Category Archives: Concordia News

By Jessica Rojas

I go to different taquerias, for different reasons. So I gotta talk about – taco-bout – some of my faves.

La Sirenita

The everyday staple taco for taquerias in northeast is La Sirenita on Alberta Street and 28th Avenue, and it’s OG Veterano, home of the affordable comida since Day 1. I can still remember the humble beginnings of that location which, back then, was a small store with a jukebox that played oldies and had a food cart outside.

The elder who first owned the building took me and my sisters in as family, and I worked there in the tiendita, the store side. The family that made the food and ran the kitchen was separate from the store. Over the years, I watched three generations work the front counter of their kitchen.

My old time favorite is black bean tostada and salsa verde. What I value so much about them is that, when I did not have the money to eat, sometimes they just fed me, saying, “You need to eat.”

That is a part of our culture, to take care of our community through food and hospitality. And to this day, most people of northeast know of La Sirenita as an affordable, consistent provider of quality Mexican food.

Santo Domingo

When it’s Sunday, and I am most likely visiting my dad, he is going to want a carne asada burrito. By this point in the week, I’ve had my staple and work tacos, but there is something more I crave.

That is when I go to Santo Domingo at 42nd Avenue and Killingsworth Street. My main motivation is chicken mole tacos and steak fajitas. I like to say, “Don’t cheat yourself – treat yourself.” Sunday is a good day for sour cream anyways.

The parking isn’t the greatest, but it is close to the bus line on an up-andcoming new main street, 42nd Avenue.

The menu will not disappoint you.

Taco Machine

Looking for a taco truck? Taco Machine at Killingsworth Street and 16th Avenue is my local taco truck. They have the carne asada fries and potato or mushroom tacos for the moments I don’t feel like eating meat. All for a very good price.

Let’s support this small business. I would like to see them expand their hours as this part of Killingsworth grows.

She has the classics at a good price. This is where I go when I am ready to eat/”hangry.” Sometimes I will write a – always nice – message on her whiteboard, which is decorated in notes of gratitude from the many loyal visitors.

By Mischa Webley

Ainsworth Food Market

Ainsworth Food Market on 30th Avenue and Ainsworth Street had a little bit of everything: cheap food, soda and an eclectic collection of everything for sale – from dusty pieces of Tupperware to a strangely specific selection of stationery to a huge selection of flavored incense with pornographic names.

I could see it from the front yard of the house I grew up in, and I ended up there at least a few times a week. Over the years the reasons would change for walking up there. First was the candy. Fifty cents would buy you one of those “fruit” pies – no fruit, just sugar – and I was happily addicted to them.

Then it was for more practical reasons like running errands for my mom. Maybe she was baking and ran out of flour or salt or oil. We would get a last-minute dozen eggs or orange juice and occasionally even some produce, which was parked in the back corner and always looked a little sad.

For my parents, who were very uptight about what food we ate, the candy was my secret, and the occasional purchase of non-organic flour was my mom’s. I kept both to myself.

As I got older, I developed a new addiction to movies, and the market had me covered on that too. I rented VHS tapes from the standing racks of random titles that were scattered around the store. Most of them were out of date and just about all of them were rated R.

The first movie I ever rented, at the age of 12, was Platoon. Of course it wasn’t age-appropriate, but the owner – who worked behind the counter seven days a week – just picked up the phone and called my dad to clear it with him. From then on, I could rent anything I wanted, no questions asked.

Where can you get customer service like that anymore?

Jay’s Food Mart

A little bit further up the street, Jay’s Food Mart sat on the northwest corner of 33rd Avenue and Killingsworth Street. Jay’s was a classic, no-frills mini-mart that reliably had all the junk food and vices you might need.

It was also right on the intersection of the old No. 10 and No. 72 bus lines for added convenience.

Jay’s shut down several years ago and the building sat empty for a long time. The sight of its replacement, a Mud Bay outlet that sells gourmet pet food, is still jarring to me.

Back in the day, the unhealthy selection of food at Jay’s was still some of the only food close by – that part of northeast was a certifiable food desert. The irony is that now it’s a store that sells food for pets that is probably healthier than the food Jay’s sold to us.

But I still miss the old market.

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

As if the Alberta Rose Theatre isn’t fabulous enough. Joe Cawley, owner and purveyor of all things amazing, has opened Rosie’s Lounge right across the street.

It’s a cocktail lounge, restaurant, late night spot and a perfectly warm and inviting oasis. Guests say they are impressed immediately with the delightful décor which is, of course, dominated by roses.

Both warm and engaging – Blest VonWeter, manager, and Sarah King assistant manager – are longtime Concordians. You might recognize Sarah as the singer with The Nowhere Band at the Alberta Rose Theatre. They are the creative talent behind the interior design.

Blest produced the cocktail offerings and Sarah helped to build the dinner, happy hour and late night snack menus for the 4 p.m.–1 a.m. lounge.

Blest and Sarah have been friends for more than 30 years and business partners for five as interior designers and owners of Gold Dust, which was once located inside the Alberta Rose building.

Joe appreciated their design aesthetics and knew they were the perfect pair when he learned Gold Dust on Alberta Street at 14th Avenue will close soon.

He gave them complete artistic license in the remodeling and design of the former Stella Taco at 2940 N.E. Alberta St.

“It’s decadent, colorful, glamorous, romantic and welcoming,” Sarah explained. Gilded mirrors and larger-than-life roses grace the walls. Blest built the beautiful and abundant crystal chandeliers.

The new solid walnut bar is an excellent spot to enjoy libations. This is not your typical minimalist Portland bar. Rosie’s Lounge is Portland proud with 90% of the décor sourced locally. “Love is in the details,” Sarah pointed out.

After you’ve settled in, you’ll be wowed by the dinner and drinks menus. Blest is a master mixologist who promises seasonal changes.

The impressive dinner menu was designed by the owner, head chef Dee Dee Hopkins, and a group of other talented chefs, in addition to Sarah. It’s a unique and interesting menu intended to please all palettes.

Next spring Rosie’s plans to offer a brunch service with outside seating. Promised is a menu with seasonal changes and all food is, like its surroundings, sourced locally.

Facebook.com/rosiesloungeportland and Instagram’s @Rosie’sLounge offer evidence of the popularity of Rosie’s Lounge since it opened in December.

After living east, south, north and west, Marsha Sandman is home at last. And she wants to hear your story. Contact her at MarshaJSandman@gmail.com.

By Carrie Wenninger | CNA Media Team

Sometimes things fall apart, only to come back together better than you ever could have imagined. Such was the case with the Annex, the event venue across the courtyard from Cruzroom’s main bar and restaurant at 2338 N.E. Alberta Street.

Ready to open a second location, owner Octavio ‘Tavi’ Cruz-Uribe had scouted the perfect space across town when the deal suddenly fell through, explained the Annex’s manager and head booker Jake Jarvis.

And that’s precisely when the spacious, empty building mere feet away became available.

A mechanic shop in the 1940s, Cruzroom is now a favorite gathering place known for its cocktails, innovative tacos and popular outdoor patio. The Annex served as car storage for the shop, then sat idle for decades. It has now found new life as a thriving 150-person capacity performance venue.

Open for a year, the Annex hosts a packed schedule of local and larger bands; dedicated nights for jazz and Brazilian music, comedy, trivia and open mic; Yoga and Tacos events; miscellaneous classes; and more.

Jake is also the bassist for the Portland band Fir. He and friends had a huge hand in the renovations and interior build-out. Rumor has it the space also boasts the only full-size pool table on Alberta Street, previously owned by former Portland Trail Blazers great Kevin Duckworth.

Crowds were initially slow to arrive, but things picked up last spring thanks to the increasingly popular open mic night, which draws in an eclectic mix of talent.

Angelyna Tropets of Honey Latte Presents assists with all-ages show bookings and the website and social media presence. Jake focuses on cultivating curated events and residencies in addition to managing the Annex.

Find the event schedule at Cruzroom.com/annex. Looking to book a show? Email CruzroomAnnex@gmail.com

“We want to be a positive part of the neighborhood, a space where people can come, relax and be safe while enjoying a variety of shows,” Jake emphasized.

“We welcome all people and we absolutely do not tolerate any sort of discrimination.”

Not just about skinny jeans, band t-shirts and flannels, the Annex’s wideranging offerings make it clear there’s something here for everyone. The menu is the same as Cruzroom’s, including many vegan and gluten-free options, the patio is smoker-friendly, and all ages are welcome until 10 p.m.

Carrie Wenninger lives on 29th Avenue in Concordia. She is a freelance writer, a mom, a world traveler and a small business marketing consultant. Contact her at WurdGurl@gmail.com.