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If you're a member of the muffin-top set, you've no doubt read the headlines about PlayDate PDX (1434 NW 17th Ave., 227-7529, playdatepdx.com), the popular indoor playground and drinkery with a three-story slide in Northwest Portland. "Girl reports sex abuse at indoor play space," KGW reported in November 2013, followed by KATU's December 2013 headline, "Lawsuit claims slide at Playdate PDX 'dangerously defective.'" The worry is enough to drive a parent to drink. Which is why it's appropriate that you can: Along with a kid-friendly menu of pizza, quesadillas and apple slices, the PlayDate PDX cafe offers wine and five beer taps. This must also be why moments after you pay your kiddo's $4 to $12 admission (parents and babysitters are free), you have to sign a waiver: "I, on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, herby [sic] hold harmless PlayDate employees, owners and officials with respect to any and all injury." Sheesh! Your wee one can make do with a $4.50 mixed berry smoothie, while you can soothe your worries with a $5 Ninkasi at 10 am, as your child wanders aimlessly through a giant pretend castle stocked with ball launchers, enormous slides and an interactive dance floor (a cross between the '80s electronic game Simon and the toe-tap piano from the movie Big). Hey, it's all legal. Just don't expect to be able to supervise your frolicking child while knocking back a beer. There's a strict policy forbidding food, drinks and shoes inside the pretend castle, which probably makes it the only bar in Portland that requires patrons to wear socks.
WWeek 2015