I grew up in a very small town, Manhattan Beach, California. Even when I went to University it was in mostly-suburban Long Beach. I’ve never lived in a big city. But now I do.
And every now and then, Portland reminds me.
On Saturday, Auntie Bridgett and I headed downtown for lunch. We took the B Loop streetcar north, then switched to the Red Line train that took us over the Steel Bridge. The view of half a dozen other bridges…. From a train… on a bridge… was delightfully urban and exciting.
Once we got downtown, I kept noticing the heights. This new non-square building is going to be the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. It is fascinating and makes me dizzy.
Since it was a sunny day, reflections were everywhere. I got this shot of a mid-century modern building reflected in Woonwinkel’s window. It felt like a surrealist painting.
I love living in Portland. Our neighborhood on the Eastside is mostly older houses and century old trees, but in ten minutes I can be among skyscrapers.
There is a new attraction in downtown Portland. I’ll give you the details later, but it involves France and Art, so of course, we went! Thursday was cold and rainy, but we caught the bus and headed downtown.
By the time the number 15 got us there, it was lunchtime. We know better than to start any adventure on empty stomachs, so we walked a few blocks further along to the McMenamin’s Market Street Pub. Set in the courtyard of a modern set if high-rise apartments, this is not one of their usual historic re-furbishments. But it is delightful, anyway.
We enjoyed our views of downtown passersby as we waited for the short-handed staff to bring us food. There was also some delightful art.
The McMenamins Company has a large staff of artists who give their establishments a unique look. Lyle Hehn is one of our favorites, and we saw his work here. His delightful surrealistic scenes pull you in, always showing you more. This one featured the McMenamin’s beer witch, Ruby, overseeing a dance party of wood carved Hammerheads.
When we were fed and ready, we headed off into the drizzle. After a tiny stop at Seasame Donuts (for Grandpa Nelson) we headed to ….Portland Museum of Art!
Yesterday Auntie Bridgett wanted to get out during the day and write for her comic strip, so we set off to find a new coffee shop. We walked down Burnside past Heart and Grendel’s, and settled in at Ristoretto on Couch for some pastries, chai and coffee.
After an hour of relaxing, reading, writing and listening to some pretty weird music, we headed off again. We walked past some very interesting new buildings, like “The Fair-Haired Dumbbell”, and I realized we were only five blocks from the Willamette River. We had been talking about making time to walk along the river, so we did!
Fair-Haired Dumbbell
But you simply can’t start a major adventure on just coffee and a hand pie. Wandering down Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (we call it MLK) we found the Sheridan Fruit Company. It is SO much more than fruit! They make sausages, cheeses, have a food truck, and a whole grocery store that has been there since 1906! The whole place smells fabulous. We shared the Seafood Creole Special of spicy shrimp, sausage, polenta and veggies and felt properly fortified for our journey.
Sheridan Fruit Co., since 1906!
There is a huge freeway that runs between the east part of Portland and the River, but with Googlemaps and patience, we followed bridges over freeways and under bridges and found the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade. It is named for a woman who was mayor of Portland and in the Oregon government for years, and this wonderful path follows the Willamette River for one and a half miles.
Vera Katz Statue Photo credit mygola.com
Along this path are water fountains, bubblers, benches, sculpture, trees, and even floating public docks to sit on and even jump into the river from, if you like. A few fellows did, and it looked like fun, but we didn’t…wet and drippy are not a good way to walk around town.
Auntie Bridgett, me, the Hawthorne Bridge, and the Willamette River
We walked to the south end, just under the Hawthorne Bridge, and then north to the Burnside Bridge, up a long flight of steps, and turned east towards home. It had gotten warm and we were pooped. We walked up Ash Street and realized we had walked six miles! No wonder we were tired!
We sat on the couch, drank lots of water, and both fell asleep. After dinner, when it was cooler, Grandpa Nelson joined us and we…..walked some more! Just through Laurelhurst Park this time, not even a whole mile, but the breeze was cool and dogs and kids were playing in the park. It was worth it.
Love,
Grandma Judy
PS The flamingos are celebrating a birthday AND the eclipse! Check out this picture!
Dear Liza 