A trip to the farmer's market with Rachel

Picking up wild chanterelles in October from the Springwater Farms stand. Pricey, but delicious. The best value at the PSU Farmer's Market? Beautiful (and big) bouquets from $10-15 each.

You’d have to wake up at like 8 am on a Saturday, OK?

But we would get coffee at Nuvrei, which is in the Northwest. Then we’d head Southwest to the PSU Farmer’s Market so that I can get my mushroom fix and accidentally buy like $40 of mushrooms. There are a lot of great stands there, and you can buy fruits, vegetables, and flowers, get coffee and things to eat.

Car-free and dramatically named, "Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People" translates data from the river into a dynamic LED light show at night.

There are a lot of parks in Portland, and last weekend we stopped by Ira Keller Park. After that, go check out the new pedestrian bridge, the Tilikum bridge. It’s not all pedestrians--to be more specific, it’s the only non-personal-automotive bridge.

Then get brunch with friends on the east side, at Screen Door. Actually, you’d probably need to go there earlier, so you can get a table.

What do you love about Portland?

• The PDX food scene
• The lush greenery
• The fresh, fragrant air
• Four seasons
• The small, but very relevant design scene

Overall, quality of life is A+.

All about food with Connie

I’m all about food.

I’d start off the day going to HK Cafe for dim sum. Then go hang out in Peninsula Park in Northeast. I mean, I’m assuming we’re driving, so it’s no big deal.

Check out Ha VL. Two different noodle soups a day. They rotate them, and when they run out, they run out. They just opened Rose VL. Google them to see what the menu has, because I think they’re doing different soups. The snail soup is when…Thursdays? They make almost like a pate loaf, with lemongrass, meats, snail. That place is legit.

What you'll get at famous food cart Nong's Khao Man Gai, just one of Connie's many food recommendations

If I’m with a group of people, Kachka, hands down. Do not be tempted to get the cold food spread thing. Because that only comes with the cold ones. What you should do is get a couple foods from each section on the menu. Make sure to get pelmeni in the “fancy broth,” which is what they call it. It’s fucking delicious. Go with friends and try all of the infused vodkas. My personal favorite is early grey. The horseradish one is like… Yeah. Wow.

If you’re into the Chinese places with hanging ducks and stuff, go to So Good Taste. Get the barbecue pork and the wonton noodle soup.

Nong's Khao Man Gai is a big thing. They do Thai chicken and rice. 

Coquine. They’re not specifically French or specifically American or whatever. They’re just kinda doing what Alice Waters does, which is make good, local food.

If you’re drunk, this is great. Luc Lac. It’s in Southwest. I’d definitely say, get the red pork sausage, for sure, maybe get a cocktail. You walk in and you’re like, this is a totally, totally hipster spot. Cool art, everyone looks way too cool there. I don’t find their pho to be the best in town, but if you’re drunk, it’s the best. Fridays and Saturdays, they’re open late.

I did happy hour at Meesen Thai on Mississippi, and that was really good. Maybe then go across the street to Moloko or Bar Bar. 

In Northeast, there are a lot of bars that do good food. Cruz Room on Alberta, they do weird tacos. Jerk chicken, Japanese tempura squash, southern, all over the place, and the flavors are on point. Basically it’s a fucking bar that serves tacos, it’s great.

Get the burger at Slow Bar. Get it. It’ll seem kinda seedy, but, get the burger.

Pie Spot makes delicious pies in Northeast. They’re wonderful. They started off doing fairs and farmer’s markets, but they have a brick and mortar spot now. I’d get the banana cream one. My favorite used to be the blueberry, but the banana cream is redonk.

What about for beer?

For beer, if you like sour beer, Cascade. Groundbreaker Brewing is also great. They brew their beer with chestnuts that they roast like coffee. It may be the only brewery that is completely gluten free.

A garden tour with Chancellor

Portland's International Rose Test Garden is free to visit and offers more than 650 varieties of roses. Come here for a beautiful view of Mt. Hood, a guided tour, or just a whiff of the thousands of roses on display.

The first thing to do is to go to the Rose Test Gardens. Just see all the blossoming flowers and smell the fragrances. 

Then take a slow drive down 23rd and make your way to Schoolhouse Electric. Great coffee—and also one of the cutting edge places for design and lighting. It’s a huge, giant, amazing space.

Then go to the Chinese Gardens and explore that garden, too.

Then come down to the East Side, and get happy hour at Por Que No, and ice cream at 50 Licks. Did you get that? 50 Licks, it’s so good!