Sunday Brunch at Jam on Hawthorne
Portland is a brunch town – just ask Portlandia. Everyone has a favorite place, many great and all with varying degrees of delay on a busy Sunday morning. Lately I’ve been spending my weekend mornings at the eclectic, delicious and justifiably crowded Jam on Hawthorne.
If you’re looking to keep Portland weird while eating incredible home-style food, this place is for you. While you wait outside, grab a cup of their Portland Roasting Company house blend from the table they have near the front door. But if you’re desperate for coffee, I might recommend bringing your own mug, as they are often in short supply. Don’t worry, you won’t look stupid. It is Portland after all.
The diverse menu features fare for everyone from the bacon-fanatic to the vegan, the carb-obsessed to the Atkins dieter. Some of our favorites are the Bella Sunrise, which is two eggs on a bed of fresh spinach with red pepper sauce and feta, and the Maddie Cakes, incredible lemon-ricotta pancakes with house-made blueberry compote.
They have the usual brunch libations and more, including build your own 12 oz mimosas and a section of ‘Famous Bloody Marys’ like the Dirty Harry with mango-habanero infused vodka. Not to mention a huge selection of other adult beverages of the hot and cold variety, plus all the usual non-alcoholic options.
Like most popular brunch spots, if you’re big on group and low on patience, you might try somewhere else. But if it’s you and a couple friends, or you ate before you wait, Jam on Hawthorne is definitely worth a visit.
See you next weekend!
Bella Sunrise
Maddie Cakes
Saturday Something to Do – Zwickelmania
Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate our Commanders in Chief this weekend? Look no further than Zwickelmania, hosted by Oregon Brewers Guild. This free event lets you get the inside scoop on dozens of your favorite Oregon breweries and pubs across the state, with brewery tours, meet and greets with brewers and, of course, a chance to host your own mini beer summit and raise a glass to our Presidents.
The event begins this morning at 11am! Check out the website for participating breweries. All of Portland’s heavy hitters and some of my smaller favorites are joining in on the fun like Coalition, Burnside Brewing Co, Full Sail, Green Dragon, the new Hair of the Dog Brewing Co, Lucky Lab and Hopworks
The site offers a set of recommended itineraries for your self-guided tour around Portland. If you can’t find a DD on this short notice, they are offering shuttle service too. Not in Portland? You can find Zwickelmania for Bend, The Coast, Southern Oregon, Willamette Valley and Central Oregon.
Hail to the Hefeweizen!
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
Hail to the Sale! Neiman Marcus President’s Day Last Call
Here are some of my favorites…
French Connection Jay Striped Shift Dress, $69
Donna Morgan One-Sleeve Colorblock Dress, $110
Jenny Han Sigzag Sequin Tunic, $139
XCVI Twiggy Twill Pants in Atlantis, $89
Dolce Vita Braza Colorblock Pump, $99
Splendid Open-Toe Espadrilles, $85
Michael Kors Square Golden Watch, $165
Juicy Couture Buckle Huggie Earrings, $32
L.A.M.B. Colville Satchel, $215
Bring on the bubbly at Ambonnay
Whether you’re celebrating a momentous event or just the end of your work day, in my book it’s always a good time for champagne. But in a state known for its beer and wine, this effervescent treat isn’t always top of the list for Oregonians.
That’s where Ambonnay Bar comes in.
Portland’s first and only champagne bar, Ambonnay is located in the same building as Olympic Provisions in the quickly developing East side industrial district. The unassuming entrance gives way to an industrial and elegantly styled loft space, where polished concrete floors meet gold embellished accessories and delicate crystal chandeliers. The space is small, but reads cozy with a bar that seats about 8 and several 2-4 top tables.
Their menu features, you guessed it, champagne and sparkling wine by the glass and 50 selections by the bottle. Our favorites were Argyle Brut Rosé 2006 from Oregon and Gruet Brut Blanc de Blancs from New Mexico, which is sadly no longer on the menu. We also sampled Ambonnay’s truffle popcorn, which was the perfect complement to our bubbly evening.
It was the perfect place to celebrate my 26th birthday with a small group of friends. And I plan to take my own advice again very soon: Keep Calm and Drink Champagne…at Ambonnay.
A Fabulous Collection of Life Changes
It’s been a few months of major alterations in my life, home and work. And although change always causes stress, everything has been moving in an absolutely fantastic direction. Here’s a quick recap of the last six months…
… first, the horse. I’ve been a horse lover since I was a very little girl, and although many of us find that the appeal of horses gives way to the appeal of, say boys, I’ve never lost the joy of being around them. So, in June, I began riding again and have fallen in love with a handsome bay named Rio.
…second, the house. In late October, my boyfriend and I decided to take a casual look around Portland to see what this housing market had to offer. 24 hours after viewing this beautifully restored 1907 Victorian in SE, we made our offer. Two months and several tears later, it was ours. Home sweet home.
…third, the job. I had been at my former company for three and a half years and the equivalent of probably five years in billable hours, so I was ready for a change. In late December, the wheels began to turn on a new and exciting opportunity doing digital communications at a popular local company. I made the jump and start my new job this week. (card from etsy.com)
Considering all of this, I’m looking forward to a few months of monotony and routine (plus hopefully some blogging) now that life has started to slow down a little.
