If I was in Portland for only a day, where would I go...
by Kaehla Maurer
My boyfriend and I don't exactly live a typical 9-5, Monday to Friday work week- my boyfriend is a pilot, and I do entertainment. Our fluctuating schedules have given us a new idea of how to spend quality time, by taking day trips to wherever we're working.
Parker is currently based in Portland, while we live in Los Angeles, and I'm in pre-production for a film project shooting in my hometown in Florida... phew, that's a lot! Stay with me.
So, while I don't need to work in one specific location to re-write my script and send emails, what better way to do so than from an airplane landing in Portland? I even popped off an Instagram reel for our Manifest Bullet Journal before I started writing.
Let's see how the trip went.
A freshly hand-written copy of Guy sat on my lap as I closed the tray for final descent into Portland. My hand was covered in pink ink, as I realized too late that my pen exploded midair. At least I got the task accomplished.
Traveling was a good way to get out of my own head, plus I wanted to see how Parker had spent the past month as a "commuting" pilot (someone who has to travel to a different airport from where they live in order to report for work). The trip was well worth it.
We arrived at the location where Parker and other traveling workers in and out of the aviation industry can seek temporary stays quite late and the landlord Katie welcomed us in. The next morning we chatted over coffee before hitting the town, hoping for the freezing rain to hold off. Here's how we spent my one day in Portland.
Stop #1: Waterfront Walk Trail.
We hopped on the train which headed straight to downtown. The river was wide and there were several kinds of bridges to look at as we crossed over into the heart of the city. It was cold and windy by the water, but I loved seeing a steamboat and an old lift bridge, two giant devices I came to appreciate while living in Minnesota.
Stop #2: Old Town.
How could we go around Portland without stopping at the original Voodoo Doughnuts? I've been to both Universal locations and it was essential I see the shop in the wild. We also passed Old Town favorites Dante's and Chinatown.
Stop #3: Pioneer Square.
We arrived at a giant field of bricks, concave like an outdoor auditorium and lined with food trucks and a Starbucks. In the center a gentleman vivaciously played a saxophone. We were sure to snap a picture with the Allow Me statue, his umbrella forecasting our impending inclement weather.
Stop #4: Powell's Books
This was the ultimate stop for my trip. I had been on the hunt for some green books to add to our growing rainbow bookshelf for months, and I was determined to make the world's largest independent bookstore the last stop on my quest. It was actually Parker who found books of interest within the color scheme, and we ended up with TWO greens to add to our collection.
Of course, the comedy nerd in me ended up with Sicker in the Head by Judd Apatow, a sequel book of interviews with today's comedy icons. I appreciated Powell's extensive film and music sections, and wish I could have taken home every coffee table and antique book.
Stop #5: 10 Barrel Brewing
We ate at a cozy brewery where the Mac n cheese had the perfect gooeyness and an artsy fried chicken sandwich. They kept their rooftop patio warm for anyone who wanted to enjoy the outside, and their flights of beer were no joke, with 10 samples included. It was easy to stay there a while.
Overall, the Pearl District was our favorite area, which housed Powell's, 10 Barrel, and many trendy shops for people our age. It was nice to get out of the monotony of everyday life, even if it was just for a day. The rain could have put a damper on our plans, but instead we incorporated it into our adventure.
Now I'm back home getting ready to pitch my short film Guy to potential sponsors before we film next weekend. If you would like to learn more about our romantic comedy and how you can get involved, check out our home page at https://www.AWHFmedia.com. We'd love to have you on our team as a partner or executive producer!
Are We Having Fun with this day trip to Portland? Hell yeah.
Kaehla Maurer is a Los Angeles-based SAG-E actress and co-founder of AWHF Media.
Follow on social: Kaehla @kaehlamaurer / @awhfmedia
Click here for Kaehla's demo reel and links.
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