Last Wednesday afternoon, I had the pleasure of sharing a delicious raspberry-lemon drop with Sharyl Fickas, the catering manager for the Red Lion Convention Center, on the Windows patio overlooking downtown Portland. It was an incredible afternoon and the view was amazing! I kept thinking, “how did I not know this was here?” The stranger questions was, “why have I not coordinated a wedding here?” It is a lovely Portland wedding venue perfect for the couple looking to adhere to their budget and have a scenic downtown event.

The outside of the hotel is deceiving. The entire inside has been remodeled and is very much worth a look. Windows is on the 6th floor of the hotel. The bar area is clean and hip sporting a new recycled glass countertop. I love it! The outdoor patio is beautiful and spacious with the Portland skyline as it’s backdrop. With the view and the new modern look, it has many possibilities. I highly recommend contacting Sharyl at sharyl.fickas@gaha.biz or 503-820-4160 for a venue visit. Some highlights of their wedding reception package include:

• Complimentary Tasting with Chef (up to four people)
• Champagne/Sparkling Cider Toast Passed Butler-Style
• Wedding Cake Cut & Served By Banquet Staff
• Chine, Glassware, Flatware, Tables, Chairs, Setup and Cleanup
• A Variety of Tablecloth and Napkin Colors to Enhance Your Theme
• Dance Floor
• Freshly Brewed Coffee & Tea, plus Sparkling Citrus Punch throughout Event
• Complimentary Premium King Room for the Bride & Groom with your choice of Champagne, Wine or Sparkling Cider (Bottle)
• Special Guest Room Rates for Out-of-Town Guests (Subject to Availability)

At the lovely Hotel Monaco & delicious Red Star Tavern in downtown Portland, promoting sustainability isn’t just a once a year event. They value green business practices year round. These venues are Green Seal Silver Certified. This certification requires achievement of specific criteria in the areas of waste minimization, energy efficiency, conservation and management, management of fresh water resources, waste water management, hazardous substances and environmentally and socially sensitive purchasing policies.

In honor of Earth day, Hotel Monaco & Red Star Tavern are celebrating with EarthCare Week. EarthCare week, sponsored by Kimpton Hotels, includes many events: Recycles RoundUp (see flyer), recycled art gallery in the hotel lobby and offering Treetini’s at the nightly wine reception with donations going to the Friends of Trees organization. On Earth Day, EarthCare Week will conclude with Lights Out Power Hours by extending the hosted wine hour, by candlelight to conserve energy, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Details of all the week’s events can be found at http://www.kimptonhotels.com/programs/earthweek-2011.aspx.

Hotel Monaco & Red Star Tavern are excellent venue choices for many of life’s celebratory events: weddings, rehearsal dinners, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. For more information, check out their website at http://www.kimptonhotels.com/hotels/factsheets/hotel-monaco-portland/.