‘Places’ Archives
Bates Nut Farm
October is smack-dab in the middle of Fall. The leaves are changing, and there's a chill in the air. That means it's time for pumpkins! And corn mazes, and the last bit of outdoor fun of the season. Bates Nut Farm in San Diego County is known as one of the great, old-fashioned farms, where you can sample fudge, run through a straw [...]
Under a down comforter
It's fall. The air is crisp and cool and the Northwest skies are turning from blue to gray. One of my favorite places to be right now is under a fluffy down comforter. There's something very different about the way a down comforter feels. Light and airy like a cloud, but warm and comfy like a cup of cocoa. We pulled ours out just this [...]
The 24th floor
Whenever I get the chance to look out at the skylone of a city from a tall building, I feel a renewed sense of awe. It's much like the boys who stand on their desks in the movie "Dead Poets' Society". I gain a new perspective. More often than not, the view is one filled with beauty.
Donut Nook
There's something satisfying about going to an old-fashioned donut shop and getting a freshly-made donut. At Donut Nook in Vancouver, Washington, you get an old-fashioned experience. The donuts are made on-site every day. And they are the best donuts I've ever had. The buttermilk bar is like heaven coated in glaze. The prices are [...]
Coba
I visited a set of ruins that I'd never heard of. Coba, Mexico is a huge archeological complex. It's got everything. It's got temples and ball courts and stone carvings. It's got bikes you can ride around the site, and tours, and strange animals. In fact, it has the largest pyramid in Mexico. I mean, it's not really a pyramid [...]
Ringlers Annex
Ringlers Annex is one of the coolest corner bars in Portland. Occupying a triangular block, the bar is narrow; but size isn't everything. In fact, the tininess of this place is part of its charm. Plus it has outdoor seating (when it's not raining) and is in a perfect spot for people watching. Yummy cocktails, super cool building, great [...]
Clackamas River
Summer in Portland is defined by a few things: movies in the park, walking downtown, hikes in Forest Park, street fairs - and a float on the Clackamas River. On a hot summer day, nothing feels better than grabbing an inertube and heading to the river. The Clackamas is generally slow-moving, and filled with good-natured people trying to [...]
The Brooklyn Free Store
My daughter, who seems to always want more toys, has said, "Wouldn't it be great if everything costed a penny?" That would be great. What's even better is free. Enter the Brooklyn Free Store, where everything is, well, free. There's a sign there that tells you everything you need to know upon entering: “Take what you want. Share what you [...]
Forest Park
Portland has a lot of parks. It also has the granddaddy of all parks Forest Park. It’s the largest park within any US city. It's got hiking trails. It's got biking trails. It's got trails for you and your dog and your horse. It's so big that it includes a 30-mile Wildwood Trail. It also has great views of the St. Johns [...]
At work
This may sound strange at first, but at work is a pretty awesome place to be. Seriously. At work you get to use your skills and talents to help people; whether it be to improve the health of babies by working for March of Dimes or make driving safer by selling tires or nourishing people by serving them food or healing people by treating their [...]
