It's downright gorgeous here today and nobody appreciates 78 degrees with sunshine like a Portlander. We wait so long for it. It makes me love, love, love this city. My romance for Portland inspired me to read an article last night in Edible Portland Magazine [http://www.edibleportland.com/] interviewing one of my favorite local chefs, Cheryl Wakerhauser. She owns a delicious patisserie called Pix. I feel like I'm in France everytime I step inside--soda shoppe chairs with red cushions, paintings of bug-eyed lap dogs in gilded frames, cases filled with petite pastries. I go there when I feel like my life needs a little frosting. I wear a skirt and order the pear rosemary tart. It's the most incredible thing--flaky, tender pastry, delicate poached pear, earthy rosemary, and chocolate ganache. Mon dieu! I am always so thankful that Cheryl created that place and brought our city a little bit of Paris; a place where I can go all alone, wear that skirt that makes me feel like the girl who used to have tea parties with her dolls, and be renewed in my joie de vivre. Cheryl talked about how Portland is the Paris of the U.S. I think I believe it, even though I've never been to Paris. Our city is rich in moments of art, simple exchanges of neighborliness, and a nice tinge of hendonism. It's lovely.
I talked to a friend yesterday who is planning to leave Portland. As much as I love it here, I confessed I'd been thinking about it too--maybe for graduate school, maybe for adventure. I was just imagining possibilities. It's hard for me to think about leaving this city, but I realized as I was talking to her that in a way Portland's taught me what it takes to be happy anywhere I am. It sounds cliche, but it's the little things that do it--having the newspaper delivered and reading it with espresso from the stovetop pot, growing tomatoes on the windowsill, riding a bicycle to the store. The scenery can change; even the people can change. I've learned how much happiness it brings me to simply live my art, doing everyday things with beauty. It was here that I discovered my joie de vivre, so I think Cheryl is right--for me, Portland is Paris. I had no idea how important frosting can be.
2 comments:
the first time i came to portland i experienced what you capture here. the neighborhoods (all with their unique "flavor", the tree lined streets, flowers, the greenest grass i ever saw, and the feeling like you were at a celebration..those are my memories. and you are like the birthday girl..in your dress eating a tart..this party is for you.
Cool blog you got. I was just out searching all the web for hydroponics video and your site popped up in the listings. Not 100% what I was searching for but interesting enough to read through and leave you a comment I guess.
Keep it up. Cheers
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