Both of our boutique Portland hotels, Hotel deLuxe and Hotel Lucia, were recently featured in a CBS Early Show article.  Huzzah!  Specifically, we were mentioned in the article “How To Score Travel $avings Online” by Jaunted.com’s editor because of the way we’ve been using Twitter to reach out to guests traveling to Portland by offering them discounts and specials for following the hotels.

You weren’t aware that we were offering specials over Twitter?  Shame on you.  Well, at least now you know.   We are constantly running different specials so if you have any interest in staying in Portland for a great price, look up our user names on Twitter and start following us.  Or, I guess I can just provide you with the info here:

@hotel_deluxe
@hotel_lucia

See you soon!

-Keith

OK, I’ll keep this brief because no one likes a braggart, but I have to congratulate my colleagues and our world’s best guests for helping put Hotel deLuxe on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for the Best Places to Stay in the World for the second time.

Anyone that has worked here or stayed with us knows we work hard to make the hotel a real one-of-a-kind spot. So when the rest of the world recognizes it, well, it just kind of puts another splash of gin in our martini.

So if you’ve been with us before, come on back and help celebrate. And if you’ve never been, what, do you have another one of the World’s Best Places to Stay on your agenda?

Ciao,
Emily

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

I’m not one of those guys who gets out to every event on the Portland waterfront, but throw in some great Mexican food, beer and music, and chances are you may spot me, lounging in my serape.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the five-day Cinco de Mayo Festival. It all begins Friday, May 1, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. There are way too many musicians to name, but there’s everything from pop star Graciela Beltrán to mariachi, along with dance performances from local high schools. If you’re going to see just one act, though, come for the amazing Ballet Folklórico — unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

And, if you get a chance, take a minute to Google the history of Cinco de Mayo. You just may be surprised to find that it’s actually not the day the margarita was invented.

¡Hasta la vista!
Keith

Speaking of deals (who isn’t speaking of deals these days?), here’s a little something you should be getting out to, while the getting is good.

Wednesday nights at Jimmie Mak’s jazz joint on NW 10th, you can see the legendary Mel Brown Quartet for a mere $5. For over 20 years, the guy’s been wowing jazz fans with both original and classic arrangements.

It’s worth it just for Mel. The guy exudes happiness when he’s playing. Plus, he’s one of the best drummers I’ve ever seen. His band is great too with pianist and musical director, Tony Pacini; bassist Ed Bennett; and guitarist and arranger Dan Balmer. This is the kind of old-school stuff I dig.

Go before 7 p.m. and get in on the $5 happy hour menu, including some very tasty Greek dishes, and then stick around for the music. Think of it as your own private stimulus package.

Later,

Keith

(thanks to Marilyn M on Flickr for the photo)

We were talking the other day about the state of the economy (over beers at Bailey’s Taproom, so not as painful as it sounds) and were saying that times are tough but that it’s a really good time to take advantage of all the special deals out there right now.

There are some pretty deep discounts on airfare, at restaurants and all kinds these days it seems if you’re shopping minded. Hotel deLuxe too. And every time we offer a deal, I try to use it to get my friends and family to head out to Portland for a visit.

So here’s the pitch, friends and family: Right now at the deLuxe, there’s 15 percent off our best available rate. In order to get the discount you must pre-pay for your room. Totally worth it and can save you roughly $20 bucks.

Pretty sad that I need a deal to entice you guys to come see me, but whatever it takes.

Later,
Keith

A four-year-old I know recently had the audacity to claim that there is no Easter Bunny. Au contraire, my little ami. If there is no Easter Bunny, how could the awesome Alpenrose Egg Hunt at Alpenrose Dairy be such a hoppingly successful event for 46 years?

This year things get started on April 12 at the SW Portland dairy at 10:30 a.m. Three to eight year olds are divided into different groups, by age, and one lucky curtain climber from each group will win a six-foot Easter Bunny.

But the Bunny is hiding something else this year that might prove to be an undeniable enticement for moms as well: a diamond. Yes, I said diamond. So if you’re wondering why make the trek when you’ve got a perfectly good backyard at home to fill with colorfully dyed alternatives, ask yourself this: Is there a diamond in my yard?

Kiss Kiss,
Emily

My Mom and I had breakfast at Gracie’s last weekend, which I don’t know if we’ve ever done, and it inspired me to cheer them again.

Yes, I’m well aware they’re our restaurant here at Hotel deLuxe. So would you have me not recommend their great food due to the simple, unavoidable case of proximity? That wouldn’t be fair to you.

So I’ve extolled the virtues of their dinner menu (get the scallops, they’re my absolute fave) and now I can recommend, unabashedly, the Gracie’s breakfast. So if you’re tired of bagels at home or your Tasty Puffs, how about some German pancakes? Or maybe the best Benedict you’ve ever had?

Kiss, kiss,
Emily

It’s coming up on green beer time. And in Portland, the biggest green beer game in town is Kell’s. A nice old-school Irish bar every other day of the year, with music and darts and whatnot, it becomes the St. Patrick’s Day mecca from March 13-17. They need an entire week to do it.

There’s food, dancing, music, drinks of course and all kinds of Irish-inspired frivolity to be had. As for music, they’ve got people performing all day in the pub or the tent behind, as well as dancers. Not sure how Everclear fits but they’re even playing on Sun. night.

And then on St. Paddy’s Day itself the bar opens at 7 a.m. That’s a commitment. So my advice is to pace yourself. Take your time. Have some bangers and mash. Listen to some music. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.

Erin go bragh,
Keith

(photo courtesy of Grundlepuck on Flickr)