Someday, opening on January 2nd, a dream realized for a bartender and a hospitality maven who bring all of their favorite elements of food, cocktails, design and community under one roof
PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 30, 2019) – When Jessica Baesler and Graham Files fell in love working behind the bar ten years ago, they said “someday, we’ll open our own place.” The past decade took them both to New York and back, while the two Portland natives worked at venerable restaurants with a focus on carefully sourced ingredients such as Blue Hill, Ava Gene’s, Prune, Prime Meats, Tusk, Franny’s, and Coquine. Two years ago, they returned to Oregon from New York to open their own dream spot, and finally that place, Someday, is here. Opening on January 2nd, you’ll find the owners working behind the bar each day, welcoming guests personally into their second home.
The Design
Someday is a bar on S.E. Division Street, located around the back and down the alley behind a sleek whitewashed standalone building. Baesler and Files designed the interior with the help of their landlords, who own Tall Firs (design/build) and Of Prairies (interior design), with whom Someday shares a building. It’s a minimalist, timeless space with black walnut banquettes made by Danridge Geiger surrounding a horseshoe-shaped, walnut bar top handmade by John Henry Woodworking, with an arched back bar and round edges that add contrast to angular light fixtures adorning the walls, custom made by WO & WÉ in Lyon, France. Olive green velvet upholstery lends a variation of tones drawn from nature to the plaster walls. It feels both clean and warm at the same time, drawing inspiration from Paris’ corner bistros, to courtyard spaces in Mexico, and favorite bars in Brooklyn and Manhattan’s West Village. The interior seats 34, with about 40 seats in the courtyard outside.
The Drinks
With over 20 years of experience behind the bar in venerable restaurants with an affinity for incorporating culinary ingredients, as well as serious local cocktail bars like the Brazen Bean, Secret Society and the Sapphire Hotel, Graham Files possesses creativity and a deep knowledge of classic and lesser-known cocktails. At Someday he’s created a succinct list featuring two sections: “today,”with five original cocktails, and “yesterday,” comprising five classics listed with their origins. He approaches this selection with an intentional simplicity that focuses on ingredients and execution. Files’ greatest pleasure is making his guests feel at home at his bar, and making them a drink that suits what they desire, whether that’s a creation of his own, or an off-menu classic drawn from the archives. Someday will also have two beers on draft, and a list of six hand-picked wines available by the half-pour, glass and bottle. Files and Baesler count many local winemakers as friends, and while the list will remain affordable and approachable, some special selections will occasionally make an appearance.
The Food
Co-owner Jessica Baesler is a born-and-raised Oregonian with a passion for hospitality, design and agriculture. Ten years ago, she moved to New York to pursue work in rooftop farming (NY Sun Works and Eagle Street Rooftop Farm), while working at various notable restaurants. The intersection of hospitality and farming is her happy place, and Someday will utilize produce from local farms and purveyors, and grow their own herbs and more in the courtyard for cocktails and garnishes. Someday’s menu is a selection of simple plates to accompany drinks, such as Brillat Savarin cheese with local honey, pistachios and baguette; chicken liver mousse with balsamic onions; chicory salad with sherry vinaigrette; butter beans with kale, hot pepper aioli, potato and lemon; and Otto’s old fashioned wieners with kraut, mustard and sweet onions.
The Community
Baesler and Files are two of the friendliest people you’ll meet, and in the bar’s back courtyard, you’ll find three excellent food trucks: Ash Woodfired (pizza), Let’s Roll (sushi hand rolls) and Alley Mezza (Mediterranean). Guests are welcomed to order food from the trucks and bring it into the bar to enjoy with their drinks. Someday’s also hosted surfboard swaps and other events in collaboration with their neighbor boutique, Wild Cactus, and will continue to do so next summer. The alley leading to Someday is strung with lights, making a charming location for events of its own. The first of these will be oyster shucking on Sundays by Hama Hama Oysters, beginning in the spring.
Hours and Info
Hours: Thursday-Monday from 2pm-1:30am (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with plans to open 7 days a week in the future). All ages welcome at all hours.
Location: 3634 S.E. Division Street, Portland Oregon, 97202
Website: somedaypdx.com
Instagram: @somedaypdx.com