Visiting Portland: Rose Parade

I was lucky enough to be in Portland on the day of their famous Rose Parade, so I thought I'd take a gander. Here are a few of the places I visited. 

More than one coffee afficianado suggested I stop by Stumptown Coffee. This latte was delightful- the foam was so thick and rich the sugar didn't sink through. Always a good sign. The espresso was strong and caramelly from being perfectly roasted.

Next, I popped over to Voodoo Doughnut. I was undeterred by the line around the corner- they really do keep it moving fast. The brick wall was all done up in glitter! 

The mardi gras vibe carries on inside with vividly pink and yellow walls, a chandelier and lots of neon. I chose the Voodoo Doll, Maple Bacon and No Name (peanut butter!). I tried a few bites of each (I'm only one person after all!) 

While this one is the least attractive of the lot, it was my favorite. It was filled with custard, and I especially like the pretzel "needle". It could have been studded with several more. 

The other slight disappointment with these doughnuts was the fact that none were served hot. The maple bacon in particular would have been vastly improved by being hot and toasty. It was still delicious, don't get me wrong. Just imagine the joy of a freshly made one!

Peanut butter, rice crispies, chocolate- pretty decadent. I think the fun of these doughnuts is their kitsch and whimsy. Many of them are decked out with cereal pieces, powdered drink mix (tang anyone?) and loaded down with sprinkles. This strikes me as just right. A doughnut is the last thing in the world to take seriously. Have fun with it! Go wide & over the top!

While I munched, I watched the Rose Parade  pass by. Each float is made with papier mache figures coated in bits of flowers, seeds or petals. It's awfully fun to see the detail up close.

The parade moves at a pretty glacial pace, so kids entertained themselves by drawing on the sidewalks, launching balloons and tooting on little plastic horns.

This float was my favorite- I just adore Elephants, don't you?

During the parade, I did some shopping downtown. There are lots of pretty little boutiques everywhere you turn. On Sarah's suggestion, I spent happy hour on the 30th floor of the U.S Bank building at Portland City Grill  checking out the amazing view of PDX. I enjoyed a blood orange mimosa, a delicious little plate of roasted pepper bruschetta and made conversation with a local charming couple sitting beside me at the bar. All in all, a perfect way to end my short stay in Portland.

Next stop, New York City! I can't wait to share all the adventures I've enjoyed already.

How's your summer so far?

Portland Itinerary

Take the bus out to the Japanese Gardens. Wander around and admire the vistas, uneven stones and gravel. The brochure points out that the gardens are set in a "human scale" to create a feeling of harmony with the universe. When the rain sets in, pull out your umbrella and watch the crowds thin out.

 

Stroll down to the Rose Test Garden and sniff the roses all dripping with rain drops. Some smell like bananas. Some smell like tea. Some smell like jasmine. Some smell like roasted caramels. When you start to get cold, pop into the gift shop for a sample of rose petal tea. Sip it while you wait for the bus. 



Go downtown. Stop at The Nordstrom Rack for some retail therapy. Buy a pair of skinny jeans because Portland's uniform this summer is Tom's, a pair of vividly colored skinny jeans and a loose fitting button down, preferably a chambray shirt or a subtle plaid. Step outside to see that the rain is now torrential. Hop on the bus and ride around for fun, watching people darting through the rain, jumping over puddles and hustling inside.

Pop into World Famous Powell's Books and browse through acres and acres of glorious books. Buy a few cute postcards and some great father's day cards. (Why are cards for men so impossible to find?) Grab a cheap slice of vegan pizza and a side salad at Sizzle Pie.

 On the way back to your hotel, stop in at the Nite Hawk Cafe for happy hour. (Inside, it's a little divey, but isn't that amazing vintage neon sign worth the risk?) Order the potato skins and a Newcastle or two. Read Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk with Meand laugh out loud a few times to yourself, arousing bemused glances from your fellow patrons.

Head back to your home away from home via Airbnb. Stay with Heather in Arbor Lodge. Her house is clean, pretty inside, has wireless and is near the Max line. How else could you stay so comfortably in Portland for around $50 a night?

Visiting Eugene Oregon: Part III

Take your friend shopping. Nowhere fancy. T.J Maxx will do. She hasn't had the luxury of trying clothes on in a fitting room in years. (Toddler wrangling makes it tough.) Try on silly hats. Giggle a lot. Help her choose a stylish new fedora. Find a pair of swimsuits perfect for her post baby body. (And a cool one for yourself too!) Later, lie out in the sun in the backyard in those perfect new swimsuits and read for an hour or two while the babies sleep. 

 Finish your stop in Eugene with a visit to the excellent Morning Glory Cafe which has a splendid menu of vegetarian and vegan fare.

Admire the oil cloth upholstered booths, the light fixtures made from upcycled salad bowls, the amazing bakery case stocked with a selection of vegan baked goods studded with pumpkin seeds, quinoa, glazed with icing and apricots all shining like jewels. Check out the wait staff too. Dread locks, turbans and hemp never looked so cool. You will be impressed with the extraordinary quality and flavor of the locally sourced food and I promise, you won't even think about missing the meat.

Get up close and personal with the textile artwork of Mari Livie, a talented and passionate Eugene artist. Marvel at the intricate detail and warmth she pours into each hand stitched canvas. Make a mental note to arrange a studio tour with her on your next visit.

Then, grab your suitcase and stroll across the street to the train depot. It seems unchanged by time- inside is all wood floors and glowing oak pews that call up Grand Central Station on a tiny scale. The train will take you to Portland... eventually. 

Don't count on Amtrak to be on time, the journey from Eugene to Portland is just one hour by car, but took me about three via train. Enjoy the journey anyway. You aren't in a hurry, after all. 

Watch the fields roll by, they are green and lush with the first days of summer. Spot clumps of grazing cows, and a field full of freshly shorn sheep resting in the grass. See people sitting on the steps of their trailers, having a smoke. There are so many tiny, ramshackle towns in this giant country of ours. Pass over meandering streams. Get there when you get there, and be thankful of the ride. 

Visiting Eugene, Oregon: A Rough Itinerary Part II

Go to the park with your friend and her babies. This is a nice one. Watch the kids in swimsuits playing in the water on a chilly, overcast day while the grown ups looking after them are bundled in sweatshirts and scarves and marvel at the magical power of a water fountain.

Amble down a side street and admire people's gardens. Consider planting your lawn all in poppies and giving up mowing forever.

Pick a colander full of strawberries from Sarah's marvelous garden. Eat as many as you put in the bowl. Lie in the sunshine in the grass.

Watch your dear friend sharing her love of life with her baby girl.

Rock baby Charlie to sleep. Smell his little baby smell and feel his heavy little head on your arm. Fall crazy in love with him.  

Then take Greg up on his offer to babysit, hop in the car with Sarah and sneak off to Tuesday Boozeday at the Vintage. Have some delicious cocktails laced with homemade herbal and floral infused liqueurs. (They are lined up on the bar in a row of beautiful glass apothecary jars. Lovely.) Have a crepe stuffed with veggies and gooey cheese. Have another cocktail. Why not? They're half off on Tuesdays and you know you want to taste everything this world has to offer you. 

Visiting Eugene Oregon: A Rough Itinerary

My first trip on my summer adventure was Eugene, Oregon. My best friend Sarah has just had her second baby and I wanted to see more of her life. Eugene is a great place for people who love the outdoors. Her husband Greg is an avid cyclist and disc golfer, and their whole family loves to hike in the mountains and valleys of their adopted home. 

One of our first stops was Riverplay Discovery Park  where Norah enjoyed some playtime in the mud puddles. This gigantic park features an old fashioned Western town scaled to kid size, complete with a stagecoach. There is also a mini river and water mill that kept the kids busy as beavers damming things and then watching it all overflow. A giant jungle gym done up to look like an amazing fort in the forest is the topper.  The park is obviously a favorite with families in Eugene, though Sarah says she will enjoy it more when Norah is older. It's so huge (and popular!) it can be difficult to keep tabs on a toddler. 

We popped in for lunch at The Hideaway, a bakery tucked into a chalet style building on a corner and featuring a wood burning oven and some serious baked goods. 

I enjoyed a grilled ham and gruyere sandwich with a pop of mustard, a perfectly made latte and a molasses cookie. Sarah had the tempeh salad which was a glorious riot of colors full of shredded purple cabbage, carrots, mixed greens and all doused with a delicious cashew sauce.

One of Norah's friends came over for a princess dance party (Can you guess which Abba song was the favorite?) and a good look at baby Charlie.

Our evenings were pretty quiet once the kiddos were asleep. Most nights Sarah and I popped open a bottle of wine (or a bottle of port!) and sat talking well into the night. It's a special thing to see an old friend settling so contentedly into motherhood, marriage, life as an adult. I could tell by the quiet, calm way she manages her home and her two kids that she is enjoying each moment of watching them grow.

We did manage a few more highlights in Eugene, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you. Oregon was a great way to start off this trip.