Portland CRAVE
Portland CRAVE:
Portland – the city of roses, the city of bridges…and as we found out, the city of Prius, Subaru and Kia Sportages. The path of Three leads us to this wonderfully quirky city in the middle of the rainy season where by a local’s account, there have been 9 days of sun since October. We had an amazing experience and I can’t wait to go back to see the city magically transform into an outdoor paradise when the sun decides to make its grand appearance. And so the Universe conspires…
Live
The Three have been a fan of the SPG brand of hotels for a while now, and our journey started with a stay at The Nines – a member of SPG’s Luxury Collection of boutique hotels. Housed in the former Meier and Frank Department Store building, The Nines pays homage and tribute to history by infusing the spirit of fashion and couture into every element of its décor. Once we got off of the elevator and enter the lobby, we were transported into a world of shoes, fabric, mannequins, and sensual lighting. In one word, we would describe this place as haute – pun intended.
The intimate nature of the room continued the trend with hues of chocolate and turquoise whetting our appetite for a luxurious stay. The cloud like king sized bed had pillows that enveloped us and convinced us that peaceful slumber was right around the corner. While we didn’t stay in the hotel long, every night we woke up refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to experience life. What more could we ask for?
Indulge
The Three love to eat. Period. Full stop. No journey is complete without a culinary experience. A great dining experience engages all of our senses, and our emotions are altered by a well-crafted cocktail, a perfectly executed dish, or by discovering a hidden gem. Our pathway led us to these highlights within a city that clearly deserves more of our time to explore in the future.
Departure: Great food? Check. Great drinks? Check. Great ambiance? Check. Departure took on a futuristic airline theme as we traveled down dimly lit purple corridors to get to the restaurant. As we headed down another corridor, we discovered a stunning rooftop deck with heat lamps that enveloped us with warmth for our bodies while the city view provided warmth for our souls. We had an amazing time and it’s clear why this is one of the more popular and trendy places in Portland.
Hunnymilk: What in the world is a brunch pop up restaurant? We were a bit hesitant to go to a place that only existed on Saturdays and Sundays, but hey – Carpe Diem, right? The Universe set us on the path to discover this total gem of a restaurant. Their idea was unique; they essentially applied the price-fixe concept to brunch. For a set price, we ordered a drink, something sweet and something savory from the menu. The food was truly delicious, and beyond that, the owner was so humble, down to earth and sincere that you couldn’t help but want this place to succeed in a glorious way. Go to Hunnymilk and support local!
Luc Lac: This place was the last stop on our journey, but life sometimes has its way of saving the best for last. Maybe it was the company? The trendy décor and hip vibe? Perhaps it was that all the dishes that we shared and put in our mouths evoked the feeling togetherness, joy and friendship. In any case, if the Three ever crosses paths with Portland again, we will visit Luc Lac as old friends. On a totally different note, how ironic was it that our soundtrack for the evening included Drake and a sampling of trap music reminding us that every pathway eventually leads us back home to Atlanta and our daily lives?
Experience
The Three believe in collecting life experiences and using those experiences to travel on the path to our highest selves. Every city has a unique story to tell and our journey reflects but a single paragraph as we attempted to learn more about ourselves as we learned more about Portland.
Powell’s City of Books: This is the largest new and used book store in the United States. Three floors and a full city block are filled with the smell of bound paper and ink and is teeming with adventurous readers looking to get lost in the imagination of an author’s mind and find connections with an author’s soul. In other words, a little slice of heaven. We were so grateful that in a world of instant gratification and immediate information, such a wonderful place could exist. Time slows down at Powell’s and the touch of a worn book, the crinkle of papers turned, and the smell of knowledge is something that should always be cherished.
Portland Center Stage at The Armory: Just wow. We had the opportunity to see a performance of His Eye is on the Sparrow, a one woman biopic of the great Ethel Waters, headlined by the indomitable Maiesha McQueen. The theater itself is the largest theater company in Portland. When we walked into the Armory, soaring atriums greeted us and the modern contemporary architecture belied the historic nature of the building itself. We walked down to the lower level and entered the lower stage theater where we were taken back in time and transported to the early 1900s. Every seat in the house was amazing and everyone was treated to an emotional rollercoaster of a masterpiece. We were so impressed that we connected with Maiesha after the play to grab food and ask her about the life that she craves. Bottom line: Support the arts. If you didn’t get a chance to see this show, you missed out on a special experience.
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Crave on,
Three
Coming next: Top 3 by Three – food and drinks: Portland edition
