Hello!

Welcome to The Epic! I am launching this blog as a manifesto for and a guide to living well. The title and motto of the blog are taken from the Epicureans, at least some of whom believed in the notion that not one minute of the future was guaranteed to them and that as a result they had the duty to live life to its fullest every moment.

I believe in discovering fun and pleasurable things wherever I find myself each day and I am told I have a knack for unearthing them. My hope is that by sharing in my pleasures and some of my ways of finding them you will begin to collect all the riches that lie in the moments of your life. They are there. Take them! All our lives should be.....Epic.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Portland: Third Avenue Freeze Out


My first trip to Portland, Oregon could have been better. I was barely able to get there due to one of the repeated winter storms that have been sweeping the U.S.A. this year. Despite the northern locale, they apparently don't get much bad weather in Portland or at least not much weather that involves ice storms because a lot of the city seemed to be shut down. The photo above was taken from my window at the very lovely Embassy Suites hotel in Downtown on Pine Street.  It is a restored grand dame of the Pacific Northwest as is shown by the lobby...

But the weather was really atrocious.  What to do?  Find a great Irish Pub of course.   And, through my ever-present travel kismet, there was just such an establishment located a block behind my hotel.  In fact, you can see it in the upper right corner of the first photo above.  A place called Kell's.  Talk about a great bar...




As one would hope, TWENTY FOUR kinds of Irish whiskey.  I did my best to sample them.  After all, one can't get funny looks from one's mother [a Sullivan].  But to save a traveler from such weather, there has to be more than great booze.  Shocking to the return reader, I know.  But a great pub must have great food.  And Kell's does not disappoint.  How about a very fine smoked salmon plate...




Followed by.....what else....shepherd's pie....

...also done to perfection with additional sampling of whiskey and Guinness of course.  They have live music every night on this neat small stage...


...but honestly, I really wanted a nap after whiskeys, Guinness and the fine meal.  The group of us traveling had fine meals at Higgins [1239 Broadway] and El Gaucho [319 SW Broadway] but I have to say that Kell's was the life-saver.  I am looking forward to my return in a week or two.....

P.S. I am having to travel with my Irish Redhead for a week or so for some medical treatment so I may not be posting. Hang in there Epics!!! I will return.....


Sunday, March 2, 2014

Still Around.......

Hello to all Epics! I have not quit writing and posting and I have several drafts in the works for future posts.


The problem is, all of a sudden I cannot add photos to my drafts. I have never had this problem before with Blogger but it is driving me a little crazy since I don't like to do a post without a photo or two.


If anyone can help me out, I would appreciate it. I have this problem on Internet Explorer and on Chrome. Pop Up Blockers off, etc., nothing seems to work.  It is a real drag.


I'll be back soon!


ML