it’s so much more expensive.”

The lowest rating Anderson gives in the guidebook is a five, and there are only a couple of them. She said the book has more of an upscale slant and is highly food-oriented–dive bars and any place with less-than-tasty food didn’t make the cut. However, she includes lists of “Cool Dive Bars” and places that are “really into beer!” both of which are made up mostly of bars not included in the review section. So there is information available on all types of happy hours.

“Variety really is the spice of life,” Anderson said. “Too many people get set in their ways.”

It should also be noted, and Anderson agrees, that although many places have happy hour only in the bar area, where drink specials are offered, alcohol is not a requirement for a fun happy hour experience. You’ll notice that food and atmosphere together account for a majority of her rating scale.

Overall, Anderson’s book offers a lot of information and a nice sentiment, something that everyone really can agree on: “Eat, drink and be happy–and save money, too!”

Portland Happy Hour GuidebookAvailable at the Portland State Bookstore and other retailers$15