Speaking of bikes, a reader asked me to recommend where if you’re from out of town you can rent bikes. An excellent question. I should’ve thought of that. There are a lot of options. Here are a few:

Fat Tire Farm – This is probably closest to Hotel deLuxe. It’s at 27 NW Thurman. And it has the best name.

Waterfront Bicycle – This isn’t really too far either on 1st and SW Ash. They’re the closest to downtown. You can jump right onto the path that runs along the Willamette.

CityBikes Workers Coop – They’re on the other side of the bridge on 7th and SE Ankeny.

Wherever you go, ask for some recommended rides. You can also check out sites like OregonLive for ideas.

Cheers,
Keith

Congrats, Portland! We just earned the platinum level from the League of American Bicyclists. We’ve made gold before, but with this we become the first large U.S. city to earn platinum and join Davis, Calif., as the only other platinum Bike Friendly Community in the country.

LAB identified a bunch of reasons why. Like we have 270 miles of on-street bike lanes and paved trails, we have a city ordinance that requires bike parking in development projects and we have six bike corrals, each of which replaced one on-street car parking space with 12 bicycle spaces. And the list goes on.

About 16 percent of Portlanders use a bike as either their primary or secondary means of transportation to work. How can you not dig that? So helmet up, and join the party!

Later,
Keith

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

I swear this isn’t because of my gripe about the construction disaster going on, but this past weekend we rented a canoe and actually paddled by downtown. I didn’t even know you could do that. It was pretty blasted cold, but you got to see parts of the city you never see.

What we did was rent a canoe from Alder Creek, which is just on the other side of the Hawthorne Bridge. You get the canoe, or a kayak, for half day for $30 (all day was $50, I think). You put in right there. I’m sure there are probably other rental places, too.

We brought a cooler with the appropriate river roaming beverages and just tooled around for three or four hours. We’ll definitely do it again when the weather warms up. Like maybe for the Blues Festival, hmm…

Later,
Keith

There is a ton of construction going on downtown these days and if you do go down there, I guarantee you will lose it. I swear there are some parts of the city you can only reach by a helicopter or maybe a chunnel.

Actually, you know, if you’re not from Portland, and don’t have a dinner reservation you have to get to, it’s probably worth a look. The whole mess is part of a huge downtown project that I think will be really cool when it’s all done.

What they’re doing is extending our Max Light Rail line. They’re putting in three new lines, one from Irving to Burnside, one from Burnside to Salmon and one from Salmon to Jackson.

But until then I suggest decaf if you’re driving down there. Or just stay at the deLuxe with a good book.

Later,
Keith

I’ve been thinking. I overindulged during Christmas (I dare anyone to pass up my Mom’s marzipan). And I pulled out all the stops at the Hotel deLuxe New Year’s soirée. Delicious food, illustrious libations.

So I decided to take a couple of days off and take the train up to Seattle for a night. After all, I didn’t overindulge there. Plus, I love Seattle. And I also just love the train. When else do you get 4 uninterrupted hours to read, do the crossword puzzle, and/or daydream? The view is pretty spectacular, too.

The train station is maybe a mile from Hotel deLuxe. Two trains a day go to Seattle, one in the morning that gets you there at noonish, and one at noonish that gets you there around 4. And it drops you virtually right downtown. It’s a grand day out.

Till later,
Emily

Because the new tram gets all the attention these days, I wanted to send a shout out to the Portland Streetcar. Hear, hear, streetcar! You, the overlooked of Portland transportation options!

The truth is the streetcar is a great, almost-free ($1.70) way to tour downtown P-town. From near Hotel deLuxe, just hop on at 11th and Taylor (about 5 blocks east of the hotel), ride on north into the Pearl District, or south down to 10th and 11th to Portland State University, and then head down to SW River Parkway and RiverPlace, and then over to the South Waterfront where it connects with the tram.

Also, you can get on and off as many times as you want, as your ticket is good all day!

Later,

Lance

Everyone remember to watch out for all those runners this weekend. Oregon’s famed Hood To Coast relay race is happening this weekend (Aug 24-25) – the staff here at Hotel deLuxe wishes all those runners the best of luck. I get tired just watching them, they are truly inspiring.

Speaking of inspiring, check out the history of the Hood to Coast and while you are on their site, check out the Hood to Coast map and I recommend you avoid driving anywhere on those roads!

-

Lance

TGIF everyone! So a little birdy told me that our Portland Streetcar is expanding this weekend and they are having a grand opening celebration starting today. It starts at 11am (which is like right now) and apparently Valerie Day and Three Leg Torso will be playing – sounds like fun! Check out all the details at the Visitor Association’s website.

So here’s the kicker – FREE streetcar rides starting today through Sunday AND …. FREE Tram Rides Saturday and Sunday. That is pretty cool, whether you are a long time public transportation rider or a first-timer get out and ride this weekend and check out the new S.W. Lowell extension of the Streetcar.

cheers,

L

I enjoy the local haunts you boys identified, but I like to have a bit of live music with my Manhattan. That’s why I must spotlight Wilf’s Restaurant & Bar as the most welcome of area watering holes. Go for the old-world charm, stay for the jazz.

The wingback leather chairs, the dark wood interior, the organic menu, I even enjoy being so close to Portland’s train and bus stations (it’s located inside of Union Station) with people passing by on their way somewhere.

But it’s really about the music, Wilf’s Live Jazz is always great. I recommend Tuesday nights when Ron Steen hosts his weekly open jams.

Have fun!

Emily