Weekend Morning Coffee Treat

Goldrush Coffee Bar

On the weekends I like to walk over to one of our neighborhood coffee shops to indulge in a latte and bagel for breakfast.  Over the past few years I’ve become a regular at Goldrush Coffee Bar.  With its brick interior, old hardwood floors, and rotating art, the vibe inside Goldrush is very Portland.  I tend to be a creature of habit and get the same breakfast almost every weekend so the baristas all know my order.  Occasionally around the holidays I order the pumpkin spiced latte and a peppermint mocha for my husband instead of the usual vanilla latte and regular mocha.  Also, during the hot summer days I’ll sometimes change my drink to iced for a real shake up.

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Food Carts Arrive in Eliot Neighborhood

Those Darn Accordions Playing Happy Hour at Dreamers Marketplace

In keeping with a current Portland trend, a couple of underutilized lots have been transformed into great little food cart pods in Eliot.  The first few carts to call Eliot home are located in a lot named Jimmy’s Corner at the corner of Vancouver and Fremont Street.  I discovered them several months ago while out canvassing the area to notify residents about upcoming neighborhood events.  The owner of Mum’s Kitchen offered samples of her African fare and I was hooked.  Soon after, a Mexican cart arrived and their homemade fresh tamales made my mouth water.  The pod also has a pita cart and a drive thru coffee cart.

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Inspiration at Afrique Bistro

Afrique Bistro Entrance

On a Friday night not too long ago my wife and I were once again looking for a place to go for dinner.  It has kind of become a weekly tradition to visit one our fabulous neighborhood spots each and every Friday.  After short a discussion with friends we decided to show them Afrique Bistro.

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ECHO Echo echo

echo1-2009
Echo Restaurant

Back in 2003 when we moved into the neighborhood there weren’t nearly as many places to eat.  Sure, Popeye’s has been on MLK for a while now.  Billy Reed’s was also serving up good food, but was just about ready to start the dreadful transition that had it change styles, ownership and  names over and over again.  Then in 2004 the level of cuisine in Eliot changed…starting with Echo.

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Sparkys Pizza Now Open

Eliot has a new pizza restaurant that opened last week along MLK.

Sparky’s pizza is the latest business to open up in the former Chicago Pneumatics building at MLK and Brazee.  They feature “New York” style pizza that can be purchased by the slice or as an entire pizza.  In addition, Sparky’s offers some favorite pizza-house extras like bread sticks and buffalo wings.

Sparky’s is located at 2434 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in the newly renovated Black and White building.  They are open Monday – Thursday 11 am – 9 pm, Friday and Saturday until 10pm and Sunday from noon – 8:30 pm.

Eliot Restaurants make 2007 diner guide

Several Eliot eateries made the top 100 in The Oregonian’s 2007 Diner’s guide.

The Eliot restaurants that made the list are:

Beer and Wine Tasting in Eliot’s Lower Albina Area

For a long time my wife and I have had this idea to taste in the lower Albina area of Eliot.  Being busy like everyone else, we finally, after many months, implemented the plan. Stereotypically I prefer beer and my wife prefers wine.  Of course that’s not say I don’t enjoy a good wine now and then and her a good beer.  On this day we were both happy.

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Toro Bravo: New Eliot restaurant

The latest restaurant to call Eliot home is Toro Bravo , a Spanish-inspired tapas eatery that just opened at 120 N.E. Russell St. next to the Wonder Ballroom.

The Portland Tribune gave it a great review last week.

I’ve only tried the gin martini, and it was excellent. But I’m looking forward to going back for the food.

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