Blog update, March 15, 2010
It's the Ides of March, time for an update. I have finished the panel I was working on, the 4'x6' panel which is essentially a homage to Gary Ewing. I need to thank Liz Devine, photographer, for the reference photo I used for the Crystal Ballroom. 
Basically, I pretty much rendered her photo, because I loved the feeling of the crowd focused on the stage, where you actually don't see the performers, but can see the light and energy emanating from the stage. I liked that particularly because Gary was primarily about the light. And I want to thank Karen Ewing, for her talking with me and sharing information that I found very helpful. Anyway, it is complete and I have a good feeling about it. Now, onward and upward.
About the author: Jenny Joyce is one of our McMenamins artists and has worked with the company since 1993. Visit her website at jennyjoyceart.com.
What’s a pipe face? Why, it’s a face painted on a pipe. When visiting McMenamins hotels, keep an eye out for ‘em above. In Ancient Rome, eating fried canaries was just the thing to banish a hangover. “Give me a woman who truly loves beer and I will conquer the world.” – Kaiser Wilhelm II “Beer…a high and mighty liquor.” – Julius Caesar. (Hail, Caesar!) How many McMenamins are there in the Seattle area? Four – Mill Creek, Six Arms, Dad Watsons and Queen Anne. The Centzon-Totochtin (“Infinite Rabbits”) was an Aztec group that represented the ways humans are affected by intoxication. Citysearch.com rated Edgefield one of the top ten most haunted hotels in the U.S. Spooky. Which brewery is a former girls’ lavatory? Kennedy School’s Concordia Brewery! “Wine is bottled poetry.” -- Robert Louis Stevenson “Wine is bottled poetry.” -- Robert Louis Stevenson McMenamins has a full-time historian on staff. He collects stories, photos, anecdotes and more about McMenamins spots, past and present. Give it up for St. Arnold, the patron saint of brewers! His miracle was a tankard of ale that never ran dry… Put him on the invite list. The Ancient Greeks recommended raw cabbage to aid in curing a hangover. Urp. What is “the hair of the dog”? It likely originated from a time when the best medicine for preventing infection was alcohol. The drinking kind. Does each McMenamins pub brew beer? Nope – only our brewpubs and breweries do. They supply our other spots. Feeling a bit rough after a night out? Some say bananas, loaded with magnesium, will help. When at McMenamins, check out the light bulbs. Why use plain ol’ white ones when you can have pink, red, orange, blue, yellow…? In Europe around 1200, beer was used to baptize babies — its alcohol content inhibited the growth of bacteria. The Kennedy School Theater was rated one of the Top Ten That Do It Right by Entertainment Magazine. Huzzah! At the Grand Lodge, the mosaics in the basement hallways were inspired by the work of Spanish artist Antonio Gaudi. What’s the name of the Kennedy brewery? The Concordia Brewery, named for the surrounding neighborhood. “I think this would be a good time for a beer.” – FDR, upon signing the New Deal Golfing at Edgefield? Head to the 2nd floor north balcony and rub the overhead light fixture for good luck. Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, was said to be able to drink any man under the table. You show ‘em, Betsy! The art of brewing is over 6,000 years old! And only gettin’ better… “We borrowed golf from Scotland as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good.” -- Horace Hutchinson According to Norse legend, wine is for gods, beer is for mortals, and mead is for the dead. Glass of pinot, anyone? What was the very first McMenamins pub, opened by Mike and Brian McMenamin? The Barley Mill on SE Hawthorne in Portland. When at Edgefield, ask where the Five Ladies are. And then figure out what happened to the missing earring… Legend has it that St. Bridget, who worked with lepers in Belgium around 500, answered their pleas to turn her bathwater into beer. Cool trick.
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#1 mg
Love that. It's totally Crystal Ballroom. I've taken pictures there myself, and they look very much like that. That picture was surely taken from where you come in back by the bar. I hang out there because I'm scared of crowds.
Gary Ewing was a guy that did light shows?