Portland's Pearl shines

Sunset, Nov, 2004 by Sheri (Muumuu) Winkelman, Sandy Eschen, Gary Eschen

I've been a Sunset subscriber "for over 25 years," as my address label says each month. I've also been a gardener for all those years and always harbored a secret wish that someday one of you folks would discover my garden and say, "We must have it in our magazine." Well, it never happened. Can you imagine my delight to find myself mentioned in your September issue ("Life in the Pearl," page 126)? I'm no longer growing flowers but something even more precious--a thriving "garden" of friends. When most people talk about the Pearl, they mention great restaurants, chic shops, and thriving galleries. Thank you, Sunset, for emphasizing instead the Pearl's best attribute of all--its community of caring and connected people.

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SHERI (MUUMUU) WINKELMAN

PORTLAND

We really enjoyed the article on the Pearl District. For our 30th (or pearl) wedding anniversary, our children gave us a Pearl package that included a walking map of the district, tickets to the movie Girl with a Pearl Earring, champagne and an ice bucket, and a dinner certificate to Dan & Louis Oyster Bar Restaurant.

This was an all-public-transportation vacation. We took the Metro bus from our home in Kirkland to Seattle's King Street Station, rode an Amtrak train to Portland, then took the streetcar right to our hotel: the Inn at Northrup Station, a fun, upbeat new suite hotel.

The galleries and shops were great. Forest Park was gorgeous. We had wonderful food at Pho Van, Rogue Distillery & Public House, BridgePort BrewPub, and New Old Lompoc Tavern and Brewery. All in all, a great four-night getaway!

SANDY AND GARY ESCHEN

KIRKLAND, WA