New to Portland

Rain Cometh

Steps to survive:

TAKE VITAMIN D.
I never did that until late last winter… and it made a big difference. I had a blood test and found out I was unusually low on Vitamin D. It was making me feel bad. We usually get Vitamin D from the sun. With no sun, you better head to Walgreens and get yourself a supplement. 

Play board games.
Go to Guardian Games, Ive talked about this before. Nerd out with other people.

Find a fireplace:
With all that water coming down out there you may want to go to the DougFir Lounge or somewhere you can sit in front of water’s opposite and warm up.

Find the sun:
hop in your car and drive to the dessert. A two hour adventure may get you into a sun shiny place. Try the Dalles or beyond.

Lake swim: Hagg Lake

Is the freezing water of the rivers here in the Pacific Northwest getting you down? Long for a warm swim not too far away? Hagg Lake might be the spot for you. 

Last week before the Washington County Fair, some friends and I adventured to this spot. Its a park where many people bring their boats etc… but there is also a no wake zone, and its only an hour out of portland in Hillsborough! The water is warm, it wasnt too packed so I highly reccomend this spot. You have to pay $5 to get in, but it seems worth it to me… clean place, warm water! Maybe save it for a sunday, after a saturday where you went swimming in frigid water… I did that, and it was so redeeming and wonderful!

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Siouxson Creek

An hour and a half drive from portland, and a 7 mile round trip hike in takes you to several waterfalls at Siouxon Creek with emerald beautiful COLD water. The hike is lovely, through the ferns and huge trees, on a soft tree needle bedded trail, you descend down to the creek and take a moderate route (though a few steep descents into the swim spots). Completely amazing place. Maybe the best I have been to yet. Huge points for its seclusion, awesome hike, and beautiful swim spots. Great for camping too. Washington has plenty to offer and is just across the river. 

Pizza for Pen

New friend just moved to town. Pen. Pen loves pizza. On the way back from an epic day of swimming at hagg lake I started breaking down the pizza locations in portland, my favorites, and the general pizza atmosphere of the city. My east coast hard line ways of how pizza is supposed to be is still kind of specific, but I have learned to appreciate what is here.

Dove Vivi: Corn crust, unreal, SO GOOD. again, more of a date spot, small, long wait (unless you go on a weekday). Vegan options. AMAZINGLY good. 28th and NE Sandy

Sizzle pie: a great on the go slice, local punk chain, vegan and meaty options, even some great salads. And they are almost always listening to some music that I have on my ipod, from Hank Williams to Neurosis. Approved. This is a slice you can fold. 6th and SE burnside or 9th and NW Burnside

Escape from New York: also great on the go slice. In SE and NW…I think this chain is pretty good. 622 NW 23rd Ave, and 3305 SE Belmont ave 

Blind Onion: thick crust but delicious. a few locations

Lovelys 5050: brick oven. Delicious!!!!! and AMMAAAAAAZING home made ice cream there too. Oh and coke in a bottle. love it. 4039 N Mississippi

Kens Pizza: brick oven, kinda upscale, nice ambience. Everyone says this place is great. I think I even said it in an earlier post. But the deal is, everyone says it’s great because they have been waiting in line for an hour and a half and are STARVING by the time they get there. Not worth the wait, or price…not to me when you can go pretty close by and get better food. 28th and se pine

Nostrana: pretty good, also slightly more upscale. Not your 1.50 slice in a paper bag how I really like it. Take your parents here when they come to visit. Good happy hour specials too. 13th and se morrison

Talent Show: Aaron Rayburn

Aaron Rayburn is the most unexpected friend I have made here in Portland. I never could have expected my path would eventually cross with a man that grew up in a middle of nowhere magical logging town, who now is a designer seeping with knowledge, inspiration, enthusiasm and experience from every pore. This dude is a wealth of information of the history of design, and it shows in his writing, photography and documentation of art, travel and culture in his blog (done along side with Ben Vickery, who I owe a post… soon).  Aaron is an amazing designer with all kinds of tricks up his sleeve, and someone I am very lucky to call a friend. 

www.fortport.com

curator of http://www.bureauoftrade.com/

Talent Show: Anastasia Aizman

Oh Portland, how such a small city is full of so much talent, I still havent figured that out. I’ve had the fortune to work with Anastasia for a few months here at WK. Anastasia is one of the most eager and inspired young designers I have ever met, so full of inspiration and somehow unclouded from the insanity that is the creative industry. She’ll earn her twitches soon I’m sure. This mid-winter Anastasia is onto some new adventures, and more greatness and creativity is sure to come from this one. Keep an eye on her. 

http://iamanastasia.com/