Mother Hoods: Portland, Oregon
Written by James Kicinski-McCoy
Photography by Photographed By Mikola Accuardi
Looking to fill the itinerary for a trip to the Northwest? Your search is over! Let Portland-based mother of (almost) three, Anna Margaret of the colorful online clothing boutique Le Souk Le Souk, be your personal guide with a run-down of her absolute favorite spots in the city, below. Your trip is a sure success with this lineup of both kid-friendly and adult-approved must-visit sites. We know we can’t wait to visit her neck of the woods!
What are your favorite places in Portland to…
1. Eat with the kids? “It’s hard with kids because rarely do they both like or want the same foods as each other, but our family go-to tends to be Por Que No. Yes, there is almost always a quick line out the front door—if you live in or have ever visited Portland, you’ll know that people are always waiting in line for their food—but it has an easy, order-at-the-counter style and is so delish! I always get the Brian’s Bowl with fish and pineapple. Plus, if mom and dad are in need of a margarita, Por Que No has got us covered! We also love Pips Donuts. In my opinion, they have the best chai and matcha lattes in town, and their mini donuts are not only adorable, but also delicious. You can easily eat a dozen without feeling guilty! On a warm day, we like to visit Cloud City Ice Cream for a refreshing treat. My favorite is their Earl Grey Blueberry. It’s a small shop and not as crazy as some of the others in town like Salt & Straw.”
2. Eat with just adults? “Portland has no shortage of restaurants continuously popping up, as well as restaurant pop-up dinner spaces! My sister Mona and her partner Jaret own Tournant, an incredible culinary event space and catering company in northeast Portland. While they are well known for their Oyster Social Fridays, my favorite event is their pozole dinners complete with a big savory bowl of authentic Mexican pozole and a sheet pan of nachos! Their food is not only beautifully presented, but always locally sourced and full of fresh, unique flavor. One of my favorite brunch spots to take the ladies is Tusk. The food and decor is not only Instagram-worthy, but also healthy and flavorful. For a quick bite and glass of bubbly, I adore the adorable Maurice. The European vibe is simple and lovely, and the desserts are to die for.”
3. Shop for kids? “My kiddos are 14 and 10 years old now, so they’re no longer fitting into the ‘kid shopping’ category and sadly prefer an overcrowded mall these days, but I have a baby girl ready to pop out, and I’ve been having fun shopping for her at Yo. They have adorable and modern choices for baby, mom, and home. I also really love Polliwog. They carry lots of organic toys, books, and apparel.”
4. Shop for yourself? “Portland really has so many adorable little shops and small businesses, and many of them are run by young mamas! If I’m looking for something extra unique and fancy, I go to Una. They have an amazing collection of European and Japanese designers that you won’t find anywhere else. To feed my plant baby obsession, I frequent both the Portland Nursery and Solabee—so much green goodness. When in need of a special gift or some self-love, Field Trip is the place to go. They have great jewelry, decor, body products, and publications. We have an ever-growing collection of vinyl records and like to spend rainy days pouring through the stacks at Music Millennium.”
5. Play with your girls? “When my girls were little, we spent a lot of time at the Jamison Square Park water play area, but now they are older and more interested in social events like roller skating at Oaks Park and going to movies at the Academy Theater. In the summer months, we spend a lot of time swimming in the Sandy River or building sand castles at Oswald West State Beach.”
6. Play with your adult friends? “My partner and I love to go to Root Whole Body for yoga, massages, and a healthy breakfast! When I happen to have a Monday night free and feel like bringing out my inner grandma, I go to the Liberty Glass Bar for an exciting round or two of bingo. It’s an old house that’s been turned into a bar, and they have the most amazing Triscuit nachos! Another favorite bar is Expatriate. They have endless cocktails, good music, and snacks.”
7. Get out in nature? “We love to visit the local waterfalls. Our favorite is Latourell Falls. It’s located about thirty minutes east of Portland along the Columbia River Gorge and is just gorgeous. You can take a very easy, kid-friendly walk directly down to the falls, or you can take the longer 2.1-mile hike up and around the back side. It’s the perfect place to take a picnic or just get out and breathe some fresh air.”
8. Any good flea markets or thrift shops? “The Portland Flea is a fun and popular weekend spot. They pop up every month and host tons of vintage decor and apparel vendors, as well as snacks and crafters. I’ve scored some major deals on treasures for my home there. When I have time to browse racks of vintage dresses, I love going to Xtabay. They have the most luxurious and carefully curated collection of dresses! For bargain vintage, Artifact and Magpie are fun favorites.”
9. Any good museums or art installations? “My partner Srijon is an artist who recently has had shows at both The Art Gym and Upfor, two contemporary art galleries that are always worth visiting. In fact, as ‘Portland’ as it sounds, we actually run a gallery called Chicken Coop Contemporary that is located in our backyard and shares a barn with our six chickens. We have openings about every six weeks and work with artists and curators internationally. If you’re looking for a more refined space with less chickens, Adams and Ollman is excellent, as well as Fourteen30, the Portland Museum of Modern Art, and Lumber Room.”
10. Where do you take out-of-town visitors? “In the spring and summer months, I love to take visitors to the Portland Farmer’s Market. It’s every Saturday and located at Portland State University. They have an abundance of local growers, makers, bakers, and food carts! It’s the perfect place to eat lunch, shop for your greens, and listen to live music. For a snack, Blue Star Donuts is also a popular spot to take our guests.”
11. Any tourist-y places that are worth it to visit? “We like to take visitors to the Rose Garden in Washington Park, as well as the Japanese Garden. They are both really beautiful and overlook the city. Of course, Powells Books is another favorite stop—you could spend days inside! We live five minutes away from Leach Botanical Garden, too. It’s a historical, secret jewel of a garden on the outskirts of Portland that we love to show off.”
Looking for even more Portland hot spots? Be sure to check out Jenna Wilson’s Portland guide for suggestions!
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