Five Frugal Things -- Downtown Portland -

1) My sister and I took the bus downtown to play "tourist" in our own city. Of course we hit up Powell's Books, as it has the honor of being the world's largest independent bookstore and is always worth a visit.

I learned that Powell's Summer Reading Challenge ends on August 31st, which was unfortunate news to receive as I'm five boxes shy of completing my bingo card! The employee at the "info" desk showed me how that date was front and center on the card. However I double checked my card when I got home and saw that they must have reprinted it at some point, as mine omitted that information.

Either way, it prompted me to finish reading Out on a Limb, by Hannah Bonham Young last night, fulfilling the "Author/main character with a disability" requirement. Now I only have four books to read before the 31st. The employee suggested I read "novellas."

Powell's is the anchor to our great city.

2) The two of us then split an entree at Deschutes Brewing, which as you can see was enough to feed us both. We chose the salmon burger with fries and my sister added a Diet Coke to her order. The server later brought a refill to the table, which became my Diet Coke. We didn't feel about it as it appeared spontaneously.

We declined dessert, but did enjoy free pumpkin bread samples at Williams Sonoma.

3) The main reason we decided to explore downtown Portland was that I wanted to go see the Morgan Walker retrospective at the Augen Gallery. I ever so slightly know the artist and he'd handed me a card about the show the day before.

Museums have entry fees, but galleries are always free. We had a nice long chat with the gallery owner and it was amazing to see Walker's paintings in person.

4) The Augen Gallery is on the same block as the Oregon Jewish Museum, so my sister and I stopped in. The museum was twenty minutes from closing, so the volunteer offered us free admission. It was enjoyable to see the exhibits on Portland's Jewish history, as well as catch some familiar names.

My father was close friends with Libby Solomon, who'd been married to the judge Gus Solomon, who used his role to advocate for civil rights. It was interesting to read about his acitivism, even though we were rushed.

5) My sister and I kept running into the Wildwood crows that are peppered around downtown Portland to publicize the upcoming Laika movie. Sadly it doesn't come out until October 23, which is long after my sister returns to New York.

Here's a crow at newly opened Darcelle XV Plaza.

And here's one at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

You know I scrimp and save as much as possible, but I'll happily support this locally made movie that's being described as a "love letter to Portland."