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If there's a trail — be it snow, dirt, water or concrete — outdoors nut Carey Kish will find it. Follow his Maine outdoor adventures in his blog.

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January 03, 2008

Destined to wander aimlessly

My shelter from the storm, my haven on earth, my raison d'etre...

Gone. Just like that. Gone I tells you.

It's as if the Center of the Universe itself has imploded.

My compass is broken - shattered - and I shall now wander aimlessly in the forest...

What the hay, you say?

Please, please, I beg of you in my grief: Be kind, gentle, understanding.

Bleacher's, that hallowed hall of beer and chicken wings, sports and trivia, upon whose cocktail napkins countless fine outdoor (and indoor) adventures near and far were planned...

Bleacher's of Portland has closed its doors!

Carey Cries 005.jpg
Trail Head weeps at the permanently closed door of Bleacher's in downtown Portland.
Ann Mazerolle photo

Yes, dear Trail Headers, I received The Word of Bleacher's demise late yesterday from owners and dear friends in beer Chuck and Gladys.

{gasp}

Oh, the humanity of it all!

Even now, as I gaze out from my office window at its rooftop I cannot believe that my elbows will not again rest upon the finely grained wood of its bar top.

Where oh where I ask you shall we go now for succor in this time of great sorrow? How to carry on?

Carey Cries 002.jpg
Trail Head takes a moment alone outside Bleacher's yesterday.
Ann Mazerolle photo

Posted by Carey Kish at 12:39 PM

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Comments

Good comments. I was driving by the place as you were posing for the photos. I'm sad that Bleachers is closed, not because of no longer getting plenty of Geary's and Harpoon IPA in mug #123, but for not seeing good friends on a regular basis. Thanks to Chuck, Gladys and family for their hospitality over the years. Thanks to all the bartenders and servers past and present. Fellow Bleachers Creatures, I'm sure we will meet up somewhere soon to welcome in Red Sox Spring Training (but it won't feel the same!).
Aloha,
Nick

Posted by Nick V
January 3, 2008 04:37 PM

Is this another one of your bad attempts at sick humor? Its New Years not April Fools! How can you play with our heart strings like this? Have you no compassion? Have you no remorse? Have you no wisdom?

Carey! Where oh where will we have our important meetings now? Where will we watch the Giants beat up on the Patriots? Where will we get wings like Bleachers wings?

And I thought 2008 was going to be a good year! Yeah right....

Posted by Pete
January 3, 2008 05:08 PM

Great photos though... Sort of captures the monumental agony.

Posted by Pete
January 3, 2008 05:10 PM

Oh, I am so sad as well. As much as I sometimes didn't love working on Thursday nights, it was surely nothing against the restaurant, nor the patrons. I wsh we could soon find somewhere else, because Bleachers felt like home and I've been evicted. We've all been evicted. Love to your lovely girl and you as well... Look for me this Spring and in the Switch. XO.

Your FAVORITE bartender!
Amber

Posted by TMB
January 3, 2008 09:55 PM

Coors Light Carey!
What awful and unexpected news that has come from afar!! The pictures capture the feeling; with the snow piled high and no repose from the cold...Makes me sad down here in Ft Myers. Eileen, your old favorite bartender :0.

Posted by Stylene
January 4, 2008 02:38 AM

I don't know where to go anymore... Steve and I were at a loss this past Sunday, running errands and in need of a refreshing beer and some wings... wings I finally tried after 11 years of vegetarianism... what a tease. Where is everyone now? Where will we all congregate? And, I know that I was actually your favorite bartender/server... sorry Amber

Posted by LaLa
January 9, 2008 01:19 PM