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Columbia Gorge Gateway

~ News And Views In And Around Troutdale, Oregon and the West Columbia Gorge

Columbia Gorge Gateway

Monthly Archives: October 2012

Treasure Hunt!

30 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in Events, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

event, Halloween, hotel, installation, The Mirror Project, Troutdale

The focal point (other than food and drink and smiles and such) of The Halloween Hanging at the hotel, is the treasure hunt.  Promised to you last week was a preview, so take this clue…

… and tell me which of these Mirrors it’s from.
[Hint:  the focus is on the hidden things in the middles.]

Now see there?  Pure fun.

There will be 38 Mirrors hanging… choose your cards (5 for kids, 10 for grups) and you’re off to match them up for fame and fortune and a warm fuzzy feeling.

See you Wednesday evening!

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What To Do In The Rain

29 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around

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Tags

columbia gorge, fall, rain, Troutdale, view, walk, what to do

Well, we’re (finally) living up to our reputation for Wet, but not to despair!… we have a lot you can see and enjoy with only brief forays out into the deluge (she says as the sun comes out and lights the trees up yellow and orange against striking gray clouds with not a drop falling from above).

Break in the clouds outside the window

Head to Portland Women’s Forum

The view up at Portland Women’s Forum (Scenic Hwy 30 about 9 miles east of Troutdale) is magnificent any time.  Including (especially?) when the clouds are lower than where you’re standing and the view up the Gorge looks primeval and secret.

This image was taken during a break on a stormy day when I ventured the trail on the west side of the lot, down a little hill and around a bend to the most lovely view.  The fields on the other side of the river seemed particularly lovely that day with the little bit of snow in the hills, so zoomed in hard, but, yes, there is a river (big river) between here and there.

Grab a coffee at the Corbett Market on the way up, and stop at the Springdale Pub on your way back down the hill to enjoy something local from the tap and a good burger.

Go On An Explore
Not Cherries from Cascade Locks

Last night I got word that a cousin I hadn’t seen (since my age started with a 1) was going to be in Cascade Locks with his family, so I got in the car after work and headed out I-84 to meet them.

Now, I’m not going to tell you it was a beautiful drive – it was dark and there was something bearing a close resemblance to a Deluge going on – but what a great short trip.  I got there around 6:00, and, as I pulled into the parking lot of their hotel, I saw a big sign that said CHERRIES, and a man under a long tarp with a table full of fruit.  Just as I was thinking, Cherries?  How can there be cherries?... I saw that he had a second big sign out that said CHERRIES and I thought, Well, maybe cherries have a second season like strawberries that you never know about if you’re buying your cherries in town.  So I stopped. And got out in the Deluge (which never is as Deluge-ish when you’re not driving through it at 60 mph) and joined him under the tarp.  I said, “You really have cherries?”.  He said, cutting a pear, “Sure do!  In about ten more months.  Right here in this very spot.  Try this pear.”

The pears were very good.  I have ten dollars worth of pears now.  I can’t eat ten dollars worth of pears, so there is pear sharing going on.

The hotel sent us across Bridge Of The Gods into Stevenson for dinner.  The Bridge Of The Gods is quite possibly the only toll both (costs a whole buck to cross – don’t let it deter you) in the country with Halloween knick-knacks tucked into every nook and cranny of the bridge near the booth.  No, not your standard outside Halloween decor, but little ghosts and goblins and witches and pumpkins…  it’s very festive.  Made me smile.

We had a lovely dinner at The Big River Grill [“Sturgeon General Approved”… didn’t see that coming, did you?] with entree salads (spinach with grilled portabella one side of the table;  wild salmon the other) and huge sandwiches (veggie portabella and a reuben) enjoyed thoroughly.  Nice atmosphere, good service and food.  Recommend a stop there, and Stevenson looks like a charming town.

All in all, it was a great break on a workday… made it feel like a day off (!) and I was tucked back in by the fire by 8:30.

Meanwhile, back at the farm…
It’s supposed to be raining on Halloween.  I know of a cozy hotel hosting an evening of treats and art and fun :)… see you at the Halloween Hanging!

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Chestnuts roasting on an…

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Events, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

fall, Halloween, hike, party, rain, Sandy River, walk

… no no no, you’re right.  Not just time yet.  But and still…

ummm... fire?

I know.  No chestnuts, the fire is behind glass, but and still.

The weather has (finally) officially changed to rain and cool enough to justify flames.  The pups and I got soaked to the bone on the trail to the river tonight, and fire is a nice thing to come home to.  There is a rumor of sunshine tomorrow, however, and I hope to complete my Duties in time to get out in it with the camera and snag another bit or two of Fall.

Lots going on at the hotel – Rian got to the Chamber meeting today to introduce himself in his official capacity as Lead Schmoozer [uhhh… Community Liason…], and is going to be out in the local businesses this next week to invite all to the Halloween Hanging next week.  Leamy Printing did a great job on the invites, and it’s going to be fun to have everyone in the house for the celebration.

Steph is doing her Steph-thing and getting all the goodies for the kids and refreshments dialed in [popcorn machine… hot beverage dispenser for the cider… if I could make her a job description comprised entirely of party planning, she’d be the happiest woman on the planet].

Yesterday I picked up the last batch of prints (selection and formatting was – as everything seems to be – a much larger job than I anticipated), and Bob is coming by tomorrow to pick them up for framing and drop off last week’s batch framed.  Finishing up the treasure hunt cards and will have them in production by Friday.  I’ll post a preview this weekend so you can get a head start :).

Speaking of which… I’d best go get those Mirrors signed and labeled.  See you next week!

– L

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Halloween Hanging At the Hotel!

18 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in Events

≈ 1 Comment

 

What:  Halloween Hanging At The Hotel
When:  October 31st, 2012   5:00 – 8:00 pm

Where:  1000 NW Graham Road, Troutdale OR 97060

We are having so much fun with this :)).  Mirrors are out for framing, Stephanie is all  over the refreshments (crockpot full of caramel for dipping apples, real hot spiced cider, popcorn machine…), physical invitations just went to the printer and press release goes out this afternoon, Rian is ready to go up the hill and invite our friends at local Troutdale businesses, and Oregon, Mindy, Nannette, and Danny are excited to be here to play with the madding hordes.  We’re expecting housekeeping staff with kids, and already are getting RSVPs to the event on Facebook.

Costumes not required, but most welcome (the GM will be coming in Artist costume again [Levi’s and a Sharpie ball cap], but betting the rest of staff outdoes me thoroughly.  We’ll have Best Costume prizes for both kids and grownups.

The treasure hunt is going to be a blast – putting together flash cards of the critters in the middles of the Mirrors, and will send the kids and willing grownups off to find where they live (yes, prizes, of course).

If you’re local and would like to stay the night, please email me at gm@citroutdale.com for the Halloween Hanging rate!

Look forward to seeing you here!

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It Is BEAUTIFUL Here!

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Corbett, fall, hotel, leaves, Sandy River, Troutdale

October rocks.  Yes, we had a couple days of downpour, but yesterday and today have been magnificent, and the next bout of wet coming in Friday just makes a body appreciate the bits in between.

Beautiful color this year. Lots of reds around town and the hills are gold and green.

The (Sandy) river is running really chocolate from the earlier rains – cell pic doesn’t do it justice, but it looks like if you stuck it in a blender you could whip up a milkshake.  Soon as the ground gets used to rain again, it’ll clear up.

Max sampling the fortified water.

And we got first snow on Mt. Hood last night!  She looks so lovely with the first coating of white on blue under blue again.  Sorry, no picture – I was driving.

Beautiful reds on the west, and that gold tree behind the hotel is prettier than I’ve ever seen it.

Enough talking.  I’m going to go outside and embed sunshine in my pores.

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New Art In The Public Spaces

16 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in Events, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art, event, Halloween, hotel, installation, public spaces, The Mirror Project, Troutdale

“Mirror 497” will greet you at the desk.
Sandy River Trail; September, 2012; LLH

First, I just want to say that I’m looking out the window right now and I see blue sky!  It’s been drenching us the past couple days… remarkable how quickly a soul can forget that we just had 87 days with no rain and pretty much perfect temperatures. 🙂  I’m going to keep reminding us.  (Forecast for today is alternating showers and blue sky, with mostly blue Wednesday and Thursday. Get outside!)

The second shipment of prints for the public spaces art renovation arrived yesterday, with the two big ones which will hang opposite the elevator arriving today, and one last batch for the halls in Thursday (I always forget how long formatting takes).  Bob will get started framing after we meet tomorrow, and we’ll be hanging next week.

Stay tuned for details on the Halloween bash – we’ll be hosting goodies for the kids, cider for the grups, and a treasure hunt through The Mirror Project installation.

Where
Comfort Inn Columbia Gorge Gateway
1000 Northwest Graham Road
Troutdale, OR  97060

When
Halloween evening
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

See you here!
Loree

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Fall Foliage Studio Tour Passports Worth Cash Money!

12 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Events

≈ Leave a comment

As if it weren’t already an almost unbearable level of gratification to spend the weekend looking at the work of our talented area artists against the backdrop of the magnificent Columbia Gorge, we’re going to make it well worth your while to stay an extra night or two (or three).

BRING IN YOUR STUDIO TOUR PASSPORT
AND YOUR ROOM IS ONLY 50.00 FOR ADDITIONAL NIGHTS!

Offer valid only at the Comfort Inn Columbia Gorge Gateway
October 18th,  through 21st, 2012; king or two queen room.
First night at your best earned rate,
additional consecutive nights at 50.00 (+ tax)

Call 503.492.2900 for more information
and we’ll see you here!

You can find all the information on the Studio Tour at http://fallfoliagestudiotour.com/

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All Good Things Must…

11 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in News In

≈ Leave a comment

Well, we may be at the end of our long run of beautiful weather (although you sure couldn’t tell it by my sunburned nose from falling asleep on the patio today).  There is a prediction of rain starting sometime tomorrow afternoon.  We’ll see – the last “rain” was a sprinkle about 5 a.m., two months ago :).  While I am going to greatly miss the perfect weather of the past three-+ months, it is Oregon and the rain gives us our green, yes?

The order went in last night for 20 pieces from The Mirror Project for the hotel art renovation, which will take care of the dining area and lobby. Another round of formatting tonight for the halls, then Bob will get us framed up, and we’ll have a hanging party on the 20th!  I’m looking forward to the refresh of the public spaces and seeing the work up on the walls.

Adding new content daily, so check back often! (and bear with when you trip over a blank page I haven’t gotten to yet 🙂 ).

All the best,
Loree

“Mirror 339”; Sandy River Trail
The Mirror Project
Loree Harrell; May, 2012

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Welcome!

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by loreeharrell in News In

≈ Leave a comment

We are having an utterly magnificent October (after a great July, August, and September), and to celebrate, we’re gathering up all sorts of information to help you plan a trip, or just get to know us. 

So explore and enjoy.
(Work in progress, so if you stumble over a blank page, keep breathing.)
Loree

Loree Harrell, General Manager
and all the staff of the
Comfort Inn Columbia Gorge Gateway

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