Portland, Oregon is one of my favorite places to visit simply because of this bookstore, Powell's City Of Books. City of Books is the flagship and 1 of 5 Powell's in and around Portland. This particular store is the one your friends, family, and strangers tell you about...THE largest used and new bookstore in the WORLD. A true haven (and heaven) for bibliophiles, this store sits on 1.6 acres and contains over 68,000 square feet! Over 3,500 different sections, offering something for everyone, and I do mean everyone!
Portland is also a great city for foodies (from food-trucks to elegant restaurants), beer lovers (Deschutes Brewery and others within driving distance) and coffee aficionados (read coffee-snobs...such as moi).
Over 2 separate trips in the month of March, I spent a total of 8 very busy and highly productive days in Portland. Here is what I explored, consumed, and experienced...
Portland is also a great city for foodies (from food-trucks to elegant restaurants), beer lovers (Deschutes Brewery and others within driving distance) and coffee aficionados (read coffee-snobs...such as moi).
Over 2 separate trips in the month of March, I spent a total of 8 very busy and highly productive days in Portland. Here is what I explored, consumed, and experienced...
I stayed at the very elegant and fine boutigue-style Embassy Suites Downtown Portland. Built in 1912, this hotel is a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America. The hotel's restaurant, Portland Prime, is a great happy hour location (or even for dinner). Located in the heart of the city, it is walking distance to many restaurants, coffeehouses, breweries, and most importantly...Powell's.
Photo directly above is of the view from our table as we dined 30 stories up overlooking downtown Portland at Portland City Grill. Their knowledgeable bartenders, along with signature drinks, got our night started off just right. First course was a fresh crab cocktail with a side of this impeccable view. Remained in the sea for the main course as I had the fish-of-the-day special. You cannot go wrong with either the steaks or fresh seafood at this gorgeous restaurant.
Photo directly above is of the view from our table as we dined 30 stories up overlooking downtown Portland at Portland City Grill. Their knowledgeable bartenders, along with signature drinks, got our night started off just right. First course was a fresh crab cocktail with a side of this impeccable view. Remained in the sea for the main course as I had the fish-of-the-day special. You cannot go wrong with either the steaks or fresh seafood at this gorgeous restaurant.
Now back to the real reason I came to Portland (besides business of course).
As one of my friends correctly pointed out, 'Nice haul Michael!'. Nice haul indeed. 2 trips to Powell's resulted in a purchase of 11 books.
1st trip I discovered a few amazing poetry collections from Tomas Transtromer (Nobel Prize Winner), Paul Auster, and John Updike, as well as a screenplay I have been looking for from Cormac McCarthy.
The second trip I came away with some Award winners and signed first printings. The PEN/Faulkner award winner How German Was It from Walter Abish (review can be found on my previous blog). The Nobel Prize for Fiction winner Bjornstjerne Bjornson (his novel Synovve Sylbokken can also be found on the previous blog). Pulitzer Prize and NBCCA winner Jennifer Egan's Signed first printing of Look At Me. The novel, Hotels Of North America Signed by the award winning author Rick Moody. The Coma, a novel signed by Alex Garland (author of The Beach). And The Western Lands (#3 of The Red Night Trilogy) by the incomparable William S. Burroughs.
As one of my friends correctly pointed out, 'Nice haul Michael!'. Nice haul indeed. 2 trips to Powell's resulted in a purchase of 11 books.
1st trip I discovered a few amazing poetry collections from Tomas Transtromer (Nobel Prize Winner), Paul Auster, and John Updike, as well as a screenplay I have been looking for from Cormac McCarthy.
The second trip I came away with some Award winners and signed first printings. The PEN/Faulkner award winner How German Was It from Walter Abish (review can be found on my previous blog). The Nobel Prize for Fiction winner Bjornstjerne Bjornson (his novel Synovve Sylbokken can also be found on the previous blog). Pulitzer Prize and NBCCA winner Jennifer Egan's Signed first printing of Look At Me. The novel, Hotels Of North America Signed by the award winning author Rick Moody. The Coma, a novel signed by Alex Garland (author of The Beach). And The Western Lands (#3 of The Red Night Trilogy) by the incomparable William S. Burroughs.
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Other delicacies and unique treats Portland has to offer:
Voodoo Doughnut. The downright nuttiest doughnut shop you will ever encounter. From basic to vegan to cartoonish to outlandish to pornographic to enormous they have it all when it comes to doughnuts (except for gluten-free...which stinks for me since I am Celiac...nevertheless I do remember these amazing holed sweets and my mouth still waters to this day as I walk by this quacky establishment).
Stumptown Coffee. Portland is the HQ of Stumptown. Amazing, delicious, REAL coffee for real coffee snobs. They offer slow pours and drips, as well as espresso drinks and cold brews. I opted for a rich satisfying espresso macchiato with almond milk...yum!
Other bookstores:
Cameron's
Passages Bookshop
Other restaurants:
Al-Amir Restaurant (amazing authentic Lebanese...great for lunch)
Bijou Cafe (a must stop for breakfast, all locally sourced)
Slappy Cakes (Original location! They have some of the best gluten-free pancakes!)
And make sure to check out one of the many Food Trucks that adorn the downtown area.
Voodoo Doughnut. The downright nuttiest doughnut shop you will ever encounter. From basic to vegan to cartoonish to outlandish to pornographic to enormous they have it all when it comes to doughnuts (except for gluten-free...which stinks for me since I am Celiac...nevertheless I do remember these amazing holed sweets and my mouth still waters to this day as I walk by this quacky establishment).
Stumptown Coffee. Portland is the HQ of Stumptown. Amazing, delicious, REAL coffee for real coffee snobs. They offer slow pours and drips, as well as espresso drinks and cold brews. I opted for a rich satisfying espresso macchiato with almond milk...yum!
Other bookstores:
Cameron's
Passages Bookshop
Other restaurants:
Al-Amir Restaurant (amazing authentic Lebanese...great for lunch)
Bijou Cafe (a must stop for breakfast, all locally sourced)
Slappy Cakes (Original location! They have some of the best gluten-free pancakes!)
And make sure to check out one of the many Food Trucks that adorn the downtown area.
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