from the ground up

Sharing the story of a newly built bar in Portland, Dig A Pony. Owned and operated by friends my age and made with love. With killer cornbread on the menu.

It's a great thing to be an age where the combination of time and resources allows you to build things from inception to final form. Bravo!

this is special

Taken at Zac's Shack in PDX.

chasing fall

My sister and I were laughing yesterday while pulling into Hilton Head, as it seems like I've chased fall clear across the country. The brilliant Pacific NW leaves were just starting to be demolished by winter's teeth as I flew out to Georgia where trees were in full bloom. As we drove further southeast and coastward, the leaves continued to be in full perfect glowing bloom.

I've recommitted to conquering my camera as of late. It's got so many settings and workings to consider. Thought I'd share a smattering of those less successful, though indicative of how crazy busy hazy poignant amazing this fall proved itself to be.

art from trash

Jenn Reilly, a Portland cutie friend of mine, is the mastermind and curator behind the RiPPle Effect. RiPPle is a pretty inspiring annual art exhibit that showcases art created from the efforts of a massive Clackamas River cleanup. Art from trash, por que no! Though I wasn't able to attend the cleanup, a kind soul dropped a rusty, creaky mattress boxspring off on my front doorstep and I went to work. Only to an artist in training would consider such a product a gift.

You couldn't touch the thing without getting covered in river gunk rust. Yes, we'll call it that.

Check out the progress that was to follow...

Among many of the evening's highlights, a girl named Sam, who bid on (and won!) the pair of earrings featured above, approached me at the end of the night to introduce herself. We hit it off and know some of the same people, including the kids from Sticks and Stones. AND, as if I could be swooned by her any further, she then offered her stunning self as a model in the future. I've always had an affinity for girls with the name Sam.... I'm totally going to take her up on it.

Cold in PDX

Record low temperatures for May 4th. Shall we take the time to reminisce on the early bites of Spring that were so unexpected? The week that the cherry blossoms seemed like if they kept blooming they would burst.

Street Art

Art fills the VOID!

Khao Man Gai's Food Cart on SW 10th and Stark - a taste to behold. The Taiwanese lady who started the cart was brilliant to focus on one simple meal; what they do best: chicken, rice, and soup. As you can read here, Khao means rice in Thai. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. And the sauce! Oh, the sauce.

A giant Dungeoness Crab swaying it's legs above the infamous Jake's Seafood. Although people knock on the food for not being to Portland quality standards, I had a lovely meal there once with momma, Hannah, and Clare - enjoyed the fish immensely. Should probably look into whether or not it's local Oregon fish. In my line of work, I could know these kinds of things...

I would define neighborhood agreements to be a definite form of street art. Although, I must criticize, this was taken at the Plaid Pantry and 28th and Burnside, mere blocks from my house, and nobody ever asked me...

Love this sign. Around the corner from my house, makes me giggle.

Foggiest, foggy night

2/14/2010

also, Happy Valentines Day to you.

3104 NE Glisan

We moved into this house in July, midst-heat-wave of 2009. 105 degrees outside and we are lugging in couches, paint-cans, and getting to work. Best part of the story? It has A/C. Thank goodness. It's situated in a cute neighborhood, between Laurelhurst and 28th/burnside area - close to coffee shops and restaurants galore, and the best freakin pizza I've had yet on this world. We walked over to Dove Vive just yesterday and ordered the butternut squash special. I have wanted another piece since.

Oh yeah, and it used to be a duplex, so there are two front doors. Both blue.

Point of the post is that I got a new camera recently, but since it's gray and cloudy outside, have mostly been messing around with it inside the casa. Let the hiberation continue strong, but sun, come back to us anything. We will be ready with dice, summer movie schedule, and cheap beer in hand. Oh, and pitchers of a yerba mate recipe that a friend shared with me last week. Will post a recipe if I'm successful when the time comes.





hannah sporting her new cap

125% Alex

Some people are so large.

Dear Portland...

At the next-door brewpub, the Laurelthirst, chalkboards squares have been painted on the bathroom walls (well, at least the ladies'), and are so politely scrubbed blank each morning. It gives extra incentive to poke your head in and see what delicate masterpieces are thought of as the night progresses.

Portland Visitor #43

PH, Alex's friend from NYC, wrote a travelogue about his time here.

Hopefully going into too much details means I didn't leave out anything crucial. We might forget the great oldies, but now we'll never forget the good times...

Sun 7/26
Number 4 to New Seasons; Sitting on the stoop with Mamie and Meg; Iced coffee and walk to the carts; Lightning Boggle; Alex fall #1, from futon.

Mon 7/27
Excruciating walk to bank, Stumptown, New Seasons; Trip with Dale and Marisa to coast: Cherries from produce store; Jerky from stand with yellow-jacket-squishing woman; Picnic at Short Sands beach in Oswald park; Alex joins team Tina on overlook; Brief stop at beach at Manzanita; Tillamook cheese factory and excessive ice cream consumption; Dramatic reading and analysis of The Dragon in the Ghetto Caper throughout; Bike ride to Glisan St. house; Drinks and food at Beulahland.

Tues 7/28
Brunch with Dale at Jam, served by Danby dude; Heat-induced indecisiveness and wandering; Iced tea and Boggle at Townshend's with Dale and later Jane; With Jane to the Rose Garden; Then dropped off for a walk through Hoyt Arboretum; Alex fall #2, in front of house; Off for a walk around neighborhood and bike ride on the Spingwater trail, while Alex was off to win frisbee championship with a big D; Bike ride to trivia night at lame place with Jane and fam.

Wed 7/29
A/C at Palio; Lunch downtown with Rachel at the dinerant; Outdoor store for sandals for Alex, complete with pregnant neighbor; Powell's for young adult lit; Rashevski's Tango at the Living Room theater; Learning first-hand that there are no fans downtown; Downtown Stumptown; Hanging out at Glisan St. house; Dinner at Pambiche; Sneaking into show fail at the Laurelthrist; Hanging out at Glisan St. house; 3D glasses and 3D picture viewing.

Thurs 7/30
Brunch at Juniors; Stamps!; Wild Ocean at OMSI; Alex fall #3, on pavement, due to overly inquisitive construction worker; Intense happy hour Boggle at the Press Club; New Seasons for Jane's party stuff; Well-informed by the train operator on the MAX ride to the airport!

the Molestache

Per Sophie's moms' suggestion to us yesterday, I checked online for pictures and definitions of the coined term, 'molestache.'

Here it is, kids - found on UrbanDictionary:

"Any moustache, beard, sideburns, or any combination of aforementioned types of facial hair grown in such a way, or worn by such a person, as to convey a sense of creepiness; short for 'molester moustache.' Originally coined by Abraham Finkbeinner in some filthy frathouse basement."

I like new concepts, new ways of framing. And I like Sophie's moms.