I am not a Hippie, I am a Hipster

After the mix-up at the rent a car place, I embraced the Subaru. I headed out to Safeway, where I met my very first NW crush. The friendly, and cute NW dude, employee helped me to find the body soap aisle. It looked like the hostel had communal soap, no thanks. The Hawthorne Hostel is awesome though, good intro to the area.

Met Laura and her family for lunch and then joined her on her house hunt. Maybe real estate isn't as cheap as I thought it would be here... The realtor suggested checking out Stumptown so I followed her suggestions. After two weeks, this location on Division would still be my favorite.

Then my beer tour began. I went to the Lucky Lab (favorite is SUPER DOG), Bar of the Gods, and at the last minute popped in to the Bridgeport Ale House on Hawthorne where I met Uptown. Then we hit and closed Mulligan's where I was surprised to find MLL LAX on TV.

Up and down the I5

Today I went to Washington Park after getting stuck on I5. I went to the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden, but one could spend a whole week in Washington Park. Note to self, this is a great way to spend a weekend day when I move here. Hit the Farmer's Market in town, had a summer chickpea salad with bulger wheat and lamb, and some NW peaches! Ran in to a friend from San Fran on the street. I don't think there are such things as coincidences. Today's Breweries included: Hair of the Dog where I was offered a personal tasting with Alan Sprints and Roots, Organic Brewing.

Portland, City of Roses

I have always been curious about Portland. Portland was my first cross country trip in 1997! Portland called me back in 2004 and it's been on the brain ever since. What I love about Portland is the laid-back attitude, the PEOPLE, the bookstores, the BEER, that it is a culinary hotspot and a booming artist town, coffee houses, the BEER, it's urban sophistication existing with the best of nature, 45 min. to the beach and 15 min. to the mountains, and the BEER.

Portland by Numbers

Vegetarian Restaurants: 12
Vegan Restaurants: 1
Natural food stores: 15
Natural food co-ops: 3
Farmers markets: 12
Microbreweries: 40
Acres of parks in metro area: 37,000
Miles to Pacific Ocean: 78

Sixpoint Craft Ales- 100% Brooklyn

According to Beer History, the brewer's star was intended to symbolize purity; that is, a brewer who affixed the insignia to his product was declaring his brew be completely pure of additives, adjuncts, etc. . Folklore has it that the six points of the star represented the six aspects of brewing most critical to purity: the water, the hops, the grain, the malt, the yeast, and the brewer. Speaking of purity and six points...

has resurrected the legend of the six-pointed brewer’s star. It is their "quest to respect and honor the century-old traditions of craft brewing while forging ahead with new techniques, styles, and flavors."

This past weekend I treked out to Red Hook on the B61 and it was well worth the trip in the sweltering heat to visit the Sixpoint Brewery. :-) The Bengali Tiger (IPA) was out so Sweet Action was my pint of choice for the early afternoon. As they say, "part hefe-weizen, part pilsner, part pale ale, but all Sweet Action."

Andrew, one of the owners, led the tour. I am amazed by these brews, they are my favorite.


That trip won't be my last. I'll be introducing more people to The Brewery!

http://www.sixpointcraftales.com/

Sanuk

I first heard Sanuk at Busaba Eathai in London. Their menu states, "Sanuk is about not being caught up in the everyday chaos which distracts you from being able to take life as it comes and transcend reality. Literally it's meaning it "to enjoy" or "to have pleasure.""

1,000 Hits

It's a whole new ball game.