Thanks for your kind replies. I got back from Portland yesterday afternoon and have the Panaracer tires installed as well as the new headlight and tail light (Bontrager using the Blendr mount in the front and hanging off the seat bag in the back). Decided to hold off on the fenders for the summer.
Here's the Sunday afternoon bike parking at the local watering hole in Portland near my buddy's home. It's a very bike friendly area and we rode all around the neighborhoods and had lots of fun. The beer in Portland is the finest anywhere I've been.