One month ago, Paul and I were enjoying a weekend in Portland, Oregon. I’ve worked every weekend since, though I have high hopes for no work this weekend, as I have a big deadline on Friday. In the meantime, a few photos from a month ago.
Our weekend in Portland was the perfect mini-vacation for an architect. On Saturday, we took a streetcar (public transit! amazing!) from our hotel, and spent the day wandering around the Pearl District, an area north of downtown once occupied by warehouses and light industry. In the past few years, the warehouses have been converted to lofts, and new condo and commercial buildings have sprung up among them. The neighborhood is a pedestrian’s delight; the narrow streets are lined with sidewalk cafes and interesting shops, and the street trees, many recently planted, are thriving.
The very wonderful and dangerous Powell’s Books is also in the Pearl District. Paul and I spent a little less than an hour there, and were lucky to get out for around $1 per person per minute. I scored a couple of mysteries and a long-coveted preserving book; Paul found a couple sci-fi titles he hadn’t yet read. I also fondled a few of the lovely Moleskine journals from Powell’s large selection, but none of them managed to seduce me into buying. If we lived closer, I’m sure they would eventually have their way with me.
Is it possible to have a crush on a neighborhood? I think so. While I love our century-old Seattle neighborhood and its lovely old houses, the Pearl District lures me into considering a different version of city living.
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Glad you took a break from work to share this break from work. The hotel looks like great fun, and their website even mentions the name of the architect! Portland is a very unique city, one in which many fantasize about living.
I think you will enjoy the Christine Ferber book. I am a big fan of her jam.
I discovered that she is giving a several day “master class” in July at the French Pastry School in Chicago, which is open to non professionals. My daughter and I are thinking about meeting up and going-but it is, of course, awfully expensive, to the point of being a guilt-inducing idea.
I’d love to see her in action. She will be doing savory preserves and tarts.
Portland looks like a terrific place.
The sky is so blue and what a perfect place for an architect to explore.