A crazy Portland law? Or just a meter maid having a bad day?

I went to the Pearl District on my lunch today to pick up a couple of books from Powell’s that I have been wanting (one on candle making and one by Joyce Maynard called "At Home in the World"). After dropping the books off at my car I decided to duck into Peet’s for a small latte. Maybe ten minutes later I was sliding back into the driver seat, latte in hand. After making room for it in the cup holder, I started the engine, took the parking receipt off the window and proceeded to read a text message before I drove out on the street.
Halfway through the message I hear a knock on my passenger side window.
I look up and see a grumpy looking man with a hand held ticket generator signaling me to roll down my window.
Being the natural cynic I am, I look him up and down to make sure he isn't another bum begging for money, or someone from green peace asking me to save a child in Somalia or something. The sew-on semi-police looking badge on his jacket gave him a little credibility (but not much), so I opened the window a crack and asked him what the problem was.
He alerted me to who he was (a meter maid) and proceeded to write me a ticket.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm about to leave" I say while holding up the $0.80 sticker the auto-pay machine gave me for 30 minutes of time. According to my receipt there was still a good ten minutes left that I could park there without issue.
He gave me a look of disgust.
"For your information, since you failed to leave the curb I could give you a ticket in the amount of $40 for not displaying your parking ticket. $40".
"But I just got back to my car" I said. Holding up my phone I say "I was just reading a message before heading out".
"You are not allowed to simply sit at the curb for any amount of time no matter what you are doing" he says, haughtily.
It is my natural instinct to argue with idiots. Like the city would really rather me read a text on the street, or would give me a ticket right after I pull into the spot while I was rustling around the car for $0.75 to plug into the machine. Reaaaaally. But since he stopped writing the ticket I decided to just play along with his little power trip and said "I'm sorry, it won't happen again". What I really wanted to do was tell him how ridiculous he sounded and drive away, but since the smugness in the air was thick enough to choke a person I knew that going down that route would probably end with me in court fighting a now $160 ticket since by the time I would have actually gotten notice of payment due it would have been too late to pay the original amount. No, by then it would have quadrupled, because somehow the system justifies this. Best to just play nice, I think. I gave him my most sincere smile and he went away.

I realize that to the city, parking tickets are a major form of revenue. Meter maids, or whatever the politically correct term for them is nowadays, are like sharks, waiting to bite as soon as you get into the water without the proper protection. Is it really too much to ask for a little grace period? A little common sense?? It's one dollar and sixty cents an hour to park on the street in downtown Portland, yet I can get a ticket for 34 times that amount for not having the sticker on the window of a running car while I am sitting at the wheel? Maybe its just me, but this seems more than a little off. Its downright wrong.

The Waffle Window - Portland

The Waffle Window
36th and Hawthorne
(503) 239-4756.
Sunday thru Thursday, 8 am – 5 pm.
Friday and Saturday, 8 am – 9 pm.

I was told about this place ages ago but over the months that passed, I never found myself with an opportunity to try it out. A few days ago I found myself with time to spare and an appetite for breakfast foods so we went for a trip down to the little window on Hawthorne.
While they look absolutely delicious, and the toppings are great, I really didn't like the waffle itself. It wasn't as fluffy as the ones that I make at home, and I don't do much of anything special to make those. So.. I don't think I will be returning here, but it is some great candy for the eyes..

"Blueberry Morning" which did not skimp on the whipped cream was a little bland in the flavor department. I felt almost as if I simply paid for a mound of whipped cream with a side of waffle and berries.

The "Razzle Dazzle" was my favorite of the two, the lemon curd was a great addition to the super sweet berries and cream, but again, there was too much creme for the size of the waffle.
All in all, I think they are concerned more with presentation than with actual flavor.
Quite the disappointment.

Mein Geburtstag (My Birthday)

Summed up in a word or two: Great, Wonderful, One I Won't Forget..

B came to my place around 6:30ish bearing gifts. A wheel to replace the one on my bed frame that was broken during the move and an incredibly thoughtful and heartwarming gift which is currently residing on my mantle.
He said that I could do whatever my heart desired, and what it desired was to do something out of the ordinary, yet me. I knew that this was my chance to do whatever I wanted without complaint so I looked into plays and shows that were playing on this Wednesday night and, unfortunately, nothing that even I wanted to see was playing. I then got the idea of the living room theatre off of Burnside (near the pearl) in Portland. I have been wanting to go here for ages! What was what was playing there? Nada. But! Looking at their listings made me want to see something foreign and The Hollywood Theatre off Sandy was playing a couple of German films which sounded promising.
Before the film we stopped for a delicious dinner at the Laurelwood Brewery (great beers, great food, I would highly recommend this place) and before we knew it, it was time to go.
While the movie we decided upon, Jerichow, ended up being mediocre, the experience was still something I would gladly do again. I like watching foreign films because they give you a sense of the culture from the eyes of THE CULTURE, rather than the eyes of an American filmmaker showing you the culture from the way they see it. So, while the storyline was kinda.. eh.. the movie itself was great. There was only one other couple in the theatre so that made it even better, our own private screening of sorts.
Once the film concluded we made our way up to Rocky Butte to enjoy the stars and the view of the city on the cloudless night. It was beautiful.
On home we went, it was after midnight, my birthday was officially over, but it was still my night. An unforgettable one at that.

:)

Deschutes 21st Anniversary Celebration!

This Saturday B, K and I went to the Pearl to celebrate the birthday of one of my favorite brewery's.. Deschutes!

While it was originally advertised as a block party, they were unable to obtain a permit from the city, so indoors it went, as did the live band and $2.10 pints. When we actually got there, however, there were more people milling around on the sidewalk with their drinks than inside the bar which reminded me slightly of what it felt like to be walking around outside in Vegas (well, it was a little different being that in Vegas I had a 60 oz container filled with an icy Pina Colada.. but I digress).
Even though there were 100's of people milling about, K noticed that there was only one person on the waiting list for a table outside... so on the list we go and about 30 minutes later we are given a seat.
The beers were great, as usual, and the new Black Butte XXI was excellent. There was something about the chocolaty goodness that kept me going back for more and more.. Too much apparently since, because of it, I have learned the hard way that when K decides to challenge me to anything in the future the answer from now on is going to be a resounding no. No no no no no, and no.
Oh, and the Habenero sauce?
Best taken in limited quantities.

From the Rose Gardens to the Japanese Gardens. Hop, hop, skip.

That's right, I finally made to to these heavenly gardens, which are located near Washington Park, in NW Portland. It was a nice day so we decided to venture up to the Portland Rose Gardens (actual gardens, not to be confused with the Rose Garden Arena) for a little stroll.
Parking was a little bit of a nightmare, and after driving up the hill and pretty much back down to the bottom, we found a spot that I was able to fit my car into (after much maneuvering, let me tell you). The instant we got out of the car, the sweet aroma of the gardens overcame us, and my nose was in heaven. Once we got to the top of the hill and saw the view of the city (Mt Hood perfectly in view in the background) my eyes were thanking me as well.

I hadn't been here since I was kid, so I didnt really know what to expect. Everything always seems so much bigger in childhood memories as compared to reality so I tried to think of it as tiny as to not be disappointed, but it is a nice size park! With tennis courts, gazebos, pavilions and even a stage, there was plenty of space for everyone (and also the location of my next picnic).
Since it was so warm we decided to get some Shaved Ice before we headed down, what I didnt realize that this was going to hamper my picture taking greatly..

One of the only shots I got of the actual gardens and it is indeed lacking. Its hard to tell that everything was in full bloom! And gorgeous! But this gives you a basic idea.
We were about to leave to go downtown for something to eat when I decided to check out the map to make sure that we didnt miss anything. This was when I saw that the Japanese Gardens were only 300 feet or so away! I have been wanting to go to the Japanese Gardens forever, even once went to the Chinese Gardens in the Pearl thinking they were the same (I know, I know..)
The Rose Gardens are free to get into, the Japanese Gardens do charge a small admission fee (up to $8 for an adult) but its worth the charge. The only thing that I would change would be an addition of a tea house or something that serves Japanese food/drinks. It would really add to the ambiance and lets face it, this is America, we get hungry!

It looks like a painting rather than an open window.. a view from inside the "bamboo" (which smelt mysteriously like pine) house. A great place to put that tea house I'm thinking... :)

I'd love to go back here on a day that wasn't so nice, thus making it not so busy I'm sure. There is something about being in such a serene place, yet bumping into people constantly. Something that slightly takes away from the serenity.. but just slightly.

A Sunday Afternoon Downtown PDX

This last Sunday I found myself with the day off and nothing to do. It was a beautiful day, so I packed a lunch and got the little family into the car. Where were we going? Well, that was undetermined. I just drove.
And, like what normally happens when I just drive, I ended up downtown Portland.
I was unaware that the Rose Festival was going on, so the three of us walked the waterfront, explored Saturday market and ended the outing with a stop at one of my favorite Gelato shops (absolute fav is Parsis' on Fremont).

(its rather difficult to get a shadow shot of a dog, especially one that wants to walk in front of me at all times. From left to right: Le Char-Char, Me, E)

An Oddly Positioned Sign

As I was exiting the bathroom at Anchor Bar in PDX last night (not a place I would ever recommend, don't get me wrong) I noticed this sign by the door:


Epidermis is simply the outer layer of skin and if I WAS headed to the beach and not back to my table far, far away from the beach, I should hope that I wouldn't be FINED or sent to JAIL or BOTH for simply wearing a tee-shirt. Since I was in a drunken bar, in the womens bathroom, I expected the sign to discourage drunk driving or going home with anyone you would possibly find outside that door.. but this? I guess confusion over it simply shows the sobriety of the reader.

Hiking in the Gorge - Oregon Side - Oneonta Trail and Triple Falls

This past week we decided to celebrate the sunny weather with another hike in the gorge, this time on the Oregon side.
We started at the Oneonta trail, which is the first one past Multnomah falls to the east. The trail is slightly inclined but is not difficult at all. While it did get a little muddy in parts, it was very managable and only on parts of the trail where a very small stream or waterfall was crossing the mostly rocky path.
One of the main draws of this hike is Triple Falls which are found after about 10 to 15 minutes of walking.Once you get to the falls you discover that the bridge that used to be there to take you across to horsetail falls has been taken out (the reason was unclear). But do you think that that keeps people like us from going to the other side?

I am not recommending anyone take this log across the creek, it is dirty, slimy (thus slippery), and potentially dangerous. The log itself is cracked in the middle (which we found out when crossing the first time) and who knows how long it will actually remain intact where it is. We straddled the log and crossed that way verses actually walking across it (hey, I'm not crazy)

Once across we didnt end up having time to hike to Horsetail falls, but the fact that we crossed was accomplishment enough (apparently). A view of the creek before we headed back to cross back over.
If you look back up to the first picture posted in this post you will see a log that overlooks the falls, this is the view from that vantage point. Not for those with a fear of heights, but beautiful :)

Looking right down the waterfall. I couldnt get enough pictures of it. It will be nice to know when they fix the bridge (it was in pieces on the opposite side of the creek) so that way you could make what has become an hour or so hike (one way) into something that could potentially take all day. Beautiful spot nonetheless, and nice because all the tourists seem to stop at Multnomah Falls making this spot practically deserted.

Next week, Larch Mountain! (Hopefully)

Do a positive and a negative always equal a wash? My experience at Touché.

Last night I decided that I wanted to try a place that had been on my “wanting to try” list for ages. A place that was supposed to be eclectic but classy, urban but not hipster, upscale but not pretentious..

1425 NW Glisan St.

Portland, OR 97209
(503) 221-1170

As you walk into the rustic house turned entertainment hall, you are greeted by a velvet red curtain and a winding banister staircase. A neon sign reading “billiards” was positioned on the wall above the staircase which was promising for later, but as it was our stomachs would not hear of any more delays of fulfillment at that time (parking ended up being a little difficult for a driver who was on the wrong side of town) into the restaurant we go. Brushing aside the heavily draped curtain we walked to the hostess stand where we proceeded to be seated almost instantaneously. The walls were a muted orange and red, accented by an equally muted green. There were oversized dipper-esque chandeliers lining the ceiling and a very out of place disco ball near the semi open kitchen. Exotic plants and other décor littered the room. All in all, the design and ambiance was very fitting, and very enjoyable to be a part of at that moment.
While the menu boasted Mediterranean and Italian fare, Latin music, which went from a comfortable volume to almost blaring at times, played in the background.
After hearing the specials and a variable discussion we placed our order. From the menu, or order looked like this:

WARM FETA CHEESE
Imported from Greece, wood fired and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and fresh oregano. 8 (this also came with a side of warmed pita)
ZAREH'S FATOUSH SALAD
Grilled spiced chicken breast topping a salad of tomato, romaine lettuce and grilled bread tossed in a special yogurt and tahini dressing. 10.5
PIZZA FOUR SEASONS
Four separate sections of artichoke hearts, mushroom, pepperoni and prosciutto, with mozzarella. 14

(also accompanied by drinks of course)

This was when the experience went a little downhill. As we waited for our appetizer, the people at the bar which was situated approximately 15 feet on our left (and we were sitting next to the windows in the dining room) started to get quite rowdy and obnoxious. The music, for some reason, was turned up to an almost unbearable level and it started to become a little difficult to hold a conversation. All the while time is ticking and we are starting to wonder where our food is. Approximately five minutes later our server, who was very attentive and was filling my water constantly, came over and told us there was a mix up with our cheese dish, and that it would be up momentarily. He also informed us that due to this it was going to be on the house. Ok, that does make it a little better, but explain the mix-up to our already grumpy stomachs.
Once the dish arrived it was definitely worth the wait and it didn’t take long before the small bowl didn’t show any signs of cheese nor pita. Things quieted down, but we again, started to wonder why our main dished had yet to arrive. We waited for so long that the appetizer actually started to settle in and we thought about asking for the check for the drinks and calling it a night.
It wasn’t busy, there were plenty of open tables. I saw servers standing around and honestly, I didn’t see an explainable reason as to why we ended up there for an hour and a half for one meal which consisted of a chicken salad and a pizza.
Eventually our dishes were served to us, and they were both very good. A person couldn’t have asked for better; it’s a shame that a place that has such good food can be overshadowed by a bad experience service wise. I think Touché does deserve a second chance, but next time I will stop by for lunch on a day when time is not an issue.

After dinner we did wander up to the Billiards room to possibly play, but moreover just to explore. This crowd was very different from the crowd in the dining room and was more reminiscent of the rundown club scene than any of what was boasted downstairs. There were not that many tables and I believe that during the week it would be an enjoyable experience, but on the weekends, it’s much too crowded.

A Sunny Day Spent at Isabel in the Pearl - and a little bit about Tully's

I don't know what was inherently different about yesterday that made the day so wonderful, but lets just say that I woke up with a smile plastered on my face and kept that smile through out most of the day.
My 7am wake up call was no different than any other, aside from the fact that there was a little something on my phone which warmed my heart (hmm...), after hitting the snooze at least 3 times I finally got up because I tired of hearing the snide Republican remarks on the annoying AM radio station I have my alarm set to (when I had it set to a station that I liked I would find myself sleeping right on thru it, so only hitting the button 3 times is a much better alternative if I do say so myself).
I dropped E off at school and on the way home I decided to stop by the new Tully's that they recently put in on 78th and what I believe to be Hazel Dell Avenue (right next to the LA Fitness). I had heard many good things about this place from an ex friend up in Seattle and I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. Because I was not dressed for public (what happens if I want to get E to school on time) I opted for the drive thru.
As drove away with my typical (of late) Grande Soy Vanilla Latte in hand I took a sip...
Backing up a few moments before this, when I was handed my drink I noticed that it felt significantly lighter than my typical drink, and there was water all over the lid. No big deal, I don't want my drink spat in so I didnt say anything. With my first sip I couldnt tell if the drink tasted so watery because of the fact that it seemed to have been held over the faucet or if the soy itself was actually watery but I was able to discern a very delicious espresso flavor which I loved. My final impression: Don't buy the soy from Tully's. I will give them one more shot with a regular, dairy variety, latte, but probably not any time soon.

After heading to the gym for a vigorous work out, which I am paying for today, I went downtown to meet up with my good friend Ivonne for our weekly lunch excursion. This week we opted for Isabel, a new, modern chic healthy food type of venue.
The food was great, very fresh, very tasty, and very recommendable. Our waiter was a little sketchy... but he left us alone for the most part so that was a plus in his direction. We arrived right during the peak of the lunch rush, but we didnt have to wait at all for our table, and we got a perfect corner seat right by the windows. It was chattery, but not loud at all, ideal for conversation. Most definitely a place I will want to try again.

Since the day was perfect for walking, almost with out a coat even, we decided to do a little window shopping before we went our separate ways. Breathing in the crisp fresh air, with the sun streaming on your face, with a slight breeze running through your hair, does wonders for the senses.. :)

A day at the park?

Named by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the smallest park in the World... What was originally intended to be a place for a light post... Measuring in as a whopping 2ft circle... I'd like to show you Mill Ends Park!

Kinda hard to relax and play in the park when you are not even able to stretch your legs without fearing that you will be hit by a car in the process.. But that is beside the point :)

A Change From the Norm: Girls Night!!

Tonight should prove to be interesting.
Last weekend I went bar hopping with my good friend Renee. This weekend I am going club hopping with my friend Lancaster.
Some of the things that I loved about last weekend was the fact that there is no cover on bars and that the crowds were manageable (ie you were not mauled and grouped while navigating thru the sea of people on the way to the bathroom.. not that I even used the bathroom but for some reason whoever I am with always needs to use it at least a couple of times). Not only am I going to do a comparison between the two crowd wise and entertainment wise, but financially as well. Now it would be a less bias comparision if I was to go with the same people each time (who knows if I would have more fun one time based just on the company because Renee and I would have a great time just sitting in a gas station parking lot) but unfortunately she is MIA this weekend so I will have to make due with my experiment the way it is. It is only slightly confounded and will not make a significant difference ;)

So!! Aside from the fact that I am desperately needing to buy a new dress, I am very excited for this evening....

Bars vs. Clubs: A Case Study (Part 1)

Bars

Quick Synopsis (or in true case study fashion: Abstract)

Bar hopping allows for real one on one time with the person you are with and if you decide to let other people into the conversation that is easily achieved as well. Due to the fact that most bars do not charge a cover charge, if you don’t like a place you can leave whenever you want without feeling cheated and meeting different people, or experiencing different environments or ambiances is very easily attainable. Generally the noise level is not unmanageable in bars, most of the places we went to were welcomely quiet, so you are actually able to hold a conversation with a person without having to shout. Naturally, the part of town or the bar of choice makes all the difference in this, so I will be more specific and say that the bars we chose to go to in the Pearl were more than accommodating. Who you are with also makes a huge difference in the experience of the evening, so much so that the right company can make even the worst of events seem not so bad. My accomplice for this part of the “study” was my good friend Renee... time will only tell if she caused there to be a lack in objectivity when it comes to the level of satisfaction of the evening :)

Little Black Dress night officially took place on Saturday, August 16th. It was a belated birthday celebration for one of my friends because I was in Boston on the date of her original birthday. I came fully equipped with a list of different bars and places we could go to in The Pearl and downtown but mostly in The Pearl because lets face it, its my favorite part of town.
First stop on the list: Trust.
This bar is on the corner of 9th and Everett and was recommended to us by another friend when I told her what it was that we were doing that night. It was around 7pm, we were more than turning heads with our attire and when walking towards this place we decided that we were a little overdressed (and to be honest the place didnt really fit our style anyways) so we kept on walking towards 12th.
Because I wanted to do things that were new and different the place we went to next wasn't on the list but after she told me that she had never actually ordered anything from the place the decision was quickly made to go to oBa.
This bar is one of my favorites; they make the best key lime pie martini's in town (fully equipped with a graham cracker crust rim on the glass) and is located on near 12th and Everett. After walking in the door and discovering on the end of a day with a record high temperature of 105 degrees that they had no air conditioning we decided to have one drink and leave before we melted. Instantly we were both glistening and the fact that we were sticking to the chairs was very concerning (sure, we were wearing black but the last thing we want are sweat spots).
Out the door we go, and we head up the street to Bluehour.
On our way to 13th and Everett, where this place is located, we see a crowd of picketers outside the landing/stairs. They had signs and blowhorns and got louder and louder the closer we got. When they saw that we were actually going into this restaurant/bar they started screaming as us to not go inside this "inhumane establishment" or "any place that serves Foie Gras". After getting inside and sitting down at the dimly lit bar we asked the bartender what the issue was and what Foie Gras even was (because you know how it is, all the hype AGAINST the dish was actually making me consider trying it lol). Turns out it is duck liver and what is inhumane about it is the fact that the birds are force fed during the last two weeks of their lives. Liver? Eh, no thanks. But we did enjoy two distinctively good drinks in a very calm, quiet, classy, upper scale atmosphere.
Next, Henry's.
It was time to eat so we headed up towards burnside and stopped off at yet another place that was not on the list due to the rate we frequent this bar but whatever, the food is good and the list was just for suggestion anyways... not hardfast. It is Saturday night, and like always, the place is packed. We made a couple of rounds around the bar and I was about to suggest we sit in the restaurant due to the lack of seating when a table suddenly appears out of no where. As is Henry's style, we snatched it up asap and waited for someone to come over and clean it. She learned the hard way to never order a rusty nail, and I learned that beer on an empty stomach isn't necessarily a good idea. The food was excellent, calamari and a blue cheese bacon burger hehe and it wasnt long before two people asked to join us. We were in a particularly good mood (and were nice and cool because they don't skimp on the A/C) so we said what the hell. The company wasnt bad, but pretty soon it was midnight and we didn't want to spend the whole evening there.....
One of the places that I wanted to go to for sure on this evening was Portland City Grill but being that we were both full we decided to stop by one of her favorite places instead: Kells (it is for HER birthday after all lol)
Quite the difference from the bars we were at before, but just as fun! We are pretty much regulars there and were instantly recognized by the bar staff. The place was packed but we were invited to sit at a table by one gentleman. Little did we know that that guy was actually with a huge group of guys and before long we were surrounded..... The drink that we always order there is called an "east coast" and they know to pile them on with cherries :)
Before long it was 3am, and lets just say that one of the guys was getting rather clingy and didnt want to let us leave. I'm sorry, but to honestly think that we (or that I was going to let her) would even consider going back to your place to "continue hanging out" is just ridiculous. So being that I somehow found a parking spot right in front of the bar we got in the car and headed home.

All in all a very fun evening, something that I more than definitely am sure to do again hehe.

Another Night on the Town.

I know it is not right to complain about being tired being that I knowingly decided to go out for drinks rather than go home and get some rest before getting up at 5 am to come to work, but I am so tired!
Even the coffee that I have had today has has no effect on my lethargic demeanor. At least I can say though that I had a good enough time last night that I actually feel like it was sort of worth my suffering today hehe.
My friend L was running extremely late due to circumstances outside of her control and I was sitting at Henry's sitting at a table examining the happy hour menu and waiting for the server to come take my order. Normally I am ok with this, but on this occasion due to the fact that the place was so packed I felt somewhat bad that I had this table all to myself. So I told her that if she didnt hurry up I was going to be compelled to give her spot to someone else; which was what I ended up having to do.
A.. younger.. gentleman, after noticing I let someone take two of the chairs that was at my table, decided to make conversation by pointing out the ever so observant fact that I was giving away all my chairs and I decided to make him my victim. Hehe. It worked and I had a nice conversation for the next little while, well more like hour, while I waited. And it was an interesting conversation at that... talk of checking surfboards and bicycles onto airplanes when he flew company business keeping in mind that his "company" he works for is the US government hence it is people like you and I that are paying all these excess weight and baggage fees just so this kid could go and have a good time while he was on "business".. yeah... I let him know my views on that. And walking your dog at a school that you don't even go to?? I will never understand why people do that.. It is a campus, not a nature hike.
Finally!! She arrives and it was like a switch went off and my attentional focus went from him to all her and he ended up going away... I didnt mean to be mean, it just happened! :D

The remainder of the evening went as follows:
I had a gay man wanting to borrow my shorts
I have learned you can never have too many olives
Or cherries for that matter
A half a cherry is only ok only if you know what happened to the other half
Chicken Wings and Crab Cakes are no where near the same thing
An Irish pub is an IRISH Pub; don't expect anything more!
We have a great story to scare even the most "honest" bartender away

Come two am we were kicked to the curb and we found our way back to my car. I was in a talkative mood; she needed a bathroom. Its not that I didnt believe her (I mean, she didnt just use the bathroom not ten minutes before or anything) I just couldnt stop talking! And talking.. And talking :)

Like right now! I could keep going and going... but I think I will drop off now........ oh yes. Who needs a conclusion?

A very nice evening (SG1)

Last night Stanfords guy and I met up for date number one at Roux off of N Killingsworth. I stress the N because for some reason when I looked at the map before I left I thought I was going to NE and ended up being about 10 minutes late because of it. I must say that I arrived at 1700 NE Killingsworth on time though, because I do want credit for that.
So we meet in this restaurant and have one drink a piece and after chatting for a while see that if we are going to make the play that we have to go and we have to go now. So we stroll down to the car, drive to the pearl, find a parking spot right away and head into the armory. The show started at 730pm; we got there at 734pm and they would not allow us to go in…. I was so close! So close!! Haha
So from there we decide to go get something to eat. He asks me if there is anywhere in particular that I wanted to go but I wasn’t really hungry at that moment. I was thinking that I wanted to try something different since I have pretty much been everywhere in the pearl so he suggested this French place downtown (about 10 blocks away or so). Alright, lets get walking (he asked if I wanted to get a cab but my feet were not hurting so I opted for walking, I was thinking that it would make me hungry anyways). So we get down to the restaurant and guess what??? Not only is it closed but they are tearing the thing apart! So… what to do now? It was at this point that I remembered that I wanted to try Andina, in the Pearl, but didn’t feel like walking all the way back there and all the construction on the road where we were reminded me of the melting pot… which I have been wanting to go back to for quite a while now. Melting pot it is.
We get there, they say it will be about a 30min wait so we head into the bar and proceed to order some drinks. I had one of the most perfect key lime pie martini’s ever and he ordered a Manhattan. I will say that the smoked salmon cheese ball was quite good; the crackers were not… unless you like stale crackers that is (they were the type of crackers that are supposed to taste that way, because they were “fresh out of the package” apparently; after I made a comment about them they brought us out some more).
Dinner was good… I was really impressed how he took charge of a very, eh, difficult situation when it came to getting the food we wanted. Impossible you say?? Nothing is impossible hehe.
It was a very, very fun night. Conversation flowed, laughter was non stop. At one point we were having a very heating discussion about why Mars doesn’t have an atmosphere now and if there was water on the planet where did it go, etc. I found myself half yelling! Spewing out numbers, facts and figures that the average person doesn’t just know…. It was great!! Those are the sorts of conversations that I love having but never seem to find anyone to have them with…

It concluded on a very high note and I am still smiling today. Its funny, when I am in a good mood people seem to approach me more. I have had more “hi, how are you doing??’s” today by total strangers then I think I have had in the past 6 months combined… all because I don’t look like I want to kill someone today. Hehe. Makes sense to me… I’d be afraid to approach me too. But with this smile, finally the good side is coming out to play.

:)

What to do, What to do..

I am sitting here compiling a list of possible things to do tomorrow night on my date with Stanford’s guy.

Currently on it is:

Beavers game at PGE Park

Rock climbing at the Portland Rock Gym

“The Little Dog that Laughed” at Portland Center Stage (Armory)

An Original Post Card Art Show at City Hall

Mad Caddies, The Supervillians and the Schafers at the Hawthorne Theatre

For some reason Tuesdays are a common blackout date in events! Interesting and non interesting events alike…..
But if anyone wants a really great site for finding events in the Portland area try here. I am shocked and amazed as to how many different little theatres we have here. Its very exciting! Because now you know where you are going to be finding me…… haha

Uncharacteristically Me.

This last Thursday evening I had plans to meet up with a friend to try our luck at Afro-Cuban/Afro-Brazilian dancing. For some reason I just wasn’t feeling up to par with myself that day so I decided to stop and get a drink at Stanford’s beforehand because we were meeting at the Lloyd Center.
I get there, sit down at the bar and proceed to look at the drink menu. What I really wanted was a key lime pie martini but, according to the bartender, they didn’t have the crucial ingredient needed to give it the special *kick* so I decided to order a Vanilla Martini in its stead. It is around 7pm and this place is pretty empty aside from a lone gentleman sitting to my left munching on a caesar salad. I could tell he was looking at me so I may have glanced in his direction and smiled once or twice. My Vanilla Martini then arrives and to my amusement the thing is GREEN. I thought for a minute that maybe he decided to make me my key lime pie martini after all but after an initial sip it was distinctively vanilla. And very good.
So this was an instant conversation starter… he asked me what I was drinking and about 15 minutes of interesting conversation later I had to leave or be late, yet again. So I said my goodbyes and walked out the door. When I got outside I stopped and thought… you know, how will I ever really meet anyone good if I wait for the one’s that I am interested in to come to me? When do I ever just wait around and not try for what I want anyways? So I got out a business card out of my wallet, scribbled my name and cell phone number on it and walked back into the bar. I then walked over to him and said “you know what, I don’t ever do this but if you ever want to give me a call sometime you can feel free” as I slid the card onto the bar. He laughed, said he would call, and said that he was regretting not saying something sooner.
So we will see what happens.
We all know how I am. I’ll probably see him once or twice and then be done with him, just like all the rest. A person can only be uncharacteristic for so long…

The coffee date which lasted 6 hours.

So last night I decided to meet up with an old friend of mine whom I have been communicating with off and on for almost a year now off of a particular internet sight which will remain anonymous (rhymes with Thai Place lol). Lets call him, for lack of a better term, PSU Guy. We had always talked but never actually met which is very common which those sorts of relationships but I decided that I finally wanted to meet him face to face to see if we really did have as much in common as it seemed.
We met at Peet’s Coffee & Tea at 4pm in the pearl where we preceeded to talk and talk and talk until my stomach told me that if we were going to keep talking we would need to do it at a place where there was food. So from there we went and checked out the menu at this place right down the street from there but decided that it wasn’t what we were feeling like having at the moment. So we ended up down at this noodle place that was right atop of Blitz. After staring at the menu for a while he asked me what I was going to get to which I answered the Pad Thai. He smiled and said that was what he was going to get as well. So we sit down and I swear that that was the worst pad thai I have ever tasted period but I tried to eat it anyways (the chicken atop it was good at least) making a huge mess the whole time (bean sprouts were getting EVERYWHERE! Lol). So from there we decide that if we are going to be staying downtown any longer he was going to have to go and plug his meter so we start walking. He said he was parked “just a little ways away”. Ok, I really don’t mind walking, its actually quite refreshing and I hadn’t had a chance to make it downtown at all this semester so I was enjoying gazing at all the changes that had taken place since then. Somehow the city is always in metamorphosis. When we finally get the 12 blocks to his car we decide to head downtown to see if the parade is going or to see a movie. On the way I desperately needed a bathroom so I got use of my gym membership for the month and made a stop at the 24hr in the pearl. From there we make it downtown and decide to nix the parade in favor of a movie. I didn’t recognize any movies on the list and he was able to convince me to watch “Baby Mama” (I was pleasantly surprised to be honest in the quality of this film). So inside the theatre we went. At first we thought that we were going to get a private screening (it added fuel to my notion of it going to be a horrid movie) but it filled up quickly.
It is now after 10pm and we decide that its about time to get going. He walks me back to my car and I give him a ride to his car which is parked considerably further away. All in all it was a good experience. I am thinking I will see him again, but there is a little something…. That I think will be cleared up after date #2.

Friday Night Drinks

One benefit of working the AM shift is the fact that I am free on Thursday and Friday nights to do whatever I please past the hours of 9pm. Most of the time I do what I am supposed to and go to bed, tonight, however, I needed a drink.
I met up with S (yup, the same one that stood me up last week; proof that I always seem to give people second chances) at Old Chicago in SE and took advantage of their ever-so-extravagant happy hour menu. You see, he always asks me where I want to go and me, not knowing any good bars in areas aside from Down Town Portland have no idea where to go. I didn't particularily feel like going to McMenamins again so Old Chicago it is. He orders a Black Butte Porter and I order a Hefeweizen (I have been taking a break from the darker brews…… for some reason) and we decide on fries and some buffalo wings (really it was more like just chicken because we swear that they forgot to add the sauce). The waitress is less than attentive, I ask for some ketchup to go with the fries which never seemed to materialize and she came back and asked us if we wanted more drinks maybe twice. My second round beer was so bad (an IPA with a bitter aftertaste reminiscent of the bitter beer commercials I remember seeing when I was younger) that I only ended up drinking maybe a quarter of it.
So we are sitting there, chit chatting away when we realize that the time is past 1am and being that I do have to be up at 5am I had to be getting home. Around 1:30am-ish I am driving in Vancouver and get over to the lane that I need to be in to exit when the car in front of me slows way down. “What the hell?” was the only thing that came to mind. So I go around him. The next thing I know this guy gets up on my tail, swerves to my right, passes me, cuts me off and flicks a cigarette at my car in the process. Um.. again, what the hell??? I’m thinking that he must be drunk and I really didn’t want to piss him off so I just get over and pass him doing the speed limit. This apparently didn’t sit well with him because he again speeds past me then slows down then speeds past me and slows down yet again. Its one thing if I knew who he was but I don’t know anyone that drives a car like that. I take the exit to get onto SR500 and he follows continuing his crazy tactics. “Where is a cop when I need one??” I’m thinking. At this point I am starting to get worried so I decide that I should probably not let the guy follow me home so as he speeds past the Van Mall exit I hit the breaks, cross both lanes of the highway and take the exit. I see him brake almost to a complete stop on the overpass above, obviously noticing that I was gone. I got back on SR500 going the opposite direction and took the back way home.
What the hell?? I have never had anyone do anything like that before, but it was quite fun loosing him on the highway. Hehehe. Hey, if I don’t want to be caught, I won’t be caught!
I was home, in my own bed by 2am (yes, that’s right!) and was cursing the day when my alarm woke me 3 hours later….

Triple Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte Anyone??
(*hint* *hint*)

Sipping Martini's at Midnight (least that was the plan)

Sometimes in life we get second chances. This was a second shot at a great birthday celebration for K.


So, we started off at Henry's Tavern for a quick drink and something lite to eat. After circling the bar many times we finally located a decent location to sit, right at the bar. I went and found a cozy location for our coats to hang as they pushed the three seats together in preparation of the night ahead. A Mango Mohito, Raspberry Drop, some other fruity martini which I don't remember the name of at this moment and we were good to go. Really, nothing much exciting happened here aside from the little incident with the female bartender. So I will move on quickly, as we did from this bar. (There was a little run in with an old friend outside the bar, some things never change. I am glad that I did.)

Next up: Blitz

This cozy little bar is found in the Pearl, and was the reason that I opted to not do the little black dress that evening. We went there with the intention of meeting up with a bartender friend for some free drinks. Up to the bar we sit, they order drinks, I, being responsible and not wanting a repeat of the weekend before, opted to not have anything at that moment.
We ended up getting there rather early, it was around 9pm, so there wasnt much going on but the bar started to fill up quickly. There were these two guys that were sitting across the bar from us that in my opinion, if you put them together, would make a great representation of Michael Moore, that wouldnt stop staring at us. Not one of us would make eye contact with the guys but stare on they did. Next thing we know we all have shots of tequila in front of us and the bartender informs us that the guys across the bar had purchased them for us. We sat there dumbfounded. I was about to pick up my shot, walk it across the bar and give it back to them with a resounding "No Thanks" when someone convinced me otherwise... Oh I think it would have been funny! But no, not this time. So on the bar our drinks sat until the guys finally gave up and left the bar. Once they were gone there was no point in passing up free alcohol so a lime and some salt on my wrist later and I was good to go.
So a little while later J's cousin arrives and say that we should go to this club downtown. This dance club where there will be food and we'll have a good time. Ok, that sounds good. I am getting tired of sitting at this bar anyways (even if torturing all the men around me was quite entertaining) and since yet another female bartender was giving us trouble with us trying to order food I was all for getting out of there.
We're told that this dance club is called Ground Zero and is on 5th and Couch. I had never heard of this place before, and when we drove past it and there was no line I was kinda worried. When we got to the door and went inside I... Well....... This is what we found:

Ok when I think of a DANCE CLUB I mean PHYSICAL dancing! Not on an arcade! Not only was it horrible, but there was no way that I would trust food from this place. It was the low of the evening that is for sure and if we didnt make it out of there soon it was gong to be a repeat of the original birthday weekend! J didnt know that this was what this place was going to be so she says that we'll leave in 5 minutes. 5 minutes was all we'd have to spend in this place. Ok, so I can deal with 5 minutes.
I had a quarter in my pocket from a tip I got from a friend at work today so I plunged it into a speed boat racing game and got 7th place. I felt like I was at Chuck E Cheese with E. That's right. Ok, by this time it had been 5 minutes and I had it. My stomach was at the point to where it was so hungry that it was protesting and decided that to teach me a lesson it was going to eat itself. So I grab a very drunk K and we went out to find some food. You see normally it is me that is the tipsy one and she is the one leading me on. Not this night. Arm in arm we walk, me the protector, I fit well in this position (just ask anyone.. hehe). Where to go, where to go, where to go.......... we look up, almost in unison.....

Portland City Grill
Somehow we always end up at this place.
Tonight we ended up at a nice window booth, eating teriyaki chicken spring rolls and eventually, after waiting for them to make us a piece of chocolate hazelnut cheesecake from scratch we enjoyed that as well.
All in all the evening was great. I went home with a smile on my face and woke this morning feeling quite refreshed. Altho next weekend I do believe that I am going to be laying low... Going out three weekends in a row has gotten to be quite tiring... but I really cannot wait until the next time the three of us go galavanting about downtown portland after hours... hehe