#CatTravels: Last six hours in Portland

By • November 13, 2012 • #CatTravels, Food

Lee Anne Wong made me do it.

The “Top Chef” competitor from Season 1 — and my gal pal — coerced me into going to Pine State Biscuits, a small biscuit shop on Belmont Avenue in Portland known for its kick-ass biscuits and gravy.

In fact, it was the only place she suggested I eat at.

So on my last half-day in the PDX, it was the first place on my list. My girlfriend, Merrissa, who moved to Portland about a year ago, picked me up — and brought along her appetite.

We were ready!

Here’s what my last six hours in Portland looked like:

Beautiful last day in PDX

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I was so SO lucky to have such great weather while in the Pacific Northwest. And I took full advantage of it!

Thank you to everyone who followed my adventures on this blog, on Twitter and Instagram. You all make my trips so much more fun! Next up: Australia!

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Remembering Donald Takayama

By • November 12, 2012 • Musings, The Daily Dish

Hundreds turned out on Saturday at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki to remember legendary surfer and shaper Donald Takayama, who passed away on Oct. 22, 2012 in California.

Hawaii News Now’s Guy Hagi emceed the memorial service, which was followed by a paddle-out ceremony in the ocean. (Only flowers were scattered; no ashes.) It was simultaneous with a paddle-out in Oceanside, Calif., where Takayama resided.

Here’s a little video I did — warning, it’s six minutes long! — of the event:

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#CatTravels: Welcome to Portlandia!

By • November 8, 2012 • #CatTravels, Food

Portland.

It’s a city that prides itself on being weird.

And it’s weird.

Coffee shops are staffed with overqualified academics. Pedestrians don’t feel compelled to follow traffic signals. Bacon is a food group. People drink chocolate. And they hike in the rain.

It’s great.

It’s one of the few places I didn’t get strange looks when I walked into a restaurant wearing tights, Skechers, a wool sweater and a knit cap complete with pom-pom.

The population of about 583,000 in Portland — 2.3 million in the metro area — don’t seem to care about trivial stuff like that.

And that only upped its Cool Factor.

The last time I had visited Portlandia was back in college — and I haven’t been back since. Two of my girlfriends are here — one returned home we left graduate school; the other moved up for a job last year, got married and had a baby — so I had a reason to return.

I hooked up with an old classmate from Northwestern University for two days and the other for my final day in the PDX.

Here’s what I did on my first two days in the City of Roses:

Heading to Portland

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On my way to Portland — and I had to actually WALK to the airplane. Reminded me of Kona Airport!

Follow my adventures in Seattle and Portland on Twitter @thedailydish or on Instagram @catherinetoth

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#CatTravels: From the Space Needle to Woodinville

By • November 8, 2012 • #CatTravels, Food

There’s a lot to do in Seattle.

You can kayak in Portage Bay, watch professional football, bike around the South Lake Union neighborhood, explore the city’s museums and sample the foods at Pike Place Market.

It was hard to figure out what, exactly, to do in the four days I was in town.

Since I had done the Pike Place thing, toured around downtown Seattle and even made it to West Seattle for some twice-baked croissants, it was time to do a few things I hadn’t done in all of my trips to the Emerald City.

So I left my girlfriend, Chris, do most of the planning. I was just along for the ride.

Here’s what we did on my last full day in Seattle:

Good morning, Seattle!

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We woke up in Marysville to blue skies. It was going to be a perfect day to dine atop the Seattle Space Needle.

Follow my adventures in Seattle and Portland on Twitter @thedailydish and on Instagram @catherinetoth.

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#CatTravels: Don’t worry, I’m alive

By • November 7, 2012 • #CatTravels, Food

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I’m alive — I just don’t have Internet.

As unbelievable as that sounds, my friend in Portland, with whom I’m staying, also doesn’t have Internet service. And she’s a reporter!

In her defense, though, she has to stare at a computer screen all day; the last thing she wants to do when she gets home is stare at another one. (So no TV, either.)

But it’s OK. It’s good to be disconnected sometimes, right?

Right?

Anyway, I’m in Portland, eating every chance I get. I did make it to the cult favorite VooDoo Donuts in downtown for the popular maple bacon donut (above).

I can’t wait to share the rest of my Seattle and Portland trip — when I have extended use of free Internet. Meaning, I may have to wait until I come home.

But follow me on Twitter @thedailydish and Instagram @catherinetoth if you need more of a daily fix.

Otherwise, hang tight! I’ll blog soon, I promise!

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