Portland Night Market: Lovers Edition and More

Portland’s popular “shop and eat local” event, the Portland Night Market, announced its dates for the 2017 season, including its “February LOVE Rose City” edition, February 10-11, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., located at 100 SE Alder Street, Portland, Ore. Admission is free and open to all ages.

I attended the three-day holiday shopping event and was totally impressed. From the Bible Club cocktails to the gift vendors and food trucks... the evening I attended was a hit. I ran into gift items from near and far… some fringy and some suitable for family. It was an all-around fun evening.

So I’m up for more shopping! This year, the Portland Night Market will host four events throughout the year, including:

·       February 10-11, 2017 – LOVE Rose City Edition

·       May 12-13, 2017

·       September 29-30, 2017

·       December 1-3, 2017 (The Holiday edition is the only three-day event, including Sunday brunch food and beverage options)

February Market

You’ll be intrigued by the pre-Valentine’s Day “LOVE Rose City” edition of the Portland Night Market with the whimsical “Aphrodisiac Alley” featuring local chocolate and beverage vendors such as Alma Chocolate, Catman Cellars, Best Friends Honey and Marshall’s Haute Sauce. The PDX Oyster Social will give away 45 dozen oysters on the half shell each night at their “oyster booth” while supplies last.

The Bible Club’s Speakeasy returns to its second floor location with their unique craft cocktails and live music. Popular hot food vendors include The Dump Truck, PDX Sliders, Popi’s Pastries, FoMo Chicken, Big Fat Weiners, Tastebud, Wasabi Sushi, Boke Bowl and more. Dessert vendors include Churros Locos, Cream, Pip’s Original Doughnuts, Treehouse Chocolate, Boozehound, Sweetheart Saint Johns and more. Local food brands will be at the market offering tastings, including Jem Nut Butters, Plum Tree Jam, Honey Mama’s, Tea Bar, Oregon Olive Mill and Buddha Chocolate.

Art + Interactive Experiences

Sprinkled amongst all the food, drink and artisan goods for sale, Pelett and her team invite local artists and creative groups to curate rotating art installations and musical performances. The February market will feature two evenings of Burlesque performances upstairs on the mezzanine and an interactive area for guests to make their own flower crowns.

Portland’s Best Merchants Under One Roof

The Portland Night Market boasts some of the Pacific Northwest’s best small businesses under one roof as an ideal spot to sell their wares and engage with customers. Visitors will be able to shop prominent local brands such as Bull in China, Wildfang, Sparrow, Will Leather Goods, Portland Gear, Pigeon Heart Designs, Candy Relics and Cargo. For a complete list of vendors, please visit www.pdxnm.com.

Great ideas for a Santa Fe New Mexico Wedding: Welcoming Packages and Event Venues

Beautiful fountain just outside the ballroom at La Fonda

Santa Fe is a romantic city. What a wonderful place to fall in love and then return to tie the knot.

With its romantic charm and recent approval of same-sex marriage licenses, Santa Fe continues to be a top city of choice for destination weddings. Now more than ever, couples from around the world are flocking to this artistic city for a wedding with a southwestern twist.

Below is a sampling of the destination’s authentic wedding offerings and specialty venues:  

Eldorado Hotel & Spa

Couples are invited to celebrate their special day with Eldorado Hotel & Spa’s Halona Wedding Experience. The hotel’s Anasazi ballroom and spectacular pavilion serve as two special spaces for wedding receptions. For couples with up to 200 guests, prices start at $110 per person (not including bride and groom) and include champagne and sparkling water passed upon arrival and a grand selection of canapés, signature displays, carving stations and more.  Additionally, as a bonus of the package, bride and groom will receive a romantic two-night stay in a suite with fireplace. For more information, visit www.eldoradohotel.com or call 505-995-4527.  

Bishop’s Lodge

Located minutes from downtown Santa Fe’s historic plaza and offering a wide range of activities catering to all gay, lesbian and hetero travelers, the resort, which is celebrating nearly 100 years of operation, welcomes couples to experience an original Santa Fe wedding with the Special 95^th Anniversary Wedding Package. Starting at $995, this package includes a two-night stay in deluxe suite for the couple, one bottle of Heritage wine and chocolate covered strawberries upon arrival in room, one-hour chapel rental, champagne toast celebration for up to 10 people (outside of the Bishop Lamy chapel) and a choice of a horseback ride for two or a 50-minute couples massage. For more information, visit www.bishopslodge.com or call 505-819-4022. Package is available through September 30, 2014.

In addition to packages offered by the city’s hotels, Santa Fe also offers culturally-rich venues for couples to utilize on their special day. Listed below are a selection of spaces visitors can choose from.

La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa

La Posada de Santa Fe’s opulent wedding venues merge Southwestern style with modern services and historic charm to craft a unique experience for every participant and guest. Whether couples are planning a lavish reception for 200-plus guests or a more intimate ceremony and celebration, the resort’s expert wedding and event planning team is ready to help with every detail.  Visitors can choose to celebrate outdoors on the Lawn Court or host an intimate event in one of the hotel’s smaller function spaces. For more information, visit www.laposadadesantafe.comor call 505-954-9618.

Santa Fe is filled with beautiful churches and chapels.

The Lodge at Santa Fe’s La Capilla de Santa Fe Chapel

Complete with a unique altar screen designed by one of New Mexico's most famous artists, Charlie Carillo, this adobe-style chapel can comfortably seat up to 45 guests and has the convenience of a nearby ballroom, perfect for a reception. The chapel is located at the Lodge at Santa Fe and hotel rooms are located on-property. For more information, visit www.lodgeatsantafe.com. 

The Inn and Spa at Loretto

With more than 12,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space, an expert wedding staff, renowned cuisine from an award-winning chef, and a world-class spa, The Inn and Spa at Loretto offers couples a distinct wedding experience only found in the friendly confines of Santa Fe. In addition, the Inn is home to the historic Loretto Chapel, a Gothic style chapel built in 1876 and features 150-year-old stained glass windows, an elaborate Italian altar and vaulted ceilings. For more information, visit www.innatloretto.com. 

La Fonda on The Plaza

La Fonda offers couples a variety of intimate and charming spaces for their special day. Guests can choose from an array of spaces for an authentic southwestern wedding experience, including the La Terraza Room, offering breathtaking views of the St. Francis Cathedral Basilica and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the New Mexico Room, a colorful, historic room, replete with rich architectural touches, such as a hand-carved beamed ceiling and tin and glass chandeliers and the Santa Fe Room, a smaller jewel, which boasts classic Santa Fe design elements such as a 25′ high cathedral ceiling, hammered tin chandeliers and a carved tile wood-burning fireplace. For more information, visit www.lafondasantafe.com.  

Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe

At Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, newlyweds to be can choose from a selection of beautiful spaces for their special day. The Aspen Ballroom offers elevated ceilings, a stone fireplace and beautiful décor for wedding receptions, while the Piñon Private Dining Room is a more elegant space designed for intimate pre-wedding celebrations. Additional spaces include vibrant outdoor terraces and garden areas for more casual receptions. For more information, visit www.fourseasons.com/santafe/ or call 505-946-5700.  

For more detailed information about resources, locations, and planning a wedding in Santa Fe, please visit http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Weddings/index.html  or www.santafe.org for additional information on packages, savings specials and all Santa Fe has to offer.

Photos Copyright: Elizabeth R. Rose
Information courtesy: Santa Fe CVB

Romantic Travel: Five Surprising Finds in the West

Cozy room at Timberline Lodge
(Courtesy: Timberline Lodge)

What makes romance may be different for everyone. While some want to experience a luxury cruise with champagne toasts and rose petals on their beds, others opt for something less showy, off-the-beaten-path, so to speak.

Here are some great ideas for a romantic getaway that you may not have considered:

1. Getaway to a Historic Lodge in Oregon. Imagine a dinner of Northwest Alpine cuisine and views outside of snow drifts. As day skiers leave the mountain, you get to stay at a historic lodge on the mountain. This can be yours at Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge. The lodge rooms are filled with period furniture and comfy feather beds.  Specials may make staying and skiing more affordable than you would think. Timberline is one of those beautiful historic lodges that combines the romance of the past with the convenience of the present day.

2. Enjoy the art of historic Santa Fe, New Mexico. In Santa Fe, not far from the historic Plaza there is a beautiful hotel on spacious grounds that is known as the "art hotel." La Posada de Santa Fe is a luxurious hotel steeped in Santa Fe History. You can select a little casita room with fireplace and walk the grounds to dine at their fine dining restaurant or listen to music in the bar located in the on-site Victorian Staab House. The art you will see throughout the hotel is for sale!

Art of Winslow's La Posada

3. Listen to the Trains in the Night at La Posada in Winslow Arizona. Another La Posada was once a Harvey House hotel. Situated by the train tracks in Winslow, Arizona, you'll find a beautifully restored Harvey House hotel with restaurant and martini bar on-site. The gardens add a romantic touch. The owners re-created the romance of a bygone era when people traveled the romantic Southwest by train. And, the artist-owner has filled the hotel with her fascinating art pieces,  combining the past with the contemporary. La Posada is a historic gem in a forgotten Route 66 town.

View from Crater Lake Lodge
(Courtesy: NPS)

4. Watch the Sunrise at Crater Lake. Another historic lodge can be found at Crater Lake, Oregon. It is right on the edge of the crater. You can rock away your cares in a patio rocking chair or, if you have a crater-side room, sit on your bed and watch the sun rise over the beautiful blue lake in the crater. The historic Crater Lake Lodge originally opened in 1915. The lobby has a large stone fireplace, typical of the era.  The lodge has an on-site restaurant.

5. Stay at a Historic Guest Ranch in Arizona. There are several excellent guest ranches in Arizona where you can enjoy fine dining coupled with activities such as horseback riding and golf. Rancho de los Caballeros is located in the

Horses at Days End at Rancho de los Caballeros
(Photo Copyright: Elizabeth R. Rose)

beautiful Saguaro studded desert in Wickenburg, Arizona, just north of Phoenix. Rancho de los Caballeros was founded in the '40's and maintains the romance of that era while adding luxury touches. But the desert is the star at this hotel. You can stay in a casita with a patio and watch the sunset before walking over to the dining room for a relaxing meal.

Alone on Valentine's Day? Consider the Southwest

Take a jeep trip or hike to "cowpies" in Sedona

Alone on Valentine's Day? Make the best of it. Don't sit home in your robe and jammies watching old movies. If you live in one of the colder states consider a getaway to the warmth of the Southwest. There are things you can do to have a great Valentine's Day celebration with or without...

Send Valentine's Cards to Those You Care About
Before you leave consider giving to others. You may not have a special partner in your life but you probably have friends and family. Valentine's Day is a day to express love toward all of those special people. Make or purchase Valentine's Cards and let them know you care. The ideal time to send them is one week ahead of time.

Get Out and Travel in the Southwest
Most of the lower elevations of the Southwest offer recreational opportunities under a brilliant blue sky. Getting outside to bike, hike or walk gets your blood pumping and endorphins going. Soon you will be so full of the joy of life you will forget that you don't have a partner with you to enjoy it all. If you are going to a more remote area, take a friend or family member with you. Here are some of my favorite places and things to do outside:

• Take an easy hike in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park - West of Phoenix, you will find a cactus-studded park that may just have some wildflowers blooming come mid-February. Enjoy the safe and easy Waterfall Trail. Pack a lunch and enjoy the views after your hike. More on the White Tank Regional Park.
• Lift Yourself Up In a Sedona Vortex - Bell Rock is one of those uplifting vortexes. Hike around the rock see what uplifting thoughts come into your mind. Or hike the Bell Rock Pathway for more views. After your hike, head in to Sedona for a little window shopping and lunch. More about Sedona Vortexes.
• Go Gallery Hopping in Santa Fe - Canyon Road is a great place to stroll. Go from gallery to gallery and feast your eyes on the colorful, creative art. Talk with the gallery owners, learn about the artists and enjoy a day that won't cost you anything unless you fall in love with a special piece of art before you head for home! More on Canyon Road.

  

  Enjoy a First Friday event on Canyon Road

Indulge Yourself
Spas Aplenty- The Southwest is a spa-goers paradise. You can find luxurious large spas and hotel spa packages at places like the Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Scottsdale, or small low-key spas like the Spa at Rancho de los Caballeros. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment geared toward rejuvenating your tired body. More great Southwest Spas.

Shopping - Shopping can be good therapy and is a great solo activity. Seek out a specialty shopping area where you have never shopped before. Whether it's in a historic shopping district such as Highland Park Village in Dallas or a fun and funky place in Santa Fe,  shopping can be a fun activity on your own.

Find Your Passion
Everyone has a passion in life and I don't mean passion toward that special someone. So if you are alone on Valentine's Day think about what else is special to you. For me, it's horses. I have always enjoyed horses and haven't outgrown that. I found that the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was taking place on Valentine's Day one year. I can't think of anything more romantic, if I have to be solo on Valentine's Day, than watching the beautifully groomed and trained Arabian horses... some of the best in the world! I headed over to Westworld in Scottsdale for a day of equine beauty and enjoyed the day thoroughly.

Alone
It still is not easy to be alone on a holiday that is geared toward togetherness. Here are even more tips and ideas for those who are solo on this very duo day!

More Information
Find a Hotel in Scottsdale
Find a Hotel in Sedona
Find a Hotel in Santa Fe

Blog Hop: Managing Solo Travel

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography