The Pendleton Round Up is a yearly gathering that began in 1910 as “a frontier exhibition of picturesque pastimes, Indian and military spectacles, cowboy racing and bronco busting for the championship of the Northwest.”
Oh, the spectacle. And I’m talking in the stands, where 50,000 folks collectively defied the limits of what one can bedazzle. Barrel racing; rhinestones; fried bread; lifted trucks; wide gaits; Coors; teepees; Wranglers; and pure equine magic.
Dinner at Trade, where I dined on smoked pork short ribs, mushroom and fig flatbread, and Pretty Things Jack D’Or beer. Coffee and pastries baked in-house at Thinking Cup Coffee. Dinner at Myers and Chang (corn and coconut soup, pork belly buns and dumplings) and Pumpkin ice cream at Kimball Farm. North to Concord to see the Revolutionary War’s North Bridge, Minute Man Trail, Sleepy Hollow graveyard, and the Main Streets Café (the Harvest Sandwich: turkey, homemade cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce and Swiss cheese).
We visited Denver, CO to mountain bike, attend a wedding, and caffeinate. A lovely latte from Happy Coffee Co and a sweet potato Belgian waffle breakfast from Crema Coffee House; coffee at 2914 Coffee Shop; secret cocktails at Denver’s speakeasy Williams & Graham; Dale’s Pale Ale from Oskar Blues Brewery; Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Whiskey on the rocks; mountain biking outside of Golden, CO on Centennial Cone’s Mayhem Gulch trail; the Western Art collection at the Denver Art Museum; The Walnut Room Pizzeria’s artichoke/bacon pizza; a wedding reception held in the Colorado History Museum; and Premier League football at the British Bulldog pub. More coverage of our mountain biking adventure can be found at Washed Magazine, including video proof of my incredible skills and speed.
Riffle recently opened mere blocks from my office and today’s lunch was a symphony of sea-begotten creatures. We started with the poached giant shrimp, fresh oysters and mussels with fries (a perfect pairing).
Riffle’s chowder of mussels, clams, bacon and potatoes sits in the perfect balance of broth and cream; and was accompanied by the shaved brussels sprout salad with Pecorino, lemon and olive oil, and toasted walnuts. Do not miss the homemade pineapple-basil sodas (I had two).
