Portland’s Living room

February 14, 2026

Dear Liza,

Happy Valentine’s Day! But that’s not what this blog is about.

Last evening we three bundled up and bussed off to our drizzly Downtown and enjoyed a bright, warm celebration of Portland city life.

Even before we got to Pioneer Square, known as Portland’s Living Room, we could see things were going to be interesting.

Shimmering lights, crocheted tents, furious “fire swamp” explosions, and an electrified juggler made us forget the rain.

Hundreds of folks were out, enjoying the show and the community. A well-tended bonfire in a beautifully wrought fire-pit warmed chilly fingers and evoked a camping-in-the-woods vibe.

Furthering our adventure, we walked to Director’s Park and found warm coffee and sweet s’mores (By Marsh & Mallow, in their new location). A delicately carved, glowing Nautilus shell lit what is usually a wading fountain.

Refreshed with sugar and caffeine, we had one last stop : Portland’s World Trade Center. We heard it before we saw it. “Audible” was a deafening understatement!

There were artworks you could walk into, walk through, and just marvel at.

And as our own batteries were running low, we had a long, quiet look at the Willamette and then headed off to catch the bus back home.

Thanks, Portland! It was delightful.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Merry Christmas!! I hope you and your Mommy and Daddy have a fun day with Baba Alla and lots of presents and good food. I will be spending the day with Cousins Kyle, Jasper and Kestrel, and Auntie Christy and Bridgett, and Grandpa Nelson.

Last night we took Auntie Christy and cousin Kyle to Zoolights. We went with Katie and the cousins last year, but Katie still has a cold and it was going to be a wet night.

First, Christy and I went to the movies downtown to see “Welcome to Marwen”, a movie that looks really sad but is really very hopeful. Steve Carell, who does the voice of Gru in the Despicable Me movies, was the star and did a very good job of making us believe an unbelievable story.

When the movie was over, I showed Christy around our pretty downtown…the trees wrapped in lights, and Pioneer Square (which Portlanders call ‘The Living Room’) with its giant Christmas tree.

Grandpa Nelson, cousin Kyle and Auntie Bridgett met us there and we got on the train to the zoo. It was cold and damp, but not raining…..yet.

As we got into the zoo, it began, and kept raining all night. We had brought umbrellas and hats, gloves and coats, but I could feel my feet getting wetter and wetter as I enjoyed the lights and dealt with crowds.

We stopped for food at the Africafe, where we usually watch the birds darting around their aviary. But they were all asleep. It was odd, being at the zoo when all the animals were not active, sort of like sneaking into someone’s house when they are away. Along with a few hundred other folks.

When we had walked the route and gotten just about as wet as we could, we caught the train back downtown….and then the rain really kicked in! Fifth Street was a river that happened to have streetcar tracks in it. Thanks goodness for Portland’s covered bus stops, or we would have been miserable.

We were home around 7, but we were all exhausted. We changed into dry clothes, hung up the wet ones, and watched Graham Norton until we got sleepy, around 9:00. Falling asleep, I thought about how good it is to get wet and cold, get warm and dry again, and be with family.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Tag: Portland’s Living room

Portland Festival of Lights

Zoolights 2018