Last year my friends at the Oregon College of Art and Craft gave me a bad time about not letting people know far enough in advance about their holiday sale. So…

So this year I’m giving the shout out nearly weeks early so people can empty their penny jars, liquefy their assets (what’s left after recent Wall Street goings-on) or harvest an organ. Whatever they need to do.

Seriously though, if you have any art-loving people in your circle of friends and family this is the best place to do your shopping. Some incredible student and alumni art is on offer. Or you can point those buying for you to the event.

It takes place at OCAC from Nov. 28-30. But my recommendation is to get there at 7 p.m. on the 28th when the doors open. Happy hunting.

See ya,
Emily

Hey that is pretty cool. I’ll have to point my parents there. I’ve been trying to get them to come out and stay at the hotel ever since I started working here.

If they come out by Jan. 4 my mom could go to this interesting exhibit about dogs I just saw at the World Forestry Center. My mom helps train seeing eye dogs and would totally dig it because a lot of it is about why dogs and humans work so well together.

But it talks about all kinds of issues related to dogs. And wolves as well. Even though we always had dogs in my family I didn’t know a lot of the stuff they discussed. The problem is that it makes we want to get a dog… There’s nothing happier on earth than a chocolate lab puppy.

Later,
Keith

It’s true, I’ve never actually been to a haunted house before. I’m not a-scared. I guess it’s just never really come up. I’ve always wondered if they’re actually scary. My friends tell me I’d be perfect because I can be a bit jumpy, but I’m cool under pressure.

So I did some research into the matter and I think I might have to try FrightTown. Mostly because it’s been around for a while I guess and it says it actually has three haunted houses in one. I’m thinking it’s like the spiciness scale at a Thai restaurant.

In case you’re also cool under pressure, FrightTown is at the Rose Quarter. I’m not sure how scary the Rose Quarter can be, but we’ll see. It runs until Nov. 1, going until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Later (if I survive),
Keith

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

You know what amazes me? Libraries. Seriously. I was thinking about this the other day when I was at the downtown branch. Think about it. You go to this place and you can just borrow any book or CD or DVD you want and walk right out with it.

And if they don’t have it you can just order it. I don’t know, I just think that’s pretty incredible that first, as a civilization, we do that and second that it works. Free books for anyone who wants to read them. That’s pretty incredible.

It’s a beautiful building too, the main one. I don’t know what kind of options you have if you’re from out of town but at least you can read them there. There’s also a lot of newspapers and magazines, and free Internet. Plus, it’s just down Taylor from Hotel deLuxe.

Later,
Keith

I’m not huge on Halloween. It’s OK, but not a big deal to me. Even when I was a kid I sort of did it because my friends did. It just seemed like too much work or something. I don’t know.

But I do still enjoy carving up pumpkins. I wonder if they’ll have that at the Open Studio deal, Emily… its great fun. I end up doing them for my friends as well. I think I also like that they don’t last forever. You make it, and then rots. Come on, rotting art is cool.

I’m told by some people here that Rasmussen Farms in Hood River is a good place to go for a fun-filled pumpkin picking time. There’s even something called Pumpkin Bowling out there which I like the sounds of.

Later,
Keith

It’s that time of year again when a range of Portland artists agree to open up their studios for art voyeur types to wander through and gawk, and hopefully spend a little money along the way.

I talked about it last year and am really trying to get people to go and support local art. Called Portland Open Studios, it gives you a great opportunity to see how different artists work and maybe start your collection with a personal connection.

This year there are almost 100 artists participating, including emerging talents and well-established artists from just about every media, including acrylic, ceramic, collage, drawing and colored pencil, furniture, glass, jewelry and photography.

It costs $15 and runs Oct. 11-12 for the westside and 18-19 on the eastside. Doors are open from 10 to 5. Check the website for a tour map.

See ya,
Emily

Maybe you want to do a bit of grocery shopping while you’re here? Perhaps you wish to make a platter of raspberry tarts for the warm and solicitous reception staff? A smashing idea.

And you’re actually well situated for two of the finest specialty groceries stores in the area. If you go to Burnside and turn left, you’ll eventually run into Zupan’s. Their wine selection might be the best of any supermarket. Their produce and meat counter is also incredible.

Or maybe you’ve been pawing through the CDs at Everyday Music. In which case continue toward downtown and you’ll come to Whole Foods on Burnside. They’re known for their range of organic choices and items you’re not likely to find elsewhere.

Both should have the ingredients for those tarts. A bottle of Oregon pinot would work in a pinch, too.

See ya,
Emily

The Crystal Ballroom is awesome. Probably my favorite spot for larger shows. If you’re in town I definitely recommend seeing some music there if you can.

And then you can walk across the street to Everyday Music, which is the best record store in town and buy the CD. There’s one entire room that’s all classical music, jazz and world music. The whole other room is rock and rap. New and used.

You can get a CD from like $6 to $15 or so. And they’ve also got a lot of special stuff. Like posters, stickers, box sets and whatever. And a lot of cool vinyl, which I dig (I just got a new turntable for my birthday.) For the 5 or 10 people who still listen to cassettes they have a bunch of those too.

Later,
Keith

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