Constant Reader discussion
2009 CR Convention - Portland
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Planning Committee
Thanks, Jim, for doing this. The organizationally impaired such as I am, are vastly impressed. Bless you.
Jim, I'll set up a GoodReads event so we can invite people. Last time it seemed pretty useful.
While I was ecstatic to be able to attend as my daughter is a Powell's employee of a decade and we love visiting Portland, I found that as always there came a hitch and so I will be in Ohio not Oregon come September CR Convention weekend. I don't want to talk about it, really, I just can't believe it's true! It is. there is absolutely no way to resolve this and I am stuck.HOWEVER -- I will not let that stop me from making suggestions -- is anyone surprised?
To begin:
Powell's is, as Jim said, a given. And I'm sure folks will drift back for return visits on their own at some point during the weekend.
Saturday Market is SO much fun! I would say it would be of definite interest to many CR folks -- I know there are beaders among us, knitters also maybe fiber folks of any sort -- it's also a great place to graze for a quick bite. I had some delicious African food last time we were there, for example.
The Portland Japanese Garden is FABULOUS and famous.
The more recent Chinese Pavilion is awesome and a stop in the teahouse for something sweet and a taste of some exotic tea would be a MUST, I believe.
There are many great eateries and I enjoy all the fountains around town. Just walking along the downtown streets with the sculptures and bubblers is a sight not to miss, of course.
I'll think of more, I'm sure. Oh, I am SO jealous!
Jim,As a long time convention goer, I have to say that we like to do things together most of the time. That is the whole reason for the conventions really. We talk and eat and view art and talk and eat some more. We also have to have a time and place for our readings.
We usually stay in nice hotels: better than Motel 6 but not as expensive as the Ritz!
Jane
I recommend Hotel Lucia - one of my favorite hotels in any city. I've stayed there at least 4-5 times, I never stay any place else in Portland. www.hotellucia.com
It's right downtown convenient to every thing, hip but not too hip; nice lobby area for gathering with a bar right next to that area. The rooms are a bit on the small side, which doesn't bother me but might be an issue for the ladies slumber party.
The Museum of Contemporary Craft might be fun to visit. It's free (well, they do ask for donations and I always give them one), I always try to stop by when in Portland. http://www.museumofcontemporarycraft....
One thing I've never done but want to is a boat trip down the Columbia Gorge - that might be a nice side trip. Alternative is a shorter trip on the Willamette that runs through Portland. There is a nice park by the river just a couple of blocks from downtown. Jane, there is a great jogging trail there by the water.
Theresa
I love trips on the water too! I'm hoping I can make it, since my only visit to the Pacific Northwest (north of Sebastopol, anyway) was a brief visit to Salem more than twenty years ago.
Oh, Theresa, yes -- we have yet to take the boat out the river but I'd love to see Multnomah Falls from the water and the area along the river as you pointed out is great. The parks are fantastic also.
While I'm not a local yet (I'm preparing for a move to PDX in July), I really enjoyed the walking tours that Portland Walking Tours does on my last visit there - both the "Underground Portland" tour and the "Epicurean Experience" tour are a lot of fun. I also really enjoyed the Oregon Zoo and the hiking trails at the arboretum - the natural beauty of both is pretty awesome considering that you can get to them via TriMet.
I wish I could join you all in Portland! I love the city and had a great time when I visited almost 2 years ago. I went to the art museum, Japanese Garden (amazing), Rose Garden, Powells (5/8 days!!), tea shops,vegetarian/vegan restaurants, and several farmers markets. I also rented a car for 3 days and drove to Ashland for the Shakespeare Festival. I would go back to Portland NOW if I could! I have a suggestion for a hotel. Check this out:
http://www.mcmenamins.com
I stayed in Edgefield - wonderful!
McMenamin's Edgefield is the former County Poor Farm, and while it is fun to think that you stayed there, it is a good 20 minute drive into town during non-rush hours.I am thinking that we will want something that is walking distance to Powells.
Ashland is a day's drive from Portland, and the Shakespeare Festival will still be in full bloom in September for those who want to extend their visit.
I understand the need to be closer to town however the Edgefield hotel is not the only location - I thought there were 2 McMenamins closer to Portland. I didn't have a car when I stayed in Edgefield; I took public transportation - the bus then the subway/lightrail. I think the public transportation system in Portland was great!
Jim,I think that it is an excellent idea for us to stay near Powell's bookstore. Most of us won't be there long enough to go to Ashland. I hope that Barbara Hill joins us in Portland. She lives in Ashland.
Jane
Jim et al, Hello again,Just got back from the U.S. (I live in Hong Kong)and as I mentioned we have a townhouse in Portland. Since I must be in the U.S. from late June to early August, I may not be able to get back in time for the get-together. Nevertheless (I love that word) I will be in Portland part of June, July and August and would like to help out in any way I can. I haven't nailed down the exact dates yet and will advise you directly as soon as I do and you can let me know how I can help.
My favorite hostelry in Portland is the Park Lane Suites at Yamhill and King. Check out their website at http://www.parklanesuites.com/. They have one and two BRs with a full kitchen and are very well located within a healthy walking distance of Powell's but a short distance from all the great eateries and shops on 22nd, and 23rd Sts. I've stayed there for years. They also own a budget motel across the street if cost is a strong consideration. I'm known there as Ed Hahn, the bearded guy from Hong Kong.
I haven't read all the posts but a wine tasting trip might be in order. Yamhill County is less than an hour's drive from downtown. I might be able to also provide a guide who is a good friend and most knowledgeable about NW wines. If not a trip perhaps we could have a tasting at "Thirst Wine Bar and Bistro", http://www.thirstwinebar.com/, a superb wine bar right at the Marina and accessible by public transportation on the Portland Trolley.
Enuf suggestions for now. I will be devastated if I can't make it back from Hong Kong on Sept. 17.
I really hope you can make it, Ed. If you do, I think you will win the prize for longest distance traveled to one of our meetings.
What fun if you could come Ed. And the wine tasting sounds like fun, even if the doc says I can't have it any more.
Can you remind me of the dates again? We have friends in Portland who have been trying to get us out there, but I seem to have misplaced the information about the exact timing. Thanks!
The annual meetings (we call them "conventions" rather ironically) are always on the third weekend of September. Our first get-together is usually Thursday night dinner, but many people don't show up until Friday night. It would be wonderful to meet you. Sept. 17th would be that Thursday.
Sherry wrote: "The annual meetings (we call them "conventions" rather ironically) are always on the third weekend of September. Our first get-together is usually Thursday night dinner, but many people don't show ..."Thanks Sherry. Let me see what we're up to around then. It would be fun to go!
Yes, Jonathan. What's 3000 miles between friends, eh?
That would be wonderful, Jonathan!
Ruth wrote: "Yes, Jonathan. What's 3000 miles between friends, eh?"
Couldn't have put it better myself!
Jim,Have you picked a hotel for us yet? Here it is June already and I think that we need to start making reservations. We don't want to miss out coming to your wonderful city!
Jane
Hotel Lucia, which Theresa suggested, seems like a good choice and they will give us a rate - $139-159 a night . You can see the hotel at www.hotellucia.com. Frankly, the rate is pretty much available at will, and it looks as if just making a non-cancellable reservation would get you the same rate or better. With hotel rooms going empty last minute reservations might be better still.
The location is in downtown Portland walking distance to Powell's, Saturday market, and Voodoo Donuts.
Let me know if this looks like a good one to everyone, and I will set up the group rate with the hotel. Reservation cutoff date would be August 21.
That looks very nice, Jim. I think you can go ahead and set up the group reservations. I'm sure no one will object.
I'd like to request that you ask them to include some Double Double rooms in the group block, since some of us like to share in order to cut costs.
I dropped by today to check the hotel out in person. It is called a boutique hotel, which seems to mean that there are relatively few rooms (127 to be exact), and as you can see by the pictures, they are relatively small.The positive news is that the rooms don't feel cramped and have been gentrified. The hotel is over 100 years old, and I remember staying there as a child, no doubt shortly after it opened. Today the Lucia has very handsome furnishings, original contemporary art in the lobby, and limited edition fine art photography in the rooms.
Powell's is four blocks away, good Italian and Thai restaurants are in the same block, and for those who miss big chain hotel meals, there are a Marriot and a Westin within a block.
Double doubles are no problem. I will get the details and pass them along shortly.
-- Jim
The building may be old, but the hotel has a hip urban feel, like a W but not so W. It's been refitted relatively recently.The rooms are on the small side, and are probably not large enough to host the ladies slumber party, unless someone splurges and gets a deluxe or a suite. There is a nice sitting area to the side of the main library [Edit: I meant lobby; typo just goes to show that I am a true bookworm], right next to the bar, a perfect set up for CR.
They also have something called a pillow menu. I've stayed at Hotel Lucia several times and have never taken advantage of this, but apparently one can request a pillow of specified firmness or softness. The pillows that come with the room seem just fine to me.
They have free wireless. They also have a little business center, deep in the bowels of the basement.
Theresa
I have contacted Powell's and they offer a 45 minute tour, which I have tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of the 18th. Unfortunately, they don't have private meeting space, so I am not quite sure what to do about finding space.The Hotel Lucia has meeting rooms for rent at about $350 without refreshments or $550 with. Depending on how many people attend and where we choose to eat we could combine a meeting with dinner and save on room rental. Probably we should put off deciding until we get a better idea of attendance. I just wanted to raise the issue in case someone had an idea of what I could be doing now.
Jim, we had our meeting in Santa Fe in our room. We don't have to go to a lot of expense. In Milwaukee we had it in a park.
If open air is ok, I can find a few reasonable park settings nearby, depending on how public people want to be and whether people accept concrete or want trees.
Jim,In Denver, I invited everyone to my house for the meeting with John Dunning. In Asheville, we went to Sherry's house and in Washington,DC, we went to Katy's house. I don't know if that is feasible for you to do, but we can always find something that doesn't cost anything if it is too far to go or is inconvenient.
Jane
Jim, independent coffee shops sometimes have meeting rooms that one can reserve, at least here in Seattle they do. Espresso Vivace next to REI has a very nice room that would work perfectly for us, if only it were in Portland. It's free, though I expect they appreciate it if attendees buy a cappuccino or the like.Maybe try Stumptown in this regard?
Theresa
We met at Eliot Bay bookstore in Seattle. Do you think maybe Powell's could find a corner for us?
Powell's said that it didn't have space available, but with Portland being second only to Seattle in its coffee obsession perhaps I can find space at a coffee shop. I am afraid that my house couldn't accommodate more than a few people, all of whom would have to be quite fond of German Shepherds.
Hello,I'm new to this group so please accept my apologize if I should have posted this elsewhere. I would love to come to the convention, but I will have to see how finances are after CominConIntl in July.
Can anybody come?
Roseann,Anyone who is a Constant Reader is welcome to come!
Jane
Jim,Is the airport far from the hotel? What is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel? Gosh, I haven't been in Portland since I was seven years old. Did they have airports back then in the stone ages??
Jane
The airport is 20 minutes from town. In addition to cabs and rental cars, our light rail runs from the baggage terminal at the airport to City Center with a drop off three blocks from the hotel. If you are concerned about luggage and cabs are more than you want to spend, the hotel can give you contact information for one of the shuttle companies that service down town.
Thanks for the information, Jim. The light rail sounds like the best way to get there!Jane
According to the list on the group board we have 4 confirmed attendees and 33 possibles. I haven't checked on hotel reservations, yet.
We better start working on getting the "possibles" to be confirmed.
You ARE planning a time slot for browsing Saturday Market, aren't you? That is a NOT to be missed Portland experience I think. The Japanese Garden? The Chinese Pavillion? The teahouse at the Chinese Pavillion is a good nibbles and tea testing idea and is beautiful in itself. The sights are plentiful and though I know it will be difficult to pry CR folks out of the aisles of City of Books, they are worth of the time. Go out to see Multnomah Falls or even try a short Gorge cruise? Are the specifics getting decided? I'm SO wishing I could be there -- I think my attending Convention is not supposed to happen given that this one would have been so perfect EXCEPT that it didn't turn out that way. Sigh. You can bet I'll be living this one vicariously though -- so make it a super one y'all hear?
Everything sounds like a good idea. We'll put it to a vote when we get a little closer.
Hooray! I just booked my ticket to Portland and got a non-stop flight both ways. The price was very reasonable.Jane
There's no possibility that I'll get a non-stop from Asheville, but I better start looking for something.
Obviously a trip to Powell's is more or less essential. Questions like hotels, meals, side excursions are very open, and I can use lots of input. If anyone from away wants to have an opinion, please let me know.
We have a range of price points available at hotels and restaurants downtown, and we can fill up with art galleries and museums or in-town hikes through the woods or wine tasting tours or drives to the scenic wonders of the area as desired. Our Saturday Market downtown, an open air craft market, is supposed to be vary large as those things go. And there is always the possibility that we could just let conventioneers wander on their own.
Please email me directly if you have any input to offer.