Greetings from Portland, Oregon. Below is an update on the area’s newest travel-related developments. We hope you will find this information useful. If you prefer not to receive future media updates on Portland, you may unsubscribe here.

• Quirky News: Portland Adopts Official City Doughnut
• Hotel News: Hotel Fifty Completes Renovation
• Learning Vacations: Oregon Photo Safaris

With a unanimous vote during its Christmas Eve meeting, Portland’s City Council adopted Voodoo Doughnut’s Portland Creme as the city’s official doughnut. A raised doughnut filled with cream, covered in chocolate and sporting two frosting “eyes,” the Portland Creme was created as a tongue-in-cheek challenge to the better known Boston Creme. Voodoo Doughnut owners Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Tres Shannon decided that since Portland had beaten Boston in the 1845 coin toss that decided the city’s name, it was high time the two cities battled it out in the pastry arena, as well. (Portland’s original founders hailed from Portland, Maine, and Boston, Mass. Both were adamant about naming their new city for their respective hometowns. They settled the impasse by flipping a coin. Portland won on two out of three tosses.)

Voodoo Doughnut, which is open 24 hours a day in downtown Portland’s Old Town district, is well known for its wacky décor (check out the cruller-shaped chandelier) and crazy creations — not to mention its weddings. (Yes, they’re legal.) On Voodoo’s menu are the Tang, a cake doughnut dusted with Tang powder; the Maple Bacon Bar, a maple bar topped with strips of real bacon; and the Voodoo, a pincushion doll-shaped doughnut with raspberry “blood” filling and a pretzel-stick stake through its heart.

In addition to its downtown Portland location (22 S.W. Third Ave.), Voodoo has a second shop in northeast Portland (1501 N.E. Davis St.). For more information, visit www.voodoodoughnut.com.

Media Contact
Kenneth Pogson, Voodoo Doughnut
503.544.9967, catdaddyvoodoo@comcast.net or catdaddy@voodoodoughnut.com

Coastal Hotel Group has completed a $7 million renovation of Hotel Fifty, a 140-room boutique property on Portland’s downtown waterfront. Located across the street from Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Willamette River, Hotel Fifty has 36 river-view rooms, 16 of which have balconies. Guestroom renovation highlights include the addition of wood paneling, glass countertops, 42-inch HDTV plasma TVs, dual-line speaker phones and top-of-the-line Simmons Beautyrest Black Beverly Hills beds with luxury linens. Along with upgraded bathrooms, the rooms also feature complimentary high-speed Internet access.

The mid-century hotel has two private conference rooms that can accommodate meetings of 10-65 people; a new bistro and bar called H₅0 that focuses on local, seasonal ingredients; an 800-bottle wine cellar; and the addition of original, local artwork. Guests of Hotel Fifty are welcome to use the Bally Total Fitness workout facility across the street from the property. Hotel Fifty is located at 50 S.W. Morrison St., Portland 97204; 503.221.0711. For more information on the hotel, visit www.hotelfifty.com.

Media Contacts
Christy Luther, Richmond Public Relations
206.682.6979, christyl@richmondpr.com

If your New Year’s resolution is to learn a new skill — or enhance an existing one — Oregon Photo Safaris can help you reach that goal. In addition to teaching photo techniques, Oregon Photo Safaris introduces tour participants to Oregon’s history and ecology, which, in turn, makes the photos participants take all the more meaningful. Each photo safari includes photography training (basic/advanced); all-inclusive geotours that encompass the culture, character and ecology of Oregon; and a portfolio of terrific images to take home.

Oregon Photo Safaris’ guide and instructor Dwon Güvenir is an award-winning professional photographer whose work has appeared in books, magazines and movie theaters, as well as on TV and the Internet. In addition to scheduled weekend safaris to places like Crater Lake and Mount Hood’s historic Timberline Lodge, Güvenir can arrange private trips for families, friends vacationing together, even solo travelers. During private tours, participants receive one-on-one instruction and are able to fully customize their itinerary, selecting the level of instruction, location (coast, mountains, waterfalls, etc.), and degree of difficulty in terms of hiking to locations. Prices for private safaris vary, depending on the final itinerary, and include travel, instruction and park entrance fees (meals and hotels are separate). Tours range from four-hour excursions to immersive two-day safaris.

For more information on Oregon Photo Safaris, visit www.oregonphotosafaris.com

Media Contacts
Dwon Güvenir, Oregon Photo Safaris
503.999.4321, dwon@oregonphotosafaris.com