Indigo « INDIGO @ twelve|west — Portland, Oregon apartments

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Awards, Excellence and the INDIGO!

05.21.10

awards, Best In Show, Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon, DJC, Downtown, gerding edlen development, Living "Green", OR, Oregon Convention Cetner, Portland, Sustainable Apartments, Top Ten Projects, Wind Turbines, ZGF Architects

From the DJC Oregon, by Stephanie Basalyga: “Take four floors of space for the offices of a Portland architecture firm. Add 17 floors of apartments. Then top it all off with four rooftop wind turbines. The end result is a 23-story tower in downtown Portland that walked away with the “best in show” title at the Daily Journal of Commerce’s 2010 TopProjects event.

Indigo.12
Held Thursday at the Oregon Convention Center, this year’s TopProjects event paid tribute to nearly 100 projects completed last year in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Twelve West, submitted by project designer ZGF Architects, took the top award as well as first place in the category of private buildings valued at more than $100 million. Members of the project team recognized included project developers Gerding Edlen Development and Downtown Development Inc., project engineer Glumac and general contractor Hoffman Construction”.

I’m not sure what else I could add to this except, “Wow”— and that we knew you were worthy all along Indigo. You have made us proud. Fun to live in, to work in, to look at from many vantage points— and now, pedigreed. Just thought you should know that where you reside, where your head hits the pillow every night, is an award winning place. Not just your home, but a place others get inspiration. Perhaps we are a beacon unto the future.

Zip In, Eat Out, and Snowboard to Nirvana

05.10.10

Blazers, Irving Street Kitchen, Living "Green", Mt. Hood, Play Offs, Portland, Recreation, Snowboarding, Southern Food, Sustainability, Zip Car

Mt.Hood

Photo Courtesy of Timberline Lodge.

Zip in, Eat out, and Snowboard to Nirvana

Not exactly in that order, but when I thought about writing last week, I figured the first blog I did should reflect what I cared about- it could become an introduction to me. Not so fast, actually, the scribbles you first saw could reflect what I would blog about in the future.

Naturally, my first inclination was to blog about the Blazers, but as their meeting with the Suns in the recent Playoffs proved— they were more like the propane on a BBQ grill than a proper flame. They had moments, but were very inconsistent this season as to which team would show up. Some games I thought I was watching the pilot light on the grill. Nevertheless, given all the adversity, they did well to make it into the Playoffs this year . . .

So what to write about, my first love taken from me so quickly once again. Well, perhaps a more prosaic approach would suffice. I’ll write about things I love, and things I’m interested in: Food and sustainable ways to live and be. In a world of oil slicks and Katrina-like flooding, the later can be a real challenge, but fortunately Portland’s lively food scene has got my back.

Zip, zip, zip away. Sounds like a futuristic option really. Just waive your card across the windshield, get into a random car, and drive away. Almost like you stole it! Except it comes with gas and insurance. That to me is what the Zip Car experience reminds me of. While I wish their was a parking spot right on the 12^th Avenue side of our building, I still believe that Portland is the natural choice for this burgeoning part of our “shared future”. Ownership of individual things is not the most important aspect. Sure, it’s a fundamental part of our property law, that being, the ability to exclude— but it’s not sustainable and truthfully it’s not right. You won’t use a boat everyday, you may not use a car everyday. ERGO, let’s share. A new principle I believe we can all get behind, “Share unto others as you would have them share unto you.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Decoding Organic Wines

03.31.10

12W, Agriculture, Day Trip, Education, Food, Green, Indigo, Portland, Sustainable, Weekend, Willamette Valley, wine

It wasn’t so long ago that wine snobs scoffed at organic wines. These early experiments certainly produced some less than appealing results. However, concerns about the environmental and health effects of synthetic fertilizers and vineyard pesticides have led many growers to go organic and many of these vintages have first-rate quality and taste.

While there are many distinctions between what is truly “organic” and what is simply deceiving marketing, be sure to check your wine label for the following key phrases:

The LIVE, or “Low Input Viticulture and Enology”, label currently certifies vineyards in Oregon and Washington that utilize natural resources like native insects and pest-deterring plants to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

“Salmon Safe,” another certification applied to vineyards in the Northwest, ensures that farmers use agricultural practices, such as planting trees, growing cover crops and applying natural pest control methods, that don’t harm salmon habitats.

"You did remember to get the Salmon Safe wine, didn't you?"

Certified Organic wines are made entirely of organic ingredients and processed without synthetic agents. Organic wine producers claim that it helps produce flavorful wines: Flourishing soil microorganisms and careful attention to the health of the vines, they claim, make a great contribution to taste. Organic wines contain no added sulfites (though some may exist in the wine naturally), which make them better for those with sulfite allergies.

Wines labeled “made with organic grapes” must be made from certified organic grapes but don’t adhere to the same rigorous processing standards.

Some of My Favorite Local Organic/Biodynamic/Salmon Safe Oregon Wineries:

Dozens of Mini Doughnuts!!

02.24.10

Indigo’s concierge recently got a stack of coupons–tempting little flyers that promise beautiful things to those wise enough to take one.

Please excuse my hand shadows.

Today I grabbed the flyer for Mr. Jolly’s Coffee and Bar, located at 9th and Everett. The coupon promised me a dozen mini doughnuts for only 25 cents, with the minimum purchase of a coffee. Excuse me? Buy my morning coffee and get a dozen freshly made doughnuts thrown in? Yes, please!

So this morning I wandered over to Mr. Jolly’s to check this deal out. First of all, I feel like I’ve discovered a new hang-out place. The coffee bar is Roaring 20’s theme, with antique decorations, a chalk menu, and (get this) live swing music! Oh, yes, I can definitely see myself there on a dark night, sipping wine and tapping my toes.

Doughnuts 003

But back to the doughnuts. I sipped my latte while peering through the window as they dropped the little morsels of joy into the fryer. Out they came on a little belt and into the chocolate and powered sugar they went. Packaged in a white paper bag, I finally had them in my hands. Then, deliciously, in my mouth.

Doughnuts 004

Moral of the story? Always take flyers. Especially if they have anything to do with doughnuts. The other moral: go to Mr. Jolly’s, because freshly made mini doughnuts dipped in chocolate and powered sugar are completely worth it.

Nike and Gerding Edlen for “Clean Energy Economy”

02.17.10

“Just pass it? Nike and other businesses, including Starbucks and Portland’s Gerding Edlen development firm, called on Congress to approve comprehensive climate change legislation this year and said a “clean energy economy” is the next great economic boom.”

Read about it in Oregonlive:

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/02/nike_starbucks_other_nw_busine.html

Gerding Edlen is Indigo’s own developer and manager, operating several other buildings around Portland, all promoting eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles.

Worst Day of the Year Ride

02.08.10

February 9 is historically the wettest, coldest, most miserably day of the year here in Portland. The folks over at ORBike think that’s no excuse to stay in and mope–get out and ride your bike! This Valentine’s Day, instead of going googly-eyed over chocolate, join hundreds of other Portlanders in an 18-mile loop around our rainy city. Pit stops include yummies like hot chocolate, cider, fresh bread, fruit, doughnuts, chai tea, bagels, and more!

Courtesy of ORBike.org

The finish line lands at Lucky Labrador bar, with warm soups from Laughing Planet Cafe. What’s a little rainy weather when you’ve got 3,500 of your fellow Portland friends, costumed head to toe, sipping chai tea, and pedaling down the street with you?

Proceeds benefit the Community Cycling Center, and biking benefits your soul. Get out there and win that costume contest!

http://www.worstdayride.com/portland/

DIY Applesauce

01.27.10

We at Indigo like to do things a little bit differently. We see regular apartments, and we like to make them better. We see a service, and we like to do it more often. It might take a bit more work, but the end product always turns out amazing!

Today, let’s apply that theory to the humble art of applesauce. Growing up, my mom made applesauce, and I remember those days as long, hot, ardous, and sweaty. I don’t have any time for such a long process! But here’s a secret–that was canning applesauce. What if you just wanted a little jar to eat up this week, or put on your pancakes?

The humble applesauce. What can be yummier?

The solution is easy, quick, and much tastier than Mr. Applesauce Brand you can buy down the street. Try this:

Take 3-4 apples like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp (for you local fans). Stick them in a microwave for 10 minutes with some butter, honey, cinnamon, and apple cider or juice. Take out of microwave, mash, and enjoy on toast, potato pancakes, or plain! Try it once, and you’ll never buy applesauce again…

Create your perfect applesauce, or try the real recipe from Good Eats’ Alton Brown here.

Food Carts: An Addiction Costs $6

01.20.10

Food

We Portlanders know our food. We’ve got fancy restaurants, cheap restaurants, organic restaurants, organic “fast food” restaurants, and everything in between. But nothing is so loved in our city as the mash-up of random colorful carts serving dishes of every size and shape, for a nominal price. Cheap lunch date? Yes it is! Cheap and oh-so-tasty. Indigo’s closest food cart menagerie is located on SW 9th and Alder, and that’s where you can usually find me at lunch.

Altengartz Food Cart, on 9th and Alder

Here are a few of my favorites:

Altengartz: Authentic German bratwursts served straight from a cart. Pile your sausage high with cooked onions, three different kinds of mustards, a tasy cheese spread, or just eat straight in the bun! And for veggie fans, try the chickpea-based brat–all the taste with no meat! Cost: $5

Nong’s Khao Man Gai: This cart is a one-dish wonder. Serving a delicate balance of chicken and rice smothered in a yummy sauce and all wrapped up in paper, Khao Man Gai perfectly fills your craving. Not too much, not too little, tasty and warm, it’s simplicity delivered right to your tastebuds. Cost: $6.

Check out the Oregonian's article!

Addy’s Sandwich Bar: This cart serves high quality (even gourmet, perhaps?) sandwiches on baguette breads. They also have delicious soups! My favorite sammy: Turkey and brie. But also try the duck confit, the ham and gruyere, and the country pate. All very French, all very delicious. Cost: $5.50

Whole Bowl: This food cart is another one-dish hit. At first glance you might think a combination of rice, black beans, cheese, cilantro, avocado, and salsa isn’t that amazing. But then they add the secret powerhouse, Tali sauce. Try as you might, you cannot recreate this sauce, so just enjoy it when you can. Cost: $6, including a drink.

Photo courtesy of Sanna Stienstra and Oregonlive.com

Four different options, all just a drop in the wide food cart ocean. Be sure to try a Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwhich, a great Thai curry, turkish kebabs, or just a good cup of coffee. Lunch to-go has never been so tasty!

Celebrate the Japanese New Year

01.18.10

Didn’t get a chance to celebrate New Year’s the way you wanted? Maybe the clock struck midnight as you were stuck in traffic, or at home watching tv?

Now you get to try again with the 14th Annual Mochitsuki Japanese American New Year Celebrationon on January 31st! Start the new year off right with a full belly of Japanese food, Taiko shows, story-telling, and more. Visitors have the chance to pound mochi, a sweet, sticky rice ball traditionally eaten at the start of the new year. Joining together chefs, artisans, community groups, and performers, Mochitsuki is a great way to experience a celebration of Japanese culture, whether you’re Japanese American yourself, or just open to new things!

Traditional Mochi

The show is a variety of acts: “In the theater will be the “Mochitsuki Stage Show”, a spellbinding program of storytelling by Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo from San Francisco; the heart-pounding rhythms of Japanese drumming by Portland Taiko, Tanuki Taiko and Takohachi Taiko, along with graceful dance from Fujinami Kai and Sahomi Tachibana Dancers. New this year, Usuki-kai has choreographed rhythms and movements to pound mochi with theatrical flair.”

www.mochitsuki.org

Sunday, January 31st:

STAGE SHOW: 1:30 pm (single show)
Prices: Show $12 adults, $9 students/seniors, $5 children under 12, Children under 2 are free.
CULTURAL FAIR (included in Stage Show admission): Suggested donation $4 individuals, $2 for children, $10 per family.
Location: Scottish Rite Center
1512 SW Morrison St.,
Portland
Cost: $12 adults, $9 students/seniors, $5 children under

Rose City Rollers Season Begins!

01.12.10

What says ‘Portland’ more than a bunch of women in knee pads and roller skates trying to race around a rink? That’s why we love the Rose City Rollers!

RCR_logo

Roller Derbies were the “in” thing back in the 70’s and have been gaining popularity in the last decade. No team has worked so hard as Portland’s Rose City Rollers, which include the Guns N Rollers, Break Neck Betties, Heartless Heathers, and High Rollers. As their website says, “The Rose City Rollers are women of attitude, passion and athleticism playing a hard-hitting sport of speed and skill. They were pioneers in the rebirth of roller derby and continue to foster its growth.” Not only do they get sent to the penalty box for elbowing, but they also give back to their communities by partenering with great charities such as the Oregon Humane Society, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and the Sherie Hildreth Ovarian Cancer Society.

Bouts are held at the Portland Expo Center or at the training space at Oaks Park. Admission is from $12-$20, and games are full of fast-paced fun!

January 16th, Expo Center, 6pm, $14-$24: Opening bout! This is a fast flying double elimination tournament to kick off the 2010 season!

{Photo courtesy of Johnny the Knife and the Rose City Rollers}

INDIGO @ twelve|west — Portland, Oregon apartments