Media Update: February 2008

FEBRUARY TOPICS
Honors — National Trust Names Portland a 2008 "Distinctive Destination"
Hotel Packages — Heathman Hotel Launches "Books by Your Bedside"
Quirky — Velveteria Museum is on the Move
Culinary — Deschutes to Open Portland Brewpub this Spring

National Trust Names Portland a 2008 "Distinctive Destination"
On Feb. 7 the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that Portland, Ore., had been named to its 2008 list of "Dozen Distinctive Destinations." This is the ninth year the National Trust has recognized the top 12 U.S. communities in which "residents have taken forceful action to protect their town's character and authentic sense of place." Among the elements that elevated Portland to the list were its Urban Growth Boundary legislation, which restricts city sprawl; its repurposing of land in the Pearl District, which transformed a decaying warehouse area into chic urban neighborhood; its development of the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, which replaced a former downtown parking lot; and its preservation of one of the country's largest collections of historic cast-iron buildings.

To date, there are 108 Distinctive Destinations located in 42 states. To see a complete list, click here.

Media Contact:
Nord Wennerstrom, National Trust for Historic for Historic Preservation, 202.588.6141, nord_wennerstrom@nthp.org

Heathman Hotel Launches "Books by Your Bedside"
Portland's Heathman Hotel, which has one of the few cataloged hotel guest-lending libraries in the country, recently collaborated with Powell's City of Books, the world's largest independent bookstore, to create the "Books by your Bedside" getaway package. The package includes a complimentary hardcover edition from an author who also recently enjoyed an overnight stay at the Heathman Hotel, a deluxe travel reading light, a tour of the library with the hotel's library curator, a Powell's walking tour map and a Powell's bookmark. 

Within the Heathman library's collection are signed editions from seven Nobel Prize winners, 14 Pulitzer Prize winners, and five U.S. Poet Laureates. Among the writers represented are Tom Wolfe, Wallace Stenger, John Updike and Alice Walker. All of the books are signed by their respective authors, who were also overnight hotel guests. Nearly half of hotel's 4,000+ volumes are displayed in custom-made cases in the Mezzanine Library. 

The "Books by Your Bedside" package costs $229, based on double occupancy, and can be reserved online at www.heathmanhotel.com, or by calling 1.800.551.0011. For every package purchased, the Heathman Hotel will make a donation in the guest's name to SMART (Start Making a Reader Today), a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy for Oregon children.

Media Contact:
Emy Noel, P.R. Account Representative for The Heathman Hotel, 503.546.7883, emy@lanepr.com

Velveteria Museum is on the Move
Portland's much-loved Velveteria Museum of Velvet Paintings is moving to a bigger and better location. The museum will close in February to move its more than 1,000 velvet paintings to their new home at 2448 E. Burnside St. When the Velveteria reopens in March 2008, owners Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin will once again invite the public to revel in a quirky collection of paintings whose subject matter ranges from Elvis (of course) and unicorns to sad-eyed clowns and tasteful nudes. Since even the new location won't be large enough to accommodate the Velveteria's entire collection, paintings will rotate periodically.

Shortly after the museum reopens, Chronicle Books will release Anderson and Baldwin's hardcover tome Black Velvet Masterpieces: Highlights from the Collection of the Velveteria Museum. Packed with both full-color and black-and-white photos of the most mind-blowing pieces from their collection, the book celebrates the best and the worst of this kitschy yet sought-after art genre. Release date for Black Velvet Masterpieces is April 18, 2008; or pre-order now at www.chroniclebooks.com.

The Velveteria has been featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, as well as within the pages of The Washington Times. For more information on the museum, visit www.velveteria.com or call 503.233.5100. 

Media Contacts:
Carl Baldwin and Caren Anderson, Owners/Curators, Velveteria, 503.233.5100, velveteria@earthlink.net

Deschutes to Open Portland Brewpub this Spring
Deschutes Brewery, an award-winning craft brewery headquartered in Bend, Ore., will open its first Portland brewpub this spring. The move gives Deschutes a presence in Portland, which currently has more craft breweries and brewpubs than any other city in the world. The new pub, scheduled to open in early May 2008, will occupy a 10,000-square-foot, 85-year-old historic building in Portland's Pearl District neighborhood. The location is just one block north of Powell's City of Books, a venerable Portland landmark, and across the street from the Gerding Theater at the Armory, another historic building that is home to the Portland Center Stage theatrical company.

In addition to sampling brews, guests to Deschutes' 165-seat Portland brewpub will have the opportunity to watch the brewers crafting a diverse selection of beers onsite. All Deschutes' beers are vegan; the brewery uses no animal products in its cellaring or brewing processes.

The new brewpub's location is 210 N.W. 11th Ave., Portland, Ore. 97209. For more information on Deschutes Brewery, visit www.deschutesbrewery.com. 

Media Contact:
Lota LaMontagne, P.R. Account Representative for Deschutes, 503.827.6564, lota@ladcommunications.com