Go Blazers!

By Alise Munson Portland isn't really known as being a sports city.  Sure we have Nike and adidas, but we don't have a professional football team or NHL hockey.  We used to have a fancy AAA baseball team, but it moved away after the team lost money.  The Timbers are great, but it's soccer...

Our one big sports hope hangs on the jerseys of one of the NBA's most overlooked teams -The Portland Trail Blazers.

Not since the year 2000 has this plagued home team made it past the first round of The Finals.  The hearts of fans have ached for a return to 1977 and a trophy – proof that we can play with the big boys in LA, Chicago, Miami or OK City.

This year, we made it past the first round and into the semi-finals of the NBA Western Conference Championship.  We made it. WE MADE IT!

To celebrate, LAIKAn Alex Webster brought in a few of his favorite pieces of fan gear. We grabbed a camera and Director Mike Wellins to create this... our pixelated salute to The Portland Trail Blazers.

Go Blazers! from LAIKA/house on Vimeo.

Here is a list of pieces what you saw in the video - all from Alex's personal collection:

• Six hats, including the 1990 playoffs hat • Four vintage early '90s tees • One sweatshirt from the '90s • One red Brandon Roy #7 adidas tee. • One black Lillard #0 adidas tee • One white #88 adidas Batum tee • Three team jerseys, Reebok white #7 roy, adidas #0 Lillard, adidas black #8 Webster (Alex's last name is indeed Webster - no relation) • Two black Starter jackets, one glossy nylon with "Blazers" across the chest, the other matte nylon with Blazers' insignia on the chest and "Blazers" across the back • One pair of Stance "NBA Legends Bill Walton" socks. • Two posters, "300th consecutive sellout" and the early '90s "Portland" one. • One Blazers button/pin • One pair of sunglasses

This is only a portion of his collection. He has more...

And a closer look at the gear includes the best socks ever.

If you ask Alex which is his favorite, he'll say, "Come on. Really? All of them of course... but if I had to say which is the most coveted, then that would be the glossy nylon Starter jacket."

The rest of us may not have a Brandon Roy jersey or a pink ball cap, but we do wear our heart on our sleeves for the Blazers.

BEAT THE SPURS!

Thanks, Alex.

Macramé with Emily

By Alise Munson

Macramé comes from a 13th Century Arabic weavers’ word “migramah” meaning “Fringe” This refers to the decorative fringes on camels and horses which help, amongst other things, to keep the flies off in the hot desert regions of northern Africa…

Another school of thought think that it comes from Turkish “makrama”: “napkin,” or “towel” and was a way to secure the ends of pieces of weaving by using the excess thread and yarn along the top and bottom edges of loomed fabrics.- Thanks, Wikipedia

Has macramé always been a part of our design culture? The craft was huge in the '70s when jute reigned supreme and there was a potted plant in every bathroom. Our owls and bikinis lost favor, but friendship bracelets and surfer-inspired chokers crept back into popular culture in the '80s and '90s.  Even tying shoelaces of fancy sneakers in unique ways is an homage to the knot arts.

So agrees trendsetter Emily Katz, Portland's queen of nomad chic and who's big in Japan and Instagram. Her interest and revival started as a knot to connect to her mom and soon spread into her interior design aesthetic. She now travel the globe teaching the macramé craft and leading the DIY creative movement in Portland.

1

Emily shared her vast knot-ledge (yep, went there) recently at a spring WeMake Discovery Workshop.

2

With four strands of white cotton rope and a brass claps, DIY fans jumps in to make a new accessory.

3

Everyone was encouraged to grab some rope and take her turn at a community art piece.

4

The workshop was held at the new Tillamook Station in NE Portland.

5

6

7

Learn more about Emily and her unique life as a creative consultant. 

Golden Rule Design

By Britt Appleton

Around every corner a creative person lurks. At least that's how it seems. We took a little field trip off the beaten path today and stumbled upon Golden Rule Design. Have a look:

UNION WAY

By Britt Appleton

Meet Union Way. This local-vendor centric pedestrian alley is built with design flair out of Oregon poplar and glass. The vast, industrial space was formerly occupied by two abandoned nightclubs. Now it very cleverly connects two of Portland's most popular commercial districts—SW Portland and The Pearl - and spans two blocks.

On one end, Ace Hotel, and on the other end, Powell's Books, and in between—a rarefied shopping experience. There's an apothecary (Spruce Apothecary), odd candy (Quin), nice leather (Danner Boots, Will Leather Goods), clothing (Steven Alan, Self Edge denim, Marine Layer), a bakery (Little T Baker), and some of the best ramen you'll ever have (Boxer Ramen).

Photos by Jedidiah Fugle

97210

by Britt Appleton

We are situated in one of the most charming and walkable spots in Portland. It's called the Alphabet District and it has everything. Really, everything. There's even a whiskey distillery. On a sunny winter's afternoon there's no better spot to be.

Portland Flea

by Britt Appleton

Every 3rd Sunday of the month, Portlanders in search of a good find head to Portland Flea, a flea market with a vintage and design-y tilt that takes place at UNION/PINE, an event space in industrial southeast. Like any good flea market, it offers a selection of things you did not know you needed. Like any good Portland flea market, that list includes items like handmade axes, racks of flannel, and antlers of all sizes.

Liquid Library

by Alise Munson

Portland.

Our fair city's "hip" factor is probably the highest in the nation once it's divided by her small number of residents (603,000 in 2012). Per capita, there's about five hip things per person.* Just last week, Portland was named No. 1 Best American City by a blogger...

* Totally non-scientific.

Our latest addition to the pool of cool - The Multnomah Whiskey Library.  

 "The place feels like you've been transported back to a gentleman's lounge from the '20s, with leather couches underneath vintage portraiture hanging from old-school brick and wood-laden walls." - Thrillist

There are 1500+ kinds of spirits to taste, but this luxury comes with a price. The wait is usually three hours or longer. You could put your name on the list, drive to the coast, down a beer, drive back and still be waiting for a table. Or you could call in a reservation from LAX, hop a plane to Portland, grab a cab and still have time to spare before your name is called.

Is it worth it? Take a look and see for yourself. It might be a one-time liquid adventure you speak of forever.

    

Pretend you're in one of the happiest places on Earth

[yo_hr]

From " Whiskey season: A new appreciation of scotch at Multnomah Whiskey Library" By PAUL CLARKE, October 2013

Apple Thief

Makes 1 serving

This bold-flavored drink from Multnomah Whiskey Library takes the rich resonance of French apple brandy and brightens it with gin. The mixture is then lent gravitas with the heathery, honey flavor of a Highland single malt, and softened with the comforting flavors of figs and brown sugar.

• 1-1/4 ounces Calvados (Klus recommends Chateau du Breuil)
• 3/4 ounce Glenmorangie 10-year-old Single Malt Whisky
• 1/2 ounce London dry gin
• 1/2 ounce brown sugar fig syrup (see below)
• 1 dash Fee Brothers' Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
• Ice

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir well until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into chilled coupe. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

Brown sugar fig syrup: In a metal or glass bowl, combine 2 ounces chopped dried figs with 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar. Cover and let stand for 24 hours at room temperature. Add 6 ounces hot water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Cover bowl and let cool. Refrigerate for one week before straining into a jar for use. Remainder will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. -- From Tommy Klus, Multnomah Whiskey Library, Portland

 Photos by Jedidiah Fugle

Holiday Beers!

by Alise Munson

The real Santa, not the mall Santa or Uncle Rodney in a ratty suit, but the real Santa knows where to shop for the really good kids (21+) on his list – the 2013 Holiday Ale Festival. If you are indeed good, Santa will bring you one of the 50 beers poured that the annual downtown Portland event this December.

Some of our favorites (hint hint):

• 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Beernog
• Cascade Brewing Cherry Diesel
• Kells Brewpub Fruit Cake Ale
• Stickmen Brewery & Skewery The Twerking Elf
• Rock Bottom Brewery (Portland) You'll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid

Drool over the entire list of offerings.

If your stocking fails to be hiding a bottle of brew on Dec. 25, the message is clear: Santa is a drunken jerk and drank them all in the sleigh. Obviously, you were really good this year, right?

Beers be with you.

Photos by Jedidiah Fugle.

Artist Salon: Bull Run Distilling

LAIKA/house neighbor Patrick Bernards of Bull Run Distillery joined us as a guest in our semi-monthly Artist Salon.  He brought tasty liquid treats to sample and talked shop, cocktails and the art of fine spirit making in Oregon. In our glasses:

• Medoyeff Vodka
• Pacific Rum (light)
• Temperance Trader Bourbon

Patrick also came with recipes to toast the spring sunshine.

FIFTEEN

Named for the number of ingredients, Cynar alone has thirteen, this cocktail is beautifully balanced and addictive.

3 oz MEDOYEFF Vodka 1 oz Cynar Artichoke Bitters 1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice Server over ice or shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit.

     

Portland's history is deeply rooted in the consumption of fine spirits, in fact, the city used to be home to the largest bar in the world. Erickson's Saloon was founded in the 1880s and was home to a 684 feet mahogany bar. The two-story house of drink took up an entire block between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue on NW Burnside Street.

Cheers!