Portland - The Actual Trip - Thursday/Friday
Regina & I flew in to Portland separately on Thursday night meeting up in baggage claim (carousel 10 for those keeping track at home) around 11:30pm. After locating luggage, we hopped into a cab and made it to the "official" hotel of the show, the Doubletree in downtown Portland. Other than having to pay $10/day for wifi, I was incredibly impressed with the hotel. The staff was friendly ("Thank you for staying at Doubletree. Here's a cookie. While you stay with us, anytime you want one, just stop by!"); the rooms were nice. I was a little concerned that they sold Pepsi products (don't judge me for my Diet Coke habit) but overall, it was a nice hotel, the Knit & Crochet show got a great rate & it was central to everything we needed.
Friday morning we got up stupid early as I had to get some work done and Regina had to get her packet. If you ever attend the Knit & Crochet show remember this. Like the spice, your packet is life. You're no one without your packet. Luckily Regina knew this and not only called earlier in the week to alert the show people to the packet malfunction but we got to the show early so she could pick up a new one.
As we were leaving the hotel we realised that we had no clue to where the show was. I had all sorts of maps to Voodoo Donut, Collage, Crafty Wonderland, but the one map I didn't do was the one to the show itself. Awesome, right? As luck would have it a delightful woman with a Ravelry bag was leaving the hotel the same time we were. We followed a nice lady with the Ravelry bag to find the show as we figured anyone with a Ravelry bag is our kind of people. Nice lady with Ravelry bag and her friend were very nice to us as we made our way to the show. Later, we formally met her when we went shopping at the marketplace.
While Regina learned about hairpin lace, I took Magical Mobius with Cat Bordhi. One thing about Cat. She really thinks about knitting. She's a student of the art of knitting and you really feel this in her class. She's incredibly patient and answers every question. She teaches the class in a variety of ways from talking & demonstrating to us as a large group, then breaking us down into smaller groups to show detail and then comes around to every individual to answer questions and see progression. If there is something specific that you want to learn and Cat is teaching it, take the class and you'll leave with a solid understanding and ability.
During our lunch break we wandered away from the convention center and stumbled onto Burgerville. From an L.A. point of view, Burgerville felt like the Portland equivalent to In'n'Out. The food was fresh, the line was long and when I almost cried because all of their Diet Coke fountains were giving me only water, the replaced one immediately. I was in love.
In my afternoon class, we were lucky enough to have a visitor. Annie Modesitt. If you've never met her or had a class with her and you have the opportunity, run, don't walk to the class. Not only does she have a wicked sense of humor but she knits like nothing you've ever seen, ok, nothing I've ever seen. Lightening quick with this combination method....it was outstanding. And, all of these topics I have no interest in like knit embellishments and learning to love lace and not hate charts now sound good to me. I mean, I would toss a few small children aside for a chance to actually learn her combination knitting technique and would toss a few adults aside for the cable sanity class. Seriously, if I go to the show next year, I'm stalking Annie. You've been warned.
After our afternoon session we ran back to the hotel to drop our stuff and to meet up with Jim. Jim & his wife Karol whisked us away to Beaverton to what was probably one of these best meals I've ever had. If you don't read Regina's blog you're probably wonder what fabulous restaurant they took us to in Beaverton. Well, it wasn't a restaurant. They took us to their son's house where he made an unbelievable meal. Mushroom soup, smoked scallops on a bed of spinach, salmon with sides I ate so quickly I can't remember, home made ice cream and all the best local wines you could drink. Unbelievable. And, he did a beer tasting of beer he brewed and bottled himself. And, we saw the hops he's growing for a new batch. And, to have two interweb peoples in your house in addition to the rest of the family you're entertaining...it was too much hospitality. Its been a week and I'm still overwhelmed. Regina & I are trying to figure out how to be adopted. I'm not kidding. Since we didn't drive ourselves to dinner, Regina wasn't able to take Diplohooktius Jimbosei with her. Though, don't think she didn't try.
AND, like the night couldn't get any better, Jim gave me a hook. I carry it around with me. Seriously. Next time you see me ask to see the hook. That's how much I love it. I carry it with me. Daily. And, just to torture me, he has an auction of TWELVE hooks up right now. If you crochet or you know someone who crochets, you need one of these hooks. They are works of art. And, they actually work. I mean, how often can you carry around and use a work of art in your life.
Had enough? Ok, me too. Saturday & Sunday next...
Friday morning we got up stupid early as I had to get some work done and Regina had to get her packet. If you ever attend the Knit & Crochet show remember this. Like the spice, your packet is life. You're no one without your packet. Luckily Regina knew this and not only called earlier in the week to alert the show people to the packet malfunction but we got to the show early so she could pick up a new one.
As we were leaving the hotel we realised that we had no clue to where the show was. I had all sorts of maps to Voodoo Donut, Collage, Crafty Wonderland, but the one map I didn't do was the one to the show itself. Awesome, right? As luck would have it a delightful woman with a Ravelry bag was leaving the hotel the same time we were. We followed a nice lady with the Ravelry bag to find the show as we figured anyone with a Ravelry bag is our kind of people. Nice lady with Ravelry bag and her friend were very nice to us as we made our way to the show. Later, we formally met her when we went shopping at the marketplace.
While Regina learned about hairpin lace, I took Magical Mobius with Cat Bordhi. One thing about Cat. She really thinks about knitting. She's a student of the art of knitting and you really feel this in her class. She's incredibly patient and answers every question. She teaches the class in a variety of ways from talking & demonstrating to us as a large group, then breaking us down into smaller groups to show detail and then comes around to every individual to answer questions and see progression. If there is something specific that you want to learn and Cat is teaching it, take the class and you'll leave with a solid understanding and ability.
During our lunch break we wandered away from the convention center and stumbled onto Burgerville. From an L.A. point of view, Burgerville felt like the Portland equivalent to In'n'Out. The food was fresh, the line was long and when I almost cried because all of their Diet Coke fountains were giving me only water, the replaced one immediately. I was in love.
In my afternoon class, we were lucky enough to have a visitor. Annie Modesitt. If you've never met her or had a class with her and you have the opportunity, run, don't walk to the class. Not only does she have a wicked sense of humor but she knits like nothing you've ever seen, ok, nothing I've ever seen. Lightening quick with this combination method....it was outstanding. And, all of these topics I have no interest in like knit embellishments and learning to love lace and not hate charts now sound good to me. I mean, I would toss a few small children aside for a chance to actually learn her combination knitting technique and would toss a few adults aside for the cable sanity class. Seriously, if I go to the show next year, I'm stalking Annie. You've been warned.
After our afternoon session we ran back to the hotel to drop our stuff and to meet up with Jim. Jim & his wife Karol whisked us away to Beaverton to what was probably one of these best meals I've ever had. If you don't read Regina's blog you're probably wonder what fabulous restaurant they took us to in Beaverton. Well, it wasn't a restaurant. They took us to their son's house where he made an unbelievable meal. Mushroom soup, smoked scallops on a bed of spinach, salmon with sides I ate so quickly I can't remember, home made ice cream and all the best local wines you could drink. Unbelievable. And, he did a beer tasting of beer he brewed and bottled himself. And, we saw the hops he's growing for a new batch. And, to have two interweb peoples in your house in addition to the rest of the family you're entertaining...it was too much hospitality. Its been a week and I'm still overwhelmed. Regina & I are trying to figure out how to be adopted. I'm not kidding. Since we didn't drive ourselves to dinner, Regina wasn't able to take Diplohooktius Jimbosei with her. Though, don't think she didn't try.
AND, like the night couldn't get any better, Jim gave me a hook. I carry it around with me. Seriously. Next time you see me ask to see the hook. That's how much I love it. I carry it with me. Daily. And, just to torture me, he has an auction of TWELVE hooks up right now. If you crochet or you know someone who crochets, you need one of these hooks. They are works of art. And, they actually work. I mean, how often can you carry around and use a work of art in your life.
Had enough? Ok, me too. Saturday & Sunday next...
posted by jenna! at
9:14 AM
2 Comments:
Sounds like you truly had a faboo time! Your descriptions are perfect. LOVE the photo of Regina with the giant hook!
Ah Jenna! What nice things to say! Glad you enjoyed yourself.
Kinda proud of Lance and his cooking, and brewing... and fishing! On sunday he took me fishing up by Multnomah Falls and he caught (and released) a 150lb sturgeon! Holey Cow what a weekend!!
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