"Holla"...at Ya-Hala. Lebanese fare, with elbow room to spare!

When you walk into Ya-Hala (8005 SE Stark) they'll let you know that in Lebanon, "Ya-hala" means "Welcome." So in Portland "Ya-hala" means "Welcome...to my stomach."

This holds true for all Lebanese restaurants, come hungry. Previously, my only real experience with Lebanese eateries in Portland has been the famous (and magically delicious) Nicola's on SE Grand (as well as SE Broadway); where the accommodations are cramped, the pitas runneth over, and the middle eastern beats are jammin'. So needless to say I was pretty stoked to eat at Ya-Hala, finally a place to get kebabs and tabbouli where I wouldn't have to wait on the side of NE Grand Ave, observing failed attempts to park in the Andy and Bax lot. Also, Ya-Hala is Zagat-rated!

After a moderate wait (to be expected on a Friday night) I started with the Veggie Mezza, which consisted of the usual small plates of hummus, tabbouli and baba ghanouj, in addition to other faves, dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), falafel, and Aranabeet, which is essentially friend cauliflower.

For an entree, I had the Moughrabeih, which was very tender braised beef and chicken along side a bowl of couscous mixed with chickpeas and spices and a side of yogurt.

Although it was all very tasty, and reasonably priced. (The entire gut-busting meal for two totaled 25.00, and you can purchase a bottle of wine for as little as $18) I was not blown away. The food was good and tasted very fresh, but it seemed to be missing that little kick or unique "Je ne sais quoi" that we all hope to find at a new restaurant. The service was ok, the tabouli was good, the hummus was decent, and so on and so forth. But I left Ya-Hala without the brimming tales of culinary wonderment and delight that I so often find at Portland eateries. It was not so delicious that I wanted to (and succeeded in) consuming the garnish.

If you are looking for some decent, affordable food on the east side, Ya-Hala is definitely an option, I would recommend it for an impromptu dinner out, a treat for lunch, or something affordable and different, but I would notqueue up on the sidewalk outside to get in.

All you gotta do is Dance?

Gotta love the corporate luncheons. The small talk, the name tags, the assigned table, the soggy salmon, the hard rolls, it's enough to make you think twice about the "free lunch" you're eating. The elderly man in the chair next to me was sulking into his rice pilaf. "Young people these days," the old man grumbled. "They have no idea what real dancing is, they just sit in bars and rub up against each other, you call that dancing? When I was a kid, we could dance for real, there was always a live band, a good band too."

I considered what he said. The Crystal Ballroom with its famous sprung dance floor is typically host to surging throngs of jumping bodies.

The next week my uncle invited me out dancing. "So you're hitting up the club scene these days?" I joked, elbowing him in the arm. "Not clubs, way better. A bunch of us get together and go out swing dancing, maybe a little lindy, whatever's playing. There's a live band, It's a great time." I imagined old church ladies wearing florals hanging out in a rec hall or grange. I thought of cold pasta salad, sheet cake, and watery punch diluted by the melted ice ring.

"Thanks I'll pass..."

So when I found myself lining up outside the Imago Theater, to get into someplace called the Mambo Lounge, I was a bit confused as to where we were going. But there was a line and a wooden signboard on the sidewalk, so I went with it. We paid $10 to get in and joined a crush of people leaving a show at the Imago. After climbing about three floors up a back staircase that appeared to go head nowhere, we emerged into a huge ballroom. There was a band warming up on stage, (a real band) and people gathering for a salsa lesson. After learning a few basic steps, the place quickly filled with the Salsa dance enthusiasts of Portland. The atmosphere was laid back and so much more pleasant than any "club scene." I left at the end of the night having spent roughly $20. Way less than a night out! We immediately made plans to not only go back, but find out what the dance hall scene in Portland really has to offer.

Making new friends!

Reasons you should go out dancing:

1) You may drink some, but you'll drink way less. And you'll burn twice the calories!

2) Meet interesting new people!

3) Dance with people, without feeling like you are being physically violated at a frat party.

4) You can pretend you're on Dancing With The Stars

5) You can learn something new!

Where to go! (most of the dances are cheap cover, anywhere from $5-10, $15-20 if it's a special event, like New Years's Eve)

http://www.swingout.net/ Find out where the Portland swing/lindy scene meets

Norse Hall http://www.norsehall.org/

Crystal Ballroom (there is still real dancing here!)

Scottish Rite

Viscount Studio <---you can also take lessons here

Parkrose Ballroom

Portland Police Athletic Association

Andrea's Cha Cha Club @ The Grand Cafe

The Art of Procrastination

There is an acquired skill that is so valuable, nobody should deny themselves this knowledge. This skill has led to the evolution of the greatest artistic and revolutionary minds we know. At the very least, it's contributed to the health and well-being of millions. Everybody does it, but nobody particularly likes to own up. It's the art of procrastination.

"Why is procrastination a skill?"

Procrastination can be a valuable tool if utilized correctly. Some do their best work under a tight deadline. Their vision is the most clear, the most creative, and the most objective. There's no time to waffle. That my friend, is what procrastination is truly about.

There are many methods of procrastination. However to truly and effectively get the most from this formidable skill, it's important that your procrastination technique is as effective for you personally as possible.

Consider the fact that the average adult spends 8-14 hours a week aimlessly surfing the net. While it is extremely important to make absolute certain you are 100% updated at all times on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, My Space, etc. This is not where the true essence of procrastination lies. Unless social media is what revs your engine and gets you out of bed each day, or you have your moments of Zen while tagging pictures of friends and creeping on your ex from high school, this is not procrastinating, this is wasting 8 hours.

Never ever waste valuable procrastinating time! Truly successful procrastination should leave you feeling rested, invigorated, creative, and energized. Think of it as an enriching nap for the mind and spirit. If you carve yourself time in your hectic and mind-numbing routine for some procrastination time, you will reap the benefits in other areas of life. So just say "NO" to the "To Do List" and say yes to wandering aimlessly on the waterfront, eating Italian ice and watching bums attempt aerobics.

Some of my best work so far is the direct result of very satisfying, enriching and formidable skill of procrastination in its purest form!

Procrastinate in an area near you today!

Places to Procrastinate:

NW Portland:

• Powells. duh.
• Sip & Kranz. Especially in the summer, when the people, dog and little kid watching is at it's peak.
• Rose Gardens/Japanese Gardens. This is especially productive if you enjoy smelling flowers and accidentally crashing weddings.
• Saint Cupcake. Have one of each tiny cupcake they are featuring that day. I reccomend the Red Velvet and the Fat Elvis. When you're done there, head over to Cupcake Joe's and do the same!
• Dazzle on NW 23rd. Look at the cute blazers from The Bella Sisters www.bellasisters.com. Their clothes are sustainable, fashion forward and unique! I have a jacket was custom-made for me for my birthday featuring felt owls, ruffles, pinstrips, puff sleeves and a sewn in hood, fantabulous! They also have cases of unique jewelry there reminiscent of Twist, but much more accessibly priced.
• Coffee and Crepes at Vivace on NW 23rd & Pettygrove

Greater SW Portland:

• Multnomah Village. As a promoter of books and independent book stores, of course I have to mention Annie Bloom's (they have a cat).
• The Buffalo Gap. Ten cent wings! Bring antacid.
• Multnomah County Library
• Try hats on at John Helmer Haberdasher
• Eat breakfast at McCormick & Schmidt's Harborside and watch the dogs (this is best in nice weather)

SE Portland

• Pambiche on 28th and Glisan. I highly reccomend the tres leches cake, empanadas, arroz con pollo and braised oxtail! And don't forget the lemonade made with real sugarcane!
• The Laurelhurst. Cheap movies, cheap food.
• All the random vintage stores!
• Andy and Bax in NE Portland
• Fleur De Lis cafe. Delicious scones and pastries! Good prices too.
• Luxe Autohaus (you can dream!) and Ecomotion, the electric cars are so cute!
• Furever Pets on NE Broadway is an adorable pet boutique. Get your dog a pupcake so he doesn't feel left out when you gorge yourself on cupcakes all day.
• Great cheap American Chinese food: Saigon on NE Broadway. Get the Won Ton Soup!
• The Kennedy School, for the same reason we like The Laurelhurst x2.
  

Stay tuned