Stumptown Girl...

PORTLANDIA's second season premieres today. Great article in the New Yorker this week about Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen, read here. I love the title of the article, possibly referencing my favorite coffee beans? Carrie is adorable, she lures you in with her awkwardly charming characters. It is difficult to define why I like this show, I just do.  It makes me laugh uncontrollably. 


FYI: If you don't have the IFC channel like me, itunes offers a Season Pass.

put a bird on IT...

Charles and Ray Eames put a bird on it years ago (circa 1950's)....

I watched the second episode of Portlandia last night (via itunes season pass)... 

...it reminded me of my friend Elsa's online shop Elsa + Sam...so visit her site and PUT A BIRD ON IT...haha...

(Elsa use to have an adorable store on Hawthorne Blvd in Portland. Now she is a mommy and runs her dishware boutique from home...bonjour Elsa.)

images: (top) I believe this image is a detail from the Charles and Ray Eames film, Powers of Ten. 2. Eames Bird sold by Vitra.  (bottom) ELSA + SAM: 1. Circa ceramics bowl,  2. Fine Little Day Cheeseboard “OK”  3. Wren old-fashioned glasses.

Portland on my mind...

I don't know how many of you have seen the new satirical wonder, PORTLANDIA created and written by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein; but if you are attached to Portland, Oregon in any way, this series will make you pee your pants.  Mark and I lived in Portland for almost 2 years but due to the horrid economy we decided to head north (well NE to Montréal, Canada) to  c o l d e r  p a s t u r e s.  We actually find ourselves reminiscing about Portland quite frequently and are strongly considering moving back one day.  Portland takes their food, their coffee, their literary spots, their eclectic neighborhoods, their GREEN spirit and their savory beer very seriously. 


WE MISS: Powell's Books. Stumptown Coffee. The fashion boutiques RADISH UNDERGROUND & Idom Designs. Hopworks Brewery. The Living Room Theaters. Albina Press coffee shop. Pix Pâtisserie. Ampersand Vintage bookstore.  The Museum of Contemporary Craft.  Alberta Street...SE Portland...Laurelhurst Park...


Here are a few pics we took during our brief stay...Kettleman Bagels, Stumptown Coffee: SE Division St. neon sign, Sapphire Hotel eggs benedict, Deschutes Brewery sampler paddle, The WHOlE Bowl, Pok Pok's calamari, NW 23rd Avenue's architecture (great pedestrian shopping), Ace Hotel Portland sign, MAGPIE: fashion vintage shop (window display), Federico Aubele at Doug Fir Lounge...

First impressions are everything and this intro of Portlandia is hysterically well executed.  From L.A. to Portland, Oregon...ha ha...so many have made that move!  Fast Fact:  The harmonious & dandy men in black are the Portland Gay Men's Chorus...read more about them HERE.