The Getaway in SE Portland, OR

Hello, and welcome to Portland OR!

You’ve chosen to stay in a lovely, quiet home which I purchased in April 2017, and spent the next 9 months rebuilding. The apartment you’re staying in is a sunlit basement apartment, which was built from scratch, is brand new, and fully private. By the time you’ve arrived I will have texted you your own key pad access code.

Since the house is generally devoted to meditation and yoga, and the healing arts, I ask that you occupy it in that spirit. Please, no partying. Minor use of alcohol, such as wine with dinner, or MJ use outdoors on the patio is generally OK. Yoga mats and meditation cushions are located in the apartment for your use. Remember to remove your shoes and place them in the rack outside your door before entering the unit. No smoking is allowed inside.

Keep in mind that we're early risers. We're usually in bed by 10 pm, and up between 5:30 & 6 am. It's a 1940's built home, and while it's newly clad in Hardy Plank siding, new roofs, kitchens, a natural habitat native plant as well as fruit and vegetable gardens and bioswales surrounding, she creaks a bit in the floor boards at times!

For your comfort, there is a mini split (heat pump) which you can use to either cool or heat the apartment, controlled by the white hand held, and as well a high efficiency gas fireplace, controlled by the silver hand held devise. Each room has a back up wall heater as well.

(Please note that the mini splits are most efficient when you leave them on. If you’re going out, just turn the temperature down to about 65 F; then, on your return, turn it back up. I generally leave mine around 69 when I’m home, which seems to work very well.)

Please park on the street. To access your apartment come up the driveway to the garage, turn right through the gate, and right again across the porch to the door straight ahead leading directly into the building. (There is another door on the right as you face the porch which has two wooden steps leading up to it, which goes to a private residence.) Once you go down the stairs, your unit door is on the left. Shoes stay outside the door in the rack.

Feel free to leave your bags there on the rear porch if you’ve arrived early prior to check in time, and/or if you want to leave them there for a short while after checking out as you run one last errand.

There is a bicycle “cruiser” with helmet, basket, and lock, available for you to borrow. Bicycle maps are also on the table when you walk into the unit.

The kitchen is fully equipped. However, I'm always interested in your feedback and suggestions for further refinements!

Access from and to the airport via Lyft or Uber is straightforward. Depending on traffic you’re within 15 to 25 minutes of the terminal. Transit information is on the table directly across from your front door. The #20 Trimet bus stops right across the street on Burnside and goes downtown. The Max train station is .9 miles away.

For shopping: There are many options. Heading east on Burnside you will find Home Depot, Target, and a large mall in about 2.8 miles. However, if you drive south on SE 45th to SE Belmont, and/or SE Hawthorne, there are a slew of awesome local shops of all manner and description.

Markets: There is a Whole Foods approximately 1 mile west on Burnside; a Trader Joes about 1 1/2 miles to the north along Cesar Chavez, and heading south to Hawthorne, to the west, both a New Seasons, and a few blocks further west, a Safeway. Straight east on Burnside and a 12 minute walk away is QFC, Quality Foods Center, which is open late and stocks a surprisingly solid variety of good quality foods. A local standard is Fred Meyers, which has a surprisingly good depth and variety, including household items.

Coffee shops: The quickest and closest by is Starbucks, 1 1/2 blocks north on 45th at Glisan. However, if you walk south on 45th to Stark, then to Belmont, take a right and find Never coffee. Some of the best blends in town.

My personal favorite coffee place, which makes a lot of delicious food on premises is Cremy, SE Ankeny at 28th. It’s just around the corner from Whole Foods.

SE Ankeny is a major east-west bicycle friendly street. From SE 45th you can ride into downtown in about 15 minutes along Ankeny then across the Burnside bridge. Bus service is about that fast.

Eateries: SE Burnside, Belmont, and Hawthorne each feature many casual, unique eateries, ranging from food carts, Bites on Belmont, to Tao of Tea, to Slappy Cakes, a favorite breakfast spot.

At 47th and Hawthorne, find Por Que No, one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Portland.

Down Burnside, west towards downtown, in the neighborhood of Whole Foods are a number of great eateries, including Paadee Thai, and further, the Slanted Door.

Continue west on Burnside into downtown, a short distance at Broadway on your right find Sushi Ichiban. Inexpensive, excellent freshly made before your eyes. And great vegetarian options.

All of these are doing a solid take out business during the 2020 Covid restrictions, and some have limited outdoor seating.

Reading resources: You’ll notice a number of books on meditation and traditions associated with Siddhartha Gotama the Buddha in the apartment. These are from Portland Friends of the Dhamma, a community meditation hall located at SE 25th Ave ( which is family and kid friendly, and one of my personal refuges. These books are gifts. You are free to take any of them with you that strike your fancy.

Online local meditation groups can be found through No Rank Zendo, as well as Portland Friends of the Dhamma.

Please contact me via text at any time if you require assistance or have any questions. And enjoy your stay!

Warm regards,
Charles

PS- Please lock your upper outer door when you leave. Just push the ‘Schlage’ button and turn the bolt handle. And make sure that you push the door itself firmly closed, as it has a weather seal, to close it thoroughly.

I'll forward your four digit access code once your booking is confirmed.