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It’s that time of year again!

… And, which time, pray tell, do you mean??

The time where everyone and their mother (mine, even) is baking and filling homes and offices with lots of baked goodies. I’m not here to groan about the pounds it’ll add or any weight or healthy-shmealthy moaning. Nope. I’m here to talk about the issues that I have regarding wheat and gluten.

When I was 8 I was diagnosed to be wheat and gluten intolerant. It manifested in rashes and later on as asthma (I’d get some serious attacks if I strayed too far). I’m also allergic to anything that grows, so I get checked for my allergies a lot. A couple of years ago, my doc downgraded it to sensitivity. Still, too much and… well, you don’t want to know.

Enter my good friend telling me about New Cascadia Traditional! This is, in case you didn’t know, a dedicated  gluten free bakery! I’ve not tried it but I plan on going to get myself some goodies for the holiday so that I’m not tempted with gods know what that might be set out there this year! I’m very picky as to my desserts as I’ve had VERY few wheat and gluten free things that were any good. (Note: I’ve not really tried anything recently as I was scared away from a long time of looking during the kid years and not finding anything that would suffice.)

If anyone has any suggestions as to what to try there or not to try… or even has some links to other such places where I can get my dose of Capricious-safe pastries and breads, please share!! I’m hoping to pick some stuff up tomorrow.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! I know that I’m now a little more excited about mine.

New Cascadia Traditional™’s Retail Outlet
NW Glisan St. between NW 21st and NW 22nd Ave.
in Portland, Oregon

Phone: 503.887.4392

Next to Trader Joe’s and in front of Sammy’s Flowers

Hours :
Tuesday - Friday 11:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.
Saturday 11:00a.m. to 5:30p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving November 27 and Friday Nov 28, reopening Saturday November 29th.

And so sayeth the Star Wars fans, the great anniversary of the blessed day that our Lord Lucas bequeathed unto the earth the … err… gift of what shall forever be known as “That Star Wars Holiday Special” is upon us!

Or whatever…

That’s right folks! If you’re old enough or geek enough to remember, it was 30 years ago (no! surely not!?) that George Lucas let loose the Star Wars Holiday Special -  November 17, 1978. Hot on the heels, even, of the 501st invasion of Portland (which happened last weekend, or so sayeth the pdxpipeline)! There are those here in Portland that will be watching it today to commemorate (I supposed someone HAD to dig up this piece of … ummm… history to prove that it existed/ was as bad as people said it was) and then there’s everyone else who might have had no idea what I was going on about had it not been for this post. Of course, there might be another group that just does not wish to remember it at all.  Which ever one you are, I just thought I’d let you know what day in …history this was. (I’m grounded so, unfortunately the drinking and watching with my friends will be sans me… boo!)

Ah, Portland! Thank you for keeping every Holiday tradition… alive!

Happy 30th!

I’m slowly but surely learning this city and it’s faboo bars and restaurants. There are some that I rate by atmosphere, some by price, and some by ease of stumble-home.

Being more of a cocktail drinker, I like places for a variety of reasons. There are some good bartenders out there that can make a good cocktail, get your martini just right, or give you a good bang (pour) for your buck without compromising the drink too much (you know… for desperate times). Taking the mix to a higher level, however, and making it an art… is priceless! I learned this about a year ago when the boyo and I started readying ourselves for the bar we were purchasing for our home.

It’s not often that one runs into art as a drink. I know it exists, have had it a few times, but it’s not something I encounter everyday and one usually has to pay dearly (or pretty damn close unless it’s happy hour, and sometimes still then) for it.

A few weeks ago we were invited to round out some friends of ours’ honeymoon with drinks in the Driftwood Room at the Hotel deLuxe. Happy hour was reasonable for what was a fancy-shmancy gathering, food was good but the drinks…. !!!! The boyo and I learned a great deal from the bartender and were SUPREMELY satisfied when we ordered a Vesper and were handed a mix so perfect, it made my eyes widen. Seriously, a drink that is mixed just so is not just a good, nay! great drink, it is art. The menu has a “Bartender’s Call” drink, where the bartender on duty concocts some drinks that, according to taste, you might never have thought to have mixed. Spicy drinks, sweet drinks, dry drinks… I was awed by each one.  Even my Vodka martini (ever so slightly dirty) was perfection and exactly what I wanted.

My suggestion is to go, get to talking to the bartender working and try some drinks. Be ready to drop some money, however, as it’s not cheap… but well worth it. Perhaps leave it for a special treat or special occasion. Whatever it is, it’s worth doing it if only once to see what an art a cocktail can be.

So if you were in SE last night around Grand Central Bowl you were probably aware of the celebration that seemingly could no longer be contained in the bars in the area.

Some time around 10pm, people started gathering on Morrison as they left bars or merely to shout at the cars passing by to honk, wave and cheer. Soon, the bars were emptying and the people were in the construction strewn street standing on everything they could! I felt like there was a parade coming on. In the midst of it all people ran into friends who had been in one place or another and a lot of cheering and jumping about like a five year old ensued. Well, it did in my case…

I was…overwhelmed? I guess would be a good word… with a sense of awe that so many people cared and so many people made a difference. I was getting reports from friends all over the country that lines for voting were longer than they had ever seen them!

The street party was, of course, broken up by police, or rather, moved over to the parking lot and front entrance to the US Bank. There was a band an everything! (Was anyone else there that may have taken pics? I’d love to see them!)

I get the feeling that people will be breathing a little easier now about our future… It’s almost as though you can feel that the air is lighter.

Unfortunately, Prop 8 passed in CA, (changing the CA constitution to ban same-sex marriage) which makes me very sad for my home state. It shows that we still have a long way to go… but at least we have somewhere to start from, and a starting with President-elect Obama is not too, shabby in my opinion.

So I was online looking for the article that the boyo had seen in the Oregonian with that picture.

Did anyone else see it? The article was, I believe, in Friday’s paper and it was entitled “Portland Suicides Spike.” Accompanying it was a picture of someone who looked as though he was going to jump off a bridge with someone else nearby it seemed was trying to talk him down… I went online to look at this (’cause really…really? this is the picture that went with this article?? Did it even really NEED a picture?) but found… well, this is what I found:

Portland suicides spike
10/24/2008
Nearly twice as many people have died by or attempted suicide in Portland’s downtown and west side this year, alarming police who are banding together with county mental health experts to figure out why, and how to get immediate care to those… - The Oregonian (Articles) : Read More

However, upon clicking the linkies… Nothing! “Story not found.”

First of all, from what I heard of the picture, was it really necessary to have a picture? Who posts a picture to article such as this? Secondly, does anyone have a copy I CAN see??? I’m just curious.

THIRDLY (and most importantly), if you’re going to RUN said article and picture, why aren’t you posting a retraction if you got too much mail for it/ had second thoughts about whether or not it was in poor taste OR if you’re not doing that… stand by it?

*This title was brought to you by that song from Heathers by Big Fun :P… oh and the letter H