UPDATE:
Hey everybody! Leaguefest 2016 is now a mere month away, and it’s time to start getting organized.
Starting July 1, I’ll be doing at least post a week on all things Portland: Places to eat, things to do, sights to see, etc., so that people might begin to think about what types of group or solo activities they want to make sure to try.
For today, however, I’d like to see if I can’t get a Leaguefest headcount in the comments section. To that end, if you are considering coming this year please let me know the following in the comment sections below:
- Please specify if you are definitely coming, or if you are considering coming.
- If you have already made plans to attend, let us know when you will be arriving and when you will be leaving. That will help us better organize get-togethers.
- If you are planning on attending the Leaguefest dinner on Saturday, please let us know any dietary restrictions that you have.
- Last April, some of you said that you might be bringing young ones. If so, and if you plan on attending Saturday’s dinner, please let me know how many kids you’ll have, and what ages so that I can make the necessary arrangements to have house-sitters on hand to help with kid wrangling.
If you haven’t been to a Leaguefest, I want to encourage you to come this year. Meeting the people that you spend so much time here in real life is an amazing experience — and I say that from experience.
For those of you that are coming, I can’t wait to see you.
After taking everyone’s schedule and preferences into account, we are excited to announce that we finally have a date for this year’s Leaguefest:
Leaguefest 2016 will take place July 29-31.
Apologies to those who wanted to come but cannot make this particular week. Sadly, there just wasn’t a week that everyone who spoke up could come, so we chose the week that accommodated the most people. If this date nixes you, let us know — we’ll drink a toast in your honor.
As a reminder, I plan to host the Saturday night dinner. Since these dinners are usually the one big expense after airlines and hotel, I am hoping this might help tip the scales for those on the fence due to financial obligations. There will be other activities as well, of course, which we will talk about more as the date gets closer.
But we should probably talk about hotels now.
Like every other place in the world, hotels tend to book up faster during the summer months in Portland. Because of this I decided to make a short list of recommendations for those who want to book something sooner rather than later.
“I Want to Feel Like I’m In a Portlandia Episode!” — The McMenamin’s Options
For those not from Oregon, McMenamin’s started out as a small micro-brew. Then it decided to make wine. Then it started distilling its own whiskeys, rums, and other spirits. Then it decided to remodel and revamp decrepit historic buildings into funky hotels where you could stay and taste all of the above. They are relatively inexpensive, and they are a blast. When I do my annual work retreat to plan my upcoming year, I always do it in one of these hotels.
They are also the best place to look at if we think we might want to reserve a group of rooms. Each location has a ton of bars, tasting rooms, places to nosh, wading pools, spas, and other nooks and crannies that are fun to just hang out with friends. You can decide for yourself if you want to save extra money and get a room with a European-style shared bathroom or not.
Here are the three options if you want to try a McMenamin’s dig:
The Edgefield — The furthest out of all the options — it’s 20-30 minutes to downtown PDX — but also the most fun. It’s like a cool, very adult version of Disneyland — if Jerry Garcia had invented Disneyland.
Crystal Hotel — It’s the McMenamin’s hotel with the least number of things to do, but that matters little because it’s at the border of the vibrant Downtown and Pearl Districts. It’s two blocks from Powell’s Books, and you can’t swing a cat without hitting some great bar or eatery.
The Kennedy School — Probably the most Portlandia-esque of all the options here, The Kennedy School sits adjacent to Portland’s funky, artsy Alberta district. If your number one criteria for a hotel is that you need to be within walking distance to an ice cream shop that offers a Smoked-Cherry with Bone-Marrow flavor, this is probably the place for you.
“The Rent’s Too Damn High!” — $50-75 Choices For Those on a Budget
The Ramada Portland East — Pretty close to the airport. Just far enough away to be really cheap. Just corporate-y enough not to be scary.
Rodeway Inn and Suites — Pretty far from the airport, but a lot closer to where we’ll be gathering on Saturday evening and (likely) most other times.
Palms Hotel — Is the primary reason I like to recommend this hotel it’s delightfully kitschy signage? Why, yes. Yes it is.
“I Want to Be In the Thick of It!” — Choices For Those Who Want to Explore the Best Parts of PDX Just By Walking Out their Hotel Door
Hotel Lucia — Hip and swanky, right in the heart of downtown. Everything in the joint — including those who work there, best I can tell — are improbably beautiful.
Hotel DeLuxe — Both the hotel and its bar, the Driftwood Room, are a Portland institution. Everything about the place feels like it fell through a time warp from 1963. If you have ever wanted to pretend you were a character out of Mad Men, this would be the place to do it. Just a couple of blocks away from each of Portland’s three most popular eating, drinking, and shopping districts: The Pearl, Northwest, and Downtown.
And, once again, the Crystal Hotel, of course.
If you are thinking of coming and want to look into a group reservation, let everyone know in the comment sections below and we’ll see what we can do about that. And you have any questions/recommendations about other hotels, parts of town, or really anything else, let me know and I’ll try to answer them as best I can.
When Jay and I travel my big question is always public transit vs renting a car. Depending on the day, I may be super-mobile or more sluglike, so public transit is my preference. And given the mobility issue I tend to prefer public transit where I’m not going to be standing for long periods all the time, though minor amounts of standing are fine.
Thoughts on this? How easy would it be, just to pick a hypothetical, to get from Crystal Hotel to the dinner location? Are there better or worse hotels on your list for public transit purposes? Is public transit hopeless (like it would be in COS), all-effective (think Montreal or to a lesser degree Seattle), or somewhere in the middle? Etc?Report
I’ve heard the uber coverage in Portland is especially good and when I visited there the busses and trams were everywhere in downtown.Report
Oh yes, and of course there is Uber.Report
(I don’t consider Uber public transit. Actually I suspect I may disapprove of Uber on principle… but I haven’t really explored my thoughts that thoroughly yet, since C. Springs has excellent, reliable, and relatively cheap traditional taxi service.)Report
There is a lot of PT in portland. That said, it kind of goes out from a hub. Meaning that you can get from point A to point B quickly and easily — but that it might take several buses/light rails and a long time to get from point A to point C or D.
The hotels nearest downtown are the best for PT, because that’s the center of the hub. If you are going all PT, the Crystal is a great choice.
If we can get people w/out rental relatively close to one another, my thought is to have people shuttle in and pick them up for dinner at my place. You can get here by PT, but it’s a little complicated and I’d rather arrange for everyone to just have fun that evening.Report
That makes sense – the hopeful shuttle plan.
We also don’t really have a problem with renting a car, just considering options.
It won’t be the dealbreaker about whether we come or not. Basically just waiting for the ok from Jay’s work at this point.Report
If you feel sluglike, there’s Uber.
I sure hope I get to visit with you and @jaybird again — it’s been too long since Las Vegas!Report
@burt-likko You know it! Looking forward to seeing Mrs. Likko as well.Report
Husband is talking like a crazy man about quitting his job to make a fulltime run at programming career so finances have suddenly become… fluid… but I will definitely try to make it.Report
Fingers crossed, then.Report
Programming doesn’t sound like a low-income pursuit. Also sounds like something he could do in downtime while in Portland (assuming some degree of sobriety which may not be an entirely safe assumption).
So bring him along and let’s meet up!Report
Do!Report
Oh well. It would have been fun to be there. I’ll be down the coast in San Fran running a marathon that weekend. I didn’t really think i had any open travel slots over the summer in any case. Another time i guess ( anchorage is great in the winter). Pix would be fun for those of us not present.Report
Another runner! Huzzah! Will this be your first marathon?Report
It will be my fourth. A PR would be nice but SF is a hilly course so that will be a challenge. The whole race experience is fun though.Report
This date is definitely possible though it likely entails wee ones. With this in mind, it’d probably be wisest for me to fly in early Saturday and red eye out on Sunday. Does the offer to have a slightly-less-wee Kelly babysit the uber-wee Kazzys during dinner on Saturday still stand? I’d probably be down to tote them around to any moderately kid-friendly sight seeing/exploring folks were up for Saturday and Sunday during the daylight hours.
Anyone else thinking of bringing their spawn?Report
That offer still stands, yes!Report
I don’t think I can technically use that word, but LB might be a possibility. If she’s still int he country, she’ll probably be coming. The Better Bath, however, won’t be able to make it, unfortunately.
There’s still a non-zero probability I might not be able to come, but I think it’s under 10%.Report
Almost-huzzah!Report
I am very much looking forward to this. If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, Portland is a thoroughly awesome place to visit, and should make it a point to come if only for that.
Then, of course, there’s the opportunity to meet up in real life with those with whom you’ve shared ideas in our online community, which is something very special, fun, and unique to us.
I hope to meet as many of you as possible.Report
Do we know yet if the amazing Mrs. Likko will be able to accompany you?Report
She’s definitely in.Report
I should also add that a colleague just got a great deal through Groupon at one of Hotel Monaco or Hotel Lucia for a trip she’s taking with her family. Don’t know how long that will be available.Report
This sounds good, and as of now (no idea what the future holds…) I should be there! I would probably drive, as its only 9 or so hours from my place, so only one stop for gas and we are golden.
Oh, and I have been to the bar under the Crystal and it is pert cool.Report
Ok, I booked a hotel, one of the cheap ones as it is just me. So I am in!Report
Awesome!Report
Awesome. Really looking forward to meeting you in person, @aaron-davidReport
I’m free that weekend too. Road trip?Report
Potentially. My recent lay off might raise cash issues.Report
Hoping you can. Maybe if one of the other Bay area guys comes up you can share a ride? That would at least take care of the plane.Report
@saul-degraw Sorry to hear about the job. I would offer my driving services but I will be going up a week before this with the family to share in my brother’s new baby.Report
@tod-kelly Know anything about the McMenamin’s White Eagle? Decent neighborhood? Near anything?
Also, what about the bike share program? The website says open July 2016. I presume Portland is bike friendly, but what about distances?
Really looking forward to this. And to shooting up to Victoria after, to visit an old friend.Report
@slade-the-leveller The White Eagle is a little different from the other hotels. Personally, I love it — but it’s not for everyone. The rooms are very small, like something from a ship — which doesn’t really bother me. The big thing for some people is that it’s over the White Eagle Bar, which features bands every weekend. The music is really good, but if you go to bed before 1:00 or 2:00 you might have to hear the thumping bass coming through the pillow.
The neighborhood is good, though your choices of what to do around the hotel are limited. A lot of great restaurants and cocktail lounges have popped up there over the past few years, most of them within a two block radius. Other than that, though, there’s not a lot going on. Mostly light industrial businesses and residential.Report
Alright!
Crystal is sold out for those dates.
We got a really great package deal for staying at the Nines (plus my gut is saying STAY AT THE NINES THOSE TUBS WILL MAKE YOU SO HAPPY), so that’s where we’re staying. About 1/2 mile from Powell’s near Pioneer Square.
We get in at a reasonable evening time on Friday, have to leave WAY too early on Sunday but at least that will put us in our beds at a good time on Sunday night for work on Monday.
Any interest from folks in going to the Market Saturday morning? Is the market even open yet for the season? Is the market any good??? *to the googles* (and awaiting Tod’s opinion)Report
(as an indicator of how good the deal was: our flight + hotel will be cheaper than when Leaguefest was in Vegas. And Vegas is usually the cheapest place for us to fly/stay in a hotel…)Report
Note that the Nines is now back up to expensive prices…. that was fast :D.Report
Nines is good too!Report
@tod-kelly thoughts on the saturday market? looks like it’s mostly crafts / lunch rather than fruit/veg? (in which case the siren call of powells or just poking around may be more appealing)Report
I recommend checking out Saturday Market. (Still call it that even though it’s all weekend) There’s lots of fun art, shopping, food and performance artists hanging out. In July they’ll have the fountain on so you can watch all of the kids splash about. They only close like three loathsome out of the year. December they’re open for holiday shopping!
If you want mostly produce, I recommend the Portland State University farmer’s market.Report
When I was in PDX before I thought the Saturday market was space awesome. Liked it better than the bookstore, which I liked a lot.Report
@maribou Yeah, the Saturday Market is more crafts and prepared foods. There aren’t really farmer stands there.
However, if you are looking for more of a Farmers Market, there’s on on Saturday mornings that’s within walking distance of the Nines, over at Portland State. (There are actually a bunch that go on over the weekend, but that is that one you can easily walk to. If you have a car and want to try different ones, that website has most of them.)Report
@tod-kelly @miss-mary @burt-likko Thank you for the info!Report
Ah Portland. Hell, I’d want to go back to the Clackamus town center just to tour the old stomping gounds. Sadly, vacation time is already obligated. Yall have fun now.Report
So, what does July 29-31 mean precisely? Should we come in on the 28th so we can get started before dawn on the 29th? Because that will be when we East coast will be up and ready.
Similarly, will people be leaving on the 31st or on the next day?
Also, regarding hotels, I think we ought to post a poll. To be honest, I don’t want to be in the coolest hotel in the coolest area of Portland. I want to be where everyone else is.Report
Well, @vikram-bath I am staying at the Rodeway, so you got that going for you, which is nice…Report
From Tod’s descriptions, that seemed to be a winner to me.
On the other hand, it’s a Rodeway.
The sweet spot for me is usually 2.5 star places (per the Priceline.com scoring scheme).Report
Like I said, its just me, so my tolerance is much higher than if it would be both my wife and I, not to mention budgets and whatnot. /shrugReport
I’m OK with such places too as long as they are quiet. It’s really only that that matters to me. Really, things are great as long as there’s not a centrally located pool or a high-school debate team spending the night.Report
Quiet, sufficient AC/heat (whichever is required), and enough hot water and water pressure in the shower is really all I ask.Report
A/C?
It’s Portland, not Fresno. I doesn’t get hot, maybe need a little heat in July there…Report
My flight lands in the late morning on the 29th, and we’re flying out in the early evening of the 31st. Of course, it’s only a two-hour flight back home for us; folks coming in from greater distances will need to modify their plans accordingly.Report
@vikram-bath If it’s like every other LF in the past, “July 29-31” will mean very little other than giving everyone a specific weekend to shoot for.
If people want to come in earlier than Friday, I will absolutely organize stuff to do on Thursday, or even Wed night. Same deal with Sunday night or Monday for people wanting to stay later. In the past, we’ve always had a few people come in Wed or Thurs and both connect with others and do stuff on their own, and had folks that left later than everyone else on the other end and did things in small groups late Sunday or Monday. In fact, I really recommend coming in at least as early as Thursday if you can swing the time and money, because there’s too much of Portland to do in just a day and a half.
As to the Rodeway, it’s not bad, especially for the price. It used to be a Shilo, which is kind of an in-between moderate and mid-upper-tier priced chain. The one potential drawback is that it isn’t really near much that’s interesting, unless you love looking at mile os car dealerships. So I would recommend it for those who, like @aaron-david , will have access to a car (either their own or rented).Report
I can’t believe people aren’t staying at McMenamins! I get that Maribou says Crystal is full, but there are so many good ones to choose from. I stay at a McMenamins any time I’m driving into the city and want to crash for the night or a spoil me weekend. I love the food and drinks that you can find at any of their hotels. Try the vegan hemp burger! You *will* love it.Report
My deal with the Nines was 1) whoa price cut and 2) THEY HAVE A LIBRARY BAR. A. Library. Bar. Basically Maribous cannot resist the second of those two things.
Otherwise I would’ve totally stayed at another McMenamins; they look chill.Report
There’s a McMenamins east of the city that has a library right above the wine bar. I get everything I need at the wine bar and head upstairs. What is it that makes booze and books go so well together?Report
Sixty-five bucks a night at the Rodeway? Yeah, I think I can swing that for a couple nights. I’ll start setting aside tips now for a Leaguefest fund.Report
Woo hoo!!!Report
Woo hoo!!!Report
Thats two scoops of Woo!Report
Fortunately Portland is only about a three or four hour drive south of me, so if I get up at a reasonable time Friday morning I should be there in time for lunch.Report
Woo hoo!Report
Soooo…recently my car has undergone a series of minor catastrophes (it’s in the shop now for the latest). Pretty much all the money I had saved for Leaguefest up until now has gone into this. While I can’t say for certain just yet, there’s a possibility that I may not be able to make it now due to lack of funds. However, I may be able to convince my folks to gift me the money as a three-weeks-early birthday present. More on this as it develops, but I thought I should give fair warning.Report
Oh, that sucks. Car repairs suck in general. Your parents, however, are awesome, generous, kind-hearted people. Please pass on our best.
I do hope you can figure out a way to still make it and hope for the from-now-on wellbeing of your car.Report
I will be there for the dinner Saturday. Is this the kind of thing that I can bring my wife and child to?Report
@roland-dodds Sure. There will certainly be spouses there, and possibly some other kids. If we have a bunch, I’m thinking of hiring my own near-adult kid to be a kind-of sitter so parents can have some adult conversation.
How old is your kid?Report
She is 1.5. I may just have the family do something else.Report
There are many reasons why I have been wishing it would just hurry up and be July already this week, and Leaguefest is the only FUN one.
CMONNNNNNNNN LEAGUEFEST!!!!Report
THE PIANO GUYS ARE IN PORTLAND THE SAME WEEKEND AS LEAGUEFEST!!!
Totally warranted all caps and three exclamation points. I might be slightly obsessed with finding fun things to do for Leaguefest in my down time. 🙂Report
Mrs. Likko and I are very much looking forward to meeting you all, and sampling the great food and beer and wine, and enjoying the uber-wonderful city of Portland Oregon once more!
If you’ve not been to Portland, this is a great excuse to go and learn about one of the most remarkable of the many remarkable American communities.
If you’ve not been to a Leaguefest, but enjoy the writing, commentary, and thought shared here at Ordinary Times, it’s well, well worth your time. No one has ever been a raging asshole and it’s remarkable how much it feels like a gathering of old friends: even though many will be meeting in person for the very first time, there is a great familiarity and comfort in it because we so often exchange our ideas and thoughts here on these pages.
See you all in Portland!Report
No one has ever been a raging asshole
Caveat: this will be my first.Report
I also booked a cheap hotel for Friday and Saturday nights, and am planing to drive up on Friday (possibly carpooling with aaron david.)Report
We Have Dates for Leaguefest 2016!!!
One exclamation mark would have been sufficient. No need to rub it in the faces of us single folks.Report
I can’t make it. Am so sad. But I want regular updates and stories!Report
I will be in WI that week, visiting family and taking bug to EAA. I’m sorry I’ll have to miss it, especially given the proximity.Report
1. You couldn’t keep me away even if you tried.
2. I’ll be here for the entirety since I live here!!!
3. So attending! No dietary restrictions.
4. My six year old son may or may not attend, so no need to plan around him.
If you’re going to do a post each week about fun stuff to do, can I help with content?!
“If you haven’t been to a Leaguefest, I want to encourage you to come this year.” I wholeheartedly second this. You must come visit! Portland is awesome and everyone I’ve ever met at Leaguefest is awesome. I hardly participate and they all welcomed me with open arms. If I can fly from Portland to Chicago *and* DC to meet up with a bunch of strangers I met on the internet, than so can you!Report
Love Portland, and would love to come to another Leaguefest, but the costs of flying in from NC might be prohibitive. We used to have an old friend we stayed with when we came down from Seattle, but he’s since unfriended both me and the Russian on FB. Because politics.Report
Boo!
Boo to no Michelle and the Russian. I enjoyed meeting you in Chicago immensely.
And boo to losing a friend to politics. What a silly reason to lose a friend!Report
I know, right? But between too much wine and rightwing media, he’s become convinced I have the power to brainwash. As if. He’s a crazy Russian.Report
Hmm. Cheaper than I thought if I fly into Seattle and then tack on a visit to the parents in San Diego. Having done Greensboro to the West Coast, there’s no point enduring the royal pain of cross-country air travel unless you stay a few days. Guess I’ll be talking to the parental units and my friends in Seattle this weekend.Report
@michelle *crosses her fingers*Report
1. We are definitely coming. Tickets have been bought. (I am answering for me + Jaybird, if this wasn’t obvious.)
2. Purportedly, we land around 5pm on Friday and have to be at the airport at like 4am Sunday morning.
3. Jaybird has no particular dietary restrictions. I have several. Long version: allergic to onions, even onion powder, shallots, green onion tops, etc (not as far as I can tell leeks or garlic, though I’m getting more sensitive slowly…) (but love onions and could be swayed to accept the hives and sleepiness, and eat them anyway – i manage my onion allergy rather than kowtowing to it). allergic to pepper (black/white/etc not bell/jalapeno/etc), processed cheese (eg american), and mayo/ranch/etc type dressings if they are at all commercial (not allergic to fresh from scratch preparations of such for some mysterious reason probably involving a food additive; not allergic to coleslaw I have NOOOO idea why- maybe the vinegar??): these three allergies will cause some combination of throat swelling, tongue swelling, breathing issues, and/or projectile vomiting – though never to the point of anaphylactic shock so far, thank goodness – so I REALLY want to avoid those things. And they tend to get snuck into stuff (at least the pepper and mayo do), so must be watched for. tl;dr: onions, processed cheese, black/white/etc pepper, mayo, ranch. It’s possible there’s other stuff I can’t eat that I just rarely encounter & thus forgot, but ifso it’s most likely easy to avoid.
4. We have no younguns nor will we be bringing any cats;).Report
3. addendum Blue cheese! blue cheese is not a good thing for me at all. (Which is weird, at one point I hated it, then grew to love it, then BAM, one day I could not eat it without barfing and have since grown to be revulsed by it. My body is so strange.)Report
3. addenda Olives! Olives and olive tapenades and such will spoil any dish for me or Jay, although if we can fish them out (eg salad) we will be fine. Also olive oil is more than fine, it is marvelous. (It’s not an allergy, just one of those “do you really want me to throw up?” things.) For me, green olives are barely-edible-if-must-or-by-accident, black are just not on ever. Jaybird is equally revolted by either type.
Also, I am subject to major major pain if I ingest overly much nuts, chocolate, or caffeine, though that is more of a management thing… I adore all three of those things, so will cheat here and there and then take painkillers later. So I guess that one doesn’t even really matter, unless you were planning a mole chicken main dish, with candied walnuts and mocha ice cream for dessert, or something. (*sighs wistfully, thinking of mole chicken followed by mocha ice cream*)
(I am beginning to wonder how I ever eat anywhere other than my own darn house. Sorry to have so many things.)Report
1. I am in. Stag.
2. Hopeful to land at PDX sometime Friday, but I won’t know for sure until the last minute as I’ll be flying standby. If that changes, I’ll let you know.
3. No food restrictions. I’ll bring a bottle of the exquisite Small’s gin to add to the party. You Oregonians are so lucky to have this stuff nearby. It’s available here in Chicago, but only sporadically.
4. No kids.
I’d really like to catch some live music, if possible, but really I’m just looking forward to putting faces to names.Report
Is anyone else up for a field trip to Powell’s Books?Report
No trip to Portland would be complete without. Alsotoo, Deschutes has a massive brewpub like one block away from Powell’s.Report
Sold.Report
Yes! Powell’s is one of the 8 wonders of the world!Report
At LEAST one.
(Seriously, I once made a daytrip from Seattle through … several… thunderstorms, just to make the Powell’s pilgrimage. Willing to go less than a half-mile from my hotel? You KNOW it.)Report
Yup. Also, any record shops that must exist in Portland. I’ll bet there’s even one devoted exclusively to 78s and wax cylinders.Report
1. I’m definitely coming.
2. Arriving at PDX 1 PM Thursday. Leaving at Midnight on Sunday.
3. Oh, dear. I’m vegetarian. Please don’t make any significant portion of your plans revolve around me though. Remember I’m the guy who wrote a post that said people should be happy with a sweet potato, which I’ve since discovered can even be cooked in the microwave.
4. I’d love to bring the better and littlest Bath, but I can’t.Report
Dude, I *love* sweet potatoes. *tuber high five*Report
I’ll probably show up for at least some of it. The 31st is my birthday, so that day is scheduled for a nice long ride in the country, but I’m sure I can meet up for /something/ on the 29th-30th (Portland resident, so vegan.)Report