Meg Cotner

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022

Lunar New Year 2022 in the Portland Metro

Happy Year of the Tiger!

The Year of the Tiger is almost upon us. Lunar New Year lands on Tuesday, February 1 and ends January 21, 2023. This particular year of the Tiger is a Water Tiger year. I am no expert on the Chinese zodiac, so I can’t speak authoritatively about what “Year of the Tiger” means on a deeper level, so check out what the folks at The Woks of Life have to say. Here in the Portland area there are plenty of ways to celebrate with parades, crafts, dancing—and food.

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

Food Cart Pods Coming to NE Broadway in Grant Park

The Burger King on NE Broadway during its better days. Photo credit: Google

For the longest time I’ve wondered what is up with the old Burger King building on NE Broadway. It has been fenced off for years and frankly, it’s kind of an eyesore. But I don’t have to wonder any longer—the site is going to become a food cart pod. Plus, for purposes of this post, there’s going to be a bonus food cart pod across the street.

January 25, 2022January 25, 2022

The Celery Is Now Open

The Rain Shadow Bowl at The Celery. Photo credit: The Celery

Back in October 2021 I came across mention of The Celery, a restaurant planning to offer organic whole foods in the form of juices & smoothies, bowls, salads, and … oatmeal! But for months there wasn’t a peep out of their website or social media (spoiler: it took a year to get the place off the ground). That’s all changed—The Celery is now open in the Boise neighborhood along the N Williams commercial strip between Fremont and Prescott.

January 24, 2022February 2, 2022

Valentine’s Day 2022 in Portland

Love Valentine's Day Holiday Valentine Cookies

If you can believe it, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner—three weeks from today. A number of places in Portland are offering special prix fixe dinners, some are preparing to-go meal boxes, and pre-order sweets are being prepared by bakeries around town.

Unless otherwise specified, these meals are available only on February 14, and getting your reservation set sooner that later is recommended. Unfortunately, weather (see: 2021) and COVID can thwart things, so please double check the place you want to celebrate at before you head out.

Menu details are included where available. We will update this list as new information becomes available.

Restaurant Meals

Bar Casa Vale
Four-course prix-fixe menu—three courses of tapas plus dessert. $75 per person.
Reservations via OpenTable. 215 SE 9th Avenue, Ste 109, Portland

January 22, 2022January 23, 2022

Proto Details on Conscious Sedation Beer Garden

Generic beer flight.

Since the start of 2022 I’ve been putting my research chops into gear for something I caught wind of called “Conscious Sedation.” At first all I had was the name and a few other things off a couple of government records, plus an Instagram account. Its location, noted as 1505-1533 NE Alberta Street on the liquor license application, also piqued my curiosity.