ZELL'S - Our FAVORITE Breakfast / Lunch Place in Portland

Today is a Zells day - cold and rainy - and we're ready for some comfort food.  If you've not been there, it's time for a great eating experience.  Located on Morrison, they are open from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. (and 'till 3 p.m. on weekends).

Service is always 5***** and the food is consistently delicious !

We're home now and my plan is to read in front of the fireplace and Roger, as usual, is working on a painting.

Perfect .......................

SNOW IN PORTLAND ...........

No snow yet but exactly one year ago on December 17, 2016, this was what it looked outside our west and east facing balconies.  We always get excited at the sign of snow but - so far we're having to settle with cold, dry, and sunny weather.

Allison's Birthday Celebration ------------

Tonight was a celebration to honor Allison's birthday.  We started out at Old Town Pizza and finished the evening with a theater production at Triangle Theater "An Act of God".

The Saturday before Christmas is a crazy celebration in Old Town called "Santa-Con" where people bar hop, all dressed like Santa.  These two gentlemen insisted in joining us for a photo.  As we drove home from the theater we encountered hundreds of Santas in the streets and many more waiting in line to get into the clubs.  Oh - to be young again......  OR, maybe next year we'll join the crowd in our own Santa outfits.

Day TEN and Counting ...........

The week after Thanksgiving, my body decided that I needed a "rest" so I developed a nasty chest cold and cough - and - it's still hanging on.  Now, poor Roger has come down with something similar so we're not much fun to be around right now.  My doctor says the cough could last as long as six weeks so we're both staying indoors and keeping warm.  Most of my homemade turkey broth has already found a use.  I want to share that using Mucinex DM really helps so I suggest you buy some and keep it on hand - 'cause I suspect that we'll all take a turn at this.

Below is Roger's latest painting.  It's his largest, measuring 4 feet square.  It's really impressive because he has used a modeling technique on the grasses at the bottom to add some high relief and heavy texture on the water.  He says "it's not quite done" but I couldn't resist sharing this with everyone.

EuroCuts PDX

eurocutspdx.com

Carla has been cutting my hair for several years so when she moved to a different salon, I followed close behind.  

Today was my first time at EuroCuts-PDX and it is a delightful salon. It's only a few blocks from the Orange/Green/Yellow MAX line so I can hop on the train at home and get there quickly and easily without having to stress over finding a parking place.  

Carla is especially talented in cutting curly hair so this is my favorite "go to place"

230 SW Jefferson St
503.776.0577

Ringside Fish House HAPPY HOUR

On the girl's last day in Portland we went to the Regal Fox, downtown, to see the movie "Lady Bird".  It's a great movie for parents and young people of college and high school age.  For me........... sorry, but it was predictable and boring except for the numerous sites from Sacramento throughout the movie - the "Fabulous 40s", the I Street Bridge - downtown scenes - Sacramento River - Sacramento airport - Tower Theater and many more places.

After the movie we walked next door to Ringside Fish House for Happy Hour.  Our timing was perfect.  When we got there at 4:30 we had our choice of a table.  By 5:30 the place was packed with lots of energy and happy people eating some fabulous evening snacks with their cocktails and drinks.

I suspect that we pretty much ordered one of every menu item and everything was delicious.  The service and ambiance were perfect.  Don't miss this Happy Hour if you are in Portland.  It starts at 3 p.m. and runs to about 6 p.m.  (check the website for their hours).  You can also order a lunch sized meal from the lounge menu if you're not up to a large formal dinner in the dining room.

Here I'm pictured with our last order for the evening.  The restaurant is known for their delicious and huge onion rings and........... yes, they were fabulous!

Thanksgiving In Portland Oregon

Lori and Pam are visiting from Sacramento.  They flew to Portland on Thanksgiving Day and it has been party time ever since.  Their stay is very special this year because my friend, Ann, needs a cat sitter while she travels so the girls are staying in her condo on the 17th floor of Lincoln Tower, taking care of Emmy and enjoying the beautiful views from three balconies.

This morning is going to be our traditional waffle breakfast, then shopping in Multnomah Village, followed by dinner at Hubers.

GREAT MOVIE - Murder on the Orient Express

This movie is a wonderful adventure with excellent acting, beautiful cinematography and, of course, a great story written by Agatha Christie.  You will fall in love with "Hercule Poirot" and the rest of the characters.  Even if you know the story plot, you'll find this movie to be rewarding.  I am certain that you'll love it !!!

Q Restaurant Revisited

Today was girl's day with lunch at Q Restaurant with my friend, Rae.  We both highly recommend this fantastic place for ultra sophisticated dining.  We sat at the Chef's Counter so we were able to watch the hectic pace of the kitchen.  Deciding that this would be the major meal for the day, we both ordered Fish Stew and followed this with Stumptown coffee, cookies and chocolate dipped peanut brittle.  The location of the restaurant enables us to take the train directly from our condo to within one block of Q so it's a perfect and easy getaway.

Portland Handweavers Guild & Judee Moonbeam

My friend, Judee, is a fabric artist who makes original fabric accessories - small purses, pouches, shopping bags, vests, scarfs and clothing.  Basically, anything that can be made from fabric can be found in her studio.

Today she sent an invitation to a Fall Fiber Show and Sale at Multnomah Art Center so this afternoon I went to check it out.  It was a wonderful experience to meet so many artisans and see the beautiful items that can be hand woven. I bought a gorgeous hand woven scarf and a wool cap for Roger's cold little bald head.

As soon as I finish my current needlepoint, Judee is going to make me two huge pillows for our bed.  They'll definitely be a work of art so I'm excited that she has agreed to sew them.

A Rainy Day at the Portland FARMER'S MARKET

 

Today it was a joy strolling around the market and choosing beautiful Fall produce in the rain.  As I was walking through, I was already mentally preparing my Thanksgiving menu and shopping items for next Saturday - celery, cipollini onions, shiitakes, squash, Brussel sprouts - and so much more.  The number at our dinner is still to be determined but I'm preparing food for twelve (and there's room for more).  We are looking forward to a special Thanksgiving with family from both the Hatefi and the Friedli family, plus friends.

Then, after Thanksgiving day, it's "girl time" with Lori and Pam.  We always manage to have great fun - lots of wonderful food, here, and in fabulous restaurants, shopping, reading, lounging - some wine and "breakfast beverages" and so on .........................

Let the party begin .....................

Q RESTAURANT in Portland ...........

Ann and I enjoyed a dining experience today at lunch that was our very best - ever. Q Restaurant is the offshoot of VQ (Veritable Quandry) that had to close because the city took away their lease.  The good news is that "Q" is just as good and, likely even better, than its predecessor.. Today Ann ordered the blackened catfish and I had the fish stew.  Both were exceptionally prepared and we enjoyed  dining at the Chef's Counter where we watched the food preparation.

We're already talking about our next visit. For those In Portland, "Q" is on 2nd Avenue near Yamhill and you can get close to there by MAX.

This is a winner..........  This place is FIRST CLASS all the way.

New APPLE "stuff"

My son, Michael, surprised me with the gift of an iPad so we had fun setting it up and visiting the Apple Store, downtown, to learn how to load the photos that are on my desktop Mac.  Spending time with him is always a learning experience that helps me stay (almost) caught up with technology.

While working with my photos, I found one that I have always loved - not just because Zoey and Mike look adorable but for - the DOG...............  Isn't he precious?

PEARL BAKERY in Portland

l always love an early morning drive to the Pearl Bakery where I find delicious breakfast pastries and breads.  We've been enjoying a visit with my son, Mike, and his wife, Teresa so it was an opportunity to try out a sampling of pastries and pick up some walnut levain that makes great French toast.  For those in Portland, the bakery is located on the corner of Couch and 9th Avenue.

MARRIED - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GENTILES ........

LOVE IS WONDERFUL THE SECOND TIME AROUND and we were pleasantly surprised to learn that my lovely niece, KIM, and her new love, Greg, got married this week.  Today we enjoyed brunch and a walk down memory lane - as well as talking about the unlimited possibilities of their future together.  CONGRATULATIONS !!

No one is more adorable than ZOEY ...........

Nothing is more precious in my life than this beautiful and charming little great-granddaughter, Zoey, and her lovely mother, Ashley.

Fall Color At the Portland River Front

Lovely warm weather, beautiful fall colors, golden leaves blowing in the wind - PERFECT !

Girl's Day at CHART HOUSE in Portland

Chart House in the Portland West Hills is our favorite place for lunch because of the fabulous view AND the delicious food.  Carolyn Hatefi is visiting from Springfield so today was girl's day with shopping in Multnomah Village and then lunch.  The view that you see here is about one quarter of the actual view that runs past Mt Hood to Mt. St Helens.

To make the day even more enjoyable, it was sunny and 70 degrees so Portland is celebrating a beautiful Fall season.

Going to the BIRDS in Portland

We miss having a little critter to take care of since Bella left us but we aren't ready to be tied down with a dog or cat so last week we took a drive to Beaverton where there is a great shop that provides absolutely everything a person needs to care for birds.  Below is a sample of the popularity of one of the bird feeders on our back balcony.  We have two for small birds and one for hummingbirds so there's non-stop activity.

The hummingbirds come one at a time but the small birds come in flocks so it's not unusual to have 30 to 50 at one time.

OREGON GARDEN RESORT

One of our favorite Fall get-a-ways is a night at the Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton, OR.  They run a room/dinner special (this year, only $109.00) which included dinner and breakfast for two plus a bottle of wine at dinner).

If you're not already on their mailing list, it's a great way to enjoy their comfortable and spacious facilities and also enjoy good food and a free trolly tour of the Oregon Gardens.  We had a great time !!

Moonstone Hotel Properties manages three resorts in California and two in Oregon and they are all beautiful.  To get on their mailing list, go to:  moonstone hotels.com

Roger's BIGGEST PAINTING (so far)

Roger is currently working on a painting that measures 4 feet by 4 feet.  His studio is rapidly getting "smaller" because of all the huge equipment that he needs.  I don't think that I've ever seen him happier.  Maybe "big" will be his new thing...........

An Apache Prayer

My daughter-in-law, Helia, recently traveled to Arizona and, while there, she found this beautiful Apache prayer that I would like to share with you:


"May the sun bring you new energy by day,

May the moon softly restore you be night.

May the rain wash away your worries,

May the breeze blow new strength into your being.

May you walk through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life."

"FUN HOME" PORTLAND CENTER STAGE

It's another beautiful day in Portland - 85 degrees with a Fall breeze.  Today I went to the Thursday matinee at Portland Center Stage to see the musical play "Fun Home" and it was a rewarding experience.  I chose a front row seat so sitting there makes me feel like I'm part of the story.  The singers, actors, and orchestra were all exceptional so I high recommend it.  It will be in Portland until October 22nd.


The nice thing about a noon matinee is that there's time for a leisurely lunch afterwards.  Today I walked to Jake's Crawfish where I had my usual - liver with bacon and onions.  Yes, I know that most of you reading this will say "uggghh" but I truly love this and it's a dish I no longer cook at home.

After lunch at Jake's it was only a two block walk to Blue Star Donuts so I yielded to temptation to get a couple of Meyer Lemon donuts.  Most people love VooDoo donuts but Blue Star is a gourmet version of a donut and they are quite addictive even though they cost more than twice as those from VooDoo.

Using the MAX and streetcar for transportation made this a perfect way to spend a beautiful Portland afternoon.

LUCE, Portland & TRIANGLE THEATER

Allison and I have season tickets to the Triangle Theater so we always love having an early dinner and then going to see the latest play.

Last night we started at Luce on Burnside.  

luceportland.com

We love it for two reasons; first it's close to the theater and secondly, their food reminds us small cafes in Italy where everything is cooked fresh and the pasta is "king".  We shared a plate full of antipasti and Allison ordered the tagliatelle with beef and pork ragu and I had my usual which is spaghetti with garlic and hot pepper oil with fresh clams.  If you're in Portland, please check them out = the food is exceptional !

The play was "Hand to God" which was nominated for 5 Tony Awards in 2015.  It is advertised as a Dark Comedy and we both agree that it wasn't out favorite production.  The good thing about live theater is that we are exposed to different ideas and we always leave with lots to discuss.

Feeding HUMMINGBIRDS

 We have a large colony of hummingbirds around the condo so when I did some shopping at the Portland's Saturday Market, I found a vendor who makes and sells custom hummingbird feeders.  This one is glass with red ladybugs on the bowl and beads and metal work.  There are several shops where you can buy feeders, bird houses and bird seed feeders and they are all creative and unusual.  (Take the red or blue MAX to the Skidmore train station because parking is near impossible.  Voodoo Donut is also within close walking distance).

Roger has been "down and out" with gout that has lasted for ten days (it's finally starting to get better) so I thought he'd enjoy watching the birds while he's sitting with his foot on a stool with an ice pack (poor baby.......).  

It has been a joy watching the birds come for food.  There are several who finally worked up the courage to get a drink and I see more sitting in a nearby tree, just watching.  This is only the third day so we're looking forward to eventually being able to get some photographs when they realize that we won't harm them.

Old Town Pizza - Downtown Portland

Pizza is a rare event in our house because Roger is on a very restricted diet.  Basically, he eats extremely healthy (and I don't) so last night was my opportunity to indulge.  If you're anywhere near Davis and 2nd Avenue in Portland, this is a "must stop".  They have hand crafted beer on tap and their pizza is delicious.

There's even some history in the building that was built in the late 1800s with tunnels underneath that once went out to the river to load cargo during low tide.  If you go on an Old Town Tour, you'll learn that such places are "haunted" and that sailors were known to be Shanghaied unto a cargo vessel.  The story they tell is that the men who got stinky drunk would be carried through the tunnels to the ship and when they woke up they found themselves on a cargo ship for six months.  Most of the tunnels are now sealed off but you can still see one in the basement of Old Town Pizza.

MARCO'S CAFE in Multnomah Village

Today , on my way to Costco, I stopped at my favorite lunch diner in Multnomah Village for lunch before I completed my shopping.  

Pictured here is a half bacon/lettuce/tomato/avocado/Swiss cheese sandwich on toasted hazelnut bread.  The onion rings are made fresh and all of their food is wonderful.  They give many choices for sides such as fries, cold slaw, & potato salad.  Their salads are creative, huge and delicious!

www.marcoscafe.com/history

Multnomah is a small village a few miles from downtown Portland.  Their downtown area has some lovely shops; a custom linen shop that offers hand woven table linens, a cute shop with gift items, a small book store, wine tasting, a small art gallery, lots of cafes and other interesting shops.  My absolute favorite is a clothing and shoe store "SWITCH" so my next trip to the village will be for shopping ..............

MOTHER'S Restaurant in Portland Oregon

If you travel to Portland you MUST have a meal at "Mother's" on Oak and 2nd Avenue.  My favorite is brunch so today I started with the best bloody Mary, ever, and followed with a half order of eggs Benedict.  Singles can sit at the bar and, frankly, that's where it's the most fun.  (Dear Roger has gout so I had to leave him home with an ice pack, the TV remote, water and snacks). The red and blue MAX trains will take you within one block of the restaurant (take the Oak station to leave the train).

On Saturday's and Sundays, the craft market is open at River Front and it's only a three block walk from Mother's.  Today I had a mission to get some things for our back balcony to entice birds during the winter.  I found a really cute hand made hummingbird feeder and a hanging vase for flowers.  Now all we need is a bird feeder that will hold suet or seeds.  Hummingbirds are everywhere so we're excited to give them some food and to enjoy watching them.

UMBRELLA MAN at Portland Pioneer Square

It's Sunday so I decided to celebrate the mid 70s degree sunny weather by hopping on the Orange MAX train to Pioneer Square where I changed trains to go to Mother's for brunch.

While I waited I took the opportunity to check out the popular sculpture "Umbrella Man" who has been at the Pioneer Square since the 1980s.  He keeps getting some cosmetic improvements to keep him looking sharp so today he was at his best since he had a recent update.  The sculpture is so realistic, I'm certain that some people think that he's a real person.  His clothing and umbrella look like the "real thing".  I had to wait awhile to get a photo because there's usually a line of tourists who are taking selfies and group photos with him.

A love affair with POWELL'S BOOKS in Portland

When we entertain house guests, their first request is generally "When can we go to Powell's Books?"  You'll have to experience it to understand the magnetic draw it has on residents and visitors, alike.

For me, it's like having the world open at my feet because by reading, I constantly build on my knowledge of cultures, travel, history, politics and social issues.

For those who are visiting in Portland, the easiest way to visit Powell's is by taking the streetcar that goes to the Pearl District.  Take the Couch exit from the streetcar and walk across the street.  Then you'll understand why we all love this unique experience.

MULTNOMAH FALLS BEFORE - AND TODAY

I FOUND THIS PHOTO ON "LIVEONK2" by news reporter, Catherine Van AND WE'RE RELIEVED TO SEE THAT THE FALLS IS STILL "FALLING" AND THE BRIDGE AND LODGE ARE INTACT.  THE FIREFIGHTERS STAYED HERE THE ENTIRE TIME TO ENSURE THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA WOULDN'T BE DAMAGED MORE THAN NECESSARY.  WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL.

The fire, unfortunately, is still not controlled but we are hoping for the best.

HORSETAIL FALLS Area Completely Burned Out

Yesterday we learned that the area surrounding Horsetail Falls and trails have burned.  The skies in Portland are gray with smoke and the air remains unhealthy to breathe.  

We're feeling a lot of sadness about the loss of trees and vegetation from the beautiful Columbia Gorge. The fire is moving towards Portland with the loss of more than 31,000 acres and several small communities throughout the gorge are being evacuated.  

The senseless fire was started by a 15 year old boy from Vancouver, WA.  He was accompanied by friends who giggled and videotaped the start of the fire and then just slowly walked away.

For up to date information, go to the Oregonian website at:


www.oregonlive.com/news/

Devastating Fires at Multnomah Falls

The photo shown here is from KATU-TV
The one below was posted by Jason Nguyen from KATU News



As I write this, the Multnomah Falls and the Lodge are still in serious danger.  The news reporters tell us that the fire has already burned both above and below the falls.  As of last night about 4,800 acres have been affected and the fire has now jumped over the Columbia River to the Washington side.

Here in downtown Portland, the air is thick with smoke and ash is falling from the smokey air.  It's unhealthy to be outdoors and to add to the problem, the high temperature today will be close to 100 degrees.

What makes this even sadder is that the fire is "man-made" by several teens who decided that it would be great fun to light and throw firecrackers into the forest and down a ravine.  Luckily a woman witnessed their actions and she quickly ran back on the trail to warn other hikers and to notify the fire department.

Wild Salmon with cherry tomatoes & capers

Today I'm sharing a simple recipe for either fresh salmon or steelhead.  Heat olive oil in a pan, season the salmon to your taste and sautée on the top side for about six minutes, then turn it.  The fish should cook at temperatures of your preference - medium rare at 135 to 165 degrees for flaky and well done.

While the fish is cooking, slice an assortment of cherry tomatoes, baby red onions and fresh basil.  Add to the pan and then put in about 1/4 cup of capers. If the pan seems a bit dry, drizzle in some dry sherry or white wine.  Add more seasoning to taste and it's ready to serve when the fish reaches the desired temperature.

Serve over rice or mashed potatoes for a delicious and healthy meal.

It's ALL ABOUT PEPPERS at the Portland Farmer's Market

Peppers are everywhere at the Portland Farmer's Market today; hot, sweet, and in between - all are delicious.

The man shown with the round cage is hand turning it over a gas flame.  The cage is about half full of an assortment of fresh peppers (a very hot job, especially today when it's forecast to be 96 degrees).  Once they are roasted, they are sold warm at the pepper stand.

It's worth navigating the huge crowds - so now, our refrigerator is filled with tomatoes, peppers, fresh basil, green beans and corn, all fresh from local farms.

CAFFE MINGO, Portland Birthday Lunch

www.caffemingonw.com

(503) 226-4646

Today Ann and Allison treated me to a special birthday lunch at Caffe Mingo on 21st Avenue in the NW District.  The restaurant has been in business for dinner for many years and, recently, they started serving lunch.  Their specialty is "simple Italian cooking" and the food is delicious and beautifully presented.

It has been awhile since we spent time together so it turned out to be a long and leisurely lunch while we got caught up with all of our news and activities.

PORTLAND PHOTO TOUR

Today I'm introducing Jennifer Costello who recently started offering photography classes in the Portland area.  She offers a variety of classes; both daytime and evenings.

Her goal is to separate us from the "Auto" mode and to take control of our cameras by using the manual settings on our DSLR.

The Portland Photo Tours are unique in-the-field photography learning experience with hands-on instruction from Jennifer.  She uses the streets and sights of beautiful Portland as her classroom.  Even better, after her classes, she encourages students to stay in touch, ask questions and get tips.

I'm looking forward to a class this Fall when the trees change color.

Check out her classes at:

www.portlandphototour.com