cary perkinsCurrent Portland Real Estate Market InformationMovingMoving to PortlandORPearl DistrictPortland OregonPortland Oregon RestaurantsRestaurantsThings to do in Portland OR September 7, 2016

A 7-Day Itinerary for the PDX Newbie

 

This article by Wannabe Portlandy (http://www.wannabeportlandy.com), offers some great suggestions for showing your friends & family around our fabulous city of Portland.

 

Downtown Portland – Broadway 

Every year, I get requests from friends and followers to create Portland itineraries for them. This is something that I enjoy doing and I go the extra mile of even making detailed presentations for friends. Each traveler is different and so I make it a point to tailor fit the itineraries that I make for each individual personality and preference. 

I recently crafted a personalized 7-Day itinerary for three of my friends and three of their kids. I am sharing the itinerary here because it might help you plan your trip to Portland too. 

But first, a little bit of perspective on why I made this itinerary the way it is. First of all, my friends are world-travelers. They have been around Asia, Europe, and North America. So I wanted to suggest places that are more unique to PDX. For instance, I intentionally did not suggest for them to eat in any Asian restaurants even if this is popular in Portland. Most of my foodie suggestions are focused on good American food. Secondly, my friends were traveling with kids that are 5-years old and below. So most of the places that I have suggested are kid-friendly and places that won't require waiting in line for more than an hour. 

So here it goes!

Day 1 (SUNDAY) – Welcome to Portland! 
 

Screen Door 

10:30AM – I immediately had my friends go to Olympia Provisions for brunch. Don't forget to order the Steak Eggs Benedict here. Advanced reservations is a must! 

2:00PM – After brunch, I had my friends take the Best of Portland Walking Tour. This is a great crash course on what makes Portland, Portland. This tour will take you around downtown Portland's key highlights for 2 hours. Advanced reservations is a must! 

5:30PM – Screen Door is a PDX foodie hall-of-famer so go here for dinner and make sure to order the buttermilk fried chicken. Tip: Screendoor opens at 5:30PM for dinner. Try to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier or else you'll end up waiting in line for a much longer time. 

Day 2 (MONDAY) – Foodie Day Part 1 

 

Guero 

9:00AM – Have breakfast at Tasty 'n Sons. Make sure to order the Potato Doughut, Meatloaf Cheddar & Biscuits, Auntie Paula's French Toast, and Salmon Hash. Tip: This is a popular restaurant so try to go at least 15  minutes in advanced to line-up. Otherwise, you'll end up waiting for an hour. 

10:00AM – Tasty 'n Sons is in a great quintessential Portland neighborhood called N. Williams so just walk around the area and enjoy the different stores. 

11:00AM – Today is an immersion into the amazing PDX food scene so be ready to taste a lot. Have one of the best ice creams you'll ever taste in your life at Salt & Straw. 

12:00NN – Portland is all about the food trucks. Head on over to Guero and order the No. 3 Torta. 

2:00PM – A second snack is in order. Head on over to Pip's for some seriously amazing doughnuts. Don't forget to get the Bacon & Maple Doughnut and Matcha Tea. Tip: Pip's closes at 4PM so make sure to go before then. 

4:00PM – You might  be having a bit of a food coma at this point so walk it off and head on over to the Tilikum Bridge to do some brisk walking. 

7:00PM – Portland is NOT about snooty fine dining. Instead, PDX is into laid back casual dining that is all about the good food. Have dinner at Le Pigeon and make sure to order the burger–it's consistently ranked as one of the best in the city. Reservation is a must! 

Day 3 (TUESDAY) – The Best of Both Worlds 

 

Multnomah Falls 

10:00AM – The best part about Portland is how close it is to enjoy some natural wonders. Head on over to the Multnomah Falls and enjoy the scenery. 

12:00NN – Have lunch at the Timberline Lodge and don't forget to order their 5-time awarded Clam Chowder. And after lunch, enjoy Mt. Hood  for all of its majestic glory. 

4:00PM – In Portland, you can be outside the city and enjoying nature one minute, then having fun downtown the next. Go to Union Way in front of Ace Hotel to do some window shopping. 

6:00PM – Have dinner at Hot Lips Pizza at the Eco Trust Building. Note: Other blogs and websites will recommend other pizza places. But I specifically took my friends here because Hot Lips Pizza's concept is much more unique to Portland given its focus on Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal, and Sustainable ever-changing menus. 

Day 4 (WEDNESDAY) – Foodie Day Part 2 

 

The Waffle Window

8:30AM – 10:00AM – Portland is the #1 food city in America so naturally, this trip needs more than one day of pigging out. For breakfast, get waffles at The Waffle Window and a sandwich from Fried Egg I'm in Love. 

11:00AM – Get some coffee from Stumptown and donuts from Blue Star 

 

Stumptown

1:00PM – Go downtown and hit up the Food Pods 

3:00PM – A second cup of coffee is in order. Head on over to Coava. Tip: Coava is near two buildings called Rejuvenationand Grand Marketplace. Walk off the carbs and do some window shopping here. 

4:00PM – Have dinner & drinks at Multomah Whiskey Library. NOTE: Leave the kids at one of PDX's awesome day care areas such as PDX Play Date. 

Day 5 (THURSDAY) – Wine & Beer Day

 

Rogue Farms 

9:00AM – Today is all about wine and beer tasting. But first, have breakfast at Gravy and don't forget to order the Corned Beef Hash.

11:00AM – Do the Wine Tasting at Stoller Winery. NOTE: Not everyone can spend the day hitting up several wineries. And if you could only go to one, I recommend Stoller Winery because their concept is unique to Oregon. 

12:00NN – Have lunch at Red Hill's Market

3:00PM – Visit Rogue Farms and do some beer tasting 

6:00PM – Have dinner at Burgerville 

Day 6 (FRIDAY) – Seasonal Activities 

 

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

9:00AM – Portland has four seasons so the places that you can see and do are dependent on which month of the year you are planning to visit. Since my friends went during Spring, I had them go to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. 

12:00NN – Head back to the city and have lunch at Old Salt Marketplace 

3:00PM – Drop by Powell's Bookstore to buy some souvenir and just get lost in the thousands of books on display

5:00PM – It's almost time to say good-bye to the city so head on over to Pittock Mansion and go straight to the garden area to enjoy an amazing city view 

7:00PM – Our friends requested to have dinner at Hot Lips Pizza (that's how much they loved that place). But go and try another dinner place such as Ned Ludd. 

Day 7 (SATURDAY) – The trip is over so cap it off with a trip to the Portland Saturday Market 

 

Portland Saturday Market

 

cary perkinsMoving to PortlandPortland OregonRestaurantsThings to do in Portland OR August 3, 2016

Blue Star Donuts to Open at PDX Airport

 

The Portland Airport is about to get a little sweeter with one of my favorite foods….donuts!

 

Screen Shot 2016-08-03 at 4.06.50 PM

 

Article courtesy of Kelly Clarke, Portland Monthly

Tourists bustling through the Portland International Airport will have to make room for boxes of hard cider fritters and Cointreau crème brulee rounds atop their carry-on bags:  local doughnut empire Blue Star Donuts just inked a deal to open a PDX location by November of this year.  The outpost, which joins a superstar list of local businesses with airport spots, from Country Cat to Stumptown Coffee, will be located in the Oregon Market area, before travelers reach the security gate.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” says Blue Star CEO/owner Katie Poppe, who launched the chain with biz partner Micah Camden. “The Port is working really hard to create this mini Portland utopia and we’re honored to be part of that.” The new airport shop will stock grab-and-go half- and baker’s dozen boxes of its brioche-style doughnuts, fresh-glazed single rounds, and Coava Coffee Roaster’s “Blue Star Blend” drip and packaged coffee.

The expansionist-minded local chain currently boasts four Portland outposts, an L.A. shop, and a pair of locations on Tokyo. (Psst: Blue Star is slated to open five more locations in Japan come September—three in Osaka and two more in Tokyo.)

What Blue Star creation must visitors cart back to their hometowns?

“It’s gotta be the blueberry bourbon basil doughnut,” says Poppe, referencing the buzzed-about flavor that made cover of Bon Appétit magazine in May. “If it’s gonna be your first, it might as well be a cover model.” 

 

Current Portland Real Estate Market InformationPortland Oregon Real EstateSelling your home during the holidaysWindermere Top Producer Cary Perkins November 5, 2015

Waiting to Sell Your Home Until After the Holidays

 

Waiting until after the Holidays, Isn’t a Smart Decision | Keeping Current Matters

 

Every year at this time, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to put their home on the market for the first time. Others who already have their home on the market decide to take it off the market until after the holidays. Here are six great reasons not to wait: 1. Relocation buyers are out there. Companies are not concerned with holiday time and if the buyers have kids, they want them to get into school after the holidays. 2. Purchasers that are looking for a home during the holidays are serious buyers and are ready to buy. 3. You can restrict the showings on your home to the times you want it shown. You will remain in control. 4. Homes show better when decorated for the holidays. 5. There is less competition for you as a seller right now. Let’s take a look at listing inventory as compared to the same time last year: Supply of Homes | Keeping Current Matters

 

6. The supply of listings increases substantially after the holidays. Also, in many parts of the country, new construction will make a comeback in 2016. This will lessen the demand for your house.

Bottom Line

Waiting until after the holidays to sell your home may cause you to miss a very good selling opportunity!

 

Please call me if you'd like me to walk through your home with suggestions on how to position it in the marketplace for top dollar!

 

Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
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Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale

 

Windermere Top Producer Cary Perkin

Current Portland Real Estate Market InformationEarthquake PreparednessHouse IdeasPortland OregonPortland Oregon Real Estate August 14, 2015

What should you do to protect your home from “the big one?”

 

Today at lunch with clients we talked about the big earthquake scare that's been all over the news lately. Is  the "Big One" hitting Oregon in the near future?  In our lifetime?  How can we protect ourselves and be prepared?

Mega earthquakes (8.7–9.2) occur regularly in the Pacific Northwest. The last mega quake that shook Portland occurred on January 26, 1700. For the past 10,000 years, the average time between mega quakes has been 300 years. Is it time?

The next mega quake may shake the foundations from Vancouver, BC to northern California. It could  be the largest natural disaster in U.S. history, dwarfing Hurricane Katrina in damage, suffering and costs. In Portland, thousands of people could die and tens of thousands might be injured. Thousands and thousands of Portlander’s could end up homeless, as homes built before 1980 slip off their foundations, crumple and collapse. (Note: Older houses were not attached to the foundations – only gravity keeps them in place.)

Not all damage will be physical. The equity in the house they live in is where the wealth is stored for most middle class Americans. For unprepared homeowners, an earthquake could not only destroy their homes, if they survive, it could also leave them with nothing except a mortgage payment for a house that no longer exists. Bankruptcy may be final aftershock.

We cannot prevent earthquakes. We can, however, be prepared. Minimal preparation includes:

  • Attaching your house to the foundation (also called seismic retrofitting).  The city estimates that there are 105,000 Portland homes that were built before 1970 and therefore were probably not initially bolted to their foundations. That makes them highly vulnerable during a major quake; they could be knocked off their foundations and damaged to the point that they are uninhabitable. Of course, some homeowners have bolted their houses down in the years since they were built, but we don't know how many. The city's best estimate is that at least 50,000 homes are still not bolted down.  Fortunately, in most cases, it is not insanely expensive to bolt a house down. A local contractor that does a lot of seismic strengthening says the average cost is $3,400. For some people, that's a lot of money. But for people who can afford to spend $20,000 remodeling their kitchen, it's feasible. That's why the Bureau of Development Services, supported by Commissioner Dan Saltzman, is developing a strategy to make sure that whenever Portlanders apply for building/remodeling permits, they get information about the importance and relative ease of quake-proofing their homes.
  • Buying earthquake insurance (most insurance companies require seismic retrofitting).
  • Having emergency provisions of food, water, pet food, prescription medicine, etc.
  • Creating a family plan. All communications except satellite phones will be down for several weeks—Who picks up the kids? Where does your family meet? Who is out of area contact to convey messages?

Protect yourself.  Prepare your family for an earthquake. To learn how to prepare for an earthquake and other natural disasters, go to the following link:

http://www.oregon.gov/DOGAMI/pages/emergencykit.aspx

We can preserve our neighborhoods by taking simple steps to ensure that our neighborhood houses survive The Big One.

Please call me if you'd like help in locating resources for seismic retrofitting, earthquake insurance and earthquake survival kits.

Courtesy of: All Things Real Estate Newspaper/Oregonlive.com

 

 

Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
Highlights of Portland Oregon, House Ideas
Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale

 

Windermere Top Producer Cary Perkin

Decorating IdeasGardens and Landscape June 17, 2015

10 Summer Flower Arranging Tips

Did you know I used to be a florist?  My mother owned a flower shop when I was growing up and one Mother's Day she just said, "Here, make an arrangement," and that was the start of my love of flower arranging.  It is one of my favorite summer activities.  Here are some hints for you to become adept at arranging your garden blooms.

 

Tip 1: Water Works

Put flowers in water as soon as you get them home. Fill buckets with tepid water, add floral preservative, and then add flowers.

Tip 2: Must Cut

Cut an inch off the stems using a sharp knife, at a diagonal so they absorb more water, especially if the flowers will sit a while before being arranged. The fresh cut will help the stems absorb water better.

Tip 3: Water Temp Matters

Warm water helps tightly closed flower heads, such as roses or ranunculus, to open fully. Leave them in water for a day or two before using them.

Tip 4: Use Foam

Use florist's foam to keep flowers in place and constantly hydrated so they last longer. Soak the foam for 15 minutes before cutting it to fit the container. Water the foam every couple of days.

Tip 5: Trim, Trim

Recut stems just before adding them to the arrangement. Strip off any leaves that fall below the water line.

Tip 6: Picking Flowers

Add large, heavy flowers first turning the arrangement as you work to ensure even placement on all sides. Fill in with smaller, airier blooms, and leave enough space between the stems so individual flowers have room to shine. Include flowers with various shapes and stem lengths.

Tip 7: Height Matters

Make your bouquet taller than its container by about one and a half times. Also, make the width balance the height.

Tip 8: Similar Colors

Mix in different textures for a monochromatic arrangement that's interesting to look at.

Tip 9: Fill-In

Save larger leaves and stems with leaves on them to fill in around the flowers. Drape some of the greenery over the container's rim.

Tip 10: Proper Placement

Keep flowers away from sunlight and heating vents. Recut stems and add water often.

 

Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
Highlights of Portland Oregon, House Ideas
Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale

 

Windermere Top Producer Cary Perkins

 

Daily House IdeaHouse IdeasSelling Your home March 18, 2015

Seniors, is it time for a major de-cluttering?

 

Here's one of those grown-up topics that aren't lots of fun to think about, (like long term care) but is something we should start to prepare for as we age… what are our kids going to do if all of our stuff if we don't thin it out for them?

 

I've been there before – having to clean out my parents' home after they've died, and hating to let go of even one thing that still smelled like them.  I still have both of their bathrobes, and my mother's 25th anniversary dress, and so on.  It's so hard to let it all go, but you must in order to somehow get through it. 

 

This article by a Portland Organizer, Heather Hawkins, is a wonderful reminder of how we really owe our kids the favor of starting this process now so they don't have to throw our stuff away while greiving ….  and there are so many good recycling opportunities now that there's no excuse not to thin things out so your kids won't have to do it later.

 

If you'd like information on where to donate your items, please let me know.  I have lists of wonderful recycling opportunities so that others can enjoy your overflow.  And won't your family love you for it?

 

– Cary

 

Please enjoy the article in full below.

 

Sorry, there is no gentle headline for this kind of post. I tried: Do your children a favor and get rid of most of your stuff before you die and don’t burden them with the painful, guilt-inducing job of sorting through their childhood and feeling obligated to keep everything that reminds them of you, which is basically everything you own, but I feared it would blow up the Internet so I pared it down.

 

This sweet, touching essay by Jeremy Clarkson, a British broadcaster, completely sums it up. After his beloved mother died of cancer, he was overwhelmed to discover that she’d gotten rid of almost all of her stuff before she died to spare him from having to do it himself.

There is no single thing in the house of anyone’s mother that isn’t infused with a gut-wrenching air of sentimentality. It’s not just her jewelry or her clothes. It’s the little things as well. Her kitchen scissors, her bathroom scales, her flannel. Every single thing in each and every drawer is as impossible to discard as a first teddy bear…I’d need at least two months to go through it all. And I’d need about 4,000 boxes of Kleenex.

It was the greatest gift she could have left him.

I don’t know how long she had worked on her downsizing and the clear-out and the organisation of her things, but it’s something we should all try to do when we know the Grim Reaper is heading our way. Because not only does it spare our loved ones from the hassle of going through every single thing we’ve ever owned but it also spares them from the grief of deciding that the horse brasses and the Llardro figurines really do have to go to the tip.

(Tip = dump, by the way. I’m a big advocate of reuse, and there are plenty of donation centers and consignment shops happy to take household goods off your hands.)

I’ve helped people clear out their parent’s homes after they’ve passed, and it’s a big job. Most professional organizers offer this service, but we also help seniors get rid of clutter and extraneous possessions beforehand. We figure out, with input from their children, what will be passed down and what should go now. Photos get sorted and labeled. Furnishings and artwork that will be used by the heirs are listed out and saved with the will. Valuable items can be sold ahead of time. Other items can be donated. We work to clean out the basements and garages and drawers filled with opened seed packets and old receipts and clothing that hasn’t been worn in 30 years but is often the hardest for children to get rid of.

It’s not an easy subject to discuss or ponder, but it’s one that’s worth considering now rather than later. For another touching, funny insight on aging parents and the burden of clearing out a deceased parent’s home, I highly recommend New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast’s memoir Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant?

Heather Hawkins of Homeflow Professional Organizing helps Portland-area residents declutter, organize, downsize and stage their homes for sale. Contact her at 503-313-7164 or heather@homeflow.org. Visit www.homeflow.org for more information.

 

 

 

 

Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
Highlights of Portland Oregon, House Ideas
Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale

 

Windermere Top Producer Cary Perkins

 

Beautiful Housescary perkinsColor in home decorDecorating IdeasPortland Real Estate Data January 29, 2015

How much is your new kitchen worth? Cost -vs- Value Report

 

It's finally here – the day I can share pictures of our new kitchen.  We've been working on it since October, and the lights finally went in yesterday, so I can post a pic! 

 

I'm happy to talk about kitchens with you all day long!  We're in love with it, and are so glad we finally pulled the trigger.  Problem is, kitchens are expensive, and it's hard to dump money into your house unless you know you're either going to live there a long time and enjoy it, OR you can count on recovering your expenses. 

 

In comes the Cost-vs-Value Report to help you decide how much to spend, and how much you'll recover.

Our kitchen remodel was mid-range, so it looks like we should recover 81.1% (if we were to sell now)  and I've already enjoyed 19% worth, so I could sell now without wringing my hands.

 

Please enjoy my photos and call me any time to talk about your future remodeling plans, and how they will impact the sale of your home.  (Sometimes it's just to talk color, finishes, or what's new in the marketplace)   I can't wait to talk kitchens with you!

 

 

 

 

Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
Highlights of Portland Oregon, House Ideas
Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale

 

Windermere Top Producer Cary Perkins

 

cary perkinsCurrent Portland Real Estate Market InformationMoving to PortlandORPortland OregonThings to do in Portland OR January 22, 2015

Portland’s 10 Best Shopping Destinations

Windermere Top Producer Cary Perkins

 

I'm so used to my usual haunts that I sometimes forget to shop in some of Portland's most unique, fun areas.  Thankfully, I have a visitor today who's an experienced shopper and would love to avoid the mainstream shops & concentrate on Portlandia.

I did a tiny bit of research before deciding on my finalists (I'll let her choose) but here is a super fun list of ideas for you next time your shopping buddies come to town!

May the shopping gods be with you!

 

List Courtesy of USA Today

Photo courtesy of Northwest 23rd District — Nob Hill

 

 

Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
Highlights of Portland Oregon, House Ideas
Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale

 

 

 

Portland Oregon RestaurantsThings to do in Portland OR December 8, 2014

Ten downtown Portland spots to grab a bite while holiday shopping

 
 
It's that time of year when we like being downtown & feeling festive!  When you're worn out from carrying all those shopping bags, it's time for refreshments!  What sounds fun?  How about the ten restaurants below?  Happy Shopping!
Article courtesy of Oregonlive MIX
 
 
Dining_downtown_lead.jpg
 

We come for the shopping and tree-lighting. For the festive twinkly lights and pictures with Santa. We come for the concerts and plays and window displays, and to give our visiting guests a night on the town. During the month of December, it seems like the entire population of the metro area converges on downtown Portland and at some point we all ask ourselves … where should we go to eat? When your feet are sore, or the play is about to start, it's easy to succumb to mediocre chains just steps from the action, but we don't believe in wasting a single meal on food that doesn't make us happy. So we pounded the pavement for you, finding 10 great local places that are open both Saturday and Sunday (no easy task) and offer plenty of options, whether you're looking to fuel up before a day of shopping or wind down after a show.

View >10 spots in downtown Portland to grab a bite while holiday shopping in a larger map

1) Zeus Cafe
Think McMenamins and food, and you'll probably picture pub grub. But Zeus Cafe, the new restaurant in the Crystal Hotel, aims to broaden that perception. The day starts at 7 a.m. with dishes like wood-baked eggs with parmesan creme fraiche, truffle oil and toast, and ends with a late-night menu that runs into the wee hours, offering up mini water- buffalo burgers on brioche buns, and fried chickpeas with smoked paprika. Clearly we're not in tater tot land anymore. Entrees can be inconsistent, but the plump mussels swimming in a broth stocked with Olympic Provisions chorizo are just fine. As are the crisp, wood-fired pizzas topped with, say, San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and arugula. And if you're hankering for a drink, Zeus Cafe has a legitimate bar program, with original cocktails that trend toward sweet (the Flossy Mule, for example, adds lavender syrup to the vodka, lime and ginger beer in a traditional Moscow Mule). And the pink, bitters-infused spheres of ice are a sight to behold. — MICHAEL RUSSELL
303 S.W. 12th Ave., 503-384-2500; mcmenamins.com
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

2) Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, Kenny & Zuke's is there for you, whenever your pastrami craving strikes. The bustling Jewish deli makes pretty much everything in house, from its applesauce and kugel to its bialys and rye bread. But it's the wet-cured, slow-smoked, coriander-and-pepper-spiced pastrami that has earned the deli national attention, and rightfully so. You can order it in a Benedict at breakfast, piled onto a burger or cheese fries at lunch and, of course, in the classic and stellar Reuben. Grilled and stacked with pastrami (or corned beef if you would rather), melty Swiss cheese, house-pickled sauerkraut and homemade Russian dressing, it's nothing short of sinful. Same goes for the behemoth, double-decker, multi-meat Meshugaletta Sandwich. In fact, you might want to hit Kenny & Zuke's when you are done with your day, because after eating sandwiches like these, the only thing you are going to want to do is take a well-deserved nap. — JENNIFER COSSEY
1038 S.W. Stark St., 503-222-3354; kennyandzukes.com
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Happy hour Monday-Friday.

3) Violetta
Nothing warms cold hands like a thick, hot burger dripping with special sauce. Billed as "slow food, fast," Violetta serves up near-perfect burgers with a local twist (beef from Scio, bacon from Carlton, onions from Brooks … you get the idea), plus five kinds of hand-cut fries, including sweet potato and chili cheese. To wash it all down, there's a solid selection of craft beers, shakes and small-batch sodas. But you don't have to be in the mood for a gut-busting lunch or dinner to dine here. Stop by the cafe in Director's Park to warm up and refuel with soup or salad, or get your sugar buzz going with a bag of fried-to-order beignets, hot apple pie from Random Order, and Holy Kakow hot chocolate. — HANNA NEUSCHWANDER 
Violetta in Director's Park, 887 S.W. Taylor St., violettapdx.com.
Lunch and dinner daily.

4) Mother's Bistro
In this Victorian dining room of a bistro, you can hang your hat and savor the best food your mother never had time to make — rich and creamy mac-and-cheese, fresh pear and huckleberry cobbler with the flakiest golden-brown crust — all made from scratch. The day begins with rib-sticking breakfast dishes like biscuits and gravy or wild salmon hash, followed by hearty lunch and dinner classics like savory pot roast made with local beef. Benny's Chicken Sandwich is a lunchtime must — a full breast of juicy, free-range chicken smothered with spicy aioli and melted cheddar cheese topped with fresh avocado. Just looking for a little pick-me-up? Stop in to relax with a cup of frothy hot cocoa and a homemade cookie or slice of pie. Mother would approve. — AMANDA ECKERSON
212 S.W. Stark St., 503-464-1122; mothersbistro.com
Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday, no dinner Sunday, closed Monday

5) The Original
When it first opened, the menu at this modern diner was riddled with ill-conceived gimmicks (like the doughnut hamburger). Thankfully the gimmickry is mostly gone, leaving downtown shoppers with a solid and crowd-pleasing place to grab a bite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. With its vinyl, '50s-style booths and postmodern art mobiles, the decor juxtaposes vintage and chic as the menu does savory and sweet. The upshot? There's something for everyone — from adventurous eaters to picky kids. Original concoctions like pancakes drizzled in blueberry jam and peanut butter sauce or crunchy cornmeal-bacon waffles are just a few of the oddly delicious choices at breakfast. At lunch and dinner, juicy burgers with shallot aioli and hearty classics like chicken potpie take the spotlight. Everything goes best with one of the homemade sodas (try the ginger-mint) and a savory serving of poutine: gravy-drenched french fries and cheese curds that are one of the best things to hit your belly after a spirited night on the town. Thankfully, they're served until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. — AMANDA ECKERSON 
300 S.W. Sixth Ave., 503-546-2666; originaldinerant.com
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Happy hour Monday-Friday. Late night menu Friday-Saturday until 4 a.m.

brasserie_montmartre.jpg

6) Brasserie Montmartre
A Francophile oasis, Brasserie Montmartre offers a calming respite from the bustle of downtown. Under the direction of chef Pascal Chureau, the lunch and dinner menu teems with well-executed French classics like gruyere-topped onion soup, croque monsieur and quiche. But there are a few surprises, too, like a croissant filled with rich lobster salad and avocado coulis, or crepes stuffed with braised pork belly, chevre and arugula. On weekends, brunch-goers can choose from three different Benedicts, as well as Frenchy belly-fillers like duck confit hash. During the lengthy happy hour (from 2-6 p.m. daily), as well as from 10 p.m. to midnight, prices drop on bar menu favorites like the golden, crispy frites — which come in five varieties, including foie gras-Szechuan pepper. A bowl of spicy moules frites falls from $12 to $8, oysters are $1.50 a pop. To drink there's a great selection of mostly French wines, plus top-notch spirits, original and classic cocktails, and craft beers on draft — including a rotating tap from Cascade Brewing. — DANIELLE CENTONI 
626 S.W. Park Ave., 503-236-3036; brasserieportland.com
Lunch, dinner, happy hour and late-night menu daily. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

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7) Urban Farmer
It's an upscale restaurant in an upscale hotel (The Nines), but that hotel is at the top of a department store (Macy's), so no one will look askance if you show up to this comfortable yet high-end steakhouse loaded down with shopping bags. Forget greasy mall food and take a break for real lunch here, where you'll find dishes like rich grits with a poached egg, spiced shrimp and pulled pork, or a divine cheese steak with shaved sirloin and gruyere fondue. After a day of shopping, or before (or even after) heading to a show, hit happy hour (3-6 p.m. and after 10 p.m.) for filling $4 and $5 dishes like tender beef sliders, Reubens, or mac-and-cheese with oil-cured tomatoes. Dinner is much pricier, as you'd expect from a steakhouse, with about a dozen choices of steaks in various breeds and styles — grass-fed, pasture-raised, grain-finished, corn-fed, dry-aged … you get the picture.  — Danielle Centoni
525 S.W. Morrison St. (on the eighth floor of The Nines hotel), 503-222-4900; urbanfarmerrestaurant.com
Breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday-Friday, brunch and dinner Saturday-Sunday. Daily happy hour from 3-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close.

 
Quick Pick-Me-Ups

8) Saint Cupcake Galore
Saint Cupcake's new location, just five blocks west of Pioneer Courthouse Square, is bright and light, furnished simply with red metal seats and reclaimed wooden bleachers. But it's hard to appreciate the decor when all you can see are rows of gleaming, brightly colored cupcakes just begging to be eaten. The moist and rich carrot cake, with just the right amount of savory spice and a hint of black pepper, topped with silky vanilla cream cheese frosting, is particularly hard to resist. But the patron saint of sweet doesn't just do cake. Cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, butterscotch- and chocolate-loaded cookies (including one made with smoked flour), and even savory snacks like brioche buns stuffed with mustard, ham and cheese, mean there are plenty of reasons to stop in and take a load off in the bakery/cafe. Add an espresso drink from locally roasted Water Avenue Coffee and you'll be properly fueled for any urban adventure. — JENNIFER COSSEY
1138 S.W. Morrison St., 503-473-8760; saintcupcake.com
8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

9) Public Domain
Yes, there's a Starbucks smack dab in the middle of Pioneer Courthouse Square, but when your caffeine level begins to dip, it's well worth the one-block walk to Public Domain instead. The coffee shop is owned and operated by one of Portland's first roasters, Coffee Bean International, and it offers a serene, sleek place to get a good caffeinated kick in the pants. Like a brewery dedicated to its craft and the craft of its comrades, Public Domain usually has guest roasters "on tap," such as the city's own Oblique. But true coffee geeks will be happy to know they can specify the brewing method, too. In addition to the espresso machine and French press, there are four pour-over brewers to choose from: Hario V60, Chemex, Clever and Kone. For nibbling, there are beautiful pastries from Nuvrei Bakery. Try the wheatless oatmeal and raisin bar. Part oatmeal cookie, part lunch, it's soft and dense and easy to share with a buddy. Pull up a seat and decompress — there's free Wi-Fi and wall-to-wall/floor-to-ceiling windows to enjoy the scenery, lights and people of downtown. — JENNIFER COSSEY
603 S.W. Broadway, 503-243-6374; publicdomaincoffee.com
6 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

10) Cacao
Few things can make you more immediately alert — and happy — than a shot of thick, liquid chocolate. At Cacao you can get your 2.5-ounce or 7-ounce wake-up call in three gorgeous flavors: milk chocolate with cinnamon, dark chocolate and "Special Spicy" — dark chocolate with coconut milk, paprika, cayenne and ginger. Can't choose? No problem, you can get a flight of all three. For those in a slightly less decadent mood, there's Cacao's regular hot chocolate (still among the richest in town) using 65 percent cacao or 72 percent cacao — your choice — as well as espresso drinks made with Caffe Vita coffee. If a mocha is too much, try the macchiato, a shot of espresso cut with an equal amount of dark hot chocolate. Sit down and connect your laptop (at the 13th Avenue location only) or continue your holiday shopping. The store has the best artisan chocolate bars and confections that Portland, and much of the world, has to offer. Not sure what something tastes like? The staff can help you sample just about anything. Before you go, purchase a handful of the Bequet salted caramels at the counter. They make a great on-the-go pick me up — and stocking stuffer. — JENNIFER COSSEY
West End: 414 S.W. 13th Ave., 503-241-0656; cacaodrinkchocolate.com
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
At The Heathman:
712 S.W. Salmon St., 503-274-9510; cacaodrinkchocolate.com
9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday

 

MIX Editor  

OregonLive.com
Beautiful HousesDecorating Ideashouse idea of the dayHouse Ideas July 16, 2014

My greatest home ideas are waiting for you….

 

 

 

Some of my greatest ideas come from Pinterest.  Painting kitchen cabinets, restoring dirty grout, adding a bathroom to the attic, and other do-it-yourself tricks and ideas are some of the many useful "pins" you'll find on my "boards".
 
Perusing Pinterest can be addictive, so in an effort to save you the time and trouble, I've accumulated a lot of fabulous how-to guides and home ideas. 
 
You don't need to set up a profile to use Pinterest – simply click on the link below to access my collection. 
 
http://www.pinterest.com/caryperk/ideas-for-my-clients/
 
 
Cary Perkins,
Windermere Top Producer
Fun With Real Estate
Current Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
Highlights of Portland Oregon, House Ideas
Portland Oregon Homes

by Cary Perkins

Portland Real Estate, Portland Oregon Top Producer, Windermere Top Producer, Portland Realtor, Portland Homes for Sale