my first trip to Portland...in Jan!

[GLC1968]

I'm coming to Portland to interview with a company in January. I'll fly there on Thursday night (1/10), interview all day on Friday, and then I get Friday night and all day on Saturday to do what I want. I fly out again on Sunday morning (1/13).

Anything I absolutely have to do and see? I have no idea where the hotel will be (yet), but the company is in Hillsboro, so I assume it'll be up that way.

If only I could bring my bike.

Oh, and will y'all please order me up some decent weather for that weekend? Clouds are ok...just no typhoon winds or ice storms. Thanks!

[Blueberry]

Congratulations on the interview!!! We'd be sorry to see you go, but it truly sounds like it would be a great place to be

Good luck!

CA

[mimitabby]

Powell's bookstore, and a walk around downtown. Powell's will give you an annotated city center map.

[Xrayted]

Welcome!! Out that way, if you have a choice of where to stay and like groovy, funky type of stuff, look up McMenamin's Grand Lodge. They have an awesome outdoor soaking tub (huge, made of stone) and incredible food. The bars are plentiful and they make their own brew. Their Ruby beer is fantastic. They have a spa there as well as a movie theatre. There is usually live music Fri-Sun and stuff going on out on the lawn... (can you tell I love the place?) It's not too far from Hillsboro and is priced cheaply. The history of the place is neat and if you're lucky, you'll get to see one of their ghosts. Great roads to ride on in that area. Many cyclists for different events stay there when in the area. When you know more, update us and maybe a few of us Portlanders can meet up with you when you are in town.

[teigyr]

Or some of us Seattle folk

I don't think I've been to the Grand Lodge. I've been to Edgefield though and have enjoyed it thoroughly!

[jobob]

A big +1 for McMenamin's Grand Lodge!

[jobob]

[thread drift ... terribly sorry ....]

Say, have any of you Portlandeers been to McMenamin's Kennedy School?

SadieKate & I were mulling over the possibility of a trip to Portland for the Handmade Bike Show. I'd love to stay at the Grand Lodge, but it seems to be a bit of a haul from Forest Grove to the Portland Convention Center, so we're contemplating the Kennedy School instead.

Any thoughts from the locals?

[teigyr]

Am thinking I have nothing going on that saturday. We could either fly or drive down. When you know where you are, I can see if TriMet goes there! If not, we could always drive. Would be fun!!!

[GLC1968]

Wow, that lodge looks awesome! And I definitely want to stop in at Powells if I can - I've ordered so many books from there over the years!

I just got my itinerary from the company, and I'm staying at the Towneplace Suites (Marriot) at Orenco Station (in Hillsboro). I get in late on Thursday, have interviews all day on Friday and then I'm on my own until Sunday morning when I fly out. I will have a car, so I'm mobile. This means that I can make plans for Friday evening, Saturday day, and Saturday evening!

I'd love to meet other TE'ers! I have one friend from another board that I hope to meet up with while I'm there, but she's flexible. And to be honest, I anticipate a bit of sensory over-load. I've been living in a bit of a vacuum in comparison...Can I do everything in one day?

Of course, I need to remember that if this goes well, there will plenty of opportunity to do and see it all once we live there. What I need to focus on for this trip is getting a feel for the area - the people, the entertainment, the life...the weather .

[mimitabby]

I think you'll manage to get a good taste of Portland in one day.
Sounds like you'll have lots of fun.

[SadieKate]

[thread drift ... terribly sorry ....]

Say, have any of you Portlandeers been to McMenamin's Kennedy School?

SadieKate & I were mulling over the possibility of a trip to Portland for the Handmade Bike Show. I'd love to stay at the Grand Lodge, but it seems to be a bit of a haul from Forest Grove to the Portland Convention Center, so we're contemplating the Kennedy School instead.

Any thoughts from the locals?

I wish McMenamin's would take pets who are always under supervision . . .

Especially well-behaved poodle boys who are quieter and better potty-trained than the average human spawn.

[teigyr]

Especially well-behaved poodle boys who are quieter and better potty-trained than the average human spawn.

We try to frequent places that allow dogs. We don't have one, mind you, but like to live vicariously. Our local pub allows them as does my salon. The pub even has a dispenser for treats

And I've found most dogs to be quieter than the average human spawn.

[SadieKate]

Even bottle-trained



photo courtesy of jobob

OT: GLC - hoping this job and hubby's options all work out. Powell's would be high on my list also.

[Grog]

I think you'll manage to get a good taste of Portland in one day.
Sounds like you'll have lots of fun.

What about two days? What are the most important things to do in two days in Portland? (Knowing that I will be spending half a day in Powells.)

[GLC1968]

And I've found most dogs to be quieter than the average human spawn.

And usually better behaved, too!

SK - yours is adorable!

Oh, Powells is definitely on the list of must-see places. What about evening entertainment...anything that is classically 'Portland' that I should do? (Bear in mind that I'm not the party-animal I was in my 20's, of course )