I’d heard about Multnomah Village, but I’d always thought, “Village? Isn’t that just a little precious?” But I’m here to tell you it is precious, and I mean that in a good way, not a grandmother’s hard-candy dish way.

The place is adorable. It’s about 10 minutes south of the city proper, but you’d think you were at the coast or on some delightful movie set. The little one-street burg has a great bookstore (Annie Bloom’s), a couple of fine restaurants (O’Conner’s, Thai Herbs), some boutique shops and a couple of great drinking establishments (Journeys, Sip D’Vine).

We’d gone to Journeys for a wine tasting and I can’t wait to go back to that great little place with the stellar wine and beer selection and really warm owners. So there’s my recommendation for the week, people. And now I just learned they have a First Friday, too?!

See ya,
Emily

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 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

Hey speaking about the Ecotrust building, Hotel deLuxe is doing a new package that I think is really cool. (The hotel has a bunch of different special deals. If you haven’t seen them, check out Special Offers.)

This one is a “green” package. I don’t know who came up with the idea but it’s smart I think. It starts with you leaving your car and getting free valet (that’d be me). Then you get two all-day Tri-Met passes, which work on buses, Max light rail and the streetcar around Portland.

Then the hotel provides a reusable tote bag for your shopping convenience, the “Easy Being Green Handbook,” which is full of stuff on sustainability, and a $10 gift certificate to World Cup Coffee in the Ecotrust Building. Which I guess is the first historic building in the city to get LEED certification. There ya go.

Later,
Keith

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