This time every year, the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas story and the North Pole are brought to life on the Mount Hood Railroad’s Polar Express Train Ride. Recently, my family and I made the scenic, 62-mile drive east from Portland to Hood River, where we began our round-trip journey to the North […]
Oyatsupan Bakers Deftly Blend Japanese & European-Style Pastries
Japanese, French and American baking traditions are mixed to create delicious, one-of-a-kind baked goods at Oyatsupan Bakers, a new brick-and-mortar bakery located in Portland’s ethnically diverse suburb of Beaverton. A longtime fan of Japanese foods and culture (ever since I spent an amazing month years ago exploring Japan) I was delighted to visit recently and […]
Cranberry Harvest on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is well-known for many things: one of the longest public beaches in the world, an oceanfront boardwalk, two 19th century lighthouses, ridiculously fresh seafood (such as Willapa Bay oysters) and growing cranberries. In fact, one of the area’s unofficial nicknames is the Cranberry Coast, so when my family and I visited […]
5 Portland Tea Purveyors In Which to Steep Yourself
Tea lovers, rejoice! Portland may seem to run on coffee, but more and more high-quality teahouses and teamakers are setting up shop in the Rose City. Here’s a list of five of my favorites. All offer high-quality teas, herbals, tea ware and specialty tea drinks, so you’ll never run out of fine blends to sample. […]
A Sweet Peek Inside Salt & Straw’s Production Facility
At the corner of a dark grey building in Portland’s Central Eastside, I step through the unassuming glass door into a sanitizing foot bath. This cleans any bacteria from the soles of my shoes. Then I tuck my hair into a bright blue hairnet. Around me, a half-dozen fellow journalists and writers do the same. […]