Alexsandra Stewart, Broker -Portland Oregon Real Estate-

A friend sent me a heads up about Forkfly. And I'm waiting for my first deal, incentive or coupon. Very Curious to see what it is all about!

Forkfly is an app for mobile platforms, which connects consumers with merchants and, according to their website, features the best local merchants, restaurants, and service providers. The deal is the merchants are all committed to offering incredible incentives and exclusive content to consumers. It's free, and can be accessed through your mobile phone.

So far it's only available in the Portland area and according to their publicity, they are adding new merchants daily. Their web site, and the itunes site say that new cities will be added in the near future.

These deals are – so it is said – not available to the general public, just to those who have signed up and become part of the Forkfly community. The promise is that the merchants will change content constantly, provide coupons and offer new incentives daily.

The goal of course is to attract you, and me, to the merchants' businesses and to spend our money! However, if it is some place where we were going to shop any how, and we actually need the product or service, ya gotta say: “a good deal can’t be beat!”

Hope you'll get to the Forkfly web site and sign up -- I think it's going to be a great app to have.

And hopefully they'll be able to add other cities in the state soon.

I didn't see anything about it -- but I'd be willing to bet that they also hope to

roll this out nationwide eventually.

When you get to Portland - or if you already live here - there is a restaurant you must visit.

Of all my favorite places to eat, Papa Haydn's is probably my very favorite. There are two locations, one in NW Portland and the other, the original restaurant is on the eastside of Portland on Milwaukie Avenue.

I prefer the Southeast location, not just because it's in my neighborhood - it's one of those inexplicable, personal, idiosyncratic preferences.

Small, cozy and with an ineffable essence, I just like it better.

As I quietly say I like the restaurant, I hope you'll know it's a blatant understatement when I declare, I love the garden. Following an interior remodel which expanded the kitchen and bar, the patio was completed in 2007. I get there as often as I can in the outdoor dining season.

Under a pergola, surrounded by narrow evergreens reminiscent of Italian cypress, it's a delightful place to have lunch, dinner or an afternoon glass of prosecco.

Even on those cool spring or fall days, the heated patio will be appealing.

Opened in 1978, Papa Haydn's has been a trailblazer for the Portland restaurant scene:

the first espresso machine in the city, European pastries and eventually an expanded menu of high quality, local and seasonal food that attracts visitors and locals alike.

Often friends and I will consider one of their fabulous desserts before selecting dinner. You can't miss seeing them; the show cased desserts must be passed to get to any table, the bar or the patio. Who could resist a Swiss meringue drizzled with chocolate, and layered with fresh fruit and Chantilly cream? I can't! - Unless I choose the Panna Cotta, a really smooth and rich custard made of heavy cream.

Appetizer fondues, risotto with spring peas, simple pastas or an ahi Nicoise salad are just a few of the inspired choices you'll have to think about before the waitperson arrives to take your order.

And that's without going into the extensive wine list!

True to the name of the restaurant, you'll hear beautiful music, whether on the patio or inside at the bar while waiting for your table. Symphonic sounds, cool mixes, gentle jazz and more.

In so many ways, Papa Haydn's will win your heart, your taste buds and your summer afternoons.

Papa Haydn Restaurant East

5829 SE Milwaukie Ave
Portland, OR 97202

Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am (Midnight)
Sun 10 am - 9 pm

Tel: (503) 232-9440
Fax: (503) 236-5815

east@papahaydn.com

An international event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is a global effort to encourage individuals, families, businesses and governments to shut "non-essential" lights off for one hour to focus awareness on climate change. Earth Hour began in Australia in 2007. That year 2.2 million homes and businesses turned off their lights for one hour. In 2008, in a world-wide global sustainability event 50 million people switched off their lights.  

This year organizers hope that one billion people will turn off their lights in what they are calling a global vote in favor of the earth and against global warming.

According to the Earth Hour site, over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009. The National Geographic site says 84 countries will participate.

Earth Hour takes place Saturday, March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.

Scheduled to go dark in Portland are the Rose Garden Arena (scrolling marquee lights) Oregon Convention Center (the tower and exterior lights), the Made in Oregon sign, Purdy Painting tools and the Mayor's house.

Around the world well known buildings and landmarks that will shut off all or most of their lights include the Eiffel Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the United Nations headquarters, Sydney Australia Opera House, the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas strip, the Eiffel Tower, Rio de Janiero's statue of "Christ the Redeemer," Athens's Acropolis, Egypt's Great Pyramids, and Rome's Colosseum.

Here are some ways you can easily participate in Earth Hour.

At home: turn off your lights, light a candle, enjoy flickering light from your fireplace, invite friends for a candlelight dinner.

Out and about: Find a view spot and see how many lights actually do go out.  Are there any differences during the hour? Take some photos of darkened buildings and upload to the Earth Hour Flickr group.

And oh, look for the stars.

 

 

Missy Gerber of Organizers Northwest sent this event notice to me -- and said to pass it on! They'd love to have a big turnout - and the event is certainly timely. You can shred all the receipts you don't have to keep for income tax purposes. You can shred all the tax info that is more than 7 years old --although, please check with your accountant or tax preparer first, just to make sure it is okay.

You can shred all those old love letters you don't want your new flame to stumble on. Or you can shred your old diaries - BUT as a writer, I can suggest from experience that you may regret shredding the last two items.

I've often wished I had my old diaries and letters handy as I was recreating something from my past. Of course, it's all personal choice as to what you think needs to be shredded.

But definitely anything that has identity, bank, or credit card information that you don't need.

Organizers Northwest, in partnership with Storables and EFI Shredding and Recycling is the sponsor of the complimentary event to be held at

Storables, 9140 SW Hall Boulevard at Greenburg Road in Tigard.

Saturday, March 7, 2009 from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m.

You can bring up to three bankers' boxes to the shredding truck that will be available from EFI Shredding and Recycling.

ake advantage of the opportunity to shred it all, or at least some of it. It will be Shredtastic!

Once you have cleared out some of that paper - you may feel the need to get organized, and the staff of Organizers Northwest will be on hand to answer questions and make recommendations. And, no coincidence that the shredding party is at a Storables! They have the greatest stuff for stashing your remaining precious stuff! -- On sale! Storables, has 30% off or more on office collections, files, and desks.

For more information you can contact Organizers Northwest at 503-245-3564.