Christmas in Pittsburgh

It was back to Pittsburgh--and my roots--for Christmas. I couldn't believe that I hadn't been back in two years. What had changed? I kept hearing rumors that Pittsburgh had become the next "up and coming" city. Apparently the secret is out: the historical steel town is no longer a rust belt city, but rather a metropolis for healthcare and technology innovation. With low cost of living, an aging population raised on values and tradition, good sports teams, and a new mix of restaurants and breweries, it's no wonder why the next generation is flocking to southwestern PA. Needless to say, I was eager to experience my hometown with fresh eyes.

One of the highlights was voicing approval on my parent's new townhouse in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. In the matter of months, my superhuman mother had already turned the house into a home, and managed to decorate the space beautifully for the holidays. The warm and inviting space is the perfect size for my parents in this phase, and I feel content knowing that they are happy there.

It would be incomplete to describe the house without mentioning quirky Lucy and Phoebe, my sister's cats that are indefinitely on vacation at Grammy's.

 

One of my priorities of the trip was to visit friends. I felt fortunate to spend time with my pharmacy mentor, Shelley, my college friend, Kim, and grade school friends, Janell, Kelsey, Kayla, Katie and Jess.

One of my favorite nights took place in reinvented Lawrenceville. Over the past decade, this riverfront neighborhood northeast of downtown has gentrified into a trendy, hipster mecca.

 

My other priority that week was to visit with family, including my ninety-year old paternal grandmother. "Oma" is a tiny German woman that has led an intriguing life and played a key role in my childhood.

My family and that of my brother-in-law united for a night out on the town, beginning at PPG Place. The outdoor plaza was seasonally dressed with a large Christmas tree display encircled by an ice skating rink. Though chilly, we strolled through the holiday market in Market Square.

  
  

Inside, the Wintergarden displays the annual Spirits of Giving Around the World and Gingerbread House exhibits. Afterwards, we all gathered for dinner and German-style beers at Penn Brewery in the North Side.

 

Much of Christmas Eve took place in the kitchen. My talented mother is a marvelous chef, baker, and candy-maker. Her recipes have been passed down for generations and are founded on the Italian belief that more is better. Despite the traditions, I was touched by her enthusiasm to experiment with and embrace vegan additions to the usual spread.

After Christmas Eve Mass, we attended the annual holiday party hosted by my mother's side of the family. This loud and rowdy group of Italians never disappoints!

 

Christmas Day was low-key with family coming and going to share a gift exchange, delicious food and wine, and classic holidays movies.

 

Good company was easily the best part of my week in Pittsburgh; saying goodbye was not easy. As a passionate traveler, I call "home" to several places, including Spain, Argentina and Denver. However, Pittsburgh will always be my first and truest home. That being said, I am anxious to return home to Portland, which is where I belong right now.

 

Wishing you and your loved ones
a merry holiday season.

Peacock Lane

The weeks leading up to Christmas were low-key, as I was content to stay around town. Around the corner from my apartment is the Laurelhurst Theater. Constructed in 1923 with an Art Deco design, the Laurelhurst is equipped to show first and second-fun films with modern amenities (including pizza and beer service) while still maintaining its classic appeal. After seeing rock music biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, Kyle and I checked out nearby German pub, Stammtisch--a good option for my family when they visit.

One of my favorite things about city-living is that there is always an event going on in town. The Portland Night Market organizes every few months, showcasing unique local businesses. An eclectic blend of food, drink, culture, music and retail is sure to appeal to all tastes. While the weekly Saturday Market is also wonderful, this occasional treat is a real gem in its own right.

Peacock Lane is a four-block southeast street that becomes Portland's Christmas Street every December. Mostly Tudors, each house in this quaint neighborhood has embraced the Portland tradition since the 1920s.





 






















Oregon City might be one of the prettiest little towns within a stone’s throw of Portland. Just 13 miles south, historic Oregon City was the state’s first capital and the end of the Oregon Trail. In the 1800s, it was the heart of the region’s lumber, flour, wool and paper mill industries. 

 

At 130' high, the Oregon City Municipal Elevator offers the best view in town. The town built the marvel in 1915 as an easier way to reach the bluff than climbing the 722 steps from the base of the cliff. The elevator is one of only four municipal elevators in the world and the only “vertical street” in North America. Locals call it “Elevator Street.”

View from the McLoughlin Promenade

 

Downtown Oregon City Association is one of three winners of the 2018 Great American Main Street Award presented by National Main Street Center Inc., the country’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to commercial district revitalization.



At the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers, Willamette Falls is the second most powerful waterfall in North America and considered one of state’s most important historic sites, as a longtime cultural, fishing and gathering place for Native American tribes.

Wahkeena Falls

As usual, December rolls in and catches everyone by surprise. Where has the time gone? The days are shorter than ever with only eight to nine hours of daylight. The weather is cold, but still somewhat dry. I have noticed that the temperature hardly fluctuates throughout the day; it's common to stay in the 40s all day and night vs. dropping to the 20s overnight and rising to the 50s by midday. In general, the PNW climate seems to be fairly consistent throughout the day (and year). That being said, the temperature is often warmer than it feels. Still, the chilly Colorado air shocked my body into winter mode, so I am confident that I will at least survive the winter. My new favorite neighborhood coffee shop to escape my cold apartment? Sweetpea Baking Company--a vegan cafe offering light fare in an airy, industrial-chic space.

I am currently working the latter part of the week at NewEra Pharmacy, which leaves me plenty of time to explore. While ski season has officially begun on Mts. Hood and Bachelor, the hiking trails at lower elevations remain snow-free. Warm layers are still crucial, however. On Sunday, Kyle and I opted for an easy hike close to town. The Marquam Trail to Council Crest is a moderate out-and-back trek that gains 1,110' over 5.8 miles. Winding its way through a patchwork of city parks and green spaces, the Marquam Trail stretches over five miles through peaceful forests in the West Hills of southwest Portland. As part of the city's 40-Mile Loop trail system, it connects the Terwilliger Trail in the south with the Wildwood Trail to the north.

Starting from the Marquam Trailhead, the trail climbs through dense forest that feels secluded even though it's a stone's throw from OHSU. The majority of the route resides in the Marquam Nature Park, which snakes through gullies and gulches and crosses multiple streams and footbridges. The final switchbacks and road-crossings lead to the summit of Council Crest, once the site of a popular amusement park. The small viewing plaza looks out to the Tualatin Valley, the Chehalem Hills, and downtown Portland and Vancouver. On a clear day, the trek features an outstanding five-mountain view.

Date hiked: 12/2/18

Afterwards, Kyle and I refueled at another recently favorited cafe, Papa G's Vegan Organic Deli. This Southeast spot offers counter-service in cozy, low-key digs.

We finished off the weekend at A & L Sports Pub, a roomy but divey Steelers bar. Aunt Judy and her friends (and many other spirited fans) were also in attendance to support the Steelers against the LA Chargers.

On Wednesday, Aunt Judy introduced me to the Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls loop. Recently reopened by the Forest Service after the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the moderate 4.9-mile trek gains 1,600'. Completing the loop in a clockwise direction, the paved trail crosses the bridge between the lower and upper Multnomah Falls, then steeply ascends via 11 switchbacks to the top of the ridge.

 
 

After the turnoff to the viewpoint at the top of the impressive falls, the trail becomes unpaved and  crosses a large stone bridge over Multnomah Creek.

Date hiked: 12/5/18

The route climbs for almost a mile, passing several outstanding waterfalls.



From here, the trail network extends to Larch Mountain, Devil's Rest and Angel's Rest. The summit of Devil's Rest (~2,408') is a forest-covered knob, but the journey there is beautiful. The detour should have only added three miles, but the connecting Foxglove Trail was not maintained so we ended up backtracking.

 
 

Eventually, we found our way back to Trail #419, which descends to Wahkeena Falls. At the bottom, a short half-mile hike that parallels the Old Columbia River Highway leads back to Multnomah Falls.

 
 

Aunt Judy and I knocked out close to 10 miles in five hours (9:30am-2:30pm). It was dry but cold--likely my last proper hike before the winter rains set in.

That night, Kyle and I met Aunt Judy and her friends at McMenamins on the Columbia in Vancouver. The Christmas Ship Parade packs restaurants along the rivers for two weeks every December. This Portland tradition started in 1954 with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club. Today, the Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 60 boats between the Columbia and Willamette River fleets.

 

Over the weekend, Aunt Judy and I made a date night at the downtown Keller Auditorium. Portland's Singing Christmas Tree has brought the joy of Christmas to all ages for 56 seasons. This lively musical production showcases both contemporary and traditional holiday music performed by adult and youth choir voices, dance numbers from the Jefferson Dancers and special numbers by local actors and musicians. 

The holiday theme continued with my work family's party at Brix Tavern, a Northwest venue offering American comfort food in a renovated warehouse. It was a very enjoyable evening, and fun to see everyone outside of "work mode." Overall, I am learning to appreciate several aspects of my job, but above all, the work culture is phenomenal.