Bridgetown Bites

August 30, 2019April 21, 2025

Big Ass Bake Sale in September Will Support RAICES in Portland

An excellent event is just over the horizon—the Big Ass Bake Sale at Cookshop. Over 40 of Portland’s best bakers, pastry chefs and restaurant owners are banding together to produce this sale, with all proceeds going to RAICES, “a nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees.” It will take place on Saturday, September 7 from 10am to 2pm, or until they run out of sweets.

August 28, 2019April 21, 2025

Ben & Esther’s Bagels Coming to Sandy Blvd in Roseway

I’ve learned that a new bagel shop is opening up on NE Sandy Blvd next to the Mom & Pop Wine Shop—Ben & Esther’s Bagels. It’s slated to open in October 2019 with a variety of bagels, schmears, salads and beverages.

August 26, 2019April 21, 2025

The 42nd Annual Middle Eastern Festival in Portland Was Delicious and Beautiful

cookie-collage-small — *Some of the delicious cookies and baklava available at the Middle Eastern Festival this past weekend.*

Yesterday I made my way to the far east side of Portland to attend the 42nd Annual Middle Eastern Festival at St George Antiochian Orthodox Church. There was some great music, dancing, a gorgeous church, a silent auction, and, of course, plenty of good food, including a spit roasted lamb, glistening in the sunlight.

August 23, 2019April 21, 2025

Happy 75th, Canton Grill! Interview On Think Out Loud

On my way home the other day I caught part of this interview on OPB with Cindy Louis and her father, Fred Louis, who run 75-year old Canton Grill on 82nd Avenue near SE Division. It was so interesting and heartfelt, so I’m glad to have found the link to the entire interview via a Facebook post.

August 22, 2019August 21, 2019

Vote For Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters For More Community Space

Bottom line: I urge you to vote for Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters in a contest put on by Business Impact NW. $10,000 is at stake and they are in the third round at this point. You can vote here, once a day until Wednesday, August 28 at 11:59pm PST (to vote, click on the black button right under the video that says “Vote for this Business”). The hope is that with this funding, they can work to expand the business in a number of ways, including creating a local cafe space in the Rocky Butte community, a traditionally underserved area of Portland. Continue reading “Vote For Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters For More Community Space”