Discover Portland: Leisure Public House

January 6, 2011

One of my friends was just commenting on how much she adores the St. Johns area and would love to move there.  She is in love with the area’s small pretty shops, quaint diners, and friendly atmosphere. I myself have never been, but after stumbling across the Leisure Public House in the St. Johns neighborhood I will most definitely be taking a trip to the North.

Leisure Public House is one part bar, one part pub, and is 100% the kind of place I would love to hang out at. They have a full bar, an absolutely gorgeous outdoor seating area, and a menu that is anything but ordinary–instead of a hamburger and fries, why not try their chevre salad with fresh goat cheese, or one of their gourmet pressed sandwiches?

They definitely succeed in the fun area as well. You can play some ping pong, something called bocce ball or just play some tunes on their jukebox. Then on Mondays you can show off your talents during open mic night. Tuesday try your luck at trivia night to win some cool prizes. Then wind down on Sundays with Sunday movie night–last week they showed one of my faves, Big Fish.

I really love the story of how Leisure came to be as well. Owners, Travis and Nicole, had a passion for pubs and a love of their neighborhood, and they both wanted to create a place where people could come hang out and get to know each other in a comfortable, fun setting.  You can really tell when you look at this place that they put a great deal of thought and hard work into designing it. Travis actually built  Leisure’s patio, tables, benches, planter boxes and bocce ball court, all himself!

I can’t wait to visit Leisure Public House located at 8002 N. Lombard St. Find them online here.

Discover Portland: Brow Betty

January 5, 2011

With hundreds of spa/salon options available in Portland, it is easy for consumers to be overwhelmed by choices and for salon owners to get lost in the crowd.  Brow Betty, a premiere eyebrow and waxing bar, hopes that their fun, no stress atmosphere and to the point slogan “Perfect Eyebrows in the Bat of an Eye…No Lie!”, will make them stand out from the sea of businesses for years to come.

Even though they offer other types of waxing and products, brows are of course their passion and forte. Unlike some salons where waxing is more of a secondary side business, Brow Betty does eyebrows all day every day, and they won’t let you leave until they have found the perfect arch for your face.

Surrounded by cotton candy pink walls and 50′s style wooden mirrors you just can’t help but feel upbeat and ready for beautification. The estheticians are all waxing veterans, and are all as cute as a button.  Besides eyebrows, the team also does all other types of facial waxing, body waxing and tinting.

They will also give you some great tips and tricks on how to keep your newly plucked/waxed areas looking great all the time. As someone who took off half her eyebrow last time I tried waxing it myself, I would very much appreciate that kind of advice.  You should also check out the shops highly entertaining blog here–where I found out about something called vagazzling, and yes it is what it sounds like.

Brow Betty is located at The Pointe at Bridgeport, 7114 Hazel Fern Road in Tigard.

Trendy Tuesday: A Hip Airport Hotel With a Focus on Style & Green Practices

January 4, 2011

The Marriott, Holiday Inn, Motel 6, these are the standard sleeping options that are normally nearby an airport when you visit any U.S. city.  You can expect a hard bed, minimal design, Denny’s style food, and an overall lack of comfort and entertainment. And then there is Aloft Portland Airport Hotel, basically the opposite of everything I just described.

Aloft is located at 9920 NE Cascades Parkway, and is just minutes from baggage claim at Portland International Airport. Stylish, fun, and green minded to boot, Aloft is a clear display of Portland pride and the creator’s love for the North West. This bold new airport lodging sports a loft inspired design with earth tones and geometric shapes, as well as a green building plan and an enforced eco program.

The hotel itself has a gorgeous gym, an impressive bar, a 24/7 open pantry packed full of healthy and indulgent snacks, a beautiful pool, and complimentary hotel-wide internet access. Once inside your room it gets even better, and each room has an ultra-comfortable signature bed, an over-sized showerhead, custom amenities by Bliss® Spa, and a fun, art-deco design. And you don’t have to be afraid to bring the kids along for the stay. Aloft offers for the kids a child-size air mattress and kid’s bedding, kid-friendly food options, games galore, and their splash pool.

And even though there is plenty to see and do right within the walls of the hotel, the establishment urges visitors to get out and enjoy our fantastic city, boasting about our “urban energy, cool culture, edgy art galleries, unique boutiques, and tons of outdoor activities.”  You might expect rates to be high at a place like this, but they start out as low as $99 and have a lot of great offers you can take advantage of.

This is a fun, innovative and stylish airport lodging that is like nothing I have ever experienced before.  It is a welcome addition to our fare city!

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

You Gotta Try This!: A Japanese Pub in Portland

December 8, 2010

Maybe I don’t go out enough, but I had never heard of Japanese Pubs before running across Yakuza.  In Japan they call them an izakaya, which is a type of Japanese drinking establishment that also serves food to accompany the drinks.  There are a good amount of sushi restaurants in Portland, but what intrigued me about Yakuza is the fact that they call themselves a Japanese pub and that they apparently won Portland Monthly Magazine’s “Best Burger of 2009.” Tell me that doesn’t peak your interest!

Yakuza of course has some seriously tasty house rolls and sashimi, like their Sashimi Trio, which includes, tuna, yellowtail, and salmon, and their Pear Jalapeno roll, which is a mix of yellowtail, pear, avocado and jalapeno. But you will also find some unique dishes you might not expect at a Japanese establishment, like chilled crab, kobe tartar and of course their award winning Yakuza burger.

Just as enticing as the food is Yakuza’s unique cocktail creations and their huge selection of sake.  Try a Beet Martini, the Wasabi, or a Carrot Cosmo, or one of 15 different sakes, like the Momokawa Organic Nigori Sake, which is rich and creamy and has hints of coconut.

Located in the Concordia Neighborhood at 5411 NE 30th Ave, Yakuza is truly a unique Portland gem.  To make reservations book online here.

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