Four Downtown Marketing Initiative retail partners recently shared their favorite Christmas Eve traditions in Sara Perry’s Oregonian column for December 21st. Check out their unique traditions in the article and then post your favorite holiday traditions in the comments below.

Nine days ago, the weathermen predicted a storm so I went to the store and felt a little foolish but thought I’d stock up even if it was a conspiracy to get people shopping. The next day was snowy and I felt wonderfully wise. Now, it’s over a week later, 15 inches of snow higher, and I’m down to my last grapefruit.

My kitchen window view yesterday before another 6 inches came down.

So, it’s been a day of working from home, impromptu chicken (frozen breast) and noodles with peanut sauce (had to substitute ginger powder for fresh, and make my own version of chili sauce) and trying I am to remain optimistic despite losing our LAD holiday party today and many other inconveniences.

It does remind me of the NYC Blizzard of 96 when everything shut down except for my office. I was told that despite the state of emergency those of us who could still walk to work were expected in. I got there, had nothing to do, and made a lunch reservation for Bolo, Bobby Flay’s Spanish place across the street on 22nd. Three of us camped at a table, ordered a bottle of wine, had a 4 hour lunch and called it a day. Snow days are probably not the best days to impose autoritarian rules.

I guess the best thing about storms like this is the opportunity to be reminded that our tendency to think everything is within our control is a comfortable allusion.

It’s been fun to simply get caught up on house projects, pack for Mexico with the hope that I will in fact fly out on Thursday, and enjoy the scrumptous treats in my cabinets.

Tonight, I’ve tucked in with a ginger bread cookie from Two Tarts (Thanks Mark!) and a delicious Chocolate Stout from Rogue’s fantastic Thanksgiving Weekend garage sale. No complaints from this snowed in girl.

Late night Oregon snack -- stout and ginger cookies.

How fun!

LAD has launched blogs for clients, talked about blogging in front of key industry groups and now we are joining the party.

For LAD this has meaning because it allows us to share all the cool things we have the privilege of working on in a more real time situation.

In fact, one of our most exciting projects, the development of the identity and positioning of Lucier Restaurant is just now beginning to become part of the Portland dialogue and we are so excited about our work and contribution to this seminal project.

When LAD was first invited to talk to Chris and Tyanne Dussin, the owners of Lucier, about the project all we knew was that we had worked with this couple before when we launched Penner-Ash wine Cellars ( Link to Penner-Ash website) . LAD believed Lucier would be as equally exciting. We were right.

Our concept in developing the name or identity for Lucier was to project a French sensibility while connecting directly to Oregon. When Lisa was going through the concept development process, she came across an interesting character in Oregon’s history – Ettienne Luicer, the founder of Oregon’s first farmring colony. Bingo! His melodic French name and his pioneering efforts in agriculture were perfect. It struck LAD that Lucier would potentially become a wonderful icon for the quality and excitement found at this new restaurant.

As with all new ventures, the jury is out. Only the market will decide the relevancy of Lucier. And so the same holds true with LAD’s new blog.

We hope you enjoy reading about our thoughts, adventures, observations and stories and that they help you stop and appreciate what is beautifully presented in front of you as a delicious dish or perhaps a chilled cocktail. It takes a lot of commitment to share great taste and we aspire to those moments. Please feel free to stay in touch and contact us if you wish. We’d love for you to join the conversation.

May you dance like no one’s watching. May you sing like no one’s listening. And may you live as if each day is your last.

Cheers,

Lisa Donoughe and the LAD communications team