Portland Visit

My Earth Day was spent in a car. But it was a very fuel efficient car. And we were travelling between two of North America's greenest cities, Vancouver and Portland.

Over four days, we split off, regrouped, and split off again.

Highlights for me included the following ...

Catching up on the taps at the Horse Brass pub. I was glad to introduce it to Ellena and Yann, friends from Vancouver visiting the same weekend. Ellena is a fellow beer nut. Among the half pints I picked (to get more variety) I enjoyed a tribute brew for the recently deceased publican, Don Younger.

Hanging out with Tom and Lena, our friends and hosts, and watching Sarah and Nika play.

Playing tour guide to Ellena and Yann, taking them to old favourites: the Bipartisan Cafe, Rich's Cigars, Everyday Music and Belmont Station in addition to stops at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Pioneer Place Mall, Powell's and REI.

A visit to Hopworks Organic Brewing. It was the one pub Ellena wanted to see. I didn't know much about it at the time, but learned that it's operated by Christian Ettinger, former brewmaster at Laurelwood, our old favourite family dinner destination. The Trailblazers game was on a big TV. There are bike frames suspended above the bar. There are at least three bike corrals in front. The parking lot seems to have paving stones. The beer is organic. I asked myself, could this be more Portland? The answer is, none. It could be none more Portland. And to my shame, it was introduced to me by an out-of-towner.

Being introduced to the BBC series Sherlock at Tom and Lena's. I'd wanted to see it badly and is on my mail-order rental list but hadn't made its way yet. I was able to return the favour by introducing them to recent Doctor Who episodes. Both series share Stephen Moffat as head writer.

Listening to Devo (one of the used CDs from my haul at Everyday Music) in the car on the way to visit Patty, Ben and Jen. Sarah got annoyed with it, to our chagrin.

Discovering the band Sweet while browsing Ben and Jen's music collection. I'd never heard of them but remembered enjoying one of their songs on the radio as a child.

Meeting up with friends Ed and Leslie. They meant to introduce me to the Moon and Sixpence but it was closed. Gustav's was closing soon for Easter dinner. So we ended up at Columbia River Brewing at the former site of our old favourite, Laurelwood. The interior is pretty much unchanged, and it was nice to know where the washrooms are.

After our traditional leaving-Portland-in-the-morning breakfast at Elmer's:

Me (pulling the car forward out of the parking space): Go forward. Move ahead. Back to the action. Hey, Margo ... is it too late?

Margo: It's not too late.

Sarah (confused): To do what?

Margo and I, in unison: To WHIP IT! WHIP IT GOOD!

Belly laughs ensued.