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

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

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.

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

Fig: A Short Guide to Hood River

 

I wrote a short guide to Hood River for Fig Studio. Check it out if you think you can handle it.

Snow!

 

It snowed in the city last night! I love the snow and wish we would get more of it downtown. It's fun to watch the city turn a little chaotic when the snow starts sticking. 

Shilo was having fun even though she looks possessed. 

Top photo - Matt Blanchards facebook. 

Keeping it Local - Winter Market

 

There is a new Winter Market happening Saturdays on SW Park and Salmon for all you Portlanders that miss the farmers market. Its running till the end of February from 10am-2pm and there are over 35 vendors. There are meats, fish, eggs, artisan breads, cheeses, wine, hot foods, sweets, and winter produce including leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, radishes and leeks, along with storage crops such as apples, pears, potatoes and onions.

The demand for locally grown food continues to rise and farmers are facing the challenge to provide food year round with a variety of season-extending techniques such as planting winter-hardy varietals and using row covers, cold frames, hoop houses and greenhouses to protect crops from the elements. 

I'm excited about it and can't wait to get down there next weekend. 

Keeping it Local: Bodyvox

 

Has anyone ever seen a BodyVox show? They are based here in Portland, a few blocks away form my building actually.. They are a modern dance company and since I have free time again, I am starting dance classes there next Monday! I can't wait.

Keeping It Local: Edith Green

The homely, humongous federal building in downtown Portland is currently being transformed into an environmental showpiece and is Oregon's single biggest federal stimulus project. Portland based SERA Architects has taken on the massive job. It is an opportunity to showcase how an existing building can be turned into a high-performance green building.

 

Before.

 

After.

The green on the outside of the building on Southwest Third and Jefferson, is a vertical garden. 250 vertical feet of garden. The plants will grow on ‘fins’ that are set at acute angles and will grow much like plants in a garden climb trellises. 

The idea is that lush foliage will grow during the spring and summer, and will shade the building’s west facade enough to reduce energy bills. In the colder months, the plants will naturally drop their foliage and sunlight can once again penetrate the building to provide warmth. 

For more on what is transforming this into the greenest government building around, click the links below. 

Portland leads the nation in green living and building. With our avid recycling, curbside composting, bicycle commuting, re-purposing, public transit, buy local, organic, solar operated sidewalk trash and recycling cans, farmers market abundant little world. I think it's great the this government project is happening here.

GSA

More Info

Keeping It Local: Grimm

 

Have you seen Grimm?? Do you know it's filmed in Portland? If you are from LA you may not find this at all exciting, but for us Oregonians, it's pretty neat. It's so fun to recognize almost everything you see on the show. My roommate may be annoyed by me shouting out every intersection and business that comes across the screen, but I like to think she finds it endearing.

Anyways. Grimm is a great new show, regardless of the the fact that it's filmed in my city. It's about a homicide detective who learns that he is a descendant of the Grimms, and is destined to keep humanity safe from the supernatural creatures of the world. 

It does explain why we have so many weirdos here, not everyone wandering the streets is human.. ;)

Keeping It Local

I have an announcement! Tuesday's will now officially be called Keep it Local Tuesday. Portland is bursting with creativity, craftsmanship, and design, so I will focus on my fantastic little city every Tuesday. Get excited.

To kick things off I would like to share a post from Design Sponge last week about the Portland Bazaar. I am beyond excited! There will be clothing, accessories, home goods, books, live music, vintage wares, fine art, food and spirits. The vendor line up looks fantastic and what's better than Portland's food and beer scene? Not much, that's what.