Shameful!

I spent 27 years living in Virginia, so I looked forward to going to the cafe' for the first time. I couldn't hack it. It was waaaay too smoky, and retro shabby chic only takes you so far. Plus, there really wasn't anything particularly Virignian about the place.

Always sad to see a city landmark fall, but as landmarks go I'm not sure how many tears I'll cry for it.

It is super smoky and generally somewhat nasty, but it has been an institution for decades and I even though I don't go there much now, I do have fond memories there from the past 10 years. I would hate to see it go.

Anyways, my question: I know that this proposed tower will only have a half-block footprint. I wonder, what half block will it be? Maybe it won't affect the Vagina cafe at all!?!?

Where does it say half-block? And technically, the park blocks (of which this is one) *are* half-blocks already. So that could just mean it's taking the full block, but its a half-block sized block.

And anyway: From my cold, dead hands.

Figures, this is by far my favorite downtown bar. It's cofortable has awesome booths and is not all trendy/pretensious. I really hope this isn't true. Downtown already has a shit-ton of ugly-ass multi-use towers.

B!X, I read it in the Oregonian, but I think you're right and that I mis-read it.

"The Park Avenue West tower would contain 35 stories of offices, retail and condominiums on a half-sized block that many have hoped could someday become one of several new park blocks connecting the North and South Park Blocks."

It's absolutely going to be on the Virginia Cafe's site. TMT haven't just spent millions of dollars redeveloping the old parking lot one block to the north, and donating the surface land to the city so it can build a park, not to take advantage of all that leverage with the planning bureau.

It is an institution. Most of our Portland relics fall fairly often to outside developement but our local Moyer seems to take the cake. I still remember watching the Fox Theatre fall.

As far as you nay-sayers, it isn't shabby-chic, it just hasn't changed in years. And regarding smokey bars, can the anti-smoking-but-consuming-alcohol-hyprocites give it a damn rest, please? They will be gone soon enough anyway.

You mean "naysayer" not "naysayers." Yes I said it was "super smoky and generally somewhat nasty." However, please note that I also wrote "I would hate to see it go." Don't interpret a mere observation as being a hypocrite. I happen to love generally nasty bars thank you very much.

The Virginia is one of the few bars in Portland that's been around long enough to have a heritage to speak of. I couldn't care less that it's smoky, it's just a great place to go, it restores my faith in the world every time I go in. A Guinness at lunch time? Watch the game? Talk to a random? The Virginia's the place.

Of course, it probably costs them five figures in rent each month just to open the door, but I don't mind stumping up a little extra to be drinking downtown.

Matt Davis:

I must admit you've come a long way in the several months you've been here. I was at first quite skeptical of your ability to appreciate the history and lore of us provincials.
Kelly Butte was the turning point.
Your affinity for the VC may be your saving grace for the many who may have wanted to wring your neck at one point or another.
Cheers!

didn't neil take his teenage babysitting girlfriend there? i thought i remembered reading that during the goldschmidt scandal. anyway i had some good times at VC, and even found it charming when i'd drunkenly hit my head on the doorway to the bathrooms. sad to see it go, but maybe we can finally get a god damn cheesecake factory downtown now.

It would be awesome if they auctioned off the booth Goldschmidt sat in.

As for hypocrisy, the person who drinks to excess in the booth next to me may become terribly annoying, but unless he/she wants to pick a fight I never fear for my health because of it. The next death by secondhand alcohol intoxication will be the first, I wager.

Here's an idea:
Go somewhere else and drink, ya jackass, and leave our beautiful and beloved smoky dives to those who can appreciate them.