The Portland Mercury has a groovy little scheme where they sell half-price gift certificates online. Since eating out is one of my hobbies, I check the site often, and purchase these little babies whenever I can. Last time I checked, there were gift certificates available from two delicious breakfast places: Pine State Biscuits (YUM) and Broder, plus a few other decent eating establishments.

I highly recommend the Merc Perks!

If you're a fan of Nuestra Cocina on SE Division Street (near 21st), you might want to park yourself at the stage of the downtown farmer's market this weekend and see one of their chefs, Raymond Anderson, do a cooking demonstration. The demos are free, fun, and you're bound to be inspired to whip up something delicious with the ingredients you find at the market.

Nuestra Cocina serves up some of the tastiest, most refined Mexican fare in the city, and they also have a lovely outdoor patio, so now's the perfect time to visit.

If you plan to go to the market, here are the details for the demo:
When: Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.
Where: The cooking stage at the PSU Farmers Market (South Park Blocks between SW Harrison & SW Montgomery)

I try not to eat donuts as often as I think about them because that would be pretty ridiculous. But I do plan to head over to the Goose Hollow neighborhood very soon to sample the sugary goodness at coco donuts (709 SW 17th). Many of their offerings are less than a buck, and you can even get savory lunch items and--what else--Stumptown Coffee, to go with your eats. I can't help but wonder how this place stacks up to the fabulous Voodoo Doughnuts. If you've tried coco donuts, please leave a comment about your experience.

If you're interested in working for the city of Portland, check out the internship program. There are opportunities at the City Attorney's office, the Fire and Rescue department, Parks and Recreation, and more. Some of these positions are paid, and others are offered on a volunteer basis. Students are encouraged to apply.

Check the City of Portland internships web page to see if you qualify.