Check out our new radio ads, in which the City of Roses — brought to life by Live Wire radio’s Courtenay Hameister — invites Seattleites to come down for a different kind of weekend getaway, and different kind of discount: $72 off a two-night stay.
In these spots, produced by our friends at Sockeye, Courtenay gives our neighbors to the north four great reasons to visit: Powell’s, Pinot noir, food carts and tax-free shopping.
To which I would add one more: attending a taping of Live Wire, the spirited, literate and laugh-out-loud radio show that resumes its live shows Feb. 18 at the Alberta Rose Theater.
So, what’s on your list of can’t-miss Portland experiences?
Okay, so maybe you won’t go wine tasting every day, but in Oregon, you could go wine tasting on any day. The winter is one of the best times to do it, because the tasting rooms are quieter, and you’re likely to find the winemaker around during their slow season to chat about their wines.
Some wineries do shorten their hours during this time, but luckily there is a group of wineries, Pinot 365, that are open every day. And these are some of the Willamette Valley’s best. Among them are Bergstrom, Elk Cove, Ponzi, Willakenzie Estate, Archery Summit, Sokol Blosser and more. Go to www.pinot365.com to see the whole list. Cheers!
Seeing that we are in the season of giving thanks, I would like to say “thank you” for the gift that gives year-round: the American Burrito, also known as the sandwich. The sandwich is enjoying a long-overdue renaissance in Portland thanks to a few key players who have upped the ante on three very important sandwich metrics: abundance, variety and scrumptiousness. The subject is certainly open to debate, but this sandwich aficionado thinks the following purveyors of tasty hand-held meals have helped fill a void that had been vacant for too longs.
Enter into the ring: Meat Cheese Bread, with a menu that favors locally sourced ingredients; Bunk Sandwiches, where creative artistry keeps you coming back for more; and Kenny and Zuke’s, offering deli-style fare that is always piled high. Three-handedly, these brick-and-mortar establishments quickly helped raise sandwich awareness in the city.
The bread-based buzz carries through the outdoor scene as well. At the Alder Street food cart pod, Addy’s tasty baguettes are the perfect lunch companion; across the way, Huong’s Vietnamese serves up a bahn mi that will be your new best friend; and, down at Fifth and Stark, Tabor’s schnitzelwich is always ready to tango.
Portland’s sandwich selection has come a long way over the years and is headed in a savory direction — right to my stomach, and for that I am thankful.
The holiday season isn’t over yet! This Saturday, Portland has plenty of ways to say goodbye to 2011 and hello to a brand new year. Here’s a quick round-up of resources to help you plan the last night of the year:
Portland Food and Drink has a comprehensive list of 45 restaurants offering New Year’s Eve dinners and special events. Many of the city’s top eateries are in on the action (think Olympic Provisions, Aviary, Grüner …) and there are even a few places serving up New Year’s Day brunch.
CitySearch found some eclectic parties and events, from Champagne at the Hilton to casual comedy at Helium and free video games at Ground Kontrol.
For those who want to dance, rock or eat their way into 2012, Willamette Week breaks down the options.
Of course, this is just the tip of the celebratory iceberg — if you have other favorite Portland NYE events, please let us know about them!
Behind the scenes: Douglas Derrick (Nostrana) mixes a Manhattan for Mike Thelin (Feast Portland) and my colleague Barbara Steinfeld.
Working with our friend Mike Thelin — co-founder of the much-anticipated food and drink festival, Feast Portland (Sept. 20-23, 2012) — we recently wrapped up some fun video shoots at three leading restaurants, which shared their recipes for chocolate hazelnut toffee (Country Cat), butternut squash soup (Metrovino) and a seasonal Manhattan (Nostrana).
Visit the “Flavors of Portland” tab on our Facebook page to download and share the recipes, watch the videos and enter to win two tickets to Feast. (Must enter by Jan. 6, 2012.)
When Brian Faherty discovered a set of cast-iron glass molds in 2002, he thought a new craft lighting business would be a fun side project. Lo and behold, Schoolhouse Electric’s hand-blown shades and lighting fixtures inspired by American craftsman and mid-century modern styles took off. Soon Brian was searching for a bigger production facility, and a bigger space to show his wares.
The new Schoolhouse Electric factory and showroom opened its doors this month in the trend-setting Northwest Industrial District. True to Portland form, it is a hive of collaboration. Ristretto Roasters has moved in with a café (featuring James Beard Award winner Kim Boyce’s fine pastries). There are plenty of nooks for sitting and savoring – and people watching – in this expansive 1910 warehouse made cozy in its artful layout. Anna Mara Floral Design adds sweet scents and a colorful bounty to the scene while local fashion celebrity Adam Arnold brings a whimsical touch to slipcovers (and Brian’s outfit, above). Portland design favorite Egg Press is also on site; their partnership with Schoolhouse Electric has led to a whole new line of textiles including bedding and jaunty heraldic throw pillows.
In fact, Schoolhouse Electric’s wares have now expanded to furnish an entire condo, office or bungalow with quality goods from small manufacturers. And the only place to experience it in its entirety is here!
Had a great night at one of downtown’s newest restaurants, Mucca Osteria, where Bert and I recently shared a nice pasta dish, samplings of wine and a lovely parade of antipasti from chef Simone Saviano: melon and prosciutto, organic greens, thinly sliced medallions of seared lamb, and an artful stack of heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella.
I’ll leave the full review – and the English translation of the restaurant’s name – to the Portland Mercury. But in a word (or four): It was just right. And it was nicely paired with a post-meal stroll around downtown, window-shopping at Canoe and other West End retailers.
As the holidays approach, the grocery store aisles and bar taps around Portland welcome full-bodied seasonal ales to help weather the cold winter months. This year, Widmer Brothers Brewing is back with its BRRR Seasonal Ale and BridgePort Brewing Company will help cure any bah-humbug tendencies with their Ebenezer Ale.
For those looking to sample seasonal ales not sold in stores, Portland’s annual Holiday Ale Fest offers dozens of brews created solely for the festival. Considered the premier winter beer-tasting event on the West Coast, the 16th annual festival will feature beers from more than 40 breweries Nov. 30 through Dec.4, 2011, in Pioneer Courthouse Square. A heated, clear-top tent keeps attendees cozy while allowing for holiday light-viewing in the heart of the city. And, plenty of holiday shopping and dining options are located on adjacent blocks. The festival website features a full list of breweries and their 2011 submissions, ranging from Belgians and barley wines to porters and stouts.
They say chefs are the new rock stars, and while they live and work alongside many musicians here in Portland, I can’t think of another place where the saying is more true. A new calendar (which makes an excellent travel souvenir or holiday gift to savor Portland’s food scene all year long) was created to turn a spotlight on some of the women and men whose creativity enhances the city’s vibrancy.
One of these characters is Gregory Gourdet, chef at Departure restaurant and marathon runner. This fabulous video gives us a peek into his “visual life” in Portland.
Check out our new radio ads, in which the City of Roses — brought to life by Live Wire radio’s Courtenay Hameister — invites Seattleites to come down for a different kind of weekend getaway, and different kind of discount: $72 off a two-night stay.
