Portland's Vibe

Winter weather can be quite unpredictable, and for drivers in the Portland area, it is important to be prepared for various weather conditions including blizzards, winter rain, and icy roads.

Carafe is a French bistro conveniently located in downtown Portland, They provide authentic French fare with Northwest flavors and seasonally inspired ingredients, spectacular service and expert wine pairings. Another understated but great aspect of the location is free valet parking and ticket validation. Up to two hours in a downtown garage for free with your meal: unbeatable.  And the food? Unreal. So why go there now? Carafe was recently purchased by a Portland restaurant group and will be closed for transition starting the 2nd of June. You must try their food before ownership changes!

On any given midday in downtown Portland, the rich wafting smells of lunch service fill the streets, especially surrounding the foodcart “pods” housed in converted parking lots. My favorite pod, hands down, takes up an entire city block, sitting between SW 9th and 10th, and SW Alder and SW Washington. This pod is filled with amazing food carts- succulent barbeque pulled pork, “eurotrash” sandwiches and an italian food cart owned by a Portland Timber player.

Portlanders are known for being outdoorsy. Ask most Portlanders what they like to do, and chances are you will get running, biking, hiking, climbing or snow sports as an answer. Although many locals simply go for a run or bike in Forest Park on their own, Portland also offers many athletic events that raise money for good causes. These fundraisers are a great way to meet people with similar interests, see the city, and push yourself to train a little bit harder.

The RiverCity Music Festival is one of Portland’s biggest annual music events. Commonly referred to as “the bluegrass festival”