Piece of Cake: Rest Those Heads

I've been doing a little hotel research on behalf of all you out-of-towners and I've come up with a few suggestions. My official recommendations, in no particular order:

1. Our Apartment

For the small price of making sure Kitty Pryde has someone to play with, you can live like a local at the fine Westfal (yes, just one "l") Apartments. We offer a luxurious futon sleeping experience (sleeps one. Two if cuddly)adjacent to our Queen deluxe suite. Amenities include kitchenette, bathroom, and lovable cat.

We currently have one spot taken by Cousin Andrew, leaving 0-1 vacancies. Call for reservations.
1880 SW 5th Ave.
Portland, OR 97201

2. Econo Lodge

$50 at the Expo Center, a hop on the MAX train gets you downtown in 5 minutes. You might get scabies, but it'll be affordable.
405 NE Columbia Blvd.
Portland, OR, US, 97211-1421

$109 SW 4th Ave. A foot and a half from our apartment building. I think it may actually share a wall or something. Again potential scabies, but if for some reason you want to be close to our kitty and Cousin Andrew, this is an option.
1889 SW 4th Avenue
Portland, OR, US, 97201

3. The Jupiter Hotel
$114 standard to $150 with kitchenette

Trendy (but overpriced, sheesh!) little boutique hotel on the east side of the river. A 10 minute trip on the bus or a 3-5 minute drive will take you right downtown and to our doorstep.
800 E. Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
877-800-0004

4. McMedamins Kennedy School

My personal favorite, although it's farther away than the rest. About 10-15 minutes from downtown by car. It's accessible by bus, but car would make it much easier. This is the most awesome, unique yet NON PRETENTIOUS hotel in Portland. It's an old elementary school building converted into a hotel/restaurant/theater/pub. There's great artwork all over the building, and the restaurant is fantastic. The converted auditorium is a theater that shows $3 movies with pizza and locally famous McMenamins beer on comfy couches.

There's a giant enclosed hot tub/soaking pool in the old teachers lounge and a few small classrooms have been converted into the Detention Bar, the Honors Bar, and a cigar bar- the name of which escapes me now.

It's a super cool place to visit all in itself. I hear the rooms still have chalkboards in them. I highly, highly reccommend this place if you don't have to be right downtown.
$99-160, includes complimentary admission to the awesome movie theater and use of the soaking pool. Book early.
5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97211
(888) 249-3983

5. Hotel Monaco
Another cool hotel, this one is right downtown. It's got a private art collection and a "pet concierge" and lots of other froofy stuff like that.

$160 to $245
506 S.W. Washington,
Portland, Oregon 97204
888-207-2201

***Okay, after this point I've only got names and links to hotels in the immediate area. I will update soon with more information- pictures, guest reviews, prices, proximity to points of interest, contact info, etc. I think I'm going to stop here or add a couple more price-conscious choices and focus on filling everything out with pertinent information. Let me just say: this is a lot of work!

6. The River Place Hotel

7. The Westin

8. The Marriott

9. Hotel Vintage Plaza

10. The Embassy Suites

11. The Doubletree Hotel Amenities include one dapper businessman to dial your telephone.

12. The Benson Hotel

13. The Mark Spencer Hotel Apartment-style. About $135 per night, also offers discounted weekly rates.
"Studio room with Queen bed and full size bathroom. Fully equipped kitchen with stovetop and oven, full-sized refrigerator, glassware and dishes, silverware, pots and pans, toaster and coffee maker. Spacious closet. Keyless lock system. Iron and ironing board. Hairdryer. Air conditioning. Cable TV. Voicemail, High Speed wireless Internet access and data ports. Also included are complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon tea and cookies."