Powells Books
I hesitate to write a review for Powell's. Doesn't everyone in Portland, or even the world, know about Powell's? Since I've started graduate study in French literature, I've been hitting the foreign language section at Powell's on Burnside, and have been delighted by the assortment. Foreign language books can be very expensive, but the prices here aren't much different from the prices for American editions of the same books. Definitely worth checking out if you want to expand your reading past America's borders (no pun intended).
Zimmer's Grooming Salon
Okay, I admit it. I don't brush my bichon fris every day. We've taken him to groomers who give us all kinds of attitude about his knots (which you wouldn't notice if you weren't a groomer) and then not only do they charge us extra, but one place actually made notes in our acccount that the dog had knots, so they can remember to give us flak in the future. Imagine our delight to find a groomer that's conveniently located, charges less than the attitude merchants, and actually makes us feel like they like having us for customers! We're hooked.
Food for Thought Cafe
Food For Thought is Portland State's student-run vegetarian caf with an emphasis on organics and sustainability. Entres tend to be vaguely "international" (Asian, chili, pasta) and there are always soups, sandwiches, salads and a variety of fresh vegan baked goods. They are responsive to suggestions ?? I was thrilled to see a gluten-free cookie, but disappointed that it was made with peanut butter, which I am also allergic too. I wrote a note and they switched to gluten-free chocolate chip hazelnut cookies, which may be the best gluten-free cookies I've had. (Granted, that's faint praise, but these really are pretty good. If they aren't out when I show up I often buy two.) Organic Stumptown coffee is only a dollar, unless you need a paper to-go cup, which is a bit extra. A typical touch: paper cups are stamped "Oops! I forgot to bring my mug to Food For Thought Caf."
