History of a marriage, in hotels.
This morning, I parked at the Corvallis Inn while it was being demolished so that I could take a few pictures. One wall with archways remained like something out of a low-budget Roman-era movie, with piles of rubble all around. I then proceeded to curse myself for not remembering that the batteries were dead, so the moment has been lost.
While I was standing there, it struck me that the hotels on 9th Street were odd landmarks that corresponded to events in my marriage. I have already mentioned that my wedding reception was held at the Corvallis Inn, back when it was still Nendel's, before the Ramada Inn briefly came in and ran in headlong into bankruptcy.
But when my ex and I were young and broke, we had this irritating roommate who would blast Air Supply (!) music every now and then, which more than once sent us packing to the Jason Inn for brief escapes, which was the only place we could really afford. The Jason Inn was torn down last year. If we had ever stayed at the C.E.W. motel before it was torn down, I might develop a complex and fancy myself a hotel destroyer, but that place was too scary even for a couple of low-rent fast food employees. At least the Jason Inn had the Toa Yuen restaurant, which had great food.
Two years prior to that, in around April of 1991, my ex and I were actually attending a birthday party that friends were holding in a suite at the Motel Orleans, which is now the Motel 6. We were bored... it was basically a bunch of people sitting around drinking beer and watching TV, so we decided to leave and go for a walk. We lived in the neighborhood at the time and decided to cut through the field by the DMV. It was a really pretty spring night and my ex chose that spot to propose. Salbasgeon Suites now stands where that field used to be.
If the Salbasgeon is ever torn down, I'll chalk it up to my secret hotel destroying powers!
While I was standing there, it struck me that the hotels on 9th Street were odd landmarks that corresponded to events in my marriage. I have already mentioned that my wedding reception was held at the Corvallis Inn, back when it was still Nendel's, before the Ramada Inn briefly came in and ran in headlong into bankruptcy.
But when my ex and I were young and broke, we had this irritating roommate who would blast Air Supply (!) music every now and then, which more than once sent us packing to the Jason Inn for brief escapes, which was the only place we could really afford. The Jason Inn was torn down last year. If we had ever stayed at the C.E.W. motel before it was torn down, I might develop a complex and fancy myself a hotel destroyer, but that place was too scary even for a couple of low-rent fast food employees. At least the Jason Inn had the Toa Yuen restaurant, which had great food.
Two years prior to that, in around April of 1991, my ex and I were actually attending a birthday party that friends were holding in a suite at the Motel Orleans, which is now the Motel 6. We were bored... it was basically a bunch of people sitting around drinking beer and watching TV, so we decided to leave and go for a walk. We lived in the neighborhood at the time and decided to cut through the field by the DMV. It was a really pretty spring night and my ex chose that spot to propose. Salbasgeon Suites now stands where that field used to be.
If the Salbasgeon is ever torn down, I'll chalk it up to my secret hotel destroying powers!
posted by Corvallist at
10:12 PM
5 Comments:
The Jason Inn was pretty scary too. Toa Yuen was over near Nendel's.
I like Air Supply.
By
Christopher Farrell, at 5:17 PM
Toa Yuen used to be in what is now the Elks Lodge, but later it vanished for a while, then reopened in the Jason Inn. It didn't last there... nothing ever did. But for a brief while, I could go pick up some Szechuan Beef, which was the best Chinese dish in town at the time.
By
Corvallist, at 6:18 PM
What is the best Chinese dish in town now?
By
Anonymous, at 6:34 PM
You've got me. I'm open to suggestions. The only Chinese food I ever really eat here in town is at China Delight, which has adequate food and fantastic service, and occasionally at the Mongolian grill. I can't remember if it was Blue Sky or China Blue that was beyond disgusting, but we haven't eaten at a Chinese restaurant with "Blue" in the name since.
I will give a shout out to Tarn Tip for best thai food, though. I'm looking forward to trying Magenta when they open at their new downtown location.
If someone has suggestions on great Chinese food, please pass them along! Be warned that I'm picky, though, after living in areas where excellent Chinese food was easy to find.
By
Corvallist, at 6:39 PM
Your marriage connection to doomed hotels certainly brings a new meaning to "ball and chain."
For Chinese, I like China Delight on NW 2nd. Good vegetarian selection. They even offer brown rice (vs. steamed white, or fried).
By
Anonymous, at 9:08 PM
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