Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Is it possible to be a restaurant loyalist after one visit? Either way, I am Bamboo Sushi’s newest fan. The Ring of Fire roll is to blame – fried oysters, cucumber and chopped albacore (Marine Stewardship Council approved), topped with jalapeno marmalade, then seared and finished with fried shallot rings and yuzu juice. This is serious stuff from a place with a serious commitment to sustainability – that, amazingly, doesn’t take itself too seriously.

As the first certified sustainable sushi restaurant in the world, Bamboo Sushi’s business practices and menu are thoughtful and calculated. Their sleek dining room is complemented by friendly wait staff and a menu that reflects their attention to detail without letting it get to the prices. (more…)

In a past life, I went to school for sports broadcasting, which means a) I love fall and b) I firmly believe that yelling at the television affects the outcome.  Recently, Portland has seen a host of sports-related developments that I’m excited about.

The Timbers: Portland’s soccer club goes big-time next year when they step up to Major League Soccer.  The Timbers have already signed a few of their players from their club team and Portland’s rabid soccer fans are snapping up the season tickets.

Spirit of 77: This is a sports bar, Portland-style.  Brought to us by the folks behind the stylish Ace Hotel and delicious Clyde Common restaurant, the Spirit of 77 is conveniently located next to the Oregon Convention Center, for those who can’t wait to check on the score.  The bar is named after the Portland Trail Blazers’ last — and only — NBA championship, in 1977.

Portland Pilots vs. Kentucky Wildcats: The last time the Pilots and the Wildcats faced off, many of the current players hadn’t been born.  The Wildcats’ first trip to Oregon will be broadcast on ESPNU as the teams battle in the home of the Blazers, the Rose Garden.

Last month, the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) turned 20: not yet old enough to buy a beer, but accomplished beyond its years.

For two decades, the OCC — which released this nice video retrospective — has served the dynamic needs of meeting planners and convention delegates, embraced the arts, burnished the city’s reputation for design and sustainability, and performed a critically important role in the economic development of the Portland region.

Not bad for a 20-year-old.

Catapult! At Liepold Farms

One of my favorite signs of autumn: seeing pumpkin show up on menus. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie and pumpkin milkshakes are some of the season’s tastiest treats.

You can also head out into the country to pick one yourself, or just get a taste of harvest fun. This pumpkin “catapult” I’m attempting in the photo is at Liepold Farms, one of many in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, just a short drive from Portland. Here’s an extended list with descriptions.

Other places that are perfect for enjoying the fall harvest season and Halloween spirit this month are St. Helens, where the town becomes “Halloweentown” every weekend; Sauvie Island’s Pumpkin Patch; and the Hood River Fruit Loop.

A couple of weekends ago, my sweetie and I took a break from our home renovation projects and headed to the food carts on Mississippi Avenue for a late-summer lunch.

We made a beeline for the Garden State cart, for two reasons: 1) Its original location in Sellwood was named one of the best food carts in the country by Good Morning America; and 2) My boyfriend isn’t the most adventurous eater, but he definitely speaks sandwich. (more…)

In this recent video from our friends at Travel Oregon, Portland chef Philippe Boulot takes a break from his kitchen at The Heathman Restaurant & Bar to chase steelhead on the Deschutes River, spey rod (and camp stove) in tow.

Back in Portland, Philippe serves up a tasty offer — a $20 dining certificate at The Heathman – as part of our year-round Portland Perks hotel package.

Or, enter by Nov. 30 to win your own “Wanderfeast,” a four-day culinary trek across the state.

In case you haven’t heard, we’re pretty creative in Portland. Whether it’s functional, pretty or both, we like to make it ourselves. That DIY ethic means that shopping for gifts is a special treat here.

Crafty Wonderland’s regular group sales have been wildly popular for years, but now you don’t have to wait. Crafty Wonderland is opening a pop-up shop in downtown Portland during the holiday season! From mid-November (opening date is still TBA) through the end of December, you’ll be able to find locally crafted jewelry, art, clothes and more for yourself or that special someone.

The pop-up shop will be located at 802 S.W. 10th Ave., next to Finnegan’s Toys and across from the Multnomah County Central Library. It will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays (although hours may change). When I hear more confirmed info, I’ll update this post. Shoppers … are you ready?