Is it worth visiting the glass companies in portland?

[ahreno]

I live down in eugene so i find myself in portland randomly. Is it worth checking out Glass Alchemy and/or Northstar and/or TAG? Do they ever sell unique or cheap?

[gomilobster]

I have only been to GA maybe 3 times over the past 10 years, not enough to really get a feel for what they have usually, or what kind of deals they would make (maybe I should start going more often?). I however have been into TAG a few times in the past month or so, and I really love them a lot. They certainly make you know how to feel welcome. Give you pointers on the color they make, and are super helpful in general. The room you pick from is on the smaller side, but if you have any other business up here that makes stopping by useful, I would certainly stop by TAG at the very least. I have gotten some good deals from them and you never know what they have been experimenting with, they have some neat stuff you won't find (at least yet) floating around sometimes too.

[Aymie]

I would think it's worth the time to put a face with your name and get to know everyone. And yes, if you ask, they likely have bargain bin stuff around. I think you might have to make an appointment with some of them rather than just walk in.

[bildo]

When I went up, GA said come by whenever, Trautman, I made an appt. and I didnt try up northstar. But if you want deals you can see with your own eyes make a visit!

[nicko0]

can u do like a tour? i wanna see rod pulled. and bins of raw glass.

id die to see ga tailormade tube made.

[gomilobster]

I never bothered to ask for a tour or anything. That would be something you would alomost certainly have to call ahead for and see if they do that or have times where they take groups of people around. I never made an appointment at TAG, they have store hours I think, and you should be able to stop in any time during those. I also never made an appointment with GA either when I did go. My friend who goes to Northstar seems to like hitting them up too. Northstar and TAG are not even in Portland really. NS is in Tigard, and TAG is basically right off the freeway near Tualitin/Wilsonville area. Those two might very well be a 15 min drive from one another. GA is on the north side of NE Portland and would be the one out of your way if you are hitting the others up. Couldn't hurt to visit them at least once if you are around.

[menty666]

I'd pop by TAG just to finally meet Jenny in person.

Isn't Momka and Bullseye out that way too? Crud, I should come out to the NW just to go on a glass maker crawl.

[gomilobster]

I don't know about Momka, but Bullseye is def here. I am still sore with them though. I had an interview with them about a month or so back for a glass melting position (just throwing globs of molten glass on a fancy cookie sheet and forming it out into sheets) but I didn't end up getting the job. I swear I had a great interview too. Would have been nice to haver some steady pay with benefits. I was either overqualified, or they didn't care too much for my legal history. Sucks, cause I was looking forward to using their studio equipment. LOL Oh well their loss. /me shakes fist But yeah Jenny is def what has made my TAG experiences so awesome.

[Aymie]

I am totally in love with Jenny!