The rumor is true, Punki. We saw your lovely daughter the other night at our favorite local beer-guzzling hangout ("where everybody knows our name") and confirmed that we had indeed rearranged our schedule to catch her act.

We will stay until Sunday afternoon, so you must come down on Saturday and play. I also nominate Jackie as co-director of social operations (Shadow, are you there?).

I'm here...and hoping Jackie will be available that weekend too.

With her new job & commuting every week to LAX, I haven't seen her much lately. We'll discuss it this weekend & I'll report back.

Tell Jackie we miss her and want her to come.

How about some of you other PDX folk?

OK, here's the scoop...

Jackie will be away that entire week, returning on Fri. 3/3 from LAX. We will be available for any social gatherings on Sat. or Sunday, be she respectfully declines your offer as co-chair of the Social Committee.

I'll nominate essxjay since she lives downtown and probably knows about more options than we do.

I will make a restaurant suggestion though; Veritable Quandry is one of our favorites, and should now be rebuilt after their fire last spring. It's only about 2-3 blocks from the Marriott.

Shadow: We didn't intend to put pressure on Jackie, it's just that I am not that familiar with Portland (except Powells, of course).

Veritable Quandry sounds great for a meal. We should plan for Saturday night, don't you think? Punki and Joe will be coming back that day, so I should think that would work best. Is there any local PDX person willing to make a reservation when we get an idea of how many there will be? Otherwise I guess I could do it from here. Hopefully we have at least myself, Michael, Punki, Joe, you, Jackie and Essxjay. I don't know why other locals are being so shy. Speak up now!

I'll make a reservation as soon as we know how many we are...or defer to essxjay if she thinks somewhere else would be better.

shadow,

The venerable VQ is indeed a short stagger from the Marriott, just a block and a half away. Their rendition of osso bucco is very, very good.

I tend to steer guests and newcommers to either Higgins, Wildwood or the Heathman. All serve excellent examples of Northwest regional cuisine.

And of course, a trip to PDX would simply not be complete without a nightcap at Hubers for Spanish coffee made tableside.

I'm happy to handle the dining details.

essxjay: Thanks for volunteering to do the dining details. I defer to you--these all sound great, and it's the company that will really make the meal. I'm up for any of them. However, now that you've mentioned the Spanish coffee made tableside at Huber's, I MUST do that!

Perhaps Punki would like to weigh in with her thoughts on where to dine?

Almost all Northwest restaurants are wonderful. As long as I can get a salad I am a happy camper and Joe eats everything.

At this point we plan to fly down Thursday afternoon, do the art walk thing and fly back Thursday night. Then fly back Saturday afternoon and go home Sunday morning.

SO whatever works in those time frames.

Later in the spring it would be really neat to do a wine tour out in Shadow's neighborhood. He can research all that for us. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Punki,

I always keep a couple of extra copies of the Guide to Willamette Valley/Umpqua Valley vineyards on hand to share with visitors and newcomers. I'll set one aside for you.

The two big weekends of the wine-tasting season in Yamhill County are around Memorial Day (when the majority of tasting rooms open for the season) and Thanksgiving (when they close). Of course, a few are open all the time.

Driving time to the first Yamhill county vineyard is 30 mins from downtown Portland. There also are several in southern Washington County, which is where shadow resides.

Shadow, the baton goes to you ...

Samantha,

Is a wine tour via bicycle too ambitious? Have you done this?

One minor correction...I'm in the Yamhill Valley, very close to about 7 wineries, with another 7-8 within a 20 minutes drive.

Closest are Red Hills, Duck Pond, Sokol-Blosser & Dundee; the rest are not far away.

Punki, don't think a bike tour would be too practical, since most of them are either just off of Hwy. 99 or up in the hills a ways.

There was a piece on the local news last night about how land here in the valley has become a 'hot commodity' lately. Seems there are lots of people interested in the possibility of acquiring land for new grape production/wineries.

Right shadow. I forget that you're not in Portland proper. Tigard? Sherwood??

You're really in the thick of it then. Of course, coming in from downtown on 99W you are forced <g> to first stop at Rex Hill and Chehalem before motoring through Newberg to get to Dundee, Duck Pond, S-B, etc. Ever been to Torii Mor? That's my fave.

Punki, a bike tour is not beyond moi per se, but as shadow says, it's quite hilly and/or traffic laden and/or gravelly. We're talking 30 miles just to the first possible vineyard and the rest are still a ways away. Frankly, it's really a lot more work that I want to do. Besides, it'll muss my lipstick. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

So what's the body count for Saturday night? The cast of characters so far:

Punki and Joe
TravelWeary and s.o.
shadow
essxay

... that makes six. Have I left out anyone?

Samantha, I'm in Newberg, right between Duck Pond & Chehalem/Rex Hills.

You forgot Jackie...

Lucky you, shadow!

Fresh head count:

Punki and Joe
TravelWeary and s.o.
shadow and Jackie
essxjay

Anyone else?