Besieged by stress? Need a breather? But don’t want to spend any yen getting it? I’ve got the perfect solution for you. It’s called Free Admission Day at the Portland Japanese Garden.

It happens Nov. 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. (I guess they did it last year, too, but I missed it.) It’s actually a fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank (admission is two non-perishable food items), so while you’re getting a free taste of inner calm, you’re also doing some good.

And if you haven’t visited the Japanese Garden, it really is unique in the city. Their site says that his Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, former Ambassador of Japan, called it “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” Now that’s a good blurb.

Sayonara,
Emily

I was talking about going out for my Mom’s birthday in my last post, and I just realized that I neglected to mention a few things worth mentioning. First, there’s nothing like a martini to add a little bounce to an evening of Glenn Miller-inspired music. So if you’ve got one planned, that’s my recommendation.

The second thing has to do with food. After the show, we all walked down to Pazzo for dinner (another of Mom’s go-tos for special evenings). Everything we had was delicious, especially the ippoglosso (Alaskan halibut). Plus, I like that it’s busy, happening, and has a downtown vibe.

So, to summarize, mix your big-band music with a bit of gin and vermouth, and try the ippoglosso at Pazzo. Don’t ever say you don’t know what to do on a Friday night…

See ya,
Emily

Someone asked “what about if you’re not downtown and want to see the fall colors?” Well, I’m glad you asked, dear reader. As it happens, being at Hotel deLuxe you’re very close to the prime spot: Forest Park.

Forest Park is like the Disneyland of fall colors. It’s like it was dreamed up by George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic studios. It’s like a Christo installation. And it’s also one of the largest urban parks in the U.S.

You don’t get the downtown Portland shopping at the end of your walk, but you can break it up with stops at the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden. Even the zoo, if you want to see what the animals think of fall in Portland.

And just in case? You might as well bring an umbrella…

See ya,
Emily

I’ve got a clever name for you. And one of the cooler events in the city. Wordstock. These are clever sorts these Portland literati. And they’re building a great literary festival befitting a city that has its own City of Books.

The festival returns for its third year on November 8-11, 2007, at the Oregon Convention Center. This year they say there will be more than 200 writers, numerous readings, workshops, panels — it’s a bona fide book nerd’s paradise.

So if that’s you, if you love books, love certain writers (Carl Hiaasen, Dave Eggers, Jane Hamilton will all be there), love panel discussions(?) or are just want to do some book shopping (it includes a big book fair) for your empty bedside table at Hotel deLuxe, then I guess you’ve got next week pretty well planned.

R.I.F.,
Emily

I know a lot people go on about how you’ve got to see the fall colors in New England. That may be, but it’s hard to imagine that they can compete with the explosion of color that greets us every fall in Portland.

Despite what even I might say, it doesn’t rain all the time. And on those crisp, clear, blue -sky days, there really is nothing better than putting on your hat and scarf, getting a hot coffee to keep your hands warm and just strolling to take in the sights.

If you’re downtown, I recommend walking the park blocks. This car-free corridor is flanked by large trees, and I feel like I’m walking through a scene in Love Story, the leaves falling, the college students hustling to class. And best of all, you end up downtown, right in the middle of the best Portland shopping. A good way to warm up…

Ta ta,
Emily

My mother loves the Driftwood Room. She came down a couple of nights after I started at Hotel deLuxe back in April 2006 to have a look around, and she was hooked. She’s been using me as a trumped-up reason for coming back ever since.

Even though I’m next door every day, I hadn’t been to the Driftwood, as a patron, in a long time. Until last week. It was my Mom’s birthday and she kindly “requested” drinks at the Driftwood before heading over to see Norman Leyden’s Big Band Birthday at Portland Center Stage.

Sometimes forgetting can be bad, like when you forget to return the pump before leaving the gas station (oops!). But it can also be good. Really good. Like my forgetting about the Driftwood martini. I’d forgotten all about that. If I were off right now, I think I might just order one. My point is that if you’ve been to the Driftwood, but forgotten, maybe it’s time for a reminder…

Cheerio,
Emily