It’s tough these days, when Portland is growing so quickly and attracting more visitors than ever, for any one hotel to be distinctive. I can honestly say, though, that having done a bit of traveling myself, I think our hotel is one of the most interesting you’re likely to find — even our meeting rooms.

Most of your bigger hotels provide spaces for big parties, events, and meetings. But, if you’ve ever spent a day in one, eating stale muffins and drinking weak coffee, or sitting through a slew of wedding toasts, I’ll bet you can’t remember anything unique or distinctive about them. Not so at the deLuxe.

The beautiful historic architecture and unique décor practically guarantee that. If you end up at a wedding, bar mitzvah, or even a dental conference here, you won’t soon forget it. And here’s a recommendation if you’re the planner and are searching for the right place for your event: Try our Screening Room. And no stale muffins.

Ciao,
Emily

Get your motor running: It’s almost time for the 2009 Dew Tour’s stop in Portland. If you’re not familiar with what the Dew Tour is all about, here’s the scoop: It’s a big competition of all the really happening sports on wheels. There’s BMX, skateboarding, freestyle motocross, etc.

It attracts the best athletes competing in those sports so expect the tricks to be more radical and jaw dropping than you can believe. And the prizes are equally monumental (the largest in action sports apparently), with $2.5 million in booty handed out to the best.

The event also boasts live music, gaming, interactive courses for fans to try out, all kinds of cool new products to sample, etc., etc. so on and so on. Even if you don’t know Dew, your kids will. Just ask.

See you there,
Keith

Nothing tricky here: The Bite of Oregon is just what you would expect. Every summer at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, we flock to get a nibble here, a morsel there. I’ve been to plenty of great events at the waterfront, lined with vendors hawking corn dogs and cotton candy, but this one is a little different. And no carnies.

There are so many great restaurants around these days that I just can’t find the time (or money) to get there before the next one has sprouted up. If that’s true of you, too, or if you’re just in town for a few days, here’s a chance to sample dishes from over 20 kitchens, including sushi and teriyaki from Mio Sushi, Dungeness crab cakes from Bell Buoy of Seaside, and Pacific halibut ceviche from Portland’s H50 Bistro and Bar.

There are also tastings of chocolate, fruits and vegetables from local farms, ice cream, and so much more. Need something to complement the yummy bites? Plenty of wineries and breweries will also be represented on Aug. 7-8. Better find some long-term parking.

Bon appétit!
Emily

We’ve been over this. This is hands-down my favorite event Portland has to offer. It’s the one that brings beer aficionados (and, OK, a lot of people who just love to drink beer, any beer) from around the world to Tom McCall Waterfront park every July (this year July 23-26). And, I’m not exaggerating. Last year I met guys from Chile, Germany (no surprise there) and Sweden.

This year again offers over 80 beers from all over the country, everything from lagers to stouts. There’s live music all four days, and booths featuring folks who make beer, grow beer-making plants, write about beer, and collect all things beer-related.

As always, the venue is chock-a-block with fantastic food vendors. Don’t forget to grab a little snack between beer samples. Somebody’s gotta drive…

Cheers,
Keith

On six consecutive Tuesdays this summer, you can enjoy music, after closing, at Portland’s Classical Chinese Garden, in Chinatown. Go early, walk the gorgeous gardens, and stay for a unique concert experience.

The six week lineup just began last night with The Shanghai Woolies, a jazz/swing/pop spin-off of the über-popular Pink Martini, headed up by trumpeter Gavin Bondy. Next Tuesday will showcase soul/pop duo Curtis Salgado & Alan Hagar. On the 21st, catch the traditional Chinese violin, zeng (Chinese zither), and bamboo flute performance of the Portland Classical Chinese Trio. Round it out with a unique harmonica (yes, harmonica) experience by jazz/tango/blues phenom Joe Powers.

Dinner boxes will be available from some of Portland’s best Asian restaurants. Aren’t you intrigued? I’m adding it to my list of must-dos this summer and I think you should, too.

Ciao,
Emily

Who doesn’t love watching films from the rooftop of the deLuxe?  Nobody.  Our summer line up of films has been released and you should just hope there’s room up there for you and your friends on one of the nights.

There’s a different movie showing every Thursday, starting July 16th with “Duck Soup”.  For the full summer line-up, visit the NWFilmCenter’s “Top Down” page.  Other titles not to miss include “The Secret of Nimh” and “The Son of Frankenstein”.

The evening begins at 8pm with live music, food, and drinks and then the movie begins soon after, between 8:45pm-9:15pm or whenever dusk sets in.  Unfortunately, you can’t bring pets, but don’t let that be the reason you skip out.

For more information, read Willamette Week’s write up about the summer film festivities going on in our beloved city.  Hopefully I’ll see you there!  I’ll be the one hogging all the front row seats.

-Keith

If you have never been to Portland’s Gay Pride Festival, make this the year you just do it. In a city renowned for its diversity and free thinking, this is a great way to show your support. Plus, as festivals go, it’s a fun one.

It runs from June 13-14, with the parade starting things going at noon on Saturday. But, hold on to your boas: Just to keep it interesting (um, more interesting?), for the first time ever the celebration will kick off with a race. Oh, but not just any race… The parade will begin with the one-mile Portland Drag Race. Use your imagination, but expect rhinestones, feathers, and wigs.

For the second time, PGE, by purchasing enough carbon offsets from the Climate Trust of Oregon, will help make the Gay Pride Festival carbon-neutral. It’s one example of the festival’s message this year, “United We Stand.” So, let’s.

Ciao,
Emily

Just when you thought there were no new reasons to throw a party, the Laughing Planet Café thinks up Cirque du Cycling. What the bleep is it? Well, a cycling parade obviously. I mean, a circus with bikes. Wait, a family bike ride. It’s a lot of things at once.

It’s all happening on June 13, on one of my favorite streets in town, North Mississippi (give a stroll if you haven’t already). There will be live entertainment, my favorite kind of garden (the beer variety) and booths. And of course plenty of hijinks and derring do from performers, all on bicycles.

Mississippi has one of the best taco joints in town, ¿Por qué No? (Check out their other location on SE Hawthorne when you get a chance.) So, bring your bikes, a lawn chair, and settle into yet another of the many things that help keep Portland weird.

Later,
Keith

I’ve spent many a lazy spring and summer Saturday tasting, sniffing and winding my way through the farmers’ market over on the park blocks. This year, I’m going to head over to NoPo and check out their version. Never been.

The 2009 season kicked off on the first Sunday in May and continues until the end of September. You’ll find booths overflowing with local produce (much of it organic), flowers, plants, cheeses, wines, you name it. Stuff you might be surprised even grows in the Pacific Northwest.

The market is in the King neighborhood at NE 7th and Wygant, near NE Alberta. Which is conveniently located for breakfast at the Tin Shed…

Later,
Keith

I am so excited that my mom is coming to Hotel deLuxe for Mother’s Day; see if you can figure out why. I sent her an email asking her:

How would you like to come stay at the deLuxe on May 9, with a bottle of champagne and chocolate toffee (from the local fab shop, Cacao) waiting in your room? After you’ve settled in a bit, you’ll head to the Aveda Spa for a pedicure. Then you can sidle up to the bar in the Driftwood Room for something from the Happy Hour menu or later for a tasty Bar Menu dinner. The next morning, on Mother’s Day, meet me downstairs in the hotel at Gracie’s Restaurant for a great brunch.

Um, she said yes.

Ciao,
Emily