Sunday, Dec 11, 2012 we had our annual Maxim Christmas party. Each year they offer 3 different parties to attend: Saturday breakfast, Saturday lunch, and Sunday dinner. This is my 5th year going and we have always participated in the Sunday breakfast followed by sightseeing at the Pioneer Place downtown mall and surroundings. This year we wanted to try something different and chose to go to the Sunday dinner party. As a consequence, we went sightseeing before the party.
We arrived in Portland around 12:00. We chose to walk around North Portland and look at the Trinity Episcopal Church that I love so much. Laurie is using this in her novel. It ended up being the perfect time since everyone was leaving after the service, but the organ was still going.
Neat old house across from the Trinity Episcopal Church
Here is the Gothic church with its really cool red doors
Three red doors in front
Close up of the 3 doors
I really like this courtyard with a neat little rock garden
Magnolia Tree
South doors
Inside
Stained glass windows
Next, we walked 1 block over to the Jewish Synagogue. It's really hard to get a good picture without trees, cars or buildings in the way.
South side
South doors
I love the stone walks around the Synagogue
Front entrance
North side
At this point we moved the car to a spot as close to Pioneer Square as we could get which wasn't really close at all 8) Honestly, for a weekend only a few weeks away from Christmas, it sure seemed empty.
Christmas Tree at Pioneer Square
Trolley wannabe
Macy's which used to be Meier & Frank with a really cool old Christmas village at the top floor
Here is a shot of the old Christmas village that used to be in the top of the Meier & Frank building. My kids have ridden on the monorail many times (or at least Byron has.)
Entrance to the mall. Notice the man in silver. He is there every year standing as a statue or doing tricks for money.
Inside of Pioneer Place mall. This is where they had the flash mob last year. It was pretty empty today.
Laurie beginning to look tired and hungry
Our walk back to the car took us by the elephant statue in one of the park blocks
By the time we walked back to the car we were extremely tired and hungry. Some of us were a bit grumpy too. Usually they have the party at either the Hilton or the Marriott hotel right downtown which was very convenient. This year they had it at the Oregon Convention center which gave us a lot more room, but the atmosphere wasn't quite as nice and we had to drive out of downtown a bit.
David standing in line at the Maxim party
The dining area
They must have cut back on the catering budget because the food was okay but not great in our opinions. And there was no eggnog!!! I wanted eggnog!! We all agreed, given the late hour of the party and so-so food, that next year we're going back to doing the Saturday breakfast.
