#16 Portland Oregon City Guide & Recent Purchases
A newsletter packed with obsessively-curated recommendations
Hello Friends,
The latest edition of the newsletter includes my favorite recommendations for visiting Portland, Oregon. It’s one of the best cities to enjoy delicious gluten-free food, second-wave coffee, hiking, and vintage boutique shopping,
I’m also sharing a round-up of some of my favorite things, plus many more fantastic recommendations.
Please feel free to comment if you have questions, responses, brilliant ideas or if you feel like sharing a favorite recipe, restaurant, or anything else.
I’m working on some upcoming content and would love your tips for moving and saving money on food.
You can also email me: marlayoung@mac.com.
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Editor’s Picks
📚 READ
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: Gabrielle Zevin’s novel examines the relationship between Sadie Green and Sam Masur. These two gamers met as tweens and reconnected at college to build video games. It’s a dazzling and intricately woven novel that examines the diverse nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and our need to connect and love. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki: This book tells the story of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the daughter of C.W. Post, who created the Post Cereal Company, later known as General Foods. This is the story of a woman who realized from a young age that she had so much to offer the world and would not take no for an answer. The details of her parties, decorating, and relationships were intriguing.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jennings Reid: Carrie Soto is Back is about Carrie Soto, who was once the number one tennis player in the world. It tracks her rise, fall, and her comeback.
Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom Bower: Britain’s leading investigative biographer did extensive research and exclusive insider interviews surrounding the Sussexes and their relationship with the royal family.
📺 WATCH
The Sandman (Netflix): The series is based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels, which follow the story of Dream, also known as Morpheus, who rules over the Dreaming. After being captured and held captive, he returns to his kingdom decades later and tries to bring order to the realm. Bonus episodes just dropped.
This girl’s lash routine on TikTok:
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
DOWNLOAD📱
Taskrabbit App: Taskrabbit is the easy way to find skilled and trusted local Taskers for everything from furniture assembly and mounting to moving and cleaning.
Uptime App: 5-minute summaries of popular books, courses, documentaries, and podcasts.
Just Watch - The Streaming Guide: Keep track of all the TV shows and movies you want to watch in one list. Get recommendations from all your favorite streaming services in one place.
LISTEN 🎧
Huberman Lab Interviews Dr. Peter Attia: Exercise, Nutrition, Hormones for Vitality & Longevity: In this episode, Dr. Attia discusses cholesterol, exercise, hormones, hormone therapy, and how to establish an exercise routine and overall health regimen. So much good information, especially the section on the dirty word “cholesterol.”
The Matt Walker Podcast: The Matt Walker Podcast is all about sleep, the brain, and the body. Matt is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of the popular book, Why We Sleep.
Listen to his TED talk Sleep 💤 is Your Superpower.
Favorite Episodes: You need to listen to them all in order.
Podcast Episodes 18-21 is a series about Dreams. According to sleep scientist Matt Walker, dreams act like a form of "overnight therapy." Your dreams may even boost your ability to solve problems and process challenging emotions that affect your waking life.
COOK 🦀
Chef Melissa Martin’s Crab Cakes: I was skeptical of this recipe since it did not call for mayonnaise or bread crumbs. Southerners love our Duke’s mayonnaise. The secret is you can use leftover boiled shrimp as a binder instead of breadcrumbs. Crab cakes can be frozen quickly.
FOLLOW 📱
Dad Advice From Bo on Instagram and Tik Tok: A dad of six children shares essential life skills like how to change a tire, how to unclog a shower, and more.
Elizabeth Minchilli leads food tours in Italy and is the author of nine books. She also publishes a newsletter called Elizabeth’s Newsletter from Italy. You can find her on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
DO📱
If you have accidentally closed out the wrong tab on your browser, you can search your history, BUT did you know you can hit ctrl+shift+T or command+shift+T on your Mac to automatically reopen the tab you just closed? It’s way easier and faster vs. searching through your past browsing history pages.
BAKE 🧁
Flour Power by Tara Jensen: An informative guide for baking all types of bread and sourdough. This book will guide you through using various flours, milling your flour at home, and making sourdough cultures with bread flour, whole wheat flour, and rye flour.
Tara’s Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
THE HOT LIST / The latest places to add to your radar.
San Juan
Café Regina: In Ocean Park, a perfect place for coffee and breakfast and then go to the beach.
Atlanta
The Daily Chew: Neighborhood cafe for farmer-forward food with Israeli-South African flavors 🍳🥙 🥞serving @brashcoffee ☕️
Baltimore
Blacksauce Kitchen: Locals line up for the crazy-delicious biscuit sandwiches at the local farmer’s markets.
Manhattan
Manhatta: Perched sixty floors up, with impressive views.
Link Love
How to talk about your beliefs.
How to be a great aunt or uncle. I was fortunate to have many, and one of my great joys is being an aunt.
How to save on your next Apple purchase.
Why you should be careful about 23andMe’s health test.
How to protect your newborn from an overzealous sibling’s affection.
What are the right words to use when dealing with customers?
A list of common toxic chemicals and how to avoid them.
How to track your luggage with Air Tags.
Joanna Gaines’ guide to open shelving.
Why is Tony Romo a genius at football commentary?
The latest wellness treatments.
Dan Mallory, who writes under the name A. J. Finn went to No. 1 with his début thriller, “The Woman in the Window.” His life contains even stranger twists.
How to get started researching your family’s history.
The strangest true crime story yet.
Books that will change your life.
A list of common grammar mistakes compiled by a copywriter editor.
Baltimore’s essential restaurants.
Fears about TikTok and rumors of a secret documentary swirl around sorority rush week at the University of Alabama.
Meet the Guardian of Grammar who wants to help you write better.
A fascinating read about what it is like to get booked and interviewed on the popular American podcast hosted by Joe Rogan.
Toxic culture is driving the great resignation.
The latest installment of my favorite things includes wellness, fitness, travel, and fashion products.
MiiR Mugs: I think MiiR makes the best-insulated coffee mugs. I like their line of Camp Cups because they come with a lid, but I also have their Flip Traveler for long walks and car rides. It’s not as heavy as my Yeti mug. The best part: it doesn’t leak! I also get many compliments about the design from baristas and other coffee snobs like me. So join the cool kids club, and get yourself a MiiR Mug!
Port and Polish Pill and Vitamin Travel Cases: I ordered a couple of these cases for travel. This one works perfectly, and it’s pretty. So many of the pillboxes don’t stay closed. Other colors are available.
Arena Strength Resistance Booty Bands: The booty bands come in a set of three, each labeled light, medium, or strong, with a different color representing each resistance level. Other colors are available. The bands do not slip on bare legs or over leggings.
Generation Love Kristen Tweed Jacket: A perfectly tailored blazer can make any outfit look instantly polished and pulled together. Generation Love blazers are not as expensive as some of my other favorite brands, like L’Agence and Veronica Beard.
I like to wear the Olivia Ribbed Tank from Nati with blazers. I usually buy designer items at consignment shops, eBay, and Poshmark.
Personalized Leather ID Lanyard: The chic way to keep my work IDs near. Slots for credit cards make this the perfect item for travel. Boulevard offers free personalization. Yep, proud Southerner over here, and I love to monogram everything.
Hat Holder: You clip it on the side of your bag/suitcase so you can travel without crushing your hat.
Tecovas Annie Cowboy Boots: OK, I’ll be honest. I wasn’t going to order any cowboy boots, but watching Beth Dutton on Yellowstone was enough to convince me otherwise. I settled on Tecovas boots. They have been comfortable since I first slipped them on, and I have wide feet and thick calves, so sometimes boots are hit or miss. You can try them on at one of the Tecovas brick-and-mortar stores.
ŌURAura Ring: ŌURA is an award-winning wellness ring and app designed to help you get more restful sleep and perform better. The ŌURA smart ring is a fitness tracker you wear on a finger. Learn how your lifestyle choices affect your sleep and how the quality of your sleep affects your ability to take on the day.I discovered the ŌURA ring listening to podcasts like this interview with Dr. Peter Attia and sleep expert Matthew Walker. I decided to try the Oura ring since I do not enjoy wearing the Apple watch 24/7 and wanted more data about my sleep and health, including body temperature monitoring. ŌURA offers a 30-day return policy. The third-generation ŌURA adds SpO2 blood oxygenation readings. When you order an Oura ring, Oura will ship you a ring sizing kit so you can pick the exact size you want and decide which finger to wear it on. You only have to charge the ring once or twice a week! If you are looking to improve your sleep habits and overall health and fitness, this is a great tool. Use this link for $50 off your order.
Apple Air Tag Key Ring: Apple Air Tags are a super-easy way to keep track of your stuff. These key rings hold the air tag. I also ordered this Air Tag holder with a strap for my travel bags.
Thermapen ONE: The Thermoworks Thermapen ONE is hands-down the best meat thermometer money can buy, and it comes in a bunch of cool colors. Thermapen also makes a more miniature, pocket-size thermometer called the Thermoworks Thermopop, which is nearly as good as the Thermapen in almost every way and costs just $21.
EquiLife Daily Nutritional Support: This is my favorite nutrition shake that tastes great. Dr. Stephen Cabraldeveloped this daily nutrition shake. It is a vegan protein powder fortified with a wide range of activated vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, detox co-factors, and electrolytes. Travel-size packets are also sold. I use a small Nutrabullet to blend my shakes on the road.
Davids Nano Hydroxyapatite Natural Toothpaste: Hydroxyapatite toothpaste is one of the best options for your oral hygiene routine. A toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite crystals can help restore the minerals that build strong enamel. Hydroxyapatite is the structure that makes up 97% of your enamel and 70% of your dentin. It’s used as an alternative to replacing fluoride in toothpaste. Hydroxyapatite is a non-toxic ingredient that is safe even when swallowed. It performs as well as fluoride in scientific research. Hydroxyapatite remineralizes teeth that would otherwise become cavities.
My favorite brand is Davids Nano Hydroxyapatite Natural Toothpaste. Risewell and Boka are also good brands.
P.S. What are some of your favorite things?
Portland Oregon City Guide
Portland is one of my favorite layovers. The city is divided into many charming neighborhoods. It is one of the best cities for hiking, gluten-free dining, outstanding coffee, boutique shopping, and craft brews.
If you are visiting for the day, take the light rail to the Hawthorne neighborhood. Grab a cup of joe at Heart Coffee and head straight to nearby Mt. Tabor Park for an early morning workout. After working up an appetite, enjoy a mouth-watering Southern brunch at Screen Door or Fried Egg I’m in Love.
If you are in town on a Saturday, do not miss the Portland Farmer’s Market. There are many food booths at the market, not just produce.
Portland is one of my favorite places to shop since there is no sales tax and an abundance of boutiques. I also could spend hours browsing the books at Powell’s Books. It is the largest independent bookstore in the country.
For fantastic sunset views of Mt. Hood, drive or hike up to Pittock Mansion. The grounds outside the home are free to visit and offer stunning views of the city and Mt. Hood.
For lunch, I love the tacos and garden salad at ¿Por Qué No? The Portland City Grill is a great spot for happy hour specials. It is downtown on the 30th floor of the building with panoramic city views. Skip dinner at Portland City Grill and go to Shalom Y'all downtown. The menu features Mediterranean street food, plus Turkish coffee & cocktails.
COFFEE
Heart: Heart is one of my favorite coffee shops. I love their cardamom lattes.
Bastion Coffee: Bastion is located in the trendy Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, OR. Don’t miss this one if you visit this part of town.
Keeper Coffee: One of the baristas won the title of 2022 U.S Barista Champion.
Coava: Coava is a local roaster. They don’t offer any specialty lattes, but the espresso is good.
SWEETS
Tabor Bread: They sell sourdough starters for $3.
Dos Hermanos: Their pull-apart sourdough is famous.
Pip’s Donuts and Chai: Pip's has the best donuts in town, according to locals.
Heavenly Donuts: Their apple fritter is popular.
JinJu: Their almond-chocolate croissant, only available on weekends, is their most popular item.
Bakeshop: Order the chocolate, Kouign Amann.
Sparrow Bakery: The most amazing cardamom rolls they call Ocean Rolls.
Sugarpine Drive-In: A retro drive-in that sells soft serve ice cream, twenty minutes out of town but worth the drive.
Fifty Licks: You will find unique flavors at this ice cream parlor.
Kate’s: The best vegan ice cream.
Lauretta Jean's: The best pie in town.
EAT
Screen Door: The best Southern-style brunch.
Bernstein’s Bagels: Best bagels in Portland.
Fried Egg I’m in Love: Fried Egg I'm In Love makes Portland's best breakfast sandwiches.
Café Olli: Locally sourced ingredients great for brunch or lunch.
Broder Nord: Scandinavian brunch spot. Order coffee with cardamom cream.
Spunky Monkey: The best bagel sandwiches from scratch.
Tusk: A popular Mediterranean restaurant.
Proud Mary: Quintessential Australian brunch spot.
Carioca Bowls: The best Acai bowls in Portland.
Lottie and Zula’s: New England-style grinders.
Pasture PDX: The best sandwiches in town.
Meat Cheese Bread: Another famous sandwich joint.
Lardo: Classic sandwiches.
Eem: Modern Thai eatery serving creative BBQ & craft cocktails, including tiki drinks in traditional mugs.
Phuket Café: Thai food and cocktail bar.
Rangoon Bistro: Burmese noodles and vegetables.
Pizza Thief: They have the best sourdough crust.
Ranch Pizza: Sicilian-style square pies.
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty: Pizza and vegetable sides, centered on seasonal produce.
Akadi: A West African theme restaurant.
Oma’s Hideaway: Malaysian Chinese barbecue.
Pho Mekha: A popular Vietnamese spot.
Paadee: Casual Thai food
Coquine: French tasting menu that also serves a fantastic brunch.
Woodsman Tavern: Try the cauliflower steak.
Ox: Argentian food.
Gumba: Mouthwatering Italian food.
Dame: Italian in an unbeatable ambiance.
Gado Gado: Indonesian tasting menu with fantastic cocktails.
Malka: Warm, homey restaurant offering Asian & South American fusion dishes and inventive cocktails.
OK Omens: Large selection of natural wine bars.
Takibi, Luce: A Japanese-inspired restaurant.
Flying Fish: A restaurant and seafood market.
Native Bowl: Food cart selling Asian-accented vegetarian stir-fries made with local ingredients.
Cubo: The best Cuban food.
Nong's Khao Man Gai: Thai food cart serving namesake chicken-&-rice special with veggie options.
Canteen: Vegan bowls a cut above what you already make at home.
Wild Thing: Gut-healthy bowls with delicious sauces and fermented additions.
GLUTEN-FREE
Note: Almost every restaurant has notations on the menu and substitutions.
Little Gem Gluten Free: Go here early for the best selection of pastries. The donuts are the best thing on the menu.
New Cascadia Traditional: This is my favorite bakery in Portland. Their specialty is bread. You can purchase pizza dough, bread loaves, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookie dough, and biscuits.
Kyra’s Bakeshop: The best cupcakes in town. Kyra won Cupcake Wars. The bakery is located outside of Portland in Milwaukee.
Mutantis Brewery & Bottle Shop: A dedicated gluten-free brewery and gluten-free beer bottle shop!
Wild Thing: Gut-healthy bowls with delicious sauces and fermented additions.
Fermenter: Gut-healthy bowls with delicious sauces and fermented additions.
Seven Virtues Coffee: The mini gluten-free cupcakes are delicious.
The Groundbreaker brewery: This Brewery offers nine varieties of gluten-free beer, all their vegan and gluten-free food.
Harlow: The menu is entirely gluten-free. An excellent spot for brunch.
Petunia’s Pies and Pastries: Petunia’s is entirely vegan and gluten-free. The downtown outpost has pies, bars, cookies, cakes, and savory lunch and dinner items.
Bob’s Red Mill: Tour the world headquarters of Bob’s Red Mill (including their dedicated gluten-free facilities), and pop into their whole grain store for the largest selection of gluten-free flours you’ll likely ever see under one roof. Check out the sale section.
DRINK
Bar Diane: Cute wine bar with tons of natural bottles.
Rev Hall Rooftop: Breathtaking city views at a repurposed high school.
Culmination: Casual brewery with a wide range of beers.
The Study: Cute brewery in a small Craftsman house.
Victoria Bar: A perfect place to meet a group of friends, with ample picnic tables for seating. Food and mocktails are both better than they need to be.
Little Beast: Sour beers and barbecue in a casual locale.
Dogwood PDX: A casual, cute wine shop where you can stay for a glass.
Advice Booth: Cozy bar for a rainy day. Also, their alcohol-free category is called “cockteasers.”
FOOD MARKETS
Providore: A unique gourmet grocery store.
Well Spent Market: A large selection of international pantry staples.
Ripe Cooperative: Café and market with oysters and wine.
Montelupo: An Italian market in a charming neighborhood.
People’s Food Co-op: A great little neighborhood grocery. Sip Juice Cart is set up in the parking lot. Best juice and smoothies in town.
DO
Hike up to Pittock Mansion: The best views of Portland and Mt. Hood are at Pittock Mansion. The views of the city from the east side is fantastic. You will enjoy a one-of-a-kind glimpse of Mt Hood and a magical sunset on a clear day that you will remember for a long time. If you do not have a car, take Trimet bus 20-Burnside/Stark to Beaverton TC to the bus stop at W Burnside and NW Barnes (stop ID #687). Walk the half-mile uphill following “Pittock Mansion” street signs to reach the Mansion. Picnic tables are available.
Portland Farmer’s Market: There are many food booths at the market, not just produce.
Forest Park: An urban escape into nature full of trails and wilderness. Hike in Forest Park from Lower Macleay to the Wildwood Trail and loop down Aspen.
Mt. Tabor Park: Mt. Tabor, a dormant volcano in SE Portland, is a great park to visit. Winding trails weave up the hillside, and it's easy to wander among the trees and reservoirs for hours.
Washington Park: The park is home to the Portland Rose Garden and Japanese Gardens.
Rose Garden: The space features more than 10,000 roses.
Bob’s Red Mill: Tour the world headquarters of Bob’s Red Mill (including their dedicated gluten-free facilities), and pop into their whole grain store for the largest selection of gluten-free flours you’ll likely ever see under one roof. Check out the sale section.
Trillium Lake: Go paddle boarding on Trillium Lake, which has gorgeous views of Mt. Hood
Hood River: Take the 35-mile drive through the valley’s orchards stopping at farm stands along the way.
Cathedral Park: A park in St. John's Cathedral Park is named for the dramatic bridge that runs over it and the Gothic arches that frame the view of Forest Park on the west side. The iconic St. John’s bridge has been standing since 1931, and the outstanding architecture of the support arches towering over the waterfront park is awe-inspiring.
Hoyt Arboretum Redwood Loop: The Hoyt Arboretum is relatively small but packed with gorgeous trails and resources for identifying trees. Make a loop that brings you to the Redwood Observation Deck.
Japanese Gardens: Many styles of gardens are showcased in serene 5.5-acre spaces with a waterfall, teahouse & mountain views.
OMSI Museum: A fun spot for toddlers.
Kelley Point: Kelley Point Park is known for its scenic views of the Willamette River.
Marquam Nature Park: A popular 3-mile trail.
Clackamas River: Spend a fun day hiking, biking, or kayaking on the Clackamas River with views of Mt. Hood.
Lake Oswego's Iron Mountain Trail: This is a popular trail for hiking and walking.
SHOP
Broadway Books: A great little neighborhood bookstore.
Powell’s Books: The world’s largest independent bookstore.
Sunblossom Farm: Pickup flowers for your DIY bouquets.
Seven Sisters: Another of my favorite boutiques featuring clothing, jewelry, and home decor.
Banshee: One of my favorite boutiques. The owner stocks beauty products and vintage clothes.
Shop Dano: An adorable boutique that sells Living Libations products.
Wild Cactus: Casual clothing, shoes, home goods, and fun accessories.
Vivienne: An impressive cookbook store that sells an array of equally-impressive baked goods and wine!
Child's Play: A toy store.
Frances May: A designer fashion boutique downtown.
Spartan: The chicest home store.
Maak Lab: A small shop that sells soaps, perfumes, and candles.
Columbia Farms: Head out to the fields to pick different varietals of blueberries, raspberries, and boysenberries.
Tender Loving Empire: There’s a location at the PDX airport.
STAY
Hoxton Hotel
DAY TRIPS
Mt. Hood: A fantastic day trip for incredible scenic hiking in the spring and summer and snow sports in the winter.
Multnomah Falls: Multnomah Falls is located just 30 miles east of downtown Portland.
GET AROUND
Max Light Rail: MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail connects Portland City Center with Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, North/Northeast Portland, and Portland International Airport.
I want to know some of your favorite things to do in Portland.
You May Have Missed:
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Party Planning Resources and 30 A Florida Travel Guide: Find out some of my favorite online party supply stores, entertaining cookbooks, and event planning tips. I have some great suggestions for gatherings outside the home, including an ice cream social!
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Thanks for the Manhatta rec! As a NYer, I will definitely be adding this to my list!💕
You really did a bit of work on this one! Tons of recommendations and favourite things.
I've only been to Portland twice, on my way to south Oregon, but I thought it seemed like a real nice place. More trees than pavement was an initial thought.