Monday, April 9, 2012

Portland: Mmm Mmm Good!

Ha VL Vietnamese soup & sandwich
My stomach lead the tour through Portland.  I love Portland, it's just a mere 3 hour's drive from Seattle and packed full of great eateries!  We drove down for my opening at the Hoffman Shop Gallery in OCAC last weekend.  A friend recommended Ha VL Vietnamese soup and sandwich in SE Portland.  We drove straight from Seattle to this restaurant hoping there's still food left!  They only make 2 kinds of specialty soup per day and once they sell out they close shop.  We just made it in and had their last 2 bowls of shredded chicken soup!  Many sad faces came in after us.  This place definitely lives up to it's reputation.  It's a small hidden gem, the setting is ho-hum but you can sing about the food all day long.  They use traditional herbs and spices, everything is made fresh daily.  This humble bowl of soup brings me home. :)  It's worth it to make the trek out to see them and go EARLY or you might not get a bowl.  They don't take reservations, but you can call in first to see how much is left.  If you're interested in knowing more Wandering Chopsticks has the lowdown.

Voodoo line outside
Our next stop was VooDoo Doughnuts.  We've been wanting to go here since Man vs. Food featured them.  I've had a few of their doughnuts before, but have never been to their shop.  HOLY COW the line was long!  It took 30mins to get our doughnuts... we thought the line was for a special event, but apparently it was just another Thursday.  It was a fun line, people were jovial, no cranky faces.

Voodoo line inside
There was a another line once we made it through the door!  It's OK, the decor kept us entertained and we got to smell the doughnuts.  I really like their stained glass windows.

Old Dirty Bastard
My favorite has to be the "Old Dirty Bastard" doughnut!  How can you go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate?!  If you're feeling lost at what to pick I would recommend the "Fryer Flyer" special, it's a dozen of their most popular doughnuts. 

Oregon College of Art & Craft
Our final stop was the beautiful OCAC campus!  They have such a beautiful facility!  I came to see a show at the Hoffman gallery in 2008/09 and they were just starting the construction of this new building.  What a difference a few years make.  MaryAnn Deffenbaugh gave us a tour of the school.
I did not take this picture, I was too busy picking up my jaw from the floor and forgot about taking pics. 

Oregon College of Art & Craft
This is the interior hallway of the painting building/studios.  Amazing light everywhere, there's never a dull moment in this space.  There's a great sense of airy lightness.  The building was designed by Charles Rose Architecture, more info HERE.

Demo in the metals room
A student demonstrating the repousse process in their metals studio.  I think we made it to every building except for the clay and woodworking studios.  Next time.

Hoffman Gallery main space
Graduate students hanging their thesis show. 


The plates hung at Hoffman Shop Gallery
My work at the Hoffman Shop Gallery.  Thank you for the tour MaryAnn, it's an amazing campus.  Makes me want to go back to school again.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Hoffman Gallery Shop at OCAC

Hoffman Gallery Shop @ OCAC
I have a show coming up at the Hoffman Gallery Shop @ OCAC.  I will be there for the opening on April 5th!  Please come by if you're in Portland, it's a wonderful campus!

Hoffman Gallery Shop
April 5th - 29th, 2012
Opening Reception 5pm-7pm

Oregon College of Art and Craft
8245 SW Barnes Road
Portland, OR 97225