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SILVER FALLS STATE PARK 

“The Canyon Trail is a nationally recognized trail system that leads hikers along the banks of the north and south forks of Silver Creek. It takes you to 10 majestic waterfalls, ranging from the grand South Falls (177 feet), to the delicate Drake Falls (27 feet). Four of these falls have an amphitheater-like surrounding where you can walk behind the falls and feel the misty, crisp spray.”

Seattle Post- Article

Fortunately, Portland has a fun, funky and fancy selection of downtown lodgings, from quirky to classic in a variety of price ranges, featuring impressive collections of local and national art, memorable cuisine and proximity to theaters, museums and river recreation. “While there are lots of similarities to Seattle in terms of weather and ambience, Portland is smaller, more accessible, and it’s so easy for Seattleites to zip down for a couple of days,” said Shoshanna Cohen, spokeswoman for the Ace Hotel, which attracts travelers seeking economical lodging options. “Portland has so many creative juices flowing in terms of our film festivals, First Thursdays art gallery walks and worldclass art right here in our hotels.”

Here is a wide range of lodging choices:

Ace Hotel

The Ace Hotel is in Portland’s West End, next to the popular, eclectic Pearl District and famous Powell’s Books. The Ace’s lobby is a casual hangout for those who want to slouch on the couch and take advantage of the wireless Internet, or to finish sipping their cup of fresh-brewed from neighboring Stumptown Coffee. The hotel has one creaky, slow elevator that you’re not encouraged to take, because the stairs are faster — something to keep in mind. A flophouse years ago, the building has been transformed into an immaculately clean but casual, affordable hotel. The rooms are aligned on a long hallway, with a choice between brighter-but-noisier street views, or darker and quieter rooms on the other side of the hall. It’s a definite consideration since sounds from the lively neighborhood have been known to keep rocking into the wee hours. The rooms have the building’s original woodwork and tile, and local artists have unleashed their talents on the walls themselves, or have their art installed throughout. Some rooms have clawfoot tubs, army canvas door coverings and turntables — with instructions on how to use them (a bit of a giveaway to the youth of many of the lodgers). However, Cohen insisted that guests include families and visitors in all age ranges. “Our affordability means that people can spend their money on food and shops, rather than on hotel things you don’t need,” she said.

Off of the lobby is the Clyde Common restaurant with an expansive cocktail menu and communal-style seating, serving organic, rustic American cuisine. On the other side of Stumptown Coffee is Kenny & Zuke’s Deli, which offers delicious, in-house smoked and cured meats, freshly made bagels and amazing breakfasts. The Rueben is terrific, but the side of fries covered with melted Swiss and chunks of pastrami is an artery-clogging immersion into delicious decadence. “A lot of our visitors stop off at Kenny & Zuke’s for breakfast before heading up to nearby Mount Hood for a day of skiing,” Cohen said.

For a more polished flavor in lodging, the midcentury modern Modera is at the opposite end of downtown, a block or so from the Keller Auditorium and down the street from the Portland Performing Arts Center.

The recipe for creating the Modera was straightforward: An old Day’s Inn was gutted, its modern lines kept and it was refurbished with luxury amenities and local art. A stunning portrait — “Venus in Wax” by Tyler Marchus — dominates the lobby and rises over embracing chairs modeled after Italian handbags. Along the Modera’s hallways are soothing infrared photos of natural settings, and in each room is a faux fur bed covering and an original nude done in charcoal. The engaging room colors are louder than any sounds from outside as the wellinsulated windows keep street noises at bay. Valet parking on-site resolves another headache.

The outdoor patio is dwarfed by a large, vertically planted garden wall. Visitors can relax around the fire pits and enjoy wine tasting Monday through Saturday, and the hotel’s new restaurant, Nel Centro, opens in April. David Machado, who created the popular fish eatery South Park, and the Italian Pazzo’s, is designing Nel Centro, with a menu inspired by cuisine from Nice and Genoa. Another terrific choice nearby for a meal is Higgins, which has French bistro-style offerings using Northwest ingredients. Since you won’t want to stay in the hotel the whole time, the quickest way to gain an appreciation for Portland’s outdoor beauty is to walk a few blocks toward the river and stroll along the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park — a flat, 1.5-mile stretch of lawn that hugs the west bank of the Willamette River. It’s home to many nationally renowned festivals, including the upcoming Cinco de Mayo event in which about 300,000 people celebrate along the waterfront during a three-day multicultural collage of music and dance. Next, walk across the Steel Bridge and take the pathway along the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade. This 1,200-foot floating walkway is the longest one of its kind in the United States. Walkers can return to the west side using the Hawthorne Bridge. This loop allows the best glimpse of the city’s riverfront skyline, as well as breathtaking views of Mount Hood to the east and the still-active volcano, Mount St. Helens, to the north. To get even closer to the Willamette River, take a paddle around Ross Island with Portland Kayak Co., situated on the docks at RiverPlace. The tour is a pleasant float under Portland’s soaring Marquam Bridge and through a nature preserve.

A stunning and popular lodging choice is the Hotel Lucia. I was wowed by its lobby’s collection of art, its friendly staff and the cozy library, where I found a warm fire and a guest knitting. Throughout the hotel is a vast collection of David Hume Kennerly’s photos of the Kennedy family and other world leaders, such as Leonid Brezhnev and … “Seinfeld’s” Kramer. In the relaxing, elegantly furnished rooms, guests can choose different pillows or even select from a spiritual menu, with texts for followers of many of the most popular religions and spiritual pathways — or you can just watch TV. Just off the lobby is Typhoon!, one of the city’s finest Thai restaurants. Even better, it provides room service.

Just a few blocks away is the Hotel Lucia’s sister property, the newly renovated Hotel deLuxe, which takes the shimmering elegance of Hollywood’s golden era and runs with it. In this rainy city, the deLuxe brightens the mood with light, alligatortextured hallway wallpaper, and buttery yellows and lime-sherbet-colored rooms. Each floor has a classic film theme: The Rebels (adorned with photos of Ford, Wells, Kazan), the Immigrants (Wyler, Preminger and Lang) and others. In the lobby is Gracie’s restaurant, as well as the Driftwood Bar, in case you don’t feel like venturing out. The Hotel deLuxe is a few blocks off Broadway, but Portland’s public transit makes it easy to enjoy local foods, festivals and fun. While Portland is easy to navigate, it’s friendlier to pedestrians and bicycles. So unless you enjoy circling one-way blocks looking for elusive parking spaces, at most Portland hotels it’s best to throw your keys to the valet for the duration of your stay and take the easy-to-use Max light rail and street car. Or, just take the train from Seattle. If you fly, the Max light rail goes from Portland International to downtown.

Portland’s newest hotel on the scene also is one of its most upscale. The Nines was built atop the Meier & Frank building kitty corner from Portland’s living room: Pioneer Courthouse Square. The Nines has a wealth of meeting and celebration space (13,000 square feet), a roomy and well-kept fitness center and a world-class, 419-piece art collection. Its 331 guestrooms receive twice-daily maid service, 42-inch highdefinition TVs and the amenities one would expect from a luxury hotel. Urban Farmer, the restaurant in its lobby, is dedicated to local farm-totable fare. The bar menu spreads its wings pretty far, featuring an absinthe menu, moonshine and a large selection of barrel-aged whiskey. This April marks the opening of its new, Asian-cuisine rooftop restaurant, Departure.

Portland Building & Portlandia

q  Portland Building. 1980. Michael Graves (Teapots at Target;)

q  Love/Hate relationship with Portlanders, many think it is ugly; some appreciate it as an architectural landmark.

q  One of the first icons of Post-Modern architecture

q  Portion inside resembles Grand Central Station, on the top is a modern replica of the Greek Parthenon (which you will have a better view of as you head down 4^th)

q  Portlandia, 35ft copper hammered statue, second largest (Statue of Liberty is #1)

q  Sculpted by Raymond Kaskey, image used from the City of Portland’s city seal.

q  Designed as welcoming figure, Kaskey has exclusive intellectual copyrights and may not be reproduced on any type of media. He has also refused suggestions to move the statue to a more prominent location.

q  Base of the Wells Fargo financial center. One of the two largest “skyscrapers” in Portland at a staggering 35 stories.

q  Judicial Area: City Hall, Portland Building (municipal offices), County Courthouses, Federal Building, Federal Court houses.

q  Plaza Bocks (park blocks) have a history of orators and citizens assemblies. Still true today.

q  Elk Bronze Statue (1900) in respect to the elk that used to graze the area.

q  Pioneer Mall. Two sections. Oregon is one of those rare states that has no sales tax (except on hotels and car rentals). We do make up for it by having a fairly high income tax (9%). However, when you weigh the overall tax burden of Oregon, we usually come out about average of all the 50 states.

q  Paddy’s Bar and Grill. Largest liquor wall this side of the Mississippi (or so they claim)

q  Governer Tom McCall Waterfront park. If the square is our living room, this is like our backyard.

q  At Taylor intersection slow down and point out small green shrub in median/island. This is Mills End Park. Smallest park in the world. Dedicated in 1946 by Dick Fagan who tended to the small plot of dirt and wrote about it in his Oregon Journal Column.

q  Waterfront Park: 30 acres, acquired in 1927, home to several events throughout the year: Cinco de Mayo, 2 week Rose Festival in June, 4^th of July Blues Festival, Brewers fest, Taste of Oregon and much more.

q  Portland is a city of bridges. 10 bridges over Willamette (From the north: St. Johns, Fremont, Broadway, Steel, Burnside, Morrison, Hawthorne, Marquam, Ross Island and Sellwood) 2 over Columbia (Interstate 205 and Glenn Jackson (I-5))

q  Original Morrison bridge was the first (1887) present design is from 1958

q  Hawthorne Bridge is the oldest vertical lift bridge in the U.S. and is the busiest transit bridge in Oregon with 4,800 cyclists and 750 buses daily.

q  “The Hunted” with Tommy Lee Jones and Del Torro was filmed on the Hawthorne

q  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

q  In the tradition of the Deutches Museum in Munich and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, this two-story museum contains hands-on exhibits in topics ranging from natural sciences to brainteasers, human development and lifestyle issues, technology and more. IMAX theater, science camps. Great place for people of all ages.

OMSI:  Reminder  to be very cautious on the esplanade as it is a type of “bike highway”. Just as on any highway, slower traffic should stay to the far right. Gather everyone at the first look-out/viewing platform.

q  Point out OHSU, Oregon Health Science University, “Pill Hill”

q  The campus consists of three hospitals (Level I trauma center and general hospital, Doernbechers Children’s hospital and the Veterans Medical Center ) and a university for dentistry, medical and nursing programs.

q  Point out the Tram (“pill” to “pill hill”), which connects the main campus to the new expansion on South Waterfront.

q  OHSU is one of the top Portland employer with 12,000+ (other top employers include: Intel, Providence Health Systems, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Kaiser Health Foundation, Legacy Health Systems and State of Oregon.)

q  More Info…….

q  Portland Bridge Pedal: Portland is known as the City of Bridges, and it could just as easily be known as the City of Bicyclists. The Portland Bridge Pedal is what happens when you put those two things together. Or, as it’s officially known due to sponsorship, the Providence Bridge Pedal.

Once every year, all 10 of Portland’s bridges are covered with cyclists. It’s sort of like Critical Mass, only the Portland Bridge Pedal is sanctioned (and even charges an entry fee!). The event usually happens mid-August. Participants can choose to ride all 10 bridges (36-mile route), eight bridges (24-mile route) or six bridges (14-mile route). Included in the itinerary are routes across the top decks of the the Marquam and Fremont bridges

q  Portland Park Blocks. 17 city blocks of park running north-south through the city. Only 6 developed blocks in between. Park Blocks were part of the original 1852 grid plan for the city. 1877 first landscaping. Idea was to create a “cathedral of trees with simple grass below”. Each block has artwork. Predominant tree is American Elm. Others include maple, lindens, oaks and sycamores. In 2004 PSU students conducted a survey to identify and determine benefit of park trees, including their estimated value ($3.5 million)

q  Farmers Market, South Park Blocks

q  Oregon Historical Society: Preserving, collecting, and publishing Oregon’s multicultural history through museum exhibitions, research collections, and publications. $10 entry

q  Art Museum: Built in 1933 this is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest houses a permanent collections of European and American art as well as a fine collection of English silver.

q  Churches: Ornate homes and stately buildings have come and gone, but the old churches of downtown Portland seem to be eternal. Built with massive basalt stone, brick or wood, some have served their congregations for more than a century. Their steeples long a familiar part of the skyline, the historic churches are an important part of the city’s cultural life. “The Old Church” (1883) now a non-congregation community building.

Evergreen Aviation Museum

“The “Spruce Goose” or ‘crown jewel’ is the center piece of the Evergreen Aviation Museum. The giant Spruce Goose is also known as the Hughes Flying Boat H-4 (HK-1) Hercules.  The Spruce Goose is an aircraft designed and built by Howard Hughes’s Hughes Aircraft company.

It first and only flight was in 1947, by Howard Hughes himself only about one mile until he detected a vibration or pulsating in the aircraft frame or in the control wheel right after he lifted off and decided to set the H-4 back down rather than take a risk that it would be uncontrollable if he gained more altitude.  It was also said that he was just proving that it would indeed fly for the senators and that he wanted to prove his point so he only flew a short distant.

The Spruce Goose is the largest airplane ever built, the wing spans 320 feet—20 feet longer than a football field, it has enough cargo space to carry 2 (two) railroad cars. It has eight massive engines with 17-foot propellers. The weight of the Spruce Goose is 300,000 pounds. And it is made of wood even though it is called Spruce Goose it is made out of mostly birch.    

The museum also houses a large number of aircraft from U.S. aviation history in its 121,000 square-foot facility, including the Apollo Lunar Module.  The museum features a replica of the Wright Brother’s original 1903 craft as well as fighter jets, commercial planes and, in the spirit of those aviation pioneers, home-built aircraft from the 1990s.

History of the founding of the Evergreen Museum:

First envisioned by Capt. Michael King Smith, son of Evergreen International Aviation founder Delford Smith, the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is the realization of his dream.  The museum first began with a small collection vintage aircraft on display in a hanger located at the headquarters and was called the Evergreen Museum. In March 1990, the current owner of the Spruce Goose, the Disney Corporation announced that it was closing the exhibit located in Long Beach, California.  The Aero club of Southern California was notified and they immediately began the search for a new home for the Spruce Goose.  In 1992, the Evergreen Museum won the bid with a proposal to build a museum around the aircraft and feature it as a central exhibit.

The disassembly of the aircraft began in August 1992. The plane was disassembled and shipped up the coast and up the Columbia River from Long Beach, Ca to Portland, Or. Where it was transferred to trucks and driven to McMinnville to the museum in February 1993. For the next eight years, the plane went through a detailed restoration, where volunteers removed all old paint and repainted the entire aircraft. This was only a small part of what was done as restoration.

In September 2000, the main parts of the aircraft were completed.  The fuselage, wings, and tail were all transported across the highway and into the new museum building, which was still being built at that time.  For the next year crews spent their time assembling the wings and tail to the fuselage. These were completed in time for the museum opening June 6, 2001. The control surfaces (flaps, ailerons, rudder, and elevators) were assembled later.  The last piece was put into place on December 7, 2001.

As of mid-June, 2008, there are now two main large exhibit centers open to the public, consisting of aviation, where the Spruce Goose acts to anchor the other exhibits, and space flight, in another, matching, new large building.  The current center of the space flight exhibit building is occupied by the SR-71 ‘Blackbird’, which originally rested under one wing of the Spruce Goose.  The Museum plans to obtain the ‘Enterprise’ space shuttle at some time in the future, then it will become the centerpiece in the flight exhibit center.  Flight simulators for space shuttle are available for use by visitors now.

Also at the museum there is a farm store and a tasting room.  The wine tasting is free and does not require admission to the Museum.

The Evergreen Vineyards Spruce Goose wines and juice, also they have hazelnut produce—biscotti, gift baskets and sweets.  The tasting room is open seven days a week, 11am-5pm. The Spruce Goose café is also opened daily from 9am-5pm, and also a gift shop for unique selections of aircraft gifts, educational toys, and clothing, and one of a kind gifts.

                                 
 
“Hi all Y’all Kramer wine lovers,
 
The Valentine winemaker dinner for Wine Club members was a hit, and with all those aphrodesiacs, we may be guilty of contributing to the local population boom due mid-Nov, 2009!  We are sorry that you all couldn’t be here to experience this fine dining opportunity—the food was scrumptious, the wine legendary, and the company gregarious.  Toiling backstage in the kitchen, the only time I heard a hush was at the commencement of the main course.  The decorations were red and sparkly and the lights were romantically low.  We received many kudo’s for the menu—mostly for the grilled oysters, but we heard that the pomegranate-raspberry sorbet was the best!  And the Secret Admirer chocolate dessert had a secret aphrodisiac ingredient (–no, not Viagra)!  We hope to see more of you new members next year at this event.  Don’t forget to hold a spot on your calendar for the mid-July and mid-August ‘Under the Stars’ winemaker dinners.
 
Well, the winter’s over and we have turned over a new leaf.  The early spring wine club release will start ~March 17.  No, I can’t tell you what it will be at this time, we need to taste the newly released wines before making a decision—what a tough job!!  We have made changes to our website www.kramerwine.com. 
 
Three events to consider:  the Carlton Wine Auction on Sat March 7, the Sip 47-The Road Less Taken ‘Spring on 47‘ event, March 7-8 and the McMinnville Sip March 13-15.
 
One at a time….We will be serving Kramer wine at the Flavors of Carlton wine auction on Sat, March 7, starting at 5 pm.  This is a fun event with (really good) local wineries, food vendors, music, and 50 artists displaying their crafts.  It is a benefit for Yamhill-Carlton youth after school enrichment and community programs.  A very worthy cause—admission is $50 (covers wine and food).  Meet some local dignitaries and winemakers and artists and bid both the silent and hand auctions—you wouldn’t believe some of the art and wine (some older vintages too) they have auctioned!  As well as luxury vacations, winemaker dinners and tours, hot air balloon rides….
 
Each winery participating in the March 7-8 Sip 47 ‘Spring on 47’ has their own special happening—ours is an Earth Bag Roundup.  Bring your Kramer Earth Bag (the one you got with the Holiday Wine Club release), fill it with six bottles of wine and get 15% off the total purchase.  Although that’s the same deal that Kramer wine club members get every day, please tell your friends and neighbors.  If they don’t have a Kramer Earth Bag, we’ll give them one when they buy 6 bottles of Kramer wine! Check out the Sip 47 website www.sip47.com for other winery special events.  Don’t forget to visit Plum Hill winery (RJ and Juanita Lint worked here at Kramers and now have their own tasting room to tend) on old Hwy 47.  Plum Hill will have live music and a ‘dip your own’ bottle waxing experience.
 
Kramer will be at the McMinnville Sip at the Evergreen Aviation Museum (my favorite venue) to serve you a selection of Kramer wines Fri-Sun, March 13th-15th.  We received a bronze medal for our 2005 Chardonnay Barrel Select, the only chardonnay at competition to get a medal.  We also got a bronze medal on our 2006 Cardiac Hill Reserve Pinot Noir, one of only two Pinot Noir’s to get a medal.  Residing in the lap of one of the best Pinot Noir areas in the world, and only two got bronze medals???  What’s wrong with this picture?  Come and see if you agree with the judges.
 
Anyway, we have had several lovely sunny days and folks have picnicked on the deck.  Expecting many more…..come visit and enjoy the splendor that is Kramer Vineyards!  We are waiting to serve you!   Marilyn/Kramers (503) 662-4545
 
PS  Don’t forget to put marilyn@kramerwine.com in your address book so you don’t miss a critical communiqué!  Cheers! ”

There’s a reason why Oregon wines are recogized around the world:

“Sunday evening the White House hosted the 2009 Governor’s Dinner, the first black-tie dinner of the administration. The menu of all-American organic and sustainable foods featured the Archery Summit Estate 2004 Pinot Noir paired with Wagyu Beef and Nantucket Scallops.
That evening, President Obama raised a glass of wine and delivered his first formal dinner toast. “To the nation’s governors, to the United States of America, and to the certain hope that – despite our current travails – we will all emerge more prosperous and united.”
 
Join us! Learn More

YES WE DID Chicago Inaugural Celebration

Chicago Inaugural Benefit Celebration Unites City

It all started when a dynamic young senator from Illinois swept Americans of all races, ages and creeds to their feet for change—real change, welcomed by the vast majority of Americans and untold numbers in our global community.

Barack Obama’s inclusive grassroots vision has invigorated new hope. The election outcome is a turning point, one that has given new meaning to the American Dream.  

Without any citywide, inclusive event planned by anyone – from the Mayor’s office to our area congressional districts – and with the Washington inauguration already breaking attendance records, thousands of Chicagoans who are eager to celebrate the city’s favorite son taking the presidential oath of office have few, if any options. Until now. 

A grassroots committee has created a way to transform disappointment into excitement: 

The January 20, 2009, YES WE DID Chicago Inaugural Celebration includes 

A benefit inaugural ball with cash bar and live music at the Aragon Ballroom
8 pm – 1 am at five (or more) linked neighborhood locations across Chicagoland
150-2000 people expected per location, depending on venue size
Open to all
Proceeds to benefit partner nonprofits, including Amnesty International
All locations linked by video simulcast to
Each other
Portland, Oregon’s 800-person celebration
The National People’s Bar (Bethesda, MD)
And others to be announced as we get closer
Participants will be able to communicate with fellow celebrants in Chicago and across the U.S.
Nonprofit partners receive exposure during the event
Any self-managed neighbourhood, district or organizational celebrations are invited to email the committee at kbarrie@chicagoinaugural.com [or info@chicagoinaugural.com?] for ways to link in, including complimentary use of promotional materials.
 

We have an opportunity to use this momentous event to stand up, show our renewed trust in our country’s promise, each other and our leadership, and unite Americans and our fellow believers around the world who declare, YES WE CAN!

To purchase tickets to the Aragon Ballroom benefit ball, or any other venue ticketing through us, go to [L1]

To see the Portland Inaugural Ball, go to www.portlandinauguralball.com

To see the National People’s Inaugural Ball, go to www.natlpeoplesballmontcomd.com  

Event information and ticketing are available through www.chicagoinau

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland Inaugural Celebration Ball Benefits Local Charities

Portland-area residents who won’t be attending the Washington, D.C. Presidential Inauguration events are thrilled about the opportunity to attend a celebratory gala on January 20, 2009 in their home town. The event, sponsored by Hub World Travel, will be held at the Scottish Rite Ballroom located at 1512 SW Morrison Street. It will begin at 7PM (Doors open at 6PM) and feature live entertainment, food, and a no-host bar. Proceeds will benefit the Oregon Food Bank and the Royal Rosarian Foundation Field Trip Project.

The grassroots organizers of the Portland Inaugural Ball are not affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Obama campaign, or any political organization. They have designed an inclusive, non-political, safe, and festive gala to celebrate this historic event.

For detailed event information and ticket sales, please visit www.portlandinauguralball.com. Come join the celebration!

For more information:

Cheryl Thoen                                      OR                              David Penilton

Phone: 503.939.5767                                                              Phone: 503-896-2464

cthoen@teleport.com                                                            david.penilton@gmail.com

Portland Inaugural Ball – A Celebration of America

Go to www.portlandinauguralball.com for more information

When: Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Time: 7PM – Midnight (Doors open @ 6pm)

Where: The Scottish Rite Center Ballroom – 1512 SW Morrison, Portland, Oregon 97205 

Dress: Black Tie Optional

What: Hors d’oeuvres, full bar (first drink included in ticket price) ,LIVE MUSIC!!!, dancing,
giveaways from local sponsors and more!!

Music by:  Underscore Orkestra, AKA47, and Miss Briana

Ticket prices (per person):
$70 : Dec 8 – 31
$75 : Jan 1 – 15
$85 : Jan 16 – 20

Tickets on sale now:  Go to www.portlandinauguralball.com for more information

***Proceeds go to Oregon Food Bank and Royal Rosarian Foundation Field Trip Project***

Let’s Celebrate! Barack Obama’s election is an historic moment for America. Please join us for an exciting evening – music, dancing, food, drinks, giveaways and more – as we welcome a new era for our country. PLUS proceeds will benefit the Oregon Food Bank when funds are needed most – after holidays, when giving has declined. Funds will also be provided for the Royal Rosarian Foundation Field Trip Project, a program which helps disadvantaged children. Tell your family, friends and co-workers.

Come one, Come all!

Sponsored By:
Hub World Travel
Portland Inaugural Ball Committee: The grassroots organizers of the Portland Inaugural Ball are not affiliated the Democratic party, the Obama campaign, or any political organization. We have designed an inclusive, non-political, safe, and festive gala to celebrate this Historic event.

Hello all,
I had the opportunity last night to take some of your fellow volunteer VIC Travel Counselors on a new Hub World Travel tour. The new “Portland City Lights Tour.”
Portland really comes alive at night, we toured the beautiful city lights made even more spectacular by the holiday season. We began at Pioneer Square with our wonderful lighted tree. We then stopped for a view of the city from the east side at OMSI. Then off to Rocky Butte to view the city from above, and walk up to the view point, what a view. Then we were off to the Grotto’s Festival of Lights, it was beautiful and we enjoyed the over half a million lights, music, the animals, and petting zoo. Once Peacock Lane begins on the 12th of December the tour will visit there as well, and then end at NW 23rd for a hot drink and a chocolate tasting at Moonstruck Chocolates.
The tour will operate Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, and Thursdays from 6:30p to 9:30p.
 
$40.00pp which includes admission to the Grotto.
 
 
There is some walking involved but nothing to strenuous.
Enjoy,
Pam