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Portland!

Portland!

Started by Alicia Silverstone on October 20, 2009

11 Comments

Alicia Silverstone said #1 Oct 20, 2009 at 12:08pm

Hi there! For the next leg of my tour, I'll be in the Portland area. Any recommendations on where to go for breakfast, lunch...dinner?! And where to go for yoga or a walk someplace beautiful? Or any other great "must do" things in Portland?! Would love your thoughts. - Alicia

Brittany Dohman said #2 Oct 20, 2009 at 12:34pm

Meals: The Screen Door is amaaazing southern style food: 2337 E Burnside St
Portland, OR 97214-1655 http://www.screendoorrestaurant.com/
http://elgaucho.com/elgaucho/ - Dinner
If you want the best vegetarian sandwich in Portland go to Kells! http://www.kellsirish.com/ I realize there is one in Seattle and SF too but this is in a great location and a favorite amongst Portlanders!Order the Northwest Veggie Sandwich: Grilled eggplant, fresh mozzarella, shredded basil,sundried tomato puree and roasted garlic aioli, on grilled mixed grain bread.

Yoga: http://www.jlyc.com/special.php early bird, more private classes if you need the quiet and serene feeling to start your day. It's also in a gorgeous neighborhood.
Places: Walk around NW 23rd if you want to shop local fashion and gifts... there are a few corporate places (Urban Outfitters) but lots of indie places, great shoe shops, and cafes...
If you don't want to shop... Japanese Gardens. Go in the middle of the day while you are here and you'll be alone! It is absolutely peaceful, and beautiful! It is in Washington Park which is one of the most phenomenal views of Portland. Gorgeous unique style living, rose gardens, greenery, parks, etc.
Enjoy!

Cassie Wakefield said #3 Oct 20, 2009 at 2:25pm

Oh gosh there are sooo many good vegan places to go in Portland, I don't even know where to start. I"ll just list off some of the first things that pop into my mind for now:

Visit the world's first vegan mini mall at 12th and Stark in SE Portland. There's an all-vegan grocery store, bakery and clothing store: Herbivore Clothing Company , Food Fight Grocery Scapegoat Tattoo and Sweet Pea Baking Company.

The Bye and Bye cafe, is vegan and has really amazing "cruelty-free" cocktails. Plus it's located in the Alberta neighborhood, which is really colorful and fun with lots of Art-galleries and vegan/vegetarian restaurants.

There is a really cute vegan shake cart called Sip's, that you could check out (which is located in SE--also a very fun, funky, cool neighborhood, especially the Hawthorne area).

Higgins offers local sustainable really yummy food with a lot of vegan choices; it's downtown near the park blocks and Portland State University.

You HAVE to go to the Blossoming Lotus café in the Pearl. It is right next to Yoga Pearl as well. Everything at the café is 100% vegan, local, and sustainable.

Papa G's Deli is all vegan and organic, in a more casual atmosphere.

Bob's Red Mill headquarters are also in here (although it's in Milwaukie, about 20 minutes outside of Portland) It is housed in a big red barn and in addition to the factory, they have a store and restaurant.

If you have any grocery shopping to do check out people's food co-op, a community owned natural sustainable grocery store.

Oh, and as far as pretty places to walk around or must-see things:

continued on next post (I ran out of space) :o)

Cassie Wakefield said #4 Oct 20, 2009 at 2:34pm

Cont...

Seriously, just strolling around the Pearl, Hawthorne, downtown or Alberta neighborhoods is really fun. The Portland Art Museum, Pittock mansion (historical and nice views), the International Rose Test Garden (beautiful and peaceful) as well as the Japanese Gardens are all places to go to. OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) is really unique and awesome. The Hoyt Arboretum, it's very serene (187 acre living museum of trees and plants from all over the world), and it's just 2 miles west of downtown. If you're going to be here for Saturday market, you should for sure check that out. If you get a chance to get a little outside of Portland, you should definitely go to Multnomah Falls--soo pretty. And...you're already going to Powell's, which is definitely a must-see :o) .

I'm sure I'm leaving some really great things-to-do-and-see out, but I hope this helps! :o)

Cassie Wakefield said #5 Oct 20, 2009 at 2:46pm

P.S.
I just found out about a fundraiser a friend is sponsering tomorrow called "Dine-Out to Dig-In." It is an event for "Growing Gardens" that is happening tomorrow in Portland from 9 am-12 pm. By dining at one of these yummy participating restaurants on October 21, 10 percent of your bill will benefit Growing Gardens (They advocate for food policies that ensure access to fresh food and community renewal. Growing Gardens creates new urban gardens, as part of a movement to employ natural assets to revitalize our neighborhoods--if you want check out their facebook group-- "Growing Gardens").

I'm not a part of this group or anything, I literately just got a messge about it and thought you might be interested since you'll be in Portland, OR tomorrow. Why not support a good cause while you're eating, ya know? :o) Anyway, all of these restaurants are organic and sustainable, and most either offer or specialize in veggie cuisine (although the fish grotto is sustainable and organic; pretty much everything revolves around seafood).

Biwa http://www.biwarestaurant.com
Ciao Vito http://www.ciaovito.net/
Firehouse http://www.firehousepdx.com/
Fish Grotto http://www.fishgrotto.com/
Iorio http://www.ioriorestaurant.com/
Laughing Planet Cafe http://www.laughingplanetcafe.com/
Park Kitchen http://www.parkkitchen.com/
Screen Door http://www.screendoorrestaurant.com/
SubRosa http://subrosa.textdriven.com/

Zachary Wolk said #6 Oct 20, 2009 at 3:50pm

Chaos is great but it's very accessible and you may be mobbed? Though portland cats are generally pretty cool.
Portobello Vegan Trattoria is fucking amazing, small portions but not too expensive and super duper amazing, worth the repeat amazing. (imo)
Powell's (the bookstore you're going to go to tomorrow) is the biggest I've ever been to, it's amazing - and just south east there's a pizza joint called Rocco's where they have the most decked out vegan pie crust loaded with all kinds of veggies - super fun... I went back to Rocco's despite all the awesome vegan food options in portland for another slice (and to browse Powell's).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicglee/3516979045/sizes/o/

Erin Malland said #7 Oct 20, 2009 at 8:07pm

The menu at Blossoming Lotus Pearl is to LIVE for! My mouth was watering and my tummy was growling just reading it!
http://www.blpdx.com/pearl.php

Robyn Eastling said #8 Oct 21, 2009 at 10:20pm

Oh man! How did I miss this section of the forum? If you're still in town for another day or even another meal you MUST have breakfast at Jam on Hawthorne (Hawthorne and 20th-ish). They have amazing scrambles and vegan oatmeal raison pancakes, which are amazing! Also Vita cafe on Alberta and 30th has fantastic biscuits and almond gravy for breakfast. AND you can call up and send someone in to pick up your order if you're in a hurry. :D

Robyn Eastling said #9 Oct 21, 2009 at 10:22pm

Also, please let us know what you do eat and what you think of it!

jess sconed said #10 Oct 22, 2009 at 9:15am

Alicia mentioned in her talk last night that she dined at Blossoming Lotus & Portobello - I think she hit two of the best PDX has to offer : )

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