Picnics All Year Long

Like many people, I developed an unexpected hobby-slash-obsession during the pandemic: picnics. What started with a mild fascination for cheese and charcuterie boards quickly spiraled into living room picnics, and eventually, full-on outdoor picnicking adventures of every kind.

In spring, you’ll find me sprawled out at Laurelhurst Park. By early summer, I’m perched near the Mt. Tabor reservoir. And come late summer, I’m basking on the sandy shores of Sauvie Island. Each season, each spot, has its own vibe — and I’m here for all of them.

Naturally, my picnic gear has grown to match my enthusiasm. I now own four picnic baskets: one shaped like a watermelon (because why not?), two classic rectangular ones, and one charmingly round. My blanket collection is just as curated: two cozy wool blankets for parks and two beach-friendly options. And let’s not forget my arsenal of containers — at least four — for cheese, charcuterie, and whatever else the picnic gods inspire me to bring.

When it comes to picnic provisions, my go-to is Providore Fine Foods Market. Their sandwiches, cheeses, charcuterie, and sweets never disappoint. Lately, though, I’ve been mixing it up: sampling treats from other bakeries, experimenting with tin fish boards (a whole vibe of their own), and even attempting to craft my own sandwiches.

This post is a celebration of these post-pandemic years of picnicking — and the pure joy of embracing a simple, delicious, outdoor tradition. Here's to more baskets, more blankets, and many more perfect bites shared under open skies.

All kinds of Providore sandwiches

Backyard picnic

Japanese sandwich and musubi picnic

Typical basket on a solor trip

Bakery haul for the picnic

The round table in action

Russian caviar picnic

Providore's cheese and meat board

Typical set up

Work Trip Rituals: Indian Take Out

Ever since I began traveling regularly for work, I’ve learned more about myself at this stage in my life — my wants, my needs, and my quirks — all through the lens of travel. For instance, I now know the perfect airplane bag, I’m extremely particular about my in-flight snacks, and I pretty much wear the exact same clothes on every business trip.

Another ritual I’ve developed is ordering Indian takeout on the last night of each trip. This habit started in Minneapolis, where — tired of cold sandwiches and uninspired pasta salad from the conference buffet — I wandered into the city and stumbled upon the best Indian restaurant of my life. Since then, I’ve eagerly sought out new Indian cuisine in every city I visit.

Part of the reason I indulge in Indian food during work trips is because my partner and daughter don’t like it, so I rarely order it at home when I know they won’t eat it. But since it’s my favorite cuisine, traveling solo gives me the perfect excuse to savor it guilt-free.

I also always order the same dishes: Lamb Biryani, Saag Paneer, Garlic Naan, and Chicken Tikka. 

Here’s a running list of the top Indian takeouts I’ve discovered on my work travels.

Minneapolis, MN: Kadai - The best Indian food ever

Washington, DC

New York City, NY

Tulsa, OK

Winnipeg, Canada

Sacramento, CA

The absolute worst Indian food I ever had was in Ireland. It was so bad that I threw it out and ordered the same dishes from another restaurant, only to discover the second place was somehow even worse. Both spots were extremely popular and highly rated, but the curries were sickeningly sweet — clearly tailored to Irish tastes. There wasn’t a hint of spice, and the sweetness was so over the top they might as well have served it for dessert. Truly disgusting.

Belfast, Ireland

Wine bar night

Went thrift store shopping for the first time in a long time, and found a very lovely red dress. I wore it to a wine bar, paired it with some of my mom's shoes, and a Muji coat. 

 

Dress: Nico Nico

Shoe: Vintage

Coat: Muji

Bag: Gucci

Photo Diary: DC in Summer

I spent 48 hours in Washington, DC for a work trip — and believe it or not, it was my first time visiting the nation’s capital. All these years, I’ve judged Japanese people who have never been to Tokyo, or Greeks who have never been to Athens, and yet here I was, an American who had never set foot in DC.

To be fair, it is really far — a six-hour flight — and it’s not a requirement to go there. Unlike many other countries, the US has numerous large cities, each with its own unique attractions. For 36 years, there was simply no need for me to visit DC — until now. My time there was brief, but I made the most of it and had fun exploring what I could.

Rhode Island In the Summer

It’s not every business trip that lands me in a $3M home right on the beach. But this work trip was special for many reasons. I had never been to Rhode Island, let alone a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. It took three full days for my colleagues to convince me to go into the water — I assumed it would be as cold as the Pacific, but to my surprise, it was warm.

I also ate there. A lot. All seafood and mostly lobster. 

I ate lobster 4 ways:

1. Lobster Roll

2. Lobster Bisque

3. Fried Lobster

4. Steamed Lobster

Lobster Roll

Raw oysters

Lobster bisque

Fried Lobster

Lobster roll again

Clams

Steamed Lobster

What did I Buy In Ireland

I spent 10 days in Ireland as part of a long work trip. As usual, I barely had time to shop while I was working. But this time, I made a point of staying one extra day in Dublin just to shop before my flight home. Here’s what I picked up on that final day — with two exceptions: the wool blanket (I couldn’t resist the colors) came from a gift shop at the Giant’s Causeway, and a magnet from Belfast found its way into my collection.

Irish Cheese, Jams, and Crackers from a grocery store

Chocolates

Rhubard Gin 

Korean BBQ Sauces from a Dublin restaurants

Wool blanket from Giant's Rock

Candles

Notebooks

A shot glass

A magnet from Belfast

Winter date nights

I’m super proud of pulling this outfit together in just 20 minutes for a weeknight dinner reservation. It had been two years since my partner and I went out for a multi-course dinner, and I wanted to look nice — but it was freezing out.

This look is mostly Muji, paired with a thrifted Pendleton skirt, an old Celine bag, and classic Prada sunglasses. Cozy, chic, and just right for a cold night out.

 

Coat: Muji
Sweater: Muji
Shirt: Everlane
Skirt: Pendleton via a thrift store
Shoes: Madewell
Bag: Celine
Sunglasses: Prada

We went to Langbaan and it was amazing as expected.