Latest news with #NoCountryforOldMen
Eater
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
Sellwood Bar Saddles Up With Barbecue Tacos and Cowboy Boot Cocktails
is an award-winning freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. For more than a decade his work has appeared in the Northwest alt weeklies Portland Mercury and Seattle Stranger, as well as lifestyle magazines like Portland Monthly and pop culture websites. 'The theme we were joking around about is 'depressed Palm Springs cowboy,'' says Ezra Caraeff, one of the co-owners of the Last Rodeo, a new bar in Sellwood. 'We didn't want the macho kind, you know? F-250 cowboy. We wanted the cowboy contemplating the decisions he's made.' The Palm Springs comparison matches the airy, casually elegant space awash in teals and blonde wood. The 'depressed cowboy' part can be found in the impeccably curated playlist of mournful honky-tonk, while the paintings on the walls, most by Fort Worth artist Kevin Chupik, evoke the disappearing West from films like Lonely Are the Brave and No Country for Old Men. Caraeff, along with Chip Addabbo and John Naekel, form the core of Three on a Match, a bar collective that includes Paydirt, the Old Gold, and Hi-Top Tavern. Each of those bars have different menus, aesthetics, and areas of focus, but they're unified in that they're all consummate neighborhood bars: classy enough for date night, casual enough for a $3.50 tallboy after work. Their new Sellwood bar occupies the first level of the somewhat legendary (and some say cursed) 1920s Spanish revival building that was once the Woods music venue, a fixture of the shoegaze scene in the mid-aughts. Before that, it was a funeral home. 'I've been here late at night by myself, and it does not feel remotely haunted,' Caraeff assures, although he does note that the basement still has some remnants of its former trade: 'I was like, 'Why does this office have a floor drain?'' Thankfully, the rest of the building just feels like, well, a regular building. Neighboring tenants include an esthetician and a nail salon, so it can't be that haunted. Molly J. Smith Molly J. Smith Bartender J-Bird prepares drinks at the soft opening of The Last Rodeo. Molly J. Smith The newly remodeled interior feels deliberately light and open, filled with early evening sun and the happy clink of fast-draining pint glasses. There's now an expansive patio that wraps around two sides of the building, which already seems like the best place to see and be seen in the summer. It's slightly elevated, which prevents the bar crowd from spilling out onto the sidewalk, while also placing patrons at about eye level with passersby. And best of all it's almost completely in the shadow of the building itself, which means no need for precarious umbrellas or strategic shadow hopping. While the vibes inside skew Southwestern, the food menu is all Central Texas courtesy of a collab with Matt's BBQ Tacos, the beloved truck offshoot of Matt's BBQ proper. Barbecue and breakfast tacos aren't exactly ubiquitous on the West Coast, but they're basically a dietary staple in Austin, and the examples on offer here can go boot to boot with any there. The concept of a $6 taco does sting a bit, but that's before a tray arrives piled high with silky guac and hefty strips of glistening sauce-glazed pork belly. The vegetarian offerings are just as substantial, with a smoky mushroom fajita taco that can also be made vegan. There's a good mix of sides and appetizers too, in particular the waffle fries, which can be ordered either fried in beef fat or vegetable oil. And speaking of beef fat, there's the brisket-washed Maker's Mark Old Fashioned that feels destined to become a cocktail-hour conversation piece. Does brisket tallow pair well with Kentucky bourbon and maple syrup? That's perhaps best left to the individual palate, but it does lend a smoky campfire quality to a cocktail that already hearkens back to the flavor profiles of a 19th-century saloon. The Tiki Luau Lounge cocktail, left, and the Cowboy Cooler cocktail at the Last Rodeo. Molly J. Smith The rest of the cocktail menu features a good mix of classics and new creations, including a draft espresso martini and mezcal margarita, or the Cowboy Cooler which features Astral blanco tequila and ancho chile liqueur served up in a (glass) cowboy boot. For the perpetually indecisive, there's a fun section in the back featuring illustrated portraits of the bar staff and their signature shifty. Bartender J-Bird likes a High Life and navy-strength gin on the rocks, for example, or if you want to get fancy, barback Lee says they 'dream of a Corpse Reviver #2.' Caraeff says they've been looking to work with Matt's for a while, but the last bar they opened didn't quite have the right floor plan for it. 'They use these giant 50-foot smokers,' he says, which can be hard to integrate into existing architecture. Caraeff says that Three on a Match has been trying to expand smart rather than fast: 'We've had a lot of false alarms over the years. We've looked at spaces in the suburbs, downtown, all over, nothing's really made sense.' So how did they wind up in Sellwood? Facebook Marketplace, actually. 'We buy stuff for the bars there, on occasion, and I have this real sweet spot of an algorithm. Haunted puppets, marionettes with one leg, stuff like that.' He says his nightly ritual of cruising the virtual flea market produced an unexpected result: a listing for a section of the 5,500-square-foot property. For Caraeff, who was the music editor for the Portland Mercury when the Woods was in full swing, it was an easy sell. 'That was 119 days ago,' he recalls, 'so just as quick a turnaround as possible.' That is remarkably fast to put together a bar that feels as polished as this one, but as they say this isn't exactly their first rodeo: 'We're not totally ready,' Caraeff notes, 'but we're always like, 'Let's jump out of the plane, figure out the parachute on the way down.'' Plan or no plan, it seems to have worked out. Despite an attempt at a soft opening on Friday, July 11, there's been a line to the door ever since. The bar has enough seating and arrangements for the flow of traffic such that the line moves quickly, but a recent visit at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, might as well have been a Saturday night rush. One of the harried bartenders, in between slinging glass boots full of tequila and taking orders for waffle fries, repeatedly cautions patrons that the slushie machine is operating at about 10 times the recommended capacity and isn't quite getting the boozy slush quite as set as they'd like. 'I literally don't care,' says a gleeful lady in a floral sun dress, and she orders a pair of mostly-there Panda Coladas with extra ice. 'I'm not gonna put 'em on Yelp,' she assures the bartender. Currently the Last Rodeo is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Caraeff says the plan is to open earlier as they staff up. There's no plan to go later though, which probably makes sense with the giant patio and sleepy residential neighborhood nearby. 'We've got so many great bars on the street,' Caraeff says, 'we're very happy to send people to Kay's or Limelight or Cosmo,' and notes that the neighborhood as a whole has been 'super sweet.' Sellwood has always had the makings of a great bar crawl street, but it's still very Old Portland and can be a bit insular as a result. A sad cowboy bar in an old funeral parlor might seem like a risky proposition, but in practice it fits the neighborhood like a well-worn Stetson. Like all neighborhood bars, the final call will come down to the neighbors themselves, but if this past weekend was any indication, Sellwood has decided to sidle up to the rail. The Last Rodeo is located at 6637 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland; open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday to Monday. Minors allowed, if they're cool and like tacos,'til 9 p.m. Molly J. Smith Eater Portland All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Daily Record
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix fans believe they have found the 'best' movie on streaming platform
One film fan has named the crime thriller you need to check out on Netflix, claiming it to be one of the best things you will see all year. Netflix viewers have been told to watch the 'best' crime thriller available on the streaming service. Audiences are said to have been absolutely captivated by it. Movie enthusiast Jay, known as @flixwithjay across his social platforms, has highlighted the crime thriller that demands attention on Netflix, declaring it amongst the best viewing experiences of the year. In his TikTok video, he explained more. "It's an absolute classic, No Country for Old Men. It's a crime drama about a hunter who stumbles across a drug deal gone wrong. In the aftermath, he runs off with a suitcase full of cash. This then sets off a deadly chain reaction of events, which sees him pursued by a hitman who kills without mercy," he detailed. Brought to life by Ethan and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men features Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin. The 2007 film secured four Oscars alongside 161 additional accolades and 139 nominations, as reported by the Mirror. Jay continued: "Visually, this movie is stunning. Very frame looks like a painting but at the same time, it still looks so real. "I personally think this is the Coen brothers best work. You could literally watch this movie multiple times and each time you could come away with something different." Responding to his clip, one viewer remarked: "One of the best movies of all time. Brolin and Bardem are wonderful in this as is Tommy Lee Jones. It is a classic. Great for multiple viewings as you say." Another viewer chimed in: "I agree this is Cohen's brothers best film. I don't usually re-watch films, I saw this at the cinema and I've watched it at home 5 times. it's excellent!". A third fan declared: "I watched this in cinemas when it first came out and all I can say is WOW." Some reckon the film stands as the best choice across the entirety of Netflix, which is quite an achievement given the streaming service boasts over 4,000 titles across the platform. Writing their review on IMDb, one viewer commented: "Days after seeing it, I am still haunted by No Country for Old Men. There is just something so effectual and uncompromising about it, that mere words will only begin to skim the surface of the cinematic excellence on display." A fellow critic noted: "If you like films that literally take your breath away, then this goes to the top of the list. As stated elsewhere, Javier Bardem is so spectacularly evil and menacing that, if I were Mrs Bardem, I'd be worried about him coming home at night. "The man exuded controlled evil, and I found myself not breathing when he came onto screen, yet couldn't take my eyes from him - a truly mesmerising presence." They continued, "Tommy Lee Jones turns in a belter of a performance, and mention should also be made of Kelly MacDonald who nails a faultless Texan accent alongside a multi-layered performance (despite the paucity of her screen time). "Beautifully shot, as you would expect, and with some (welcome) moments of humour amongst the gore, this is a very very fine film. "Miss it at your peril, because when those little golden men are being handed out next year in LA, I predict a lot of them will be going to this film. A belter."
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Hollywood A-lister's notorious father was a contract-killing assassin
The famous Hollywood star's father was a two-time convicted murderer and armed robber who once even attempted a prison break A Hollywood A-lister's father is a twice-convicted murderer and armed robber. Famed for his roles in smash hits such as True Detective, The Hunger Games (no, not the prequel), Cheers, and No Country for Old Men — Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson has a notorious father. Charles Voyde Harrelson, Woody's dad, was tried for three murders, spent time behind bars on multiple occasions, and even attempted a prison break over the course of his colourful life. Two weeks ago, Instagram account historyfeels posted about Woody's infamous father, leading to fans exclaiming their shock and surprise. In a detailed caption, the Instagram post delved into Charles' "deep ties to organized crime" and reminded social media users of his conviction and "two consecutive life terms" post which Charles "spent the rest of his life in federal prison, where he died in 2007". The post further declared: 'In 1979, he was charged with the assassination of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr., the first federal judge to be murdered in the 20th century. Harrelson carried out the hit for $250,000 on behalf of a drug dealer awaiting trial. He was captured after a six-hour standoff with police, during which he confessed to multiple killings, including JFK's, though that claim was widely dismissed. 'In 1982, Harrelson was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He spent the rest of his life in federal prison, where he died in 2007.' One user commented: 'I was today years old when I learned this... Well alrighty then... Holy cow ! I never heard this story before!...' While a Woody fan wrote: "Hats off to Woody Harrelson for not letting his past personal life dictate his own life and, ultimately, his career as an actor. Brilliant actor." A third user said: "I bet poor Woody didn't need the world reminded of that." And another fan agreed, writing: "Poor woody doesn't need reminding and really don't see why it's any of anyone's business." Another Instagram user lauded Woody for breaking the cycle and said: "Congrats to Woody for breaking the cycle and becoming a peace loving person." While yet another fan was left surprised: 'Wow. Had no idea... Never knew this... Interesting. Glad to know his son turned the family legacy around.' The Oscar-nominated actor and his two brothers, Jordan and Brett, were brought up by their mum, Diane Harrelson, in Texas and Ohio. Born on July 23, 1938, in Lovelady, TX, Charles had a stormy existence. He worked as an encyclopedia salesman and professional gambler during his early professional years and was married four times throughout his life, reports the Mirror US. Texas Monthly reports that Charles and Diane Harrelson tied the knot in the 1950s while Charles was on leave from the Navy. In 1959, while residing in Los Angeles, he faced robbery charges but managed to secure five years probation after acting as a jailhouse "snitch," as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The couple settled in Midland, TX, and during the early 60s they had their three sons - Jordan, Woody, and Brett - in quick succession, over a span of three years. By 1968, Charles had abandoned his family just as the children were beginning school. Woody Harrelson reflected on these tough times in a candid 2012 interview with the Guardian, saying: "I think they separated when I was 7, but he was gone a lot before that, in prison. Away and back. Away and back. It wasn't like he was there all the time prior to that. [My mom] was well out of love with him. You know, I've got to give her credit because she never really soured us on him, she didn't talk negative about him, never, ever. And she could have - he wasn't the greatest husband. Or father." Charles, a man with a dark past as a convicted hitman, faced murder charges thrice and was convicted on two occasions, leading to extended periods in jail. He ultimately passed away at the age of 68 on March 15, 2007, while serving his prison sentence.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans believe they've found 'best movie' on the entire streaming service
A film buff has urged Netflix users to check out its 'best movie' on the entire streaming platform – and people agree it's a 'belter' and can be enjoyed time and time again Netflix subscribers have been urged to check out the 'best' crime thrillers on the streaming platform - and people can't get enough of it. Film buff Jay, who is known as @flixwithjay on social media, has shared the crime thriller you need to check out on UK Netflix, claiming it to be one of the best things you'll see all year. In his TikTok clip, he said: "It's an absolute classic, No Country for Old Men. It's a crime drama about a hunter who stumbles across a drug deal gone wrong. In the aftermath, he runs off with a suitcase full of cash. This then sets off a deadly chain reaction of events, which sees him pursued by a hitman who kills without mercy." Directed by Ethan ad Joal Coen, No Country for Old Men stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin. The 2007 movie has won four Oscars as well as 161 other awards and 139 nominations. Jay added: "Visually, this movie is stunning. Very frame looks like a painting but at the same time, it still looks so real. "I personally think this is the Coen brothers best work. You could literally watch this movie multiple times and each time you could come away with something different." Commenting on his video, one user said: "One of the best movies of all time. Brolin and Bardem are wonderful in this as is Tommy Lee Jones. It is a classic. Great for multiple viewings as you say." Another user added: "I agree this is Cohen's brothers best film. I don't usually re-watch films, I saw this at the cinema and I've watched it at home 5 times. it's excellent!" A third user said: "I watched this in cinemas when it first came out and all I can say is WOW." Some even think the movie is the best option on the whole of Netflix, which is no mean feat as the streaming platform has more than 4,000 titles in total. Reviewing the movie on IMDb, one user said: "Days after seeing it, I am still haunted by No Country for Old Men. There is just something so effectual and uncompromising about it, that mere words will only begin to skim the surface of the cinematic excellence on display." Another user added: "If you like films that literally take your breath away, then this goes to the top of the list. As stated elsewhere, Javier Bardem is so spectacularly evil and menacing that, if I were Mrs Bardem, I'd be worried about him coming home at night. "The man exuded controlled evil, and I found myself not breathing when he came onto screen, yet couldn't take my eyes from him - a truly mesmerising presence. "Tommy Lee Jones turns in a belter of a performance, and mention should also be made of Kelly MacDonald who nails a faultless Texan accent alongside a multi-layered performance (despite the paucity of her screen time). "Beautifully shot, as you would expect, and with some (welcome) moments of humour amongst the gore, this is a very very fine film. "Miss it at your peril, because when those little golden men are being handed out next year in LA, I predict a lot of them will be going to this film. A belter."
The Hill
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Protecting small-town America: Why high-speed rail is the wrong track for the US
High-speed rail has captured the public imagination, becoming a key benchmark for comparison between China and the U.S.. Observers point to its widespread ubiquity in the former and absence in the latter as a reflection of broader developmental trajectories. The Shanghai Maglev (short for 'magnetic levitation') train, with speeds of up to 268 mph, is one of many 'super-trains' seemingly backing the claim that China is 'living in the future' in 2025. However, the topic may turn out to be a case of comparing apples to oranges, due to structural differences in governance, geography and transportation culture. Building a high-speed transportation network — a large-scale infrastructure project requiring massive federal investment — would pose a significant challenge to the U.S. economy. The California High-Speed Rail currently underway, for instance, was predicted to require $33 billion in funding but has now reached an estimate of $113 billion. Among the many repercussions soon to be realized, however, one stands out as particularly overlooked. Such networks of high-speed rail would be disastrous to a part of America that has been driving the U.S. economy for many years, perhaps illustrated best in movies and television. Think of the Double R Diner from the show 'Twin Peaks,' or the gas station stops in the Coen brothers' film 'No Country for Old Men.' Depicted in these scenes were 'pass-through towns' or 'rest-and-stop towns' — small communities between destination cities that stay alive because travelers stop at local diners, gas stations and similar mom-and-pop businesses. Small towns and communities such as Seligman, Ariz.; Little America, Wyo.; and Needles, Calif., among others, have built their economies around providing such services. Unlike China, where there is a more concentrated settlement pattern, the U.S. has many such towns scattered across relatively remote areas, often encountered only during long drives. Implementing high-speed rail nationwide would be detrimental to these towns, in turn undermining key parts of the overall American economy. Such large-scale infrastructure projects disrupt local autonomy and free-market activity. As has already been reported in China, high-speed rail networks often produce what is called the 'siphon effect,' where the allure of large urban cities absorbs a great deal of investment and development opportunities away from smaller communities. This effect would be particularly damaging for small towns across the U.S. that have in recent years been in an economically fragile state. Many American social media influencers have disregarded this detail, and their pleas for the U.S. to join the hype have been echoed by policymakers and urban planners who have tried for many years to establish high-speed rail. There is a fundamental conflict between the notion of connecting the whole of the U.S. with high-speed networks and the American tradition of decentralized infrastructure. The success of the Eisenhower Interstate System was not that it connected major cities but because it empowered Americans to traverse the entire country, aiding local economies along the way. The Eisenhower Interstate System also allowed Americans to live far away from city centers and helped cement America's car culture. The vision for a high-speed rail within the U.S. imports the centralized planning of a nation with drastically different values and geography, fundamentally misunderstanding what has contributed to the historical success of the Eisenhower Interstate System. Furthermore, the financial logic of high-speed rail networks simply does not hold up, as ongoing projects turned into what many city planners now describe as logistical and financial 'nightmares.' Citizens Against Government Waste pointed to the mismanagement of California's high-speed rail, which has faced rising costs every year since the project began. While the claim that it would cost $33 billion was never feasible, the current $113 billion estimate is already 23 percent higher than the $81.4 billion that organization had originally estimated it would actually cost. It cites the 'opportunistic contractors' that have exploited the lack of foresight involved in the project, 88 of which were booted by Gov. Gavin Newsom far 'too late.' A misreading of the American public's needs has led policymakers to surrender to hyped-up benchmarks that undermine the traditions and geography of the U.S., as well as reasons behind previous successes in infrastructure. Thus, it would be wise to think twice before entering the super-train craze that China has spearheaded, re-evaluating ongoing projects and reflecting on the longstanding national value of decentralization. Rinzen Widjaja is a writer, political commentator and television guest speaker based in Melbourne, Australia, and a student of economics at the University of Melbourne.
