Mamma Li’s Chandeliers

“How did you even get this Gig?!”

People always wanna know. 

“Oh Honey, I paid my dues, believe me!!!”

I started working for Mother’s Bistro & Bar when I was 20. It was the first job I got when I moved to Portland. I remember cuz I still couldn’t drink yet when I started working there. I mean, I did drink, but just not at work with the rest of the staff on Sundays. We used to be closed for dinner on Sundays after doing over 1,000 covers for brunch. After we finally finished all the sidework and got a chance to sit down for the first time all day, Lisa would open the taps for us and we’d get shift drinks. We’d eat a family meal with the crew, laugh about inside jokes, the numbers, fumbles and mistakes made, and talk smack about the more annoying guests. 

That was over ten years ago, and alot has changed since then. Don’t get me wrong, we still talk a little smack about the annoying guests, but Mother’s now has a second location in a Hilton Hotel, is open 365, and no more open taps on Sundays- there’s dinner service now!!! (Don’t worry, they shift drink at the old location, and Mamma Li still treats her crew the best in the Biz!!! That’s one thing that hasn’t changed!!!)

But over the years Mother’s Bistro did change, as all things do. The restaurant grew in popularity and numbers, and after ten plus years, eventually they needed a size update as well. Enter the Hilton. Portland Prime Steakhouse was no longer there and the Hotel was looking for a new tenant. It was two blocks away from Mother’s original location, almost double the size, seismically updated, and all of the freezer space was on one level!!! No more having to haul food and ice up the stairs or on the elevator!!! 

But it needed a massive remodel. That’s where I came in. 

I had already put in my ten years at the restaurant as a busser, food runner, host, expeditor, barback, barista, and “roundsman”. I used to joke, “I do everything but serve, cook, and manage!” People would question, “What does that leave?” I would just laugh, “That’s like saying in a Theatre there’s only the acters and the director.” People forget about the set design, makeup, wardrobe & costumes, props, sound & lights. Working in a restaurant as busy as Mother’s is a whole orchestrated production, a finely tuned machine. 

And part of that production includes the stage design. Mother’s is known for their chandeliers, with over thirty vintage pieces ranging from wall sconces to Giant Grand centerpieces. And when the staff does the deep-cleaning, I always volunteered to do the chandeliers. While my coworkers were dusting picture frames and scrubbing chair legs, I was up on a ladder polishing the brass and making the crystal shine. There’s something so fufilling about the way the light creates rainbow prisms in the clean crystals!!! 

It kinda became my thing. In the slow season, I would clean the chandeliers to make a couple extra bucks. Then when we moved restaurants, Lisa gave me the beadwork commission for the chandeliers at the new place!!!

Hippo Hardware Portland / Parts & Inspiration

Wasn’t Me, Mom!!!

Finished Product