Hawaii Nesties
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Portland OR recs?
I'll post this on the regional or travel board but thought I'd start in my comfort zone 
DH's friend gave us a BOGO free coupon for Amtrak so we're planning to head down in mid-Feb for 2 nights. Any rec's for:
Brew-pubs (preferrably ones that produce hard-to-find-elsewhere beers) in the downtown area.
Romantic restaurants (for dinner) in the downtown area.
We won't have a car since we're taking the train so we're just going to focus on the downtown area this time.
Also, any OR wines that you like? If we find a wine shop, we'll probably try and pick up a few bottles.
-- Stuff I Like
Re: Portland OR recs?
Yay for trips to PDX!
I don't really go to any brew pubs in particular. But I know that McMenamin's have "different" types of beers and they have mult. locations around the area (pretty neat, they always pick old historic bldgs for their pubs). They have one nearby downtown called the Kennedy School. Pretty neat. You can also take the trolley up to NW/Pearl District...there's a lot of places that you can hit up around there (ie: Bridgeport, Bluemoon, Widmer, Deschutes, Pyramid Brew.) But I'm not a huge beer person...so I'm probably not the best at giving advice on places to go for unique stuff...
Romatic restaurants: Charthouse, Ruth Chris, Morton's are fancy, somewhat spendy, nice restaurants. There's also Portland City Grill, which is on top of the US Bank tower, really pretty view and good happy hour!! There are a ton of good, unique restaurants in the Pearl that are pretty good. Here is also another list of restaurants in the area that's pretty easily accessible from Downtown. I hear Hiroshi is pretty good Japanese fine dining, but I've never been there.
Wines? Hmm...let see. I really like anything from Willamette Vineyard and Oswego Hills.
There are just some suggestions for now, if I think of anything else, I'll let you know!
I love Hawaii!
Tara & Ian . 4/24/2008 . The Kahala Planning . Married
Don't have too many recs but I highly second McMenamins!!! Whenever I head out there to visit my bestie we always head to a McMenamins! Kennedy School was the first one she took me to and I loved it! It so amazing how they turn these old "historical" buildings around.
Sorry! I don't have an good romantic restaurant recs. (she & I don't exactly go to these! haha!)
Have fun in Portland! If you're going to be there on the weekend, be sure to visit Saturday Market in downtown. It's an outdoor marketplace for local artisans. They've got food & entertainment too. Great place to stroll around if it's not too cold or raining when you go.
Woohoo! Thank you so much for the recs!
Sujen, I'll have to note all of your recs and research the restaurants a bit.
Tara, We haven't decided where we're going to stay but DH really thinks Ace Hotel looks cool. I was considering B&B's too. There's one that has rooms named after famous people, on them being Beverly Cleary. She was one of my faves as a kid!
M&M, I think we'll be leaving Portland on a Sat so we'll definitely see some of the market.
Thanks again!
Saturday Market is pretty neat to hit up...its fun to walk around and see local stuff and try local food vendors! But I don't know if it'll be up and running when you get there (usually spring-fall time). So I would check first!
Yes, the Saturday Market opens up in March - http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/
Chika, you'll have to go next time you're in Portland
I love Hawaii!
Tara & Ian . 4/24/2008 . The Kahala Planning . Married
MH surprised me with a weekend in Portland after he picked me up from PDX after a business trip last Spring. We stayed at the nines. The decor is beautiful and the bar area on the top floor was fun. The room was small, but very nice and it was a great deal so we were pleased.
... We went to the market, I love Powells book store and MH has to go to Buffalo Wild Wings any time we are down that way - he can't believe Seattle/W. Washington does not have any. So I can't say we have ever even attempted had a romantic meal - just BW3s and brewery pubs...
We went to Deschutes Brewery because we always go to the one in Bend, OR (Mt. Bachelor) It's pretty close to Full Sail, Rogue and Bridgeport so we stopped by those ones too.
We also went to Lucky Labrador because they were having a charity tasting event with lots of different local breweries. I think Portland has beer fests all the time, so maybe try to search for the weekend you will be there to see if anything random and fun is going on.
We like McMennimans locations too - but I actually haven't been to the Portland ones. We have a local cafe and then about 30 mins away there is a neat movie theater that plays new-ish movies (the ones that will soon be on DVD) for $2 and you sit on couches. Weds. is $10 for a burger, beer and movie. Fun date night