Portland advice

[celyn100]

I'll be in Portland for work in mid-October (Oct. 15-17). Rather than driving down, I'm thinking of taking Amtrak down and using Trimet to get around. All of the B&B/ guesthouses I'm looking at would be about a 40-50 minute commute to the University of Portland campus where my meeting is. That's no problem. I'm mainly concerned with being someplace

Comments

[wendolen]

Go with the Bluebird -- it's about 15 blocks from Pix Patisserie, which I always visit at least once when I go down. (In June we went twice, on a Thurs-Sat trip.)

[celyn100]

OMFG! I finally checked out the web page. If I set foot in there, I may never leave!!!

[wendolen]

Make sure you try the bleu cheese truffle. And some of the macaroons.

The first time we were in there, they were playing L7 really loud, which just completed it for me. :)

Beware Amtrak

[taylasablerose]

I can't comment on the guest houses, but I will add a cautionary note about Amtrak. The trains now run chronically late due to traffic and the condition of the rails. Make sure you take one of the Cascades trains, not the Coast Starlight, and go earlier than you think you need to :>

My brother and I used to trade back and forth on the train between Seattle and Portland, but had to give it up becuse the delays got so bad.

Re: Beware Amtrak

[celyn100]

I'd read something along those lines but hadn't heard anyone's personal experience. Thanks! I'll make sure I take the Cascade route. My meeting is on Thu. & Fri. and I'm leaving Wed. morning so I think/hope I'll be ok.

Re: Beware Amtrak

[wendolen]

The Coast Starlight leaves Seattle on time, because that's the north end of its line, but when it comes into Portland, it's been en route from LA for a couple of days, and the delays pile up. The only time I've tried to take a Coast Starlight from PDX to SEA I waited three hours, and then they put me on the next Cascade because the Coast Starlight hadn't arrived yet.

[evernanon]

Hi, I'm the one that glaucon was talking about. Sounds like you're going to NWIUG -- cool, I miss being in a III library. Your ILS is better than my ILS.

I'd say the one on 18th or the one on Division, just because I know there's a lot to do in both of those areas and I'm less familiar with the area around Everett, and can't picture as many things to do around there besides the Doug Fir and one pretty nice dive-type bar.

Definitely drop me a line if you'd like to meet up for dinner or something, there are a ton of fabulous restaurants in Portland and I'm always looking for excuses to try out ones that have been recommended to me.

[celyn100]

Cool! Always happy to meet another librarian. I'll email you from my work account next week.

(edited to remove email address - hope you got it)

[glaucon]

drop a line to evernanon.

she's 1. a former blue hen, 2. a graduate of the UW library science program, 3. a friend of mine and boutell's, and 4. a former roommate of jen cramer's.

if you haven't met her, you should.

she and her husband doug live a few miles from downtown portland and can definitely advise you on cool areas and cool activities, and is well worth looking up just to hang out briefly while you're there. (if you have time)

I'm dropping her a note right now to let her know she might be hearing from you.