Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Silver Bells...

Silver Bells... It's Christmas Time in the City.  My sisters Robert and Denise and sister/friend Shirley and I spent the afternoon in downtown Portland, Oregon yesterday.  It was magical!  We began our adventure on Park Avenue at the Brasserie Montmarte, the home of "French Influenced American Cuisine".


The bar is impressive!  (So were the two bartenders)  :-D


They seated us at a nice booth and I was impressed by the huge chandelier.


I shared a Baby Iceberg Wedge salad with Roberta, it had brioche croutons, house bacon, Toy Box tomatoes and bleu cheese dressing.  Delish!


For the main dish -- Croque Monsieur, a ham and cheese melt on brioche with sauce Mornay and Pomme Frites with aioli sauce.


The last owner of the restaurant covered the tables with white paper and crayons were left for the diners to use to draw while they waited.  Now many of the drawings are framed and on the walls.. we were waited upon by the manager of the restaurant and she knew all kinds of fun facts to share with us.  The new owner deemed that covering the tables with paper was too expensive, so no more art.


This drawing impressed me.. I'm not sure what it is about.. but it's cool.


The manager took a photo for us and behind us is part of the history of the place... during a time of closure, some criminals broke into the restaurant and tried to break into the jewelry shop next door to rob it, until they ran into concrete and rebar of the vault.


Next up was a movie at the Regal Cinemas Fox Tower - Philomena.  It's about a world-weary political journalist who picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.  It was good!


Next up was a walk down to the Pioneer Courthouse Square to see the big city tree.. it was gorgeous!  That is the historic courthouse behind it.


The tree was fantastic, all covered in glittery multi-colored lights.  See our Max train there?  It runs in all directions out into the suburbs and all around downtown.


We were thrilled to find that there was a chorus singing Christmas songs!  That really added to the magic of the day.


There is a famous bronze statue in the square, of a man with an umbrella rushing to catch the Max train.. he was dressed in yarn bomber style with a hand-knit sweater and scarf.  It was all over the TV news here when someone tried to steal the sweater off him.. and you'll notice one arm is gone.  


We walked down near the tree.. it's so pretty.


This nice woman was taking photos of her daughter and her husband and then she offered to take one of us.  Are you sick of seeing us have fun downtown yet?  LOL!


We then walked uphill (my cardio for the day) for 4 blocks and took the elevator up in the parking structure and got the car and headed home.. this is looking up Broadway as we drove along.


What a great day we had!  What large city is your closest to visit?  I'd love to hear where you go when you want to have some city time.  We sang as we walked.. "Silver Bells, Silver Bells, it's Christmas Time, in the City.. ring-a-ling, here them sing, soon it will be Christmas Day".

My daughter Amy posted some photos on Facebook of my granddaughters visiting Santa in a historic log cabin.. aren't they adorable?  Paige on the left, Jenna on the right.


Paige is very gregarious and it looks like she's telling Santa something very important!!  o<[]:{D


We gathered at Denise's house to ride together downtown.. she had her home decorated beautifully with things she's collected over the years.  I spied a little wooden house that I painted just for her -- years ago.  I do enjoy seeing my little "makes" in my family and friend's homes.  I also saw the little jar snow scene I just gave her.


Thank you for visiting with me today and joining me in a trip downtown.  

❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ 

((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

23 comments:

  1. What a great day to remember with your sisters! That tree is gorgeous. I bet it was even better in person. I love a wedge salad...my favorite!

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  2. Great pics!! Teresa you're the best always great pictures and a story!! Such a beautiful City Hall Tree and really all the buildings and streets looked phenomenal! Your granddaughters are so cute and sweet and really have grown. Love the picture of Paige talking to Santa, those eyes are something else. Quite the twinkle and sparkle!!!
    Loved going downtown with you, xoRobin

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  3. Such fun with the girls! That tree is gorgeous and so are all of the lights. I love downtown Portland, just not finding parking for my car. The MAX is so much fun to ride around. When Mandy worked downtown we would park at her parking lot and then we would take the MAX everywhere. It was great! I'm glad you four had a wonderful time.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  4. Creating beautiful memories with your sisters make Christmas more magical!!

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  5. What a lovely festive day you enjoyed Teresa. The tree is indeed a real beauty and your food is making me feel very hungy ;0) x

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  6. I could never get tired of sharing your adventures, Teresa. I'm glad you and your sisters are able to get together and do fun things and I always enjoy seeing what you did. Your food looks delicious! Iceberg wedge salad with bleu cheese is pretty much my favorite vegetable. :) The damaged bricks reminded me of a Woody Allen movie where people try to break through the wall of a cookie bakery to get to a jewelry store, I think. Maybe he based it on this true story! That would be interesting.

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  7. What a wonderful day. The tree is beautiful and that restaurant look absolutely charming! Portland is such a wonderful city!

    xo
    Claudia

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  8. So glad you all had a good day, Teresa! You showed Portland at its best and Amy's photos of her girls are very dear :) Thanks for another beautiful post! xx

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  9. A truly wonderful day Teresa. The tree is magnificent and Paige and Jenna are so lovely. Lunch looked yummy and what a fascinating place to eat. Hugs Anne x

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  10. What a great story about the vault. Haha! And what a beautiful photograph of you four in front of that almost destroyed wall. :-)

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  11. Now this a group of women I would love to spend time with in a beautiful city!!!....look how beautiful and happy ya'll are. The dinner, restaurant, movie, town square....and the company all looked amazing!
    Merry Christmas to you all!
    xo Shari

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  12. Oh ps.....story about the vault....that was funny!!!

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  13. Ah those pictures are so magical - what a beautiful time of the year. Gorgeous photo of your lovely granddaughters with Santa too - what a shame they're so far away from you. Must keep an eye out for that movie too - sounds interesting. xoxox

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  14. Love seeing Portland in your pictures. My daughter lives there and it makes me think of the times we've gone downtown. My choice is Chicago. Love that city. Clean, beautiful, full of things to do and see. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and now am in Western Michigan, so it's a fun trip down there.

    Laura from beautiful West Michigan

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  15. Looks like you all had a great time! Downtown Portland is always interesting with something new to see. Your dinner sounds GREAT!
    Advent Blessings,
    Aimee

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  16. I've been wanting to take my daughter to see Portland as a possible relocation for us one day. You certainly make it inviting at this time of year! Loved all of your pictures with your sisters!

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  17. Love that art work at the restaurant. Definitely some very talented people have eaten there. What a shame they no longer do the paper table coverings, I'm sure you could have WOWED them too with your artwork. If anything, I'm thinking framing the pieces would have been expensive too. Good things never seem to last. You and the girls do get around the town and have fun, and I say BRAVO to you all, to be able to spend some quality time with family and a friend is great. Love the photos of your little Buckeye granddaughters. They are so cute.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  18. Look at all of you having such a fantastic time. Love the lights on that gorgons tree downtown. They girls look thrilled to be visiting with Santa.
    Hugs to you Teresa,
    Meredith

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  19. Oh my friend...you do know how to have fun!

    Sending you oooodles of blessings for a wonderful Christmas my friend xoxo

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  20. I'm a new follower here from Mereknits. Merry Christmas, Teresa!

    S
    xo

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  21. Merry Christmas to you and your dear family! :)

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  22. Well, now, that looks and sounds like a delightful day! That tree is gorgeous ! And I love the idea of paper on the tables for drawing. Obviously some very talented customers came through there. I can't believe that the new owner thinks butcher paper is expensive. Such a shame! Happy holidays! Tammy

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  23. Wow...your day looks and sounds like it was SO much fun! That restaurant looks amazing! And, that Christmas tree is incredible! I really want to get up to Portland one of these days and do some exploring and eating, and drink of some of the many brews, etc., etc. Sounds like a wonderful place!

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