You Gotta Try This!: Sugar Mamas’ Hearty Breakfasts & Delicious Baked Goods

December 23, 2010

Growing up I was extremely lucky to have adoptive grandparents who lived right next door to us and would have my family over for Sunday breakfast on a consistent basis.  They loved filling their house with children who adored them, and we loved being spoiled by them!  My grandmother would make biscuits and sausage gravy, cinnamon rolls, and hashbrowns.  My own mother was more of a bran muffin and granola for breakfast type of person, so getting such a huge breakfast like the one my grandmother would make was a special treat for us.  I haven’t had the pleasure of eating breakfast at Sugar Mamas’ Cafe yet, but I imagine the experience is just as delicious and heart warming as mine growing up.

Sugar Mamas’ Cafe, located at 579 SW 13th Ave & SW Alder, is the creation of two adorable sisters, Michelle and Zelda, who love cooking and the joy that their food brings to their customers. Known for their big breakfasts, Sugar Mamas doesn’t scrimp on size or taste, so bring your appetite.  Breakfast is served all day long with yummy options like the Power Cakes Mama’s Cakes with dried cranberries, coconut, banana & REAL maple syrup; their authentic corned beef hash; biscuits and gravy just like how my grandmother made them; and even a meatloaf breakfast served with hashbrowns and eggs.

But Sugar Mamas isn’t just about breakfast, they also serve lunch and scrumptious baked goods. For lunch try their meatloaf sandwich, tomato soup made from scratch, or a tasty grilled sandwich.  For anytime of day, you must try a German Chocolate Brownie, their famous Carmel Pecan Sticky Buns, and their homemade Snickerdoodles just in time for Christmas!

Sugar Mamas is open Mon-Fri 7am to 3pm and Sat-Sun 8am to 1pm. Want to get them delivered to your home or office? Portland Pedal Power has got you covered, just order here and they will deliver it to you by bike!

Discover Portland: Distillery Row

December 22, 2010

Portlanders love to buy their clothes from local designers, are loyal to their favorite neighborhood cafe, and boast about having some of the best wineries in the NW, so why not take it one step further gang and try out some fantastic locally made liquor too!

I am so excited to have discovered Distillery Row.  Situated in SE Portland, Distillery Row is a handful of small distilleries who make handcrafted, locally distilled spirits available for the first time since prohibition. How great is that! There are 5 distilleries on Distillery Row–Deco Distilling, House Spirits, Integrity Spirits, New Deal Distillery, Stone Barn Brandyworks–and they make everything from vodkas and gins, rums and whiskeys, to more specialized spirits such as absinthe, aquavit, and flavored liqueurs.

Deco Distilling, located at 1311 SE 9th Avenue, makes one of my favorite rums of all time the Deco Ginger Rum. It is great with some Cola, Sprite, or some warm cider. All of their rums are made from natural ingredients. The ginger flavored rum in particular has no added sugar, which I love because then you can mix it to your desired taste.

House Spirits, located at 2025 SE 7th Avenue, makes everything from vodka, gin, whiskey and aquavit.  Sporadically House Spirits also releases a small batch of limited-edition spirit in their Apothecary Line available only in their tasting room. Their goal is to pour into every creation the taste and flavor of the Northwest. “We have great respect for our distilling elders and incorporate old world philosophy into our products for the savvy new world palate.”

Integrity Spirits, located at 909 SE Yamhill Street, sells vodka, gin and a specialty absinthe. Their concoctions are more of an art form than a drink, which makes since why their labels are designed with as much care, love and attention as their spirits. I am extremely enticed by their Hazelnut Vodka and 12 Bridges Gin.  The 12 Bridges Gin is aptly named for the number of bridges in Portland, and for the 12 botanicals in its recipe, like Hungarian Juniper Berries, cucumber and peppery ginger.

New Deal Distillery, located at 1311 SE 9th Avenue, is all about vodka. They carry four different styles of vodka, including the award winning Hot Monkey Pepper-Flavored Vodka and the one I am dying to try the Basil-Flavored Vodka. They also make a special brand of organic liqueurs called LOFT Organic Liqueurs. These are made from as-local-as-possible organic fruits and botanicals available.With flavors as diverse as Lavender Cello, Spicy Ginger Cello, and Lemongrass Cello.

Stone Barn Brandyworks, located at 3315 SE 19th, Suite B, produces yummy craft distilled, regional fruit brandies and spirits. Check out just a few of their amazing sounding drinks, like their pear and apple brandy, coffee and quince liqueurs, and an unoaked rye whiskey. I first tried one of their liqueurs at the fabulous Gilt Club and it was absolutely delicious!

I highly recommend you make a visit to Distillery Row.  I just hope Santa is reading this and makes a special delivery to my house this year!

Trendy Tuesday: Local Designs & Unique Handmade Pieces at Frock

December 21, 2010

Mix some vintage styles with some Burning Man inspired fashion and you have Frock–a unique boutique that sells independent designs and small runs of rare, one-of-a-kind pieces, and handmade items. As local as it gets, Frock is committed to the local, living economy with a product mix consisting of 90% locally designed and produced items supplemented with 10% regional, independent, and other goods.

It doesn’t matter your age or sex because Frock has something cool for everyone. They have a plethora of items and it was really hard for me to choose my favorites, but here they are!  For women, I would recommend the Stumptown Tee, Peacock Tank Top, Red Floral Applique Tunic, a belt buckle by Namaste, the bike earrings by Handmade Julz, and the What’s Your Poison necklace.

For kids, I love the Octopus Onesie, the Hotdog Hi Five Tee, and the Cat Eye Sunglasses. How cute are these little models by the way!

For the men out there, check out the Cock Tee, Oregon Undies, Lucha Mask Socks and The Hole In One Sweater Cap.

Frock is located at 1439 NE Alberta St. in Portland, Oregon.  Enjoy your holiday shopping (hint, hint) !

More Holiday Events from Forkfly!

December 17, 2010

Yesterday we looked at some Forkfly merchants who are hosting events and specials for the holidays. Today we have even more great things to do in Portland, from holiday displays and parties to cookie classes and an awesome giveaway. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Benson Hotel Gingerbread Display and New Year’s Eve Party

Every year the Benson Hotel has their resident Chief Baker and Architect erect a gingerbread masterpiece. It will be on display in the festive Benson Hotel lobby this season. Take a look at the YouTube video of the unveiling of the gingerbread village. The Benson worked with the Make a Wish foundation for the unveiling and they will be selling Make a Wish stars all month, so stop by to see the display and support a great charity.

The Benson is also hosting an event this season: Copacabana, a Latin Masquerade Gala, will take place on New Year’s Eve. There will be a Brazilian buffet, drinks, dancing, masks, and a balloon drop at midnight. You can buy a package to stay the night or just go for the party: check out this and other holiday special packages here.

Holiday Cookie Classes at In Good Taste

This weekend, Saturday December 18 and Sunday December 19 at 1 pm, In Good Taste hosts two cooking-making workshops. Seats are limited, so call and sign up now. Here is the info page for this cooking class. Looks like both classes will fill up, which means they will meet the maximum cooking capacity of 14 kinds of cookies and 3 dozen cookies to each participant! Learn to make (and come away with) sugar cookies, gingerbread, peanut butter fudge and more. The cookies make great gifts, and the experience would be fun for a couple or parents and kids. Or give this class as a gift to a foodie friend. And remember that In Good Taste is your retail destination for high-end kitchen products as you craft your holiday meals.

Shop Adorn 12 Days of Schwag

Keep on top of the Shop Adorn blog for a chance to win a giveaway now through Christmas! The theme of the giveaway is “keepin’ it local,” and all the prize packages tie in to some great local business. As you know, we at Forkfly have the same priority of encouraging independent and local business, so a high-five to Shop Adorn. So far they have selected winners to receive a massage from Blossom Clinic, an Amalfi’s Restaurant gift card, and a portrait photography session. Today’s giveaway is a barre3 package. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment or retweet Shop Adorn’s blog post, so there’s nothing to lose, just a great holiday treat to gain.

Holiday Events from Forkfly!

December 16, 2010

Our Forkfly merchants are all over the opportunity to host events, dinners and provide special accommodations during the holidays. Today we have event suggestions from our merchants to keep you in the holiday spirit and help you get the most out of what Portland has to offer this time of year.

Holiday Suite at Mark Spencer

The Mark Spencer Hotel offers a special Holiday Suite package that you can recommend to guests (I’m picturing a holiday-sweater-wearing aunt loving this.) The blurb about this special on the website mentions cookies, eggnog, wrapping paper (genius! Of course an out-of-town visitor would need access to wrapping paper!), and seasonal music. The other amenities include continental breakfast, wifi, afternoon tea and cookies and a wine reception. There’s no price listed (the website wants you to “name your price”). This sounds like a real treat — much more festive than your average hotel stay.

Wilfs Winter Wonderland and Holiday Shows

Wilfs is decked out for the holidays and ready to share the spirit of the season with you. Seriously, take a look at the many pictures they’ve posted of their Winter Wonderland. Wilfs always hosts live jazz, so naturally they have some holiday performances lined up. Tomorrow and Friday you can see Kate Davis’ Holiday Show at 6 pm. Take a look at the event calender to see what other shows you might want to catch. And as their website reminds me, Wilfs is a great place to grab dinner before a Blazers game, and you can leave your car near Wilfs and take the MAX to the Rose Garden to avoid parking headaches.

Oregon Zoo’s Zoolights

Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo is an annual event where lighted displays all over the zoo feature animated creatures. “Displays include swinging monkeys, leaping frogs, flying bats, [and] diving penguins,” according to the website. This is a great time to take the Zoo Train around the zoo grounds, as many of the displays are best seen from the train. Zoo Lights is also a time for music and performances, and the zoo hosts performances every night through December 23. Take a look at the performance schedule, and peruse the website for more information on times and ticket prices.

Acadia Bistro Chrismas Eve Reveillon Dinner

Acadia Bistro has a special 3-course dinner for Christmas Eve. I imagine this would be great for a couple spending the holidays with just each other — no cooking at home, a delicious Southern meal and specialty cocktail, and the feeling of celebration that comes with eating a nice meal out. This is not an especially vegetarian-friendly option, but that’s what we expect from authentic Southern cooking. The meal has a $30 set price. Take a look at the menu here.  They also have a special dinner on New Year’s Eve for a more hefty $50/person and with a more extensive menu.

Forkfly Merchants Gift Guide

December 15, 2010

Are you scrambling to assign a gift to everyone on your list? Look no further than Forkfly, where our excellent deals with stellar merchants make it easy to find gifts for family and friends. We have a couple suggestions for shops where you can find *stuff* to give, but mostly we focus on experiential gifts — a pilates class, a zoo membership, and other presents that will get your friends and family out and on the go, creating memories and enjoying life.

Shop Adorn

We only have a few retail clothing stores registered with Forkfly, but Shop Adorn‘s amazing Forkfly discount makes up for it. Get 20% off your entire purchase at Shop Adorn with Forkfly! Shop for men, women and kids at shop adorn online, and go in to the store at 4759 NE Fremont to use your Forkfly coupon.

Geometry Pilates

Maybe exercise class isn’t everyone’s idea of a great Christmas present, but I know some people who would love the chance to try a new pilates or yoga studio, and you have to admit, it’s a very wholesome gift. Best of all would be if you bought a private or semiprivate class for yourself and a friend or two. Check out Geometry’s schedule and rates here. Geometry Pilates is located at 821 NW Flanders Suite 225.

Oregon Zoo

Support the Oregon Zoo and show your love for a family (or an individual, or a couple) in your life with the gift of a zoo membership. The Oregon Zoo is easily accessible by MAX, and some memberships include guest passes, which are great for entertaining out-of-town guests or kids’ friends during the long holiday break. Zoo Lights goes on until January 2, so get this present ready for immediate use! The Oregon Zoo store, a great resource for kids’ gifts and toys, has a 10% discount with Forkfly, so get over there to buy for your dinosaur-loving niece or nephew.

Moxie

I have to feature these Tom’s Wedge shoes here because they’re on my personal wish list. So keep that in mind if you know any 23 year old women — not that my taste is universal. Anyway, at Moxie at E Burnside and 24th and online, you can get 15% off one regularly priced item by pulling up your Forkfly mobile site and showing your coupon. Moxie has clothes for men and women, but I like their accessories best — look here for watches, necklaces and wallets for stuffing stockings and decking out wrapped packages.

Oblation

Oblation Papers and Press at 516 NW 12th Ave can be your source for gift cards, holiday cards, craft materials for making presents, or for journals, card sets and other items that can be given as presents themselves. Take a look at their beautiful merchandise online here and stop in the store to buy for your crafty and artistic friends.

Inn @ Northrup Station

My boyfriend and I like to take short “staycations” — that word is so cheesy, but it’s more fun than you realize to get a hotel room outside Portland or even just on the other side of town and spend an evening or two eating out, exploring a new area, and not having to make the bed. If there’s a couple in your life, consider sending them to the Inn @ Northrup Station for a night or two in January to unwind from all the holiday madness. Located at 2025 NW Northrup St near NW 21st and 23rd, Northrup Station offers easy access to shopping, art galleries, theaters and breweries, and I bet it will feel like a whole new city for an East side couple.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Designer Lables at Here We Go Again

December 14, 2010

Many of my friends who dress in an eclectic “Portland” style shop at Red Light and Buffalo Exchange, resale shops where low prices and a hip selection allow for larger hauls than mall stores or even Forever 21. Here We Go Again is also a resale shop, but they do things a little differently, and they have their eye on a more high-end array of products.

Resale shopping is an art. You have to be patient and persistent to find just the right item, and you have to be willing to go with your gut and buy on impulse when you love something because it probably won’t be there next time you go in. Here We Go Again ensures that you will always have something to marvel at by focusing on designer labels and top-condition merchandise. I’ve often had my clothes turned away at Buffalo Exchange, and I think they’re probably even pickier at Here We Go Again. Check out the instructions for consignment and the list of “Labels We Love,” including Bebe, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana… you get the idea.

Of course, the discriminating taste at Here We Go Again is what makes it a “deluxe resale boutique,” and they have some truly amazing clothes and shoes for prices way below retail. Take a look at these ankle boots they featured recently.

I’m crazy for ankle boots this winter. So many high heel styles are inappropriate for our rainy Portland winters, but ankle boots pair practical coverage with the irresistible cuteness of heels. Here We Go Again stays on top of fashion trends, and these boots from their John’s Landing store are the most recently featured items on their Web site and Facebook page. Keep in mind that these might already be gone, but if so, they’ve been replaced with something just a little different and just as cute. Oh, the excitement of resale shops.

As you may imagine, along with designer labels come handbags, wallets and pouches in high quality leather and other materials. Two recently posted items that caught my eye:

Here we have two purses with widely varying prices, which I think is great for a resale shop, especially one focusing on high-end labels like Here We Go Again. The purple cross-body purse is by Linea Pelle and costs $69; the big leather bag is by Gustto and selling for $255. That’s a lot of money, but the bag retails for $625, so it’s an amazing deal.

The four items pictured above are from the John’s Landing location, at 0511 SW Carolina St in Portland. Here We Go Again also has a location at 2438 NE Broadway. With the city-wide coverage provided by those two locations, you have got to swing by one (or both!) of their stores and see for yourself the amazing selection and prices offered by this deluxe resale boutique.

Forkfly Holiday Special: There’s Still Time to Find that Christmas Tree!

December 13, 2010

If you haven’t gotten your Christmas tree yet, much less put it up and decorated it, you’re not alone. It’s hard to find time to decorate when the holidays entail so many other time-consuming events and chores. Forkfly makes it easy for you to find the perfect tree with our list of Portland-area tree lots. We found two benefit tree sales, a cut-your-own tree farm where finding your tree can be a family event, and a small independent lot. Our selections range from close-in and further out NE and SE Portland, to far-out West Portland, and to Milwaukie, south of Portland.

L’Arche Nehalem’s 21st Annual Benefit Tree Sale

When you buy a locally grown, fresh cut tree from this fundraiser sale, all proceeds go to L’Arche Nahalem, a group home for individuals with disabilities in Portland. The organization provides a home for people with developmental disabilities and their caregivers, modeling a live-in caregiving community. Read more about L’Arche here.

The benefit sale has two tree lots in Portland: the Hollywood lot at NE 44th Ave and NE Hancock and the Montavilla lot at SE 82nd and Burnside. Find maps and hours for each location here. Both lots have a great selection of trees large and small, and you will drive away with tree in hand (on car, rather) and a priceless sense of holiday goodwill! The sale goes on at both lots until December 19.

American Legion Christmas Tree Sale Fundraiser

If you’re located further south, the American Legion Auxiliary in Milwaukie, Oregon is selling trees through December 19 to raise money for a variety of veteran’s programs, including Christmas care boxes for Deployed Veterans in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have relatively inexpensive trees: the only info site I found lists $10-$20 price tags. Take a look here for hours and find the American Legion Auxiliary at 2146 SE Monroe St., Milwaukie, Oregon.

Zurburgg Farms U-Cut Christmas Trees

Start a new tradition by taking your family out to this NW Christmas tree farm, where they’ll hand you a saw and you will choose (or let the kids choose) and cut your own tree! This is not the quick-and-dirty way to find your tree, but if you can find the time, I think it sounds really fun and very festive. Zurburgg Farms is located at 16875 NW Germantown Road in Portland (pretty far out Portland), and online here. They are open from 8 am to 5 pm daily, and they don’t have an end date posted for Christmas tree sales.

Red Shed Christmas Trees


Located at NE 18th Ave and E Burnside, Red Shed has been family owned and operated since 1992. If you live in close-in Portland, their location makes it a no-brainer to stop here for a great selection of sizes and types of Christmas trees. They also have the most comprehensive price list of any of our recommended lots. Red Shed is open until Christmas Eve, from 10 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 8 pm Saturdays and Sundays.

Get out there and find your perfect tree so you have a place to put the presents you’ll be rushing to buy these next couple of weeks. Stay tuned to the Forkfly blog for more holiday tips this week, includng gift recommendations from our favorite merchants.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown.

Lunch for Under $15: Laughing Planet Cafe

December 10, 2010

I’ve been to Laughing Planet before. When I lived in Southeast I would go to SE Belmont and invariably get the Spanky’s Bowl, a mashed potato-corn-broccoli medley for $6.25. During today’s visit to the Laughing Planet on NW 9th, I had to try the vegetarian chili. I went for the highly embellished version of the veggie chili cup, the Nacho Mama plate with chips, cheese, jalapenos, and sour cream for $4.95 (+$.95 for the sour cream).

It arrived promptly and piping hot, with generous amounts of all the extras. The chili has beans, zucchini and carrots, and it’s flavorful without being spicy. If your tastes run to less artery-clogging meals than mine do, Laughing Planet has a great selection of bean and veggie based bowls and burritos from under $5 to $7. Next time I’m going to get the Southwestern Green Chili burrito with black beans, mild green chilis, corn, jack cheese and rice for $5.50.

My cheesy chili was great, but my favorite part of today’s meal at Laughing Planet was my apple-ginger juice ($3.50). The fresh-squeezed juice arrived at my table right after I ordered, but it was so spicy and flavorful that I had to save it for after my meal. I’m crazy for ginger, and this drink was perfect for me, but it has a really strong kick that may not please everyone. Carrot juice is also available, by itself and in combination with apple, beet or ginger juices. Laughing Planet also offers smoothies for $4 — a great price for a sweetener- and additive-free nutritious drink.

I spent $9.50 on my chili plate and my juice. Had I had room for dessert, I would have gotten the apple-cranberry pie that tempted me at the register. I didn’t see the price for a slice of pie, but I imagine if I had tacked that on, my meal would still have been under $15.

The NW 9th Ave Laughing Planet location is inside the Ecotrust Building. The Ecotrust building, as the name suggests, is like a sustainable co-op housing green-minded businesses. Laughing Planet shares the space with Patagonia and other businesses. Read about the Ecotrust Building and its LEED Gold design and “ecoroof”  here.

The interior is modern and open, with exposed brick walls and the counter wrapped around part of the food prep area. There’s an outside seating area for use in better weather. The walls are adorned with Frank Zappa posters and paintings and R. Crumb cartoons. Laughing Planet is a wonderful spot to get a nutritious, locally sourced and easy lunch for a really reasonable price.

PDX Weekend Happenings: December 11-12

This weekend, Portland is busy with local holiday sales. Our list of weekend events leaves you with no excuse for last-minute Christmas shopping at Fred Meyer. Support students at PNCA and receive one-of-a-kind pieces of art; visit New Deal Distillery to stock up on artisan foods for your holiday meal or buy local specialties to send to far-away friends; stop by Crafty Wonderland for a plethora of gift choices from Portland crafters. And take a break from shopping to attend a 90′s dance party at Holocene on Saturday night.

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) Holiday Art Sale

What: PNCA students will be peddling their prints, paintings, sculptures, clothing and other pieces of art during an open-house art sale on campus today and tomorrow. The above holiday cards were made by my friend Cassandra, a student at PNCA, who will be there with her talented classmates to provide you with beautiful and unique holiday gifts!

Event Details: This event is free and open to the public.

When: Today, Friday December 10, and tomorrow, Saturday December 11, from 11am to 8pm.

Where: At the main PNCA campus, 1241 NW Johnson in Portland, at Swigert Commons.

New Deal’s 2nd Annual Season’s Eatings

What: New Deal Distillery is a micro-distillery — you may have had their tasty New Deal Vodka. They’re hosting a food drive/artisan food market on Saturday. New Deal is all about local, high-quality sustainable ingredients, and they’ll be featuring the best of local products, from free-range meats to locally made chocolate, pies, jams and more. These products will be available to purchase from vendors at the market.

Event Details: Bring one non-perishable food item for donation to get in.

When: Saturday, December 11, noon to 6pm.

Where: New Deal Distillery, 1311 SE 9th Ave in Portland.

Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale

What: Crafty Wonderland regularly hosts bazaars for local crafters to sell their wares. In time for holiday gift-giving, Crafty Wonderland presents their biggest event of the year. More than 200 vendors will give you the opportunity to find a unique gift for everyone on your list while supporting local artists and keeping your money in the community.

Event Details: This event is free and all-ages. The sale is more than… well, more than just a sale: take a look at the other activities going on here.

When: Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12 from 11am to 5pm

Where: The Oregon Convention Center (see? It’s going to be big!) at 777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd., Hall C.

SNAP! 90s Dance Party at Holocene

What: SNAP! is a monthly dance party at Holocene that usually happens at the end of the month, but it’s been moved up to avoid intersecting with the holidays. Take a break from shopping to dance it off with old-school 90s tunes.

Event Details: Free before 11 pm — $3 cover thereafter. 21 and older.

When: Saturday, December 11 beginning at 9 pm.

Where: Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison in Portland.

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