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Champagne Poetry

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Hot Spot of the week is new and delicious dessert and champagne spot Champagne Poetry! Sister restaurant to the already established (and worth the trip) La Rose Patisserie in Beaverton, now Portland proper has a spot to grab inventive sweets and tasty bubbles.

First thing you should know about Champagne Poetry is that everything from the dessert case to the flower wall is totally Insta-worthy. The flower wall in particular, adorned with neon light up wings, begs you to strike a pose and snap a pic.

The next thing to note, is that the desserts are unexpected and surprising. On our recent visit, we tried a bright pink ‘doughnut’ that was actually a fluffy dark chocolate mousse in the shape of a doughnut and glazed with a very light frosting. Similarly, the Pink Lady was a lovely combination of mousse, cake, and a chilled guava center. Obsessively drooling over Instagram videos, I have learned to always expect the unexpected when ordering a dessert from Champagne Poetry.

As the name would imply, they also have a decent selection of sparkling wines. There are a few roses, some prosecco, and even a true Champagne. Next time you are looking for a good ‘Treat Yo Self’ day, look no farther than the delightfully indulgent Champagne Poetry!

Have you checked this fun place out yet? What did you try? You can find their menu Here or check out our other Hot Spots Here.

Don’t Sell Your Home Alone.

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Every once in a while I come across someone who feels that they’ve done enough research, watched enough HGTV episodes, and seen enough YouTube tutorials that they can now sell their own home alone. Speaking of youtube….Or you can continue reading below.

They want to save money. I get it. But let me explain some very straightforward reasons why it’s never a good idea. 

#1 Agents Know How To Market The Home 

Agents deal with buyers every day, so they also know what’s trending and what buyers want. A good real estate agent can stage, photograph, market, and describe your property based on these trends. Their marketing can attract potential buyers and will get people in the door! 

#2 Agents Can List The Home On The MLS 

Realtors® also have access to the MLS, which means that the home will get even more exposure. First, other agents, who also have access to the MLS, will see the home and inform their buyers. Second, popular sites like Zillow and Redfin, which get their content directly from the MLS, will expose the home to even more buyers. But none of that happens, without being listed on the MLS first.

#3 Most Buyers Will Only Buy Using An Agent

Buyers don’t pay commissions when they buy a home, so they have no vested interest in buying a home without an agent.  This means that the buyer will have someone to protect their best interest, but you will not – Even though you’ll be paying their agent’s commission!

#4 Represented Sellers Make More Money

It’s a well-known fact that listed homes sell for more money and in less time. If you sell the home yourself, you may save a few bucks. But if you use an agent, you’ll probably make more money on the sale overall – even after paying the agent’s commission. So it’s worth it!

#5 A lot of people won’t bother looking. 

Nationwide, only 8% of people attempt to sell their own home, and since it’s not common, most buyers are naturally intimidated by it. The buyer might perceive the sale to be a liquidation, foreclosure, or some other serious flaw associated with the home. Perception is reality. If you want to sell your home for more, you want to make sure it’s shown in the best light possible. 

If you’re hesitant about signing with an agent. My advice: don’t be. Just be honest. I always take the time to understand how my sellers are feeling, what they’re afraid of, and their goals for getting the home sold. 

In fact, if you’re thinking about making a move (or know someone who is), I can help! You can get an instant home valuation, or schedule an appointment below!

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Portland’s Best Shaved Ice

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This summer started off with some extreme heat, and now that it’s settled, we are still looking for ways to keep our cool. What’s better than a frosty treat on a hot summer day? Quite simply nothing. This week, we sought out Portland’s Best Shaved Ice! For some of us, shaved ice reminds us of our childhood at the local fair, and for others, it’s a memory of family outings that ended in a sweet treat. However you like your shaved ice, all of these shops will bring you right back to the joy you felt as a kid.

Wailua Shave Ice Portland

1022 W. Burnside St. Unit O
Portland OR. 97209

Open Mon – Tue 12pm- 5pm,
Wed 12pm – 7 pm, Fri – Sun 12 pm – 7 pm
Menu Here

Manoa Shave Ice

333 S State St Suite B, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Open Tue – Sun 12 pm- 8 pm
Menu Here

Snow Bunny Coffee

1415 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Open Mon – Fri 6 am – 6 pm & Sat – Sun 7 am – 5 pm

Ohana Dessert and shave Ice

6320 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97213
&
10608 SE Main St. Milwaukie, OR 97222
Open 7 days 11 am – 9 pm
Menu Here

Next time you find yourself wandering around town looking for a sweet treat to cool off, check out one of Portland’s Best Shaved Ice shops. If you’re not quite ready to go down memory lane with shaved ice, check out some of our other Portland favorites Here. Let us know if we’ve missed your favorite, and we will check them out too!

Portland’s Best Decks

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Springtime in Portland is unbelievably beautiful! Flowers are blooming all around and the blue skies are finally showing themselves again. One of our favorite activities is sipping a drink or two and enjoying some delightful bites while sitting on one of Portland’s best decks! Portland has a few elite options when it comes to dining in the sunshine. We could only choose a few to make our list so we took into consideration the outdoor space, the food, and of course the drink quality! In no particular order, here are our favorites!

Hammer & Stitch Brewing

2377 NW Wilson St., Portland OR 97210
Menu Here
Open Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 12 pm – 7 pm
Friday – Saturday 12 pm – 9 pm
Minors allowed

Revolution Hall Roof Deck

1300 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97214
Menu Here
Open Monday – Thursday 3 pm – Late
Friday – Saturday 12 pm – Late
Minors allowed until 7 pm

Botanist

910 NW 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97209
Menu Here
Open Wednesday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm
Friday – Saturday 10 am – 2 pm & 4 pm – 10:30 pm
Sunday 10 am – 2 pm

Tope

15 NW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Menu Here
Open Thursday – Sunday 4 pm – Late
Minors allowed

Radio Room

1101 NE Alberta St, Portland OR 97211
Menu Here
Open 7 days a week 9 am – 11 pm
Minors allowed

10 Barrell Brewing

 1411 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209
Menu Here
Open 7 days a week 11 am – 11 pm
Minors allowed

Warm weather has already hit us this spring, so it’s about time to bust out those sandals and hit one of Portland’s Best Decks! Any of these places are guaranteed to show you a good time. If you didn’t see your favorite deck on our list leave us a comment and we will check it out! We also have several other Portland favorites Here.

Kann

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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

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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.

Last Minute Gifts

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If you’re anything like me, you waited until the last minute to find the perfect gifts for everyone. Every year I tell myself I will be more prepared and I’ll have my shopping done by the beginning of the month. Every year I prove myself wrong and I’m scrambling to find just the right things! Now more than ever it’s so important to shop small, shop local, and keep our amazing city going. Thankfully, Portland has plenty of local shops and here is a list of some my favorites for last minute shopping.

Orox Leather
Orox Leather - Gifts

Orox leather spans four generations of leather makers with roots beginning in Oaxaca, Mexico. The name Orox represents the merging of their past (Oaxaca) with their present (Oregon). Craft leather making has been a skill that was passed down in this family from generation to generation. From their grandfather making custom leather gloves for his baseball team, to his son moving to Japan to perfect his skills. Now the family has made a home in Portland and they are mixing together contemporary designs with elements of the family heritage. 

Magpie Metals

In this shop you will find beautiful handcrafted jewelry that is made in-house. While you’re here you may also shop for handmade ceramics from local artists, cards, home goods, and decor. They focus on sourcing from local and handmade artists as much as possible.

Rustek
Rustek - Gifts

Rustek is inspired by their love of nature. Their handcrafted wood phone cases and skateboard decks are inspired by the beauty and geometry found in wilderness. Thanks to their mobile workshop, they are able to make their products out in nature! They use a 20’ trailer to do their crafting, and while they say their spirit is to always be on the move, they are currently planted here in Portland. 

Fancy That Candle Bar and Gifts

This shop allows you to create your own personalized gift basket or choose from one of their thoughtfully crafted options. If you’re not looking for an entire basket you also have the option of buying single items. ‘Fancy That’ gifts range from traditional to sassy and are sure to bring a smile to whoever receives them. If you have someone who values experiences they offer private candle workshops to create your own masterpiece.

Blendily

Blendily creates a variety of handmade botanical products for self care from head-to-toe. They use fresh plants and flowers that they grow and gather themselves as often as possible. For rarer ingredients they source directly from farms that honor the land they cultivate. The flowers, herbs, oils, butters, waxes, hydrosols, extracts, and essential oils used in their products are all on display. Each and every product is hand-made in the store.

  • 7 days a week, from 10am to 6pm.

Hopefully this list of shops will help you finalize your shopping for the holidays. We had a ton of fun putting it together and going out to support these local business owners. If we missed your favorite shop, let us know in the comments! If you didn’t find something here that fits the bill, there is a much more extensive list over at http://shopsmallpdx.com

The Hoxton

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The Hoxton is Portland’s newest addition to a downtown that is famous for chic hotels with fun dining options, so we had to go check it out!

We decided to start at street level, by visiting Lovely Rita- a classic lounge with an industrial mid-century flair. Neither of us will ever turn down the temptation of oysters on the half shell. With $1 a pop Shigoku and Kumamoto on the happy hour list, we didn’t have to skimp. We paired that with a delicious bottle of Brut Rose for a proper celebration. As the oysters and bubbles had only whetted our appetites, we also added on the Calamari Fritti, with pickled peppers and lemon aioli. The calamari was crispy and the peppers were a great addition. We wished that the lemon aioli had been a little bit zingier to pack a perfect punch.

Now that snack time was done and our bottle empty, it was time to head up to the rooftop taco bar, Tope. The decor at Tope was airy and bright, like a greenhouse or atrium that happens to serve margaritas. We also ended up with a fantastic table, right at the edge of the rooftop for sweeping views of the city and the river.

We started with the aforementioned margaritas because, how could we not? I got the Spice Gurl as I like my margaritas on the hot side and Jessica went with the traditional. Both were lovely and refreshing. For food, we decided a share-it-all feast was the way to go. We ordered the Chorizo Queso, the Caesar, the Smoked Spare Ribs, Shrimp Ceviche, AND the Dungeness Crab Tostada. We were fans of all of the food, but a few of the dishes really shone. The Smoked Spare Ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender with a smoky chipotle sauce that complemented them perfectly. The Dungeness Crab Tostada was my personal favorite, piled high with sweet lumps of crab meat with little bursts of tangy roe. All in all an excellent spot to enjoy some tasty vittles with a view.

We weren’t able to check out the basement speakeasy bar 2NW5 this time, but if it is as quality as the other dining and drinking spots in the Hoxton, we are sure to be pleased.

Have you checked out the Hoxton yet? You can see the full menu, hours, or book a room over on the website. What did you think? Let us know in the comments!