THIS AND THAT In Downtown Portland

 It has been awhile since I wrote so it's time to catch up.  What's happening in Portland?  Well........., not much.  Stores are still boarded up, restaurants are serving food outdoors, lipstick sales are down (no need with a mask) and mostly our lives continue to be unstimulating .........

However, life goes on and it's up to us to make our own fun so Roger continues to spend a lot of time painting and he has been successful in hanging some paintings in a Cannon Beach gallery. This gives us an excuse to travel to the coast at least once a month.  The latest exhibit was the theme of "Haystack Rock" so he entered several versions of his high relief mixed media paintings and the gallery owner was very excited about them.  That exhibit is now over but Roger has been invited to bring them back with others for a new showing.

SO, what am I doing? Cooking, mostly so that includes grocery shopping in four stores (because each has something unique), cooking, reading and enjoying lunch with my "uber elderly" lady friends.  (That is the new description for those of us over age 80).

My friend, Allison, and I have season tickets at Triangle Theater and the first show will be September 19th.  Proof of vaccination and masks are required and we're confident that we'll be safe because we are both vaccinated and we're very careful how we interact with others.  It's our first step towards "normalcy".

Another birthday just passed for me so age is slowly creeping into the 80s but, my brain still convinces me that I can still "do anything" so I give it my best.

My granddaughter welcomed a baby girl in April and my step-granddaughter just had a baby girl in August so we're thrilled to welcome two adorable little ones into the family.  

Life is good.................

CHANGING DOWNTOWN PORTLAND RESTAURANT SCENE

 

After finishing our reflexology session, Ann and I took the streetcar towards the center of town where we decided to find a place for lunch.  We were surprised to see that entire city blocks are now barricaded to make room for people to stroll and for restaurants to place tables on the street. 

Some streets allow one lane for vehicles but others are completely closed.  As we walked towards the corner where Jake's Crawfish, Zeus, Lardo, and Cheryl's are located, we found a couple of other new tiny cafes (one featuring a plant based menu).  It was like a giant party.  Even on a weekday afternoon, people were everywhere enjoying good food and beautiful weather

 

We chose Chery's for lunch.  They have an extensive outdoor dining area, as well as indoor facilities.  Ann had fish tacos and I ordered chicken fajitas.  My lunch was served in TWO huge plates so it was quite a challenge to figure out where to start.  Check them out on your next visit to downtown......................

Downtown Portland Sole2Sole Reflexology & Massage

Once a month Ann and I take the streetcar to Sole2Sole Reflexology for an intensive foot massage (reflexology).  This form of massage supports rejuvenation and wellness.  They are easy to find - just take the NW 23rd streetcar that takes you to within a half block from the spa.

You can find them at: sole2solereflexology.com

Today my friend, Ann, and I took MAX downtown to the Apple Store where we both went shopping for new Apple Watch bands.  It was so nice to see the store filled with employees and customers - lots of energy and activity.

Difficult to see, however, was the ultra strong fencing with concrete barricades that still surround the solid glass building.

Right now only on-line classes are being offered but we're told that "in-person" classes will be starting soon.  We always love the classes that are offered for all of our Apple products and it's a perfect excuse to walk a few more blocks to have lunch at "Q".

The Oregon Coast can revitalize our body and soul ...................

 Our time at the Oregon Coast has come to an end and I want to share a moment of serendipity that we experienced on our drive back to Portland. 

 Roger noticed a unique number on our odometer that we choose to believe is a portent of good fortune ahead.

Lincoln City ARTISAN POTTERY AND BLOWN GLASS

 Close to Salishan there is a narrow road that leads to two hidden places where you can watch glass being blown and shaped and then go to a small shop that is filled with hand thrown pottery made by local artisans.

The glass shop is ALDER HOUSE GLASS BLOWERS that is guarded by a huge Bull Mastiff and his smaller bulldog companion (I'm sorry that I didn't get a photo).  Watching glass turning into functional pieces, such as a drinking mug, gave us a new appreciation of the time and talent needed to create these beautiful glass creations.

Our next stop was MOSSY CREEK POTTERY where at least twenty individual pottery artisans show their pottery - everything from small ornamental items to huge bowls and dinnerware and accessories.  Each artisan has a unique style and there are many temptations.

ESCAPING THE PORTLAND HEAT

 Sometimes fate steps in and good things happen.  That was our personal experience when we drove out of Portland (112 degrees) Sunday to spend three nights at Salishan on the Oregon Coast.  Monday in Portland was 116 and Tuesday 114, while on the coast the temperatures topped off around 67 degrees. 

 We had the reservations since last year December so it was truly serendipity
.

Our room had a lovely view of Siletz Bay in the foreground and the ocean far off in the distance.

MAX - Streetcar - Screen Door for Brunch - Powell's Books ...........PERFECT

It's Thursday in Portland.  I ran out of reading material so - only one thing that I can do.......

Go to Powell's Books Store and, while there, walk over to SCREEN DOOR for Brunch.

To get there, I started out on MAX, transferred to the Streetcar and disembarked on Couch where all of the Pearl District action is.

I probably overdid my book purchasing - - are six new books too much?  ah, no..........

As I walked home I couldn't resist stopping at one my favorite Downtown Portland fountains - this is the LoveJoy Fountain in the urban downtown Halprin Sequence (look it up in Google - a fascinating piece of Portland history)

TODAY IS GREAT GRANDFATHER'S DAY AT THE HATEFIS.................

Father's Day is always a special occasion but, today for Roger it was even more special because he is celebrating three generations as being a father and patriarch.

We celebrated it at a brunch at Portland's Chart House in the beautiful tree lined hills right outside Downtown Portland.  Traveling up to the restaurant feels like we're at a high elevation with the lush trees and greenery, reminiscent of our drives on the way to the Oregon Coast.

We enjoyed a beautiful view, delicious food and conversation about his memories of when his children were born and stories about their childhood.  Truly a lovely day's tribute to a great dad.

 

It's PIZZA TIME at Portland's Old Town Brewery

 It's 84 sunny degrees in Portland today so people are outside soaking up sunshine and celebrating life.  What's the first thing that comes to my mind?  

Well........... pizza, of course.  

Allison is my pizza buddy so she eagerly accepted my invitation to take a drive to Old Town Brewery on MLK.  It's a much longer drive than when we go to Old Town Pizza (same owners) on Davis St in the Pearl but that location still remains closed because of the homeless situation and ongoing downtown protests that seem to crop up on most weekends.

Our favorite order is spinach salad and a small house special.  We each order our own so we are guaranteed at least three more lunches.

Portland Restaurants Are ALIVE, Again

 Portland's Pearl District has a new restaurant and it's jumping!  "SCREEN DOOR" is now at the second location and it's an old fashioned Southern style cuisine.  The location is kitty-corner from Powell's Books and also Whole Foods Market so, for me, it's a perfect "one-stop-shop" opportunity.  The restaurant is so busy I got there early (9:30 a.m.) and I was one of the last to get a table.  By the time that I left at 10:30 there had to be at least 30 people waiting.

Seating is both indoors and outdoors.  The kitchen is a semi-open concept and it's easy to see that meals are being made from scratch.

I started with a fresh fruit plate that had pitted cherries, grapes, grapefruit, apple, pineapple and oranges - a unique and beautiful combination.

I've never been in a restaurant that serves chicken and waffles so I had to try it.  The portion was huge and I just knew that I couldn't eat it all...................... but .............., I couldn't stop.  The waffles are made with sweet potatoes and the chicken simply can't be described, other than lots of pepper and salt and a super crunchy crust that is addictive.

Eating here is worth a trip to Portland!

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT PORTLAND'S CHART HOUSE

On Sunday, it just seems required that we should seek out a restaurant to enjoy a leisurely Brunch experience and Portland has the perfect place.........

The Chart House is located on a hillside on a tree filled curvy road near downtown.  When you get there, you feel like you're in the middle of a primitive Northwest forest, filled with vibrant greenery every place you look, and miles from civilization, but -- in reality, we're just a few miles from downtown.

Inside, we're greeted with happy faces, led to linen covered tables, and presented with a view that encompasses all the way from Mt Hood to Mt St Helens.  It's a panorama of beauty.

Today, my friend, Rae and I enjoyed an early breakfast and we've decided to make this a bi-monthly occasion.

Another reason to live in Portland...........

CHEERS, FRIENDS...............

 

THE GIRLS VISIT AFTER 18 MONTHS - IT'S PARTY TIME............

Last weekend "The Girls" (my daughter Lori and her wife Pam) finally were able to visit Portland.  Three days of laughter, hugs, kisses, good food and drink and some "down time", just listening to music and reading on the balcony.  They brought California weather with them so it was warmer than usual here in Portland - mostly in the high 80 degrees.

We're already planning for Thanksgiving time this year as we have lots of catch-up to do.

Life is good....................

 

OUT OF HIBERNATION................

 

It's time to talk about Portland.  I'm writing this on a semi-sunny day after taking a walk through my favorite city.  

Downtown has been badly scared by the many protests and riots throughout the past year or more.  Just about the time we think things have calmed down, someone comes up with a new protest.

This blog website has changed since I last used it so now I have some new skills that I need to develop. (I'm not sure why my words are "centered") - - oh, well............ 

The "Station Closed" exemplifies the condition of transportation in downtown.  MAX and the streetcars operate with longer wait times with very few riders.  Businesses are still boarded up but artists have tried to add some color to a bleak palette.  Probably the most sad building is the Apple Store that now has two chain link fences with concrete barriers.  The reasons are obvious ---- the entire building is GLASS.  I'm hoping to live long enough to return for the classes that energized me and provided an opportunity to stay at least a little in tune with new technology.

People are still wearing masks outdoors, even though it isn't required, and it's surprising to see the fearful looks on their faces when they see people maskless.  

Roger and I have been vaccinated for several months so we're grateful for avoiding the virus and we're gleeful to be out enjoying life.

I'll soon be writing about my favorite lunch restaurant, "Q" (no, not the Republican one), Mucca, my favorite dinner restaurant, and my new "find", Screen Door.  We old ladies are getting out-and-about (four of us in the 80+ club) and greatly enjoying our activities.

More later..............................