We had a few days of summer rain and gloom this past week, but the weekend ahead is looking hot and glorious, ripe for river trips &/or camping adventures. Luckily Suzy, our Retail Manager and next Rose City Summer guide, knows all the right places to camp, river (yeah, I'm using 'river' as a verb), and imbibe. With some gentle nudging, I convinced her to share some of her Portland summer favorites. The rest? You'll have to read on to learn the best way to get those secrets out of her!
Where I park it: After work on warm summer evenings you'll find me at The Fields Park, lounging on a blanket with a good book and having a picnic dinner with my husband. It's the perfect place to watch the sun set while looking out over the Fremont Bridge. The view of the old industrial buildings near the park and the sound of trains entering and leaving the nearby station add to The Field's urban charm.
Summer Sustenance: Navarre is one of my favorite restaurants in town, and you can always count on them to offer amazing small plates with delicious seasonal ingredients. There's a server there who's spot on her wine recommendations, and the entire staff is really friendly. Start with the bread from Ken's Artisan Bakery with grassy olive oil, order a few of their seasonal vegetable dishes (recent favorites: grilled spring onions with chimichurri; simple fresh peas and mint) and make sure to save room for the Basque cake for dessert. Try to get a table near the window or out on the sidewalk - the way the evening light hits Navarre in the summer is magical.
Go-to body of water: My favorite river and lake hang outs are secrets - I like privacy! But take me out for a drink and I'll probably let you in on one or two of those secrets.
Some of Suzy's favorites (shh, don't tell) L to R: Little North Santiam River, Timothy Lake, Clackamas River // Photos courtesy of Suzy
Summer in a glass: Asking me to choose my favorite summer beverage is like asking a parent to choose his or her favorite child. I can't play favorites... I choose them all! I take Radler in a can to those secret water hideaways. Cocktails at Paymaster are totally refreshing on a hot day. For a casual drink on a summer evening I head to Base Camp Brewery. I recommend grabbing a few of their lightweight bottles to take with you camping and backpacking. And a glass of wine at Luce is perfect for a romantic summer night.
Vino forever at Luce & Base Camp Brewing beer bottles on a July camping trip // Photos courtesy of Suzy
What betsy & iya piece I'll be living in: Fremont Bridge cuff - no question. I feel like a bad ass in that piece. And it makes for cool tan lines.
Summer uniform: Something sleeveless in black, grey, or blue. Bathing suit underneath (you never know when a river may call). Stack of brass bangles on my wrist. Teeny little studs or big, bold, brass hoops in my ears - nothing in between. Add sleeves and take away the bathing suit and you've got my winter uniform, too.
Activity or event of choice: Camping and backpacking. Every. Single. Weekend. I live all year in anticipation of Northwest summer camping. The hiking, the views, the dips in rivers and lakes, the campfire cooking, the star-gazing, the morning coffee... it all adds up to perfection to me. I've become particularly fond of spots on the east side of Mount Hood. And for the longer backpacking trips, the Wallawa Whitman National Forest is dreamy.
Share your #SUMMERSELFIE: Did you not read my bio on our Meet the Team page? I'm the curmudgeon at the shop. No selfies. No hashtags. Come see me in person at the shop! Alright, Suzy, we'll oblige. Only because you seem to know the best of the best when it comes to all things Portland summer! And I kinda want to test what other secrets you'll tell me after a few drinks.... Follow Suzy's adventures this summer, and all year, on her blog sulu-design. Cheers, Anna
***Song of the Moment: There She Goes, My Beautiful World by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds***