Farewell NW 23rd!

As of January 31, we bid farewell to our jewelbox store just around the corner from bustling NW 23rd. About six years ago, Portland's first luxury linen store, Virginia Jacobs, decided to close its doors forever. Hanging on to this nostalgia, we bought the name, fixtures and vendor list and began to do business the French Quarter way: beautiful beds, amazing assortments, comfortable environment and compelling service.

We had a great run and established some amazing relationships both with customers and vendors. As our lease was up and with our new expansion to the suburbs at Bridgeport Village, we decided to consolidate our talents and stocks and close shop. Katie, who has been a fixture at our Westover store for years, didn't go far; she's working upstairs at Smith and Hawken!

We love what's happening on NW 23rd in the world of bedding. There is, of course, Compleat Bed & Breakfast, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn, all of which do a great job in this bedding category. And now there's Williams-Sonoma Home which is a beautiful and inspiring store.

We know that French Quarter fills a different niche than these other retailers by providing finer quality; true, old-world luxury; better expertise; infinite custom options; and the creative staff to help our customers create a unique and sensuous look and feeling in the private areas of our homes.

We're already making plans to put a new and improved French Quarter stamp on the NW 23rd Avenue shopping mecca!

Stay tuned for details!

Supper in New York City

Supper.

I've found a restaurant in NY that embodies everything that French Quarter stands for: edgy, casual, genuine, imperfect and superb quality delivered by normal folks in a humble atmosphere.

It's a bit of a trip, being on the Lower East Side and all. By taxi or subway it's well worth the effort to get there. It's great, simple Italian food with no pretense and it comes to your table quickly and piping hot. I have to say that, for me, it's the best food-atmosphere combo in Manhattan. Fancy restaurants have their place, and I've eaten at many in New York, but for a truly tasty expression of ingredients, go to Supper.

Good wines by the glass, rotating day-of-the-week specials. Beware: cash only!

Check out their site, and head downtown, and let this blog know what you think.

Supper 156 2nd Street (bet. Avenues A & B)
NYC 10009
212-477-7600
Website: http://supperrestaurant.com/
Map Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=156+2nd+St,+10009


Other New York restaurant tips from last week's trip: Prune, thumbs up; Bivio (on Hudson), thumbs down; August, thumbs up. And off the beaten track in Tribeca for lunch, La Petite Abeille, total thumbs up.

And hey, if you're bumming around the home furnishings zone of Tribeca, visit our Portland friends at Schoolhouse Electric. They just up and decided to open a showroom in Manhattan and, poof, they did it! Congrats to Brian and team on their beautiful space. Pop in and say hi to Keith, former Portlander, now New Yorker and homeroom manager. http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/