He's here. He's queer. He's used to it.

Dish and Dat: Astoria is My Summer "Home," Posies Cafe in The Oregonian, Bad News Out of California.

BEACH BALLIN': Memorial Day marked the 14th anniversary of Juan and I as a couple (we didn't become domestic partners until much, much later).
To celebrate the auspicious occasion we thought we'd get a jump start on our big day and take a Sunday drive to one of favorite places in the state: Astoria, Oregon.
Or should I say "very, very Northwest Portland."
Astoria is no longer the sleepy ghost town of my youth, but rather a lively, thriving village full of energy (and dare I say it?) an attitude that flirts with "hip." You'll see it at my good friend's Stumptown-serving java joint—Astoria Coffeehouse—which is about to become a full-service restaurant and lounge during the evenings. As well as Lunar Boy Gallery, perhaps the coolest gallery/toy store on the entire Oregon coastline (and it has Goonies stuff too!). And you'd definitely see it at the Commodore Hotel. Dubbed Astoria's "Ace Hotel" this 18-room, super inexpensive-yet-still-plush hotel has all the amenities anyone could ever want out of a hipster boutique.
And on Sunday, Astoria's quaint downtown streets make way for the Sunday Market; it's sort of a mix between our own Farmer's Market and Saturday Market and features some of the best sights and smells in town.
For now let's just say Astoria, Oregon is my new summer "home."
That is until The New York Times finds out about it. Then all bets are off.

Find more photos like this on Byron Beck's Window

NEW NEWS: In 2000, after I was hired on as an editor for Willamette Week, I stopped writing for The Oregonian, a paper I had spent the previous five years contributing to. Today marks my first piece for the daily in nearly a decade. It is for the O's Food Day section and is all about Posies Cafe and the "mommy-ristas." Click here to read it.

CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN: The California Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban on same-sex marriage is a very bad thing. But I believe good things will come out of it. Why? Because if Midwest and East Coast states can get it right, eventually so will the supposed open-minded West Coast states. The decision today is a call to action. We need to know that history is on our side. We need to remind everyone that Oregon has two openly queer judges on our Supreme Court who need to start working on our behalf. We can and we will get gay marriage.
I ask you to read the following. It was via an email from Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director, Jeana Frazzini right after the decision was announced: This puts California in the same position as Oregon. We share a common purpose - we must win majority support for our cause by educating our friends and family about the impact of being shut out of marriage. So I'm asking you to turn your anger into action. Turn your disappointment into determination. Get Engaged in the campaign for the freedom to marry in Oregon. Go online and sign our pledge to say "I DO Support the Freedom to M...

I am going to sign it. Will you?

Tags: art, drink, food, gay, media, oregon, portland, travel