A Portland Photowalk

posted April 3, 2013 by Holly Hayes

Saturday March 30 was one of those freakishly hot days that sometimes appear in Portland in early spring: clear blue sky and a high temperature in the upper 80s. So I took my camera downtown to capture the cherry blossoms in bloom, and ended up spending several hours on a very pleasant photowalk. Here are some highlights.

Cherry Blossoms in Portland
Waterfront Park with Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms in Waterfront Park, Portland

The cherry blossoms were lovely and smelled so good. It's particularly magical when a breeze comes up and the blossoms fall like light snow. I don't think any of my photos captured their beauty properly, which is a little disappointing, but it was fun to try.

Portlandia
Portlandia statue at the Portland Building
Portland Sign in Black and White
Some fun with black-and-white: the Portland sign at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Mark Building from Park, Portland, Oregon
View across the Park Blocks to the 1925 Mark Building, now part of the Portland Art Museum.
Mark Building Facade in Autumn, Portland, Oregon
East facade of the Mark Building with fall foliage reflected in the upper window. Built in 1925 as a Masonic Temple, it is now part of the Portland Art Museum.

After a couple of hours in the hot sun I was ready for a break and cold drink. As I happened to be near the historic Ladd Carriage House, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to check out the new Raven & Rose restaurant.

View from East with Evening Sun Rays
View from Southeast

The Ladd Carriage House was built in 1883 and was thoroughly restored before opening as the Raven and Rose restaurant in January 2013.

Raven & Rose Interior
Main dining area
Raven & Rose Interior
The menu includes a nice overview of the building's history
Raven & Rose: Wood Oven
Wood oven, made from bricks salvaged from the building's chimney
Raven & Rose: Artisan Flatbread
A delicious product of the oven: artisan flatbread with local hazelnuts, apples, bacon, gruyere and leafy greens
Raven & Rose Interior: The Rookery
Seeing my camera and interest, the friendly staff made sure I went upstairs to see The Rookery, a bar and lounge area which was very cool.

I ended my walk back where I started, in Waterfront Park. As it was nearing sunset, the light was much better this time around.

A Good Day for Posing
I wasn't the only photographer taking advantage of the light and the blossoms!

Steel Bridge and Cherry Blossoms
Steel Bridge (1912) and cherry blossoms from Waterfront Park
Steel Bridge with Cherry Blossoms
Same again.

next: Heritage Home Tour in Portland, Oregon

previous: Springtime in Salem, Oregon

Article Info

Page Title
A Portland Photowalk
Added By
Holly Hayes
Date Published
April 3, 2013
Last Updated
April 15, 2024