HHH Girls Night and Date Night Favorites

No offense to Doug, but one of the best Valentine's Days I've ever had was in Boston with Anna, Shannon, and Erica. We had an early dinner (and sake bombs) at our favorite sushi restaurant, indulged Anna by meeting some weirdo author at our go-to Emerson bar, and then went to the movies, which really just turned into downing nips in the front row (nips = mini liquor bottles obvs.) and then having a drunken heart-to-heart in the theater bathroom. Seriously, it was the best.

So in honor of that night and because Valentine's Day is coming up real soon too, here are some of Kel's and my favorite Portland spots for Girls Nights. And, because we don't want the boys to feel left out, we'll include some of our Date Night favorites too. (FYI, we filled our lists out separately, just to see how much they would or wouldn't vary.)

Girls Night:
Early Happy Hour
Katie: Mint/820 or Elephants Deli
Kelly: Noble Rot

Late Happy Hour
Katie: Driftwood Room or Cocotte
Kelly: Driftwood Room

Wine Bar
Katie: Sauvage
Kelly: Ambonnay

Cocktails
Katie: St. Jack
Kelly: Mint/820

Dinner
Katie: Por Que No?
Kelly: Luc Lac or Thai Peacock

Dancing
Katie: Splash  
Kelly: Jones or Boiler Room

Brunch
Katie: Sweedeedee
Kelly: Gravy

Girl Time
Katie: Pedis and mimosas at Oasis Nails and Spa
Kelly: Pedis and champs at Oasis Nails and Spa

Date Night: 
Early Happy Hour
Katie: Clyde Common
Kelly: Paadee

Late Happy Hour
Katie: Cafe Castagna
Kelly: Nostrana

Casual Drinks
Katie: Hale Pele
Kelly: Elephants Deli

Casual Dinner
Katie: Dove Vivi
Kelly: Boxer Sushi or Samuari Blue

Special Occasion Drinks
Katie: The Box Social
Kelly: Imperial

Special Occasion Dinner
Katie: Beast or Toro Bravo
Kelly: Beast or Le Pigeon

Dessert
Katie: Fifty Licks
Kelly: Fifty Licks

After Dinner Entertainment
Katie: Curious Comedy Theater
Kelly: Helium Comedy Club or Movie at Kennedy School

Happy (Early) Valentine's Day to you and yours! Cheers!

Aspirations II

Back in January, I made a list of eight bars and restaurants I wanted to try in the next two months.

It's a little past my deadline, but here are my results:

Happy Hours:
The Box Social- Fail. Haven't made it here yet.
Night Light Lounge- Eh, read my post about their hh here.
Nostrana- Obsessed. Combined, Kel and I have probably eaten there once a week since we first tried it. Post coming soon.   

Restaurants:
Olympic Provisions- Made the mistake of taking my not-so-meat-loving mom here. She was not a fan. I would like to try it again before making my final decision.
Boke Bowl-  Not so much. Read Kel's post here.
Tasty n Sons- Fail again. Still need to try.

Bars: 
Apex- Doug was not as impressed as he wanted to be and God, that screen displaying their beer options is horrible. Hurt my eyes to look at. We might be back.
Firehouse- And still need to go here too.

Let's try again.

Here's my list of spots to try by May 19: 

Happy Hours:
The Box Social
Driftwood Room- have been for drinks but not food. Planning to take the girls soon.
Sniff Cafe- Kel and I want to take her pups here. Drinks & doggies = woot!

Restaurants:
Mi Mero Mole- was reminded I wanted to try their tacos after seeing them in Willamette Weekly's 2012 Cheap Eats guide.
Olympic Provisions- hope to giving the SE location a try this time.
Tasty n Sons- will be kicked out of Portland if I don't go here soon.

Bars:  
Firehouse
Clyde Common- 2012 James Beard semi-finalist for Outstanding Bar Program.