Archives for: June 2004
Portland, Oregon
Steve and I just got back from a whole week in Portland.
The light rail system is to die for. Between the light rail, streetcars and buses, you can get anywhere in Portland. A year pass is $408, less than a UofM blue pass. We walked to a MAX stop at 6:30 this morning and took a train to the airport. It was wonderful.
Mixed-use buildings are everywhere. Portland has hundreds of bars, party stores and restaurants within residential neighborhoods. People sell food out of trailers parked at the edge of downtown parking lots. Commerce is thriving, to the point that high-end shopping occupies most retail storefronts downtown.
Skateboarding is really popular. There are signs marking the best skateboarding route through town. Lots of skateboard shops.
The strip joints for men and women are very different. Steve and the guys went to a place where the female strippers are up on stage and can't be touched, even to get tips. I went to a cabaret/female impersonator show followed by male strippers who collected dollar bills from the bras of young brides with their teeth.
Everything in Portland is really clean. I went to a bar downtown (Embers I think). It was supposed to be a popular gay bar. A girl in the bathroom remarked that it must be the dirtiest bar in Portland. There wasn't a cigarette on the floor or spilled drink anywhere. The decor was neon and glass block, but everyone was wearing light colored t-shirts and sandals. No dog collars, no outfits made of electrical tape. Not at all like Detroit.
We drove MLK Blvd, "the worst part of town" and it was like Ypsi, but cleaner with better maintained empty storefronts. No diesel exhaust on the buildings. The park between the Performing Arts Center and the new Art Museum has been completely taken over by drug addicts and cart people. They were the only people that looked like they would fit in in Ypsi.
Portland is nice, but it's too much like Ann Arbor (with better restaurants).
Thai food?
Seafood eatery w/ fish statue.
Record store, clothing store and residential buildings across from Powell's bookstore on Burnside and Powell.
Vacation
To my surprise, the vegan breakfast on Northwest flights is actually vegan, but grape jelly on a raisin bagel?
How to Make Jam
Thing you need:
fruit
fruit pectin
sugar
lemon juice (optional)
big wooden spoon
6-8 qt saucepot
lids and bands
1/2 pint jars
potato masher
paring knife
large bowl
measuring cups
tongs
Nice things you can do without:
jar funnel
lid wand
Tips
Fruit pectin comes with recipes. You can fish the recipe out at the store to see how much fruit to buy.
Boxes of new jars come with lids and bands.
I use the "inversion method" to seal jam instead of using a boiling water canner. After I seal the jars, I invert them on a towel. After exactly 5 minutes, I turn them over and they seal themselves in around half an hour.
I use low-sugar Sure-Jell. It doesn't set as firm and spreads more like apple butter than jam. I think it tastes fruitier.
After comparing the fresh strawberry jam to last years, I will be putting lemon juice in to prevent browning next year.
1/2 teaspoon butter, margarine or vegetable spreads like Promise or Country Crock all work to reduce foaming. Strawberries foam a lot.
Before you pour boiling water on the lids, turn over every other one so they're easier to grab with the tongs later. Steve likes salad tongs for this purpose.
Strawberries
$2.39/qt at Coleman's on Holmes and Ridge.
They're from Sodus, Michigan, near St. Joseph.
Coleman's Strawberry Update
They had Michigan strawberries at their Holmes and Ridge location yesterday, though they ran out today. They should be getting more tomorrow.
I think we'll be making strawberry jam this weekend.
