Portlandia

It was a four day weekend. Dan and I had gotten so stir crazy in our apartment from

too many episodes of Mad Men, staying in our pajamas all day (yes, for consecutive days), and just plain staring at each other.

So, what to do, what to do?

Then, while working the only day I worked last week, I had a brilliant idea.  Let's visit Portlandia!

Okay, to most of you it's known as Portland, Oregon.  However, to those television and Youtube savvy folks, it is most definitely known as Portlandia, where the dream of the 90's is alive. 

We packed our bags, filled our mugs with coffee, set the station to Pandora and hit the road.

That's when the skies opened up.  Pouring rain ensued.  Awesome.

However, we didn't let that dampen the trip (no, we were more like drenched).

We check in to our hotel and immediately know what we have to do.  Eat and Drink!

First stop - Henry's Tavern.

Dan was so excited.

I wore my plaid and pearls just for the occasion.

Finally, toasting our brews!

Next stop, Powell's bookstore.  I had no idea a store like this existed because otherwise I would have been here way sooner!  One of the biggest bookstores in the country with every book imaginable.  

Amazingly, I only bought four.  I could have stayed all day, but Dan wanted more beer.

Next stop, Deschutes Brewery.  Established in Bend, OR. in 1988.  The bar was insanely crowded, but we managed to grab a corner and get a sampler.

Delicious!

Now that we had managed to drink a few beers, read some books, and walk in the rain, it was time for coffee.  We visited the famous Stumptown coffee shop and got some lattes to warm up.  As we were leaving the coffee shop and were walking around, we noticed multiple people carrying around these pink bakery boxes.  Knowing it must be a good place, we figured out there was a donut shop a few blocks down.  We walked there in record time as there was a line out the building going down the sidewalk.  Voodoo donuts.

Some were a little crazier than others, but all were delicious.  Yum, yum, yum!

The rest of the evening included lots more cocktails, beer and some of the best food at a hole in the wall place called 'Slow Bar" that our good friend, Mike, recommended.  Boy was it good.  We split a burger and fondue app.  That might seem odd together, but it was so worth it.  We stopped by the Doug Fir lounge for some drinks by the outdoor fire pit before calling it a night.  Well, not before stopping by the infamous Marriott bar, Champions for a nightcap.

As some have told me, a trip to Portland is not complete without a breakfast brunch at Mother's.

After standing in line for what seemed like an eternity, we got seated in a cute dining room and had some amazing Portland breakfast.  We also had Manmosas.  Because little mimosas just don't cut it.

All in all, a good first time visit to the city of roses.  Next time we visit we have decided it will be in the Summer and we will actually check out the roses.  Hopefully the rain will stay in Seattle.