Five to Do … If It’s Raining

When it’s raining and pouring and the old man is snoring, here are some indoor activities.

If you love collecting antiques and knickknacks, try your luck at the Rose City Collector’s Market. Sundays on Sept. 19, Oct. 31 and Nov. 21 you can head over to the Airport Holiday Inn on NE Columbia Boulevard to see if you find any treasures.
The Museum of Contemporary Craft has plenty of modern art to absorb on a rainy day.

Five to Do … When You Must Have Mexican

When you can’t walk another foot without a taco, torta or tortilla, try these five.

The name Super Torta is no exaggeration. In true torta tradition, the sandwiches are far too stuffed to stay between the bread. The carne asada is delicious; the lengua is divine.
Dandy tacos, petite but perfectly juicy. Porque Tinga – shredded Cascade Natural Beef in a smoky pasilla chile sauce – es muy bueno. Just say si to Por Que No?

When a regular restaurant just won’t do, here are some unique transportation/dining experiences.

The 99W Drive-In Theater is open from about May to October, and only Friday through Sunday. There isn’t a full-fledged restaurant, but they do have a concession stand.
The Portland Spirit River Cruise offers brunch, lunch, dinner and several other specialty cruises for your enjoyment. Prices range from about $20 to $100, depending on the cruise.

When you’re hungry (and thirsty) for French cuisine …

Hungry for quality carbs? Check out St. Honoré Boulangerie (that’s French for “bakery”…but you knew that.
Le Bouchon is the go-to-bistro for that authentic French dining experience and you’ll be greeted by a cheerful “Bonjour!” If you love lamb, try the lamb shanks and you won’t be disappointed.

If chess is too dull, check out these places to work up a sweat.

Portland Rock Gym has plenty of classes to show you the ropes – or in this case, the rocks. They have classes for beginners as well as challenges for more advanced.
If you like it cool while you exercise, ice skating is the sport for you. Sherwood Ice Arena is the place to be whether you want to ice skate, figure skate, or play hockey.

MusicfestNW kicked off Wednesday – here’s five (well, five-plus) suggestions on what to see and hear between Thursday and Sunday.

MFNW is going outdoors for the first time, taking over Pioneer Square to present the biggest shows of the festival. The closing-night headliner is The National (Sunday, 7:30).
Can’t afford the $60 MFNW wristband? Mid-afternoon gigs at the Wonder Ballroom are open to the cash-strapped.

When you’re visiting Oregon’s northern neighbor, here are some places you must check out.

Portland’s not the only city with a farmers market. Through Halloween, you can enjoy the Vancouver Farmer’s Market from 9-3 on Saturdays and 10-3 on Sundays.
At the Clark County Historical Museum, you can learn all about the New Deal of the early 1930s, and reflect on the 30-year anniversary of the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption.

If tentacles don’t offend you, you’ll love these squid-filled suggestions.

Golden Horse restaurant has a separate section of the menu just for oysters and squid. We recommend the salt & pepper squid, but you can’t go wrong when there are tentacles involved.
It’s a bit of a drive, but the Oregon Coast Aquarium has lots of awesome underwater life to observe, including squid. At least, we think they have squid. They’re an aquarium, right?

When you’re looking for a bold meal, check out these weird dishes.

The menu at Pho Van is pretty normal for the most part. They offer plenty of rolls and rice or noodle entrees for vegetarians and carnivores. The oddity isn’t the food; it’s the drinks.
Montage has a menu full of creole-inspired dishes, including crawfish beignets and blackened catfish. What makes this restaurant unique is the alligator.

When you just can’t get enough live theater, here are five stages to check out.

Theatre Vertigo aspires to produce high-quality theater that is ensemble-driven. Their next play is titled “Dead Man’s Cell Phone.” Performances start in mid-October.
One of the main venues for theater in Portland is the Artists Repertory Theatre. The next play to take center-stage is the Eugene O’Neil comedy “Ah, Wilderness!”