I saw this amazingly funny video over at Oregon Media Insiders and decided it was worth a repost. If you have ever wondered what happens between commercial breaks, here’s your chance to get an inside peek.
Lest you think this is a one time set-up, here’s the same crew, different night.
Thanks to all of you who read our last installment of “Name That LADie” and ventured a guess about our mystery poster’s identity.
“It’s scary in the attic.”
First of all, in order to full appreciate my dilemma you’ll need a bit of background. Although the LAD office has a production room and storage area, we do frequent mailings and need an place to store our extensive supply of boxes, packaging peanuts, folders, archived files, etc. So, we lease a storage space in the attic area of our building.
Imagine, if you will, a small landing at the top of two flights stairs with six foot ceilings, exposed pipes and three old doors leading to the storage spaces. Adding to the ominous environment is lighting that can be described at best as dim.
Can you picture it? Excellent.
My “Name that LADie” adventure starts out simply enough – it was a quite Friday with only one other LADie and myself in the office. It was around eleven o’clock when I realized I needed an older file and after searching through our filing cabinet I knew I had to go upstairs to get what I was looking for. I grabbed the keys to the attic and our storage unit, breezing through the door and quickly yelling to my co-worker that I was headed upstairs and would be right back. They don’t call them famous last words for nothing.
After entering our storage space, I made my way across the room, found the box I was looking for and opened the lid to the file folder. And then I heard it. The unmistakable sound of the door clicking closed behind me.
No big deal – all doors have to open from the inside, right? Oh, no. Not our old broken door lock. Once the door had closed behind me, it had locked shut and wasn’t coming open. This is the moment I freaked out.
You see, I have a very active imagination and every time I’m in the attic space I manage to convince myself that Michael Meyers is hiding out in the storage unit next door and he’s about to get me. Crazy, but true.
After a few deep breaths (thanks yoga) I was able to calm myself down and start thinking straight. I wasn’t that far up from the nearest business, someone was bound to hear me if I started screaming for help.
Alas, it was not meant to be. After about ten minutes of yelling and banging on the door I gave up decided to sit down and wait it out (it was about this time that I decided a psycho killer was bound to hear my screams and come eat me for dinner). Plus, I knew that eventually people would notice I was missing and come to find me – after all, they did know where I was.
An hour later I knew it was time to take matters into my own hands. If I wanted to get out of that storage unit (and boy did I) I was going to have to do it myself.
My first lockpicking thought was a credit card – I’d seen this particular device used many times with great success on tv. The only problem with that one is a shocking lack of credit cards in most storage spaces. My next strategy was to search the room and see what I could find that might be of any use. Now, you’d be really surprised at the number of everday office supplies that might be good lock picking tools – letter openers, staple removers and paperclips (this one seems kind obvious, and yet it really performed the poorest of all my attempts).
Then I found it. The ultimate tool for unlocking the attic door – the metal rod on a green hanging file. It’s size and shape are the perfect design to reach between the door and the door frame and open the metal clasp on the lock.
Ha ha! Take that attic!
As I made my way downstairs towards our office I was still half dazed and completely astounded that I was able to break free. I was also excited to let my co-worker know that I had escaped safe and sound and that they could call off the search. To my surprise I learned that no one was looking for me – in fact, she thought I had taken an early lunch and was returning late!
After recounting my harrowing tale, my coworkers were understandably awed and inspired by my keen wit and ability to think clearly under pressure. Following this unfortunate episode (and a commendable peformance with a fire extinguisher) I received a new office nickname – just call me MacGyver.
I’m just back from 5 days in Chicago visiting a food writer friend who has courageously started a non-profit to educate kids about tasting real food The Good Food Project. Go Susan Taylor!
Susan conducting an apple tasting for fourth graders. We tried Cameos, Granny Smith's, Fujis and Golden Delicious. Cameos won that day.
It was a fun immersion into local food culture and all that’s happening in the Great Mid-west.
Here are a few highlights:
Best Food in Chinatown — Seven Treasures Restaurant. Amazing $4.00 bowl of soup with handmade shrimp and pork dumplings, gorgeously seasoned with white pepper. We also indulged in old-fashioned egg rolls sealed with peanut butter. Yum!
Favorite local-ish beer was Founders Imperial Stout. Great depth of flavor — coffee notes, dark molasses.
Best new restaurant – the PUBLICAN
Designed like a German beer hall with long tables and striking modern glass globe lighting, this is the “it” place for fantastic upscale pub fare (I refuse to use the word gastro pub, I think it sounds like you need an antacid). Try the boudin blanc and the ricotta with roasted butternut squash. Belgian list is fantastic, although we were steered to an odd Lambic, not my favorite beer of the night.
Best New (opens in mid-March) pie shop. Hoosier Mama. The chef/owner has a huge pedigree but a tiny ego. The goal here is world-class pie with a cup of Joe for $5.00.
Susan interviews Paula Haney for the Chicago Tribune while I eat pie and shoot photos.
Best Neighborhood Lunch spot lula. I loved the roasted veggie eggs benedict and the blackberry bellini. This place has an Alice Waters meets indie rocker vibe. Fantastic menu.
Best breakfast in Greektown, Meli Café. Wasn’t crazy about the oversized omelette but loved the cornmeal “meli cakes”.
Best breakfast in Andersonville (where I stayed). M. Henry. Yes, more coffee please.
Best bottle shop in Fine Spirits. This shop specializes in well-chosen artisan beer, wine and spirits. Its shelves are merchandised like a Barneys window and its selections reflect a palate that’s after flair and value.
Ciao for now.
Deschutes Brewery’s Buzzsaw Brown was paired with a “Baked Potato with Wild Mushroom Ragu” recipe in the March issue of Food & Wine magazine. Check out the recipe below.
… and I like it!
This Saturday, breweries around the state will be opening their doors as part of the Oregon Brewers Guild’s first annual Zwickelmania. Zwickelmania offers visitors a chance to tour Oregon breweries, meet the brewers and sample their favorite beers, all during Oregon’s Sesquicentennial weekend.
It all takes place at breweries and brewpubs across the state on February 14th, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00p.m. The best part – all Zwickelmania events are FREE!
You can find more details and plan your own Zwickelmania itinerary at the Oregon Brewers Guild website.
Click here to see Deschutes Brewery’s Cam O’Connor on KPTV’s “Good Day Oregon” where he gets in the spirit and shows off his zwickel.
If you’re an avid reader of The Oregonian’s FoodDAY section, there’s no doubt you saw last Tuesday’s feature on all things coconut. Tropical, smooth and delicious – what’s not to love? If you haven’t had a chance to read it just, you can check out the whole feature here.
Well, great minds must think alike, because last week I tried a new recipe for coconut rum cake that was such a hit with the the LADies in the office that I was asked to share the recipe with all our blog readers. You can find my recipe below – the original recipe is from the food network, but I’ve made several modifications.
Coconut Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
Into a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Using a hand held mixer, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs eggbeaters until just combined. Add vanilla and coconut extract. Add milk, rum and dry ingredients, being careful not to over mix. Mix in the shredded coconut.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool on wire racks before frosting.
Using a hand-held mixer beat cream cheese and butter together until light and smooth. Add vanilla extract and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar 1cup at a time until thoroughly incorporated.
Frost cupcakes high with about 4 tablespoons of icing. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes.
Portland is feeling the Valentine’s Day Spirit and both the Hotel Monaco Portland and Hotel Vintage Plaza are on board! Check out these two events broadcast live on air this Friday!
Win THE “Proposal Package” at the Hotel Monaco Portland
Thinking about proposing to the one you love this Valentine’s Day? Watch Drew Carney’s Out & About morning show on KGW News Channel 8 this Friday, February 13th from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. as he broadcasts live from Hotel Monaco Portland and lets viewers know how they can register to win the Hotel Monaco’s “Proposal Package” – a package valued at $5,000. A helicopter ride, a beautiful ring and dinner in wine country? Yes, it’s all included. Watch to see what else is included in this package!
“Say I Do Again” at Hotel Vintage Plaza
Listen live this Friday, February 13th to the Daria and Mitch Show on 105.1 The Buzz as couples “Say I Do Again” at downtown Portland’s Hotel Vintage Plaza. “Say I Do Again” is a Valentine’s inspired event that gives fourteen married couples a second chance to share that special moment that went sour the first time around and to receive a shot at a second honeymoon.
“Say I Do Again” takes place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on The Buzz 105.1 FM, as couples share their wedding mishap stories over the air. Whether there was a catastrophe with the wedding, the vow exchange, the engagement, the ring, the honeymoon or the relatives, you’re going to want to hear these stories!
Check out more on this event here.
Two Portland Indie Wine Festival Alumni, Boedecker Cellars and Grochau Cellars, opened the Portland Wine Project in the Fall of 2008. Last week Portland’s newest urban winery was included in The New York Times article on D.I.Y city wineries. More exciting news, the Portland Indie Wine Festival will take place at the Portland Wine Project on May 2nd.
Check out the article online here.
It’s that time of year again, yes, it’s Indie time! For those of you who don’t know, Lisa founded the Portland Indie Wine Festival back in 2005, and it’s been LAD’s signature event and passion project ever since.
We’ve altered the format a bit this year, but trust us, it’s for the better. One day with all 40 wineries, new location and hours, VIP tickets, gourmet bites from Portland’s best chefs and restaurants, a wallet-friendly wine warehouse sale and a Friday night fundraising dinner for the Indie Wine Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to preserving and sustaining the art of craft winemaking.
For more info go to: www.indiewinefestival.com or click here to read our Indie blog where we’ll keep you up to date with what’s going on in the PIWF world. You can also follow us on twitter and Facebook.
Buy your tickets online here.
Hope to see you there! Oh yes, and if you’re interested in volunteering this year, email info{at}indiewinefestival.com.
