thatportlandlife

Capitol

January 6, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Our Hot Spot this week is hip cocktail and karaoke bar, Capitol on NE Broadway and 14th. We have been wanting to check this place out for a bit, as it is right down the street from our new Northeast office. We finally got the chance to this last week, and we weren’t disappointed!

First off, we LOVED the decor. We were immediately smitten with the high dome-like ceiling, the beautifully lit, symmetrical liquor display, and the funky and brightly colored accent wall. There are delicious cocktails and a solid selection for happy hour. With all that Capitol has going for it, you will probably find us there for a post-workday cocktail quite often.

We started out with the True Blue. This cocktail was a gorgeous shade of robin’s egg, and included a mixture of tequila, lemon juice, and coconut. We liked that it was not too sweet and that the coconut gave it a creamy feel on the palate. Next, we tried the Something To Believe In, with Brokers, Aperol, Cocchi Americano, and Pisco. I feel like the resurgence of amaros in the cocktail scene has been fantastic, as it has lead to fun and interesting cocktails like this one.

Next, we moved on to one of the best bargains of Capitol’s happy hour- the scoots. For a measly $5, you get to choose a shot of liquor paired with a beer back. We loved the variety of choices they had and decided on a Balvenie and IPA and a Glenfiddich 12 with a Hazy IPA. You say ‘$5 for a scotch and tasty beer’? I say ‘Yes please’! However, if Whisky isn’t your thing (I don’t get it) there are also options of tequila and more.

Finally, let’s talk about the karaoke. We haven’t tested out the karaoke side of things yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Apparently, they have free/open karaoke in the evenings at 7pm. In addition, they have private rooms to rent out if belting out a tune to strangers isn’t your cup of tea. Personally, I like doing my best Paul Simon impression in the privacy of a room where only my friends can laugh at me.

If you would like more info about Capitol, check them out here: http://capitolpdx.com/

Have you tried out the Hot Spot of the week Capitol yet? Let us know in the comments what you recommend!

As always, we love to hear about new places to check out. Send us a message if you think you have a good Hot Spot to be featured!

January Events

December 31, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

January 2020 is here and we are excited about so many events all over Portland! Whether you are looking for a fun day with the family or a wild night on the town, we’ve got you covered with our list below.

Gorgeous Resolution Run

Thursday, January 2nd

Looking to get a jump start on those resolutions to make this the year that you really start running? Gorgeous Series is here to help get you on track (haha). Meet at Sasquatch Brewing for a 3 or 5 mile run, followed by a raffle of cool swag and a rewarding post-run beer. 2531 NW 30th Ave, 6:30 pm, Free.

More Info

O-Shogatsu Japanese New Year

Sunday January 5th

Portland Japanese Garden celebrates the Japanese New Year with a traditional Lion Dance, tea ceremony, and harp concert. In addition, there will be an ink-wash brush drawing session and Hyakunin Issyu (a poetry game) plus pounded rice cakes to share. 611 SW Kingston Ave, 11am-3pm, Adult $16.95, Youth $11.50, Members Free.

More Info

Biggest Clothing Swap in the NW

Sunday January 5th

Every year, hordes of people descend on the Crystal Ballroom to pass on clothing that no longer works for them and dig through piles to get new duds. There are three floors of swapping goodness and all gender identities and sizes are included. Bring a bag of clean, wearable clothing to trade. 1332 W Burnside St, 12pm-3pm, $8 advance, $10 at the door, $5 for an empty bag.

More Info

Portland Onesie Bar Crawl

Saturday January 11th

What better way to stay warm this winter than to don your favorite fuzzy onesie and hop from bar to bar? There will be drink specials, DJs, a scavenger hunt, and a whole lot of silliness. Registration is at the Barrel Room. 105 NW 3rd Ave, 4 pm -10 pm, $20 in advance.

More Info

Dragons Love Tacos

Saturday January 18th-February 16th

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents a fun and dance-filled tale of a boy, his dog, and a quartet of hungry dragons. Based on the book by Adam Rubin, this show is sure to delight. 1111 SW Broadway, Sat shows at 2 pm and 5 pm, Sundays 11 am and 2pm, $15-$37.

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Ramen and Whisky Fest

Sunday January 19th

Willamette Week and Fubonn team up to bring us a battle for the ages. Six of Portland’s best ramen chefs compete to take home the title, as voted by you. Your ticket gets you a sample ramen and paired whisky cocktail from each table, plus the right to cast your vote for the coveted People’s Choice award. 101 N Weidler St, 12 pm- 2:30 pm and 3 pm- 5:30 pm, $45.

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Wizard World

Friday January 24th- Sunday the 26th

The Oregon Convention Center will once again fill up with cos-players galore to celebrate all things nerd. Celebrity guests include Dylan McDermott, Cary Elwes, and Emily Swallow. 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fri 4 pm- Sun 4 pm, $30-$150.

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Stout Bout

Saturday January 25th

Stout Bout is one of my favorite events every January. Portland Brewer’s Collective hosts this annual all Stout homebrewers competition. Show up to taste and vote on 12 or more homebrews. Sometimes traditional, often experimental, you’re sure to find something you like. There is a People’s Choice award and a raffle to boot! 2235 SE 11th Ave, 2 pm- 5 pm, Free.

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OMSI After Dark: Cards and Consoles

Wednesday January 29th

OMSI After Dark this month focuses on all things gaming, with demos on counting cards, board game mechanics, and drunken goggle gaming. Food and drink vendors and samples, plus admission to the current featured exhibit, Exquisite Creatures. Is this my dream event? Yes, yes it is. 1945 SE Water Ave, 6 pm-10 pm, $16.

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Portland Seafood and Wine Festival

Friday January 31st-Saturday February 1st

Head over to the Oregon Convention Center at the end of the month for a celebration of delicious seafood and wines. There will be over 190 exhibitors, including 60 wineries, plus it is the very height of Dungeness Crab season. Yum!!! 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fri 2 pm-10 pm, Sat 12 pm- 10 pm, $13 advance, $15 at the door.

More Info

Which of these January events are you most excited for? Did we miss an awesome January event in Portland that you want to tell us about? Let us know in the comments!

New Years Eve Parties

December 21, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

New Years Eve is quickly approaching, and it’s time to run down the best parties to celebrate in Portland! Remember, we are ringing in not just a new year, but a new decade, so it’s time to go big or go home! Read below for some of our suggestions on where to party it up this NYE.

2020: A Space Oddity at the Crystal Ballroom – 1332 W Burnside– The Polish Ambassador will be headlining this space-themed ‘inter-dimensional soiree’. Dress accordingly and prepare to dance like crazy. Doors 7:30, Show 9pm. $39.50 advance, $45 at the door. https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/212755-the-polish-ambassador
DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid at Polaris Hall – 635 N Killingsworth Ct– For a super fun and multicultural dance party, be sure to check out this rocking duo. There will be Bollywood, Bhangra, Desi, Latino, and banging beats all around. 9pm. $28 in advance, $30 at the door. https://www.anjaliandthekid.com/
Midnite NYE at the Custom Blocks – 1355 SE 10th Ave– Dress to the nines for one of Portland’s biggest NYE bashes in a warehouse-style event space in inner SE. DJ Crooked will keep you dancing well past midnight. Doors at 8pm. $100-$2000, with reserved tables available. https://midnitenye.com/
Bobby D and Cooky Parker at Hey Love– 920 E. Burnside– Dance in the decade with a booty-shaking array of soul, funk, R&B, and more with dual-awesome DJs. Doors 8pm, Show 9pm. $10 cover. https://www.heylovepdx.com/calendar
BONUS: Video Dance Attack at Hood River Hotel– 102 Oak St. Hood River, OR– Video Dance Attack is always a fantastic time, and this year they are taking their annual NYE show to Hood River. If you’ll be in the Gorge for NYE, check this one out. 9pm, $20. http://www.videodanceattack.com/

Did we miss the BEST New Years Eve parties out there, Portland?? Let us know in the comments!

Our Favorite Up and Coming Areas

December 13, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Hey Friends, Today we are going to be telling you all about our favorite up and coming neighborhoods in Portland. They are the perfect place for you to invest! Check out this short video for all the details! If you are prefer to read the transcript, skip ahead!

The dream is to be in Irvington, or Laurelhurst, or Laddâ€™s Addition, but if you are looking for your first home, or an investment property, those neighborhoods may be out of reach. I also want to talk about some of the mistakes that people can make when it comes to buying in an up and coming area.

Make a Plan

When you are buying in an area that isnâ€™t as established you need to think of it as a long term investment. The Portland Market has been in a quickly appreciating city for many years. While everyone has benefited from this appreciation, the â€œup and comingâ€ areas did so a little slower than the rest of the city. We donâ€™t want you to purchase a home and expect to have a huge return on your investment the following year. We will help you to come up with a 5 year or 10 year plan so you know exactly what you are getting into.

Trust Your Advisors

We will help to guide you so you can avoid any big missteps. I want to be sure that you donâ€™t overpay for a home, or buy something that needs a ton of work. We will make sure that you are equipped with a market analysis for the areas that you want to seriously look in so you know what you should be paying for the houses we see. We will also use our years of experience to identify any inspection red flags.

Now that you know how to buy in an up and coming area, our favorites areâ€¦.

St. Johns

I love St. Johns because they have such a strong sense of community, great restaurants and bars, and easy access to the rest of the city. This neighborhood has become more popular over the years, but it is still one of the most affordable places to live. You also get to be near the amazing Cathedral park!

Foster-Powell

I love the Foster-Powell neighborhood for many of the same reasons. Ever since Foster Rd went down to 2 lanes last year, we have been seeing a new boutique, cocktail bar, or coffee shop pop-up practically every other week! In addition, there is a really strong sense of community and many great neighborhood focused events. While prices are certainly increasing as many are realizing the great investment opportunity, you can still find homes that are affordable.

There are plenty of other areas that are still affordable, if you want to talk with us about your specific needs, definitely reach out to us and give us a call!Â

Do you want to take a look at our buyer or seller guides? You can download either of those here

We are always happy to share our resources with you and answer any of your real estate questions. Also, make sure to follow our blog for lots of great information and our favorite local bars and restaurants. Thanks so much for joining us today and we will talk to you soon!

Holiday Light Displays

December 4, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

There are so many wonderful ways to spend the holidays, one of my favorites is definitely looking at all the holiday lights. We put together a list of some of our favorites around Portland. Let us know which ones are your favorite down in the comments!

Peacock Lane

December 15th – December 31st

6pm – 11pm daily

*15th, 16th, and 17th are pedestrian only nights*

Info and Website

SE 40th Ave between Stark and Belmont St.

Free

Peacock Lane has been a favorite to Portlanders for decades. The street is lined with primarily tudor homes and they all decorate to celebrate the holidays. You can drive slowly through the neighborhood any night with the exception of the first 3 nights which are pedestrian only.

The Grotto

November 29th – December 30th

*Closed Christmas Day*

5-9:30pm Daily

Info and Website

8840 NE Skidmore Street, Portland

Tickets $12.50 sold at door

Tucked into a beautiful setting in NE Portland, The Grotto has thousands of holiday lights covering all of the lower level of the grounds. There are also many performances to see from local choirs, carolers, and puppeteers.

Zoo Lights

November 29th – January 5th

5-9 pm Daily

Info and Website

Oregon Zoo

Tickets $19.50 *save $2 and buy online

Visiting the zoo in the evening to see over a million Christmas lights is one of the best experiences of the holidays. Most of the animals will be sleeping, but all the lights and the walking path make it worth the trip. Also, if you happen to be a member, tickets are free!

Winter Wonderland at PIR

November 29th – January 4th

5- 11pm Friday and Saturday 5:30-9:30 all other days

Info an d Website

1940 N Victory Blvd, Portland

Tickets $20-$25 Click here

Considered the largest light show in the Pacific Northwest, there are over 250 different light displays laid out along the raceway. Most people drive the raceway listening to holiday music, but there are also bike nights and dog walking nights.

Miracle of a Million Lights

December 8th – December 28th

6pm – 10pm Daily

Info an d Website

1441 N McClellan Street,Â Portland,

Tickets $5 – $8 Click here

This stunning victorian home covers nearly every inch of it’s interior to wow visitors. they also decorate the 2.5 acres that the home sits on making this home a true winter wonderland.

Christmas Ships

December 5th – December 22nd

Starting at 7:30pm

Info an d Website

Columbia and Willamette rivers

Free

Ships sail up the Columbia and Willamette rivers every night for 2 weeks. You can gather along any of the shorelines to watch this wonderful show.

We hope to see you at some of these wonderful holiday lights events! Want to be notified every time we put together a Portland’s best list? Be sure to subscribe to the blog!

Buyer Closing Costs

December 3, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Today we are going to be talking all about closing costs! Check out the video below to learn all about them! If you don’t like videos, read on below.

Last week we went through closing costs when you are selling a home, but there are also closing costs associated with purchasing a home. Most buyers are aware that they need to save up for a downpayment. They also know they need to pay for inspections. But, many people donâ€™t realize there are also quite a few fees that you need to budget for.

I had a buyer a couple of years ago that had to let their dream home go because they didnâ€™t have enough cash to close on the home. This could have been solved if they had know to budget for an extra 3%. I really donâ€™t want you to end up in that situation. So here are my 3 tips for buying a home when it comes to closing costs.

Write out a budget

Meet with your realtor and write out a budget. Depending on the time of year that you are buying, closing costs can vary from 2-4% of the purchase price. That means if you are buying a $500,000 houses here in Portland, you can expect your closing costs to be about $15,000. We have a great buyers guide for you once you are ready to get serious about buying a home. You can download it HERE

Be honest about what you can afford

Take a look at your finances and budget for what makes sense. Just because you are approved for a $500,000 house doesnâ€™t mean that is what you should spend. If you only have $7,000 to put towards closing costs, we may want to look at buying a cheaper home. You donâ€™t want to move in and be immediately house poor, so lets come up with a real budget and decide what kind of purchase makes the most sense to you.

Stretch your money

Make a plan for your money to go farther. Depending on the health of the overall market, we may be able to ask the seller to pay for some, or all, of your closing costs. This means that your money can go farther. While this is an option in all markets, if we end up writing an offer on a home with multiple offers, the chances of our offer being accepted and getting closing costs covered is very low. There are things we can do to combat this, so we just need to sit together to plan everything out.

Closing costs are not a fun part of the real estate transaction. They do however pay for your new deed, so they are crucial to buying a home. If you want to sit down to discuss the specifics about what fees are covered, or if you just have general real estate questions, I would love to chat with you anytime!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube so you are always up to date with what we are doing! You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter and we will send you fun events happening in Portland.

Thanks for joining me today and I will talk to you soon!

Straightaway Cocktails

December 2, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

We headed out to try the relatively new tasting room for straightaway cocktails this week. You may have seen some of the cans of white wine spritzer on the shelves of your local new seasons and that had me very curious!

straightaway cocktails building, Portland Oregon

We sampled both the cocktail flight and the spritzer flight, both of which come paired with a little snack. The cocktails were all delicious, perfectly strong, and less sweet than you would imagine for a pre-made cocktail.

Straightaway Cocktails has 6 pre-mixed cocktails tat you can sample or buy. These 6 classic cocktails are the Lintik, a gin martini, a cosmo, a negroni, an old fashioned, or a paper plane. Each cocktail has a unique twist on to give you a little surprise, as an example, the martini also has a dash of orange bitters. My favorite of the bunch was the cosmo, not just because I am a vodka girl, but also because it had a really nice dry citrus bite to it. Each cocktail comes with it’s own pairing snack, which for the most part, were wonderfully flavored popcorns. We tried a mexican chocolate popcorn with the negroni and they both really complimented each other.

The Spritzers are served on a tray with a nice amount of kettle chips. These help you get that salty element you crave while drinking a white wine spritzer. There are 4 choices; the last word, the apertivo, the fiore, and the negroni. They are all made with sparkling pinot gris, a liqueur, and some bitters that vary drink to drink.

The staff was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and very excited that we were in to visit. We were given really great pairing notes and information about where all the delicious snacks and flavors were sourced from. You can’t get a full sized cocktail in the tasting room, but just doing the smaller platters was a ton of fun! they have a small shop inside the tasting room so you can bring a bottle home with you. I bought a sample pack just in time for the holidays.

Have you tried this awesome new distillery yet? Check out the menu and website here! Let us know what you think in the comments!

Holiday Shopping

November 29, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

With black Friday arriving it is time to do some holiday shopping. When you live in a place as awesome as Portland, it is easy to shop local! There are lots of places having sales all week for you to take advantage of. Whether you’re shopping for family, friends, or yourself, we hope you find something wonderful on this list!

Sloan

735 NW 23rd ave Â·Â· 3526 SE Hawthorne blvd Â·Â· 3824 N Mississippi Ave
- On Trend women’s apparel and accessories

Twill Boutique

3539 SE Hawthorne blvd
- Youthful women’s fashion boutique stocking jewelry, dresses and sportswear, much of it US made.

Ragan’s Boutique

1925 NE 42nd Ave #A
- Carrying a wide variety of sizes and styles in unique women’s fashion

Sweet Jayne

1914 NE Broadway st.
- Eclectic boutique offering fashionable closeout womenswear & inventive, locally-made jewelry.

Modo Boutique

729 E Burnside st #103 Â·Â· 2025 NE Alberta st
- Snug store stocking an ever-changing selection of womenswear, shoes & accessories on consignment.

Adorn

3366 SE Division st Â·Â· 4120 NE Fremont st Â·Â· 1016 SW Washington st
- Brand-name women’s clothing, shoes & accessories in a chic, stylish boutique setting.