Evolution No. 9

Okay, so there's no way I could fit into a Stormtrooper outfit. On the spectrum of Star Wars body shapes, I'm a long way from Oola, and a lot closer to Porkins. Or worse, this guy.

The flight to Portland was fine and uneventful. My sister and I arrived Saturday afternoon, rented a Chrysler Sebring sedan, and checked into the Four Points Sheraton Hotel downtown. (They had a Memorial Day weekend special that was close to half-price.) Long-time reader Kristy picked us up and drove us to the closest McMenamin's pub for dinner, then to sketch comedy courtesy of The 3rd Floor. They had a Smallville parody called Nazareth that was worth the price of admission.

"I've been in love with Mary Magdalene since the second grade."

On Sunday we ventured to Oregon wine country. Kristy warned us that our intended destination, the Sokol Blosser Winery, was like that overexposed and commercialized locale in Sideways where the Paul Giamatti character makes an ass of himself. Actually, it wasn't so bad. We paid $15 each for an introduction to 12 wines, as well as their slightly tipsy dipping oils, mustards, and chocolate.

I'm far from a wine snob, so I can say without fear that most of the wines tasted pretty good. I was a little surprised to enjoy a chilled white wine called Evolution, 8th edition. Apparently, it's their most popular wine, and a big celebration is planned in July for their release of Evolution No. 9. For more information, check their blog. And you can order a bottle online. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

After an all-too-brief visit to Powell's Books, we met up with Kristy at Typhoon, an upscale Thai restaurant adjoining the arty Hotel Lucia downtown. The food and tea were excellent, and while the prices weren't too extravagant, the ambience was. I've decided I like my Thai a little on the cafe side. (Like Saffron in San Diego.) The test is whether they serve sliced mangoes and sticky sweet coconut rice as a dessert.