The Former Optimist

It's the end of an era. I'm done with this blog. But don't worry your pretty little head... I've moved over my posts --AL...

tonight's pen and ink illustration of my most recent fever dream, "Dark Forest" I've had a lot of fevers in my day...

While we are no longer in Portland, I find myself still thinking about the place and perusing real estate ads on RedFin. One can always dre...

Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and the state's most popular hiking trail, located just east of Portland along the ...

Judging from the vibe I pick up around here, and the big wall mural I couldn't help but notice downtown the other day, Portlanders tend...

Blackberries Believe me. Timing is everything. We planned our trip to Oregon and Washington to coincide with great weather and that is mo...

Portland is a coffee lover's paradise. With relatively cool summer temperatures and a wet winter climate, a cup of hot joe just about ...

I've never been through Portland without a visit to Powell's. In case you're not counting, I think this makes it my third visit...

We've been in Portland now for a week. It is the longest amount of time I've spent here and so I've been able to pack in a bit ...