PDX - March 3-5 Anyone???
 

Anyone up for drinks, coffee, lunch, brunch, dinner this first March weekend? Shadow and I have briefly discussed in another forum the possibility of a mini get-together then. We'll (patient husband in tow) be down there for pure pleasure--the antique expo and the never-to-be-missed opportunity to buy books at Powells and staying at the Marriott City Center. Friday night is good or Sunday brunch or maybe a latish dinner on Saturday. I'd love the opportunity to meet any FT'ers living in or visiting the area. Step forward please. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Essxjay where are you that weekend?

Can you make it a day earlier? It's 1st Thursday and MiKhaela will have a show and performance in the PDX Art Walk. We are all flying down the 2nd but have to come back that same night. Well, maybe I can stay over. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Punki: Yeah!! I can definitely try to make it a day earlier if it means we get to include you and Joe and any of your kids (and their art). Let me see about changing our hotel reservation and taking another day off from work (what a shame!). This has got to be fate, after all, with you in town at that time. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Jackie and Shadow? Samantha? It would also be wonderful to meet some new folks from PDX.

How about it, Ling? Can you make it up from Eugene?

I think I've seen posts from someone named Portland 1K, also...

I'll definitely be home that weekend and would love to meet up with y'all. I have plans on Friday, but am up for drinks/dinner on Saturday. Keep me posted.

We will definitely be there Thursday evening for the Art Walk and my daughter's performance, but am not sure about any other times. I am afraid, I know it's sad but true, that we will end up flying back Friday to work. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Of course, I have been known to fly back and forth to PDX several days in a row.

Punki: If you think you might have time on Thursday at all, we will come in then and enjoy the arts walk too. (Is your daughter's performance open to the public too?) We can get together with shadow and essxjay and ANY OTHERS too shy to respond yet later in the weekend. However, I think it is an excellent idea for you to come back down Saturday or Sunday to join us!!
Let's hear it for Punki/Joe's return to PDX!

[This message has been edited by TravelWeary (edited 01-18-2000).]

Yaaaaayyyyyyyyy!

Yes, by all means, the performance is open to the public and it would be wonderful if everyone came.

At this point, I don't see any reason Joe and I can't fly back Saturday and play. What should we do? Can we dance?

Punki: From all accounts, Yes, you can dance!

And we all vote for you and Joe to come back. If dancing is what it takes, then we're dancing.

Hey shadow,

The best I can do is Wednesday the 1st! Sorry guys, I've got to work on the weekends. I did commit to the New Orleans FT get-together, although I'm arriving that Sunday, February 20th. And I've got a room reserved at the Marriott 7/22-7/26 (Sat-Wed) for the Montreal FAQ, just waiting for a fare sale.

Have lots of fun!!
Thanks for thinking of me...

Linda

Punki, TravelWeary, Ling & others...see my post under General Travel Talk about PDX roadway construction.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000837.html

Well, I'm sorry I'll miss Ling, although it looks like we'll get a chance to meet in Montreal. I have changed our reservations and will come in on Thursday, 3/2, to catch MiKhaela's performance and other artsy things. We will stay until Sunday, so we'll have lots of opps for get-togethers. It looks like we are close to convincing Punki and Joe to come back on Saturday, so that's looking good right now.

From Olympia I get gossip that TravelWeary (the extremely high energy) and Michael (the way far relaxed) have confirmed attendance at 1st Thursday for March in PDX art walk.

Joe, Dom and I will be there with our lovely Russian daughter Anya and her brand new husband (and our long time employee) Richard. I fly in from Vegas Thursday AM after a meeting in SEA we'll all come down to PDX. Joe and I have to return to SEA for a Friday morning meeting, but will fly back on Sat if you all want to play.

We should make Jackie co-social director for Saturday. She is a stitch. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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?

Hmmmmmmmmm. Certainly some local (or not so local) lurkers will come out of the woodwork when they learn that the lovely Samantha might be bringing cigars. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif (Oooh I love the new smilies!)

Travelweary's S.O. is Michael. Way http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

Incidentally, we are staying at the Hilton Downtown.

The only place I don't want to go to eat is Morton's. I got my kids' bill from January today. I can't take another round of sticker shock like that to my financial systems in the near future. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif In general, Flyertalkers don't deal well with extravagance for the sake of extravagance. (auh20 that word is sake with a long "a" and a silent e. Not sake with a short "a" and "e" as in Japanese). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

This invite sounds tempting but I'll be closing on my new house 2/29/00 and moving to the new house on 3/4/00. I hope all of you have a fun and memorable time!

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop

Okay, kiddies, here's a tentative plan. (And fercryinoutloud, please speak up if you'd prefer we do something else.)

I made reservations for eight (that means one open seat - anyone???) at 7:45 at Higgins, corner of S.W. Broadway and Jefferson -- about five blocks from the downtown Hilton. The theatre crowd starts clearing out at 7:30 so 7:45 was the best I could do. Of course, if you'd like a later seating let me know soonest.

I filched a copy of last night's menu and will scan it in later tonight so I can .pdf it to anyone who'd like to see it. Of course, the menu changes weekly, but it'll give you a good idea of what they're up to. (Aside to Punki: about 1/3 of the menu is meatless and there are several salad options.)

More later ...

Hey Samantha,

You are a Moving Star. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif Whatever is cool with you is cool with me.

dancefloorsdancefloorsdancefloorsdancefloorsdancef loorsdancefloorsdancefloors This subliminal message has been brought to us by http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 02-09-2000).]

Can two more be squeezed in? The DEN-PDX fares just went down and it turns out Marie will be free that weekend? I'd love an excuse to see my hometown again and show it to Marie :-D

Hey QL, that's great. We'd love to see you & Marie again... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm sure Samantha can deal with it...

Could I also be included as a maybe for right now? I was going to wait a bit but things seem to be gelling on this. I have 1 Free Friday left to use & the Westin Portland is showing a decent rate for the weekend. Airfare still seems a bit high, but I'm thinking "What the heck?" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I should hopefully know for sure in a week or so.

BTW, How is the Westin Portland & will it be convenient for the plans shaping up?

------------------
Regards,
- Anna

Wow! This is turning into an event! I'm so excited about meeting some old names but new faces. And, essxjay, your plans work great for me as I'll be trolling for antiques all day at the expo and will be ready for a big break about then.

p.s. Do you think Punki might like to go dancing?

Marie and I will be there latish Friday and will be staying at the Hilton.

Essxjay: If you can fit us in the dinner reservation, that would be great, if not, don't worry.

I'm looking forward to the reunions and new meetings. It will be a reunion with PDX as well, since I haven't been back since 1974!

Anna, you'll love the Westin...it's great & it has the Heavenly Beds!

Looking forward to seeing you again. Hope you can make it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

essxjay, sounds like we've got a possible group of 10 now...



[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 02-10-2000).]