Plus: Portland's WNBA hopes get deflated.
 
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Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.
 

🏨 A tale of two hotels

Heard of the Heathman Hotel? Back in the day, Portland had two of them
PDXtoday_HeathmanHotel.png
The New Heathman Hotel in 1948 next to the Paramount Theatre (now Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall). | Photo via Portland City Archives
The Roaring Twenties swept into Portland, bringing money and enthusiasm to rise toward economic prosperity and more literally, into the sky. At least 184 buildings were constructed downtown, including 38 hotels, laying the foundation for the city’s modern skyline.

Only 10 of those hotels still stand, and just one retains its original function as lodging — the Heathman Hotel — so let’s take an elevator ride through its history.

To reach the beginning, we actually have to walk across Southwest Salmon Street to the corner of Park Avenue. In 1926, the original Heathman Hotel was built there for approx. $1 million (that’s over $17 million adjusted for inflation).

Business was so good with the upper class (think lumber barons, railroad magnates, politicians, etc.) that hotelier George Heathman decided to launch a second, eponymous venture — the New Heathman Hotel. At the time, it was Portland’s largest construction project to date, employing some 1,200 workers.

It formally opened in 1927 as “Portland’s newest and most modern hotel,” dazzling visitors to the entertainment district with its flashing marquee, stone Jacobean Revival facade, and ornate interior. KOIN radio station moved into to the mezzanine’s wood-paneled studios, where it broadcast until 1955.

An ornate dark wood paneled library features colorful books and art and a crystal chandelier.

The library’s nearly 140-years-old crystal chandelier once hung in the US Embassy in Czechoslovakia.

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Photo via Heathman Hotel

The 1980s brought big changes for the two hotels. Officials condemned the Park Heathman (the original one) for code violations. Eventually it was converted into Section 8 subsidized housing and renamed Park Tower Apartments.

Dropping the “new,” the surviving Heathman Hotel underwent a restoration in 1984, moving its entrance from Salmon Street to Broadway. Another extensive renovation was completed in 2018, adding contemporary touches throughout while honoring its history.

Today, guests will find the accommodations to be pet friendly (give Zelda a pat on the way in), perhaps haunted, and romantic — just ask the protagonists (and fans) of “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Columbia Credit Union
 
Events
Thursday, Nov. 2
  • Old Dominion: No Bad Vibes Tour | Thursday, Nov. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $39+ | Take a trip down “Memory Lane” with this modern country group out of Nashville.
Friday, Nov. 3
  • Wool& Sample Sale | Friday, Nov. 3-Saturday, Nov. 4 | Times vary | Lloyd Center, 2201 Lloyd Center, Ste. 959, Portland | Free | Shop this Portland brand’s pop-up and only in-person event of the year, where you’ll find merino wool products for up to 75% off.
  • Legendary Makers Market: An Asian American Night Market | Friday, Nov. 3-Saturday, Nov. 4 | 4-11 p.m. | Portland Night Market, 100 SE Alder St., Portland | Free | Film screenings, art, food, music, wellness, and 125+ vendors await you at what may be the largest pan-Asian American-centered event ever held in Oregon.
Saturday, Nov. 4
  • DIY Coffee Irish Cream and Cocktail Making | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 12-2 p.m. | Straightaway Cocktails, 901 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland | $85 | Hmm, creamy — learn to make your own coffee Irish cream, a great gift to hand out for the holidays.
  • Artist Talk | Obscurity: Life Inside the Smoke | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 2-4 p.m. | World Forestry Center, Miller Hall, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland | Free | Hear from six Portland-based artists who worked on the multimedia exhibit that explores society’s relationship with wildfire smoke.
  • Lucha Libre Ofrenda | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 6-9 p.m. | 2014 SE Ninth Ave., Portland | Free | Masked personas will perform high-flying moves to electrify the crowd during a night that also includes screenings of experimental short films.
  • A Taste of Legends | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Morton’s The Steakhouse, 213 SW Clay St., Portland | $169 | Sip and savor your way through this swanky, five-course meal paired with exquisite Tuscan wines.
Sunday, Nov. 5
  • Diwali Festival at THE JUDY | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts, 1000 SW Broadway, Portland | Free | Brighten up your weekend with “the festival of lights,” a celebration featuring henna, Diya dance lessons, plus savory and sweet Indian treats.
  • Portland Thorns vs. NY/NJ Gotham FC | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 4 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $30+ | The season comes down to this — a semifinal matchup for a shot at the NWSL championship.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Sports
  • Hate to deflate the basketball, but it appears that the WNBA will not be coming to Portland, following an update from the league’s commissioner. Cathy Engelbert wrote a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden, saying plans were “deferred” mainly due to the uncertain future of the Moda Center. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Opening
  • Raise a celebratory pint this Saturday at the grand opening of Mosaic Taphouse, St. Johns’ new LGBTQ+-owned business focused on craft beer and welcoming communities of color. With Vietnamese dishes and the Filipino San Miguel Pale Pilsen on draft, everyone will find something to enjoy. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Community
  • A daytime ban on camping that Portland City Council approved in June will be enforced starting on Monday, Nov. 13. People will no longer be able to camp on public property 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Police will issue two written warnings, with fines and jail time possible for further violations. (KGW)
Number
  • 17%. That’s the proposed (and approved) rate hike that Portland General Electric will apply to customers’ power bills starting January 1, 2024. Still under review by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, there is one final factor that could lower the final figure. (KOIN)
Plan Ahead
  • Deck the halls with stouts and lagers, fa la la la. Pioneer Courthouse Square will host Portland Holiday Brew Fest, Dec. 2-3, showcasing 25+ winter beers and ciders, plus food from Urban German, under the heated tents. The event invites you to bring your own glass, stein, mug, or mason jar. (KOIN)
Weather
  • Portland’s second atmospheric river of the year has arrived, bringing wet conditions and the possibility for minor flooding (did you rake your storm drain?) across the city. Some models are even predicting up to five inches by this Sunday night. (KOIN)
History
  • The 2,800 Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrants buried in Lone Fir Cemetery (Portland’s oldest) will soon have a new memorial. Metro has revealed renderings of the Block 14 site, which will also honor 183 patients from the Oregon Hospital for the Insane. Expected completion is summer 2026. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Finance
 
Asked

City

Portland’s suburbs as Thanksgiving side dishes
A map of Portland and its suburbs shows clip art graphics of various items from a Thanksgiving feast.
That is quite the spread. | Map via Google Maps, graphics via Canva
Let us set the table for your Thanksgiving feast with a question. If Portland is the turkey to this metro area meal, then what side dish is each of the suburbs?

For example: Gresham and cranberry sauce, because one way or the other, you probably have strong feelings about it. Is Vancouver the gravy because it’s on top of everything? Lake Oswego could be a dessert… it’s pretty rich.

We want to hear your ideas. Make your explanations family friendly and we’ll use them in an upcoming newsletter.
Share your thoughts
The Buy

The Buy 11.02.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
These best-selling women’s fleece-lined leggings. Choose either one or three pockets and rock them for daily wear or outdoor activities.
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The Wrap
 

Today’s edition by:
Ben
From the editor
I’m a huge fan of “All That Glitters” on HBO Max — and basically a sucker for anything that’s shiny. There’s certainly plenty to “ooh” and “ahh” at inside Fiina, a new custom fine jewelry store in Northwest Portland that’s hosting a shopwarming party today, 4-8 p.m.
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