Summer in the City

It's summer in PDX and I am finding this city to be more alive now than any other season so far. It seems like every weekend brings new festivals, street fairs, events, and reasons to gather friends around some delicious food and libations and laugh until the sun goes down.

We threw our first big dinner party at the house this past weekend. Coffee and spice rubbed bone-in ribeyes, grilled Walla Walla onions and zuchini, roasted brussel sprouts and tomatoes, pasta salad, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chive biscuits... well you get the idea. It was a great evening full of good food and new friends. Beer was the beverage of the night and with such amazing local ales how could we drink anything else? On hand were Full Sail and Deschutes. Toss in a glass of two of wine from Palotai and/or Hillcrest vineyards and it was a lot of fun.

By the way, if you haven't had wine from Palotai or Hillcrest- you gotta put them on your list. They are located in southern Oregon near Roseburg. Palotai makes some amazing, bold red blends- Bull's Blood is by far my favorite. Hillcrest makes some great warm-weather varietals like syrah and zin. They are both small producers so that makes it even sweeter when you get a taste. 

I attended my first movie in the park. It was Pretty in Pink. Basically the city and parks department does these free screenings on Friday night at different parks around the city. You  show up with your blanket and picnic food and watch. The evenings are so gorgeous here that it is a great way to end the week. The next one is Princess Bride. The thought that I would miss that is Inconcievable!

Then there is the Bite of Oregon. Its another great food and wine festival. It features hundreds of local vendors sampling their wares.There were food carts, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and people galore! The event benefits the Special Olympics and seems to bring out the best in people.

We took a break from the Bite and decided to walk the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges. The Hawthorne bridge is 100 years old. The middle section of the bridge raises up, in its entirety, to allow tall ships to pass underneath.  Both bridges are lit at night with an array of colorful lights.

Summer in the city is turning out to be my favorite time of year. Cool mornings, warm days, and temperate evenings make the days feel amazing. Everyone seems so alive and they are all ready to be out among the fresh air and eachother.