PDX spreads its wings

Getting to Portland is easier than ever, as Delta/KLM/Air France's popular nonstop from Amsterdam will soon have company. Icelandair will offer seasonal direct routes from Reykjavik to Portland, with a total flight time of just seven hours, from May 20–Oct. 21, 2015. Aircraft will arrive on Tuesdays and Thursdays and depart on Wednesdays and Fridays, drawing travelers from Iceland and more than 20 European connections. To sweeten the deal, the airline is offering a stopover in Iceland for up to seven days without additional airfare charges. Soon thereafter, Germany's Condor Airlines will bring direct flights to PDX from Frankfurt. The Boeing 767-300 accommodating 259 passengers will fly twice weekly from June 19–Oct. 6, 2015. 

Bridge of the People nears completion

With a nickname like Bridgetown, Portland clearly has a deep affection for its 12 Willamette River crossings. On Sept. 12, 2015, the city will add the first new span since 1973 to its collection, the aptly named Tilikum Crossing: Bridge of the People. Tilikum, the Chinook Wawa word for “people,” honors the indigenous tribes, such as the Multnomah and Clackamas, who have lived in the area for many centuries. Tilikum Crossing is the first multi-modal bridge of its kind in the US, welcoming bikes, pedestrians, buses, the Portland Streetcar and the Portland-Milwaukie Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) Orange Line. At 1,700 feet, it will be the longest bridge in the U.S. that does not carry private vehicles. The bridge reflects the local commitment to public art, using the cable stays as a canvas for an innovative lighting system that will reflect the river's changing height, temperature and velocity.

From historic to modern, revitalized properties abound

Hotel development in Portland is booming to meet increased demand, with nearly 2,000 rooms slated to come online in 2015. The Society Hotel, a 36-room boutique hotel and hostel, will open in fall 2015, bringing hip and affordable lodging to Old Town Chinatown, the city's vibrant nightclub district. In the Lloyd District, the Hotel Eastlund will open in mid-2015, with a rooftop restaurant by renowned Portland restaurateur David Machado.

Downtown, the historic Cornelius and Woodlark buildings will transition into one 150-room hotel in a $30 million renovation by Provenance Hotels and Hilton is building a new luxury hotel  as part of its new boutique brand, Curio.  Both are due to open in 2016. And a new hotel project is underway at the Oregon Pioneer Building; its famous occupant — Huber's Café , the oldest restaurant in the city — will remain intact. Meanwhile, a downtown favorite has been reborn: Kimpton's Oregon wine-themed Hotel Vintage Plaza reopened in March 2015 as Hotel Vintage – Portland after a renovation that includes a new two-floor lobby/wine bar, and a game room with shuffleboard and pool.

Division Street attracts diners and shoppers seeking the unique

For more than 10 years, culinary pioneers like Pok Pok and Stumptown Coffee have cooked up success on S.E. Division St. A wealth of restaurants and stores have followed suit, transforming the neighborhood into a destination for both dining and shopping.

In keeping with the roots planted by chef Andy Ricker at Pok Pok, several of Division's restaurants are Asian-influenced. Sen Yai, Ricker's Thai noodle house, serves traditional one-bowl meals, while chef Trent Pierce's high-end omakase restaurant, Roe, is hidden in the back of seafood eatery Block + Tackle. Nearby Bollywood Theater offers flavorful Indian street food.   

European influences are also evident here. Stumptown's Duane Sorenson  followed his first restaurant success at The Woodsman Tavern with Ava Gene's; Bon Appétit named the Italian-inspired eatery one of 2013's best new restaurants. Next door, Sorenson's Roman Candle Baking Company turns out fresh breads and wood-fired pizzas. Pizza Maria joins the fray with head chef and owner Sean Coyne — who served a stint as head baker at Thomas Keller's Per Se in New York City — manning its wood-fired oven. For pre- or post-dinner drinks, try The Richmond Bar or Imperial Bottle Shop.

Classic American cuisine is also represented in Son of a Biscuit's savory fried chicken and biscuits; the casual eatery is the brainchild of chef and restaurateur Micah Camden — the genius behind Blue Star Donuts and Little Big Burger (which also has a Division St. location). Savvy diners save room for dessert: Offerings include ice cream at Salt & Straw, French confections at St. Honoré and old-fashioned pie at Lauretta Jean's

Portland maker community creates its place

Portland's cadre of creators is as diverse as the stories behind each individual's passion for a craft, but a common thread is a dedication to collaboration.

The Central Eastside's ADX/Portland Made houses a variety of makers, with a communal space including a wood shop, metal shop and tool library. Seasonal “Gifted” markets provide an opportunity to peruse and purchase this collective's creations in one spot.

At Beam & Anchor on N. Interstate Ave., an eclectic ground floor retail shop showcases an array of design concepts, while workshops on the second floor incubate makers like cabinet- and furniture-crafters Earthbound Industries and Phloem Studio, as well as Spartan Shop, which produces leather goods, jewelry and home and bath products. Several studios incubated here — including Wood & Faulk (accessories, belts, bags, home pieces and outdoor gear), Revive Upholstery & Design (restored and redesigned custom upholstery pieces) and Maak Lab (natural soaps, salves and candles made from local ingredients) — have graduated into their own larger production and retail spaces.

Portland's makers and entrepreneurs aren't afraid to go mainstream to grow their ventures. Heidi Lovig of Heidi Ho Organics recently appeared on ABC's Shark Tank, winning a $125,000 investment in her vegan cheese business. Several shops around town, including Crafty Wonderland, two locations of Tender Loving Empire, and the new North of West and MadeHere PDX, showcase the fruits of Portland artisans' labors.