pdxfuentes

[pdxfuentes]

It should be considered obscene, the lack of information you’d find online about Boxer Ramen. I thought I’d copy & paste information for you about this amazing eatery because I’m lacking time to actually interview the two responsible for this place. I scoured the net for write ups & reviews and found VERY little hype surrounding this place. What I did find were facts that aligned with mine. Here they are:

Boxer Ramen opened 10/9/13

It’s the 3rd hit for owners Micah Camden and Katie Poppe - the geniuses who brought us Blue Star Donuts and Little Big Burger

The noodles are made by Sun Noodle Company

There are now TWO locations

I love this place

The first thing I thought when I looked at the menu was “um... $10 ramen!?!? No fucking way!” But I remained open-minded. In my life, ramen meant a ‘cup-o-noodles’ styrofoam cup filled with a chunk of hard noodles, speckled with dehydrated bits of carrots, corn kernels & sometimes meat. Flavor was added from an accompanying packet of powder I would dump into the hot, sodium rich broth. All of this goodness was favored by us neighborhood kids in the low rent part of town because these heart-attack-cups were priced nicely at about a buck. I had NO idea that ramen was SO much more and rich with history, also! 

If ever you have the chance to do some urban exploring throughout Portland, you’ll get plenty of standards for suggestions. We here know a good, quick & filling bite can be found at Little Big Burger. Now, Blue Star Donuts are the hype. My suggestion is Boxer Ramen - though the menu is small (four ramen styles, two sides, mochi for dessert) the satisfaction is LARGE as are the bowls!

Boxer Ramen 

1025 SW Stark St., Portland, Oregon USA monday thru friday: 11am - 9pm saturday & sunday: noon - 9pm phone: 503-894-8260

NEW LOCATION 2038a NE Alberta St., Portland open daily: noon - 9pm phone: 503-946-1619

[pdxfuentes]

Rocky Butte - Portland, OR

Rocky Butte is an extinct volcanic cinder cone butte in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is one of four, along with Kelly Butte, Powell Butte, and Mount Tabor, inside the city that are each home to a city park, Rocky Butte playing host to Joseph Wood Hill Park. A rotating beacon at the summit of the butte is visible for miles. It is also part of the Boring Lava Field, a group of over 30 cinder cones in Oregon and Washington. The slopes of Rocky Butte are also home of the Rocky Butte Natural Area. In addition, it was formerly home to a jail and Judson Baptist College. Currently it is the location of a City Bible Church campus, Portland Bible College and City Christian Schools. It lies next to Interstate 205.

Formerly known as Wiberg Butte, a large quantity of rock was removed from the quarry on the east face of Rocky Butte in the 1940s for use in a new Multnomah County jail. After the jail was demolished in the 1980s, much of the stone was reused along the Historic Columbia River Highway. In the early 1900s, the Union Pacific Railroad had a spur into the east side of the Butte at a station named Quarry.*

*source: Wikipedia

[pdxfuentes]

lately, in Portland

[pdxfuentes]

[pdxfuentes]

Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge!

[pdxfuentes]

Back in the Great Pacific Northwest. It is amazing how many people who have relocated to Portland or even natives who are stuck in their routine have not made it 20 minutes out to this natural beauty. Well, here it is! The Columbia River Gorge. 

[pdxfuentes]

Today's Portland eatery to report on is Slappy Cakes in the Belmont district. So, Portland eateries are known for many things; good service is not one of them. Still, once in a while you'll walk into a hyped up restaurant and expect the same shitty, aloof treatment from from kids who don't wash their hair and deal because the food is great and the prices are affordable. Well, Slappy Cakes is not that place. Actually, it's a little more spendy than I'd like to pay but I tell you what: the food is fucking TASTY and what really sells me on this place is the accommodating, appreciative & attentive staff. For someone who likes the whole package (good food, reasonable pricing, attentive staff, cleanliness, accessibility, atmosphere) I value the treatment I get when I'm handing over dollars to a business. I worked hard for those dollars and I was nice to people for me to get them dollars so I expect the same. The staff at Slappy Cakes provided that service I look for in a clean, funky atmosphere. Pricing, accessibility are things this place can work on - there's ALWAYS a wait - and c'mon.... I can't excuse charging TWO BUCKS to substitute a pancake for toast. Overall though, I like this place. One thing you'll have an option on when you patronize this establishment is making your own pancakes right at your table. Yep. U read that right. Each table has its own griddle and you order your bottle of pancake batter of any variety - including gluten free batter. I've had my issues about this starting when a friend pointed out "you're paying them to cook your own food". I haven't been able to see past that WHICH actually helps because it pushes me to pass the crowds standing in the waiting area and head straight to the no-wait bar! This won't be my go to place since Portland prides itself on breakfast spots but it's something to keep in radar. Lemme know what you think when you visit Slappy Cakes. Slappy Cakes 246 Southeast Belmont Street, Portland, OR 97215 (503) 477-4805 Open · 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

[pdxfuentes]

[pdxfuentes]

Portland, Oregon |  circa 1935 

Bear Dens - City Park 

Source: VintagePortland.com

[pdxfuentes]

The Clackamas River

[pdxfuentes]

I've been missing my friends & the town (Portland) something bad these last couple of days. I'm glad I got the opportunity to visit last month. Tonight I decided to do a simple sheet: no embellishments, no text just photos to revisit with the feelings attached to them. I feel blessed to have these people in my life. I can't wait to get back to them. 

This was a typical, rainy Sunday in Winter in PDX. We all met up at Jonathan's apartment which boasts generous views of Portland's west hills as well as an expansive overlook of the city from a southwest perspective. That's not what brings me to Jonathan's place, it's the warmth he fills it with from his detail in design to the hospitality in his breeding. Andrew & Josh joined us and all I can say is that try as they might, no pee in my pants happened this time! We had lunch at Boke Bowl in the SW industrial area. Afterward, we grabbed a few coffees before heading back to Jonathan's to make scented candles. I know.... super gay but hey, we are. I left with a few bags of caremel corn, a home made scented candle & a warm heart :) Thanks guys!

[pdxfuentes]

Oak Barbershop // Portland, OR

[pdxfuentes]

Remember that picture of the old, creepy building that I posted on this blog a whiles back? Yeah well, looks like they're gonna tear it down. It's a gorgeous building; picturesque with it's clock tower and it's Gothic style architecture but highly toxic. According to this extensive blog post from fellow admirer and blogger Jeff Felker, the site has a pretty poisonous past and is still a threat to life around it. On his Dec 4th, 2014 blog post from Portlandarchitechture.com Brian Libbey reports that plans to demolish this hauntingly beautiful, local landmark are underway and can clear the site next Spring. He adds that being in a multi-generational process, Portland could have eventually transformed it's already evolving waterfront to include this building to potential future developments. If you get a chance, read up on this Superfund site and go sneak pictures while you can. BUT, be warned, 24hour guards will ask you to leave without courtesies being extended! I had to be dropped off along roadside, run up to the chain-link fence, snap a few photos and sprint back to the car. 

Portland GasCo Building 7900 NW St. Helens Rd Portland, Oregon 97210

[pdxfuentes]

I’m really enjoying these oil paintings by Portland-based artist Meghan Howland, who often depicts people caught in swarms of birds, flowers or bunches of fabric. It’s never quite clear if the figure is in a safe or dangerous situation, an ambiguity that leaves each piece open for interpretation. Howland is represented by Bowerstock Gallery where you can see much more of her work.*

*via www.thisiscolossal.com

[pdxfuentes]

My friend make my life beautiful

[pdxfuentes]

I took this photo 2 years ago at the Swan Island Dahlia Festival in Canby, OR. Dahlia Festival 2013 August 24th, 25th, & 26th, and August 31, Sept. 1st, & 2nd Saturday, Sunday, & Monday (both weekends)

[pdxfuentes]

First peek at the diner room underneath Modern Man on Mississippi. Some say its haunted. The building IS listed in Portland's top 50 most haunted places. Anyway, get a haircut, shave and some ghostly dishes!