That Portland Life

Portland Lifestyle and Real Estate

Contact Us!

Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher

Portland’s Best Florists

by Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day is coming up! I love this holiday because it gives me an extra reason to celebrate my loved ones. I try and start each day with a thankful heart. And my heart is exploding with love for this amazing community, and all our local vendors. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not a good florist is always a nice thing to have. Sometimes it is nice just to surprise someone with flowers. Especially these days! This week we searched the city to find some of Portland’s best florists. In no particular order, here are a couple that we loved!

Solabee Flowers and Botanicals

801 N Killingsworth St, Portland OR 97217
Open Monday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Pickup or delivery available
Website Here

Botanica Floral Design

3318 Ne Wasco St, Portland OR 97232
Open Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 9 am – 4 pm
Pickup available
Website Here

Old Town Florist

old town florist

404 NW 10th Ave LL1, Portland OR 97209
Open Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
Pickup or delivery available
Website Here

Sellwood Flower Company

8215 SE 13th Ave suite A, Portland OR 97202
Open Monday – Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Pickup or delivery available
Website Here

Goose Hollow Flowers

1219 SW 19th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Open Monday – Friday 9 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday 10 am – 2 pm
Pickup and delivery available
Website Here

Starflower

3564 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Open 7 days a week 11 am – 6 pm
Pickup or delivery available
Website Here

Are you ready to pick out your perfect bouquet yet? If flowers aren’t quite what you’re looking for we have a lot of other suggestions around town for you. Just go Here and you might find that something special that you’ve been looking for. If you have any favorite places that we missed please leave us a comment and we will try to add them to our list.

Hammer & Stitch Brewing

by Leave a Comment

This week we ventured to Slab Town to check out one of Portland newest breweries. Hammer and Stitch opened October 10th with 5 standard beers. The brewery has since added 4 more creations to their collection. The goal of this brewery is to keep it simple, and just make good quality beer. The name Hammer and Stitch is an homage to makers of all sorts, but specifically the late mother and father of some of the partners behind the company. Their mother was an apparel designer and seamstress and their father was an architect and builder. This pairing is what makes up the logo for the brewery.

  • The Front
  • The Deck

The team behind the beer is one of the things that makes this brewery so special. Ben Dobler, who has been making beer in Portland for the past 27 years, brought his skills and expertise to Hammer and Stitch. He isn’t alone in the brew house however. Head Brewer Cam Murphy has been working with beer for several years. These two have worked at many breweries on their way to Hammer and Stitch, those include at places like Widmer, Mt. Tabor Brewing, Laurelwood Brewing and Von Ebert.

  • The Tap House
  • The Brew House

The beers here are all easy drinking and don’t weight you down like so many other beers can. We couldn’t try everything on tap, but we certainly tried. The IPA is hop-forward with piney aromas balanced by citrus notes. The Lager is crisp, clean, and just slightly hoppy in the finish. The Amber has a little bit of everything in it, caramel and chocolate malt flavors with woody floral aromas. The Porter is warm and toasty with chocolate malts but is still incredibly smooth and light in the finish. The Cozy is a Russian Imperial Stout that has bold coffee and chocolate aromas which hit your senses immediately, but it finishes with hoppy, woody, and floral notes. If you’re looking for a fruity finish the Berry Cozy is the same Russian Imperial Stout but they added raspberry puree to it.

Are you feeling thirst for a beer yet? you can get more information about the brewery and their beers Here. If you didn’t quite find what you were looking for you can check out some of our other Hot spot Here

Kann

by 2 Comments

This week we are featuring a truly unique hot spot experience with Kann Winter Kitchen. This winter, American Express and Resy teamed up with some amazing chefs around the nation to create pop-up restaurants located in yurt clusters. Luckily, we got one in Portland and the chosen chef was none other than Gregory Gourdet, who created a memorable and transporting menu of traditional and creative takes on Haitian cuisine.

The Yurts

Kann Winter Village is the perfect description for what we walked into. The cluster of quaint and cozy yurts, complete with pine boughs and twinkly lights, delighted us immediately. The yurts are heated and outfitted with spare utensils, plus a lazy Susan so that the wonderful staff can safely deliver your food while remaining properly distanced.

The Food

Our first course of the evening was a Ripe Plantain and Squash salad. Full disclosure, I thought this sounded like the least exciting part of the menu. I was SO wrong. I have no idea what the chefs did to make that squash easily the most tender and delicious I have ever tasted, but I certainly want to. There were also wilted greens that were outstanding, bright pops of tart pomegranate, and plantains two ways. I think of salads as being often mundane, but this was a fully conceptualized and balanced vegetable side, and I adored every bite.

Our second course there was a split. For the omnivore menu, a Twice-Cooked Pork Belly and for the pescatarians, a shrimp Creole. Both were delicious, but the tender, crispy, rich, and spicy pork belly had our hearts. Third course was the Soup Joumou, which had a bone-in chicken drumstick for the omnis that was absent in the pescatarian. This soup was incredibly hearty, and could have acted as a filling meal in itself.

As an extra treat to ourselves we did add on the 1/2 Peking duck, which arrived next. We were already starting to feel quite full at this point, so we just had a little taste and took the rest home for an epic leftovers feast the following day. What a taste it was! The duck was meltingly tender and the sauce was highly spiced and complex. It was served with plantain crepes, Haitian cornmeal, and spicy pikliz. Again, I could have eaten an entire meal of just this and been pleased as punch.

Next, we had another division. Braised Beef Short Ribs with Habanero and Thyme for the omnivores and an Epis Marinated Sea Bass for the pescatarians. Once more, while both were lovely dishes, I have to side with the omnivores on this one. I LOVE short ribs and would say I may eat them more regularly than most. These were some of the best I have ever enjoyed. And mind you, at this point I was stuffed, and yet I could not resist eating a slightly excessive amount of these delectable creations.

Finally, somewhat bursting at the seams, we enjoyed dessert. A lovely Upside Down Banana Cake, topped with warm coconut cream and with a caramelized burnt crust. I’m not quite sure how I managed to find the room, but I finished every bite. As a bonus treat (did we need more?) we added a bottle of the first of the wines from the pairings (our favorite!) a pinot noir rose bubbles. We finished every drop of that one too.

If you also would like to make it to Kann, check out more info Here. Where should we go next? Let us know in the comments!

5 Reasons to Buy New Construction

by Leave a Comment

This week we will be talking all about new construction. Here is a quick video on some of the reasons to buy new. If you’re not into watching the videos read down below.

Customization

No matter how much you love a home, there is always something that you are going to want to change.  If you buy a resale home you won’t have any design options.  Most new construction companies will let you select from a package.  Some include flooring, back splashes, light fixtures, and appliances.  You can truly make the home exactly the way that you want it. 

Home Warranties

We can negotiate a home warranty into any purchase, but with new construction you get so much more than the bare bones.  Typically you can expect to get a 10 year structural warranty, a 3 year warranty on all the appliances ,and an extensive warranty on your windows.  The chances of things breaking down in the first couple years is low, but it is so nice to have that peace of mind.

Community Amenities

Most new home communities have quite a few amenities to offer. Even the most basic ones will have lots of parks and a play area.  But some of the larger developments will have community centers, gyms, and even pools.  There is an HOA attached to these communities, and while there is an added fee, they ensure the community stays beautiful and maintained which makes home values climb quickly! 

Inventory

We talk about inventory a lot, but it is very difficult to buy a home right now.  That isn’t the case with new construction.  Developers sell homes as they are being built, so there is almost always available inventory. Depending on the size of the community you can typically expect between 4 and 15 homes to be available.  You can also pre-order homes if you have a lot that you absolutely love!

The New Home Feel

One of the most attractive features of buying a new home is that its yours and only yours. No one else has lived in the home, slept in the bedroom, or cooked in the kitchen. That’s a pretty cool feeling!

One last thing

They all have sales offices.  If you walk into the community alone they will tell you that you don’t need a realtor. Please don’t believe them.  They work for the builder and therefore, they have the builder’s best interests at heart.  We will work for you.  We can typically get some sales incentives or a price reduction on those new homes, we will guide you through the inspection process and facilitate the final walkthrough to ensure the home is perfect.

If you feel like you are ready to explore some new construction areas, or just house-hunting in general, we would love to sit down with you, either in person or virtually, to talk you through all the options.  Just let us know when it works best for you! 

If there is anything else you need, know we are always here, and can’t wait to talk to you!

Check out our other blog posts Here.

December Market Update

by Leave a Comment

The market stats for December 2020 were recently released. It is time to dig into them and see what they mean. Almost every stat dropped last month, in some areas that is good news, in some it is bad news. The only number that rose last month is the number of sold listings. This lines up with what we know about the Portland market. There are tons of buyers out looking for homes.

December market update
Stat Breakdown

The average sale price dipped a bit, this almost always happens at the end of the year, a lot of people take a break for the holidays, so with less offers driving prices up, we saw the number drop down a bit. The days a home sits on the market are still continuing to drop along with the inventory levels. If we remove the outliers, the average days on market is actually just 7 days. So houses are flying off the market. In general we will see them listed mid week, open all weekend, and pending by early the next week. Because of this, Inventory has dropped all the way down to .8 months. As a reminder, this means if we don’t list any new homes, everything on the market will be sold before the end of the month. It’s lower than it has ever been, so if you have any thoughts of selling, now is the time!

For the whole Portland metro, homes are selling at an average of 6.7% over asking price. For a $500,000 house, that is $30,000 over asking price. As a buyer it is more important than ever that you pay close attention to your budget. If you only want to spend $500,000 we need to be shopping in the $450,000 range.

It is tough out there right now for buyers, but with a savvy agent, and a little luck, people are finding homes that are a great fit. We are helping our clients get into homes that they love right now, so if you want help with your home search, fill out the form below and we can’t wait to talk with you! If you want to see our other market updates, you can head HERE.

Posh Baby

by Leave a Comment

There are so many options when it comes to shopping for baby things. We like to keep as much of our shopping local as possible. So when I needed to get a new car seat, I researched for somewhere that I could go check out our options in person. When I walked into Posh Baby I was immediately greeted by a very kind sales person and asked what I was looking for. She guided me through the options and was thoughtful about giving space and allowing me to peruse without hovering.

Posh Baby Sign

The car seat that I ended up ordering they didn’t have in stock, so they ordered it and had it shipped to my home for free. She also sent follow-up emails to let me know when things were shipping, when they would arrive, and asked how the product was working out. I haven’t had customer service like that in many years and I truly felt like a VIP customer.

They had tons of options for gear; car seats, strollers, cribs, bouncers, and carriers. They also have a large selection of eco friendly and organic baby clothing, as well as locally made outfits. Basically if you have a baby, they have what you need!

Posh Baby interior

They do specialize in higher end clothing, so expect to spend more than you would at Target, but you will also get far superior service, high quality items, and be supporting a local company. I know that this will be new go to for all my gear needs. I’ll also shop there when we have baby #2!!

Let me know if you have been to Posh Baby, did you also have a fabulous experience? You can check them out online HERE. Also if you have somewhere you think we should check out, leave us a comment!

Cabezon

by Leave a Comment

Cabezon calls themselves a neighborhood bistro in NE Portland, but they are so much more than that! The menu changes almost daily, depending on what is fresh and in season. They focus on locally sourced seafood and wood fired meats. Every item on the menu looked so good, we wanted to try everything! Each item blew me away, and somehow was better than the last. Cabezon clearly knows how to satisfy anyone’s appetite because they have been going strong since 2009.

Outdoor, heated, covered patio

We started our meal with basil and phyllo wrapped shrimp. The shrimp were plump and juicy inside and the phyllo was perfectly crisp. They were served with a creamy cashew sambal sauce and glass noodles which paired amazingly. Shrimp hasn’t always been my favorite because it’s so often overcooked, however, my opinion on shrimp has been forever changed.

Our final course consisted of cioppino and pancetta wrapped monkfish. I have had my fair share of cioppino as I often make it for myself at home. There were pretty high hopes for this one. I was served dungeness crab, muscles, clams, and white fish, in a silky tomato broth. There was a very slight spice and lots of aromatics coming off the broth. This was truly one of the best I’ve had. Lets talk about the monkfish. Wow! What a well thought out dish.  Black trumpet leek ravioli, Kale, Brussels sprouts, and leek fondue all under a piece of monkfish. The broth was earthy, rich, smokey, and slightly sweet.

Do you have a craving for seafood yet? If you want to see what is on the menu tonight at Cabezon check out their current menu Here. If you’re looking for other great options take a look at our other featured businesses Here.

Quaintrelle

by Leave a Comment

This week I went out to Quaintrelle. I had heard great things from friends and was very excited to visit! Dining outside in the winter isn’t always comfortable with the rain that Portland is so well known for, but Quaintrelle makes it feel comfortable and warm. There is a large white tent on the cobblestone patio with multiple tables, bistro lights, and a large heater to keep the space warm. Regardless of weather, at least one side of the tent is left open to allow for proper air flow.

Our Food

Quaintrelle makes Pacific Northwestern food sourced from local farms and purveyors. Seasonality is a huge part of their menu so it changes frequently which allows you to return over and over and always have a new experience. We started with green curry mussels with house made pickles. The mussels were plump and buttery. The broth they were served in was rich, full bodied, and had just a hint of spice. Next was the “Whiteout”. As the name suggests everything on the plate was completely white. Parsnip, egg, celeriac, pear, yuzu, and wasabi snow. The dish was playful and imaginative. This paired perfectly with my sparkling wine. They also have a small cocktail menu with some of the classics.

We moved into our second course by ordering the whole striped bass with miso and nuac cham, brussels sprouts with ginger, hoisin, and puffed rice, and beets with Meyer lemon custard, barley, and Roquefort powder. The bass was perfectly cooked, it was moist and fell away from the bones effortlessly. Quaintrelle took just as much care with their vegetable sides as they did with their main entrees. Each dish had the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and bitter notes.

I would highly recommend Quaintrelle to anyone that hasn’t had the chance to try it. If you’re in the mood for some great local Northwest cuisine, you will not be disappointed.

Have you tried Quaintrelle yet? Let us know in the comments! If you have yet to try it out, you can check out the menu here. To see what else we have featured, you can check out those here!