Wedding Pics

Our wedding pictures are up on Snapfish.com. I'm sending out an email tonight. If you don't get the email linking you to the snapfish album let us know.
A few things:
The gold ring that you see in a lot of pictures is from my mother's side of the family from the Civil War era.
You may have seen some ladies with little birdie boutonnieres on--they were Rachel (best bi-otch, aka my little sis from Smith College) and my four matrons of honor. These four ladies were very influential as I was growing up and, as well as providing me lots of love and support, showed me different ways you can be a woman. Since this event is the transition to me heading my own household, I felt it only natural to honor my role models.
Here's a bit about them (from left to right):
Abbie: Tante Abbie rented out a room in our basement when I was a kid and she was getting her PhD in Chemistry. Abbie rode her bike everywhere (no car for her), she was also a no-nonsense brainy lady, a vegetarian and meditator. She encouraged me to do what was important to me and had faith that I could do it. Now she lives on an organic farm in a green home w/ Noel (the photographer) and will soon be training for an across country bike ride (starting when she turns 60).
Dee: Dee! Perhaps a bit too young to be a matron, but I mean it as good thing. Dee lived/lives across the street from my childhood home. We met when I was six. She seemed very exotic and mysterious, with her dark living room and many cats (bonus: she also stocked many sugar items I would never have seen otherwise). Dee has always been there for me, she has treated me like an equal since the beginning. She is a very loyal friend to many people and animals, an excellent correspondent and a fan of laughter. She also is a woman who likes to serve the community through many food programs. But...she does this on her terms, she taught me how important volunteer work is for the volunteer as well as the recipients.
My mom: Mom, you are one wild and crazy lady. If you know my mom, you know she is a trip. First of all my mom gave me life, and a very good foundation--tons of meditation while I was in the womb. She also taught me about working to get what you want out of life, and staying true to yourself. More importantly she teaches me everyday about the fruits of this hard labor...whether it be seeing a relationship bloom or being master of your physical domain.
Cheryl: My aunt is the total Earth mom. She has eight children, six of which she delivered naturally at home. Even though her children are all grown up, she continues to babysit. She also is committed to her relationship with God. I still remember her asking me if I believed in God. I said that I wasn't sure. Her response was: "Well, there is a God and he believes in you." That was just the right thing to say. She has always been open minded about my own spiritual practices and lifestyle choices, and a steady force in my life.
Thanks to all my matrons. You have given me so much!
We'll be adding a few other pictures later of our tree climb with Abbie and Noel, and our honeymoon on Orcas Island. We'll keep you posted.

Thank You!!!

Thank you so much to all who participated in the wedding whether you were there physically or in spirit. You made our day so special. Really, it was beyond anything we could have hoped for.

Wedding Photos

A very special shout out to our buddy Noel who did the wedding photos. He really went above and beyond. This means that soon we will have some more photos up here, as well as a link to some sort of photo album. We may just have to go on our honey moon first, but check back in a couple weeks for the photos. Here's Noel with his new Douc monkey:

Here's my fav so far (it has kevin's super happy face!):

Welcome! (New Posts are Below This One)

Welcome to our site of marriage and love! On this site you will find info that will be helpful if you are coming to the wedding in Portland. Places to stay, things to do while your here, transportation tips, etc. Also you will find fun facts about the love of Kevin and Lily, and some info about the big day itself. We will be adding info as we get closer to the big day, so check back. We are really excited that you will be participating in our union. Thanks for your support!
Also, please fill free to make comments--just click on the "# of comments" link at the end of the post. Then fill in your comment and sign it with a blogger id, nickname, or anonymous (the easy option). Then click "publish your comment". We'd love to hear your feedback/questions.

Schedule--Updated!

Hola friends and family!
Here is our schedule for the wedding and days before:

Thurs: small rehearsal at our house (you know if you're supposed to be there) and dinner at Nutshell at 7:30.

Fri: Family dinner (if you're related to us, we hope you can come!) at Queen of Sheba at 630pm.

Sat: Both Kevin and I will be enjoying our last day/night of freedom. (You know what that means--trips to the strip club for all--just kidding!!!) We will also be doing some last minute wedding stuff.

Sunday: Wedding at Leach Botanical Gardens at 1130, followed by lunch (also at Leach) about 1230 or 1pm. Leach garden is so beautiful, please enjoy a walk around the garden. We'll clear out by 4-5pm.
Later: After party at Ground Kontrol, and the Someday Lounge, with some eating before hand at the Vegetarian House at 730--we'll give more info at the wedding if you'll be joining us.

Monday: Some of you will be waiting until Tuesday to fly out, due to this whole Memorial Day weekend. Regardless of when you fly: mercury goes into retrograde on Monday, which often means communication and travel issues. No need to panic, just arrive a little earlier for flights and take you bags on with you if you can!

Car Pooling!

Hey everyone. We want to car pool as much as we can on the morning of the wedding. So, if you rented a car let us know and we will hook you up with some car buddies.
If you want to use public transport go to the TriMet website.

Basketball!

There will be a basketball game on Saturday afternoon and you're invited. Check back for more details, or give a call when you get here.
-k

Saturday in Portland

Given our schedule, many of you will have some time on your hands on Saturday to enjoy Portland. That is totally awesome for you. If you take the max downtown, you can easily enjoy the following activities:

Portland Saturday Market, outdoors, rain or shine :)--a couple densely packed blocks of vendors, many selling their own craft work. Max stop is Skidmore Fountain, but it will be hard to miss.

Chinese Gardens. These gardens take up a walled off city block. They are very beautiful, but a little expensive ($7 adults/$6 seniors). Still if you want the best of both worlds (to see downtown Portland and Nature's glory all in one day) you can't beat it. Inside there is a little tea shop called the Tao of Tea, which we recommend for tea, snacks and light meals. Max stop is Old Town/Chinatown stop (right before Skidmore fountain, and right after the bridge if you are coming from the East). Get off and walk two blocks Northwest--eh, voila!

Powell's City of Books. If you are a literate human being you will kick yourself for missing this place. Coming from the East (that includes the Saturday Market/Chinese Garden area) get off at "the last stop in fareless square" aka Galleria/SW 10th, walk North on SW 1oth .2 miles to 1000 W. Burnside. And if you are a friend of a book lover, but not one yourself, you will find Powell's surrounded by big city shopping opportunities.

Portland Right Now

Three things about Portland in early March:

1. It is freaking beautiful. Check out our view:


2. The best smell: Jasmine--so divine. You're walking along, and all the sudden--wowsers!
3. The worst smell: cat pee. My theory is that it is some kind of mold or fungus that grows right at the end of winter. But maybe all the cats in Portland are in heat. It is a mystery.

Glorious Green Goo... Moss

Portland in the winter. Basically, it's gray. Dark gray and wet. Now, the awesome thing is that a) green looks really good when it's gray out and the whole place is covered in green. b) you can get on your galoshes and remember reading the stories of Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins and their rainy day Portland adventures and make your own footprints in the mud.
Which is exactly what we did when we went down to St. John's on a very muddy day and checked out Cathedral Bridge and the ducks and seagulls that were hanging out in large numbers.
Interestingly, unlike Iowa where ducks reign supreme, geese are the most prevalent. Sooo, it was nice to see some ducks while visiting, what some call, the "mid western" area of Portland (aka St. John's).
Have a great day!

lily

Portland can be a bit wacky...

So, here are some places you can go that are Lily and Kevin certified.

Want to hear some music in a place that looks like a David Lynch movie?
The Doug Fir Lounge is the place for you. They have the best sound system in town and a swanky Twin Peaks attitude. Home of the thickest "Agent Cooper -style" coffee poured in Portland. Also, right next door to the Jupiter Hotel.

Looking for some good eats?
Portland has ten billion places to get food. The following are a few places that lily and I go often. If you have any special needs or just a particular craving drop us a line and will give you the low down.
Paradox Cafe is a little diner on S.E. Belmont that has mint vinyl booths, janky art, and serves great veg food. "Baracuda" is always on when you walk in the door... seriously.
Tao of Tea is right across the street on Belmont. They have a truly awesome selection of teas from all over the world and a chill place to take them in. They serve finger foods like edamame, samosas, and sweets. They have fresh local made kombucha that gets Lily drunk and two kinds of yerba mate. Our newest discovery: the amazing pear lasse.
Veganopolis is a great place to have lunch downtown. As the name implies, all the food is veganized and so tasty. They have good art on the walls and on occasion, a serenading musician. Lily just reminded me about their breakfast buffet... wow.
Voodoo Doughnuts is the place to go if you find yourself downtown at 3 A.M. with a mohawk and strange desire to get married. A crustier hole you will not find. Oh yeah, they even have vegan donuts.
If your in the N.E. we recommend the Vita Cafe on Alberta. Part diner, part coffee shop, part bar this place houses an eclectic set of situations. Try their totally-worth-it vegan desserts.
The Nutshell is a good place to go if you want to have dinner on the fancy-side. Their menu is not your standard fare... they serve oils and salts from all over the world. They are located in the recently transformed Mississippi neighborhood.

Want to find Kevin?
First, pinch yourself and make sure you really want to go down this path. Second, strap on your unicorn horn and go to Ground Kontrol. Spy Hunter, TRON, or Missle Command will wash over you like a mothers bedtime song. 21 and over after 7PM. Drinks and junk food flow like paste from a tube. They even have a super old skool b/w photo booth.

Want to see a $3 movie?
The Laurelhurst Theater on Burnside is our favorite. They have a good selection of beers and some seriously skanky(in a good way) pizza.

Are you going to show up on Thursday?
Make sure you go see the hippest art scene in town. The Alberta neighborhood hosts a low brow art walk on the last Thursday of every month. Folks pack the street buying and selling their homemade creations. Expect wack-a-maximus.

Want to see a blue heron and then go to a carnival?
Oaks Bottom is Lily's favorite outdoor scene. A long winding walking path that criss-crosses a beautiful marsh. Wildlife galore. Near the Brooklyn neighborhood in the SE, Oaks bottom is easy to access with public tranport and even easier on bicycle(see scenic route to Leech by bike) . If you go far enough down the path mother nature opens up and give birth to a honest carnival. This is not a mirage. Cotton candy, Whack-a-mole, a Farris Wheel, the Octopus, Bumper Cars, even a small roller coaster... you know the drill. Mission: can you find the screech owls that live in the merry-go-round?

Can you imagine a vegan mini-mall?
Food Fight has created quite a stir on 12th and SE Stark. A grocery, bakery/coffee shop, clothing store, and a tattoo parlor... all owned and operated by vegans. Pick up some fake shrimp, a head band, and get a tattoo all on your way home from work.

Do you like to read?
You Must go to Powell's City of Books!!! It started here.

The Japanese Garden will be in bloom.

The Japanese Garden is so cool and easily accessible with public transportation. What a great way to spend an afternoon.

Wanna hang out in a national park?

Visit the Columbia Gorge.























Check out Crown Point.

Hang out with the Savage Bastard... of Love

He is a Mexi-CAN not a Mexi-CAN'T

Wanna see Stonehenge?

We've got one.

A hop and a skip from Portland proper.

We also have haunted tunnels.
check it.

Maybe you'll see a UFO?
track it.

Symbols of Our Love--Beware the Easily Queasy

Ah yes...our love. It is a profound and mysterious force. So profound that we have had to come up with some new lingo--'love' while acceptable on most occasions, just is not adequate on others.

Pineapple is the word we chose to represent our love which is too strong for words.

Pinky swear is how we got married the first eighty million times.

And love chunks, ah love chunks, are what we are. Not referring to small representations of farm animals actually. No, love chunks, by our definition are energy balls of radiant love.







Can you deal with it?

Giving Gifts

We love you guys and your support of/presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could receive.

Of course we love to receive presents, but we really don't need that much. If you feel like giving a gift, consider a donation to Heifer, or to our spiritual teachers.

If you prefer to give a more traditional gift, we have registered at Crate and Barrel, CB2, and Kitchen Kaboodle (a local chain, with some of their inventory on line).

Bicycle Rentals in Portland

Portland is a very bicycle friendly place. I often ride to work at Bullseye Glass with a herd of other bicycle commuters, like gazelle on the Savanna. If you want to experience gazelle-like freedom while you visit, here are a couple of places you can rent bicycles.

Citybike Workers Cooperative
Veloce Bicycles

Places to Stay in Portland

Portland is an awesome city. We think you'll have a blast. Here are some hotel/B&B options for around and under $100.

Portland is very accessible by public transportation. If you are planning on using public transportation when you visit, we think that is great, and totally doable. If you are going public transport during your trip, we recommend you stay somewhere along the Max train lines.

The Doubletree Hotel ($85 on the internet) is the best option we found, especially if you are not interested in renting a car--there is a direct train (MAX) from the airport to the Doubletree, the hotel is about a half mile from our place, many restaurants and shops, and it is considerably cheaper than the other hotels in the area. The hotel is in the Fareless Square--meaning that you can take the train for free to and from downtown Portland. The downside: it is right next to a huge mall. Getting to the Gardens by public transport is not that great. Never fear...we'd be happy to arrange some carpooling.

The Jupiter Hotel ($102) is the coolest place to stay that we know of. It is on East Burnside, surrounded by many shops (selling artist made goods and vintage) and is adjacent to the Doug Fir (Kevin's top pick for Portland Music venues), it is also not far from downtown and China Town.

B & B's
There are a ton of other options if you are more flexible with transportation. A Painted Lady Inn ($100+) is a few blocks from where we live and the Broadway neighborhood--shops and restaurants. The Bluebird Guesthouse ($50-80) looks very cute--stay in rooms named after famous Portlanders, like Beverly Cleary my fav childhood author, and Elliot Smith, one of my favorite musicians. The Bluebird is a couple miles away from us in the Southeast (think hippies, progressives).

Hostels
The Hawthorne Hostel ($17+) is in one of the hippest areas of town (Haight-Ashbury-ish). Public transportation accessible by bus. The HI-Portland Hostel (about $50 for a private room for 2, but they have family and dorm rooms too) is in NW Portland. It is three blocks from the fareless square (free transportation). The NW area is trendy--lots of shopping, galleries and places to eat (this area of town can be a little pricier). Near "the Pearl", "Old Town" and "Nob Hill". Definitely a popular area and definitely accessible for public transport types.