Photos by Drew
Portland . . . It rained, and it was cold, and whenever I checked the weather on my phone Atlanta was bound to come up first and tease me with its 90 degree, sunny weather. I’m just a baby when it comes to the cold. But there were a few nice hours in Portland, and I don’t want to sound negative because I really had a great trip and lots of good moments:
1. Flying in and seeing Mount Hood from the air . . .
2. Getting to bring Rufus along. I was worried about how he’d be on the plane, but he was so good; just slept the whole time and didn’t make a sound, except for in the airport when people would get too close. He also barked at kids because he doesn’t really like them.
3. Staying at the Ace Hotel. Mostly because it’s right above Stumptown Coffee, where we had breakfast every morning. I like the hotel and the feel of it–it’s old and in a way it reminds me of some New York boarding house in a ’30s Joan Crawford movie. It smelled like old books.
4. Powell’s Books. Everybody kept telling me how much I was going to love this place but I had no idea how good it would be. I had to limit the sections/rooms I went in because it just took so much time browsing. I ended up buying the only things I bought on the whole trip here: a book of essays by Katherine Anne Porter and one of Eudora Welty’s writings. I guess I was missing the south.
5. Drew’s art show. It was a great turnout and fun. I even had a piece of my own in it: a sweater that Drew designed and I knit to go along with a painting he made. Drew’s and Ben’s and Derek’s stuff looked so good. Afterwards we went out for pizza, and I met a cool reader named Vivian.
6. Voodoo donuts. Another place I thought was going to be overrated. How could it be better than our own Sublime Donuts? But . . . . it was. I had a donut three nights in a row. One night they even played T. Rex.
7. Portland public access television: there was a funny yoga show on, but my favorite was Evangelist Rose Franks’ ministry program. She danced and sang and preached, and someone needs to get her to guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race quick.
8. Meeting up with Vanessa of The Velvet Bird and walking all over the city to some amazing shops and to Salt & Straw, which had such good ice cream that I had to go back the next day with Drew and Ben.
9. Randomly running into Jessie DeSue of Saint Elyns and getting good Portland travel tips from her, including one to beware of Fleet Week.
10. Fleet Week. Remember how in old movies when sailors go on shore for a day they go a little crazy, but in a funny, kind of lovable way? In real life it’s even more funny, but not so lovable.
11. Shopping: Anja sent me a list of stores to go to, and I really fell in love with the stuff at Frances May most. I’m glad everything was out of my price range, because I might have had to buy another suitcase. So many good things there.
12. Eating sushi with Drew on our last night in town and seeing the apartment building he used to live in.
13. Portland weirdness.
11 Comments
Amazing pics!!
Books in my bags
It was so great to meet you! It’s sad the weather was so gloomy while you were here. The summers here are usually perfect for about three months straight–not a cloud and not too cold or too warm.
I am in love with that sweater and painting combo. It is a great idea and so delightful to look at!
It was really great to meet you too! Glad you like that sweater/painting—it was Drew’s idea, but I was happy just to be able to say I was in an art show. : )
OMG! You didn’t tell me you a piece in Drew’s show! How cool! The sweater look great!
Love the photo’s especially of my Grand Dog Rufus! Great photo’s! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Anthe! Well, I was running late on finishing the sweater and didn’t know if it would make the show or not. : )
Jessie is lying about our Summers, unless he/ she likes two overcast months and one hot month. I’m a fourth generation Portlander so I know what I’m talking about. Anyway, you highlighted all the places that even the locals like. Thanks for visiting. Peace-out
First photo = priceless
Love these pictures!
I really like the very first picture!
Ahhhh this sounds WONDERFUL! I can’t wait to finally visit Portland sometime.. one of my friends just got back and all of her facebook updates during the trip were about food, which is always my favorite part of a new city!
oh man, that sweater!! stunner! Do you have the pattern?