Counting our Oregon blessings…
Summer has arrived right on schedule here in Oregon – which despite our best wishes always seems to arrive no sooner than the 4th of July. Looks like an endless string of sunny-80-degree days ahead, and the vines are very happy indeed. We moved here in 2001 specifically to make Oregon Pinot Noir. I was convinced the northern Willamette Valley was the best place to grow Pinot in the New World. 11 years later, and I’m sure I was right. It also turned out to be the best place to live.
I am ridiculously blessed. Our quality of life here in NW Portland may be unsurpassed. Outside my front door, on foot in any direction in a matter of minutes, an amazing world awaits me every day. Let’s start with the bakeries (of course) – Ken’s, St. Honoré, Nuvrei, Lovejoy Bakers, Pearl, Grand Central, Two Tarts. Bagels at Bowery Bagels or Kenny & Zukes. Breakfast at Beesaw’s or Steppingstone. Or Coffee – Barista, NW Coffeehouse, Brecken or Dragonfly for starters. For supplies – City Market, Food Front, Zupans, Whole Foods, Elephant’s Deli. Pearl Specialties for wines and beers and spirits.
Lovin' life in the Rose City...
In restaurants we have a true embarrassment of riches – Paley’s, Wildwood, Noisette, Bamboo Sushi, Little Big Burger, Salt & Straw, Metrovino, Meriwether’s, Olympic Provisions, Bluehour, 23 Hoyt, Irving Street Kitchen, Dick’s Kitchen, Park Kitchen, Bent Brick, Ringside Steak, Andina, Café Mingo, Coppia, Kin, Oven & Shaker, Piazza Italia, Cool Moon, Davis Street Tavern, Ping – and that’s just scratching the surface.
Not to mention the world’s greatest bookstore in Powell’s. And if you let me go half a block across Burnside, there’s the amazing Living Room Theaters and the best chocolate shop – Cacao. And at the end of my street – trailheads into Forest Park, including my beloved Leif Erikson trail, where you’ll find me running most mornings while watching the likes of Olympians Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan blow by me like I’m standing still. Life is good.
Let’s kick off the start of this great summer in style, with a flight of the great Marc Chauvet Champagnes – we’ll be pouring from 5-7p Friday night July 6th at Scott Paul PDX – for our continuing series of First Friday Happy Hours – see you here!
