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I finally got around to getting some film developed recently, including the ones I took on my roadtrip. Here are three favorites of mine, from Patrick’s Point. Taken with the Hasselblad 500CM. I love, love, love the feel of the first one especially (as well as the last one) – it brings me back to being there. :)
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Previous road trip posts:
the beginning. | day one. | day two. | day three. | day four. | portland . the home. | portland . the city.
the pearl district . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
menus . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
trees. portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
carton service . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
oblation papers & press . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
je pense a vous & je t’aime . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
water tower . portland, oregon . polaroid sx-70
modern confectionery lofts. portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
hunt & gather in b&w . portland, oregon . polaroid 420
pearl district . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
flower . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
vespa & sushi . portland, oregon . polaroid sx-70
crockery . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
pearl district . portland, oregon . polaroid 420
pella. portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
electric . portland, oregon . polaroid sx-70
mini cupcakes & coffee . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
a french lunch . portland, oregon . polaroid sx-70
me & common table . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
amy & her coffee . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
chandelier . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
mt. hood . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
washington park . portland, oregon . polaroid sx-70
emily at living room theaters . portland, oregon . canon 5d mk2
tacos . portland, oregon . polaroid sx-70
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Portland, oh, Portland. I fell for you. Hard.
Instead of describing exactly what I did, I will share with you what I loved, as well as a few things I noticed.
+ the pearl district.
Oh, oh. How I loved this area. Most of these images are from the Pearl District – I loved it that much. Plus that was the area I spent the most time exploring on my own. It reminded me of a cross between Chicago’s buildings & Sacramento’s midtown feel.
+ powell’s books.
It’s book heaven. And I could’ve lived there. Three floors filled to the brim with books? The possibilities are endless. It is also where I purchased my Heart in Oregon sticker because yes, my heart is in Oregon.
+ living room theaters.
What a lovely little spot! I met up with an old high school friend of mine here, we watched Amy‘s friend Michalangela sing live jazz (she has such a lovely voice – I bought her CD while I was there) & drank delicious spanish coffee while catching up :)
+ restaurants & shops.
. isabel pearl . Coincidentally, the owner resides here in San Diego, and also owns other restaurants here :)
. cupcake jones . Had the most adorable key lime coconut mini cupcake here. Yum!
. st honoré boulangerie . The most charming french boulangerie, & had the most delicious lunch there! I love places that have common tables – it’s a very fun way to eat :)
. ipnosi . bought the most adorable blue coat here ;)
. sapphire hotel . this is actually a restaurant, but it formerly a seedy hotel where rooms were rented by the hour around the turn of the 20th century. Pretty awesome location & delicious brunch food!
. oblations paper & press . unfortunately it was closed when I passed by, but I did droll through the window ;)
+ the people.
One of the things that struck me the most about Portland was definitely the people. On my entire trip, it was probably the most welcoming, warm & comfortable locale; random strangers would compliment my clothes, and I just felt like I was accepted. I got the impression that people genuinely cared for each other – even strangers. One of the things that I noticed immediately when walking around the city was people looked at one another. People were looking at me! I was actually quite self conscious about this in the beginning, I thought there was something wrong with me or that I stuck out strangely, but I then realized that this is just how Portland people are. The way people look at one another isn’t a mean way either, like some cities do – they’re not looking at you to judge you or size you up in any way – the way people look at one another is a comfortable, gentle curiosity. While I was there I noticed myself looking at others more – and looking strangers in the eye more – something that I don’t feel like I can necessarily do here in San Diego. In Portland, I felt like I was actually a part of their community, even though I had been there only for a few days. It was pretty amazing.
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In short, yes, I love it & want to move there. I had never felt so immediately comfortable in a city like I did in Portland. I loved it. In my head, I’d like to think someday, someday. Portland. You are in our future.
Someday. :)
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Up next, Seattle!
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Previous road trip posts:
the beginning.
day one.
day two.
day three.
day four.
portland . the home.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
- Vivian Greene
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Rain feels good. When I was younger, I used to take an umbrella into my backyard and just stand in the rain, dance in it, and let it fall on my face.
Sometimes I still do that. :)
To be honest, I wish it would rain more in San Diego. It’s not that I don’t sometimes enjoy the fact that we have beautiful weather 95% of the time (it’s great for shoots!) but it’s those rainy days that make us appreciate the gorgeous days more. One of my favorite parts about a rainstorm is actually the day after, when the world feels brand new. The ground is still damp, the air feels fresh & clean and you can see tiny sprouts of new life that wasn’t there before. It’s the cycle of life – without the bad, we wouldn’t have good. We have life and death, joy and sorrow, winter and summer, and the transitions in between. There needs to be a ‘bad’ (death, sorrow, winter) to have a ‘good’ (life, joy, summer). It’s all a balance. It’s all a cycle.
I especially love the above quote because I know it’s easy to hate the bad things in life and just want it to go away, but how much better would it be if we learned to dance in it? Move with it, adapt to it, be flexible with it? Our life quality would surely only expand. :) We would be happier people overall. Welcome the rain with open arms, knowing that this, like everything else, shall pass.
We’ve had five consecutive days of rain down here, thanks to El Niño. I am sad to say today is forecasted to be the last day of this storm. So why not go out there and enjoy this final day – go dance in it - cause tomorrow the sun will come out again. :)
Sushi sounds lovely just about now, thanks.
I haven’t been to a whole lot of sushi places here in San Diego, but the place with the freshest fish would have to be Sushi Ota (thanks Apryl & Tim for the tip long ago). I hear good things about RA Sushi downtown (I love crazy sauces), and of course, for the best bang for your buck (aka pretty good sushi for the money) is Sushi Deli One (two or three) ;)
I love sushi :)
Now I want a crunchy spicy tuna roll!
& the clouds parted just in time.
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I love *love* love stormy skies. There is just something about them that say so much. Yesterday’s stormy day was amazing since it had been so long since we’ve had one & what was more amazing was the sunset that came. I looked northwest just at the right time, and saw everything bathed in a golden light. The clouds decided to part just enough to let some light in. It was still raining when I took these, and it was pretty magical. :)
I’ve done very little editing to these, and the polaroids were straight scanned. I was so amazed when I saw the polaroids appear – they captured it all so vividly. & polaroids don’t lie. ;)
As promised, here are the polaroids from my birthday picnic.
See the original post of images here.
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I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend so far! Since it’s been a while, I thought I’d share with you all a few of the things that I have been enjoying.
+ avatar. just saw this film and thought it was amazing. i stayed until the end of the picture credits just to enjoy the rest of the 3D scenery. :) it also reminded me to reconnect with everything around me – something i think we all forget to do regularly.
+ something like this would be so, so lovely in a home.
+ let’s pack a sleeping bag & lunch & camp out in the backyard.
+ i so, so need to make these! isn’t the recipe printout so charming?! and i’ve fallen in love with eva juliet’s illustrations. i want one myself!
+ quite possibly one of the best gingerbread houses on the planet. inspired by UP. :)
+ a french macaron recipe to try!
+ if only it snowed in san diego… i’d make these.
+ how charming is this?!
+ and finally, the eight irresistible principles of fun! now, go out & have fun. :)