Posts Tagged ‘wine’

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East Burn-Swing While You Eat!

07.08.10

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East_Burn

How’s about dining out on swings? Sounds interesting, right? East Burn- a good place to kick back with friends and sway while you eat. There is both indoor and outdoor seating options; many of these include swings that hang table-side. The outdoor patio also includes tables with fire-pits as your centerpiece (please note: the outdoor patio allows smoking).

Last week I managed to fit in a feast while dining at East Burn and it was worth it.  Let me just say-Elk Meatloaf Sandwich- served on pugliese with slow roasted tomatoes and baby arugula dressed with champagne vinaigrette (Oh yum). I will be back for the meatloaf sandwich before you know it.

The good food didn’t stop there, I also indulged in a side of clam chowder that was equally brilliant. You see- I am a huge fan of clam chowder and all types of Seafood. This was due to my adolescence when I grew up digging clams clams in Sitka, Alaska during the summer. My grandfather and I would go out in the early morning when the low-tides hit and scoop up large clams right beneath the surface. When our buckets were filled to the brim, we would haul the clams indoors and helped grandma get to cooking. By afternoon and high-tide, we had a huge batch of fresh clam chowder that would melt in your mouth. Some fun facts to throw out there while offering a good piece of where to eat when you want to sway!

Ponzi/Hamacher Wines Enjoyed in The Sapphire Room

06.13.10

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The spread was irresitable

The spread was irresitable

Wednesday our Sapphire Room was treated to a tasting of some of the best wines in the Pacific Northwest. Ponzi Vineyards and Hamacher Wines teamed up to delight our residents with their famous wines.

Ponzi offered up their 2009 Pinot Gris, 2009 Pinot Rosato, and 2008 Tavola Pinot Noir. The warmest reviews came for the Pinot Noir which winemaker, Luisa Ponzi described as showing “vanilla, spice and red fruit leading to a mouth of warm spice notes and blueberry.”

Hamacher impressed us with his 2007 Chardonnay and his 2008 ‘H’ Pinot Noir. My personal favorite was the chardonnay which exhibits flavors of “mineral-laden creme brulee and apples on the palate,” while “Pear, citrus and anise dominate the aromatics.

These incredible wines are now available at incredible discounts. Orders placed before June 18th will be discounted 10%. There is no minimum order and the wine is delivered right to Indigo @ TwelveWest. Don’t miss this opportunity to get some of the regions best wine at a convenient discount.

I’d like to thank our participating wineries for generously hosting our event and once again, we owe a huge thank you to our volunteer chef, Mark Henry, for selecting and preparing a spectacular menu of hors d’oeuvres that paired so well with our wines. Lucky for us, his skills in the kitchen can match those of our esteemed vintners.

Sokol Blosser to host rooftop wine tasting

04.27.10

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ResidentSokol Blosser's red blend (Meditrina)s of Indigo may remember our innaugural wine tasting back in January when we spent an enjoyable evening enjoying wines from Yamhill Valley Vineyards. Well, word spread pretty quickly about what a great venue our Sapphire Room is for hosting a wine tasting and now Sokol Blosser will be generously providing the wine for our 2nd rooftop tasting.

We are happy to welcome Sokol Blosser to our building and their environmentally friendly practices fit right in with our own. They boast an impressive list of eco-friendly practices: the leed_certestate is USDA certified organic, they use 50% biodiesal in their farm tractors, they use unbleached paper products, recycle as much as possible, and similar to Indigo’s LEED certification, their underground cellar is LEED certified by the Cascade Green Building Council.

I spoke with Sokol Blosser yesterday and they let me know that they will be bringing four wines to sample; a red blend (Meditrina), a white blend (Evolution), a pinot gris, and a pinot noir.

A gourmet hors d’oeuvres menu has been carefully selected and will be prepared on site by Executive Chef, Mark Henry. I think I might be more excited about the food, but regardless, I anticipate this tasting with Sokol Blosser to be a huge success. In the last week, I have overheard many people chattering about it in the lobby. So get your glasses ready because the Sapphire Room is the place to be this Wednesday night.

The tasting is open to residents and their guests only and will be held in The Sapphire Room from 7pm-pm.

Decoding Organic Wines

03.31.10

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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?"

"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:

  1. Winderlea
  2. Witness Tree
  3. Lange
  4. Sokol Blosser
  5. Bethel Heights

Fashion, Fun and Mingling!

03.21.10

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Fashion

Last Thursday’s Fashion Event was surely a great success! Kevin Lennox, Indigo’s very own Personal Stylist, hosted this event with style and then some.  Those in attendance had the opportunity to view some of the latest fashions while sipping on complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvers. Kevin Lennox spoke with those attending about the work he offers in Indigo’s Studio and the help he provides transforming one’s wardrobe and helping to clear out those old items in one’s closet.

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Meet Your Personal Sylist Tonight!

03.18.10

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 Kevin

Party begins at 7PM, Kevin will speak at 7:45PM about “The Studio”, Raffle will be held at 8:00PM (Must be present to win).

Join us this Thursday on top of Portland’s Hottest Building for wine and hors d’oeuvres as Indigo @ twelve | west unveils Kevin Lennox, Indigo’s very own Personal Stylist or “Style Concierge“. Sip some pinot, grab a bite and get the one on one personal touch as you work with Kevin to transform your wardrobe from drab to fab!

In addition to complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres, the party will feature:

+ A chance to meet Kevin Lennox and hear about Indigo’s exclusive personal stylist
+ View the latest fashions from Kevin’s retail partners:
-Saks
-Mario’s
-Mercantile
-Moule
-Macy’s
-Nordstrom
+ Get to know DJ Widmer head of Eco Drycleaners and his partnership with Kevin for Indigo exclusive in-house tailoring + Explore Kevin’s closet revitalization and reorganization with retail partner and organization extraordinaire Storables

As a compliment to you and your guests each will receive:

+ a complementary gift bag featuring discounts and merchandise from our retail partners
+ a chance to win a Veuve Clicquot Champagne gift basket to toast a free wardrobe makeover session with Kevin Lennox as he guides you towards revitalizing your wardrobe, reorganizing your closet, and putting your best shoes forward in 2010!

Only Three Days Left to Order Wine

02.26.10

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Last month Yamhill Valley Vineyards was generous enough to host a free wine tasting event for Indigo residents in our Sapphire Room. Only three days left to take advantage of the wholesale discount offered to Indigo by Yamhill Valley Vineyards. The discount was good all through February so if you want to order wine, please stop by the concierge desk and fill out an order form before Monday.

If you couldn’t make it, didn’t live @ Indigo yet, or just can’t remember what it was like, here are a few photos of the event.

Winery owner, Denis Burger, tells of his 1st place pinot noir in the 1985 Oregon vs. Burgundy Competition

Winery owner, Denis Burger, tells of how Yamhill Valley Vineyards took 1st place in the 1985 pinot noir Oregon vs. Burgundy Competition

The Sapphire Room was the perfect venue for Yamhill Valley Vineyard's wine tasting

The Sapphire Room was the perfect venue for Yamhill Valley Vineyard's wine tasting

Grand Opening: Penthouse IV

11.05.09

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The opening is so soon I can almost taste it!

We just have a few more penthouses to go through, so for this glimpse we’re checking out our 4th one…

Penthouse IV: A delicious combination of Masu and Frances May. Sake is a refreshing, light-but-strong drink that goes beautifully with sushi. Ours will be provided by… Masu! An amazing little sushi place tucked right next door to us at Indigo, Masu provides one of the best sushi experiences in Portland. Explosions of flavor, perfectly balanced ingredients and weird seafood that may or may not stare back at you. What more can you ask for?

Drink:

Food:

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Fashion: As you sip on sake and slurp up sushi, delight your eyes with the fashion of Frances May. If you happened to catch the recent article on them in Portland Monthly, you’ll know the buzz about this store is well deserved. The store is a true family business, capitalizing on style, great fashion, and amazing design. Sounds just like a certain new apartment building nearby!

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{All photos from respective websites}

Opening Glimpse: Penthouse II

11.03.09

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Indigo 12 West’s Grand Opening is Thursday night. Two more days! To prepare you for the excitement to come, here’s another glimpse into the tastes, views, and fashions of the night.

Penthouse II is steeped in the true northwest tradition with Edgefield/McMenamin’s and Pendleton.

Drink/Tamcmenaminsstes: Even if you’ve only spent a day in Portland, you’ve probably seen about a dozen McMenamin’s establishments. Known for their specatular historical buildings, great brews, and good food, you really can’t go wrong with McMenamins (especially the Rubinator…). Indigo is doubly excited to have these folks around, since we’re right across the street from their newest venture, the Crystal Hotel! Sip Edgefield wine and great brews as you take in the view of the northwest.

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Fashion: Another northwest staple will show you the best of Oregon fashion. Pendleton Wool Mills dates back to the 1800s and now has stores nationwide. They mill a soft, lightweight, 100% virgin wool, creating beautiful blankets, sweaters, scarves and shawls. Fashion never felt so soft and comfortable!

{Photos from respective websites}

Opening Glimpse: Penthouse I

11.02.09

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Indigo’s Grand Opening is creeping up on us– just a few more days to November 5th!

You’ll have the ability to peek into six of our Penthouse units. In each one a different West End vendor will ply you with food, drink, and fashion until you burst with excitement and joy. That’s our goal, at least.

For those who just can’t wait, here’s a little peek at one of the Penthouses. Check back for more over the next few days!

Penthouse I has a smattering of West End top picks, with some great wine: Foundry Vineyards, Living Room Theaters, Narcisse

Drink: Your palate will be tickled by the wines of Foundry Vineyards, located in nearby Walla Walla, WFoundryVineyardsA. Founders Mark and Patty Anderson have had a lifelong commitment to the combination of winemaking and visual art. They found that “the traditions in winemaking (as well as in art) provide the solid foundation that gives rise to creative innovation.”  Sample some of their best to find your favorite!

Tastes: Your tastebuds will dance with the small plates from Living Room Theaters, located just steps away on 10th and Stark. Emphasizing healthy, tapas-style small plates, the Theater’s cuisine provides perfect snacks for watching the big screen action. Or the great penthouse views!

narcisseFashion: As you sip and nibble, Narcisse will be there to dazzle your fasion sense. The only shop in the USA to carry the Danish fashion line NOA NOA, Narcisse celebrated their year anniversary this September. Clothing is deliciously beautiful and well-made, like these hand-stitched corsets from designer Paloma Soledad.  Surprinsingly affordable and unique! And did I mention beautiful?

{Photos from respective websites}

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