Bin There

Lately we’ve found ourselves jumping at the chance to run errands. Quick trips to Freddie’s for toilet paper, dropping off overdue library books, coffee runs. We’re not really trying to be extra helpful, we just want a break from the noise at home. (Mom, mom, mom!) And we’re not ashamed to say that occasionally we take the long way home or allow ourselves to get distracted. On a recent escape/outing to return videos, we spotted BIN 21 off of Alberta and decided that we definitely deserved a glass of wine and a snack.

BIN 21 rounds out the tenant list in the building that already houses recent buzz-makers Salt & Straw and Bollywood Theater. A cozy wine bar with modern finishes, BIN 21 is the perfect spot to grab light nibbles and a glass of wine. They offer a variety of varietals on tap (why is that so cool? It just is.) as well as a selection of beer. The charcuterie plate and roasted spiced nuts were the perfect complement to the juicy Sokol Blosser rose we picked.

Our baby-daddy may have wondered what took us so long, but we were so relaxed when we got home. And you know what they say, happy wife…

BIN 21
5011 NE 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97211
503-336-5266
www.bin21pdx.com

Arts and Crafts Time

We are working on the coolest little craft project. The only problem: it’s been in progress for about two years now. And by “in progress”, we mean it’s now gathering dust in the corner of our guest room. Whenever we find someone with the talent and drive to not only start such projects but painstakingly finish and market batches of them, we are more than willing to pull out our wallet (especially since our crafty friend just made a fabulous one for us).

Crafty Wonderland’s retail outpost managed to gather the wares of over 160 beloved and talented local designers and artists, including My Little Buffalo, Frock and more. Everything in this colorful corner shop is handmade and local, from limited edition lithographs to letterpress greeting cards to hip jewelry. Once this pop-up shop decided to extend its downtown presence indefinitely last year, it quickly became our go-to stop for gifts, creative home accents and more.

Crafty Wonderland Retail Shop
808 SW 10th Ave.
Portland, OR 97205
503-224-9097
www.craftywonderland.com

Get Carted

Our beloved grandma was a crazy old bird who had seven kids, a polyester pantsuit for every occasion and a glass of scotch in her hand everyday at 5 o’clock sharp. She was funny and tough, but she was a disaster in the kitchen. We are not one of those families that passes down cherished recipes, unless burned steak and mushy vegetables count. (It doesn’t.) But lucky for us, Charles Hude’s Ma Maw, Miss Kate, was the cooking kind of grandma, and now he’s bringing the taste of Vicksburg, Mississippi to Mississippi Avenue.

Miss Kate’s Southern Kitchen is the newest food cart at the Mississippi Marketplace. We were immediately lured in by how cute the cart is. A cute food cart? Yes, it’s adorable. But the menu is the real standout here. Fried chicken served with big fluffy biscuits, deep fried pickles, pulled pork, all your favorite southern sides, and the best beignets west of NOLA. Our friend could not shut up about the biscuits with bacon gravy. The River Boat Fried Chicken sandwich with creole sauce had us clutching our pearls and claiming a case of the vapors.

While our own grandma may not have been able to fill our bellies with yum yums, she would surely raise her glass to Miss Kate.

Miss Kate’s Southern Kitchen
Mississippi Marketplace
4237 N Mississippi Avenue
Portland, OR 97217
www.facebook.com/MissKatesSouthernKitchen

Manor Fine Wares

Unconventional Fitness with Purpose

Play hard, run, jump, crawl, lift, push, pull, crouch, carry, eat well, breathe deep, sleep, repeat. Let out your inner animal. Get Primal. Get fit. Rediscover your envIRONment for fitness that takes you outside the box and gets you training for life! You’ve got this.

What: $75 for $100 one month All Access Pass for Outdoor Fitness and Kettlebell Training
When: Classes,  personal training and health coaching offered 6 days a week
Where: Portland Parks and Gem Studio
Link: www.environmentfitness.com

We Need a Pal Like You

Please help the Children’s Cancer Association match Chemo Pal mentors with 10 local kids fighting cancer, giving them a trusted friend for support during treatments, and someone in their corner when they need it most. Mentoring can have a powerful effect on a child’s course of treatment.

What: Bring a Chemo Pal mentor to 10 local kids fighting cancer
Where: In the Portland metro community
When: This month
Donate Link: www.Joyrx.org/donate