I have one for your must-see list. Once. I’ve got to warn you though, it’s a musical. But don’t let that drive you off. I say that even though I still have bouts of nausea thanks to Phantom of the Opera.

But after happy-hour sushi at Dragonfish (Zach, they have Rogue Dead Guy Ale on tap!), Once just happened to be starting at the right time at the Fox Theater. Bonnie had been wanting to see it since it came out. And this time I just didn’t have an excuse ready. I’m glad I didn’t. It’s the best thing I’ve seen in months.

So, yes, there is singing, but it’s not like Oklahoma or anything. Think of it sort of like an album-length music video. And I mean that in a good way.

Do Re Mi Fa So long,
Lance

Just a note here from Zach. The Oregon Brewers’ Fest, begins today! So grab your beer goggles and head on down to Tom McCall WaterFront Park for the festivities.

I have to plug one of my favorite Portland breweries, Rogue Ales on 13^th and (Ned) Flanders. It’s close to Hotel deLuxe. I recommend the Shakespeare Stout or the Brutal Bitter. Heck, try them both.

Rogue is bringing their Imperial Porter to the festival, so you can try that one there. But get in their line early. It’ll go fast!

Just doing my part,

Zach

Imagine Yul Bryner as an android sheriff. No, seriously. Now imagine him as part of this futuristic amusement park and he goes all berserk and stalks these two park visitors and gets his face torn off and stuff.

Now imagine watching this on an outdoor screen on top of the Hotel deLuxe’s parking garage.

No, I’ve not just had a “Coburn” at the Driftwood (yet). It’s the Hotel deLuxe’s Top Down outdoor movie series. And the first of the weekly films on July 26 is none other than Westworld (1973), a classic sci-fi western written and directed by Michael Crichton.

Bring a chair or blanket, and your love of Yul Bryner. Dinner and drinks are available from Gracie’s. Here are some more details about Top Down Movies.

That’s a wrap,

Lance

I’m not sure it’s possible to do a joint entry, but the importance of this subject simply demands we try. What could be so important as to need both Zach and me? A not-so-little thing we like to call the Oregon Brewers’ Festival, that’s all!

That’s right, people, it’s almost that glorious time of year again! A visit to the official site: www.oregonbrewfest.com teases us with its list of 73 beers from around the U.S. Bocks, pilsners, porters, hefeweizens, IPAs, double IPAs even something called a fruit beer. How convenient to knock off one of the four food groups at the same time!

There’s even a handy countdown clock on the bottom of each page so you can, at anytime day or night, see just how many seconds separate you from the suds.

Cheers!

Lance & Zach

People call it “Trendy-third” likes that’s a bad thing. OK, so it’s not Hawthorne or Mississippi. But I was reminded this past weekend that there are worse ways to spend a day than shoe shopping on NW 23^rd and then admiring your purchases in one of the neighborhood’s many great restaurants.

I had Gaby and her husband in town last week from Beverly Hills, and they went mad for it. The husband is a music fanatic and found a Horace Silver album at Music Millennium he didn’t even know existed. (On a separate note, I am extremely sad to hear that Music Millennium on NW 23rd is closing yet another sign that CD’s are going the way of records, soon to become collectibles.)

Gabs is a college friend of mine and couldn’t agree more that Zelda’s may in fact be the best shoe store in the world.

Dessert at Papa Haydn wasn’t half bad either. Unfortunately, I had to tell my friends that it rains all the time here. I love them, but that would be two more competitors for the pumpkin gingerbread torte *sigh*…

Till later,

Emily

I missed it during the Rose Festival (it sold out *sigh*) so was excited to find out that Hotel deLuxe will be showing From One Rose as the next installment in the monthly Hotel deLuxe Movie Night series. (I also missed last month’s A Thing of Wonder!)

I have my degree in history, so I just love this stuff. Especially when it involves Portland. And I like that the filmmakers chose to tell the story of the city’s history through the life of a Portland woman.

Plus, the documentary took 2^nd in the Honolulu International Film Festival (we history majors do our research…). And people in Hawaii don’t venture into the theater for any old thing.

I think Lance covered the Hotel DeLuxe’s next Movie Night, but it’s worth mentioning again, July 22nd is the screening – show time is 6:30pm; just remember to call and reserve a seat (503.219.8627) – more details on the Hotel deLuxe website. And don’t forget you can order from Gracie’s or the Driftwood during the movie. I doubt they served food at that Hawaiian festival…

Aloha,
Emily

So, I was at Goose Hollow Inn last night after work, and I learned something I didn’t know. Goose Hollow, the neighborhood, which includes Hotel deLuxe, PGE Park, the MAC club, etc., was actually named after migrating geese that used to stop in the area in the late 19^th century.

I guess I just figured there would be more to it. Apparently there were even fights about these free-ranging birds. That led to … yup, the “Goose Wars”.

(Wikipedia has a different story. They say it got its name from people letting their own geese run around free in the area. I guess only the geese know for sure.)

I’ve got to stick with the guy that told us the story. He had an eyepatch and wore a t-shirt that was a take-off on the cover of Casablanca but with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. You just want to believe a guy like that.

Back to it,

Zach

Hi, everyone. Emily here. Happy post fourth. I hope you all had a nice holiday. It has actually been as hot as a firecracker around here lately. Luckily I’m a warm weather bird, so this past week has been absolutely heavenly for me.

However, I have been noticing other locals and some of our guests wilting under the heat. So, my recommendation on beating the heat in Portland, escape to Powell’s Books. It is a city of books, after all. (There’s even a map so you don’t get lost among the countless stacks.) You name it, they have it. Even a $8500 first edition of Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle. I’m saving up.

Best of all, you don’t need a heat wave to go. It’s really as much of a Portland landmark as Mt. Hood or the bridges. And what luck, it’s only a paperback’s throw from Hotel deLuxe!

See you in the Purple Room,

Emily

This post is a shorty but a goodie. I’ve had my head in the clouds thinking about the Oregon Brewers Fest and I almost completely forgot about the Portland International BeerFest – happening this weekend! I better start making plans now.

Here are the pertinent details:

July 13th – 15th: Friday 4-10pm, Saturday 12-10pm, Sunday 12-7pm

Location: North Park Blocks in the Pearl District – NW David and NW Park Ave. – literally a streetcar ride from the hotel, I’ll have to go after work.

Cost:
Beer drinkers pay $20 for 10 beer tickets and official PIB glass.
More tickets available for $1 each
All beers are 4oz. servings

Each beer costs 1, 2, or 3 tickets depending on “swank factor”

I like that, swank factor – I wonder if they are referring to the beer or how swanky I’m dressed? Better dress down just in case.

By the way, some of these beers have high alcohol content, so be careful out there and be sure to take the Max or the Portland Streetcar, call a taxi (Radio Cab – 503.227.1212), designate a driver or stay at the Hotel deLuxe and do it all over again the next day!

cheers!

Lance

OK, the following is a word-for-word conversation I just had with a guest as I helped him in with his bags…

Guest: So, you’re a doorman.

Me: Yes, sir. I man the door.

Guest: Very good. So I’m guessing you must be a fan of the knock knock joke then.

Me: Knock knock jokes? Sure. (I’m not actually. Except the one about “orange you glad it’s not another knock knock joke.” That one is nicely subversive.)

Guest: Knock knock.

Me: Um, who’s there?

Guest: Doris.

Me: Doris who?

Guest: Doris locked, that’s why I had to knock.

Me: Hey, that’s a pretty good one.

Guest: Feel free to use it.

You got to love this job!

Back to the hilarity,

Lance