Celebrating the Quirky Side of Portland

May 7, 2008


If you love Portland, it's most likely because of its unique and slightly off-kilter style. If you've ever visited the Velveteria or Voodoo Doughnut, you know that Portland truly does have something to offer everyone. CNN recently described Portland as "one of the nation's more livable cities, listed among the best places to have a baby, grow old, go for a walk, ride a bike, take a jog, breathe clean air, own a dog, take public transportation, start a business (green or otherwise), go out for dinner or not get mugged."

CNN's recent article entitled "Exploring Portland's far side" also listed some of Portland's known nicknames, including Beervana, the Rose City, and Sin City. Please click here to read the full article.

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Rockin' Out at Portland's Crystal Ballroom

April 24, 2008


By Ashley Moran

This past week, I had the opportunity to check out one of the Crystal Ballroom's alternative concerts, put on by 94.7 fm's Passport Approved program. The concert featured Skybombers, Justin Hopkins and Bassboosa. The Passport Approved program runs on Sunday evenings and features artists from areas around the world. For example, Skybombers are from Australia, and Bassboosa is from London.

If you've never been to the Crystal Ballroom, be sure to check it out! It's located near Portland's pearl district, close to a variety of fabulous restaurants including Manzana, Andina, Paragon and ¡Oba!. There are also a variety of places located near the Crystal Ballroom to grab coffee and dessert or a cocktail and a late-night snack after the show. Better yet, the Crystal Ballroom is also a McMenamins, so you can grab a pint of Ruby or Terminator Stout and a delicious burger at Ringler's Pub without even having to leave the building.

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Dinosaurs Are Invading Portland!

March 21, 2008


These ancient creatures have decided to make an appearance at Portland's very own Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). If you're looking for a fun and educational spring break idea for the whole family, check out this interesting exhibit, titled "Dinosaurs: China's
Ancient Giants". View actual dinosaur skeletons, fossils, dinosaur eggs, Chinese murals and more. You will discover the lives of such dinosaurs as the Mamenchisaurus, Velociraptor and Lufengosaurus...just to name a few.

OMSI's dinosaur exhibit will be open until September 1, 2008. Please visit www.omsi.edu for more information, and have a blast learning about China's ancient giants!

There are a number of other exciting dinosaur events taking place in Portland, from a dinosaur egg exhibit at the Portland Classical Chinese Gardens to a rainforest full of dinosaurs at the Oregon Zoo. Please visit www.TravelPortland.com for more information.

It's Rose Festival Time!

May 29, 2007

In just two days, the iconic Portland Rose Festival takes over Portland. This year, the festival celebrates 100 years with an unforgettable centennial celebration that pays tribute to Portland's history, culture and community. Marilyn Clint from the festival sent us this blog about the upcoming release of the documentary "From One Rose". (In case you missed Marilyn's last "Inside Scoop blog, it's here)

From One Rose
It's been several months since I sat sniffing through interviews with Festival supporters and leaders as they were filmed for our motion picture. That particular Saturday afternoon was filled with unforgettable moments like listening to our 1991 Rose Festival president and longtime auto race chairman Bill Hildick describe how he felt back in 1984 when he finally heard that well-known announcement -- "Gentlemen, start your engines" -- and the Indy-cars zoomed down the track at Portland International Raceway for the first time.


(Video: Homage to the Rose Festival by the production team)

"I nearly jumped out of the bleachers," he said, and his eyes reflected the pride and excitement of that day 23 years ago when his own personal dream was realized and Portland hosted its first Indy-car event. "It was one of the best moments of my life," he said.

His memories are part of the Rose Festival story.

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Another Day Of Hiking, Dining & Wine Tasting in Oregon

May 22, 2007


Recently I had the pleasure of having my favorite sibling (actually he’s my only sibling) come to visit me from Columbus, Ohio. After much harassment, I convinced my brother visit for a weekend so that we could do what most Oregonians do: eat, drink, hike and drink some more.

On day one together, we decided to hit the hiking scene out at the Columbia Gorge and it was absolutely stunning. Why, you ask am I talking about hiking when I should be talking about wine? A girl needs to get out and about once and awhile and I’m also scheming my summer hikes and picnics this summer. I didn’t indulge in bringing wine with me on our hike together but I intend to do so in the future. With trail mix and berries in our pack, we hiked up Angel’s Rest near Multnomah Falls to find an incredible view. Once we reached the top we knew we needed a reward. And what do all hikers need post trek? Food, wine and drinks, of course.

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Good Eats in Portland

May 21, 2007


Welcome to the Travel Oregon staff's monthly "Good Eats" blog! This month, we're exploring the unique cuisine of Portland. If you're planning on watching a show at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, shopping at Saturday market or simply exploring the city, Portland has a variety of choices that will surely satisfy your cravings.

Our staff has put together a list of restaurant reviews, ranging from Cuban to Pacific Northwest that are guaranteed to make your mouth water.

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Romance, Exquisite Cuisine and Delicious Desserts at the Portland City Grill

May 2, 2007


By Gloria Zacharias

With four teenagers living at home, it isn’t often that my husband and I can sneak away to take some time for ourselves. However, my husband arranged a surprise outing on the occasion of our tenth wedding anniversary and even the kids didn’t give the secret away.

On a recent Saturday night, a chauffeur-driven black Lincoln cruised up to the front of our home to take us to our surprise (for me) destination. It was a beautiful spring evening in Oregon, and once I stopped hounding my husband for information about the restaurant he was taking me to, I relaxed and enjoyed the drive up I-5 to downtown Portland.

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