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](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/417/43714.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=755d92f8b706f6cbb89b5dd4a6976ca0)
![Waterfront Park with Cherry Blossoms](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/517/43715.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=f0b5b979744ca4e133f4978749dfb071)
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](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/175/14571.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=204c7cb6b923a1565a38456368ebc9a7)
![Portland Sign in Black and White](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/241/42142.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=e1cd81d988f4a4c4e73b4cb93d993c02)
![Mark Building from Park, Portland, Oregon](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/994/151499.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=95013d1d1d9393fb23f5a032f9d634f7)
![Mark Building Facade in Autumn, Portland, Oregon](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/694/151496.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=3dab59a8ecc65ad27d980fee38a52eb8)
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](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/275/14572.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=643d1aa4f52a633be03344a637a1ab3c)
![View from Southeast](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/475/14574.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=d81b7997c94a718821b116f4ef85450c)
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](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/675/14576.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=8bc2783e61cc51fdfc4d8256d560ac5e)
![Raven & Rose Interior](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/085/14580.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=df9cef38bfe0efa1fccb8a9edc66b999)
![Raven & Rose: Wood Oven](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/875/14578.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=ee7588e1041373dfd1edbb5b750cd406)
![Raven & Rose: Artisan Flatbread](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/485/14584.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=486b67c130c26808de7c8ebafe724f92)
![Raven & Rose Interior: The Rookery](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/185/14581.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=6c19b9a817152d1728250cf80c082988)
I ended my walk back where I started, in Waterfront Park. As it was nearing sunset, the light was much better this time around.
I wasn't the only photographer taking advantage of the light and the blossoms!
![Steel Bridge and Cherry Blossoms](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/285/14582.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=4c83eb7169d3307cf8f9ab6b290c99a8)
![Steel Bridge with Cherry Blossoms](https://gohistoric.imgix.net/641/42146.jpg?fit=max&q=95&w=683&s=7d8e3e19e50fd0575722b63f4bf2c491)