So I know this post is WAYYYY overdue, (more than just a day late that’s for sure), so I apologize for that! BUT it is worth the wait. For the last post I wrote on my trip to Portland, go here.
At the end of May a friend and I went to surprise a good friend of ours for her birthday out in Portland, Oregon. Carly (the Portland friend) and I had tried to organize a trip a while ago to celebrate our two May birthdays, but I canceled because I didn’t think I would have time or money. Two weeks before what was supposed to be the big trip, Carly facebook-invited me to her birthday party. I responded ‘yes’ and said I’d go in spirit – which was the truth…until I got to thinking…what if I did go out there for her birthday? I began checking plane tickets and eventually found one for $350 Burlington, VT to Portland, OR on Kayak.com. Before I could think twice, I’d purchased it and sent a message to friend Nick to coerce him into coming along. Two short weeks later and we were on our way to Portland (after many pleas to come to Portland on Carly’s part and many made up excuses from us why we couldn’t).
Nick, I discover during my layover in NYC, has missed his flight (in typical Nick fashion) and won’t be able to make it to Portland until the night after the planned time. So much the better. We decide to make it a double surprise.
I stay the night with another friend, Dave (whose birthday also falls in May), and decide to explore the city while Carly is at work and then surprise her as she’s leaving her office around 5pm. I wander around for a bit, trying to stay dry (but failing for the most part). Seems like nobody here sells umbrellas. I find out later that the locals are so used to the weather they don’t bother protecting themselves from it…at one point some guy on the sidewalk pointed to my umbrella and said, “it’s not raining!” he puts a hand out to test for rain, “actually…I guess it kinda is.” But that’s Portland for you. It rains so much that even the tiniest respite seems like a sunny day. If you don’t take advantage of the sunshine right when it comes out, you won’t get another chance.
While I was waiting for Carly’s work day to come to a close, I headed over to Powell’s books, America’s largest independent bookstore. And it was beautiful. I have never seen anything like it.
I’m pretty sure the 12 year old avid reader in me fainted and then decided never to to leave the place. In addition to all the wares of a regular bookstore, Powell’s accepts used books that are in good condition – so it’s a great place to find exactly what you’re looking for.
My book choices from Powell's
Somehow I managed to buy only two books for myself: The Woman’s Book of Creativity by C Diane Ealy, and American Gods by Neil Gaimon. I bought also a couple father’s day presents – one for my dad (a book to record wines in) and one for my brother-in-law who is a dad as of today! The book is called Be Prepared: a Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden. Powell’s alone is a good enough reason to visit Portland. You will see what I mean if you check out the pics at the end of this post.
So 4 o’clock rolls around and I decide to head over to Carly’s office. Some bad directions and a wrong address later, I’ve struck up a conversation with the concierge, and it doesn’t seem like Carly’s gonna show. I call her (we had planned to catch up today anyway) and find out that she’s on the bus on the way home. I tell her I call her back and manage to arrange for her boyfriend to come pick me up (he had no idea I was in town either). He manages to convince Carly to wait for him to come home before heading out again, and by the time we arrive she has called him twice and is fuming that he has spoiled her plans. She doesn’t even notice me as I walk through the door, she’s so busy sulking and staring at her phone.
“Sup Carly?” I ask, waving. She looks up and instantly the frown is wiped from her face morphing into one of shock, then disbelief, then she is screaming and jumping up and down. I don’t really remember what was said, just that there was a lot of screaming and jumping and some crying. The whole day, we talked about how Carly’s birthday bash would only be better if Nick were there. (I strategically spurred this conversation as I thought it would increase the incredibility of the full surprise.)
For dinner, we check out a few food carts (one of Portland’s claims to fame!). It’s like a little food cart village! There are also a ton of them downtown. Another definite must on your travel list.
Later that night we all went out for a drink. Dave had given Nick directions to the bar on the sly since he’d be arriving late to the airport. We were all settled in at the bar (which smelled like barbecue ribs if I remember correctly though it was quite a classy establishment) when Nick just bursts through the front door and races towards the table. Carly took one look at him and stood on her chair, screaming and laughing. Then she grabbed Nick’s wrist and dragged him outside to do a happy dance.
The rest of the week was great fun, and Nick and I were sad to leave! Carly told us both that even after we’d been there for a few days she was having trouble believing it was real. Hopefully we can all see each other again this New Year’s!
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