Monday Musings: Vintage Portland

I am obsessed with the website Vintage Portland. I cannot stop looking through the archives to find new places that I recognize or that I never knew existed! I find it incredibly exciting to see all of the original buildings that have metamorphasized over the years. I think every city should have a website that allows its citizens such awesome access to their history! Below is an example of a building that I have spent many hours going to the Portland Opera, seeing the latest Broadway Musical, Singing along to James Taylor, or watching the magical Christmas time Nutcracker performance from the Oregon Ballet Theatre.

{Portland Municipal Auditorium 1958 Courtesy of Univ. of Oregon Libraries}

{Keller Auditorium Circa 2010 Courtesy of Wikipedia}

“Keller Auditorium, formerly known as the Portland Municipal Auditorium, the Portland Public Auditorium, and the Portland Civic Auditorium, is a performing arts center located on Clay Street in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. It first opened in 1917, [then changed names] in 1968, being renamed again in 2000 in honor of a $1.5 million renovation donation by Richard B. Keller. The Keller Auditorium is the home of many performances of the Portland Opera [and many other Fine Arts Events].” (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Hopefully, I will only visit this site occasionally rather than the hours I spent on it this weekend! :)

Happy Easter from The Laings!

We had so much fun going to the MAC Easter Egg Hunt this morning at the  Jeld-Wen Field. Payton was a real pro at collecting eggs and at one point filled up her entire bag and then proceded to start dumping it back onto the turf... :)

{The mad dash begins...}

{Soaking up the sun with Mom.}

 

{Enjoying the chocolate with her friend Pitt.}



{Pay's BFF Sloane}

{Mr. Pitt concentrating on his treasure.}

{Admiring the Easter Bunny (from a distance) }

It was the first sunny day we have had around here in awhile and you could feel the happiness in the air. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter celebration for whatever that means to your family. We are off to The Heathman for Brunch tomorrow morning and then an Easter egg hunt for Pay at home. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Saturdays are for food.

I just had a lovely Brunch with my girlfriend, Sarah, @ Mother's Bistro in downtown Portland. They have cozy tables with crystal chandeliers and floral patterned pillows everywhere. (Very shabby chic.) I love their concept and their food is delicious!

They focus their dinner menu on a different Mother each month and actually use her family recipes! They also write up a beautiful bio. explaining her cultural heritage and why these particular recipes are important. What an amazing idea, right? Wouldn't it be so great to compile a recipe book with the best recipes from everyones' families?

I came home to my daughter watching Cinderella and playing in her kitchen. I wonder if she was dreaming up all of her family recipes?

Thoughtful Thursday: Play places in Portland

Considering how many wet days we have here in the beautiful Rose City, it is essential to have places to take the kids to play inside.

I am especially fond of The Play Boutique in Lake Oswego, because you can grab a latte, read a magazine, or chat with other moms. It is the kind of place where you actually feel relaxed while little people run around and play. I am also impressed that it is so clean and they even have hand sanitizing stations!  :)

The other spot we like to go is Playdate Pdx down in the North Pearl District. This place is like an indoor amusement park, with its slides and colorful mazes. There is even a special room for the under two crowd full of sized-down structures to climb a little mini slides.  It is an absolute mad house on weekends, but if you can find a time to go on a weekday morning it is the perfect workout for all the kids and adults. Oh, and most importantly they serve Stumptown coffee (my favorite!).

Speaking of rain, I think we may just hit one of these spots tomorrow.

Payton at Playdate Pdx

Monday Musings: Bring Glamour back!

My friend, Jessica, recently closed her dress boutique here in Portland and it was a very sad day for the stylish ladies of Portland. One thing that Jessica did very well was dress women in elegant clothing. I remember her saying on many occasions, "Why is it that people in Portland must always go out in their sweats and slippers?" [Enter the show Portlandia]

Life is messy but I really don't believe that Academy Awards hair should be. I usually adore Scarlett Johansen, but last night her hair was quite distracting from her beautiful dress. So weird. I mean a messy chignon on Bridgette Bardot was one thing, but a modern actress? I am dissapointed.

I suppose you could compare me to the millions of men who sit around watching football and yelling at the t.v., " Come On! You are so terrible! How could you miss that pass?"

But seriously, I try to put myself together for date night, girl's night, meetings with clients... And, I certainly don't show up at the grocery store in my slippers, or on national television with bed head!

Who needs a calendar when you have a phone?

Well, I'll tell you, I do! I am constantly leaving my phone in the car, or it is out of battery, or God Forbid, I leave it at home... Regardless, I am telling you, a little calendar goes a long way. I am really loving mine right now, as I seem to be forgetting that it is already February and that it is indeed 2011.

Here are my favorites for 2011:

1. Acrylic Desk Calendar, Paper Source so easy to pop in your purse or leave in a small space on your desk! Plus, it is letterpressed, so it is really special.




2. The Calendar Card: Swifts in a Chimney, Oblation Papers so fun because Portland has the most amazing swifts that can be watched in N.W. Portland. This would be really fun to send to a friend who knows Portland well...


3. Preppy Notebook Calendar, sarahpinto from etsy.com oh, i can hardly resist! I love all of these... Check out her cute choices.