I really have to say, one of the best things about Hotel deLuxe is the location. And this is not just a brazen promotional post here. If I was visiting the city it is the exact sort of location I would prefer.

If you want to write it off to this actually being a hotel blog, I totally understand, but when you do stay, you’ll want to send me a basket of fruit for doubting me. (No papayas please. Tastes like meat.)

I went to the Crystal Ballroom and remembered again how perfectly situated we are. It’s just a short walk over and you’re right there on Burnside near Powell’s, great restaurants, the Pearl and the heart of downtown. Walk the other direction and you’re on NW 21st or 23rd with more great restaurants and some of the best shopping in town.

Couldn’t be easier.

See ya,
Emily

I’m not going to say I know a lot about European soccer, or football. But I did read Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch (great book) and I’m staring to get hooked on the EPL because a friend is totally in to it. (It stands for English Premier League, in case you didn’t know.)

They go crazy for their soccer over there. But we’ve been watching games from the safety of the Thirsty Lion downtown on SW 2nd and Ash. In honor of Hornby (and because it’s the only team I knew) I’ve been rooting for Arsenal. Seems to be working. Just checked and they’re in fourth.

It’s a good olde worldy pub type place even if you don’t dig soccer. Worth going to for their Boddington’s Cream Ale alone. They also show other sports and have singer songwriter night on Tuesdays and trivia on Wednesdays.

Go Arsenal,
Keith

My turn to offer up a restaurant selection. And perhaps winner of the most aptly named restaurant in the city.

You’ll find Le Happy just on the other side of Burnside from Hotel deLuxe.
The place is small, cozy and feels like a picture torn from a book about Pigalle or Montmartre.

They traffic in crepes. As my friend once said, “They’re sort of like a French burrito.” Well, not exactly, Carrie, but have another glass of wine.

They’ve got savory numbers with meat and cheese. Try the Le Trash Blanc, which has buckwheat with bacon and cheddar (and is served with a can of Pabst), or the Faux Vegan with its crème fraiche, spinach and mushroom sauce. And then eenie minie mo one of the delicious sweet options for dessert.

Later,
Emily

OK, I see your work space thing list and raise you a “best pizza place in Portland” list. No membership fees required. Have we done a post for this before? People need to know.

In order of closeness to Hotel deLuxe:

Escape from NY Pizza — 622 NW 23rd
This is good stop if you’re touring the shopping Mecca of 23rd.  Plus, a lot of the other places on the street are on the pricier side.

Rocco’s — 949 SW Oak St.
You’ll go here because it’s right across from Powell’s and because the slices are HUGE. And they have pinball.

Old Town Pizza — 226 NW Davis St
This place has been around a long time, so they’ve had time to perfect their pies. They deliver using cool tricycles. But, beware, some say the place is haunted.

Hammy’s — 2114 SE Clinton
Hammy’s makes the list because they deliver until 4 a.m.

Eat up,
Keith

I forgot to put Deadwood on my list. Make that no. 4. Only three seasons? If I had a team of lawyers I’d put them on that today.

You know we have a business office at Hotel deLuxe. (Check the site here for details.) But if you need more room, for a meeting, say, or a large conference call, or you’re from here and work for yourself and need a more permanent kind of arrangement, here are a couple ideas:

Souk is on N.W. 6th and offers flex-term office space and various services for people and small groups to connect, meet and work. Requires membership. See their site for how.

CubeSpace is the same deal more or less. They’re located on S.E. Grand and offer work stations, meetings rooms and other amenities. They offer monthly membership or hourly or daily rates.

Smart, huh?

See ya,
Emily

Good list. But man, there are just too many things going on around here in the summer. I missed all yours. Wait, no, I did see “Big Time” on the rooftop. That was cool.

So here’s my list:

3.    Flugtag — This was just a mad spectacle. One of those things that ends up being as funny as you expect. I’m still thinking maybe next year, people…
2.    Rafting White Salmon river — I would do that every weekend if I could. Love that whitewater. And Hood River is cool, too. Next summer: kite boarding.
1.    Brew Fest — Come on, over 70 breweries from around the country, sun, food, friends. It’s just unbeatable summer fun.

The Olympics were awesome, too. They tie for the silver.

Later,
Keith

This seems an appropriate time to offer up my top three moments of our fast expiring summer. I’ve been thinking about it, and have consulted my friends and my diary to compile this definitive list. I recommend printing this out and filing it away for next year.

Drum roll, please…

No. 3 Beijing Olympics — I know this isn’t about Portland, but we had a fencer win a gold medal. That’s something. Plus this was my list idea so I can include what I want.

No. 2 Rooftop films fest — Thursdays were no longer the Jan Brady of the week. Our rooftop series was like having two Fridays every week.

No. 1 TBA — This event would make my list every summer. It is a smorgasbord of creativity and art that never fails to challenge, engage and inspire. Kudos, Portland.

See ya,
Emily

I was complaining to someone here that back where I’m from Oktoberfest is a big deal but that people out here don’t seem to get down with the sausage and polka stuff. Someone pointed me to a place called Mt. Angel, but that’s too far for drinking frothy steins of grog and driving.

But then today someone told me that Oaks Park, the amusement park in S.E., has one. The all-knowing Internet confirms this. It’s from Sept. 19-21 and mentioned sausage eating, chicken dancing, pretzel kissing. And oom pah bands.

Or, it’s the Pirate Festival (Sept. 20-21) at Cathedral Park. (Portland is mental about pirates.) They say there’ll be music, dancing and reenactment, and Rogue beers, which is the next best thing to a bottle of rum.

Later,
Keith

Hey people, I hate to tell you but summer is just about out of here. It was great. I don’t care where you’re from, you spend a summer here and it’ll become your new favorite city.

But nothing lasts forever. And come on, most of us wouldn’t want it to anyway. Because fall is beautiful around here, too. It’s my second year out here and I already love how the air changes. There’s that cold in the morning and at night.

And there’s also something called the corn maze. That’s right, the MAiZE, with its cool hip-hop spelling, is back again at the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island. This year they say it “features the city’s bridges, rivers and mountains”. I don’t know what that means but it’s five acres of disorienting fun.

Later,
Keith

You’ve had a long day at some boring business meeting. You’ve been trapped at a wedding for a member of your spouse’s family you’ve never even met. You just need a break, a moment to breathe.

Well, if you’re in town between Sept. 14 and 16 you might head over to the Portland Japanese Garden. I’d say it’s always a good solution for a tough day (especially the rock garden, which will take the edge off as well as any pinot). But on these nights they welcome visitors for O-Tsukimi, or moon viewing.

If my calendar is right, the full moon falls on Sept. 14, but all three nights are likely to be good viewing. Check the forecast. And if you’re dubious that merely taking in the moon will do the trick, try a cup of sake as an accompaniment. That should do it.

See ya,
Emily