Oh, while we’re on the subject of music, I almost forgot to mention the bloody blues festival (July 3-6)! This could be the best festival in Ptown (the other is of course the brew fest in August). At least it’s one of my favorites.

This year boasts another awesome collection of talent, including Isaac Hayes, Charlie Musselwhite, Phoebe Snow, Canned Heat, James Hunter, Elvin Bishop. Their site says it’s the largest blues festival on the West Coast and the second largest in the country.

The way I look at it there is no better way to celebrate America’s birthday than with American music. But there’s also all kinds of food and the huge fireworks extravaganza that closes out the fourth.

The other cool thing is the event benefits the Oregon Food Bank. A donation of $10 and two cans of food gets you in.

Later,
Keith

Here’s your friendly reminder about our Hotel deLuxe Sunday night movie. If you haven’t been before, here’s how it works: We invite talented local and regional filmmakers to screen their movies in our Screening Room off the lobby the third Sunday of each month.

If you want to come, doors open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 6:30 p.m. It’s free. Just RSVP at 503.219.2093. And food and drinks are available from Gracie’s and the Driftwood.

This month, on April 20, we’re showing Solving Immigration, a political documentary by award-winning filmmaker and Smithsonian inductee, Mike Shiley, that explores illegal immigration in the United States.

I haven’t seen it, but Mike directed last month’s movie on Hurricane Katrina, which was really moving. So I say bring on immigration.

See you there,
Emily

Yeah, I actually got to ride to Hotel deLuxe in some clear skies and sunshine the other day! The hot hot heat and hilly ride wasn’t as fun going home, but what are you going to do?

Yesterday I was riding over to meet some friends after work and nearly got munched by two cars. Maybe the closest call I’ve had in Portland. So I wanted to tell people about the nasty spot in case they’re riding over there.

Here’s my advice: be very careful riding through the intersection of NE Broadway and N Williams. It’s a total circus of cars and bikes and on ramps. You’ve got to really pay attention or you could get mashed.

I just read on the bikeportland blog that the city is planning to do something about it, but until then, I might say avoid it if you can. Especially if in this crazy Portland weather…;-)

Later,
Keith

My apologies, everyone. I’ve fallen down on the job. I’ve failed to keep you updated on the movies in our monthly Sunday night series. I’m hoping some of you have kept up by checking the web site. To the rest of you, mea culpa.

So, I wanted to get this notice for our March screening in early. To give you time to plan. This month’s installment is right up my personal alley. Called Hurricane Heroes, it’s a documentary about the massive animal rescue effort after Katrina. And Mike Shiley, the filmmaker, is, like most in our series, a local. Kudos, Mike.

RSVP to 503.219.2093 and then come on down. It’s free. The Screening Room, located off the hotel lobby, opens at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 6:30 p.m.. Oh, and you can get dinner and drinks from Gracie’s or the Driftwood.

I guarantee it’s better than what’s on TV.

Cheers,
Emily

While I’m on the subject of our unquenchable love of all things film around here I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned how that affects even the names of the floors at Hotel deLuxe. Each honors a particular subset of Hollywood with beautiful framed photographs, almost 400 in all.

So when making your reservations, keep the following guide in mind:

2nd floor – The Maestro (Hitchcock)
3rd floor – The Dance and Music Masters (Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, Debra Kerr, Fred Astaire, Cyd Charise and Bing Crosby
4th floor – The Rebels – (Orson Welles, Elia Kazan, Howard Hawks, John Huston and John Ford)
5th floor – The Immigrants (Otto Preminger, Fritz Lang and William Wyler)
6th floor – The Europeans
7th floor – The Exiles (Ernst Lubitsch, Michael Curtis and Erich von Sternberg)
8th floor – The Masters (Frank Capra, Billy Wilder and George Cukor)

I’m a 7th floor girl. Where do you belong?

Cheerio,
Emily

Now that the holidays are mercifully over — don’t those few weeks just seem like forever? — it’s time to get back to business. I’m talking of course about Hotel deLuxe’s monthly Sunday night movie series.

If you haven’t been, the third Sunday of the month we show a small independent movie in our Screening Room here at the hotel. Usually they’re the work of local filmmakers. And you can order food and drinks from Gracie’s or the Driftwood while you watch.

So…join us on Sunday, Jan. 20 for Grandma Zula’s Legacy, a documentary about racism, community service and activism during the 1940s-70s in Portland. I’ve not seen it yet but am looking forward it.
By the way, it’s usually a good idea to call ahead for reservations: 503.219.2093. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m. Oh, and it’s free.

See you there/here,
Emily

Yo everyone. Man, it seems like a long time since my last post. It was a year ago… Anyway, 2008 has got off to a great start. We had a nice Chrsitmas, El Debarge was fun (Lakeside, the funk act that opened, stole the show). And the snowboarding on New Year’s day — awesome.

And thanks Emily for the post about the Chuck Close exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. We went and it was incredible. I hadn’t heard of him before, but I totally loved his stuff. Makes me want to try painting.

I also discovered the Northwest Film Center theater right there in the museum. How’d I miss that one? We saw “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” after the exhibit. You have to see it. It’s this incredible story about this guy who is totally paralyzed and how he dictates a book using just his eyelid. I kid you not.

Cheers,
Keith

Yo, peoples! OK, so you’ve been through most of your holiday shopping. You’re now a shopping bag tree and have covered more ground than Lewis and Clark. Time to put a Hotel deLuxe package on your list. Or maybe just treat yourself. Here are two:

1. Eat, Sleep and Shop
This overnighter includes a meal — and a martini — and a $50 gift certificate for that last person on your belated shopping list. I say spend it on yourself. No one needs to know.

2. Babes on Broadway
It’s ladies night… Enjoy an overnight stay (including me parking your car for free), a martini for you and a friend, complimentary gift wrapping and a foot treatment from Footbar in the Pearl ($40 gift certificate). And then we coffee you up the next morning to get you back out there.

Happy holidays,
Keith

Hey, Keith, and the rest of you would-be celebrants, don’t forget the party here at Hotel deLuxe. Sorry, I know this is bit of brazen self promotion here, but you have to have all the information to make the best choice for your New Year’s shenanigans.

So, here’s the deal. At the deLuxe we’ll have live music from the Ben Darwish Trio, who play a kind of funky piano-driven jazz that is just right for what ails you. There will also be hors’d oeuvres and the toast’s favorite companion, a bit of bubbly. All catered by our very own Gracie’s and Driftwood.

Then there are the party favors, a restorative midmorning brunch on the 1st and a 2 p.m. late checkout, just in case, you know, you were a little too enthusiastic saying goodbye to 2007.

Happy New Year,
Emily

Welcome aboard, Keith. I meant to get in and introduce you, but things have been crazy at the front desk the last few days. I’m off my blogging schedule. Keith is actually too modest to say, but I’ve been trying for awhile to get him to post. He’s a very busy guy, as you’ll see.

Here are a few things he didn’t tell you:

1. He’s getting married this month. And they’re looking for an apartment and a Husky dog. That’s got Disney movie hijinks written all over it.
2. He very entrepreneurial. His plans run the gamut from a Philly-style hoagie shop to raising alpacas.
3. He dressed as something he called a “werebear” for Halloween.

And that’s just the beginning, right Keith?

Ciao,
Emily