Dishin' It

[October 4th, 2006] It seems like everybody's all about brunch right now: First up, it was a pure overload of adorableness when downtown sammy shop Valentine's (232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600) recently inaugurated its brunch collaboration with the crew behind the equally charming dining room L'Astra . Look for "regionally themed" eats (one week it's Oaxacan dishes, another it's grub from Catalonia, Spain), mimosas and entertainment—from bands to puppets —at Valentine's every noon-3 pm every Sunday. Prefer a liquid diet? Head over to queer-friendly bar Crush (1400 SE Morrison St., 235-8150), which suggests locals "drink their breakfast" at its own new Sunday Brunch (9 am-3 pm). We can't vouch for their Spanish tortilla pie or spicy mac yet, but we do know that the idea of drag queen Charmai servin' us our Nutella German pancake sounds positively delish. Bonus: The bar makes its Bloody Marys with Medoyeff Vodka , so you can support a local biz and get smashed at the same time.