Barnstorming week my friends. DC to Portland and now, last evening late, Santa Monica…Shutters on the Beach. Great week but no time to contrive stories so a brief load of drivel and some pics with have to hold you. Remember when we used to play the carpet game? Remember carpet burns?
I’d never been to Portland and as usual, had no free time to explore. But what I did experience is a downtown hotel called Nines. I’ve said before that business travel is anything but glamorous and I’m generally unimpressed with my typical hotel experiences.
Nines is an exception to that rule. It’s one of those places where upon arrival I immediately wish that I had someone with me to share the luxury. Interestingly, the lovely Christmas tree…target of the would-be terrorist bomber…was adjacent to Nines.
Urban Farmer…Superb steak house-restaurant in Nines with interesting drinks. Served in these stemmed glasses with olives. Shut up.
My room at Nines. Larger than Casa Minimus.
And then I roll in to Shutters late last night to yet another great digs.
Damn these bath tubs. Join me anyone? Anyone?
Gotta figure out how to get this leather chair in my carry on bag.
I recon I can’t close out a blog story without some sartorial mention. It’s getting chilly back home so I’ve unearthed my Brooks Brothers cotton pajamas. When it’s not cold, the allsiest thing I sleep in is my gold chain. But when a breast pocket adorns anything—it requires a pocket square. Pajamas included.
Onward. Missing this little gal so much. She's growing up too fast. Evidenced by her new school photo.
Shuttering. ADG, II
27 comments:
Yes Sir, those luxury suites are better enjoyed with a soft-curved companion....
Your daughter is adorable and yes in a blink an eye she will be 20. That's the way it works.
Fancy digs! I'm heading to Las Vegas (gag) in January and will get to stay at the new Cosmopolitan. Hope it looks as good as Nines. Fancy dance!
I cannot BELIEVE you just showed us your jammies! A true original. Lordie. Thank you for your joie de whatever. Your mug is up on Privilege, BTW. Couldn't resist. But no jammies.
Thanks, but I took a shower this morning. That chair is fantastic. You should add leather chairs to your "posts to be written" list, but not until you cover campaign furniture. Great photo of the little pootist( though I rather imagine she doesn't care for that title anymore).
You were in Portland and missed Powell's ? Now THAT is serious barnstorming.
Happy travels! I know it can practically drain the blood from anyone - those libations in the stemmed glasses will help - so I've heard.
Hold the phone...did you say gooold chaaain??? THUD...XXOO
Every year, without fail, my Dad gets the 100% cotton (NOT THE BLEND!!!) Brooks Brothers pajamas for Christmas.
What a smile! And that hair, gorgeous! Remind her of this, when she asks to have it straightened.
The Nines. This hotel occupies the top nine floors of what was once the flagship store of the Meier & Frank department store chain. Meier & Frank was founded in Portland in the mid-19th century, and for a time, was one of the most important businesses west of the Mississippi.
Did you know that Clark Gable used to sell neckties at this very Meier & Frank?
Meier & Frank was bought out by the May Corporation, then May was bought out by Macy's. It was a black day when Macy's decided to rebrand all its stores under its own name.
It's still a beautiful building.
Visible in the photo:
Bottom left: Pioneer Courthouse.
Not-quite-top right, unlit: Nordstrom.
Lit up, with clock at top: Umm, can't remember....
Behind it: Fox Tower, which blocks sunlight that used to hit the Square. None too popular, that.
In the Square: the Christmas tree that a Moslem would-be terrorist failed to blow up--this time (though I'm pretty sure he was targeting the crowd and not the tree).
Had I known that's where you were going to stay, I would have given you directions to the brick in the square with my real name on it (part of a fundraising scheme from when I was in high school).
Portland has a wonderful Japanese garden and an adjacent garden filled with the most glorius roses imaginable if you ever visit in the summer. I was there in early August and the weather was perfect.
Sorry to crash the pity party, but those tubs have pipes that don't drain 100%. Hence, if you were to climb in for a soak, even by yourself you wouldn't be truly alone- you would be joined by thousands of your new microbial friends and some dead skin cells (and who only knows what else) of the previous occupants. And don't get me started on those hot tubs that you find at resorts and pools. Ewwwhh...Unless you own the tub, I would stay far, far away.
So. Jealous.
Freezing on the East Coast tonight and Shutters is one of my Favorite places in the world.
I just love -love -love that you put a pocket square in the pocket of your pajamas!
How I wish you could have the seen the carpet where I was yesterday.
What is up with those school photo packages? The combinations are bizarre. Even when they turn out great, as LFG's definitely did, by the time we order enough for grand and godparents, we're stuck with weird mini-pictures and what I think might be luggage tags. Or Christmas tree ornaments. (And now trying out that new damnfangled Google thing.)
Ditto Anon 12:30p re: Powells. For anyone else, NBD. But you? Portland and no Powells? I can see you and LFG roaming through Powells for daaays, walking out with tote bags full of Apparel Arts and who knows what else. There'll be another opportunity, maybe you can take LFG with you next time.
That ain't no pocket square, Folks. That's the napkin from his room service tray.
LOVE the window between the bath and bedroom at the Shutters.
Dude, do us all a favor and get yourself a real camera for Christmas. A tiny, inexpensive Canon is fine, but just do it.
These comments have just made my day! It seems quite a few fellow Portlanders read this blog. I always thought I was the only west-coaster. And really ditto missing Powell's. It is a glorious book store. Oh well. A reason to come back to our fair city.
Young Fogey - Totally agree about Macys. I loved Meier and Frank, rarely shop there now that it is Macys.
Pocket square in pajamas...? Love it.
Greetings from Shutters everyone. My work week is complete and I'm decompressing a bit before heading home. I loved Portland and hope to go back when I have some free time. I HATED not getting to Powells but I was just too exhausted the early evening that I had free to go over there. So I had martinis instead.
Between the visual of James in a hot tub and Rhonda's update on the pathogens therein, I'm never gonna sit in a bathtub again!
Oh...and to the guy who suggests I get a camera...you obviously haven't been hanging around here very long.
Igonre the camera comment, your pics are part of the full experience. You woulnd't be picking up a certain pair of green shoes on this trip, would you?
RTS
Love the hotel and restaurant. What a fabulous room!
ADG would you believe I have Brooks Brothers Pj's like yours!!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
VERY nice. We stayed at the Inn on Biltmore Estate over Thanksgiving...quite lovely and they just about fed us to death. I adore LFG's curly hair. Our Lorelai's would look much the same if she wouldn't insist on straightening it all the time. Safe travels...
As I’m visual, I always look at the pictures first and realized immediately that you were NOT at home – carpet(s) gave it away. Saw picture of martini, thought buttermilk was probably in hand with giveaway mustache. Have same pj’s but never would consider a pocket square, I wear my pearls, that’s enough. Now I have to go back and read what you actually wrote.
EWWWWW just read this: “When it’s not cold, the allsiest thing I sleep in is my gold chain.” TMI!!!
PS. Brace yourself, wait until LFG starts high school. I personally have never experienced four years fly by SOOOO fast in my life and it scared the livin’ dickens out of me. Bawled all day/everyday the first week my eldest started high school. Caught me so off guard and I just know my husband was considering calling ‘someone’ as I wasn’t ‘right’. These things pass but it doesn’t make it any better/easier.
LFG’s school photo shows a very pretty young woman. I KNOW where she gets her looks . . .
Well, if you've gotta be in digs...
From today's post, you look like you got that leather chair to your bootmaker.
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