I am back from dropping off my daughter at Reed College. We had the most wonderful breakfast at Zells, I absolutely loved the food! Ate a very decadent dessert at Pied Cow and another yummy dessert from Pix. Cricket Cafe was also a good breakfast.
What a great city, I will be visitng often!

Elaine

We were in Portland 2 weeks ago and had several excellent meals...Red Star Tavern, Fenouil, Everett Street Bistro, Papa Hayden's, Paley's Place and Blue Hour. We were very impressed with the restaurants there.

Wow, Elaine, I take it you were staying over near SE Belmont, eh?

I haven't been to Zell's in years but they did have a great breakfast, last I was there.

Andrew - I had to stay in Clackamas at the Marriott as everything in Portland was booked on the days I needed to be there. I had posted questions about traffic, and it wasn't bad at all, nothing compared to Los Angeles traffic! I was helping my daughter move into Reed College. She showed me all her hangouts on Hawthorne Street and the area around there, so that is why we ate in the area around there - sure was good, and quirky!
Elaine

Thank you for posting seremarcus!
Especially dessert spots lol.

Judy ate in all of my favorites..making me homesick for dinner out in Portland

Hi seremarcus:
Our daughter (we're also from southern Calif.) went to Reed (class of 93). She absolutely loved it. It was the best experience. It's a little on the liberal side, but the kids are extremely into their studies.
Portland is such a wonderful place - you'll discover more and more of it's beauty and charm in the next four years.
Fortunately our daughter still lives there so we get to go up often.

hi scarlett & judy
i've not heard of Red Star Tavern.
will have to check it out next trip. i left my restaurant guide to portland up there last trip.

nanabee--I think you know it, but don't realize it It is the restaurant in the Hotel Monaco. Great place!

ahh! thanks mms, i did not realize that. i had reservations to stay at the hotel monaco last time i was up there. but cancelled, at the last minute to stay with my daughter instead in NE.
going back to portland in a week or two - so will try it out for dinner.

do you have any suggestions for plays/art galleries?

nanabee--I am not sure what is playing off the top of my head. Sounds like you will miss the first thursday, but you can check out various galleries from their website at www.firstthursday.org. Also the pova website will have an events calendar, so you can see if there is anything you are interested in for your dates here. Have you see the Body Worlds exhibit? It is at OMSI and is excellent!

nanabee, they built the Gerding Theatre right around the block from us..http://www.pcs.org/
It was an old Armory, they did a great job. I have attached their website, you can see what is on when you are there.
Ask for Josh to be your waiter at the Red Starr..he is an artist, has a show going on right now..he is a charmer

LOL Scarlett! Remember lunch at Ten01 when the actors from there were out having a smoke break on the sidewalk? We weren't sure what to make of these people in different costumes, then figured out they were from the theater. Took us a while, but gave us lots of laughs

LOL,I forgot all about that! Yes. . what period were the costumes, the Civil War ?
Although in Portland, seeing someone in a Civil War costume doesn't draw as many looks as it would in another city

thanks mms and scarlett-
just noted all your ideas and will check out on - line.
will definately ask about josh!
i can imagine the double takes with the actors hanging around having a smoke!
can't wait to get to portland.
my granddaughter is of course, the main attraction. i love to take her to omsi too.