January 2010

In This Issue
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• Why Lead? Follow us for Savings
• Visiting Portland in 2010 Pays Off
• Coming Attractions
• Taster’s Choice
• Portland Jazzes it up All Year
• Git Along, Little Doggies
• Larger than Life
• Heartwarming Hideaways
• Share Your Feedback on Portland Transit

What locals and visitors have to say about everything Portland.

Aequis Spa: Escape the Winter Doldrums. Spa Day! Aequis Spa’s new location is a refuge from the daily hustle and bustle outside. Rejuvenate with a warm pumpkin enzyme facial, or relax with a medley massage … Read more >>

23 Sandy Gallery: 23 Sandy Gallery is a fine art gallery located just east of downtown, in Portland’s central east side arts district. The gallery shows local and national artists working in contemporary book arts, painting, photography and printmaking … Read more >>

The Original: The Original is a modern neighborhood restaurant (“Dinerant”) serving classic comfort food as well as new favorites … Read more >>

Pambiche: Fantastic Cuban Place. Their food is flavorful, portions are good sized and the brightly painted Caribbean atmosphere makes me feel happy … Read more >>

The Twisitor Center is Here to Help
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Planning a trip to Portland or just looking for cool places and happenings around town? Use our Twisitor Center by adding "#inpdx" to the end of your tweet — we’ll answer any questions you may have. New to Twitter? Learn more >>

Sure, there are a few clouds in the sky — but Portland is as vibrant as a summer afternoon, thanks to an exciting array of activities and events. And when the day’s done, the region has some great places to cozy up and forget about the weather, too. And knowing how much money you saved will help you rest easy.

Leaders may get all the glory, but sometimes it pays to be a follower.

Case in point: Twitter users who follow @travelportland got first crack at a valuable promotion this week. To show you just how worthwhile following can be, we’ll share it with you, too: Get $50 off a two-night stay at a participating Portland Perks hotel. Book by Jan. 24 for travel through Feb. 28, 2010. In addition to saving $50, you’ll also get complimentary parking and continental breakfast, plus the savings-packed Portland Perks coupon book.

Follow us — you’ll like where we take you.

Did you promise yourself that this would be the year you get to Portland? We wholeheartedly support that resolution, and want to share a way to make your stay even more affordable (you know, on top of our everyday lack of sales tax): Book your hotel room through Expedia’s Winter Sale and get up to 30% off. Good for travel between now and March 31 when you book by Feb. 28.

There’s no time like the present to get this year off to a good start. Check availability >>

Some movie-goers enjoy the previews as much as the feature presentation — the anticipation of films yet to come offers its own satisfaction. In the coming months, a parade of festivals will allow Portland cinema-goers to see up-and-coming movies before almost anyone else.

The first and largest event, the Portland International Film Festival (PIFF), brings more than 125 features and shorts from 40 countries to Stumptown theaters from Feb. 11-28. Last year, the locally made Coraline began its internationally acclaimed run at PIFF. Next, the Portland Women’s Film Festival, March 18-21, brings the girl power, highlighting female filmmakers and movies that tackle women’s issues head-on.

Then, in the spirit of April Fools’ Day, the Faux Film Festival, April 2-4, screens parodies, mockumentaries and spoofs. And, April 15-24, the Northwest Film Center’s Jewish Film Festival explores complex themes of spirituality, identity, tragedy and humor with great movies and some serious chutzpah. Find more film festivals >>

Cheeseheads and oenophiles alike will come from far and wide on Friday, Feb. 12, to nibble and sip to their hearts’ content at the annual Portland Showcase of Wine & Cheese. The Oregon Convention Center will abound with hundreds of varieties of wine, dozens of gourmet cheeses and other specialty foods sure to tickle the taste buds.

Each attendee receives a complimentary wine glass and a tasting book for rating the wines while you wend your way from one tasty table to the next. For the first pour, pick up a golden ticket. With these limited-edition admission passes, early-birds get to peck at their choice of the cheeses, hors d’oeuvres and wines before the crowd comes in. More info >>

Portland’s annual jazz festival shakes its way into town starting Feb. 21, bringing live music from far-flung corners of the globe like Brazil and Norway, as well as performers from PDX’s own back yard.

The top-notch tunes will be heard in venues around town. However, these rocking hot spots aren’t one-week wonders. If you can’t make it to the festival, stop by another time for smooth tunes. Read the full blog post >>

P.S. Need a place to stay while you’re in town for the festival? Check out this list of Portland Jazz Festival hotels.

When driving around Portland, it’s easy to spot a “Keep Portland Weird” bumper sticker. But seeing four people tethered to a shopping cart, barking as they pull their “musher” and “sled” around downtown — well, you can only see that once a year.

On Saturday, March 13, the Portland Urban Iditarod will tear around its four-mile course, with 100 five-person teams trekking from checkpoint to checkpoint along a scenic urban running course. There aren’t many rules to the event, which doesn’t really have winners or losers anyway, but barking and staying on the marked route are both mandatory. At each checkpoint, dogs — or runners, that is (real dogs aren’t allowed) — can unleash and replenish themselves with beer and other beverages until it’s time to mush onward to the next stop.

Registration begins on Feb. 1, and costs $50 per team, but spectators can have almost as much fun — at no charge — cheering on the competitors from the sidelines. After the race ends, everyone is invited to attend the DJ-fueled Aprés Ski party that consists of karaoke, dancing and plenty of “doggy” treats. More info >>

If you think you’ve seen dinosaur fossils before, think again. For example, many museums’ fossil displays are replicas, or they may contain bones of several ancient beasts grouped together. But at Portland’s Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), visitors can take in SAMSON: The Colossal T. rex Discovery, which is believed to be the third most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever uncovered.

Featuring 170 of the dinosaur’s original 300 bones, including one of the best-preserved T. rex skulls ever found, this incredible display is one for the ages. Weighing in at six tons and measuring more than 40 feet in height, Samson is just shy of the largest T. rex skeleton ever unearthed — but that doesn’t make him any less special. Discover Sampson at OMSI before the end of the summer, because, like dinosaurs themselves, these bones won’t be around forever. More info >>

Valentine’s Day is coming — did that little statement just kick-start your hibernating heart? The Portland region’s many great B&Bs can help awaken the passion in any relationship, any time of the year.

Some like it hot, and they should check out The Hidden Woods. This single log-cabin B&B in the foothills of Mount Hood offers both a great fireplace and a steaming hot tub. Near Oregon City, Sandes of Time features a fireplace in every room — as well as a 120-inch movie screen to help warm things up with a romance.

It’s Camelot all over again at Portland’s White House, an early 20th century lumber baron’s replica of the presidential mansion. Nestled into northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood, this is a great place for walkers.

Meanwhile, the guest suite at St. Helen’s Seawright House is fit for a king and queen. The full apartment — with private entrance, living room, dining room, spa-treatment room, library and more — will make you wish Valentine’s Day, or a romantic getaway any time, would never end.

If you've visited Portland this year, your feedback is wanted. Metro, Portland's regional government, is conducting a travel study to better understand how visitors get around the area. If you traveled to Portland in 2009 and stayed in a hotel downtown or in the Lloyd District, please take this 10-15 minute survey.

Your input will help shape the city's transportation system. On behalf of Metro, thank you for sharing your Portland travel experiences.
Take the survey >>

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