Some time ago, a catalog arrived from Portland Parks and Recreation with summer class listings. I noticed a section for the park near our house and found that they offered a Ballroom Basics class for adults. I showed Bill as we’d talked about taking a dance class  or two before the wedding and we decided to sign up. I mailed off our registration form and a check and that was that.

Last night, we were sitting at the newly remodeled and fabulous Produce Row Cafe enjoying our second beer when Bill said, “Isn’t our first dance class tonight?”  Um, oops. We paid, rushed home and walked over to the park.

I fully expected our teacher to be a male who looked just like Johnny Castle, but I would have also accepted a female teacher who looked like Penny Johnson. I also fully expected the dance studio to look exactly like the studio that Johnny and Baby danced in, with a long flight of concrete steps leading up to it. But, all of my hopes were dashed because our dance class was held in a Swiss Chalet looking building with a older woman with black hair as our instructor.

The instructor, Joan, had to come over not once, but twice to correct our dancing (I need to try and let Bill lead and he needs to try and avoid my toes), but other than that the class was pretty fun. At the end, Joan asked, “Do you have any questions.” And, it took all everything I had not to ask, “When do we learn the lift?” and “When do we get our fancy silver dancing shoes.”

Anyway, there’s 7 more weeks of this. Hopefully we’ll learn something and have something fabulous to show our wedding guests. And, next week, I might just show up in fancy dancing shoes and a skirt that twirls.

P.S. Head on over to my review page and learn about how I stay hydrated and relaxed during the summer months and enter to win a $100 Visa Gift Card! (there’s a chance to win on each post!)

I’m so excited to bring you the Very! First! Burger Review in the Girls’ Guide to the Perfect Portland Burger. This is from my dearie, Ashleigh. I could tell you how much I love Ashleigh for hours, and hours…but I think you really want to hear about the burger. Want to review a burger? Let me know!

When what you want is a memory of something old-fashioned (meaning the first time you ate one in high school), full of flavor, and with a side of crispy-soft fries, you’ll head over to Christopher’s Gourmet Grill in NE Portland.

The outside of the building is deceiving. It’s an unadorned small structure that is made out of silver sheeting, with a sandwich board out front, a blinking “OPEN” sign in a front window, and a vinyl sign on the side of the building proclaiming “Seafood.” However, once you step in, your ideas of what constitutes a good girl burger will forever change. There are little candles on all the tables, and new blue glass lights overhead. Keith Sweat and Boyz II Men stream out of the speakers and there is light chatter all around. It’s homey.

To start this review, and clear up all confusion, this is not a bistro burger. There are no thinly-shaved onion crispies, no truffles, no expensive cheese, no 10-seed buns, and thankfully, no ½ pound of meat. This is the original cheeseburger with “girl friendly” toppings. In my opinion, the best part of this burger is the slimmer patty. The rest of the cheeseburger is standard, but fabulous. Freshly shredded lettuce, big juicy, sliced tomatoes, chopped white onion, a handful of pickle chips and a homemade secret sauce that mimics Thousand Island dressing, but with some spicy garlic that enhances the entire arrangement. Plus, the crowning jewel, a thin slice of cheddar cheese (they also have American if you’re going for the complete throwback). Full of flavor, yet simple. The burger is garnished with steak fries, or follow my lead, and request crispy crinkle fries. Total mouth love.

Christopher’s also offers seafood baskets, Cajun chicken burgers, BBQ, plenty of sides, sweet potato pie, and the big-bad-daddy burger of all time, The Man-Up Burger. The Man-Up Burger contains everything on the basic burger plus bacon, more cheese, an egg and a Louisiana hot link (definitely, not my idea of a good “girl” burger). The Man-Up Burger makes my heart choke thinking about it, but the skinny guy in line ordered one and he said he orders one once a month just to keep his heart happy.

Since my first trip to Christopher’s Gourmet Grill, I’ve visited a few times, but only for take-out. While the inside is clean, and there is always a good variety of people, I prefer to enjoy my Christopher’s Cheeseburgers in the comfort of my own home. And honestly, I can walk there and walk back home in about 15 minutes, which gives me a tidy conscious once I bite into my burger wonderland.

Christopher’s Gourmet Grill

3962 NE Martin Luther King Blvd

Portland, OR 97212

You may not know this about me, but I enjoy an awesome cheeseburger just as much as I enjoy a fancy dinner with duck confit or escargots. Really. So, of course I get extremely excited when Portland Monthly’s Best Burger issue shows up in my mailbox. Or, when Portland Hamburgers reviews a burger that is actually from Portland, or even the state of Oregon.

Last night, over dinner with Ashleigh, we somehow started talking about cheeseburgers. Yes, cheeseburgers. I mentioned that on Saturday, the boy and I went to Slow Bar to try the burger that I BELIEVE was Portland Monthly’s Best Burger last year.  But, I’m not sure as that was a long time ago. Off we went to Slow Bar, where the hipster factor is High to Very High. We ordered PBRs to fit in and each ordered a burger. The boy got the regular SlowBurger and I ordered the Summer SlowBurger. Anyway, so the SlowBurger is a really nice looking hamburger. But, here’s the deal? It’s a 1/2 pound. It has an onion ring on it (actually, I believe there were TWO). It is gigantic. I ate half my burger and then decided to take the rest home (really Rhiannon? When has a burger ever reheated well?) So, I told Ashleigh, “What we need is the SlowBurger for GIRLS.” And, because Ashleigh knows a good idea when she hears one, she agreed.

And, so that is when we decided we were going to find the perfect burger in this town for girls. A burger that is maybe a 1/4 pound. A burger that doesn’t drip down your damn blouse when you bite into it. And, a burger that is delicious.

First up, Ashleigh will be reviewing the Bacon Burger at Christopher’s Gourmet Grill. I will revisit my former favorite burger at Echo to see if it meats (HAAAAAAAAA) my new criteria.

So, I hope you’ll join us. And, if you are local and would like to be a guest reviewer, please do let me know.

Last night the boy and I were lucky to attend a fantastic event, Taste of the Nation. As I was falling asleep last night, I was composing a thoughtful post in my head about the event and planned to post that today. Then, this morning, I woke up with a possible case of swine flu. (Okay, I know I don’t have swine flu, but I do have many of the symptoms). Still, I am on my death couch with a terribly sore throat and really hurty lungs.

Instead, I’ll tell you – it’s a really great event, for a very worthy cause. You should buy tickets RIGHT NOW (if there is one in your area).

My 3 favorite things I sampled:

1. Belgian Sugar Waffle with Bacon, Brie and Basil from the Waffle Window- The boy and I shared this, I wish I had gotten my own
2. Tuna Tartare from Alberta Street Oyster Bar – I’m a sucker for tuna tartare, and this one was fantastic.
3. Mole Guerrerense from Autentica – I’ve always turned my nose up at Mole, but oh my goodness, this was good.
4. And, oh crap, one more – Fig Bellinis from Pazzo.
5. Ok, really last one – Frito Pie from Russell Street BBQ

So, really, if this event is in your area – GO. It’s a great way to sample tons of restaurants all while helping to feed hungry children. There was a silent auction with amazing prizes (including one involving a cooking class and a magnum of wine that we won). Also, with a $20 dollar donation, you got to select a bottle of wine from Cork Bottle Shop’s wine wall – we came home with two new bottles of wine to try (in addition to our awesome magnum)

Now, I’m back to the couch to whine and wait for my boy to bring me tomato soup (from Seasons and Regions, because this post is all about places I like to eat anyway).

There’s a REALLY HILARIOUS blog, Things About Portland That Suck, that I read and usually agree with. For instance, they are SPOT ON about the suburb in which I live. (However, nothing offends me more than what they said about Duck Fans).

Anyway, my city is really, REALLY fantastic. I love it, and I want you to, too.  So, I present you with, Things About Portland That Do Not Suck. This is NOT a comprehensive list. I can’t just  be posting to my blog all day, so here are a few that top my list. So what if most of them are all food related.

• Andina - My FAVORITE casual-ish restaurant. I love small plates, and Andina has AMAZING small plates (also a gluten-free menu). I brought Nic here on our romantic date and I will bring you here too, if you come visit.
• The Pretzel at Deschutes Brewery – I don’t even really like pretzels and I’m madly in love with this one. Just say yes to hot melty white cheddar and mustard. You won’t be sorry.
• Kerri’s and My Pedicure Place – AWESOME people watching there. For instance, the girl I was sitting next to on Sunday was speaking about her recently incarcerated father. Just like a soap opera!
• And, Kerri’s and My After Pedicure Lunch Place – Muu Muu’s – The Brutus Smash is AMAZING (there are fries IN YOUR SANDWICH). The service, not the best, but the sandwich is worth it.

Other selected popular things about my state in general: we don’t pump our own gas, no sales tax, vote by mail elections.

What is it about your city that you like? Where would you take me if I came to visit (KRISTABELLA, I’M LOOKING AT YOU!)