Jen "think locally, eat globally" K.'s Profile

Thank you, Katniss!

Thank you for making archery cool for girls AND boys. We started visiting Archers Afield about a year ago for time on the range. But my most recent (and best) experience was hosting a birthday party there. Talk about easy...

It is hidden in the lower level of a strip mall just a few blocks off 217 and Highway 99. To adequately set your expectations, this is what I consider a no frills venue. As the mother of boys, they really aren't terribly interested in amenities, so it was perfect. But, as the host, you really need to bring everything with you to make it festive (food, drinks, decorations, cake, etc.). Although they do have some drinks and a freezer full of novelty ice cream treats.

The party space is a private range with six targets and a long table and chairs. This was great for kids because the space was entirely ours (we didn't worry about bothering other customers on the main range with the noise) and the targets were much closer. Because it was a birthday party, the staff added small balloons to the standard shooting targets. http://www.yelp.com/bi...

It was easy to reserve the space and no deposit was required. Overall, I found the prices to be very reasonable, especially in comparison with some of the other venues I've chosen in the past (Sky High, Lasertag, Bullwinkles, etc.). The party package included rental of the bows and arrows, some instruction and 2-hours of private range time.

A few ways to make your party even better:
1) Customize targets. They were receptive to us bringing in our own (within reason, I'm sure).
2) Decorations. Space is very utilitarian, so you could really have some fun theming it out.
3) Food. Unlike the vast majority of other venues, you can bring in outside food. This was so refreshing. There is also a pizza place nearby, so they can include this in your party if you want them to take care of it for you.
4) Freezer. They do have a small freezer, so having an ice cream cake was no problem. We had a child with a nut allergy that I wasn't aware of ahead of time, so he got to choose one of their ice cream treats instead. Problem solved.

I thought the instruction was good and she found a nice balance of surpervising our group of older kids and then letting us manage the process. For kids, you do need some parental/adult supervision depending on the age and ability of your guests. It wouldn't have been nearly as relaxing for me if this was a party of 8-year olds whose parents did the drop and run.

We also visited Broken Arrow in Milwaukie as an alternate venue. A whole different beast. And while they may have excellent products, they really aren't set up to host parties (one range, long targets, more expensive). We are considering purchasing a bow for our son and the entry point for a compound bow was around $500 there. We are more interested in a used starter bow, and found better options at Archers Afield. They also have all the related materials including camo bikinis. Katniss would not approve.

It is tough to open a new restaurant. So tough that many restaurant owners don't really think it is fair to review a place until they've been up and running six months or longer. And boy have I experienced a few 'rough openings' in the area. But then you visit a place like The Ram and know a strong opening is possible. They made it look easy. This is where chains have a huge advantage over smaller operations with less experience.

As a local, I've been watching the evolution of the space from Chili's to The Ram over the course of the last few months. Now the interior looks more like a nice sports bar. Even the restaurant side of the house has flat screen TVs everywhere.

The official opening day was Monday and I started hearing consistently good things from friends, family and co-workers. When I visited with my parents for lunch, we ordered from all over the menu, but skipped the beer. The server comically asked, "Are you here on a lunch break, or do you want to see our beer menu? Even if you are on a break, I won't tell." (wink, wink) This is part of their schtick since it also happened to Mr. K earlier this week on his lunch visit.

I chose one of their Mix & Match lunch combos for $9.99. You pick two smaller sized portions that are a mix of sandwiches, salads and soups. My mom ordered an entree salad, Chicken Almond, and my dad the Beer Batter Fish & Chips. The server was excellent. We had a number of questions about the menu and she answered them all without batting an eye. For example, they use haddock (not cod or halibut) in their fish & chips.

The table behind me ordered burgers, one of their specialties, and that server asked the diners to check the cooking level before he left the table to ensure they got what they wanted. In some cases, the servers were almost too enthusiastic/eager to please, but I would much rather they start there and ratchet the energy level down a few degrees as they settle in.

The three stars is because they are a welcome addition to Wilsonville, but won't ever be my favorite place in town. I went to their Lake Oswego location several times before they closed and never really cared for the place. Just not my favorite kind of food/beverage.

They also have a lot of local competition in the burger/beer category, so I'm kind of curious how this will all shake out. The closest compare is probably Wanker's Corner and the newly opened McMenamin's Old Church & Pub. I think Oswego Grill, Wow Burger! and Red Robin cater to a different clientele, but there is definitely some crossover. The Ram's core demographic is definitely dudes.

MVP Club for special offers: http://theram.fbmta.co...

Happy Hour: Everyday 3pm-6pm | Sunday - Thursday 9pm-12pm | Friday - Saturday 10pm-12am

"Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry, when I take you out in the surrey, with the fringe on top...." [1]

My son has been pestering me to do this for ages. So even though we're local, we finally rented a 4-person Double Surrey and did the tourist thing in Portland.

The rental process is very easy. Located conveniently in front of the Salmon Springs fountain along the waterfront during the warm weather months, they have a variety of bikes to rent. Standard and tandem bikes, single and double surreys, deuce coupes, choppers, quad sports, and slingshots. They even have carriers if you want to tow your little ones. Unfortunately no coupons or discounts that I'm aware of, but they do take Visa and Mastercard, not American Express.

You'll present your driver's license, sign a waiver and children under 16 are required to wear a helmet (OR law). Helmets are provided free of charge to everyone in your party. The surrey is easy to drive. There are two steering wheels in front, but only the one in the left side driver's seat works and has a hand brake.

For locals with their own bikes, Kerr Bikes gets major bonus points for operating a FREE u-fix-it bike repair station. They provide the tools, so you can tune up or repair your bike.

As someone who spends a lot of time along the waterfront, I will tell you that the only problem are the crowds. The path on the west side of the river is constantly filled with pedestrians, frequently with strollers and/or dogs, and cyclists. Almost all of the pedestrians are completely oblivious to cyclists and those moving at a faster pace. The process of navigating your large 'vehicle' around the shambling walkers can be a little frustrating at times. The surrey has a bell and we had to ring it A LOT.

The Eastside Esplanade is a much more relaxing place to take your bike, but it also has a few ramps and hills. The rental is by the hour and most people can easily do the loop, crossing the Steel Bridge to the north and Hawthorne Bridge to the south, in 50 minutes or less. If you have extra time, my recommendation is to continue south on the eastside towards OMSI before heading back.

You can bring your own food and drink if you want to stop for a snack during your journey, or you can purchase snacks at the rental booth.

I've rented bikes on many trips to cities in the U.S. and abroad. It can be a wonderful way to see a city if you rent for a longer period of time. If you are a solo biker, you can connect to the Springwater Corridor on the east side and head south to bike along the river for miles. If you are just doing an hour rental and staying along the waterfront, you will really only get a little glimpse of Portland. But, it sure is a pretty glimpse.

[1] Lyrics from "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" from the classic musical, Oklahoma.

Considering the price point (well under $100/night), I was very happy with our stay at the Bandon Inn. In late Spring we had two rooms in the East Building overlooking Old Town and the ocean. That week there was flooding in the surrounding area (the road between Bandon and Coquille as well as parts of Highway 101 to the south), so being located above it all on a bluff was very good under the circumstances.

Our rooms were very clean with the King room located on the third floor and Double Queen room on the first floor. No pets were allowed in our building, but it appears that they are permitted in part of the West Building if you make arrangements.

Continental breakfast was basic (bagels, yogurt, cranberry bread) and coffee is from Portland Roasting Company. The front desk staff was efficient and helpful both on the phone and in person. I was impressed that the property seemed to be very well maintained. Important to note because coastal properties can really take a beating with all the storm activity.

One quirk was that we tend to put the "Do Not Disturb" note on our door during our stay and due to the high winds and exposed walkways, it kept flying away during our visit. Somewhere on the outskirts of Bandon, there are probably hundreds of those placards hiding under bushes.

Definitely not a resort or luxury property, but pretty ideal for our family vacation. It would have been perfect (from my kids point of view) if they had a pool. But, I appreciated no parking fees or other hidden charges and free wi-fi.

Restaurants, shops and the water are all a short walk away down a paved path. They have AAA rates, but I found the best deal on their website. Would absolutely stay here again.

Happiness is visiting a well run business.

-- The product is great. YoCream frozen yogurt.
-- The price is right. $.40/oz.
-- Toppings are plentiful and well organized.
-- Seating is comfortable with options inside (including funky stools) and outside on the patio.

But, bonus points (and my five star rating) go for the hustle. The entire time we were there, employees were cleaning counters, cutting fresh berries, smiling and greeting every customer. Not surprised they are getting such across the board high praise. They even have a photo display of happy customers scrolling on their flatscreen.

Two locations in Bend, with a third just opened in Sisters.

Daily flavors are posted on their website: http://www.cuppayo.com...

It is painful to visit one of my favorite cities in Oregon and see so many local places close. The recession hit hard in this part of the state over the past couple of years. So I was greatly relieved to discover that Cork Cellars didn't close, but just relocated a few blocks away in late 2011.

It is now part of a combined business. The other half is Melvin's Fir Street Market. So you can enjoy the wine bar or just pick up a bottle of wine (or two) along with your groceries.

After making multiple visits to the original location, I do have to express my preference for that location. But, I hope that combining forces will mean that this local favorite will thrive for many more years. I've always experienced very nice service from the staff.

The space is relatively open with only a partial wall divider, so when you sit at a table in the wine bar, you are looking at the aisles of a market. So the overall atmosphere has suffered a bit. However, they still have their staff picks of reasonably priced wines in addition to a rather nice selection of wines at various price points.

While I'm still very inclined to shop here, I'm less likely to stay and drink on site.

**New address is 160 S. Fir Street. Update submitted to Yelp.

**CLOSED**

The star rating solely reflects that the business is now permanently closed.

I had a lovely lunch here last summer highlighted by fresh (grown on site) ingredients. It is sad to walk by and see all those lush gardens now dead and gone.

One of the best parts about vacationing in California is doing all of those things I really should have done when I lived there for the first 25 years of my life. Many of us take local treasures for granted until it is too late.

After hearing about the annual elephant seal migration to the beaches of Año Nuevo State Reserve, I was eager to visit with my family last spring. And I was entirely unsuccessful because tickets for the tour sold out well in advance. One year later, I made a point of reserving tickets on the first day available (56 days prior to my visit).

Año Nuevo is located on a rather desolate stretch of Highway 101 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. The drive from Santa Cruz was shorter than anticipated, since there is not much to see in between, so we arrived about 45 minutes prior to our scheduled tour time. They were wonderfully accommodating and let us join the first available tour. Some of the guests on that tour were running late, so I think the staff spends a fair amount of time juggling reservations around to everyone's best advantage. Individual tickets are $7/person, but there is a hugely discounted admission for school groups. Also be prepared to pay $10 per vehicle to park at the state park.

The tour itself was very informative and I think we hit the docent jackpot. David has been a guide for three years and clearly loved the area and its seasonal residents. We learned so much about the elephant seals and other animals that live in the reserve, as well as fun facts about the area and geologic features. It is along the active Frijoles earthquake fault (I kept saying "Holy Frijoles!" the rest of our vacation) which prevented construction of some proposed power plants and reactors and paved the way to keeping the area natural and undisturbed.

The elephant seals were nothing short of glorious, even on an unseasonably warm day in March so their activity was rather subdued. Our visit was during the end of weaner season, so most of the adult males and females had already left to seek food and adventure in the open seas. The guide described the timing of our visit as elephant seal kindergarten. The weaners spend their days learning to vocalize, fight and play. To keep cool they flip sand on their bellies and otherwise make the most amusing treks to and from the water with undulating blubber bellies.

I've seen plenty of sea lions, including rafts of seals along the Municipal Wharf at Santa Cruz, but the elephant seals are particularly interesting. One of the fascinating tidbits was that the pregnant females arrive at Año Nuevo, give birth, are impregnated once again, then leave rather quickly to feed in the ocean until they return the following year. The definition of wham, bam, thank you mam.

I was concerned that my boys would lose interest since the tour is almost two hours long, but they were completely engaged during the entire visit. They also liked identifying the paw prints of various animals in the sand and looking for snakes in the brush. The animal skulls and pelts in the visitor center were also a hit. Kind of boy heaven.

My oldest might have chatted the docent's ear off peppering him with questions. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for those with very small children or those with mobility issues. While it isn't overly strenuous, the walk is several miles long and you have to stay in close formation. A good portion of the tour is on the sand dunes.

Whether you live locally or visiting from afar, a fantastic coastal California experience.

A few tips for visitors:
1) Absolutely no food, including chewing gum, permitted on the tour.
2) Do bring your camera with the telephoto lens. You are at least 20 feet from the closest elephant seals.
3) No umbrellas, so it if is raining, make sure you have a coat with a hood.
4) Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Check out the seal cam: http://www.parks.ca.go...

This was a perfectly pleasant stop on our I-5 road trip. An old fashioned diner with sandwiches, burgers and ice cream and small town friendly service. Our server definitely knew everybody else in the place and was getting in their business (in a warm way), scolding the teenagers and reminding them to head back to class on time. "I will call your mother!"

The food was OK and in addition to the standard deep fried sides, they have a basic salad bar and a couple of soups. Certainly not the best food we ate on the trip, but everything was fine. Downtown Red Bluff is a bit off I-5, but it was a relatively straight forward exit and return to the freeway on the main road that runs parallel to the freeway.

They had a good selection of Dreyer's ice cream for cones, sundaes and shakes. Certainly the highlight for our boys.

The location couldn't be better. Easy walking distance to the beach, Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Beach Boardwalk, and just a brisk 15-minute walk to Pacific Avenue's shops and restaurants.

As a joie de vivre property, I would classify it as a boutique hotel, but not a luxury experience. There are lots of fun casual touches that really suited the environment. Surfing magazines and art, bean bag chairs and fun and funky lamps and furniture. It is a blend of 60s beach culture and ultramodern decor that the hotel calls retro-chic.

We stayed in one of the eight suites and it was plenty of space for our family of four. However, the bathroom was less impressive than the living space. The Tower Suite had a separate bedroom with gorgeous views of the ocean and the boys shared the sitting room on a sofabed and I ordered an additional roll-away.

The prices seemed reasonable and the only gotcha was the daily parking charge. $20/day when we reserved (and on the hotel's printed materials), but recently increased to $22/day. You have the option of using their valet service or self-parking across the street for that amount. Remember to browse their Packages & Specials page for deals: http://www.dreaminnsan...

The highlight for my boys was the outdoor swimming pool overlooking the ocean. There is a pool (not appropriate for laps, just splashing around), a kids' wading pool and jacuzzi. All were in frequent use during our stay even though it was only 60 degrees in March. It must be quite the scene in the summer.

The staff was very friendly throughout our stay and all members greeted us and asked if they could assist us in all areas of the hotel. There is a decent on-site restaurant, Aquarius, with happy hour and other specials, but no meals are included in the basic room rate. We split our time dining on the Municipal Wharf and downtown restaurants.

Overall a very good experience that let us get a better feel for Santa Cruz than our usual day trips permit. If I lived in the Bay Area, this property would be high on my staycation list.