We drove north and landed in Seattle for dinner at Revel for Korean dumplings; coffee at Victrola and Herkimer; and antique coveting at the Pacific Galleries.

Home. Waipio Valley, Napoopoo, attack spiders, Armagnac Dupeyron, Volcanos National Park, mochi, plum pudding, Pu`uhonua o Hōnaunau.

Hiking in Beacon Rock Park (WA) and Saddle Mountain (OR), and surfing in Oregon, Fall 2011.

Interurban–a cozy saloon on Mississippi–is a project from the owners of Prost and Tasty n Sons/Toro Bravo. Records play at high decibels while the bartenders serve up an interactive Manhattan: lowball tumblers are served with large blocks of ice, angoustura bitters, sweet vermouth, cherry, and a pitcher of bourbon. Drinkers do the mixing. A boozy choose-your-own-adventure story!

I would like to publicly affix my seal of approval to Portland’s Woodblock Chocolate. This is chocolate at its best–simple, and made of only cacao and pure cane sugar. No bacon! Refreshing. The bean-to-bar operation is captained by a husband and wife team, and the goods are available in Portland and now also in NYC at The Meadow.