HotelChatter

The Nines, is almost open: start the countdown to October 20! We're stoked about this uber-fancy hotel with twice daily maid service, rootop bar with views of Mt. Hood, and 3,000 Powells books in the library. Oh, and the rooms are green--literally. To take advantage of the zero percent tax, we'll be hitting the floors of shopping below the hotel.

Hotel Fifty is all shiny and renovated with totally made-over rooms, and their new hip H5 bistro and bar. But the new exterior takes the (flourless, gluten-free) cake. Transformed from outdated awnings to a glowing LED bastion of downtown hipness, we find ourselves craving Portland.

McMenamins, home of the schoolhouse hotel, is developing another new property, as yet unnamed to open in early 2009. The new 50-room boutique hotel occupies a neat triangle corner in downtown Portland. Historical-themed rooms will fill the second, third, and fourth floors with restaurant on the first, and a spa and cellar bar in the basement.

Of course there is also the Aloft Portland which opened September 15 and is shockingly just as hip and exactly the same as every other aloft. And there's new renovations at The Hotel Modera and Hotel Vintage Plaza will be unveiling $4 million in renovations in 2009.

We just need to find our Birkenstocks and we are so there.

[Photo: Jeff Wang]