Like a
boxer or a rapper, I know I have been gone for awhile, but I have returned for my triumphant (or at least punchy/
incoherent) return!!! My special lady and I took a trip to see friends and family in the Northwest and I am back to spill the gory details. Let me start by
saying that the Pacific Northwest is beautiful. There really is some amazing
topography complete with huge
evergreen trees dripping with amazing emerald moss. The cities are very manageable, traffic is not too bad, and you can get anywhere quickly. That said... it rains all the F*
ing time! Everyone says that the weather is not so bad, but it seriously rained every day we were there... even hailing one afternoon. Let me also get my airline rant out of the way...
Phili airport? Great, things actually stay open past 9PM. By the way, I love sitting in the middle between two 300
pounders. What I really enjoy? The fat, smelly, stoned college kid who dumped his whole coke on me half way across the country. Thanks pal, that plane was getting a little warm... the sticky soda and ice was quite
refreshing!
Onto the reviews! Seattle was our first stop. It rained. We stayed w/ friends in a pretty cool neighborhood in West Seattle. Reminded me a bit of Cambridge in it's proximity to a major city while keeping a very close knit but accessible identity of its own. We rocked out w/ sushi at
Mashiko our first night. The place was great... very fresh fish, some very interesting chef
recommendations, an
extensive menu, and tasty sake. Feeling lucky punk? Try the expert sushi selection, it's no joke, although the look on your friends face when they eat some of the selections are!
http://www.sushiwhore.com/menu.html During the day we tried to stay out of the rain. You have to go to Pike's Market. Great looking fish, amazing fresh flowers, and it is a scene. We also really enjoyed the Seattle Art Museum which bares the quite original nickname "the SAM". There is very interesting local contemporary pieces, some west coast native
American art, an
extensive modern/contemporary art collection and just enough classic art to keep you interested.
Eclectic and just the right size for a 3 hour or so tour.
Next we drove 3 hours south to Portland... it rained. Portland is a pretty chill city too. Our first day we wandered aimlessly and went to a movie that night, "Vantage Point". To be fair, the movie was only
ok but it had its moments and had enough action to keep me entertained for a very manageable 1.5 hours. 1 thumb up. It rained all day.
Day 2 was the big winner. We started w/ a drive out of town on the Columbia River Highway. Next to a large river runs a ridge with a series of amazing waterfalls. We hiked around (in the rain) all morning. It can be a taxing or as chill as you like and the scenery is stunning.
http://www.portlandbridges.com/00,35MM0FILM00004,20,0,1,1-portland-oregon.htmlWe
followed our hike up with lunch at a "Veritable Quandary". Delicious brunch? Check! Extremely difficult to choose from menu? Check!! Nice atmosphere? Check!!!
Competent waitstaff? Check!!! Great drinks? Check and mate!!! Try the Eggs Benedict w/ a Hendrick's Gin Fizz. If that does not rock your boat send me an email... I will kick some sense into you through your backside. 2 thumbs up.
http://www.veritablequandary.com/ We stayed a little while over coffee because it was hailing (of course it was). Next stop? My favorite moment of the weekend...
McMenamins Edgefield! Beer, pitch n' putt, more beer, live music, even more beer, rain, wine, more beer, pool tables, darts... did I mention the beer!!!!!! This was like an adult Disney World, I rally could not have been more pleased. Don't forget to say hello to the prisoners at the minimum security jail, inexplicably located next door.
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&category=Location%20Homepage 2 HUGE thumbs up.
Being a little sauced up and not nearly bloated enough it was time for dinner.
Pok Pok, that's right
Pok Pok! By the way... it was still raining. Coconut Rice, sticky rice, papaya salad,
Chinese eggplant... it's all good. All well seasoned, a little sweet, a little spicy,
alot delicious. They also have what
Food And Wine called one of the 10 best dishes of 2007, Ike's Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings. Get 'em spicy and enjoy the taste sensation. Of course you need to wash it down w/ a
whiskey soda!
http://www.pokpokpdx.com/index.php?page=menus&menu=lounge_dinner 2 thumbs up once again.
And so there you go... one couple's fantastic journey in the Pacific Northwest. It stopped raining on our way out of town.
