Cava has arrived!

4 months later......

2008-01-26T02:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a crazy 4 months. I can't believe all that has happened so quickly.

Lots of good press, and returning happy loyal customers. Awesome.

We started out as a 7 piece unit, 2 new peeps are helping cope with the chaos that we are dealing with. I knew I had the "A" team when we started and people are finally finding about the good stuff we do. We are getting through the newness of it all so far... quite well I think.

It's all so hysterical and new to me...but it's working so far. We are only going to get better. New food menu, new drink menu, patio and special event room on the way.....

Who'da thunk a place on Foster would take reservations????

New Radiohead!

2007-10-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

The new album is out! I have not been so excited about any music for I don't know how long.

I wonder if this is like what people felt in the 60's when the Beatles released their music.

I'm playing it nonstop tonight.

And probably tomorrow night.

You download it from their website, and you can pay whatever you want.

Unbelievable.

For the record, I gave em about 20.00-seeing how the dollar is doing so crappy against every currency right now- I contributed 10 English pounds.

It is so worth every cent, shilling or pound.

It's a done deal!

2007-10-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

Our first party rocked!

Many highlights, but the fact everyone was clapping in sync with the Cars "My Best Friend's Girfriend" was awesome. I think they understand me.

We rule da skool!

Good times to come!

Home Stretch

2007-09-28T00:48:00.000-07:00

We got our ok from the health department today, which means we can open!!!!!!!

We're having a party this sat night, and then "soft" opening this week.

I'll try and get pix up tomorrow, things are finishing up quickly.

What an amazing 7 months.

The hard part now is picking tunes for opening night.

And really, that's not so bad in relation to everything else.......but I do need to figure out the cash register and all its million programs.....

Would you like fries with that?

2007-09-21T22:38:00.001-07:00

The first plate of fries!

Foley is back, painting the front of our building! Jesus, he met more people in one week here than I have in 6 months!!! My goodness, how much fun to have him here.

The bar, with brown mahogany stain........

The plumbing is so close, yet so far way. It's the reason for those gray hairs that have sprouted..

Target date is 9/27.

the latest and greatest......

2007-09-12T20:09:00.001-07:00

Lights are up, booths are in, the front is getting painted this weekend by the the one and only BL Foley! We have new windows to boot!
I get my liquor license tomorrow!! Holy F!!!!!!!
Target date is the 25th.

lots of staining and wine tasting to be done over the next 2 weeks!

Are friends Electric???

2007-08-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, It's the Gary Numan reference.
Off to an island near Seattle for a wedding this weekend.
People with badges from the fire dept were by today...
We are glass.....and Jesus, I hope we are legal..........

on the radar

2007-08-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Just so people know my "focus", this blog was created mainly to keep family and friends informed of what we are working on at Cava.

The official web site should be updated next week.

We hope to be open by the end of September, so stay tuned to the web site. Thanks!

Before and after!

2007-08-27T19:17:00.001-07:00

The patio, before and after yesterday.

Our lights were delivered today! This is them, in their showroom days.

Big Ass Weekend!

2007-08-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Out with the bad, in with the good!

Norton and Amy and I cleaned up the ugly adobe fence! Now it is a beautiful Spanish moss green!

Ripping out the ugly bathroom tile.......not a pretty or easy job....

Picked up the 100 year old wood for the tables......

the walk-in is almost finished!

A well deserved Stella after all that fun.

I'm having a tequila and going to bed.

:)

Plumbing, Virgin Mary w/ deer, and first bar set up.

2007-08-22T18:39:00.001-07:00

More cool stuff!

2007-08-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

Why I hate computers:
Because I can't figure out how to get the underline thing turned off.
And this number deal, I can't turn it off.

I had to post pictures of my "A" team.
JB with potatoes, Anja and Sara and me. Yes, that pic was also on yesterday's blog. ( Michael Paules trying to avoid the camera. He's a great dishwasher, but I think he might have a future in art)
That's why this thing works, because I have awesome people that I have known for years helping me out. They are all so cool.
Last is Matt, finishing the bar front. Yay! The bar will be finished this week!

Our First Dinner Party!

2007-08-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

Our first little party on Joe Strummers' Bday was a hit!
And it was a benefit for a friend in the Peace Corps!
Mr. Strummer would have been proud.

Pews and Tin and Lights. Oh My.......

2007-08-20T00:12:00.001-07:00

More fun stuff!

Tommy replacing the bad purple walls with cool tin.......

Pews for the entrance!

Way cool lights on the way!

Twice Everything

2007-08-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

Everyone told me that when you open a place it takes twice as long and it is twice as expensive than you think.

They were right!

The good news is the shiny hood is up and running. The bar is looking sexy in all its red oak splendor.

And another pic of the painting we got in Wisconsin.

Target for opening is second week of September!!!

Cookin' with gas!

2007-08-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Well, most equipment is up and running, as we are doing food for a party tomorrow! Just had to clean the inch of dust on everything yesterday so we could get started......

Bar is almost finished!

Next week will be big, and I'll post lots of pix!

A Bar is Born!

2007-08-01T18:58:00.001-07:00

The bar has begun! I could bore you with the dishwasher, the fryer, the grill, etc.
But you really want to see the bar.. right????? Here's from day 1! Enjoy!!!

SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Floored! X 3!!!!!

2007-07-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Dining room floors stained, check!

Epoxy resin kitchen floors set, check!

Seeing Rush last night... for perhaps the 20th + time since 1980, Check!

Like a fine wine, they just get better and better. See vintage shirt which I bring out every so often. No, I didn't wear it. It's resting quite nicely. As it will for another 27 years.

We start moving kitchen equipment in this week! And the return of B.L. Foley! Yay!

2007-07-15T04:27:00.001-07:00

I miss Joe Strummer.
I'm almost finished with this new bio about him. Yay for the library! I got this book and vintage Frank Zappa cds there this week....

Strummers bday is August 21-might make for a great opening day-The Clash and The Mescoleros....great soundtrack!

Floors are getting done this week, then we can move equipment in !

Cookin time is comin!

Size Matters

2007-07-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Big stuff happening today. Plumber showed up, hood people showed up. And the day after a holiday!! The work ethic of America is alive and well!
Hood is up, awaiting fans installed on roof and a couple of inspections. After all these years of working under hoods, I now know how they are installed. Quite a labor intensive job, including sawing through the roof, and a crane being brought in to put the fan up.

I realized that our door spaces are really tight, and the equipment which needs to be in the kitchen will just barely make it. Just another thing to ponder at 3 AM.

Whatever happened to my rock and roll??????

2007-07-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Jesus, sometimes you listen to an album and are so moved. Music has that power sometimes......but the beauty that is Spiritualized's "Lazer Guided Melodies" is the stunner of the last 10 years, in my humble opinion. second picture, by the way....
And the funny thing is music this good should be on the radio, but oh how the commercial radio stations have dropped the ball.
Thank goodness for KEXP and KCRW and their online streaming.
I miss the days of cool album covers, and liner notes. It's easy to download a song or 2 which is great, but the experience of looking and feeling that album thing is hard to explain to the kids these days.

These are a couple covers I love. And me and the camp hanging out in our backyard today.

Camper looks better than me because she didn't see the Tubes last night. :)

More Stuff.....W.P.O.D.

2007-07-01T00:36:00.001-07:00

A couple pix from the space...Christa and Maggie, and the hood in the background.....tables and chairs waiting to be placed.....Tammy & Mick from the Highland Stillhouse in Oregon City...and the stack of books they lent us, so we can figure out what our bar should look like.....they are the greatest peeps!

And, for all you rockers out there, I saw the Tubes this evening. It's kind of hard to explain the beauty of Fee Waybill doing White Punks On Dope...you'll just have to look it up on youtube.
trust me, they radiate greatness.

Tubes World Tour!

Sweet!

Electricity, let it rain all over me.........

2007-06-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well this week has been good, as the awesome electric company T&T Electric has been setting everything up for all my equipment needs. While it may not seem hugely exciting, it's a big part and they are exactly what you want in a company that has great people working for them, and they nail it for customer service. Ever heard the song " Electricity" by Spiritualized.???? hmmmmm

Just like the Mr. Plywood people in my previous blog......I give them a big hell yes. These are the people you want to support. They get it.

Other fun stuff, I picked up some new (old) tables today, and delivered the big wood pieces that Evan will be painting on the next couple weeks. check out his website....he's doing 3 big pieces for the walls.

http://www.evanbharris.com/

Next are the bar and booths ..and I think we've got that figured out.....

The hood is still in the middle of the floor of the dining room because I can't get a hold of the the guy who is supposed to install it because his voice mail has been full for the past couple of days. Because of the expense of this thing, I'm amazed they just let it sit around for so long.....

The plumber may show up tomorrow! holy crap!

This week also involved meeting vine vendors......finally the fun part starts!!!!!!

Sorry for that everyone that wants to leave feedback.......had I known it was such a hassle I would have found something else to keep you all informed.................

blah blah blog

2007-06-26T14:49:00.001-07:00

This weeks projects are:
flooring (kitchen and front room) plumbing (still!)
the hood installation,
ordering equipment,
finding a payroll company,
writing employee manual,
electrical work for kitchen,
painting office,
calling on vendors,
having booths made,
having the bar made,
deciding on lighting for the front.
Just a normal week for anyone.

the 2 pix are, 1 from the painting we got (still in Wisconsin) of happy drinking guys (why are they happy? cause soon they will be in Cava!!! hahaha)....the other the coolest flower design ever, the passion flower from the vine we have growing in our yard.

That's where we are-Tuesday June 26th, 2007 at 3:06 pm for those keeping score.

Dang, another week already! And Supertramp.

2007-06-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

Back from a few stellar days in NYC, with our friends Annie and Eric. We ate and drank and ate more and drank more. It was awesome! Found some great places in Brooklyn-Alchemy Tavern for a stellar Euro pub, and Fornino for some of the best pizza we have ever had.
Cool places, cool people, everything you want in a place to go to. Brooklyn reminds me of Portland in a lot of ways, lots of cool small businesses and lots of character.

Star sightings -2 - Ben Kingsley and Jimmy Fallon. We saw Jimmy twice, on the way to the pub, and coming back from the pub.

Went to MOMA- saw the Warhol soup cans, and many other great pieces. The greatest hits of the art world indeed.

Restaurant updates for the week-gas line installed, the hood is sitting in the main room awaiting installation. It's kind of like having a sports car, all new and shiny......except it sucks smoke out of the building. The cost is about the same.

I've heard many men in their 40-50's have the middle age crisis thing going on, and buy sport cars to make up for it...in some sense.

I now have a hood. It collects grease. Good times.

Crisis, what crisis?

A couple more photos!

2007-06-14T21:50:00.001-07:00

1 wall

Door jamb

The painters!!

Colors, more city blues, the art of little things

2007-06-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Dang, time flies by!

Painting is finished, and it finally looks like what we have been envisioning for so long. And, the colors are great! Thanks to Mr. B.L. Foley (pictured) and my dad for making the place look awesome. (I love the "photo booth" program on my new computer so I can take these photos)

This week I covered chapter 2 in the liquor license, meaning after 9 weeks of processing at the Oregon Liquor Commission, I got to take the paperwork to city hall for another 45 day "neighborhood" review. Something they neglected to inform me about when I started the process. And another 100 dollar fee. Portland has a tag line on the side of many of the city owned vehicles-"Portland, the city that works". What they forget to mention is it also works very well at making small business feel like salmon swimming upstream.
But we will spawn eventually.

Through the frustrations of some things moving at a snails pace, the efforts of some folks keep me hopeful-the workers who show up on time, the contractors who always call me right back, and the many friends in the industry who have offered their help any time I need it. These people are golden.

This week has also got us moving on the art pieces for the walls and the booths. A little bit more everyday.

We're off to NYC for a couple days. For research, visiting with friends, and my last break for quite sometime.....

If I don't write back soon it is probably because I am in jail for killing the plumber for holding me up for so long. :)

Holy Rollers!

2007-06-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Rock and Paint Roll!

Day 3 and we're all still moving, good sign. Main room will be done tomorrow!

Careful With That Sprayer, Eugene

2007-06-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

The painting has begun!

My Dad and B.L. are like Laurel and Hardy, so much fun. It's either the paint fumes, or residual stuff left over from the 70's. There's something about knowing someone for 40+ years that just cannot be put into words.

B.L. is the spray master. So many colors to choose from, so little time.

Big color stuff starts tomorrow. These guys get up way too early.

Painting Guy

2007-05-29T16:15:00.001-07:00

Here's one of the guys from the painting we scored in Wisconsin!

I love the angular nose and beard. And those red tights!

Don't want to show all of the painting here.... You'll just have to come and check it out in person. (If you click on him, the photo will enlarge.)

Today is 82 degrees and I'm outside reading my new book called "The Joy of Pickling.

excellent!

Memorial Day 2007

2007-05-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

I know 2 friends who have sons overseas, 1 in Afghanistan, 1 in Iraq.

We don't own a flag, and for the most part I don't feel so patriotic these days. But, the people fighting for our "freedom" certainly deserve more than they are getting from Washington.

I got to spend this day sitting at home enjoying my family and friends, and trying to figure out where stoves should go and such.

And it just makes me sad that those friends can't have that same kind of day...looking to do something positive with the ones they love. Instead, they spend sleepless nights worrying about if their kids will make it back alive.

The stress of opening a restaurant is nothing compared to wanting to have those you love back home. I have really nothing I should complain about.

So, I hope you all who have loved ones abroad will be back together with your family soon.

Back from Wisconsin!

2007-05-22T09:26:00.001-07:00

Just got back from Wisconsin, land of brats, Friday Fish Fry, lots of beer, and the Green Bay Packers.
Found an amazing Victorian painting from an antique store in Cederburg. It looks like it belongs in a museum. They didn't know the artist-it is signed and dated 1846 or so. It's perfect piece for the restaurant, though. We need to get it appraised from a professional, because I have a feeling it's worth a couple tons more than we paid for it. We also have to get it here from Wisconsin. Might involve a road trip......

Lots of highlights from the trip-Amy's brothers' wedding at the Kohler Art Center, lunch at Sheboygon Elementary School ( It was Grandparent's Day, but our niece Kelsey got special permission to have Amy and me join the kids for lunch). Lunch was everything a school kid would dream of-noodles, ham, creamed corn, applesauce, rolls and...chocolate milk! Can't remember the last time I was in an elementary school cafeteria. Awesome. Lots of ideas for our menu as well.. :)

Also saw George Carlin at the casino. At 70, he's still got that fire, and I am happy to say he has not toned down his show one bit.

Today I have to work on a "plan review" which I have to submit to the health department. I can hardly wait to report on this one.

Something cool from my sister!

2007-05-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

These are 2 links to what my sister is up to these days! The chocolate figures she makes are incredible!

http://www.rbyrneproductions.com/chocolate.html

check out the wedding videos as well, they are so creative!

http://www.rbyrneproductions.com/videomain.html

If the links don't work, try "Razor Byrne Productions in Google, that should do it.

Today's snag was .......plumbing! Nothing a few holes through the floor in a couple different places and ripping out the tile in the bathroom can't fix. Oh, but we're so close to having the construction finished, then on to the fun stuff everyone sees!

Oh yes-good times.

Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

The bad side

2007-05-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

I can deal with the stress of the city permits, money, employees. What really worries me is the rock shows I will have to miss.

That is truly frightening....... So on that note, I'm off tonight to see the rocking fun that is known as the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Can't stop the rock!

......tonight anyway.......

feedback, not just for Gibsons or Strats any more.......

2007-05-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Well, it just seems stupid that people can't send feedback w/o signing up for an account. So, if you feel inclined, 2 email addresses to choose from:

fnabass@hotmail.com

cavaeatdrink@gmail.com

lord knows you have enough other things to think about.........

This Red Tape's Gonna Cost Some Green

2007-05-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Randall visits the Portland Develop Commission, pt. 1

12:30 sign in, drop paper in the box labeled "G"

12:45 get called, exchange goes something like this:

PDC (them)-So what are you doing?

RM-I need a 3/4" sub floor put down. And I put up a couple soundproof walls.

PDC-are you the contractor?

RM-no

PDC-well , blah, blah, need signature of contractor or owner of building.

1:00 call landlord, fax form, he faxes back, needs changes, he re-faxes,

PDC-OK, go put sign in paper in box "B"

1:20, get called by new guy, re-explain everything, he makes copies of plans, OK, go put paper in "G" again.

1:35, new guy, re-explain, he goes over plans............said he wouldn't charge me, since he didn't have to "re-inspect" plans. I say thanks. He says go put paper back in "B"

1:45 or so.......waiting...some lady on her cell phone is talking so loud I want to punch her lights out.

And I'm not a violent person........

2ish-new guy. Looks plans over, discusses what needs to be done, he can't figure out history of building, so he methodically checks just about every case involved since 2002 or so. There are a lot of cases. He makes more copies, but this time we go over the 18" involved at the doorway in GREAT detail. And with red pen. This is the whole issue of why I'm here. 18 inches.

2:30, still going through records, he doesn't think it is zoned to be a restaurant. My landlord got his final inspection approval yesterday, I tell him. He thinks it needs sprinklers, and I'm getting a glazed look over me. I'm gettin fidgety at this point, but I'm trying to not have an attitude. He asks me lots of questions about previous place there, which I have no idea about. He says he needs some others to check this out. I hear people in the next cubicle arguing with the inspector or someone, not a good sign.
Checking more old records, still.....

2:45- 3 other guys come by his desk-each logs in, adds their fee to the permit, and leaves. This is the fastest anything has moved all day! 3 people!! 5 minutes!!! Awesome!!!

2:50, get permit and bill. Wait about 10 minutes to pay, which c r a w l e d by.

grand total for a sub floor:

building permit 54.00

fire and life safety review 22.00

bldg plan review/processing 36.00

bldg permit st sur (!, the hell is that?) 4.40

development services fee 15.00

fire bureau plan review-9.00

BES source control plan review 28.00

168.00 and change.

2 1/2 hours I'll never get back.

And this is the first permit so far! Awesome!!!!

Thanks for listening. I feel much better now.

before and after

2007-05-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Main room before the love.

Keep an open mind, OK???

It's bigger than it looks here. Say goodbye to the fans and lights....and hello bar and booths. We also have a patio for those of us that need the outside sunshine when we have it. We spent the past couple days at Manzanita Beach, celebrating Amy's bday! I have a minor sunburn...as I spent quality time in the sun reading cookbooks, which is time well spent. I was so absorbed in the pages of the books, I forgot the rays I was absorbing.

Tomorrow is off to the city to get permits and "enlightenment" about what all I have to do.

One of my dad's best lifelong friends is coming down from Washington to paint the place! He's known me from day 1, (from Delano, California, where I was born... for those keeping score) and I couldn't be happier he is helping out on this little project. Ladies and gentleman, B.L. Foley will be in the house!

John and Rich, the guys who have been working on the building for months with my landlord, are jamming at getting the kitchen ready for the big stuff. Good to have the professionals working there.

Lord knows I don't know much about framing or drywall.........we all have our areas of expertise, right???

Article in the Willamette Week today!

2007-05-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

http://wweek.com/editorial/3325/8899/

It's in the "Culture" section!!

tuesday

2007-05-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

floors and windows and plumbing, oh my.

more on these fascinating subjects soon.

We love Mr. Plywood on Stark St. !!! Free wood delivery and great customer service. Makes me wonder why so many choose the big ole corporate places...........It's where Amy gets all her wood for those paintings as well!

There's the plug o' the day.

Mayday!

2007-04-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well, we start with the flooring tomorrow, Tuesday May 1st. This is to insure we and the equipment don't fall through the existing one.

Our friends James and Bo (they are the cool professionals who know how all this layout stuff works..) were by last week and we made good progress for the front of the restaurant.

Sa-weet!

baby steps

2007-04-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

well, I think we finally figured out where the bar is going to be.

I bought some water glasses.

and a mirror for behind the bar! It came from Shrewsbury, England!!