October 2009

In This Issue
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Portland Perks Hotel Package
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Get these perks at more than 35 hotels:

• Overnight parking (average savings of $20/night downtown)
• Continental breakfast for two
• Discount-packed coupon book

To book your stay, visit travelportland.com or call 1.800.962.3700.

What locals and visitors have to say about everything Portland.

Portland Open Studios: A chance to see artists at work. This happens on the next 2 weekends (Oct. 10, 11, 17, & 18). The artists are friendly and willing to share info with you. They are at work, so you get to see how they do it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions … Read more >>

Academy Theater: Comfy, classic theater with great beer. The Academy Theater is a welcoming spot with three small theaters and a menu that includes Oregon microbrews and pizza from the adjacent Flying Pie Pizzeria … Read more >>

Portland Walking Tours: A Great Way to Spend an Afternoon. There were a total 16 people on the tour. Only two were from the area. The tour covered about one & a half miles and lasted from 2:00 to 6:30. To get to one of the stops we used a street car … Read more >>

Andina: Wonderful setting for a good meal. The interior of Andina is warm and inviting, with wonderful earth-tone colors and wooden floor. The menu features Peruvian dishes. Try the pork tenderloin with butternut squash … Read more >>

The Twisitor Center is Here to Help
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Planning a trip to Portland or just looking for cool places and happenings around town? Use our Twisitor Center by adding "#inpdx" to the end of your tweet — we’ll answer any questions you may have. New to Twitter? Learn more >>

Get help on the go by following us on Twitter, too.

There are many ways to set a perfect Portland scene, but music, microbrews and festivals are frequently part of the picture. So to snap a few great Northwest memories, get your ticket punched at these local events.

Back in 1928, when the Portland Public Theatre (now the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall or “The Schnitz” for short) first opened, George Gershwin’s rich symphonies and snappy showtunes were exactly the kind of fare that packed the house. This Oct. 10–11, modern music lovers can revisit the hall’s origins at the Oregon Symphony’s presentation of “The Great Gershwin.”

Part of the Oregon Symphony’s ongoing Pops Series, the show kicks off with the overture from Funny Face and closes with Rhapsody in Blue, surveying Gershwin’s rich oeuvre in between. Pops conductor Jeff Tyzik is known for leading complex classical performances that sound contemporary and of–the–moment, a perfect fit for the elegantly updated venue. And with follow–up shows “Motown’s Greatest Hits” and “Fabulous Forties!” taking the series into the spring, you can look forward to looking back at The Schnitz. More info >>

Known by hop–heads far and wide as “Beervana,” Portland — come winter — is also home to one of the region’s largest decorated holiday trees. Combine these two seemingly unrelated facts and you get the Holiday Ale Fest, a five–day celebration of local suds. The event takes beers from more than 45 regional microbreweries and wraps them under a huge, heated tent at the base of the big tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square (also known as “Portland’s Living Room”), resulting in one of the best presents a beer drinker could wish for.

The event, which runs Dec. 2–6, is no mere beer bash. About 15,000 people come from around the globe to quaff complex Pacific Northwest offerings that range from hoppy, big–bodied brews to suds spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Live, seasonal music helps the crowd get their “ho–ho–ho” on, if the festively named beverages (like Santa’s Private Reserve and O’ Holy Hops) somehow do not. There’s also something for designated drivers under the tree: free, unlimited pints of freshly brewed root beer are available for anyone piloting a sleigh (or car). More info >>

It’s a sight that sweeps us all back to childhood — a strand of lights, twinkling away on a cool winter’s evening. And while each year someone in your neighborhood will try to out–Griswold all the surrounding homes, two Portland light displays are always eye–popping and inventive.

ZooLights, a family tradition at the Oregon Zoo for the last 22 years, features life–size, animated animal sculptures and holiday scenes scattered among the zoo’s regular displays. Check out this video to learn about Zoolights’ new energy-saving LED light bulbs and some of this year’s new light displays, which can be seen from Nov. 28–Dec. 27.

In addition, each year more than 50,000 visitors flock to The Grotto in Northeast Portland for the Christmas Festival of Lights. From Nov. 27–Dec. 30, against the backdrop of peaceful, towering fir trees and a dramatic cliffside, about half a million lights depict the story of Christ’s birth. The 62–acre Catholic shrine and botanical garden also hosts hourly musical concerts, outdoor caroling and other holiday entertainment.

In 1980, the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus banded together to uplift the gay community and help affirm the worth of all people through eclectic performances of choral works. In 2009, the country’s fourth oldest gay–identified chorus kicks off a new season with a program every bit as ambitious as their ideals.

Starting with “Songs from the Sea” on Oct. 18, the choir will delight and entertain with a mixture of solo work and ensemble pieces, as well as rousing performances by the entire 120–man troupe. From Dec. 19–20, the singers will “Celebrate the Season” alongside some ethereal instrumental backing. In the springtime, they go totally ‘70s with “ABBAQueen”, a medley of disco hits that ought to inspire some groovy looks at the accompanying costume contest.

Ready to visit? Book your stay at a TAG Approved hotel before Dec. 31 and get a $75 American Express Gift Card® in addition to the already fabulous standard Portland Perks. Get the details on this offer.

In keeping with the region’s pioneering spirit, the Northwest art scene is full of trailblazers exploring uncharted creative territories. Case in point: the Northwest Film & Video Festival, held at the Portland Art Museum’s Whitsell Auditorium Nov. 6–14. Here, for the last 36 years, adventurous filmmakers have transported audiences with their own personal visions of the Northwest.

As the nation’s longest–running regional film and video event, the festival is actually a juried competition of Northwest motion pictures, with entrants coming from as far as Alaska and Canada. Each year, a film luminary (past judges have included Gus Van Sant, Matt Groening and Todd Haynes) reviews roughly 300 entries and selects the 30–45 shorts, features and documentaries to be screened during the festival. But lest you think it’s all stuffy high art, be aware that these filmmakers know how to pump up a crowd. For example, last year’s event included a special sports film evening, which — go figure — included two flicks about the city’s beloved basketball team, the Portland Trail Blazers. More info >>

It’s almost here! No, not the holidays — but they’re getting closer, too. Instead, eager oenophiles are counting down the days to Black Friday (circled on their calendars in a big Merlot–colored scrawl), because that marks the start of this year’s Wine Country Thanksgiving.

At the big event, more than 100 Willamette Valley wineries southwest of Portland will throw open their doors from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. for the entire weekend after turkey day (Nov. 27–29). Allowing throngs of festive wine connoisseurs to come in and sample their wares, many master vintners will work the counters themselves, answering questions, suggesting food pairings, and offering tastes of their new releases, older vintages and specialty barrels. But this is not just a great opportunity to restock the wine cellar. For many of these wineries, it’s the only time of the year that the public can admire the digs up close.

And, when combined with live music, specialty foods and a sun–kissed landscape, this wine weekend will generate memories that remain on the tips of visitors’ tongues year–round. After all, we’re still talking about it, and we probably will be until next year. More info >>

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