West Coast Living

Neighborhood Restaurants for a Weeknight Dinner

Weeknight dinner should not require a reservation three weeks out. Around the Portland metro, the best midweek meals usually come from neighborhood restaurants - close to home, easy to get into, and good enough that you would bring out-of-town guests on a weekend. Here is how to think about where to

Farmers Markets and Small Shops: Where Locals Spend Saturday

A Saturday in the Portland metro is not really about a single errand. It is a loop: the market for produce, a few small shops for whatever you did not plan to buy, and a slow walk in between. The cities and neighborhoods below are where that loop works best, whether you are new to the area or just l

Coffee Shops and Bakeries Worth the Drive

Some weekend mornings call for more than the drive-thru. Around Portland and Southwest Washington, coffee and baking have their own geography - neighborhoods where the counter is the gathering place, the pastries are made in-house, and nobody minds if you linger over a second cup. Here is how to fin

Slow Weekend Meals: Cozy Cooking for Rainy Days

Rainy weekends are one of the better reasons to cook in the Portland metro. When the afternoon is gray and there is nowhere to be, a pot on the stove is a good use of the day, and the best meals for that mood are the ones that take their time.Pick the right kind of dishBraises, stews, soups, and bea