Posts by monica
Kitschy Kenton
Portland’s blue collar roots are still evident in the Kenton neighborhood, but unlike a lot of neighborhoods that have been modernized with a slick hipster dress up, in Kenton you’ll find the kitsch tucks in neatly like a vintage handkerchief in faded blue jeans. There is perhaps no better example of the Kenton vibe than Give & Take Resale a shop that displays all manner vintage treasures in an unpretentious thrift store atmosphere. Inside you’ll find an eclectic mix of housewares, clothes, records and brick-a-brac offered at extremely affordable prices. It’s worth a glance anytime you’re in the neighborhood. For coffee and a tasty bite, you’ve got a couple of options. Posie’s Bakery and Cafe offers a peaceful place to sit back and enjoy the local color with a cup of joe and a delicious pastry. For a great weekend brunch, local chain Cup & Saucer has a Kenton site, and like its Hawthorne counterpart, serves the best buttery vanilla scones money can buy alongside hearty a menu of hearty breakfast options. Kenton is also home to several small businesses offering specialized goods and services. Looking for affordable and original art prints or screen-printed items? Check out Little Red Press. Need bike repairs? Kenton Cycle Repair has you covered. For home repairs and remodels, Salvage Works offers an impressive selection of vintage building materials. If you’re looking for the perfect weathered lumber salvaged from an old barn or vintage fruit crates to organize your clutter, Salvage Works has you covered. Another option for home upgrades is Bamboo Craftsman Company where you can select from myriad hand-crafted bamboo items, everything from cabinetry and flooring to creative porch swings and even toys all made from environmentally friendly bamboo. Of course you might need tools for your home repair or remodel job. Lucky for you local event space Kenton Firehouse has a tool library in its basement. If you like a hoity toity salon experience you’ll probably need to look elsewhere, but if you like a cheap, no-nonsense haircut Kenton’s got you covered. 7 Bucks A Wack is a bit of a Portland institution, and proprietress Darlene is something of a local celebrity. She counts former mayor, Sam Adams, as one of her biggest fans. For the man (or lady) who eschews appointments or long waits, a 7 Bucks A Wack cut is the embodiment of thrift and practicality. If you’re looking for good eats, there’s plenty of options in Kenton. Po’Shines offers delicious soul food all day long. Start your day with a hearty breakfast of chicken and waffles, grab some traditional fried catfish for lunch, or go for a chicken and andouille sausage gumbo dinner. Just down the road, Kenton Station serves up satisfying pub fare you can enjoy with your brew or mixed drink in a laid back atmosphere of vintage motorcycles on display. For the more hearty and adventurous souls out there, ask about the ghost hunting expeditions that happen in the bar’s basement where bare knuckle boxing fights are purported to have taken place there around the turn of the 20th Century. No Kenton tour would be complete without a stop at the famous Paul Bunyon statue, an historic landmark that has been around since the 1959 Centennial celebration of Oregon’s statehood. The statue was relocated once and has recently been added to the national historic register, and thus serves as the perfect symbol of an old Portland neighborhood that’s still growing and...
Read MoreBeautiful Custom Craftsman Home – $474,900
Welcome to 13344 SW 128th Place, a four bedroom, two and a half bath, three car garage with 3207 square feet of living space. Beautiful architecture, covered front porch, and nice landscaping provide an inviting entrance. Dramatic two story foyer with beautiful hardwood floors, detail in the windows, and lots of natural light welcomes you in. Living area is spacious built ins, fireplace and high ceiling. Spacious family room has fireplace, built-ins and office area, French doors. Elegant dining area is spacious with designer color, built-ins, natural light. Huge gourmet kitchen is a cook’s delight with granite counters, island, breakfast bar, hardwood floors, stainless appliances, pantry, tons of cabinet and counter space. Kitchen is open to the family room, providing the perfect atmosphere for entertaining and enjoying time with family. Extra large master bedroom features vaulted ceiling, lots of natural light, walk-in closet, and master bath. Spacious master bath is the perfect relaxing retreat with large soaking tub, separate shower, double vanity. Home features nice size bedrooms and a large bonus room provides great additional living space. Convenient upstairs laundry with ample storage, a sink, and natural light. Large back yard features privacy fence, and professional landscaping. Nice size back patio is the perfect space to relax with friends and family or entertain guests. Click here for more photos, or contact me to schedule a viewing....
Read MoreLow dough birthday parties for kids.
When I was a kid, I always dreamed of an throwing a birthday pool party outside in the summer sun, but having a birthday in the dead of winter made that dream impossible. Now that I’m the mom of a winter birthday child, I’ve given a lot of thought to the easiest and least expensive way to throw a winter birthday bash.
Read MoreA Home Maintenance Check List For 2014
The New Year is a time for resolutions, and if maintaining a clean and safe home is one of yours, here’s a quick list of tasks to get you started. You can also print this handy check list as a reminder. Clean A/C Drainage Pipes Don’t wait until algae and other debris clogs the drainage pipes of your air conditioner. Make cleaning the pipes on your A/C unit an annual task. You can hire a professional, or use this DIY guide. Flush Hot Water Heater Mineral build up can cause your hot water heater to run less efficiently. By flushing out the minerals annually, you can ensure your hot water heater is functioning at its peak and you may even extend it’s lifespan. Step-by-step instructions can be found here. Lubricate Garage Door Springs If you don’t want your garage door to start squeaking ominously every time it opens and closes, then you’ll want to make lubricating the garage door springs part of your annual check list. It’s not just about the creepy noises either; all that wear and tear will eventually cause the metal springs to break. According to this entertaining video guide, you’ll want to use a lithium or silicon based grease to lubricate all the moving parts of the door. Check Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors Everybody knows that smoke detectors save lives, but it’s a good idea to set a side time at least once a year to fully test the functionality of your smoke detectors. That includes making sure they can be heard from all points in the home, and even buying a can of smoke detector test spray to test the functionality, not just the hitting the test button to make sure the batteries still work. A complete step-by-step guide can be found here. As covered in a previous blog post, most carbon monoxide detectors don’t detect low levels of carbon monoxide. You may wish to consider upgrading your detectors or purchasing a hand held detection device. No matter what type of detector you’re using, these instructions will help you ensure yours is working properly. Change Furnace Filters Some furnaces have filters that you can pull out and clean, while others require a filter replacement. Regularly cleaning or replacing filters will help prevent break-downs and keep your furnace working at maximum efficiency. Furnace filters actually need to be checked more often that just once a year, but it can depend on a number of factors including the type of filter being used and whether or not pets are present in the home (pet hair can accumulate in filters rather quickly). Here’s a quick guide to how to replace or clean a furnace filter. Clean Clothes Dryer Vent Lint from you clothes dryer can make it’s way into the dryer duct and cause a fire hazard. Cleaning your dryer vent annually will prevent a fire and keep your appliance operating smoothly. You may also wish to consider swapping a flexible foil or plastic duct for a solid metal one to help prevent a build-up of flammable materials. Here’s a link to instructions and helpful tips for cleaning out your clothes dryer vent....
Read MoreBeautiful 1920s Bungalow in the Heart of Beaverton.
Designer elements make this an easy to live in floor plan.
Read MoreExplore offbeat and traditional holiday events in Portland.
Do you like your holidays traditional or a little bit offbeat? Either way there’s plenty of holiday cheer for Portlanders to enjoy this season. For an offbeat holiday, start it off right by joining Anticon Santicon, a new take on the Portland underground ritual beautifully recounted in Chuck Palanuik’s classic travelogue Fugitives and Refugees. Part pub crawl, part Santa-themed dress up party, this event will satisfy duel desires for costuming and imbibing. Anticon participants are encourage to meet up under the Paul Bunyan statue in the Kenton district at 12:30pm on December 7th dressed in their St. Nick inspired finery. Follow up your red rampage with a holiday shopping at Crafty Wonderland. Featuring wares by northwest artisans, it’s like having a regional “best of Etsy” gathering under one roof. With everything from fancy toiletries to unique clothing, you’ll find plenty of trendy gifts that feature art by locals. Previous years have also offered an ugly Christmas sweater photo booth, perfect for a family portrait to embarrass and amuse. Crafty Wonderland happens on December 14th and 15th from 11 am – 6 pm at The Oregon Convention Center. Finally, for some wickedly offbeat holiday fun, take in a performance of The Santaland Diaries written by humorist David Sedaris. Based on an essay of the same name, Sedaris drolly recounts his experience working as an elf in Macy’s department store. For any person who’s ever felt jaded by the commercialism of the holiday season, Sedaris’s take on faking holiday cheer for a paycheck will no doubt tickle your funny bone. The show runs through the end of December. For a traditional and family friendly start to the season, why not skip the long lines at your local mall in favor of breakfast with Santa at one of several McMenamin’s locations? Enjoy a hot breakfast and a cup of joe while the youngsters take a turn on Santa’s lap. Check out the McMenamin’s calendar for tickets and times at each location. For a more traditional holiday shopping experience, visit the Expo Center for the annual Christmas Bazaar. Billed as America’s largest holiday bazaar, you’ll find unique gifts of both the handcrafted and commercial variety. With over 1,000 vendors, you’re sure to knock at least a few entries off your shopping list. The Expo Center Christmas Bazaar happens over two weekends: Nov. 29th-Dec. 1st and again on Dec. 6th-8th. Tickets are available online, but you can get in for free this Friday (Nov. 30th) with two cans of food for the Portland Sunshine Division. As far as holiday entertainment goes, it doesn’t get more traditional than the Christmas Revels show. A variety show of sorts, the Christmas Revels combines instrumental and choral music, folk dance, children’s music, drama and poetry to celebrate the winter solstice. A large cast of actors, musicians, and local choral groups come together to produce a show that celebrates the season through song, dance, story and ritual across cultures. This year’s show will explore the traditions of Old Europe presenting music and dance from Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland. The show runs Dec. 6th-14th at the Scottish Rite Center...
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