Really, really delicious fried chicken with chipotle aioli, GIANT biscuit with maple butter, DELICIOUS french fries sprinkled with maybe sugar?. Omg, so good.
Really beautiful overlook near Pittock Mansion where you can lounge in the grass and see Mt. Hood if it's out. Also there are tennis courts and Japanese gardens, if you get that far.
!!!!!! The line may be tiny daunting (if you hate it, go to the other location), but the building is covered in glitter. That's mainly why you should go to this one. Plus: CRAZY DOUGHNUTS.
If this shop were in Brooklyn, I would expect the baristas to be standoffish and douchey. They were buttery and awesome. Hooray.
Chill, organized people. For $40/24 hours you can rent a real bike (not a cruiser), and get locks, lights, helmet, etc. etc. for no add'l cost. However: the seats are godawful -- bring padding.
This is my favorite. Great drinks/atmosphere, REALLY REALLY good sandwiches and entrees. And: the Waffle Sandwich. Waffle; peanut butter; vanilla ice cream; honey; cinnamon-sugar-sprinkled BACON.
Outdoor picnic seating at a meat shop with 3 types of dogs, 7 or 8 different sauces, chips, and sodas in a cooler. Would only be better with some Bud.
Decor-wise, if this shop were in New York, it would aspire to Tribeca. Don't love that, but the desserts were pretty inventive for the price. Banana cream pie with shortbread crust. Yum.
Really wonderful outdoor art fair on Labor Day weekend, in the Pearl. Lots of artists but more importantly: lots of artisans. I appreciate watching a blacksmith bang an anvil to make a fork.
Mostly oil painting nicely curated, no watercolors, little sculpture. The gallery lady was also hardly pretentious and kindly explained to my hubs how people get shows. You're not in NY anymore.
FAVORITE. It's like crazy wonderland of former-poor-farm cum eating/drinking everywhere. Definitely go, no matter what. Eat, drink, and steal a pear.
Really affordable tastings by the flight, free oyster crackers, and Julia the bartender was snarky and amazing, and unabashedly owned that she didn't know the definition of "aperitif". Love.
Phenomenal happy hour ($4 craft cocktails from 4-8), which we missed, but still. Also: free antipasti appetizer (mostly green olives) with your round of drinks.
Get there by 4:30 and actually wander around and see the set up -- it helps. Otherwise: hippies and street food and djs and crowded street fair walking. Also: butt cheeks. A few of those.
This was a random little find -- nice fountain with kids playing, and lovely rose garden. Maybe not worth seeking out if you don't have a car, but if you do, it's a nice respite.
FAVORITE. This is like wonderland in a city park. The trees are enormous -- this park reminds me that I'm small -- and apparently you can watch Star Trek reenactment rehearsals here too.
Sick wings. Really really good, with several sauce options, good sandwiches/salads, and a nice selection of beer on tap, including sours.
Nice back courtyard with trees. Great beer selection including Belgians, locals, and sours (I think).
Local guys, with 2 years to go on their own aged whiskey; making vodka/rum in the meantime. Free rum/vodka/whiskey tastings, and the tasting room sells a lot of 50's kitch bartending gear.
Really pretty falls with an easy walk up to some overlook bridges that will make you feel accomplished.
Good market with yummy breakfast foods and music. Don't recall the name, but the chilaquiles breakfast was a win. Also: half flats of berries for $15. !!!
Great children's bookstore if you need souvenirs. (With a mini grown-up fiction shelf.)
Obviously. I heard a customer service person give a woman a 10% discount when he didn't have the book she wanted. I think that pretty much says it all.
