Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There's a store cat, of course, and the shop regularly hosts author read-
ings.
Also on this strip is the well-loved Fat City Cafe, a neighborhood diner
serving greasy-spoon breakfasts in a kitsch-plastered space. The food
might not be all that memorable, but the diner has a permanent place in
local history, thanks to what has come to be known as the “Fat City Fir-
ing.” In 1987, then-Mayor Bud Clark was sitting here having breakfast
with his police chief when whatever conversation they were having
ended in Clark's famous remark, “Read my lips: You're fired.” Look
for a sign over one of the booths commemorating the dismissal.
Across the street is another great local dive, Renner's Grill, boasting
one of the coolest neon signs in the area. It has everything you need in a
dive bar: cheap, strong drinks; fried food; friendly locals; and not much
else. Worth a stop!
Continue along SW Capitol Hwy. and cross over SW 35th Ave. Walk
several blocks (noting a stop for Bus 44 as you pass SW 33rd
Ave.—you'll want to come back to this stop when you've finished the
walk). When you reach SW 32nd Ave., you'll see on your left the Lucky
Labrador Public House, which occupies a 1925 Masonic hall. (There are
also Lucky Lab locations in Northwest Portland and on SE Hawthorne
Blvd.) Feel free to cross the street and stop in for a pint, or continue
straight along Capitol Hwy. for one more block.
Duck right just briefly onto SW Canby St. to find Otto & Anita's Sch-
nitzel Haus, an adorable Euro-style restaurant with a menu of various
homemade schnitzels and other Bavarian specialties; it might be the
only place around where you can satisfy your craving for dill-pickle
soup.
Return to the city center by hopping TriMet Bus 44 back to town;
there's a stop at SW Capitol Hwy. and 33rd Ave., diagonally across the
street from the Lucky Lab. (If you drove a car to the starting point and
parked at Gabriel Park, simply retrace your steps and cut through the
park to return to the parking lot.)
POINT OF INTEREST (
START TO FINISH
)
Lovin Spoonful Pies
lovinspoonfulpieshop.com
,
7825 SW 35th Ave., 503-246-4533
The Ship Tavern
7827 SW 35th Ave., 503-244-7345
