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blake ellis - broker
portland area real estate, redefined

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365 Things To Do In Portland, Oregon

Tasty bites await in Beaumont Village at Soluna Grill

Blake Ellis - Saturday, June 26, 2010


I had the pleasure of joining some friends in Beaumont Village for dinner at Soluna Grill.  It was my first time at the restaurant, and I definitely set out to get a feel for what they offer.



We decided to fill ourselves with appetizers and shared a couple entrees as well.   Some notable items on the starters list were the artichoke and goat cheese tart and yellowfin poke (one of my friends is Hawaiian, and the poke got his approval, so it must be good!).  The entrees we tried were smoked pork cheek chili and potato gnocchi with chicken.  The food at Soluna was really good.  I'll definitely be back.

The restaurant also hosts a supper club featuring multi course themed dinners paired with wine.  Seating for these events is limited to 30 people.  Attend a few of these and you'll be a regular in no time!

Soluna Grill
Beaumont Village
4440 NE Fremont St
Portland, Oregon 97213

www.solunagrill.com

971-222-3433

Tasty bites await in Beaumont Village at Soluna Grill

Blake Ellis - Saturday, June 26, 2010


I had the pleasure of joining some friends in Beaumont Village for dinner at Soluna Grill.  It was my first time at the restaurant, and I definitely set out to get a feel for what they offer.



We decided to fill ourselves with appetizers and shared a couple entrees as well.   Some notable items on the starters list were the artichoke and goat cheese tart and yellowfin poke (one of my friends is Hawaiian, and the poke got his approval, so it must be good!).  The entrees we tried were smoked pork cheek chili and potato gnocchi with chicken.  The food at Soluna was really good.  I'll definitely be back.

The restaurant also hosts a supper club featuring multi course themed dinners paired with wine.  Seating for these events is limited to 30 people.  Attend a few of these and you'll be a regular in no time!

Soluna Grill
Beaumont Village
4440 NE Fremont St
Portland, Oregon 97213

www.solunagrill.com

971-222-3433

Trust your hands and feet to the professionals at Onyx Salon

Blake Ellis - Friday, June 25, 2010

Every once in a while, it's nice to be taken care of.  When your hands and feet are in need of attention, make a trip to Onyx Salon in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District.  It's a nice little oasis of calm in the city, and you'll be pampered from head to toe here!

This isn't your run of the mill nail salon.  Owner Kevin Huynh has been in business for the last ten years, and enjoys a loyal following of faithful customers.  He and his team at Onyx will treat you to the best service you'll find in town, which is why so many of the customers at Onyx are regulars.  

Even just a quick manicure here will leave you feeling relaxed and calm.  The salon is super clean, smells like a dream, and the products used are great, too.  Stop by and treat yourself next time you're in the Pearl District!

Onyx Salon
820 NW Hoyt St
Portland, OR 97209

http://www.onyxinthepearl.com

503-224-2926

Save lots of money on all things Portland.. with Groupon!

Blake Ellis - Thursday, June 24, 2010


A while back, I found out about Groupon.com while watching a news program.  It's a really cool free service that emails great deals to you every day via email.  You'll get offers of 50% off of dining, entertainment, spa, and recreation all over the area.  The participating vendors are really good places, too!  Everything from upper end Pearl District restaurants and cafes to kayak tours on the river.

Test it out, and I'm sure you'll find some great deals that will save you lots of money!!  All you have to do is sign up on www.groupon.com and the savings will start coming your way!

Enjoy the sun!  It's FINALLY here!!!

Get your cup of coffee. Italian style...

Blake Ellis - Tuesday, June 22, 2010


If you're ever in need of a quiet place to sit down and enjoy a nice up of coffee while in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District, try out Caffe Umbria.  It's a nice Italian cafe on NW 12th and Everett in the ground floor of on of the nicest condo towers in Portland, Oregon - The Casey.

Caffe Umbria offers all the coffees and italian sodas and granitas that you'd expect of an Italian cafe.  Also, you'll find some pretty tasty Italian pastries, sandwiches, and panini sandwiches, too.  It's always nice to have a place like this in the neighborhood.  On a busy day, I stop by to grab a coffee and a sandwich and take a few minutes to myself sitting outside.  it's fun to eat lunch and watch the activity of the neighborhood, too.  

This cafe is a friendly place. If you're a local, you'll run into friends and neighbors.  If you're new, the staff will greet you with a smile, and you'll feel at home right away.  It's your regular cup of joe, with an Italian twist!

Look GOOD from head to toe.. With the help of Chachi Hair Skin

Blake Ellis - Monday, June 21, 2010

One of the most difficult parts about moving to a new city is the search for all those important people who helped make our lives better wherever we came from.  This can be especially true with hair stylists.  

It's happened to me.  Moved to a new city, made an appointment at a random salon, and was sad and disappointed with the results.  I want to help save you that heartache and let you know about Chachi Tuy of Chachi Hair Skin in Northwest Portland, Oregon.  Chachi is a very talented stylist who's hard work has paid off with the opening of the salon that bears his name.  Located on NW 18th and Marshall on the edge of the Pearl District, Chachi Hair Skin is a cool modern space where Chachi works his magic along with a team of great stylists and skin specialists.  He also has a network of great style contacts, so if you need a personal shopper or a stylist, you'll be handled.

Chachi will make you look your very best.  He's direct, too.  So if that photo you clipped out of the magazine isn't going to make you look great, he'll TELL YOU!  It's so great to experience is casual honestly.  It always works out making you look fantastic. 

Give him a call and set up your appointment.  You'll look great for a night on the town in no time!

Chachi Hair Skin
1748 NW Marshal St
Portland, Oregon 97209

503 636 3885
www.chachihairskin.com

Visit PLYWERK at Portland Saturday Market

Blake Ellis - Saturday, June 19, 2010

On of my first weekends in Portland, I was strolling through the Alberta Arts District for Last Thursday.  It's a crazy night of street performances, music, and artisans selling their wares on the street.  I found this great booth of AMAZING images mounted on plywood panels, and met the photographer, Kim Nguyen (of Photos by Kim).  

She's an award winning photo journalist who travels extensively and comes back to her Portland base with some of the most vibrant images I've ever seen.  And, after talking with her and crossing paths many more times over the past several years, I've come to see that she's a really awesome person, too.

PLYWERK is the name she's given to her images fused to plywood.  They are simple, striking, and easy on the wallet.  With sizes between 5x5 to 12x18 and pricing from $20 - $60, your walls will boast some seriously memorable images and you'll still have cash to spare. 

"Dutch Bike" (5x5 on panel, $20 USD)

Kim's PLYWERKS pieces are available by visiting her at Portland Saturday Market, Last Thursdays at Alberta Art Walk, and online at her website, www.photosbykim.com or www.plywerk.com (You can also have your own images fused to panel on this site!!)

Kim Oanh Nguyen
kim@photosbykim.com

Gotta try it... A reborn restaurant space on NW Irving St in Portland, Oregon

Blake Ellis - Friday, June 18, 2010

I warned you.  You're going to be able to eat your way through Portland, Oregon like a pro after reading these posts.  I tried to refrain from a restaurant post today, but I've had the pleasure of visiting Irving Street Kitchen in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District a couple times this week, and I am a very happy camper.

Irving Street Kitchen is the new occupant of the space formerly known as Bay 13, which didn't fare so well, and closed last year. I was a little worried that the Bay 13 vibes might continue on for this new place, but my worries were appeased QUICKLY.  Very nice staff and a menu full of really good, not too expensive food.  The space is cool.  It's a large space for a restaurant in the neighborhood, but the new owners managed to warm the place up a bit.  The far side of the dining room has cozy little booths with curtains, and the main dining room is lit with some really nice chandeliers with Edison-style bulbs.

And the food, you ask?

Bacon wrapped fried oysters? Yes please.  Duck confit with duck sausage and wild rice? I'll have two!  The food is really well put together.  It's classy comfort food, and both servers that helped me definitely seemed to be foodies, as well.  They were able to navigate me through the menu and had well formed opinions to share.  

The chocolate cake with pistachio brittle and the spicy doughnuts with coffee semifreddo were SO GOOD.  

Definitely try out this new Pearl District eatery.  I hope they'll be there for a long time.  Oh, oh!  And during the day, they set up shop right on the corner of NW 13th and Irving, and you can buy all kinds of awesome BBQ food for really good deals at lunch time.  

Irving Street Kitchen
701 NW 13th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503-343-9440

www.irvingstreetkitchen.com

Get lost in an urban oasis at the Portland Chinese Garden

Blake Ellis - Thursday, June 17, 2010

From time to time, everyone needs a little break from life to enjoy some peace and experience tranquility.  People living in the Portland, Oregon area are lucky to have one of the most authentic traditional Chinese gardens outside of China right here in our backyard.

Once you step past the entry gates, you're transported into another world and another time.  Traditionally styled and crafted buildings encircle a beautiful lake, and are connected by paths and bridges.  You can wander from building to building, rest overlooking the water, or enjoy some authentic Chinese tea and teacakes tea in the two story tea house that is within the garden.

Even if you can only spare an hour or two, you will leave Lan Su Chinese Garden feeling calm and refreshed.  (And wanting to go back again!)  

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is open to visitors seven days a week year-round, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Summer Hours 
April 1 - October 31 
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Winter Hours 
November 1 - March 31 
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Admission

Your admission gains access to the Garden, Teahouse, and when offered, public tours and exhibits. Some special events are not included with admission or may require a purchase of tea. With a membership admission is free for one year.

  • $8.50 Adults
  • $7.50 Seniors (age 62 & over)
  • $6.50 Students (age 6-18 and college students with I.D.)
  • Children five and under are free

Individual adult admission tickets and discounted admission bundles are available for purchase in advance at 503.228.8131

www.lansugarden.org

Do you love your coffee and pastries? Visit Crema in SE Portland, Oregon

Blake Ellis - Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Time to venture out of the Pearl for a few posts.  There are some amazing finds over on the east side of Portland, Oregon.  One place that will fuel two addictions is Crema, a cool bakery / coffee shop over on SE 27th and Ankeny.  It's owned by a really nice guy named Brent Fortune, who is also an international barista judge.  Lesson - the coffee here is serious business.  They use beans from local roaster, Stumptown Coffee, and their baristas know exactly what they are doing.

When it comes to pastries and baked treats, you can't go wrong here either.  There was a time when i could not go without my ham and cheese croissant in the morning or a cupcake in the afternoon.  The frosting was so good, I was tempted to order a gallon drum of it.  Just for me.  Yes, it's that good.

Crema's space is clean, simple, and modern.  Concrete floors, high ceilings, and lots of glass with views out into the neighborhood.  It's a cozy place to set up shop and catch up on emails (WiFi is free) or to escape the liquid sunshine we sometimes experience in our lovely city.

Crema  coffee+bakery
2728 SE Ankeny Street
Portland, Oregon 97214
503-234-0206

www.cremabakery.com

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