Photo Courtesy of Heidi McBride Gallery & Art Consultancy

First Thursday, October 1, Festivities begin at 5PM

Please join us to celebrate First Thursday at the Ardea, apartment homes that combine dramatic design with waterfront living in Portland’s South Waterfront neighborhood. Views of the city, river and mountains, combine with pedestrian plazas and greenways, where life is close to the city and even closer to nature.

Begin the evening in the two story penthouse, where Stoller Vineyardswill be hosting a tasting featuring the 2006 SV Pinot Noir (named among the year’s best Pinot Noir in the April issue of Wine & Spirits, and has received 3 stars, Excellent, from the San Francisco Chronicle) and the 2007 SV Chardonnay. The wines will be paired with a selection of fine cheeses

An installation from the Elizabeth Leach Gallerywill be installed in the penthouse for this special First Thursday event. Established in 1981, the Elizabeth Leach Gallery offers Portland’s most comprehensive selection of contemporary fine art. The Gallery is located in the Pearl District at 417 NW 9th.

Also on display will be pieces from the Heidi McBride Gallery & Art Consultancy. This blend of a traditional gallery and a design consultancy hand selects the strongest pieces of artwork by emerging and established artists and makes them available in a gallery setting.

Art will be the topic of the evening with maps to First Thursday gallery openings on hand as well as a list of the top exhibits showing in downtown and the Pearl District. You can hop the Portland Streetcar, just out the front door to begin your tour.

Live music will add to the ambiance of the event and for added fun the roadies from KINK will be on hand to entertain you. Conveniently located, with ample free parking available, the Ardea is the perfect location to relax, celebrate fine wine and superior art and begin your downtown and Pearl District gallery visits.

Photo by Justin Doty

It’s the beginning of the month once more, and that means another fun get together in the lobby and field trip to the many galleries and festivities downtown for ‘First Thursday’.

Please join us for a glass of wine and a bite of food.  Take the streetcar to gallery hop downtown and the Pearl, or just relax and stroll along the river.

Show up and we’ll do the rest.

5PM

Besaw’s Cafe located at 2301 NW Savier St (NW 23rd Avenue), 503.223.2619

Looking for a great breakfast spot? Besaw’s is sure to make your mouth water with every bite. Besaw’s Cafe proudly serving Portlanders since 1903. A classic pick and a newly self-discovered favorite weekend ritual of mine. Weekend brunches featuring  some of the best specials and most tasty benedict’s around (Eggs Florentine….yum).  From great coffee, fresh OJ, Bloody Mary’s and mimosa’s. Oh, did I mention the staff is great?

Breakfast is served seven days a week: Monday-Friday 7AM-3PM, Saturday/Sunday 8AM-3PM.

That’s right, it is that time of year again! 
Starting today (Thursday June 11) and running through to June 27th is the festival of Portland’s World-Renowned Bike Fun, Pedalpalooza.

The festival is put on by Shift, a informal local group of bikers united by “a shared passion for the bicycle in all its glory: as toy, as transportation, as a tool for social and environmental change!”  You can see from the calendar on the main site linked above, this is a massive event with everything from the practical (repair and legal clinics), to networking (Business on a Bike meeting 6/19 at 3:00), to the ridiculous (many polo and jousting events), to the sublime (Kidical Mass) and of course the endearingly insane (Zoobomb on Sunday nights!)

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McMenamins Theatre and Pubs
Mission Theatre, 1624 NW Glisan Ph: 503-223-4527,
St. Johns Theatre and Pub, 8203 N. Ivanhoe Ph:503-283-8520,
Baghdad Theatre, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd Ph: 503-236-9234

McMenamins is a well-known classic among Portlanders. With locations all throughout the Portland Metro Area, most anyone can appreciate their hand-crafted beer and menu selections. One special feature of McMenamins includes their Theatre Pubs where great flicks, handcrafter brews and classic eats come together. Mission Theatre is conveniently located in downtown NW Portland. This theatre is one of my favorites; featuring both ground floor and balcony seating for an enjoyable evening. Every Wednesday night is Mission Theatre’s classic Burger, Beer & a Movie for $10.50. In addition, Mission Theatre occasionally hosts NW Film Festival events, live music and select football games. St John’s Pub located in North Portland is also a well-known spot, hosting theatre-goers with comfy couches and plush theatre seating. I do not want to forget one of the oldest theatre pubs and classics; the Baghdad theatre located in Portland’s SE Hawthorne district.

For show times and locations please call McMenamin’s Theatre line as (503) 249-7474.  There are also additional McMenamin’s theaters, restaurants, and hotels in h Portland Metro area which can be viewed on their website at http://www.mcmenamins.com

Typhoon!

Two Portland Locations: 410 SW Broadway (at Hotel Lucia) Ph: 503.224.8285
and;
2310 NW Everett St, Portland Ph: 503. 243. 7144 (Additional locations throughout OR/WA)

Looking for a great place for authentic Thai Cuisine? Typhoon! is just the place. I recently recommended this pick to a new resident and he was quite thrilled. Typhoon specializes in the exotic dishes of Thailand ranging from items such as Tom Khai Gai Coconut Soup to Cashew Chicken over Jasmine Rice. Typhoon! does not play around when it comes to spicing things up either; symbols are used on the menu to indicate the level of spice. One of my personal favorites is their Pineapple Curry; a red curry with the sweet taste of pineapple, bell peppers, basil and a choice of Tofu/Chicken/Beef/ Shrimp. In additon, Typhoon aso has a great happy hour. I recommend the happy hour at their downtown Broadway location held Monday through Friday from 3PM-6PM. For great outdoor seating possibilities during nice weather, I recommend visiting the Everett St. location at the corner of NW 23rd and Everett.

For reservations please talk to your concierge or visit Typhoon!’s official site.