Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Portland OR. February 14-15



We were awarded a $200 Hilton voucher when we did our timeshare trip to Vegas last September. Time was running out to use it, so Valentines day was our day.

We left early Friday am and got to Portland around 11.  Despite the forecast, the weather was decent. We parked by Powells books and went in to shop.  What an amazing book store! We saw it last year coming back from Sacramento.  This time, we had time to explore it.

I was wandering around history and government books when I saw a sign "Radical Newspapers have been moved to the end of aisle 655.  Bingo. I must have a "radical" newspaper. We found the area in politics.  One shelf said "Left" one said "Right" They were not discussing the location of the shelves. The newspapers were in a small rack, there were probably 4 of them. The cover of the Freedom Socialist paper featured a story on immigration.  Sold.

I found a new? book from Barbara Kingsolver and a local book by a Portland author. I don't recall the names of either book at the moment! doh.  The lady in the checkout was thrilled I was buying the local book. She indicated she was friends with the author and belonged to a book club with him. She said it was a great book. Can't wait to read it.

After our Powell book store trip, we walked over to the food trucks.  OMG it was an entire city block of food trucks.  On the first row along I counted 4 Middle Eastern trucks!  What;s that all about? It is nearly impossible to get a Falafel sandwich in Seattle. In Portland there are Falafel everywhere! Many indicated they were Iraqi decendents.  How did Portland get so many Iraqi's? 

We walked around the entire block, looking at each truck and snapping a few pictures along the way.   There were a few more trucks that extended down a different block, so we decided to check them out too. The last truck was a dumpling truck. We decided to get an appetizer. I ordered the Potato Curry and B ordered the Pork dumpling.   They had 4 different sauces. B prepared a ramekin of each one.

B loved hers, mine were ok.  We only liked one of the sauces, a coconut thing.  We didn't finish them, we wanted more food.

We headed back to the main block of food trucks. I was destined to have a Falafel, but which one?  I watched to see what truck had the biggest line. It was early and the lines were not too big yet.  I chose  Baghdad Falafel, I think that was the name. It features "Iraqi Bread" whatever that is. 

B headed over to the opposite side to get come Chinese food.  We also saw an amazing sushi truck that was quite popular as well as a Grilled Cheese place that was getting a lot of business.

I waited and waited and waited for my Falafel. I have never waited so long for a Falafel before.  B came back from a block away with her food before mine ever arrived. When it was ready, it was quite impressive.  It was s decent sandwich. the Bread was the best part. 

What amazes me is how many food trucks there are.  They are everywhere. Every nook and cranny has a food truck.  They are all very reasonable too. I suspect all the competition plays a part in the pricing. In Seattle the food trucks are few and the prices are sky high.  Dumb business model. 

After lunch we parked by the river and walked along the Willamete.  We looked at the Maritime museam but passed. We watched the Spirt of Portland do a lunch cruise.   After a nice stroll, we headed back into town to find some shopping.  We found the Nordstrom Rack and went to shopping. I found a few shirts on sale.  B was no where near done. I told her I would get car and come back into neighborhood since we were a ways from the car.  Did i mention that it costs $1.60 an hour to park on the street? WOW!  beats Seattle at $4.00 an hour!

I found the car after some searching. We walked a lot farther than I thought! I found a place to park a few blocks away. I got out and heard music and drums. I looked around the corner and a protest march against human trafficing was winding it's way down the sidewalk. I took up a good position and armed myself with my iphone on video!  I gave them the peace sigh and thumbs up as the marched by me.  I am going to attempt to post the video.

 When I got to the Rack, B was in line to check out.  We got out of there and went to check in to the Hotel. We chose the Embassy Inn because of the free happy hour and free breakfast.  I love happy hour and breakfast!

The Hotel is very old. Like many things in Portland. In Seattle we knock em down and build new ones. In Portland they fix up the old stuff.
The room had no real view, except to the Keep Portland Weird sign.

Before happy hour we decided to cehck out the neighborhood. We found Voodoo Doughnuts. It had a  line out the door. We found that this is common. We asked the nice doorman at the strip club next door what the hours were for Voodoo. He informed us it was open 24 hours a day!  wow! He told us of a few other bars in the area, since he realized we were not going into a strip club.

We found a place to grab a few cold beers and for me to lose some money fast in a Video gambling machine. I'd say video poker machine, but they have advanced. They are all crazy looking games. I just wanted to play poker.  I found a poker game with Wild 2's whatever.   I won one hand, but it wasn't enough.  

By the time happy hour started, I was already happy!  But a free beer is a free beer. We had a few free beers and some snacks. I was getting really hungry.   According to Yelp, the best Thai was right down the street.  We went for a nice Thai dinner.  It was pretty busy due to Valentines day, but we got seated in about 10 minutes. The food was excellent. 

After dinner we went back to room for a few. then headed back out to have a night cap. We found a funky bar that had some games We played Skee Ball.   They had the fancy pacman 4 player table top machine, but people were using it as a table. I wanted to play it, but oh well.

Outside a bunch of people wearing sock puppet costumes were dancing and posing for pictures. It seemed completely normal to see this for some reason.  When we left we took some pictures.

Bed came early as it always does for us. The next am I snuck out and went to Voodoo at 7 am. I bought one of those Maple bars with bacon on it for B. and an Apple fritter and two plain doughnuts.

B was awake when I came back and told me she didn't want the bacon maple bar  DOH!  We went back after breakfast and she got the doughnut she wanted.  A glazed doughnut.   The fritter was amazing and wayy to big. The plain doughnuts were average. I think Top Pot probably has better doughnuts, but Voodoo has the creativity won hands down.

Breakfast was ok. Same ol same ol.  I am getting familiar with the Embassy Suites free menu items!

After breakfast we went and packed and then left the hotel. We parked down the street at TJ Maxx for more shopping! I found some socks and a car charger for Bs new phone.   Upstairs was office Depot. I bought a new wireless router (it died 12 hours after use).

We then went back to Powell books!  It was absolutely jammed!  Hordes of people streaming in. Are the Trailblazers playing here?   I have never experienced such crowds in a book store before! It gave me a tiny bit of more hope for humanity! Very tiny.

We then went to our favorite chain that is not in Seattle yet. Noodle Company. Seriously? Why none in Seattle? I bet it would draw Chipotle crowds.  They made it across the river to Vancouver now, so maybe someday.  Their slogan is "Food for Friends, Family and Foreign Diplomats!"of course, cause they have everything!  Italian dishes, Asian dishes, American dishes, Latino and even an Indonesian dish. All good.

The drive out of Portland was hell. It was raining soo hard. An accident was in front of us and we could barely see it. Not sure how I stopped in the rain at 75 mph.  Cops had been on the scene for some time. In this visibility, no one thought to deploy some flares a few miles up the road?  Wow. this was close to being a major pileup.

Got home Saturday afternoon. Drive down took an 45 min or so due to weather.





















Protest march









No Standing?










No Bieber is not here. These are book fans!




Seahawks Super Bowl Champs!

This was an accidental upload. It's B and I celebrating a day later with a fine bottle of Champagne

View from office three hours before parade











Shrine


Wilsons arm is in the way. I am in this crowd.



what an amazing season that ended on a cold Wednesday in downtown Seattle as over 700,000 12's flooded the streets to get a glimpse of the Champs as they paraded down 4th avenue.


It all started back in Pre Season.  We knew from the first game, this was a special team.  In 2012, they nearly made it to the NFC Championship, but this season they were on a mission.  A few key aquisitions during off season, including the most explosive reciever in the league,  Percy Harvin.

The season was great, we played ugly at times, but never let up.  Many 4th quarter comebacks including coming from 21 points down to beat the Texans!  No quit. Ever.

I watched many games at Kyles house, a few at my house and one I even taped due to commitments, and did not listen to radio or look at the internet or even answer my phone until I had watched the game.

I atttended the New Orlean Saints Monday night football game.  BRRRRRR!  It was below freezing, and my "seat" was a temporary bleacher they added in the North end zone.  No protection at all from the icy North wind.
Before the game I met Jim, Noble and his nephew Marshall at the Owl and Thistle.  After that we headed for Fuel.  They were carding everyone. I opened my wallet.. NO ID??? You are kidding me?


Noble and Marshal had already gone in, so Jim and I headed to Temple Billiards. Same set up.  I looked the doorman in the eye and said "please!"  along with the most pathetic face I could make. Clearly I am over 21.  He said ok!

Jim and I parted ways as we headed into the Stadium, but then I reaized I can't get a beer in the stadium either!  I tried to call and text him, no answer. I asked the guy sitting next to me if he would buy me a beer. He said ok, I gave him some money. Ahh to be 19 again.   It sucked!

Jim finally answered and said to meet him at half time outside his section on the 300 level. I climbed my way up there a few minutes before the half would end.  How will i find him with all these people. As I rounded the last turn, I could see Jim as plain as day taking to some Hawk fans.  Ha!  He and I had a beer at the half and I was on my way back to the cold.

The game was a blowout. From the first drive.  I ended up leaving halfway through the 4th to get a bus.

Playoffs finally!  We had home field and best record in the NFC!

our first match up in the Divisional playoffs was the Saints again!  I was able to get a ticket and I was on my way to see the Saints again!    We won and it was warmer and I had the best seat of my life on the rail of the 300 level, 35 yard line!

Next up was the NFC Championship.  The rival 49ers were coming to defend their NFC Championship.  I tried so hard to get a ticket but was denied.     I watched at home with Kevin, Troy and B.  After the game, which was decided on the final play, we ran down to Bamboo to celebrate!  Everyone was dancing, singing, hugging, hi fiving! It was crazy and fun!  Probably the best time I have had on the beach.

SUPERBOWL BOUND!!!!!!

this is crazy. This team and city are going crazy!  I watched NFL channel night and day for two weeks.  All the office towers have big signs in the windows. Ours has "GO HAWKS!" with each letter taking up a whole window.

it reminds me of 1995 NBA Finals, Seattle vs Chicago, but even bigger, or 2005 Hawks Superbowl run against Pittsburgh.  This is way bigger. This is a town that is desperate for a Championship. We lost the Sonics then went on a roller coaster ride with the Kings which prompted Forbes magazine to declare us the worst sports team in America.  grrr. 

Finally the big day!  Kyle and Pat came over as well as Kevin and his wife, roommate and friend Troy.   We made a ton of food and fudge brownies to celebrate Pats birthday.

The game started off with a bang.  Missed snap sends ball out of the end zone for a Seahawk safety! 12 seconds in. A new Superbowl record for fastest score.   I was curious to see if the Hawks win the coin toss will they defer like they  have done all season? This is the best offense in the league led by a future HOF QB.. would we really give them the first crack? We did and it paid off!  Hawks never looked back on a way to a 43-rout!!!!!

Towards the end of the game when victory was clearly ours, B said to me, "too bad Glenn isn't here for this".. I said, "he is, right here" and pointed to his Seahawks bracelet that I have worn for every game since he passed.  

After the final seconds ticked off we celebrated and hugged. I looked outside and could see a group gathering on the beach. We quickly got bundled up and ran out to join them.  By the time we got there everyone had left. A 10 mph N wind was a bit too much.  We went to Bamboo and celebrated.

Three days later and the Parade I have waited my whole life for was here! I was a bit under the weather, but could not be deterred. I left my desk around 10:30 and stood out on University Ave, as close as I could get to 4th ave. I was 20 feet back.  By the time the parade reached us, I looked behind me and the crowd had swelled all the way to 5th avenue!  It was 25 degrees. We were all frozen. When the parade finally came, no one cared about the cold. We cheered all the players,  front end office, cheerleaders, execs and broadcasting crew.