Blake Ellis - Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Einstein is the most comprehensive exhibit on Albert Einstein ever to be displayed, melding his personal life, his science, and his era through interactive displays, personal letters, artifacts, original manuscripts, learning labs, and videos. Not only does the exhibit address his revolutionary theories on the Universe, but it also reveals his passion for social justice.
Head across the river to OMSI and enjoy this great exhibit!
The show runs until September 26th from 9:30am to 7pm daily
Tickets are $9-12, and free for OMSI members
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
1945 SE Water Avenue
Portland, OR
503-797-4000
www.omsi.edu
Blake Ellis - Saturday, August 07, 2010
Want a great way to enjoy a summer evening for free? Here's a great option! Portland Festival Symphony puts on a summer concert series that is free to the public in local public parks in Portland. Tonight's concert is at 6PM in Laurelhurst Park.
The concert series is also a real testament to the generosity of Portlanders, too. The symphony is funded entirely through the support of generous individuals, local businesses and sponsors.
So bring a bottle of wine and a picnic dinner to Laurelhurst Park This evening and enjoy the music! Head to SE 37th and Oak, and enjoy!
http://www.portlandfestivalsymphony.org
Blake Ellis - Thursday, August 05, 2010
Today's a great day to take advantage of this great deal and to support the Oregon Food Bank at the same time! Salty's is a great seafood spot right on the Columbia River. Today (August 5th) from 5:30 - 7pm, they are hosting a $25 halibut fish fry with pairings by Pyramid Brewing.
Also, you can have a good ol' time playing carnival games, spinning wheels, and trivia challenges to help bring in some additional money for the Oregon Food Bank, which does amazing work for our local community. If you arrive dressed all in white (the color of halibut), you'll automatically receive a Salty's gift card, too!
If you'd like to go, do RSVP by calling 503-505-9986
3839 NE Marine Drive
Portland, OR 97211
www.saltys.com/portland
Blake Ellis - Wednesday, August 04, 2010
This is a fun one! Le Bistro Montage is a little unassuming restaurant located in Industrial SE Portland. It's very well known for it's fun late night dining as well as some pretty creative packing of your to go leftovers.
If you like comfort food with a cool cajun twist, then this is your place. My favorites are the different kinds of macaroni and cheese dishes available here. Spicy mac with chicken, tomato mac, green pesto mac... and more! Most of my visits have been late night ones, and you'll definitely be entertained. Waiters are running from table to table, shouting back orders for oyster shooters to the bar. The seating is along big communal tables too, so you may get to know your fellow diners!
The potions are pretty big, and in the likely event hat you're unable to finish everything on your plate, you'll leave with food that's wrapped as art! The waiters are very skilled at shaping your foil wrapped leftovers into all sorts of shiny foil sculptures. There's even a gallery of their foil creations on the restaurant website! And a big plus, you can come back for brunch, lunch, or dinner too.
Le Bistro Montage
301 SE Morrison St
Portland, OR 97214
503-234-1324
http://www.montageportland.com
Blake Ellis - Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Are you one of the many people who's deathly afraid of the dentist? Hate sitting in a boring waiting room with ten year old magazines? Do you want to find a place that's a little less scary and a bit more comfortable? Look into Bling Dental, the dental practice of Dr. Raymond Frye, DMD.
The office is a breath of fresh air. SItuated on the corner of NW 13th and NW Lovejoy in the Pearl DIstrict, Bling Dental is clean and classy inside. As the name suggests, there are lots of shiny things in this office, and the waiting room feels a bit more like a classy lounge than a dental office.
Dr. Raymond is really disarming, too. He's low key and knowledgable, and has a way of putting even the most jittery patients at ease. Two of my friends had a bit of work done recently, and they rave about how well they were taken care of both by the doctor and his cool staff. The whole office is energetic, vibrant, and fun. Not your average day at the dentist's office.
So, if it's time for a change, and your looking to care for your pearly (or not so pearly) whites, visit Dr. Frye, who's motto is that "you don't have to be a celebrity to smile like one."
Bling Dental
926 NW 13th Ave Suite 150
Portland, OR 97209
www.blingdental.com
info@blingdental.com
Blake Ellis - Monday, August 02, 2010
It's time for the annual Street of Dreams show. Every summer, area builders, interior designers, and landscape architects collaborate on a neighborhood of showpiece homes, and this year is no different. In years past, the homes were HUGE mansions that were luxury from top to bottom. While the homes are still luxurious, they've been toned down a bit in recent years.
This year's show features six homes in Cresap Summit off of Skyline Blvd and two penthouse units in the Indigo @ 12 West building in downtown Portland. The Street of Dreams runs from July 31 through August 29th from 11am - 9pm. Tickets are available online for $14 for peak times and $12 for off peak times and at the show for $15 for peak hours and $13 for off peak hours.
Click here for directions to the show...
Blake Ellis - Friday, July 30, 2010
Cafe Nell is a great bistro in NW Portland. Started bya couple really great guys (Darren and Van), this place feels like a little European bistro that was dropped in the center of town. Decidedly comfortable, but elegant too. Lots of candlelight and mirrors here - how bad could that be!?
The restaurant just started a new promotion I wanted to pass along.. It's called the 4 to 6 fix. It's a nice 3 course meal for $14 bucks!
Stop on by and enjoy a nice summer meal!
Here's the selections available:
CHOICE OF:
SOUP OR SALAD
CHOICE OF:
LAMB MEATBALLS WITH TAGLIATELLE PASTA
WHOLE PAN FRIED TILAPIA WITH HAND-CUT FRIES & COLE SLAW
CLASSIC COQ AU VIN SERVED OVER MASHED POTATOES
DESSERT
Cafe Nell
1987 NW Kearney Street
Portland, OR 97209
503-295-6487
Blake Ellis - Saturday, July 24, 2010
Do you ever want to enjoy a lunch or a coffee at a quiet urban cafe, but can't find the right fit?
Take a trip to Breken Kitchen. It's at the north end of the Peal District that area residents call "The Squish". The interior is reminiscent of a cool New York loft with exposed brick and rough hardwood floors. It sits right at the base of the sculptural Fremont Bridge.
I joined some friends here for lunch last week, and really had a nice time. I enjoyed a nicoise salad and some REALLY nice lavender lemonade (with champagne!!!). The verdict among the three of us was that this place is a thumbs up. Which is great for them, as they're opening a business just down the street. Looks like it may become a regular lunch spot for them! And I'm happy to join them.
1800 NW 16th Avenue (at NW Thurman)
Portland, OR 97209
503.841.6359
Blake Ellis - Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The big space at the corner of NW 10th and Lovejoy has had a few restaurant tenants over the past few years, and finally it seems that there's a good fit. Lovejoy Bakers moved in recently and had this corner home. Dan Griffin, the head baker of Lovejoy Bakers, has history in the Pearl District. He comes from the Pearl Bakery. After wanting a little more freedom and flexibility, he and his business partner made that a reality.
I just had breakfast here this morning. I had a nice ham and egg sandwich, which was really tasty. Served on some really crusty bread.
The dining areas are cozy. It's half coffee shop, half restaurant. Out on the Lovejoy facing side of the bakery, the space is open and airy with two story glass all the way around. A perfect place to sit when the weather isn't so great.
Now that it's summer, you can enjoy your meals outside, too! Just like a little cafe in Paris. oooh la la!
Blake Ellis - Monday, July 12, 2010
Silk, a Vietnamese restaurant that's part of the Pho Van chain of restaurants, is perhaps my favorite place in town for several reasons.
First and foremost, the owners and their staff are honestly some of the nicest people in town. Once you start visiting Silk regularly, you'll find that many many other people do, too. The people here quickly become like close friends and family.
The food here is really good, too. There are two ways to go. First, you can take some baby steps with the bar menu. With fantastic happy hour deals from 4 - 7pm, try out some of the pho noodle soup or some of their tasty vietnamese baguette sandwiches. The dinner menu also has some AMAZING options. My favorites are the five spice duck and shaken beef (cubes of filet mignon that are seasoned PERFECTLY).
If you haven't tried this before, make the trip to Silk by Pho Van in the Pearl District. You'll be a regular in no time.
Silk
1012 NW Glisan St
Portland, OR 97209
503-248-2172
http://www.phovanrestaurant.com/silk
