Portland Favorites - NW Portland

I'm so excited to be sharing all of my favorite places in Portland to eat/drink/shop/etc over the next couple weeks/months. People that are planning trips or just moved here ask me alllll the time where they should go so it's about time I put it together. It'll also be nice for when I'm being indecisive about where we should go on a date (happens every time).

I'll be splitting it up by the quadrants to make it easy! First up is NW Portland since that's where we live and spend most of our time. It's a beautiful area for going on long walks or riding bikes, has some of the nicest parks in Portland, gorgeous neighborhoods ($$$$) and of course amazing food every five steps.

I'm not going to detail each place since I would probably say "THIS IS THE BEST PLACE EVER" about all of them. So just know, these are best places ever.

Food:
Kung Pow (best chinese food in the world)
Nuvrei (sandwiches, pastries)
Little big burger
Los Gorditos
Tilt
Stepping stone cafe

Sweets:
Salt & Straw (which I've mentioned here before)
Blue Star Donuts
Nuvrei Macaron Bar
Ken's artisan bakery

Drinks:
Tea chai te (get the black milk tea with boba)
Barista
Commissary
Coffeehouse NW

Shopping:
Papersource
Childs play toy store
Powells Bookstore
New seasons market
West elm
Anthropologie

Fun:
Wallace park (Beck's favorite park)
Jamison square fountains
Hiking/walking up in forest park
I also enjoy casual strolls through the pearl district and on NW 23rd





(My bike is a V7i from PUBLIC bikes)

Portland Favorites with PUBLIC Bikes - The showroom grand opening

Hey Portland friends! Did you know PUBLIC bikes opened up a cute pop-up shop for a bit in NW Portland? I have been wanting this to happen foreeeever and when I finally got an email about it I freaked a little bit. If you've been wanting to hop on one of their bikes and try it out, the time has come!


Tomorrow is the grand opening party with food and beer, bike giveaway and other fun shenanigans. I'll be hanging out there for awhile and I hope some of you can make it too! And Salt & Straw is next door if you want to round out the day with the best ice cream ever. You can find all the details on the facebook page here. (11am-3pm, 828 NW 23rd ave)



p.s. I'll be sharing some favorite places to ride, eat, drink and shop in each quadrant of Portland over the next couple months. My first post will be covering NW Portland (since thats where we live!) and it'll be up on Monday! Finalllllly! Stay tuned...

Public bikes & Portland

I'm super excited to finally be starting this new ongoing feature about Portland—the best bike rides and highlighting my favorite spots (to eat/shop/ect) in each pocket of the city.

At first I was envisioning it being a summer series but with moving and an incredibly busy August that didn't leave enough time... there are too many good spots to cover! So we'll be rolling with it through fall, winter, spring... and on.

The amazing folks at PUBLIC sent me this commuter bike (that I've been drooling over for YEARS) to be the star of the show. And we're planning on picking up another one for Josh because he bikes to work now (yay!) and family rides are definitely in our future.

I'll have the first post up in the next couple weeks. For now a few photos just to show off my pretty new bike... I'm just a little in love with it.

p.s. what should I name it? I feel like its a HER, if that helps

i ♥ portland: Coco donuts

Coco donuts is becoming a favorite quick date spot for us. We stopped by on memorial day for a little coffee date while it was pouring down rain outside. It's the cutest little coffee and donut shop and while I'm not the biggest fan of donuts (i'd rather have a cookie or muffin) they have a lavender glazed one that is great, and their lavender latte was amazing! (I'm a big fan of lavender if you can't tell). Plus it's  quiet and cute and the workers are always so sweet!

You gotta try it if you're ever in the area!

sauvie island + relaxing

Yesterday we went to Sauvie island as a final farewell to summer. The whole island (full of farms) is so serene and quiet.. it feels like a small town (well, it is a small town..) i just love it. 

It was warm outside but the water was too cold to swim this time.. at least to us (There were quite a few people swimming, more brave than us i suppose!)

We napped and read and picnicked and enjoyed the peaceful view.  It's such a beautiful summer time place.. but luckily, sauvie is just as nice when its cold and foggy. We'll be back soon..

p.s. if you're in the portland area and you've never been, you need to! It's 30 minutes from the city and just as good as the oregon coast. Just be careful how far down the beach you travel, there's a nude beach a couple miles down from where we were ;)

oui presse

quick coffee date at a favorite spot is my absolute favorite way to start the day. nothing against our usual routine of bedhead, pajamas and a french press.. that's a close second!

i ♥ portland: salt & straw

Over the weekend, while it was pouring down rain and a whopping 50 degrees outside, I convinced Josh to go on a spontaneous ice cream date. Aren't those the best kind?! Actually any ice cream date is the best kind. Salt & straw is definitely the best ice cream you'll find in Portland. I have to exercise self-control so I don't end up there every day. I just love the unique flavors...(some are crazy.. see the menu up there?) I picked honey lavender this time (which was TOO DIE FOR..) and Josh got chocolate brownie. I have my eye on the lemon basil sorbet for next time.. which I hope is sooner than later.

All you locals that have never been, you need to go stat! And if you're ever visiting Portland, put salt & straw at the top of your Must-go list.

Happy Monday to you all.