This is a sweet building. From the design-forward architectural remodel and layout to the…read moregreen-conscious setup, everything about this historic building screams Portland. Home to office spaces, a brewery (Upright), the Leftbank Cafe, a shared office space (the Hive) and a communal area, the winding, maze-like structure is home to a colony of progressive workers, projects, and all sorts of stuff. I've been in here quite a few times to meet with folks, I've stopped in to the cafe, and I threw an event in the communal space, and I love the brewery downstairs. While parking can be a bit of an issue when an event is taking place, it's got a great central location and, at least for me, the historic and design-forward remodel aspects are close to my heart. Dig this space.

Cool old building, Brewery in the basement. What's not to love?…read more The Leftbank building is great, well actually it's three building put together but who's counting. It's kind of a rabbits warren of small companies connected by large communal spaces and even better natural light flooding in everywhere. The main Lobby/cafe room looking out on the street was interestingly complex but simply informal enough to be comfortable. Went here to check out Upright Brewing (http://www.yelp.com/biz/upright-brewing-portland#hrid:EonPV60YZaVQfVTk-p76Jw) but found myself wandering around the building checking out all the cool spaces. It was awesome! Leftbank Project is kind of the little brother to some of the other big Inner Eastside commercial renovations like Eastbank, Olympic Mills, and RiverEast.

The Keepspace was a dream of a location for my 30th Birthday party!…read more Had about 35-40 guests & the space felt full but not packed. *i did add the fire pit option, for my Dec event and am glad i did, for another place to hang out, judging by the chair being full throughout the night my guests did as well! The staff was all amazing, very friendly and communicative! Hazel our bartender, was wonderful and made tasty beverages all evening! I selected 4 appetizers, from a list of many, they were all great! (*they even worked with me to offer some Vegan options for my friends who are, so they had tasty apps as well!) I added the Photo Booth which was a great addition, we all had so much fun all night with it! There recommendation on DJ's were wonderful, I worked with Danny & so should you! The vibes were perfect all night! My point of contact was mainly Brittany to help plan my event, who was so wonderful! She was communicative & timely, when responding! They allowed me come in a few times to see the space & visualize which I appreciated so much! I definitely had a vision and the space and their staff helped me bring it to life! I would definitely recommend using this space for a birthday party/holiday celbration!!! I hope to have reasons in the future to be back and work with them all again!

This place is so cool! A full bar venue for turn key events with fabulous hosts. The drinks are…read moreamazing and it's the perfect size for intimate events. Clean, great decor, too shelf features and great location. I went for a valentines event and got the best photos in their booth called DaBooth! Angela Dawn is an amazing photographer. They have everything you think you need and more!

Great space, great location. Beautiful neighborhood, and it's right above a bakery. What more could…read moreyou ask for?

My business partner and I started working at TenPod in January of 2020 and are proud to call it our…read morefirst "real" office after starting the company in my basement. The space is open and comfortable and there are plenty of great people that work there. Like most offices they have had to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic and have done an admirable job.

This beautiful chapel was recently opened as another jewel in the Abernethy Center bridal tiara…read more I had a chance on Saturday to explore this newly opened wedding site. From the outside, it appears as if this beautiful church with 65-foot bell tower was plunked from some picturesque village and lovingly placed in the midst of our little town. I haven't noticed but heard some of the other guests mention that you can see it as you travel north on I-205 across the Abernethy bridge. The chapel itself seats around 200 guests and has an ADA accessible elevated area at the front. There is also a balcony so those who are video-taping the ceremony have an elevated vantage point. Downstairs there is a reception area for about 70-80 people complete with elevated stage, dance floor and a buffet area. The kitchen looks to be strictly used for beverage service and clean up as there was no oven or stove and only a small-ish fridge (this resulted in a 1-star deduction). Just off the seating area are 3 sets of double doors that lead to an uncovered patio area with outdoor speakers and, I can only assume, can also accommodate additional seating. Cobblestone paths from the patio lead to the Veiled Garden below. A gazebo and waterfall tucked into this natural setting make you forget for just a moment that you are less than 30 minutes from downtown Portland. I believe this was available strictly during the Chapel Open House and is not part of the amenities offered with the Chapel. Also downstairs was a generous sized bridal suite and groom's room. I believe the only restrooms were on this level as well.

My husband and I got married on the rooftop of 811 Stark and we could not have asked for a more…read moreperfectly intimate, picturesque, and memorable setting to tie the knot. Live music on a rooftop overlooking the PDX skyline? Yes please! We held a happy hour on the third floor in the dining room, using the kitchen for food prep, and the island for hor d'oeuvres and beverages. Our guests were able to mingle, eat, drink, and relax on the beautiful auditorium steps while the rooftop was flipped from ceremony to reception. 811 Stark was incredibly accommodating when it came to rental deliveries and vendor coordination. We were provided with ample flexibility to choose our own caterer, beverage service, rentals, and decor. We chose to hire the venue manager, Erin Baston, as our wedding coordinator and she was ON TOP OF IT from day one. She worked closely with us to help bring our vision to fruition, coordinated with all of our vendors, executed every detail to perfection, and was a huge support for us on the big day! Erin's assistant, Miguel, was extremely helpful, friendly, attentive, and equally detail oriented. We are so grateful for this dynamic duo! Make your next memory at 811 Stark! You will not be disappointed!

Taking the "Arts" part of Alberta Arts District seriously, Xhurch stands as a representative…read moreremnant of Portland's history of worship. Originally home to a Jewish synagogue, and then a variety of Christian (and primarily African American) churches over time, it now houses an artistic community, in the form of both a small venue space (best for groups of say, 50 or less) during the summer, and an artist residency program in the winter. I attended for a "Summer of Science" lecture series, started by a lady who just started asking her friends to give presentations about sciencey things. Its owners and xhurch-goers help keep the rapidly diminishing cult of Portland quirkiness alive, and I love it for that. The building's a little run-down and in need of some love, but aren't we all? The owners are aiming for promotion and preservation of the space and collaborative artistic spirit, and what with the world today, it's just nice to know that some folks out there still want to believe.

I've been attending and helping out at Xhurch for several years now, and the venue consistently…read moreholds interesting art and lecture events, spanning the traditional (sculpture) and the new medium (VR) spectrum. A phenom of a performance space and hub for community involvement, I hope it continues to thrive for many more years to come.

There are buildings you pass... and then there are landmarks that greet you like an old friend…read morerising out of the skyline. The Oregon Convention Center is exactly that a shimmering pair of glass towers that seem to ease their way up, catching light by day and glowing like a beacon by night. When those spires shift colors after sunset, it doesn't just decorate the skyline it defines it. You'll spot it from just about everywhere that matters. Whether you're wandering along Tom McCall Waterfront Park, crossing one of Portland's proud bridges, or looking east from downtown, it calls to you. Nestled beside the Moda Center, it's not just part of the city it's a cornerstone of it. A visual anchor in a town that already knows how to show off. Now, for those of us who like to earn our views, this place hits different. I've got a tradition my own Tour de Bridges. Starting down at the Sellwood Bridge, working my way north, step by step, bridge by bridge, until I reach the Steel Bridge. From there, I swing past the arena, glide toward the Convention Center, loop near the Blumenauer Pedestrian Bridge, then drop back down onto the riverwalk to close out a clean 13.1 miles. Somewhere along that stretch, right as the legs start to feel it and the mind starts bargaining, that's when the Convention Center rises up. And let me tell you... it feels like you've made it. That moment, that's the payoff. The hardest part behind you, the city opening up around you, and those towers standing tall like they've been waiting just for you to arrive. The surrounding square is polished, welcoming, and alive with history anchored along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a place that invites you to slow down, look around, and take it all in. Portland is a city best explored one bridge at a time, one stretch at a time, one story at a time. And if you're mapping out your own adventure, whether it's a casual stroll, a deep historical dive, or a full-on food and foot tour, this right here is one of the pinnacles. One of those places that reminds you why you started walking in the first place. Five stars, without hesitation.

My husband was asked to bring his classic muscle car to be featured in an exhibit at the Oregon…read moreAuto Show this year. He was excited, but a little apprehensive to leave his now fully restored car (he purchased in high school over 30 years ago) overnight. Also the damage waiver paperwork didn't ease his fears. After speaking with the lead guy putting the exhibit together, he felt more comfortable. We've brought his cars to numerous car shows in the area over the years, but never overnight. Driving the car from the loading dock area behind the convention center into the showroom was simple. Everyone helping to set up the show was nice and helpful with any questions we had. They checked the gas tank levels before entering the building to ensure cars had less than a quarter tank, as a safety feature. They do require you give them a spare key, in case of emergencies. Overall everything went smoothly. We can't pick the car up until late Sunday night. Hopefully all goes well. If not, I'll update my review with more details. At this point I would recommend participating in an exhibit at this venue. It seems very organized and well planned out.

The Aerie was the perfect location for our wedding! Planning our wedding from out of state, my…read morehusband and I elected to go with the All Inclusive Package, and we are so thankful that we did! Every little detail was considered by the Aerie staff, and handled professionally. Looking back, it saved us quite a bit of money and effort! Most importantly, Saundra helped throughout the planning process, referred vendors, helped us contact them, and coached us through many of the decision making that was needed to create a perfect day! On the day of, she was there to manage deliveries, the timeline, and make sure it all went on without a hitch. Without her, I have no idea how we would have made this day possible! On the day of, we felt completely relaxed and pampered! Our Catering Captain, Kirk, was there at every turn, making sure we were satisfied and had everything we needed. The food was fantastic, and our guests kept telling us how much fun they had. A month later I still can't believe how happy we feel with the quality of service we received from the Aerie.

Wedding staff was too preoccupied with keeping outside alcohol out that they forgot to give the…read moresame attention to the groomsman. They wouldn't even let us have a glass of nice whiskey to toast (in the bridal sweet) because it was "outside alcohol". I'd never get married somewhere I couldn't have a stress free glass of whiskey (away from public view) pre ceremony. The 3 stars are for the ambiance and the layout.