Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Even though I’m a member of the “clean plate club” 99% of the time I go out to eat (Thanks mom!), I’ll occasionally have a scrap or two left on my plate. A few years ago this food scrap would have been tossed into the trash and eventually made its way into a landfill to live out its remaining days. However, over the past few years, more and more local restaurants and eateries have replaced their trash cans with bins for composting, recycling or sorting – which is done by the employees.

My latest trips to Grand Central Bakery, Pizzicato and Little Big Burger were pleasantly trash-free. Little Big Burger only offers composting or recycling, which is fantastic considering plates and silverware aren’t given to customers, just compostable bags, wrappers and containers, all of which can be tossed into the compost on the spot.

Restaurants are not alone in this effort; a city-wide composting initiative was implemented in Portland on Oct. 31, 2011. The city’s composting efforts will help keep 30,000 tons of compostable food out of landfills every year. Instead, our scraps will have a second life as nutrient-rich fertilizer. For a tree-hugger like me, this is a comforting trend. Now my food scraps — if any remain — get to enjoy a ride in the compost bin with like-minded leftovers.

IFC’s show all about Portland, “Portlandia,” is gearing up for its second season, which starts on Jan. 6. They’ve been releasing some new video clips and this one in particular tickled my funny bone. While we are passionate about recycling, I’m not quite sure that the real city is ready for this level of detail.

Want more? If you have 24 minutes to spare, check out this short film, “Inside Portlandia.” It features interviews with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein (of course) and tells the story of how “Portlandia” came to be. If you just want to hear what they think of filming in Portland, you can skip ahead to the two-minute mark. It’s such a compliment to hear so many people say great things about the city.  Happy viewing!

You’ve no doubt heard of the White House garden Michelle Obama planted last year — but did you know that Portland made a similar addition?

Video courtesy of Cooking Up a Story.

Like many Portlanders, I’m often proud of what my city has accomplished and what it stands for, especially in terms of sustainability. That’s why I can’t let the city’s recent Climate Action Plan go unheralded on the Portland Spoke.

Released in early November, the Climate Action Plan is an aggressive road map to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city while expanding programs like efficient energy use, public transportation and bike lanes throughout Portland. (more…)

Event alert!

I might make a necklace out of this.

To celebrate the 11th birthday of The ReBuilding Center, come share reuse ideas this Thursday, June 11, at the center’s beautiful warehouse on Mississippi Ave. (For those who’ve never seen it, that alone is a good reason to go.)

For travelers, this is an easy 15-minute bus ride from downtown. Hop on bus #4 (toward Fessenden) — map and schedules are available on www.trimet.org.

See you there!

What: A creative reuse showcase
When: June 11, 2009, 6-8 pm
Where: ReFind Furniture Showroom at The ReBuilding Center, 3625 N. Mississippi Ave.

Move over, Academy Awards. The one award show I like every year happens right here in Portland, and celebrates businesses that go above and beyond in their sustainability practices. This year, once again, Travel Portland submitted an application, and DIDN’T WIN. Believe me when I say that we do so much here in terms of recycling, training, leading, policing, etc… that I’m curious to see who’s done even more.

Here they are, the best of the BEST. (more…)

50 different dishes from around the country, but made at 90% with local ingredients. That’s the concept of one of the Pearl District’s newest restaurants, 50 Plates.

Located on the edge of the Pearl District at 333 NW 13th Avenue, the 3,000 ft former industrial space now plays host to a swanky bar and one large dining room with private party capabilities. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but also for breakfast (the pastries are so yummy, and they serve Stumptown Coffee).

I ate there today for lunch and was in heaven. Of course, the salad and appetizers were delicious, made from local ingredients picked at the farmers’ market (the co-owner’s wife is the Director of the Beaverton Farmers’ Market); but most of all, they have a dreamy dessert menu. With no less that three chocolate cakes, and three “melted chocolate” drinks. What more could I be asking for??

Cool fact: the bar offers a different, thematic happy hour every day. Manhattan Monday, Whiskey Wednesday, etc.