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Farmers Markets Returning to Life

Food and Drink

While some Portland area Farmers Markets keep going year round (see Hillsdale Farmers’ Market), my two favorite neighborhood markets are coming back to life soon!

My absolute favorite is the Sunday Montavilla Market at 7600 SE Stark. However, I have to wait until June 21 for my first low-key, small market dose. This is my favorite market partly because it is on Sundays, but mostly because it feels like a neighborhood occasion with enough choice to be tantalizing. Neither the options nor the crowds are overwhelming, and there is much to delight in!

In the meantime, we have the closer Hollywood Farmers’ Market opening on Saturday, May 2 at NE Hancock between 44th and 45th Avenues. This market has many more options, but also has some serious crowds (and almost always an unexpected friend encounter). Great fun but also some what anxiety inducing for wimps like me!

There are many wonderful farmers and vendors at both markets, but I got to give special mention of the Village Crepery — they are the best! Definitely visit their website for the wonderful animated gifs — and the crepes are even better!

The Blue Nile – CLOSED

Food and Drink, Irvington, Sullivan's Gulch

Update: the Blue Nile is closed. Replaced by the Taco Pedaler.

The Blue Nile is an Ethiopian restaurant located between NE 22nd and 23rd on NE Broadway. I have had many a delicious meal, with particularly lovely lamb dishes as well as the ever popular kik. Recently, we have just been ordering the platter for two, sometimes veggie, sometimes meat.

The restaurant itself is pretty low key, with an ever present television near the cash register. If it’s nice out, sit outside, and otherwise site further back from the door and you’ll have a lovely time. Also, the wait staff is very nice. If you are desperate for a beer or need the check rapidly, just go up and ask them for it. You will not be rushed, but they also aren’t going to come hover over you.

I definitely encourage you to come by on a warm day and enjoy the evening, a beer, good company, and yummy food![mappress address=””2225 NE Broadway St, Portland, OR”” ]

Steel Bridge

Transportation

When I ride my bicycle or walk to work, I have the pleasure walking along the lower level of the Steel Bridge in Portland. When I ride the MAX, we roll along the upper deck with the cars, and a few intrepid bicyclists and pedestrians. All of this traveling back and forth has left me very fond of the Steel Bridge, even when traffic jams start to occur on the lower level.

One of my favorite things include crossing the lower level of bridge with a train. It’s loud, no doubt, and sometimes there are horrible high pitched squealing noises, but it’s also exciting. The Amtrak trains have entertaining passengers to stare at, the freight trains have lots of interesting different cars, and the occasional steam engine makes my week! The Southern Pacific #4449 pictured here is one of the absolute delights of living in the Portland area. Sometimes I hear its whistle from our office a few blocks from the waterfront, and have to run down to see if I can spot the steamy excitement of this train!

And you can buy a 2009 calendar to support the Southern Pacific #4449.

Stanich’s

Beaumont, Burgers

Update: Stanich’s in SW is closed, there is now a website, and the NE location is apparently being renovated (scheduled to be reopened on 4/9/2018)

If you’re a fan of the classic greasy hamburger, consider visiting Stanichs, located in both NE and SW Portland. I am most familiar with the NE Stanich’s at NE Fremont and 49th, in the Beaumont neighborhood. This Stanich’s is full of pennants, making for mesmerizing viewing if conversation grows dull. While clearly once a smoking spot from the fine patina on the walls, the air is now clear.

There is a special Stanich burger involving an egg, which I have never personally consumed, but is met with much happy sighing by friends. The normal burger is a delight, as is the classic grilled cheese. Don’t forget the fries.

We have repeatedly discovered that the NE Stanich’s is closed on Sundays. šŸ™ I think they might accept cards now as well. They are located at 4915 NE Fremont St, Portland – (503) 281-2322. The SW Stanich’s is at 5627 SW Kelly Ave, Portland – (503) 246-5040. They can be found online via Citysearch, but do not appear to have their own website, and I’m not sure of the accuracy of the information there…

Hubers Goes Non-smoking

Downtown, Food and Drink

Oh, I love Huber’s! If there were one bar in Portland that I wish was non-smoking, it would be Huber’s! And lo and behold, my wish has been granted. No more will I have stinky hair and clothing after a delightful evening at the Huber’s bar.

When I want to feel swanky and cool, Huber’s is the place to be. Behind the Huber’s restaurant located in downtown Portland off of SW 3rd between SW Stark and Washington, the Huber’s bar has a beautiful bar and awesome vaulted ceilings. The happy hour includes a good caesar salad, a great turkey sandwich, and a lovely spinach dip. Drinks are good and strong.

Most importantly, perhaps, is the Spanish coffee and the wonderful presentation. Shooting liquor and flames. What could be better? Don’t forget to have a dollar or two handy to tip the excellent server (walking bar tender?) who makes them to order at your table. A constant dilemma — should all Spanish coffees be ordered at once for multi-creation excitement? Or should they be spaced out for multiple visits by the server?

The other highlight of Huber’s is the clientele. From the post-work crowd to the post-party crowd, all make great people watching. Settle in and enjoy!

Huber’s is located at 411 SW 3rd Avenue. To get to the bar, enter the hallway next to the restaurant and follow the hallway until you see the bar entrance on your left. You can also find the bar by walking through the restaurant itself.

Talk Like a Pirate, Sept. 19

Festivals

Well, it’s been over a month since I went to work as a pirate to celebrate Talk Like a Pirate day. Ā On that fine day back in September, I walked through downtown to get lunch and no one batted an eye. Ā In fact, I even spotted a few other pirates. Ā Arrr! Ā Portland be ever friendly to those pirate-y folks.

Now I’m feeling pressure to dress as something besides a pirate for Halloween. Ā Perhaps a viking will do…

Blue Olive

Beaumont, Food and Drink

Update: this restaurant is closed. šŸ™

Blue Olive is a Mediterranean restaurant located on NE 46th and Fremont in the Beaumont neighborhood. Besides being a cool neighborhood, this is a wonderful restaurant. Run by two delightful brothers, the food is a wonderful blend of Mediterranean/Persian flavors.

If it’s nice, sit in the back patio. Ā And we always end up ordering one of the platters for two. The variety is fun, you won’t go hungry, and the lamb is amazing.

Hollywood Farmer’s Market

Food and Drink

Farmer’s Markets are a joyful part of living in Portland. There are lots and lots of them, and sometimes it’s hard to remember all of the options. Walking, biking, and occasionally driving the Hollywood Farmer’s Market is a great Saturday morning activity. Of all of the places in my greater neighborhood, I bump into the most friends (some from my early childhood) at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market.

For prepared foods, I am particularly fond of the Crepe Women and the Fleur de Lis bakery folks. We’ve found lots of great produce (particularly berries) this year, and since we didn’t get a vegetable garden going I am very grateful to have fresh basil! And I can’t wait for local tomatoes.

There is now a small Farmer’s Market right by the NE 7th Ave. MAX stop on Tuesdays in the late afternoon, which I am hoping to try out on my way home in the super-heat today. And then there is another Farmer’s Market at the Ecotrust building on Thursdays that I keep meaning to inspect from work as well. So much good food, so little time!

Lone Fir Cemetery

Kerns

Update: there are now entrances on the Northeast and Southwest corners of Lone Fir Cemetery

I recently took a walk south down E. 21st in search of parks, and had high hopes for the Lone Fir Cemetery. This is an older cemetery in central Portland that could also double as a park. Unfortunately, I also discovered that all the entrances are on the south side of the cemetery, making our northern approach problematic. We walked the northern length of the cemetery, gazing in at the old trees and headstones. We ran out of time and weren’t able to work our way around to the entrance on the south (also maybe on the east?) side.

While on this walk, my walking companions and I found an amazing bicycle/camper combination that was most amazing. As it was sitting in a parking lot along our way, we walked around it, commenting on the many interesting features. The box for a 24 pack of Coors was stored on top, bananas were visible through a small portal, the gears and balancing were intriguing. As we were starting to hypothesize what the bicycle machine might be used for, a small hatch slid open and a tired voice emerged. We were disrupting someone lodged within the narrow confines of the vehicle. Oops! Apparently the party bicycle vehicle servers as a sleeper too.