Summer of Keila

It's summer, the weather is nice and Keila loves it outside. I think Keila naturally prefer the outdoors and enjoys it very much.  She's such a nice dog, accompanying me in the sidewalk.

Close up shot

Keila dancing with the woman.

Keila doing some people watching in a park in NW Portland.

Keila sleeping outside, I assure you she's ok.

Congratulations!!!

Close Up Test Shots

My close up case study. I have a bad habit of being to far from my subject that I shoot.

Alberta Summer Issue

We got a chance to just walk around the Alberta Street neighborhood. We went to this arts and craft supply store called Collage. This typewriter was one of the displays there. There were so many cool things there that Nana and I wanted to buy, but we tried to restrain ourselves. It was hard though.

Another cool bottle in a book display.

See, there were so many cool things we wanted to buy.

After going out of the store, we had a little on the spot photo shoot.

There were these cool flower balls on these really long stems.

Mississippi Street Fair pt. 2

One of the cool things about the fair was that there were three stages for local bands to play in. This one of the the smaller stages, the main stage was in the middle of the street fair. 

Moustache craft vendor. Nice, plus you get a free plant.

This was a cool thrift/vintage clothing place. It's a vendor, but the Wanderlust is actually located in this small trailer and they go all around Portland.  Nana got a cool looking belt here.

This was the view of the street fair looking down towards downtown Portland. I still can't believe how packed the street were. It's like a zoo.

Craft vendor.

Nana and I took some pictures with Keila around the Mississippi neighborhood. I love this place, I wouldn't mind moving to the area someday.

Musician's Alley

Old car.

Red Owls in Mississippi

Mississippi Street Fair

The coolest event of the year in Portland is definitely the Mississippi Street Fair located in the Historical Mississippi Ave in North Portland.  The street itself has a good collection of coffee shops, eats, local clothing store, and vintage stores.  The street fair expects around 30,000 people to come along this five block stretch of street.  All I can say is that this was a must for people who think Portland is boring.  Unfortunately the street fair is only a one time thing per year.  So don't miss it next year, it will probably be even bigger than this year's event.

There were many types of vendors in the Mississippi street fair.  Jewelry were among the most popular while there were also clothing vendors, handmade leather bag vendors, arts and craft vendors, you get the point.

Some store were nice enough to provide water, Keila was tired from all the excitement and from meeting new dog friends.  

Nana looking at some vintage clothing.

 Cool building.

Tasty n Sons

So far this summer, one of the coolest new restaurants I tried is called Tasty n Sons.  They are located in the Lincoln Building complex on Williams Ave in North Portland.  We went here for brunch because that is what they're know for and I knew it would be an awesome experience because wait time as of 10am when we got there was an hour and a half; but worth the wait.

What made this place really cool was definitely the decor and look of the place.  I love their wooden tables and seating, the walls was concrete with a huge bicycle painting on one side of the restaurant, and the garage door front that was opened.  Just an awesome combination of creating a cozy atmosphere.

My wife and sister ordered the Fried Egg & Cheddar Biscuit with fried chicken or smoked guanciale or sausage.  The fried chicken was really good.

I ordered the House Bacon Burger with beecher's cheddar or smoked bleu cheese which was pure awesomeness.  We ended up ordering two of this burger.

My dad ordered the Boudin Blanc Omelette with fava bean tapenade, truffle cheese & white sausage which was ok.

My mom ordered the Cast Iron Frittata with asparagus, snap peas, confit green beans, english peas, asparagus, caramelized onions, mint & feta which was really good.

Overall, I'm really happy with the food though their portions was a bit small but great if you're on a strict diet. The place and service were awesome and the whole experience was great. I would come back here.

North Williams Shops

One of the shops in the Lincoln building in Williams Ave in North Portland is called Ristretto Roasters.  This is probably one of many of the coolest coffee shops in Portland.  I've been waiting to find a cool coffee shop that has a garage door style front that opens up during nice weather and I've finally found it.  The coffee is good, the people were friendly though my ice mocha came out after five people behind me got their orders first.  Anyways, the atmosphere of the coffee shop is very relaxing.  Most of the people that came in the time I was there was waiting to go eat at Tasty n Sons which was at the other side of the building.  That's why we were there also, nice.

Other shops worth checking out in the area are:
- Ink&Peat - an awesome floral and home goods store.
- Lodekka - vintage clothing in a double decker bus.
- Tasty n Sons - great brunch place
- Eat: An Oyster Bar - cajun cuisine
- Lincoln - very cool restaurant and good too
- Pix Patisserie - awesome dessert place
- Spielwerks Toys - one of the coolest children's toy store I have been to.

I love their menu board.