Where's the Man Closet?

Portland, Maine is notorious for being a hipster city.  That being said, I do love trying all of the new "hipster" bars and restaurants that pop up. Who ever said that hipsters should be the only one to enjoy them?

The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is one of the newer additions to this group.  I literally had stumbled upon this place with a dear friend after a happy hour at our usual DTL.  It was in the heart of the Old Port, there was no line, so, why not?  The cocktails were delicious and despite the stranger sitting next to us at the bar literally showing us his Instagrams of his "estate" in Camden, we enjoyed the drinking part of the experience.

Another close friend of mine had heard my own opinion but still wanted to check it out based on the fact that they had been reviewed as having delicious warm cocktails.  (In the past year I have become literally obsessed with making hot toddies, and their variations)  Last night we decided to check it out.

Around 8pm on a Wednesday, not many people had the same idea.  We were one of the three pairs of people there.  While he got his warm drink, I tried a cocktail I hadn't had before and all was well.  Soon enough, nature called.  I am one of those people that doesn't enjoy navigating to find the bathroom in a new place, but I also don't like asking for help.

Peering over my shoulder I could see not much other than empty seating and a door marked WC.  (The lighting in the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is particularly dark)  I turned to my friend inquiring as to what this could have meant.  Apparently I am not worldly enough to quickly remember the term "water closet", but seriously, when's the last time you called a bathroom that?!  I even doubted his naming of it so much, that when I headed towards the door, I double checked around the corner for that friendly men and women's symbol.  Inside the bathroom, or excuse me "water closet" was a whole new story of trying too hard.  The lighting is done by a red bulb, so you should be either in Boogie Nights or inviting someone in to join you.  This also makes it impossible to see yourself in the mirror, unless you're a vampire, I assume.

People just need a place to use the restroom.  Why make it so tricky?!  When talking about it with a coworker today, I was reminded of those places that make you choose a bathroom based on your animal persona.  Are you a fox or a pigeon?  Are you a fawn or a stag?  If I lived in the United Kingdom, then maybe the initials of WC would be a bit more familiar to me.

Portland Hunt & Alpine Club, you'll know it because of the neon diamonds on Market St. across from Sonny's, a little too cool to have a sign with it's name.  Great cocktails, pleasant bartender, but you may need to be a vampire in order to truly enjoy the whole experience.

I'm comforted in knowing that I wasn't the only one that had this opinion.  Thanks, Michelle.