I’ve got to give a shout out to the owners of the Indian food cart on Yamhill (or Morrison, I can’t remember). That place is just downright spectacularly awesome. It’s my favorite lunch spot around the hotel. It’s the only thing there next to the parking lot. It’s even got some covered seating.

It’s all vegetarian and the portions are absolutely huge. Seriously. I can get two meals out of one order. And they’re only like $5, $7 if you add a mango lassi which I’d highly recommend. Especially on a hot day.

So just go out the door of the Hotel deLuxe, turn left, walk down the street and turn right on Yamhill (or Morrison). Walk over the freeway and just a couple blocks on you’ll see it sitting on the corner. Just an old trailer. But don’t be fooled, it’s the bomb.

Later,
Keith

Looking for that new outfit that no one else has? Something to go with that cute skirt you just bought? Try Fashion Week. What the tube top is Fashion Week? That’s a good question since fashion is really a year-long commitment.

This annual event (from Oct. 8-12) gives independent designers a chance to introduce their spring/summer 2009 collections here in Portland in a week-long series of runway shows, this year in the Pearl.

And you thought we were a fashion backwater, all fleece and Gore-Tex. It’s actually the second-longest running fashion week on the West Coast. Just a few of the designers on hand include: In Harmony, Dimitri, Saffrona and Amai Unmei.

Best of all, the event benefits the Children’s Cancer Association and is earth friendly and sustainable from the lighting to the recycled fabric, to the organic food and transportation.

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, all, just a reminder that this year’s Top Down Film Festival is about to finish up this coming Thursday, Aug. 28.

The finale arrives in the form of “Super Argo and the Faceless Giants.” What in the world is that? Well, I don’t know exactly, but it involves a professional wrestler turned superhero/spy who fights a mad scientist who plans to kidnap the world’s best athletes to turn them into robots. I’m in.

The Top Down festival is put on by our friends at the Northwest Film and held on the rooftop of our parking garage. If you’ve never seen a movie on a garage, don’t miss this last installment. The evening also includes a live music pre-show at 8 by Will Carpenter’s Towering Trees as well as food and drink. Our grappling hero gets started at dusk (9ish).

See you there,
Emily

I don’t think Emily has probably got this one circled on her calendar. But if you’re into skateboarding, BMX or freestyle motocross, doing it or just watching it, you’ll want to know about the Dew Tour.

Basically it’s all the crazy tricks and reckless behavior we expect from extreme athletes. And to see it live and in person gives you a whole new appreciation for the kind of brain ailment you need to do what they do. Especially the motocross. Insane.

There’s also other stuff to keep you busy between events, like you can get autographs from competitors, try out video games and interactive displays, and even test ride some 2009 bikes. And then on Friday Gym Class Heroes perform. (I hear their also playing Sat. at Satyricon if you miss them Friday.) Oh, it’s Aug. 21-24 at the Rose Quarter.

Later,

Keith

I’ve got to put a plug in for a place I found last week. It’s actually pretty hard to miss because it’s right downtown (across from Saucebox on Broadway), but somehow I didn’t see it till the other day. What kind of beer fan am I?

The place is called Bailey’s Taproom and I admit I got all giggly when I saw that they were serving some of my favorites from the Brew Fest. I volunteered this year for the first time, which was fun. I poured the Caldera Ginger Ale. If you came on Saturday, maybe I served you.

Anyway, Bailey’s has a nice big space with good people watching out the window and rotating taps for your tasting pleasure. If you go soon, try the Green Flash Hop Head Red. That was probably my top. Though Bridgeport’s Hop Czar was surprisingly good too.

Later,

Keith

Nah, I’ve got the cool thing to add to your agenda while you’re here. Even if you’re not bringing your bike. Which more and more people seem to be doing these days. Which is great.

It’s called Tour de Fat. It’s going to be total bike mania. People dress up, decorate their bikes and then ride around town in a big spectacle of a parade. It all wraps up with a party put on by sponsor New Belgium Beer. Fat Tire. Get it? Beer, music and food is the reward.

The whole point is to raise people’s environmental awareness, get them thinking about how a bike can become a great way to get around. But it also raises money for local charities.

So dress up and pedal yourself over to Waterfront Park on Aug. 16 and join the madness. Should be a blast. Oh and it’s free.

Later,

Keith

The best advice I can give you in preparation for the upcoming celebration of our nation’s 232nd birthday is to remove yourself from the hysteria that is the waterfront. Remember, many of those folks discovered the beer tent much earlier in the day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the blues festival as much as the next person. I just prefer to enjoy explosives from a safe distance. Like a table at the Portland City Grill. So there’s my Portland insider’s secret. Now it’s out in the open.

Call this instant and get a table facing the river. Believe me, once you’ve enjoyed the fireworks alongside a plate of shellfish risotto and a nice glass of pinot grigio, you’ll wonder why anyone ever opts for the sweaty mass of humanity down below. Yeah, America.

Enjoy,
Emily

I can’t believe you guys (other Hotel deLuxe bloggers) haven’t given a shout out to the tapioca in the Portland theater Hungry Man Meal at the Clinton Street Theater. It’s deliciously good. Like one of Voodoo Donuts’ Cap’n Crunch donuts.

The Clinton is your choice if you’re into more, let’s call it, unusual fare. The new Indiana Jones movie is never going to play there. Chronicles of Narnia is never going to play there. But a “Maximum Car-nage Double Feature” is (“Maximum Overdrive” and “Repo Man” July 11-17).

And there’s probably no better introduction to the theater than the upcoming Portland Underground Film Festival from June 12 to 15. These are not your mall movies. This year there are even a couple of openings and one world premiere.

I should also mention that the Clinton serves beer.

Cheers,
Keith