Check out the up and coming events

KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.
“KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent’s journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.”

The Fulton House Bed & Breakfast is just minutes away from the Grand Chapiteau at SW Moody Avenue just South of the Marquam Bridge. Don’t miss this wonderful event.

The Los Angeles Times states, “Simply. Amazing.”

As I traveled back from my New Year’s week vacation on the Amtrak Empire Builder, a train from Chicago to Portland/Seattle, I was amazed by the amount of wildlife I observed during my multi-day trip. My train was three days late in departure and five hours late into Portland due to temperatures of -37 to -52 degrees in the Mid-West. However, these delays did not cause me frustration or anger by having to extend my vacation but it presented me with an opportunity to view portions of the trip that normally I would only see in complete darkness. When we crossed into Washington from Idaho heading towards Oregon, we had only three hours until daylight. I was fortunate enough to observe a plethora of winter birds, deer, Roosevelt Elk, Bald and Golden Eagles and other wildlife in Oregon from the comfort of my private sleeper car eating a wonderful box lunch and sipping a beer. But you don’t have to take a long train ride on the Empire Builder to observe winter birds and sip beer, just book a weekend here at the Fulton House and you can do both.

Portland’s winged wonders create a visual feast for bird-watchers this time of year which include wild ducks, cormorants, coots and kinglets. One of the most colorful sightings is the wood duck, a bird that was nearly extinct a century ago because of hunting and habitat loss. But today, both conservation and placement of artificial nesting boxes have increased their numbers. Wood ducks are one of the waterfowl species that can be seen in the Portland area year-round. Other birds easily seen in the winter include the dark bird with the long neck, a double-crested cormorant. Rather a proud bird who paddles around with its bill tipped up. The pinkish-brown duck with the white racing stripe over its head is an American wigeon, a duck species with a habit of kleptoparasitism (stealing food). And American coots, almost as common as mallards, ply the ponds in groups, with their white bills contrasting with their black bodies. You will also find buffleheads and hooded mergansers both with a white patch or “hoods” on the sides of their heads. Buffleheads prefer the open water of Crystal Springs where as the Mergansers prefer the more sheltered waters right across the street in Reed Lake, on the Reed College campus as well as the pied-billed grebe. There are two locations to observe bald eagles either driving on I-84 up the gorge or in at a winter roost in Washington County from which 30-40 eagles `commute’ to Sauvie Island each morning at sunrise. Even right here in downtown Portland among all its tall-buildings, you will find red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons perched or nesting along with all the city dwellers. Or perhaps you will hear a tiny kinglet or a black-capped chickadee (Oregonian, January 10, 2010).

WINTER BIRDING LOCATIONS IN PORTLAND:

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden: Near the intersection of Southeast 28th Avenue and Woodstock Boulevard. Admission is free through February. 503-771-8386, (8 minutes from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast) http://www.tinyurl.com/cyfvrk

Reed Lake on the Reed College campus: 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd; (10 minutes from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast) www.reed.edu/canyon

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: Southeast Seventh Avenue and Sellwood Boulevard. (4minutes from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast) http://www.tinyurl.com/h36g3

Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area: 5300 N. Marine Drive, 503-797-1850, (19 minutes from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast) http://www.tinyurl.com/smithbybee

Tom McCall Waterfront Park: Naito Parkway between Southwest Harrison & Northwest Glisan streets, downtown. (8 minutes from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast) http://www.tinyurl.com/pdxperegrines

Willamette Park: Macadam Avenue and Nevada Street, (1 minute from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast). Check out the four-season list of birds regularly seen in the Portland area at http://www.tinyurl.com/pdxbirdlist

Winter is no time to stop watching birds so check out either of these recommendations. For places to go and wild things to see, check out “Wild in the City: A Guide to Portland’s Natural Areas”, edited by Mike Houck and M. J. Cody recently re-released and available at the Portland Audubon Nature Store, 5151 N.W. Cornell Road, and amazon.com. Or join naturalists from Metro and the Portland Audubon on February 6th for a Raptor Road Trip to see eagles, hawks and falcons. $10per vehicle includes parking permit. More information: 503-797-1650 or http://www.tinyurl.com/raptortrip

MICRO-BREW LOCATIONS FOR SIPPING:

After a winter day of birding or if you just need to take a lunch break, you can stop at any one of our wonderful micro-brews located here in Portland. While visiting Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and Reed Lake on the Reed College campus, stop off at The Beer Mongers on 12th & Division and pick up your favorite international or local beer. They are a new and growing beer store and micro bar selling and serving some of the best ales and lagers from around the world. You can drink on premises or purchase beer to bring back to the Fulton House and enjoy in the privacy of your room. Tastings Events on January 11, 2010 Lagunitas Tasting and January 20th Three Creeks– Check out their website at: http://www.thebeermongers.com

Oak Bottom Public House is named for the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge that runs just west of their location in the Heart of West-Moreland and is located at 1621 Southeast Bybee Boulevard. The 163-acre Natural Wetlands was Portland’s first urban wildlife refuge and is home to more than 125 species of birds, including the Great Blue Heron. Try their Lompoc Strong Draft, a Portland Classic! This strong ale has a deep mahogany color and is crafted with seven different specialty malts. A touch of smoked malt gives it a complex aroma and incredible flavor. Check out their website at http://www.newoldlompoc.com

Fulton Pub and Brewery is located on Nebraska Street just across the avenue from Willamette Park. Fulton Pub dates back to 1926 when it was a Prohibition-era hangout serving home cooked meals, pinball games, stogies, candy and ice cream. Speculation says that during Prohibition that the pub might even have provided patrons the odd pint o’ beer as an unadvertised special. Try the Hammerhead Ale, legend has it that the brew’s hallowed recipe was perfected here! My favorite is the Nebraska Bitter which was first brewed here at the Fulton Pub & Brewery. While wandering along the river’s edge in Willamette Park watching for Blue Heron, Canada Geese, ducks and other waterfowl just stop off at the Fulton Pub for a quick refreshment or lunch. Check out their website at http://www.mcmenamins.com

Hope to see you soon! Now is the only time to see some of our winter visitors!

By Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

We’ve been told time and again that our breakfasts at The Fulton House are the best in Portland. Now, they’re going to get even better.

While our good friend and budding B&B owner was serving as innkeeper for the past week, Wendy was in New York City for the World Series and attending The International Culinary Center’s Hungarian Pastries Course. Wendy’s artistic talent and passion for food came together in this course and her success in pastry is due to her mastery of techniques and a highly creative mind. Now at the Fulton House, you can expect to sample the delights of our homemade breakfast breads and pastries with an international flair.

Prior to being served the main freshly prepared main dish, our guests have enjoyed granola or premium dry cereal with fresh fruit and two yogurts, vanilla and plain. There’ll still be two yogurts to go along with the granola and fresh fruit but now our guest can now enjoy a homemade Hungarian pastry or Artisan Bread. We know our guests will enjoy these delights of homemade breakfast breads and pastries.

Secondly, in addition to freshly ground and brewed coffee, both regular and decaf, and a wide variety of teas, guests during the holiday seasons will also be able to choose hot chocolate or apple cider. Rich hot chocolate made at The Fulton House is most definitely not just for kids.

Also, Wendy a trained and certified Home Economics Instructor will be attending the CIA this spring for a Boot Camp where she will refine her skills and fundamentals of pastry and the techniques used in creating basic preparations such as laminated dough, pastry creams, crème anglaise, pâte à choux (éclairs and profiteroles), mousses and bavarians, sponge cakes, and buttercreams and tarts.

Finally, although it’s not part of our breakfast menu, during the holiday seasons, our guests can come out to our patio or porch (if it’s wet out, we’ll use the living room and dining room), for some holiday cookies and treats in a variety of flavors. These will be served at 3:00 p.m., or if you are out shopping or enjoying Portland during that time the extras will be located on our self-serve buffet. Help yourself!

We know you’ll enjoy these additions to the already outstanding fare at The Fulton House.

Make your holiday shopping reservations soon! Mention this blog and receive a $10 discount off your room rate per night. This offer good until December 20, 2009.

See ya soon….