Petite Provence-A SE Portland French Bistro

French Bistro

French Bistro

When I have meandered by Petite Provence in the past I have often thought that it would be a great place to pop in for a croissant and coffee.  I was often dissuaded by the long lines out the door on the weekends, because I don’t feel like waiting in line is a great way to spend a free morning.  However, my wife and I recently found some time to visit for lunch, and I quickly found out what I had been missing.

Besides the regular, and fantastic, assortment of French Pastries (authentic and fresh!), Petite Provence has a really good lunch menu.  I think I may have tasted one of my favorite sandwiches in Portland with “Le Provencal”.  Toasted brioche, sliced pork, lettuce, tomato and caramelized onion perfectly complemented each other in this sandwich for two.  My wife and I picked up some pastries from the bakery for the next days breakfast and to avoid the inevitable line.

While Petite Provence is not a Dinner destination like Le Bouchon or Carafe (Steak Frites!), it is a welcome destination for breakfast and lunch in this SE neighborhood location of Richmond.

March 20, 2009 · Filed Under Neighborhoods, Restaurants

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Lauro Kitchen

Lauro is Se Portland, OR

Lauro in Se Portland

Lauro Kitchen in Se Portland, Oregon on Division St. is a lovely restaurant with seasonal, locally sourced dishes in a Mediterranean style.  Lauro is a fantastic restaurant with an intimate bar and atmosphere, and food that impresses every time I visit.  Many times I pop in for a great burger and fries, or I try something a little more interesting from a menu that features Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese inspired dishes.  Lauro is a quick walk from many thriving inner SE neighborhoods such as Ladd’s Addition, Hawthorne, Richmond and Clinton.  It is also conveniently placed near Pix and the Hedge House, just in case you wanted a change of atmosphere and taste.  Lauro Kitchen has a great dessert menu, but it is fun to go for dinner and pop over to Pix for dessert or the Hedge House for beer.  Lauro Kitchen, however, is a great place to spend an evening and I highly recommend a visit.

March 11, 2009 · Filed Under Neighborhoods, Restaurants

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February Market Report for Portland, OR


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January’s stats just came out, and it’s not surprising that things are slow in the market. Despite the fantastic buyer’s market that we are experiencing, we are missing one important ingredient: Buyers! That statement is not entirely accurate, because the market seems to be picking up. Now, we have a lot of inventory and not enough buyers. Last month, we had an increase in the number of pending sales (52% vs. December), yet we had over 120% increase in new listings. Therefore, our inventory has increased, despite the increase in “prospective” buyers. And, of the 4196 pending sales, only 732 (or less than 1 in 6) actually closed. This is a significant number…what happened?

Loans are harder to come by and people are worried about losing jobs. It’s as simple as that. At a time when traditional buyers should be able to purchase a home, they just can’t find the loan or the job security to do it. We will continue to see small percentages of closed homes while consumer confidence is low and while banks are afraid of lending.

On a positive note, we aren’t hurting as much as most of the country. MSNBC again rated Portland, OR as one of the top 5 Real Estate Markets in the country along with San Diego, Washington DC, New York, and Charlotte.

If the bailout works, and lenders free up credit, I would expect to see a higher percentage of these pending sales close. This would, of course, lower our inventory and make sellers a lot happier.  Of course, if you have any questions regarding the market, feel free to contact me to talk about your personal situation.

March 3, 2009 · Filed Under Portland Real Estate Market Data

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The Waffle Window

Bread and Ink's Waffle Window

The Waffle Window

The Waffle Window off of Hawthorne and around the corner from Bread and Ink Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat breakfast.  On a liesurely weekend, my family and I will walk down Hawthorne to pick up a few waffles to share as we stroll the neighborhood.  The crisp waffles are truly unique, served in a bag to go or to stay on the few tables outside.  Our favorites are the Nutella and banana or the blueberry with lime curd waffles.  If you have a few hours to stroll around Hawthorne and want something to munch on, I truly recommend the Waffle Window.

March 2, 2009 · Filed Under Neighborhoods, Restaurants

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