I’m Jake Newman. The Portland Logbook is my love letter to this city: the food worth hunting down, the history that refuses to die, the corners you only find if you’re paying attention.

Battle of the Buns… Rolls?

I’ve been going to the gym most mornings, trying to undo the damage from eating my way through twenty-something burgers for my best burger in Portland project. This means pastries are technically off the table. Or at least I tell myself that.

But every once in a while I give in, and every time I do, I end up in the same spot mentally.

The sticky bun from Tandem.
The cinnamon roll from Luncheonette.

They’re not really competing with each other, which is why it’s annoying.

Tandem’s sticky bun is rich in a way that punches you in the face. Chewy dark caramel. Olive oil brioche. A little citrus that keeps it from tipping too far. You don’t eat it absentmindedly. You sit there and love every moment of it.

Luncheonette’s cinnamon bun is softer, lighter, easier to eat everyday of your life. Tall, fluffy, brown butter frosting that doesn’t overwhelm. It disappears faster than you expect, and you’re fine with that, as long as you are like me and bought two!

Neither is better. They just scratch different itches.

Some mornings you want something that feels like a moment.
Other mornings you just want something really good and to keep moving.

I’ll probably be back at the gym tomorrow, telling myself this was the last one for a while.

It won’t be…

If you had to choose…

Before you scroll on

This is the 50th issue of The Portland Logbook. That felt worth stopping for.

We’re also closing in on 7,000 people reading this every week. That’s more than ten percent of Portland. Which still surprises me. This isn’t the internet at large. It’s neighbors. People walking the same blocks, arguing about the same pastries, dealing with the same snow bans and weird January weather.

That’s why I keep this simple and local. No hype. No pretending. Just paying attention and writing it down.

Thanks for opening this. Thanks for being part of it.

Let’s keep going.

I post photos and small updates on Instagram too.

THIS WEEKS CONDITIONS
☀️ SUNRISE: 7:08 AM
🌅 SUNSET: 4:36 PM
🌊 SEA TEMP: 41.9 °F (Casco Bay,)
✨ Local Favorite Shop of the Week: Washington Baths
✨ Local Artist of the Week: Julian Erickson - Watson

Portside Real Estate Group

🏡 I write The Portland Logbook, and I also help people buy and sell homes in Portland.

If a move is on your mind, I’m always happy to help you think it through.

Work With Jake

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Lucy Mae – 8 yrs
Tiny, gentle, and full of heart. Lucy Mae is a sweet senior looking for a calm home and a soft place to land. Easygoing, affectionate, and happy just being near you.

🐱 Oliver – 2 yrs
Funny, active, and full of personality. Oliver loves playtime and attention on his terms. Best for a cat-savvy adult home where he can be the star.

🐰 Moon – 2 yrs
Shy at first, sweet once she settles in. Moon is potty trained, loves to explore, and thrives in a quiet home with patience and floor-level hangouts.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here

If the link doesn’t open anymore, it means they’ve already been adopted!