As PDX Beer Week came to a close this week, it’s a been a fun mix of beer and exercising to counterbalance the beer.

Kettleball workout – I tried a kettleball workout for the first time this week (Lululemon had a free class at Skogg Kettleball gym at NW 10th/Everett). Intense! Fun though, I’ll definitely be trying it again. It was the kind of workout that you think, “I don’t think I can do this!” because it’s an 18 pound weight. But then you can, and you do, and it’s awesome!
Evoe – finally stopped in to Evoe/Pastaworks for a sandwich. Mighty fine.
Lardo – I’ve been hashtagging #sandwichgram on Instagram this week. Every time I’ve wanted to try Lardo (at the Good Food Here food cart pod), it seems like they’re closed. Finally, I got to try the tuna melt. Delicious!
Newport – We spent Father’s Day weekend at the coast with my parents. It’s always fun exploring Newport — sea lion spotting, walking the port, looking at boats, finding hilarious unicorn signs (above), and lunch in Nye Beach. Plus, the mildly scary, but exhilarating Harley ride with my dad!
Portland Beer & Cheese Festival – cheese, glorious cheese. And beer. Two of my favorite things! More photos of this later. And now I really need to go to a kettleball workout again.
What are you happy about this week?
June is a such an awesome collision of Pedalpalooza, PDX Beer Week, and almost summer-ness (still waiting!). There’s always something fun to do…

Pedalpalooza – it’s three whole weeks of bikey fun this year! I went on the Hot Socks ride on Saturday. What’s that? Everyone wears awesome socks and we rode to both Sock Dreams in Sellwood and Sock It To Me in SE. I wore same of my favorite argyle socks, and I won a pair of socks on the ride! (And yes, the ride was crashed by naked bike ride folks wearing only socks. There’s a reason the World Naked Bike Ride happens under the cover of darkness. My poor eyes.)
Oven & Shaker – another new restaurant I’ve been wanting to try for happy hour, because the pizzas start at $7. They also had a great Sazerac.
PDX Pop Now Compilation release show @ Holocene – If you donate to PDX Pop Now! in the fall, you get to go to the CD release show for free. First time hearing Wild Ones — enjoyed.
friends winning stuff! – Bike n’ Hike had a benefit party for the Alpenrose Velodrome. It was $5 to get in and you got a free raffle ticket, and free beer from the ever-stellar Hopworks. I won a hat. Whatever. But a friend won one of the Hopworks bikes! Crazy! Then we went to celebrate at Spirit of ’77.
10 Barrel Brewing at APEX – I was excited to see that 10 Barrel Brewing Co was going to be at APEX on Saturday, pouring for another PDX Beer Week event. They’re from Bend, so instant love, in my book.
Kure Juice Bar – Finally made it over to Kure. I’ll be recreating their kale, almond butter, coconut smoothie at home. So delicious.
Waterfront Park – I’m always glad to wave goodbye to the Rose Festival that sets up shop in Waterfront park every May. I’ve been avoiding the park all month just because it’s a hassle to go through, but I did ride through on Sunday to get a glimpse of the Navy ships from the Steel Bridge and see the spectical that is the CityFair. Until next year Rose Festival!
Listening: Wild Ones, Fiona Apple
What are you happy about this week?
June is one of my favorite months of the year — for it brings summer, the longest day of light for the year, and a few months of less rain. Oh, and my birthday.

Salt & Straw Ice Cream – naturally, I had to order the pear with blue cheese (Rogue Creamer’s Crater Lake) from Salt & Straw. It was fantastic.
Mt Tabor – my grandma came for a short visit, so we went to one of her favorite restaurants — Ya Hala, followed by a stroll around Mt Tabor. I also took her on the Tram from OHSU to the Waterfront. :) Some of my favorite views of the city.
The Box Social – stopped in for one cocktail at The Box Social, another fairly newish place that popped up on N Williams this year. Although they’re of the $8 variety, the Cynar Manhattan was complex enough that I only wanted one. And I love the name, although it seems like it should be a to-go picnic supply shop. :)
Amnesia’s Single Hop Fest – We biked up to Amnesia for their Single Hop Fest over the weekend. I love beer fests that are pay as you go. So much better than buying a silly cup and a gazillion drink tickets! My favorite beer was the Double Mountain Clusterf#*k IPA. Now if only the Portland Beer & Cheese Fest (cheese by Cheese Bar!) in a few weeks was pay as you go too.
Bolt – Considering a sewing project this month. We shall see if that gets accomplished.
What are you happy about this week?
Have I mentioned yet that it’s good to be home? I covered a surprising amount of ground in the last week — visiting some of my favorite Portland places like Rum Club, 12th/Hawthorne food carts, Laurelhurst Theater, Boke Bowl, and the farmers market. I also got to check out a few new places. Home, sweet, home.

Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen – I found my new favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Portland.
Bishop’s Close – I love discovering new [to me] parks in town. We went to the Elk Gardens at Bishop’s Close this weekend and it’s like a quiet, free version of the Japanese Gardens on a sprawling grounds overlooking the Willamette. I’ll definitely be back for more salamander, duck, and giant tree spotting.
Brewery biking – Felt almost like summer biking to Hair of the Dog & The Commons Brewery, before biking up to North Portland just before an epic downpour… Yes, I said almost like summer.
Portland Farmers Market – I love my Saturday morning routine of the farmers market.
The Drift Inn – one of my favorite restaurants on the Central Oregon coast, I usually always stop in when visiting my family at the coast.
The Old Gold – I’ve had The Old Gold in North Portland on my Yelp bookmarks since it opened, and finally made a point to go on Sunday. Cool place. If I lived in the neighborhood, I’d be here all the time. It’s also good to be back to Oregon prices on tasty beer.
Portland food carts – My first week back I of course hit two of my favs: Pyro Pizza & Perierra Creperie. I also tried the New Taste of India cart downtown. $6 for the veg lunch, I’ll be back to this one too.
What are you happy about this week?
