Pearl District & Halloween

A couple events got a bit lost in the shuffle of all that happened in October. Before November gets too far ahead of me, I figured I better record some of the fun times that happened the last two weeks of October.

First of all, when my sister had planned on just being in town for a few days (rather than what turned into two weeks), we made a date to take a trip into the Pearl District of Portland.

If you're going to the Pearl District, and if you were an English major in college, then you are required to go to Powell's Books. It's a rule. Trust me.

Those are two bags of books Andrea is carrying there (yes, she's carrying my bag because I had to carry the camera). I picked up a couple of children's books, as well as The Year of Magical Thinking (I had to have my own copy after listening to the audiobook from the library), The Things They Carried (my favorite Tim O'Brien book which I had loaned out and not received back), and a few copies of Angela's Ashes that I'm giving to my Irish lit students when the semester ends.

Naturally, all that book shopping at Powell's left us mighty hungry, so we walked down to the street for a little vegan fare.

I had seen Blossoming Lotus written up somewhere, and decided that we needed a new experience since I've never been in a vegan restaurant before. We were not disappointed. The food was so yummy, and I would definitely go back (oh, if only I lived closer and I'd get it for take-out!). I had the black bean chili burrito, and Sis had the Incan Bowl. Yum yum yum. Big portions too!

After lunch, we headed over a block for some cupcakes at Cupcake Jones.

They were good. I'm more a light and fluffy cupcake kind of girl, so these seemed a little heavy for me. But you know. Chocolate. Yum.

A sunny October afternoon in the Pearl with your bestest sister? Fabulousness.

As for Halloween fabulousness, we had a penguin named Bingu ("Bingu," she said, "like Bingo with a 'u'") and a fairy princess ballerina ("Fairies are my favorite! Princesses are my favorite! Ballerinas are my favorite!").

Yes, in fact, both the costumes are from Sydney's ballet recitals. (Hooray for being able to reuse costumes that cost us a small fortune!)

When I was a kid, I was always a little jealous of my suburban friends at Halloween time. There are no streets to trick-or-treat on around here unless you feel like walking up long dark driveways only to be met by someone who refuses to give out candy on the basis that Halloween is the Devil's holiday. Now that I am older, wiser, and have experienced the joys of suburban living, I have learned the trick that rural kids can do in order to get themselves candy: drive to the suburbs!

We trick-or-treated around Jason's parents neighborhood, which will probably be our tradition from now until eternity. I will not be denied my miniature Snickers bars. Oh, and yes, the girls had a grand time too.

Comments

[Marilyn]

the Pearl is always fun...will have to look for that Vegan place next time we're up there. the costumes are adorable and yes, to reusing them...good god those things are expensive (my niece has many from past recitals!) :)

[Margaret]

No wonder my daughter wants to live in Portland, even though she is no longer a vegan. (now just a vegetarian) The day sounds utterly wonderful!! (the cupcake--yum)

[gretchen from lifenut]

How on earth did I miss this!? Seriously.

I love their costumes!

You have the Pearl District and we have Pearl Street.