Under a Red Roof

Postmeridian

April 3, 2012 in Being, Drinking, Eating, Exploring by Colleen | Permalink

I met the hubster downtown after work the other day. A date night, if you will.

We ate steak, and I had a Sazerac, one of the finest cocktails known to woman (oh yes I did!) because it contains not only whiskey but absinthe (I like mine with a little extra). The cocktail gods were thinking of yours truly when this one was dreamed up. Sho-nuff.

We walked around a bit before returning to the car, an ever so small window without need for an umbrella. I was pleased as punch to actually have my camera while the Portland Outdoor Store neon was in its full glory. How awesome is that light? It’s like having a Sazerac without actually having one. Warm giddiness spreading through the veins, one brilliant blink at a time.

I love this place. Though we haven’t been in a while. They have beer (surprise!) and really good live jazz. I like jazz. Give me a little Ella, Miles, Thelonius, or Chet, and I am good to go.

The hubster works in the tall building and can see the whole city, storms and traffic and birds soaring.

We’re driving home, and that’s his building again.

Five speeds and my knees. I do not like an automatic transmission. Not one bit.

I almost didn’t include this photo because the water droplets on the lens obscuring his handsome face, but his smile shines through it all. The best.

That’s Burnside, just in case you didn’t know.

Tags: Neon, Portland

The Gift of Friends

March 21, 2011 in Celebrating, Drinking, Eating, Friendship by Colleen | 1 comment

Happy Monday, gentle readers. It is gloriously grey here in Stumptown, and I’ve no complaints. Well, not any serious ones, anyway.

Here’s hoping you had a lovely weekend. Mine began in earnest on Thursday, with my friend and maker of the exquisite little beaded angel pictured above, Bebe. We met way back in college, and hadn’t seen each other in thirteen years. She called out of the blue, on the road in my neck of the woods, and we spent two fun filled days thrifting and eating around Portland (Broder and City State Diner – yum). It was a hoot and a holler to be sure.

Then Saturday was blessedly sunny enough to be in the car with the windows rolled down, doing all kinds of running around to purchase an odd assortment of items: delicious strawberry rhubarb jam (from my friend’s brother’s company), bread, my favorite Italian nougat, safety vests (for bicycling), metal straps and braces (for earthquake “proofing”), and something else that evades my memory at the moment.

We also spent a lovely evening with the jam maker’s sister, Lori (but sadly not her husband, as he was quite under the weather). She made the sweet (in scent and looks) sachet above from a thrifted quilt. Our chosen hangout was Circa 33, a newer place on Belmont with good service, delicious fare, and super drinks. Steamed mussels, a pulled pork sandwich, and a cocktail called La Louisiane (whiskey and absinthe make great partners) were the tops.

The highlight of the weekend (more like my life), was the company and conversation of truly wonderful friends and one sibling (Hey brother!). I am beyond blessed in this department, with so many kind hearted people near and far, giving of their time and hearts, cheering me up, willing to listen, share, and withstand my occasional and excited but no less annoying interruptions (noticing the problem is the first step to mending it). Thanks to you all.

Have a wonderful week!

Tags: Portland, Restaurants

Hey Eugene! (and Depoe Bay)

November 23, 2010 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Traveling by Colleen | 2 comments

Happy Tuesday, gentle readers. How are you? I am chilly-willy. It is freezing here, quite literally. Our thermometer has been hovering around twenty-two degrees since the sun came up, and I’ve got nearly enough layers to rival little Randy in A Christmas Story, yet my feet remain cold. Blasted poor circulation!

All is not lost, however. I am in good spirits and thinking fondly of our recent weekend getaway to Eugene and Depoe Bay. We went two weekends ago and had a grand time exploring. Eugene, if you don’t know, is the home of the University of Oregon (for my Colorado friends, think Boulder, circa the early 1990’s). It’s two hours south in the valley, a lovely drive through verdant pastures with volcanic vents like massive mounds of granite scattered by the wind. On the day of our drive, the skies were laden with heavy suitcase clouds, traveling alongside us, and the trees, oh the trees, a patchwork of emerald, gold, crimson, tangerine, and amber: the perfect portrait of Oregon in the fall.

Our home away from home was The Excelsior Inn, just west of campus. It has a stellar and quite beautiful restaurant along with lovely, quaint rooms named after classical composers. I chose Schubert, of course, and was very pleased. There are also a myriad of watercolor paintings from local artists lining the halls, so it’s a feast for the eyes too.

In another feast for the eyes, we visited the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the U of O campus. I have to say, it is probably the finest small museum I have ever seen, with an exquisite and well curated collection of art. The building is pretty lovely, too, and precisely what I conjure when I think of an art museum: fine ironwork, high ceilings, gorgeous marble, and shining floors. There’s also a nice cafe and a kids (of all ages) area with costumes and neat activities pertaining to current exhibits. For $5, it is well worth the price of admission.

We also had the pleasure of spending the evening with my former student, Matt, and his sweet and adorable girlfriend, Kelly (no pictures – darn!). We enjoyed their good company over dinner and drinks (still a bit odd to enjoy libations with someone I knew as a teenager!), along with a special screening of the Oregon gem One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It had been a long time since either the hubster or I had seen it, and it didn’t disappoint.

The next leg of our adventure didn’t disappoint either. Though there was a thick blanket of fog and grave concerns on both our parts that we might not actually be able to see the ocean. I grumbled and fretted, bemoaning our predicament, but was ultimately redeemed when I not only saw the whitecaps crashing but could smell their delightful scent. There is nothing like sea air to buoy spirits!

As a perfect tie in to our Eugene adventure, our picture perfect Depoe Bay lodgings (The Channel House) were just adjacent to the bridge in the scene where Jack Nicholson’s character takes the gang fishing. Though we didn’t fish, we ate plenty of local seafood (Yaquina Bay Oysters and smoked salmon, among others, oh my!) and saltwater taffy so fresh it was warm in our hands. We also watched Oystercatchers, and a tenacious Cormorant catch its breakfast (very exciting!) while sipping hot tea and gorging on golden pastries, granola, and eggs. I think it’s what could be described as the height of splendor. Indeed. Sometimes it is nice to get away.

Tags: Movies, Oregon

A Whole Day of Eating

May 25, 2010 in Cooking + Baking, Drinking, Eating by Colleen | 4 comments

I’ve got a slew of recipes to tantalize your taste buds today. Plus, apparently, a little alliteration. Silly me. I also have a whopper of a headache, a slight fever, an earache, and swollen tonsils, so if this wanders off into the territory of the bizarre, don’t be surprised. I am not myself.

First off, oatmeal (sorry Sarah – I think you’ll like the rest!), but, though it may look it, it is no ordinary oatmeal. No sirree, this is something special brought on by hunger, of course, a lack of bacon, an ugly banana, and a need for protein.

Ginger Banana Oatmeal

oatmeal

water

salt

powdered ginger

banana(s)

egg(s)

milk

Start making the oatmeal – add some salt and ginger, to your taste. While that is going, puree a banana (I used my hand blender in a large measuring cup), add an egg (more if you’re making it for more than two people), and some milk. Make it as thick or thin as you like. Just make sure you mix it thoroughly. Once the oatmeal is finished, add about one third of it to the banana mixture, and, again, mix thoroughly. Then add this to the original pot of oatmeal, and stir, stir, stir. If your banana was as ugly and sweet as ours was, you won’t need much sweetener, if any. This is sooo good, like a breakfast pudding, but loaded with fiber. A happy start to the day.

Now it is lunch time and spring time! Perfect for asparagus, and mushrooms, and exclamation points!

Grilled Asparagus, Mushroom, and Cheese Sandwiches

Sliced Bread

mayo

Greek yogurt

creamy horseradish

Dijon mustard

salt

pepper

bite sizes of asparagus (cooked however you like – mine was roasted with EVOO, salt, and pepper)

sliced mushrooms (sauteed in a little butter or EVOO)

Havarti Cheese, grated (I learned this from Sarah – it melts so nicely! I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.)

Start heating up your pan over medium heat. I use a Le Creuset that covers two burners. It is the tops! Make the spread – I mix equal parts of mayo and yogurt (this makes it light and creamy), then add little bits of the rest until it tastes just right, being careful with the mustard and horseradish, unless you like to cry while eating. Save when they are tears of joy, I am not keen on this. Construct your sandwich, heat, and eat. It tastes great with potato chips and a crisp apple. Some sparkling apple juice or wine probably wouldn’t be bad either.

Tastes Like Sunshine Salad

One lovely Friday evening, we weren’t terribly hungry, and I had a small but beautiful assortment of produce in the fridge, but no lettuce or tomato, and stale heels of bread. It’s a sunshine salad!

Tear up stale bread into bite sized pieces. Toss in olive oil (not too much). Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and crushed dried rosemary. Toast in the oven until golden brown. Allow to cool.

I roasted the orange bell pepper over the burner and put it in a brown bag to sweat. Meanwhile, I diced an avocado and sliced some radishes. Rub the skin off the bell pepper and dice. Arrange everything nicely on a plate, drizzle with vinegar (I like white balsamic), EVOO, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drink with the next recipe – we did, and it was marvelous.

We had half a bottle of red wine that had been sitting for a few days, not exactly good to drink on its own, so I made a zippy sangria-type beverage. I got out a pitcher and muddled frozen blueberries and raspberries (about 3/4 of a cup?) with a little frozen apple juice concentrate (a tablespoon?), then I added some Grand Marnier (splash!), brandy (splash!), the red wine, and a can of sparkling water. Man was it good!

Enjoy!

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Recipes

Aloha! Part III: Land

May 5, 2010 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Shopping, Traveling by Colleen | 3 comments

This final Hawaiian post is a long one. Grab a beverage or a snack and sit for a spell, won’t you? We’re starting out in Hale’iwa on the North Shore, the surfing capitol of the world. There are lots of charming shops selling all kinds of goodness, and equally charming people. We’ll definitely be back here.

Action shot! The North Shore seems to be the shave ice capitol of the world, as well. If I do say so myself, our combination of lemon, coconut, and vanilla was pretty darned awesome. Soft, almost creamy, no ice crystals, and that touch of vanilla ice cream in the bottom of the cup was divine.

Anahulu stream bridge in Hale’iwa. I love bridges.

A cute cottage for island living.

Smack-dab in the middle of the Dole Plantation. I have never seen so many pineapples!

Highway 99 south to Honolulu.

Dining at the Kapiolani Farmer’s Market. We indulged in an omelet with asparagus and island sheep cheese, super refreshing sparkling beverages, macadamia flower honey from Kaneohe, and abalone. Despite being slightly worried that we were the only haolies in line for them, they did not disappoint: garlicky, buttery, slightly chewy, a bit like escargot. What a pretty bit of “garbage,” as well.

The Kapiolani Community College (the location of the farmer’s market) has one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen. There are a myriad variety of flowers…

And cacti…

And more flowers. This was actually part of a hedge. A hibiscus hedge. It is paradise, after all!

This amazing banyan is the neighbor of the Iolani Palace.

The Hawaiian Crest, it reads:

Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono

The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness

The grand entrance to the Iolani Palace.

Still pretty grand is the back entrance, where our tour started.

The barracks – can you tell Hawaiian royalty was deeply influenced by Europe, and, in particular, Great Britain?

What a fine porch to take in a luau…

Or wait for a tour wearing our special shoe covers. No photos allowed inside. Trust me, it was worth it.

Twin Palm trees and a beautiful view.

The state capitol building is unlike any I have seen before. I really liked the architecture. It is open to the elements, with offices around a courtyard. The handsome mosaic, reminiscent of the ocean, is at the center.

Also on the grounds of the capitol is this quite fine and modern rendering of the gracious and giving Father Damien. A sainted man who cared for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those with leprosy (Hansen’s disease). He worked tirelessly for sixteen years before contracting and succumbing to the disease himself. Mahalo.

Greetings from his Majesty King Kamehameha, responsible for uniting the Island Kingdom of Hawaii. You can see the real cape he wore (made of thousands of red and yellow feathers) as well as other gorgeous finery on the tour of the Iolani Palace.

The grand mausoleum of King William Lunalilo, elected popularly and by the legislature.

Lunch time at the Hawaii State Art Museum. The restaurant was highly recommended by our tour guide at the Iolani Palace. The chef takes a “local first, organic whenever possible, and with aloha always” approach. It is mighty fine.

A tribute to Hawaiian Firefighters. Mahalo!

The Honolulu Brewing Company building, circa 1900. It actually went under a $25 million dollar renovation, but, quite unfortunately, I guess they used some super stinky wood sealer, and the building remains unoccupied. Talk about a bummer. It was, however, used in LOST, in some scenes where Charlie was meant to be in England. This also reminds me, we had one LOST sighting on our island adventure. In the airport on our way home, we saw Jack’s father Christian. He is more handsome and shorter than I expected. Go figure.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel grounds. As we were walking by, we saw a couple readying for their wedding ceremony. What a place to tie the knot! For my Uncle Chris, and a shout out to Rick, too: we couldn’t find the place you guys had a cocktail, but no worries, we indulged in more than one delicious tropical drink requiring an umbrella and a maraschino cherry. We also had stunning views from the Punchbowl (see below).

Pineapple County Store

An Oahu icon, we had really good burgers and the equally good company of a local who dines here every night.

Leonard’s makes Malasadas, the best doughnut-like baked good I have ever tasted. Trust me, with a particular fondness for fried dough, I have A LOT of experience in this area. We tried them plain, filled with chocolate (like a really good pudding), and a silky coconut cream, of course. Is there a Hawaiian term for Ooh la la?

We’re at the Punchbowl National Cemetery. Located in a crater above the city, the cemetery is a stunning memorial to the sacrifices of our service men and women. Lady Columbia holds a laurel branch and represents the grieving of all mothers. Inscribed beneath her are the words of Abraham Lincoln:

“The solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”

Amen to that.