2:00 pm Portland Art Museum Ansel Adams,Paul Strand and Edwards Weston’s inspiring works stare brilliant- ly out at me within the contemporary confines of Portland’s exhibition show- case. The Art Museum also is an events-friendly venue with a spacious ballroom and sculpture mall - the latter is perfect for the ultimate cocktail reception.
Just a short stroll away is Portland’s Farmers’Market where scores of ven- dors with local produce,artisan goods and tasty treats lure foodies from far and wide. I take note of the food’s proximity to people here - it’s every- where and seemingly on every block. Along with this market there are food truck pods throughout the city. Portlanders go crazy for their street foods.
I ride the light rail toward my next des- tination: Powell’s
Books.This world- famous store - the largest independent bookstore in the world - is a reader’s paradise; a full city block’s worth of new and used books.Who says print is dead? At Powell’s the written word is alive,well and waiting to be read…
“Hi,are you in town?”It’s Alexa Darrow, a close industry friend who’s recently moved to Portland and is now rep-ing one of the city’s top pr firms.“Yeah, I got in yesterday.Want to grab a beer?” “Sure,”Alexa agrees,“and I know just the place!”
We meet at Cascade Brewing Barrel
House.Sure,“another place serving beer,”you might be thinking. Well,yes,and even then
some.Cascade sells sour beers - ales that are brewed with fruits or spices to create a nicely- puckery dynamic and mouth feel.
“A sour beer bar would never fly in any other city”Alexa assures.“In Portland, though,when it comes to food,beer and wine,anything’s possible.”
6:30 pm - Dinner at Ned Ludd Homey and wood beamed with a cozy crackling fire and lots of suspended copper pots,Ned Ludd is an American craft kitchen with its vision rooted in sustainability and a commitment toward its local
producers.This is true farm-to-table fare presented on thick wooden tables in a setting that’s like some 18th century kitchen.
Alexa has taken me here to show me the vibrancy in her city’s food scene, introducing me to tall and lanky chef/owner, Jason French.He brings out wood-fired flat bread that’s been dusted with sea salt and good olive oil followed by a cast iron crock of smoky pork stew islanded by savory tomatil- los. Like the rest of the food experi- ences I’ve had here so far,Ned Ludd eschews pomp in lieu of quality best- preparation practices.
Chef Jason sends us on our way with a couple belly-warming chocolate chip cookies - perfect for the early fall chill that’s slowly seeping in from the Cascades to the north.
Sunday, September 27, 12:00 pm - Sentinel Hotel To give me a sense of the type of hotel lodging to be found here, the visitors bureau has arranged for my final night to be at a different
property.The Sentinel, in downtown Portland, is both historic and modern with 23,000- square feet of meeting space.
After checking in I decide to wander, taking in the spectacular Lan Su Chinese Garden,a richly-landscaped urban oasis that is perfect for site-gaz- ing or serene meditation. I check out the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry,one of the nation’s leading museums of its kind.
1:00 pm - Nob Hill Walkabout For all of the embracing neighbor- hoods within Portland’s vicinity, the
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