A couple of weekends ago...I made my monthly track up to Portland to visit and play with my girlies, Sally & Bonnie. I got to be "Brad" for a day while helping Sally with her "Soldering for Virgins" class in her studio. Everyone did an excellent job as virgins and made beautiful charms.
After class, Sally and I went to a new place to eat & unwind in the Pearl District called "50 Plates." We sat at the bar and enjoyed talking to the bartenders about the best burger places in Portland. Sally and I are into burgers...definitely "meat girls." We have a added a couple of places to try in Portland...so stay tune.
50 Plates has a great menu that includes mix and match sliders. We love finger foods...so sliders are right up there on our list. We tried a Lil' Kahuna Burger...on a sweet potato roll with slaw, BBQ sauce and Roscoe's...crispy fried chicken on a waffle with coffee maple drizzle. Both were delicious but I have to say the Roscoe's was to die for! Having just eaten at the original Roscoe's in Los Angeles...if you need a chicken and waffle fix...50 Plates is the place to go!
Would you like dessert??? Of course, we had to look at the menu...Faux Ho's!?! Who wouldn't want to try that...childhood memories came flooding back into our conversation...Ding Dongs, Twinkles, Hostess Cupcakes, Fruit Turnovers and Ho-Ho's! The Faux Ho's were yummy but a little too rich for me. Sally and I wished they had just served one to split cause that's all we had room for.
The next day was spent making these beautiful lighted Pink Houses. It is so much fun to sit, collage and think about how light will shine through the images of our little houses. It was a joy sitting and creating with all the artistic women in Sally's studio.
We lined all the houses up and turned off the studio lights and let our little houses shine in the dark...aren't they just gorgeous!
On Monday, Sally & I drove over to our friend, Bonnie's house. Bonnie is a very talented painter...check out her website, IPaintPictures. Sally and I love Bonnie's paintings...since Italy we have been bugging her to teach us how to paint. We finally had a play day to do it. Our friend, Stacey join us too. Bonnie is going to be teaching "How to Paint" classes in her studio soon...we were her practice class. Our first picture was to draw and paint jars.
I loved how my jars came out...Bonnie has a special talent for teaching...she made the whole process so easy to understand...that I feel I can paint anything now...no longer afraid of the blank canvas. I just have to make the time to practice more at home. Our painting session went till 9 pm that night...we were having so much fun and enjoying the flow of the paint and conversation...we were forced to quit because the light was getting so bad with the setting of the sun. Good thing we don't live in Alaska...we'd be up all night long!
Here are some of the paintings we all did...I did the girl on the top...love her...not bad especially since the last time I drew anything was in high school. Thanks, Bonnie! What a wonderful teacher and hostess you are! I love you! I must say the best part of the day was "Hot Time Summer in the City!" LOL!
looks like so much fun! I wish I had been there for pink houses.
xoxo
alicia
Posted by: Alicia Walker | July 03, 2009 at 06:34 PM
I would love a copy of what you wrote above. We are returning to Paris next spring and I love the history and places you visited. We did not get as much out of our previous visit as you did. How did you learn so much? Any suggestions as we plan our next trip?? Feel free to email me any info. Thanks so much for the information and the delightful pictures. Really enjoyed reading about your trip. LK
Posted by: Leslie Kern | October 12, 2009 at 10:21 AM