Buffalo Gap Saloon (6835 SW Macadam Ave)

About 8 years ago, I worked for a company (which shall remain nameless) located on Macadam Avenue. Every Friday one of the higher-ups, (we'll call her Kathy), would head over to the Buffalo Gap and engage in drinking games, off-the-clock flirtation and groping with numerous lower-downs. One time I had to call over to Buffalo Gap and interrupt their fun to get help turning off the security alarm. Kathy was annoyed with me. The raucous laughing in the background did have me intrigued though. It sounded like a fun place to be.

And, as I have discovered, it is a fun place to be. At times. I don't enjoy their actual buffalo burgers. A little gamey for me. But their other food is good bar food. For a bar. I've been there to listen to music, which is usually free (I'll tell you my story about THAT in a minute) and usually about free quality. But it's entertaining enough to occupy time if you don't have much else to do.

Last week, during the oppressive heat killing me softly, I decided to head over there since Willamette Week had listed a free show at Buffalo Gap in their music section. Just inside the door is a sign that points upstairs: Music [arrow] NEVER A COVER! That's great - just a little reassurance that all their shows are free. We get to the top of the stairs and the bartender scoots in front of us and says "Ten dollar cover charge tonight." Are you kidding? It goes from free to TEN DOLLARS??? That's not even a moderate jump. Maybe $2 or $3 or even $5. But to go from free to just kidding that will be $10 for a band that no one has ever heard of. I was kind of mad.

But it was hot and I was too sweaty to belabor the point and be valiant and find another place to dine. So my sis and I sat in the super smoky bar downstairs and ate our average dinner while listening to acoustic Snow Patrol. Which was probably better than the $10 concert anyway.