Food and lodging stuff for events at The Playground.
» special dietary needs + preferences
» lodging situation
» the Kennedy School hotel
» other hotels
» transportation
» grocery stores + pharmacy
Food stuff
Food is not included in the program, except for our welcome dinner and goodbye lunch, which are on us. And pie. We will have an evening of pie. Yay.
Luckily, as far food goes, Northeast Portland is quite inexpensive. There are supermarkets and cafes and restaurants aplenty, all right by the Playground.
My recommendations for making this part easy:
- Two blocks from the Kennedy School hotel is New Seasons, a local grocery store with tasty, inexpensive food — which you can order to go, or eat in their little self-serve cafe. An affordable way to do the food thing.
- The Star E Rose cafe isn’t far from The Playground, and their food is inexpensive and filling.
- Cart food! Portland is full of great carts serving yummy street food (we’ll give you a map and recommendations).
And Selma and I will always let you know where we’re going to eat when, if you want to join us. You won’t ever have to eat alone (unless that’s what you’re in the mood for).
Special dietary needs and preferences.
Here’s the best part. Portland isn’t just full of amazing food (though it is).
It’s also full of vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free-ers, what-have-you, so everywhere you can get food there will be alternative options.
Even the local rib joint has veggie options. In fact, there’s even a vegan barbecue. I know.
And if you’re a carnivore, you will have more than enough places to make you happy.
No shortage of options: just the street where the Playground lives has a gazillion cafes, bars, restaurants and other great places.
We’ll give you a map and recommendations. Again, I’ll tell you what my own food plans are, if you want to tag along.
Lodging situation.
If you’re coming to an event at The Playground that’s a full day or longer, you’ll probably want a place to stay.
When we do an event, we reserve a block of rooms at the extremely awesome Kennedy School, in walking distance of The Playground.
If you go with that option, expect to pay about $115/night for a room with a King-sized bed (slightly less for a queen).
Note: they may say they’re all booked up, in which case you’ll need to tell them that you’re with The Fluent Self.
Or you can make your own arrangements. Stay somewhere fancy. Couch-surf. Whatever you like.
The Kennedy School Hotel
The Kennedy School is a historic building (an abandoned elementary school) saved from the wrecking ball by Portland’s McMenamin brothers.
And now Portland’s most awesome hotel.
The rooms.
- Wonderfully high-ceilinged and spacious (room for non-sucky yoga).
- There’s a chalkboard in the room so you can scribble insights. Or throw a brainstorming party.
- Plenty of outlets and a big power strip.
- Yummy ginger-vanilla lotion.
- A great mix of vintage and modern furnishings, with a lovely wooden writing desk.
- Plus two pint glasses and a growler, to take the house-brewed beer back from one of the restaurants or bars.
The soaking pool.
It’s warm and salt-mineral-ey and brilliant. And open until 10 pm. Free if you’re staying at the hotel. For visitors it’s only $5 to get in, so I would say go for it. Bathing suits!
The movie theater.
In the school auditorium, with cozy couches. Plus if you order beer and pizza? They bring it to you. Ridiculously cheap admission: $3. Or nothing if you’re staying at the hotel.
The Boiler Room.
It’s a bar. In the actual boiler room. So so great.
Other places to stay in Portland.
Nothing else is in walking distance of the Playground (or as cool, in my opinion) but there are lots of great (and unusual) places to stay in Portland.
A by-no-means exhaustive list of east-side-of-the-river possibilities:
Transportation. And getting to the Playground.
The Playground is a lovely walk (maybe fifteen minutes) from the Kennedy School.
We can also shuttle in the morning and evening, as necessary. Or if anyone else has a car, they can too! (If that’s you, you’ll leave your info on the DIY travel/announcement page).
Portland also has excellent public transportation (buses and light rail) if you want to wander the city.
Street parking near the Playground is plentiful and free.
Grocery stores and other usefulnesses
- New Seasons is a terrific local grocery store chain — there’s one by the Kennedy School. Lots of inexpensive take-away food and a small self-serve cafe.
- There’s a drugstore (Walgreens) right next door to New Seasons.
- Alberta Cooperative Grocery at the corner of NE 15th is a great little co-op.
If there are other food-lodging-type things you need help with, leave your questions in the comments. Thanks!
xox
havi + selma