OREGON S GAY/LE S B IAN/BI A R A N S NEWSMAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 20 2009
COURTESY CANNERY PIER HOTEL
TRAVEL
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C o n n e r/ Pier Hotel is lo c a te d a m ile or so from th e co re d o w ntow n area, b u t its
am e n itie s a n d views m a ke it w orth th e sta/.
I drove up 28th Street to one of the city’s
key attractions, the Astoria Column. The
Column is located on Coxcomb Hill, and I
climbed its 164 steps to panoramic views of
the Pacific Ocean, downtown Astoria and
the autumn countryside. This free attraction
is open from dawn to dusk (www.astoriacol-
umn.org).
I also spent a solid hour at the Columbia
River Maritime Museum on Marine Drive
(www.crmm.org). A $10 admission granted
me access to a bevy of exhibits on the history
and culture of Astoria, and its relationship
with the Columbia River.
More than a dozen motion pictures
have been filmed in Astoria in the last 25
years; classics include The Goonies (1985),
Free Willy (1993) and Into the Wild (2007). I
spent the better part of the afternoon chas­
ing down various locations for scenes from
The Goonies, which will mark its 25th anni­
versary next year.
Mikey’s house is located at 368 38th
Street and Data’s house sits adjacently. Ad­
ditionally, the Captain Flavel House Mu­
seum (441 Eighth Street) was the location
of Mikey’s dad’s museum.
I needed a pick-me-up, and I got my
caffeine fix at gay-owned Astoria Cof­
feehouse
(www.astoriacoffeehouse.com).
Counter-culture types blissfully drink their
fair-traded Stumptown coffee here.
As the sun set, I peeked at Hipfish, As­
toria’s alternative monthly newspaper. The
“coastal voice” and “cultural beat” calendar
provided me enough information to plan
my evening.
I began with a refreshing Solar Dog I PA
beer at the gay-friendly Wet Dog Cafe and
Astoria Brewing Company ($4 per Oregon
pint). The brewery sits over the river mak­
ing it an attractive prelude for any evening.
Numerous gay couples were present at the
laid-back bar (www.wetdogcafe.com).
After a few microbrews, I contin­
ued (stumbled?) several blocks south to
Clemente’s (1198 Commercial Street) for
a seasonal, seafood-focused dinner. Clem­
ente’s clam chowder ($5) delivered, and the
autumn halibut ($18) was prepared with a
cranberry cabernet reduction.
Gay-owned T Paul’s Urban Café (1119
Commercial Street) completed my evening
with an enormous volcanic brownie sundae
($6). The cafés motto, “Live well, laugh of­
ten, love much,” has proven successful; they
recently opened a second establishment, the
Supper Club, on 12th Street.
The following morning, I bypassed the
hotel’s bountiful breakfast and headed to
Blue Scorcher Bakery (www.bluescorcher.
com). The bakery is located in an industrial
building and is accented with funky décor.
I grabbed a pumpkin scone for my journey
back home.
Yes, Astoria, you have met my require­
ments for ideal northwest travel.
Eric Olson blogs at nwouttraveler.blogspot.
com; email nw.outtraveler@gmail.com.
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