Monday, November 19, 2007
What to do in Portland
We will personalize this, but in the meantime, here's the link to the Portland Oregon Visitors Association.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
For the Out-of-Towners
We're looking forward to having Friday evening to spend time with those of you we don't see regularly here in Portland, as well as take care of some much needed introductions! If you are coming from out of town for our wedding, we would love for you to join us for dinner on Friday night at the Paragon in the Pearl District. Please arrive between 6:30 and 7 pm, and send either Steve (smhoyt@yahoo.com) or Mandi (mandimcb@yahoo.com) an email to confirm your attendance, or call Steve at 503-475-8725.
The Paragon is located at 1309 NW HOYT AT 13TH street. It is accessible by the Street Car line which runs along 10th and 11th. Get off at Glisan Street and then head one block south to Hoyt and up to 13th.
The streets in the Pearl run in alphabetical order starting at Burnside (the street which divides NW & SW Portland) heading North, and then the numbered streets start at the river and grow heading west. Parking is usually scarce in the Pearl and there is a pay lot at 12th and Hoyt. If the weather isn't bad and you're coming from downtown, it would make a nice walk in about 20 minutes.
If you do still need to book a room, we blocked rooms originally at the following hotels, although our block has now been released. If you choose to stay at any of these, call them for current rates:
Hotel Monaco (formerly Fifth Avenue Suites) - downtown, easy access w/out a car, highly ranked, parking is expensive if you rent/bring a car. ($135/night under block)
Inn at Northrup Station (1-800-224-1180) - in a fantastic urban neighborhood, on a streetcar line, but a longer transit commute from airport. Parking is free here if you plan to rent/drive. ($129/night under block)
DoubleTree Hotel - Very easy transit connection, we're adding it because it's the only hotel in Portland certified for sustainability. It's just across the river from downtown in the Lloyd District. The MAX light rail is free from here to downtown. ($99/night under block)
Here's a couple more that we couldn't or didn't block but are great spots:
Kennedy School: Converted schoolhouse with pub, soaking pool, movie house and bars 5 miles from downtown in an artsy, mildly gritty neighborhood.
Ace Hotel: New budget hotel that has the hipsters swooning and has a great cafe and restaurant in house. It's on the Streetcar line, which connects to the MAX/light rail line (i.e., a fairly easy transit commute from the airport).
White Eagle: Rock-n-roll hotel, close to the wedding site. Cheap rooms with a bathroom down the hall I believe.
The Paragon is located at 1309 NW HOYT AT 13TH street. It is accessible by the Street Car line which runs along 10th and 11th. Get off at Glisan Street and then head one block south to Hoyt and up to 13th.
The streets in the Pearl run in alphabetical order starting at Burnside (the street which divides NW & SW Portland) heading North, and then the numbered streets start at the river and grow heading west. Parking is usually scarce in the Pearl and there is a pay lot at 12th and Hoyt. If the weather isn't bad and you're coming from downtown, it would make a nice walk in about 20 minutes.
If you do still need to book a room, we blocked rooms originally at the following hotels, although our block has now been released. If you choose to stay at any of these, call them for current rates:
Hotel Monaco (formerly Fifth Avenue Suites) - downtown, easy access w/out a car, highly ranked, parking is expensive if you rent/bring a car. ($135/night under block)
Inn at Northrup Station (1-800-224-1180) - in a fantastic urban neighborhood, on a streetcar line, but a longer transit commute from airport. Parking is free here if you plan to rent/drive. ($129/night under block)
DoubleTree Hotel - Very easy transit connection, we're adding it because it's the only hotel in Portland certified for sustainability. It's just across the river from downtown in the Lloyd District. The MAX light rail is free from here to downtown. ($99/night under block)
Here's a couple more that we couldn't or didn't block but are great spots:
Kennedy School: Converted schoolhouse with pub, soaking pool, movie house and bars 5 miles from downtown in an artsy, mildly gritty neighborhood.
Ace Hotel: New budget hotel that has the hipsters swooning and has a great cafe and restaurant in house. It's on the Streetcar line, which connects to the MAX/light rail line (i.e., a fairly easy transit commute from the airport).
White Eagle: Rock-n-roll hotel, close to the wedding site. Cheap rooms with a bathroom down the hall I believe.
Giving - and the registrty
The unfortunate fact about most truisms is that they're used so much that they sound disingenuous when pronounced. For example: your presence is a great gift. It might sound trite, but we really, really mean it. Many of you are traveling from a long way away during a time it's not great to travel and to a place with not so great winter weather.
Our friends have inspired in the past with charitable donations in the name of the celebrated party. If you are inclined to buy a gift, we want to encourage you to consider a donation to two great Portland organizations that we believe in strongly.
Quest Center is a nonprofit integrative health center that serves people who are low income living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders and chemical addiction. It's a great community-based organization. Mandi works there and believes passionately in its mission.
Growing Gardens is a wonderful Portland nonprofit that addresses hunger issues by teaching and empowering low income people to grow their own food.
Lastly, if you want to purchase a gift, we are not above material desires. We've created gift registries at Kitchen Kaboodle, Crate and Barrel & REI.
Our friends have inspired in the past with charitable donations in the name of the celebrated party. If you are inclined to buy a gift, we want to encourage you to consider a donation to two great Portland organizations that we believe in strongly.
Quest Center is a nonprofit integrative health center that serves people who are low income living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders and chemical addiction. It's a great community-based organization. Mandi works there and believes passionately in its mission.
Growing Gardens is a wonderful Portland nonprofit that addresses hunger issues by teaching and empowering low income people to grow their own food.
Lastly, if you want to purchase a gift, we are not above material desires. We've created gift registries at Kitchen Kaboodle, Crate and Barrel & REI.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER FOR OUT OF TOWN GUESTS
If you're coming from out of town, please make your travel arrangements so you can join us for dinner on us (o.k., on our lovely parents) on Friday night. We'll be eating in the former industrial area - the Pearl District at the Paragon at 1309 NW Hoyt St.
We want to make sure we have time to see and talk to everyone and give folks a chance from each side to intermingle, so we hope you can make it! We haven't nailed down a time but dinner may start around 7:00 p.m.
After dinner, those not catatonic with jet lag can choose to join us and some of our Portland friends at a nearby bar for more fun.
Directions: You can walk from other hotels to the Paragon in about 10-20 minutes. As the date approaches we'll provide you with the exact transit options which will get you there in 10 minutes. A cab will cost you about $8.
We want to make sure we have time to see and talk to everyone and give folks a chance from each side to intermingle, so we hope you can make it! We haven't nailed down a time but dinner may start around 7:00 p.m.
After dinner, those not catatonic with jet lag can choose to join us and some of our Portland friends at a nearby bar for more fun.
Directions: You can walk from other hotels to the Paragon in about 10-20 minutes. As the date approaches we'll provide you with the exact transit options which will get you there in 10 minutes. A cab will cost you about $8.
TRANSPORTATION
Public Transit: If you're staying in Portland for the wedding weekend we encourage you to eschew a rental car and take TriMet. The light rail MAX can take you downtown for $2.05 and can take you directly to two of our recommended hotels. (The other requires a free transfer to the Portland Streetcar which takes you to the doorstep of the Inn at Northrup Station).
All trips within the core of downtown (including the Lloyd District across the river) are in the Fareless Square - which as the name suggests are free.
You can plan any trip with TriMet's Trip Planner (even for your arrival date). Each bus and train has a GPS monitor which via satellite provides you real-time arrival times that you can receive from your cell phone or computer with Transit Tracker.
Getting to the Wedding: We will provide transportation from the Hotel Monaco (formerly 5th Avenue Suites) to the wedding site (North Star Ballroom). Cab fare will run you about $25 from downtown to the wedding. There's lots of parking if you care to drive. If your downtown you can also take the light rail MAX YELLOW line and transfer at N. Killingsworth to the #72 and get off at PCC (Portland Community College). But lordy, just jump in our bus.
Directions from the airport to the hotels: I'd encourage you to use Google Maps or Mapquest for specific directions, but here's how to get downtown: Once you leave the airport, take I-205 toward Portland. Take I-84 west to Portland. Take I-5 South (Beaverton exit) and quite quickly take the City Center exit. Stay right and cross the Morrison Bridge into downtown. Roll down your window and ask someone directions to your hotel.
All trips within the core of downtown (including the Lloyd District across the river) are in the Fareless Square - which as the name suggests are free.
You can plan any trip with TriMet's Trip Planner (even for your arrival date). Each bus and train has a GPS monitor which via satellite provides you real-time arrival times that you can receive from your cell phone or computer with Transit Tracker.
Getting to the Wedding: We will provide transportation from the Hotel Monaco (formerly 5th Avenue Suites) to the wedding site (North Star Ballroom). Cab fare will run you about $25 from downtown to the wedding. There's lots of parking if you care to drive. If your downtown you can also take the light rail MAX YELLOW line and transfer at N. Killingsworth to the #72 and get off at PCC (Portland Community College). But lordy, just jump in our bus.
Directions from the airport to the hotels: I'd encourage you to use Google Maps or Mapquest for specific directions, but here's how to get downtown: Once you leave the airport, take I-205 toward Portland. Take I-84 west to Portland. Take I-5 South (Beaverton exit) and quite quickly take the City Center exit. Stay right and cross the Morrison Bridge into downtown. Roll down your window and ask someone directions to your hotel.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The date is set!
We are getting married at the North Star Ballroom in North Portland. We are very excited to have our wedding around the holidays and can't wait to see all who can attend.
Soon we will be posting links to some hotels and other info that will make the trip easier for out of towners. Feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions.
-Steve and Mandi
smhoyt@yahoo.com
mandimcb@yahoo.com
503-459-6976 (Mandi cell)
503-475*8725 (Steve cell)
Joint landline to come!
Soon we will be posting links to some hotels and other info that will make the trip easier for out of towners. Feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions.
-Steve and Mandi
smhoyt@yahoo.com
mandimcb@yahoo.com
503-459-6976 (Mandi cell)
503-475*8725 (Steve cell)
Joint landline to come!
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