Sep
16
2010

Portland Lovelies

Filed under: Dreadlocks, Friends, Travels

Ever since we left Portland last November, I have been looking forward to going back. For many reasons, but mostly to see my sweet friends Monica and Shauna and to go see Stephanie, The Dread Goddess. When we broke down in Spokane, we lost an entire WEEK of good times in PDX…so so so sad. BUT, I did make it in time for our girls day out and will get to spend a week enjoying all that this beautiful city has to offer.

We started the day at Pix Patisserie…a delightful little coffee/sweets shop. They even grind their own hazelnuts into a paste for lattes. Wow. Then we walked across the street and I grabbed a bite of breakfast at Tasty and Sons. Another wow. I ordered up an amazing orange curry glazed potatoes and egg dish and devoured it all. Yum. We arrived at our favorite spot, Akemi Salon with full tummies.

Stephanie was there waiting for us and got right down to business. One of the things I miss the most about having dreads is having someone else mess with my hair. Coloring, cutting, coiffing. Yes, I loved being pampered. So now I have made it a yearly tradition to trek to Portland to see Stephanie. Stephanie is one of the few people I trust implicitly with my dreads…and I can just relax in her chair and chat away about life and love and rainy days.

There are great magazines and books to read…including a lovely book completely dedicated to typographical tattoos *swoon*. Sitting on the sweet orange couch, there is hot tea available…to accompany the sounds of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and ethereal French music playing in the background. We enjoyed many hours of blissed out dready sisterhood.

After hugs and goodbyes, we headed to MeeSen Thai. This little Thai eatery…with it’s open garage-door front (this seems to be commonplace in Portland), decorative glass water pitchers with metal cups, and super friendly waiters won my heart immediately. We had fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce and pad thai for all. Seriously delicious with an amazing vibe.

I was sad to see them go…but not for long! We’re all meeting up at the Saturday Market. My sister, Laura, flew into town today from Minneapolis and we’re driving to Cannon Beach for the weekend. Yay! More fun to come!

There is an entire photo set to peruse here. And the question of the day is:

“If you’ve been to Portland, what was your very favorite thing?”

Posted by Sara @ 10:01 pm | Leave a Comment

Tiffany chetta

We are on the toad in the Pdx area too…slowly heading up to Seattle. Happy trails!
http://mayasmom23.blogspot.com/ Stephanie

We live about an hr away from Portland. I love the Kennedy School, Edgefield, and the Zoo for the kids.
http://www.lifefromthetop.com Adina

I live in PDX. Love it here. Right now, I am loving the food carts. I forgot you were going to be here!
sarah sd

-my friends.
-the kennedy school’s soaking pool [our old neighborhood favorite thing to do]
-stumptown coffee
-powells on hawthorn [same great bookshop, not so overwhelming as downtown]
-hungry dog burrito, i don’t know if it’s still around
-washington park hikes
-giant playground up by the japanese gardens
-laurelhurst park
-new cascadia gluten free bakery
-fabric depot [fabric]
-close knit [yarn]
-grand central bakery [when i could eat gluten this was my fav. still the rest of the family's fav...try a scone....yum.]
-public library. especially abina [again, in our old neighborhood, so it's special. but central is right off the max line and a fabulous childrens section!]
-finnigans toy store, right across the street from the downtown library.

now, it’s been years since we lived there, so these were some favorite from that time…..have a great time together exploring!!! xo
http://carriemayweddings.com Carrie

I love and appreciate the rain, the ever-changing ocean shores, Hood River’s extroidinary beauty and bounty, all of the folks committed to riding their bikes, the ability to homeschool with few restrictions, the majesty of our mountains, our forests which are lush and bountiful, our wine, our restaurants who are committed to buying local, and to all of the families, couples, and individuals who make up this beautiful place. I love Oregon!! I’ve been a local for 30 years, and I am proud to raise my two boys here and to be married to the most amazing man here. We just got back from Lincoln City where we were privileged to witness Humbacks breeching and sea lions surfing the waves. Glory be to God!!!
http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ Sara

Sarah…you’re the bestest I totally forgot you guys lived here. What was your old address? I wanna see your house! Right now it sounds like we are staying in that area and are going to the Waffle Window, Powells, Kennedy School, Grand Central, Rerun…and whatever else we can cram into the day without a meldown xxoo
Laura Mayne

Looks like you had an amazing time! I love your dress Sara.
http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com Adventures In Babywearing

Oh gosh I really could go for some Thai right now- even for breakfast! I love your friend’s dress (on the left) in the first photo!

You look fab!

Steph
Jen

I loved the overwhelming Powell’s downtown shop and the vegan street vendors. Voodoo donut was fun, too!
http://cuppapixie.blogspot.com leslie

My favorite thing in Portland is my 3 best friends! When I’m there with them, I love it all! The coffee, hiking so close by, and amazing crisp air are my other favorites. Oh yeah! and Voodoo Donuts!
http://rootandtwig.blogspot.com/ RootAndTwig

Portland (and all of Oregon!) is just so beautiful inside and out. How can you possibly narrow down such a place? Loved it all.
http://NoOneWatching.com Grace

I lived in Portland for six years, and it is absolutely my favorite city ever. I can’t think of one thing to name as my favorite, but the roses come to mind. And the great restaurants. And the best coffee in the world.
Joy

We live here and my favorite is church! It’s downtown in a fully restored 1800′s building with hand painted walls, plus the saturday night service has the best music. There is nothing better then getting out of church hand in hand with the kids in the heart of downtown.
http://www.some-daysoon.bloodspot.com Sonja

Love all your pics! The info on Portland is helpful since there’s only a month till my appt. With Stephanie!!! You are making it difficult to wait so long! Lol. Really, just gives me more inspiration. Sometimes I wonder if I can pull dreads off cuz I just don’t have such great, funky style, but not so much it makes me change my mind. . Have a fun time in the northwest!
http://neohippiemama.com Lacey

Oh I love that you’re in Portland! I’ve lived in and around the area for the last 9 years. My favorite thing about stumptown? Coffee. Thriftstores. Yarn stores. Parks. Our church, the evergreen community (we meet in the lucky lab pub on Hawthorne and Quimby) I would suggest St. Honore’s bakery on Thurman and 24th(?) in the Pearl. Or Blend on Killingsworth and Greeley (excellent excellent AWESOME coffee) Powells (of course!) Live music is everywhere. I am not a huge fan of McMenamins, but the Rock Creek Tavern has ambiance like you cant believe, good folk music in the evenings, and a good Ruby Ale. Now that I know you’re in the neighborhood I’ll be looking for your RV. I’ll be in a teal Volvo with dreads waving like a fool if I see you
http://www.granolasushi.blogspot.com Kristy

I love Portland. It’s been awhile since I was there last, but I remember Saturday market and I’ve never been anywhere that was so walk-friendly. Half-blocks rock! There used to be a great stationery shop around the corner from Sur La Table that carried vintage cards, papers and other treasures.
http://www.wholefamilyproject.com Aleisha @ Whole Family Project

We spent a month there, in May, and we loved the fact that there were so many people with front yard veggie gardens…some, complete with chickens…right near downtown!!! It was the greatest thing ever…and it didn’t detract in any way from the feeling of value in the neighborhoods! it was amazing:)
Lora

I’ve only been to Portland once. I went to an Ani show at a really nice theatre. I love the bike lanes on t he highway!!
http://www.thebarebohemian.blogspot.com Gypsy

I live in Portland right now. I am moving away soon and will be living on the road. I think Portland is one of those places that you really appreciate once you leave, and is refreshing (literally as well) to visit. I don’t think I can live here though, it depresses me with all the grey skies and rain– BUT I do appreciate it’s green cleanness and the weird unique funkiness of all the independent shops and restaurants- the people are very down to earth too, for the most part. I don’t know if you’ve been to Blossoming Lotus, the raw vegan restaurant that shared space with a yoga studio in the pearl district- but they moved to NE Portland and in their place is supposedly another cool gluten free mostly raw vegan restaurant called Prasad. Might be worth checking out.

My favorite places in Portland are the top of Mt Tabor, hula hooping in Laurelhurst park in SE, and taking my dog for little hikes up to washington park. My favorite hiking spot outside of Portland is Horsetail falls and the super intense 7 mile hike up to Larch Mountain out by Multnomah falls. Really beautiful this time of year with all the rain and green-ness. That’s so awesome you’re here in your RV, I hope one day to do the same, but for now a jeep, tent and gym membership will do the trick
http://www.redaisy.blogspot.com ayla

hey, my first comment on your blog and i get to answer the question at the bottom!

i keep finding you and boho girl and deb schwedhelm over and over again on the internet. it’s starting to scare me, so i’m finally mentioning it.

i have been on flickr for a few years and i started this obsession with photos of tattoos and dreads in the last year or so. well, i’m obsessed with the idea of photography too.

anyway, i spent time googling stephanie in portland because my friend bonnie [my first-ever friend who had dreads (i'm from GA, no one has dreads in GA)] got her hair done by stephanie. anyway. that led me to boho girl’s album on flickr. which led me to deb. and eventually to you.

and you’re a follower of the way, and deb is a navy officer’s wife like me, and boho girl makes vlogs in her totally fab living room that i totally envy.

you guys are like a sisterhood of awesome.

and i’m just assuming that you know deb, because maybe you don’t.

anyway i feel weird that i know this much about you all, but i swear it was all by accident.

anyway, my favorite thing about portland.

FREE. portland is a super free city. super indie. super mixed up and crazy. and i like that even though i’m from GA, we were sitting at a coffee shop the morning before i got my dreads, and a couple came up to me and my husband and asked me how to get to a certain cafe. they said we looked like locals.

i mean, i was so totally flattered that i giggled with delight. :]

anyway. i’m being a comment hog, so sorry! i look forward to reading more of your blog.
http://www.debsphotographs.com deb schwedhelm

i have no idea what’s great or fun to do in portland but had to write b/c i feel the same way. i long to see stephanie. i trust her completely. and long to soak up some of her goodness. in january, it will be a year since i last saw her. and i’m hoping i can make a trip to see her sometime in this spring, but it’s not so easy now that i’m in tampa and steve is back to a regular job, with the navy. we’ll see. thanks for sharing. it makes me happy to see her face and know that she just gave your dreads some of her incredible TLC.
deb
http://www.freelylivinglife.blogspot.com Freely Living Life

I haven’t been to Portland in years but it still has left an everlasting impression on my heart after all this time. From the cute coffee shops to the fresh ocean air it is just a relaxed and friendly place to be.

Thanks for sharing your visit with us. It looks like you ladies had a wonderful time! =)

{{hugs}}

P.S. Your dreads look amazing! =)
http://www.pingscontentlife.blogspot.com Ping

Hi! Before you turn your blog private or ‘invited readers only’, I will be sad that I didn’t ever comment. I wanted to tell you that I’ve been a long time reader of yours and love your photography. LOVE the way how you came to love small or light living, LOVE life, traveling, LOVE Jesus and Flickr:)

I’ve never been to Porland but reading through the list of other’s favorite places I will have to try to go next time in when we’re in the States. Yes, I love that dress on you!
http://www.welcometomyarmylife.blogspot.com aubrey hall

You’re beautiful! I can tell you are a kindred spirit to all you meet!

I go to a wonderful college right now for my degree in holistic medicine in Portland Oregon. I love the beauty there…the people…and what’s not to love about Oregon period!
http://mkoleary.blogspot.com Becky

I live in Portland and LOVE it so much! The atmosphere, farmers markets, food buying groups, the food options period, Stumptown coffee, amazing friendships i have made, Dreadie Stephanie, Cup n Saucer on Hawthorne, Shauna’s soaps -i like to lovingly refer to her as “my” soap lady; she’s the one who led me to your blog, forever ago- and so much more. We live with in walking distance to Multnomah Village and one of the best community centers, SWCC, around. My husband and i feel that we have truly found “home” in Portland. It’s a great place to raise kids.
Seth

The people.
Hyla

I am so blessed to be an Oregonian. Born and raised! I love Portland…the culture, the food, the people. Heck, I even love the weather. But I also really love the quaint little towns that offer a slower pace.
Oh, and my dreads were also created by the magical hands of the Dread Goddess. Kindred spirits! Enjoy your stay and travel safe!
Brandy

I used to live in a studio on NW 18th and Everett in the Pearl District. I loved that I hardly ever drove my car. I worked down the street at Bluehour, and my husband worked downtown and also walked. I liked the NW 21st and 23rd shopping/coffee shops. People watching, in the spring with all the beautiful flowering trees. I think I left part of my heart in Portland. Have a great time!
http://www.walkslowlylivewildly.com Sara

Ahhhhhh…I’ve loved reading all the comments on this post!! Thanks for sharing all the Portland love. Such fun.

Tomorrow is our last day here…I truly wish I had another month to spend here. One week in each of my favorite areas. This is our 3rd time in PDX in 2 years…I’m sure that we will be back again soon.
http://www.mightier-than-any-sword.blogspot.com Anne-Marie

Sara, your dreads look more awesome all the time! I had my dreads prettied up in the weekend, and I loved it. As you say, it is nice to be pampered [and have tidier dreads!].
http://www.herbanhomestead.blogspot.com mandi

Oh Portland!!!
I know I’m late here, as your pulling out soon. But what is there NOT to love about Portland??? The hiking, the people, the markets, the fact that you can find organic berries on the side of the road, the yarn stores, organic ice cream.

Oh Portland…
http://www.familyofmovers.com Lynne

Hi my friend Sara! I know nothing about Portland, I wish! I think I need to be there! Love your dreads!
http://www.faintstarlite.com Esther Crawford

The last time I was in PDX I went to that same thai place. So yummy + cheap!
http://annaelyse.blogspot.com anna cordes

i’ve never been to portland but my very favorite thing there is this girl. http://amyseeley.com/
Laura Clarke

i want to live how you live so badly.
jacqulyn

Hello my friend. Did you get bangs? Or does it just look like it in the last picture? I don’t have much to say about Portland, never been. Sounds fab!
http://www.smallscrapbook.blogspot.com/ Anita

Sara…I love your shirt. Where did you get it?
http://coffeebeings.blogspot.com/ Erin

Your day out in Portland sounds lovely! Wish I were there… my locks need some TLC from the Dread Goddess.
http://coffeebeings.blogspot.com/ Erin

Oh, and my favourite thing in Portland on my last visit was mixing perfume oil in Escential Oils!
http://www.junecleaverinyogapants.com Sara

Sara – hey we share a name and lots more! i just found this and your family blog and love love LOVE it. i’ve got the two kids, the jesus passion, the homeschooling AND i most recently have decided i am going to try putting my nearly waist-length hair into dreads… the above pics inspire me even more! wish you were here so i could hire you to help. anywhere near minneapolis?
thanks for writing and sharing your inspiring life.
BillieKay

Hi Sara.I just spent 8 beautiful days in Portland.I had never been there.I LOVED it.I did so many fun things and had so many dreams come true.One of which was getting my hair done by Stephanie.I now have pretty dreads on my head.She is a wonderful lady.It was so much fun.I rode on the max.I’d never ridden on anything like that(farm girl from Nebraska:)Went to the Street Market and spent 3 days at the beach.
I loved it all.I so want to move.
Blessings-BillieKay
p.s.Thank you again for taking Zephram’s senior pictures.I don’t have the words for how wonderful they are.You truly captured my boy.
http://theclearscamandrach.blogspot.com/ Rach Clear

I love your blog.

I’m from Portland (originally from Whitefish, MT) and I am plannimg on dreading my hair soon. (The next few weeks, hopefully.) Can you divulge where Stephani works, or do you have other people you’d recommend?

Thanks in advance!

shrayshree at gmail dot com
http://theclearscamandrach.blogspot.com/ Rach Clear

Nevermind! I have babybrain…I see now that you posted the link.
http://bielizna.cudowna.pl/bielizna_damska-41921.html stojaki ekspozycyjne

I tend not to comment, however after browsing through a few of the remarks here Portland Lovelies. I do have a couple of questions for you if it’s allright. Is it simply me or do some of these remarks look as if they are written by brain dead people? And, if you are posting on additional social sites, I would like to follow everything new you have to post. Could you make a list of the complete urls of all your shared pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?