McPhersons, I Love You.

One of my best friends tied the knot this last weekend with one of my other dear friends. I can't wait to share more photos because it was a phenomenal and beautiful celebration. Everyone danced, we wrapped our arms around each others shoulders to sway and sing Bohemian Rhapsody, we congo lined behind the brides grandmother trying to escape with a walker, we drank too much, I took a Tide Pen to Isaacs shirt three different times when people decided to douse him with red wine, we cried, we shoved the 11 person bridal party into a raft, we laughed, we had on going starring contests, we kick danced, we loved. It was definitely one of the best nights of my life.

Thanks for getting married. Have fun in Maui, my darlings.

top photo: tara kreutz

Shipyard Boots

These Off Shore Boots were inspired by the boots workers wore at the San Francisco Naval Bay Shipyard in the 1960's. They are light weight, waterproof, and keep your feet warm when it's cold. Perfect if you live in a rainy city. I ordered a pair for my man's birthday and will definitely post pictures and my real life review. 

Pendleton Pot Holders

At Alder & Co. here in Portland they have these awesome Pendleton Pot Holders (yes I am posting about Pendleton again) made out of recycled Pendleton blankets. Who recycles their Pendleton blankets, I wonder? 

I don't have very stylish pot holders in my kitchen. I think they are all from Swiss souvenir shops my grandma brings me back each Christmas. Sweet, and I am not ungrateful for those pot holders that have protected my hands all these years of forgetting things in the oven...but I think that adding some cute Pendleton ones to the mix is a good plan.

via: remodelista 

Keep It Local: Feast

Do you have plans September 21st and 22nd?? If not, Feast Portland is happening in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Do you like to eat? Do you like your state? Do you feel indifferent to great about attending festivals?? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you should check Feast out. If you hate food, Oregon, and festivals...then you're a freak. Oh also, the mission of the festival is to end childhood hunger in Oregon and the rest of the country. Another excellent reason to stop by.

"Oregon's soil produces amazing fruits and vegetables. Our vineyards grow grapes that make award-winning wines. Our hops are the reason Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world. Our ocean provides sustainably caught salmon, Dungeness crab and tuna. And our beef, pork and chicken are organic and raised to the highest standards. We grow much of the country's hazelnuts, marionberries and green beans. And our forests are home to so many exotic mushrooms the Japanese have us on speed dial. Best of all, we have marvelous chefs who know what to do with all this abundance. So we decided it's high time we had our own world-class celebration of food, drink and everything else that makes Portland awesome. We're calling it Feast Portland."

image and video via: Feast 

Keep It Local: Swifts

Tonight we are going to see watch the swifts. "What are the swifts," you ask? They are birds. Obviously.

In NW Portland there is an old elementary school with a tall and circular chimney where the migrating swifts hunker down each night. It's really spectacular to watch them come in as the sun sets. Thousands or birds swirl around the sky in a hypnotic and beautiful way. In addition, a bird of prey always swoops in to turn one of the tiny birds into dinner. It's sad, but I guess they have to eat too. It's fun to listen to the crowds response to the hunt.

The hillside around the school is packed with families who want to catch the show; but don't worry, it usually last most of September, so there is plenty of time for everyone to check it out. Bring a picnic and blanket to lay on and enjoy natures show.

photo via

Local Designer

Oregon State fashion design graduate, Amanda Grisham, created a line out of Pendelton textiles. Are these bad ass or what?! Besides the fact that these dresses are awesome and unique, she has the same great name as me, she is a fellow OSU alumni, and she created a collection out of a local (Oregon) companies fabric. Thanks for entertaining my eyes and being a cool Oregonian, Amanda.

photo: portland monthly

Keep It Local - Leather Lifting Strap

Although biking is awesome and living in the city is usually pretty awesome too, carrying a bike up the stairs to an apartment is not awesome. It's weird, especially for small people like myself. Luckily, I have an elevator and a bike room - but for those thousands of city dwellers that do not - here is a great tool for you. If you would rather not get grease all over your best threads, get a Bicycle Frame Handle from Walnut Studiolo. I have written about Geoffrey and Valerie Franklin in the past - and have even bought some of their great leather bike accessories. I have not been disappointed. This 7.5" strap of leather, also called the "Little Lifter," connects to the frame via adjustable buckles, above the derailleur, making the bike easy to lift and carry.

The Frame Handle lowers the bike's center of gravity, reducing strain on the elbow and making it easier to control the bike as you head into the subway or up the stairs in your ancient apartment building. (That is probably full of character.) The handles are made in....wait for it....Portland! With leather from the USA.

photos: walnut studiolo

Plywerk

I have been looking for a place to print some of my work on canvas and then I stumbled across PLYWERK. They are kind of awesome. Instead of canvas, they print on wood. It's an eco-friendly option and made right here in Portland, OR. PLYWERK blank panels are made from sustainably harvested wood and you have the option of mounting your images with or without adhesive. Cool right?

photo: Oh Snap!

design crush

Clever Cycle

If you are looking for a bicycle shop devoted exclusively to bicycling as a primary mode of transportation, Clever Cycles is your place Portlanders. For families and businesses seeking to avoid dependence on cars with stylish, practical bikes stop by their shop on SE Hawthorne. Open since June 2007 they are striving to make Portland an even better place to live and work, breathe, slow down in, and ride in.

"We are not motivated by the rising costs of motoring, ecological guilt, or a body-sculpting regimen. Bicycling is not a sacrifice or a statement. We ride instead of drive because it is pleasurable and convenient, simply the best way to get around Portland."

So if you have seen the cool Dutch looking bicycle contraptions around town - you know, the ones that have little wagons on the front or the ones with little trailers attached to the back - chances are they are from Clever Cycles. They create bikes for family transport, cargo, and folding bikes that are all equipped for comfort, safety, and reliability. 

Or hey, if you get a Dutch Tub, you can haul that around!

photos: ecovelo

This Is Oregon

I love my state. We really live in a beautiful country, and Oregon is definitely the most magical. Sorry other states. This Is Oregon is a little film that was put together exploring places that are within 90 minutes of Portland, Oregon. If you have a couple minutes it's beautiful to watch. Around 2:30 in, you see my favorite place in the entire world. Adventure is closer than you think! Start exploring!

Keep It Local: Shwood

Have you heard of Shwood? Well, let me tell you about them whether you have or haven't. They make sunglasses out of wood, and they are based right here in Portland. Above is a great little film to show how they created their Pendleton sunglasses from start to finish. I of course fell deeply and irrationally in love with these glasses and must have them in my life.

Union Light

I am really into mid-century American style right now. This includes vintage flags as decor and really simple, post war design. This Union Pendant from School House Electric, a Portland company, is beautiful. Stripes are classic too - so this pendant has a lot going for it. 

via: school house electric

Forest Park Dinner Time Hike

Last night I went on a twilight hike with my Lucy. Okay, it wasn't exactly twilight... More like 6pm...Twilight hike just sounds nice.

Anyhoo. Forest park (the largest city park in USA) is full of wonderful and magical trails and that transport you to another world. The 5100 acres of forest is so dense and yet still within city limits. It was a short jaunt in the woods and a quick picnic-y dinner before we decided to escape a potential mosquito battle. You have to take advantage of nice days in Portland when they decide to appear.

I hope you have a nice weekend wherever you are my friends! Rain is expected here. That's okay. I do love the rain.

Keeping it Local: SE Belmont Food Carts

 

I went to the SE Belmont food cart pod a few weeks ago, and guess what? It was was great. Since it was a few weeks ago, and I am just writing about it now, I can't remember the names of the places I ate. However, there were yummy British style meat pies involved, and a pretty delicious falafel sandwich. The small boy pictured below seemed to enjoy the Mac n' Cheese with broccoli, and theold Iranian man didn't hate his ice cream cone. All in all, the food cart pod is a pretty great place to grab a bite to eat. You can try a few different things, people watch, have a 20 minute conversation with a small child, and end the evening with an ice cream cone.

 

  

photos: Brennan Aitken Gantz

FUN

Hi friends! Did you have a fun Memorial Day weekend? I had a wonderful, wonderful weekend. House painting, parties, breakfast with friends, dinner with friends, naps, sidewalk chalk, a few hours of work, jokes, games, crappy DJ's, laughter...

 
Tonight I am going to see the band FUN. play at the Roseland. Venue = not the coolest, but I just know that the show is going to be AWESOME. We had a small dance party to their songs in the living room last night to prepare for all the awesomeness of this evening.

Are you going to any fun (not FUN.) shows soon? I think my next scheduled concert is Grace Potter in July.

iPhones & Ice Cream

Attention. I have joined the rest of the world. I have an iPhone.
I knew having an iPhone would be awesome, but I didn't know it would be this awesome. It's so smart, it's like God created it.
It obviously doesn't take much to impress me.

Now... Do you see the photo of me being really into that ice cream cone? Well, it's from the new Salt & Straw location on NW 23rd. The original is up on Alberta, but they opened the one on 23rd a few weeks ago. Did you know that Oprah magazine rated Salt & Straws Olive Oil ice cream as number one in the USA? Yep. That happened.

Salt & Straw makes all of their ice cream and cones by hand at the shop - farm-to-cone ice cream is their motto. They use the best local, sustainable and organic ingredients Oregon has to offer, as well as imported flavors from small, handpicked farms and producers around the world.

Their ice cream is good and weird. I think that sums up Portland.

bottom photo: portland monthly

Keeping it Local: Jamison Square

 

We have had a fantastic week of sunshine in Portland. A place in my neighborhood I often frequent on warm days, is Jamison Square Park on NW Johnson and 12th. It's fun to watch the little kids play in the fountain, listen to musicians who show up to serenade the public, and catch a little sun. 

I would recommend bringing a towel or blanket if you want to sit on the grass though. In the early morning hours, people use the little grassy plot as a bathroom for their dogs, and then as the day goes on that same grass fills up with sprawled out families... Ew? Kinda. 

The fountain is fun for kids because the water rushes out of the rocks, creates a pool, and after a while sucks the water back in and does it all over again. You hear the squeals of excitement every time. From me of course. I love it.

 

At Jamison there is a cafe called Cloud Seven. I hate the name, but it's a great little cafe none the less. I mean, it's in the park.. They have lots of outdoor seating and good food.

The park is lovely at night too. People watching can be fantastic.

Keeping it Local: Ecoroofs Everywhere

Ecoroofs Everywhere designs, builds and maintains Ecoroof membranes, drainage systems, soils and plant species. Ecoroofs Everywhere began as a non-profit and installed many of the early green roofs in Portland. Each of the early installations involved experimenting with systems, materials and plants to determine the best solutions for Portland’s environment.

"Ecoroofs Everywhere collaborates with architects, landscape architects, engineers and contractors to create innovative storm-water solutions including Ecoroofs, Roof Gardens, Edible Roofs, Living Walls, Stormwater Walls and Green Veneers for residential and commercial buildings throughout the West Coast and beyond."

Why are living roofs awesome? Read about it here.

photos via: Ecoroofs Everywhere

Portland Bites - Yuki

 

Guys.. I keep forgetting what I have written about in the past and what I haven't. Oh, the trials and tribulations of blogging. There probably isn't anything worse in the world...

Do you go somewhere where everyone knows your name? For example, do you frequent a coffee shop and they have your drink made before you even get to the front of the line to pay? If not, come to the coffee shop I moonlight at we will know your crazy ass drink by heart almost instantly.
Back on track. Yuki is a sushi restaurant on NW 23rd, and this is my place where everyone knows my name. There is a reason for that, they have good food.

photo via

My View

 

This is my morning view from my balcony. I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time wanting things. Lately, one thing I want is a house and a little yard. Wanting things is exhausting. Instead of wanting, I think I will just appreciate what I have, which is a lot. A lovely view not excluded.